METHOD FOR PRODUCING A MACHINE MODULE FOR WASHING TEXTILES INDUSTRIALLY AND MACHINE MODULE

Abstract: A method for producing a machine module for industrial washing of textiles, in which the following are connected to each other: one or more washing machines (1, 2, 14, 15), supply water and discharge water piping (12, 22), necessary filters, control panels and a main distribution board. The washing machine(s) and the discharge water piping, filters, control panels and the main distribution board are installed in the assembly workshop on a machine base (13, 23) to form one single machine module assembly, which is transported to the site of use in a pre-installed state which has been subjected to test runs and tests beforehand.

Description: Method for producing a machine module for washing textiles industrially and machine module This invention relates to a method for producing a machine module for industrial washing of textiles, in which the following are connected to each other: one or more washing machines, wash water and discharge water piping, necessary filters, control panels and a main distribution board. Previously used solutions A conventional solution comprises setting up an integrated production system, which is tailor-made for each separate purpose. In this case, the laundry machinery and equipment are assembled and mounted solidly on the laundry floor, any future expansion requirements in the building, the production machinery and the water and energy systems being allowed for at this initial stage. Water treatment and circulation systems as well as energy supply systems are additionally set up and installed separately in a space separate from the washing and finishing machinery and equipment. Previously used solutions always require the provision of some degree of surplus capacity regarding the machinery, energy system and building at the initial stage. Drawbacks of previously used solutions The conventional solution involves the following drawbacks, among other things: - the initial need to build up systems that are heavier and more expensive than what is required by the initial operation - the need to set up finished auxiliary systems (water, energy) especially in support of the global system also with a view to future stages, resulting in increased initial investment - the installation assemblies have most often been tailor-made for the particular site, and are thus not always easy to expand later on - machines and equipment cannot be installed before the production premises are ready for installation, resulting in a longer period of project implementation - the performance of the installation assembly cannot be tested in advance, and thus the start-up and adaptation for use of the installation assembly requires a considerably long period of time - the system consisting of separate machines and devices cannot be moved from one place to another without being dismantled, and the installation of the equipment, especially regarding the water and energy systems, is bound to its final location -the energy and water systems are often located far from their objects of use and require long expensive piping and electric cable lines - the tooling and the systems serving the global system are often bulky and complex, resulting in complicated operation and control. The purpose of the invention is to eliminate the drawbacks mentioned above. The method of the invention is characterised by the installation of the washing machine(s) and the discharge water piping, filters, control panels and main distribution board on a machine base in the assembly workshop to form one single machine module assembly, which is transported pre-installed to the site of use after it has been subjected to test runs and tests. The invention also relates to a machine module for carrying out the method. The machine module of the invention is characterised by the machine module consisting of washing machines, finishing equipment, a water treatment and circulation system and a control system, all of which are installed on the machine base. Various embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims of the set of claims. Purpose of use The machine module is an installation assembly, which is intended for industrial washing and finishing of textiles and is a substantial integrated part of the global laundry production system, which consists of standardised production work centres and methods and can be expanded and moved in modules. The solution is perfectly suitable for situations where the operation is set up in a new locality or place. This solution allows start-up and expansion to be performed such that the production system and its- supporting water and energy engineering undergo flexible step-wise expansion by standard modules as business and production grow. The business premises can be acquired either by building new business premises or by installing the machine module on already existing rented premises. Functional and structural characteristics of the invention The machine module consists of washing machines, finishing equipment, a water treatment and circulating system and a control system. A specific separate main distribution board has been installed in the machine module for energy supply, and a separate individual steam boiler can be additionally connected to the machine module. There are two types of machine modules, one of which is usable for washing and finishing working clothes and the other for washing and finishing carpets. The machinery and equipment of the machine module are installed on a machine base made of steel at the workshop, owing to which the machine module has been pre-installed and subjected to test runs beforehand when it is transported to its site of use. The machines and equipment of the machine module are connected by means of conduits and electric cables. The machines in the machine module are heated by electricity, steam or gas. The purpose of the invention is to combine the equipment needed for industrial washing and finishing of textiles, the water treatment and circulation system, the energy supply systems and the control devices of these into one single machine module assembly, which can be transported to the site of use in a state where it is pre-installed and has already been subjected to test runs and tests. The rinse water from the washing machines is recovered and circulated in the machine module. The rinse water is re-used as wash water in the machine module. The rinse water can be re-used as wash water when textile lint and sand has been separated from it. Filter cloth and mesh are used in the working clothes machine module to separate textile lint. In addition, a separating tank and fabric sacks are used in the carpet machine module in order to separate sand. The following advantages of the machine module system can be cited among other things: - The production tooling and the supporting water and energy engineering can be built up and expanded as the business is expanding. Then there will be only the investments needed in each case, and there will be no investments in idle machinery and equipment in anticipation of future needs. - The solution is standardised, so that all the production plants operate with the same standard equipment and methods. Compared to tailor-made systems, this provides substantial ease of control of malfunctions and training, as well as of performance monitoring. - The production can be rapidly and flexibly expanded. No large separate planning process is required, since all the basic operation modules will always be the same. - The machine module can be constructed in advance under favourable conditions in the workshop. This yields better installation work quality for the machine module, the machine module can also be tested and test-run so as to be ready for operation before being taken to the site of use, resulting in a notably shorter start-up period. - The machine module provides a notably shorter production project set up period, since the machine installations can be performed even before the building for which the machine module is intended has been completed. - The machine module can be easily transported to the new site of use in a state ready for use. - Even large production units can be easily built up from the machine modules, the production units operating on the production cell principle regarding the tooling and the supporting water and energy engineering. This simplifies the control and management of technical equipment significantly. The assemblies can be managed by simple methods. - Water and energy equipment piping and lines are significantly shortened and simplified, given their location in the immediate vicinity of their site of use. - Standardised equipment facilitates staff training and simplifies equipment maintenance operations. - A machine module can be integrated in a building system consisting of standardised building modules. - A machine module can also be installed on already existing premises. - The implementation of standard solutions with well-known costs results in more efficient cost management of building projects. - The most demanding installation work will always be performed by a professional workshop with large know-how. Only the simplest connecting and similar operations will be performed at the site of use. At foreign sites, there is often not enough know-how to assemble a machine module. - Building authority procedures will be simplified and facilitated by using a standard solution, which is backed up by complete documentation for any requirements by the authorities. The invention is described by means of examples below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which figure 1 is a top view of a machine module of one embodiment, figure 2 is a side view of a machine module, figure 3 is a section of the machine module at the washing machine 2, figure 4 is a top view of the machine module of another embodiment, figure 5 is a side view of the machine module and figure 6 is a section of the machine module at the washing machine 14. Technical description The machinery and equipment of the module are installed on the machine base 13, 23, which acts as a floor for the module. The machine base has a design such that the module may be an integrated part of a building consisting of modular box units. The machine module can also be placed on the floor in an existing industrial workshop. Figure 1 shows a lay out solution for a machine module, which is used for washing and finishing working clothes. Figures 2 and 3 show sectional views of the machine module. The machine module consists of machines 1, 2 and 3 for washing textiles, machines 4 and 5 for finishing textiles, a main distribution board 6, a compressor 7, filter basins and pumps 8, and a water softening unit 9. The devices of the machine module are controlled by control panels 10. On top of machines 1, 2 and 3, a water tank 11 is placed, which is divided by partitions into reservoirs for supply water and circulated water. The devices of the machine module are connected by conduits 12. The machinery and the equipment are fixed to the machine base 13. Figures 4, 5 and 6 show a variant of the machine module for washing and finishing carpets. Sectional views of the machine module are shown in figures 5 and 6. The machine module comprises machines 14 and 15 for washing carpets and a machine 16 for finishing carpets, a filter for separating sand from rinse water, circulating pumps 7, a water softening unit 18 and a main distribution board 19. The devices of the machine module are controlled by control panels 20. On top of the machines 14 and 15, a water tank 21 has been placed, which is divided by partitions into reservoirs for supply water and circulated water. The devices of the machine module are connected by conduits 22. The machinery and equipment are fixed to a machine base 23.

Claims: Claims 1. A method for producing a machine module for industrial washing of textiles, in which the following are connected to each other: one or more washing machines (1, 2, 3, 14, 15), wash water and rinse water piping (12, 22), necessary filters, control panels and a main distribution board, characterised in that the washing machine(s) (1, 2, 3, 14, 15) and the discharge water piping (12, 22), the filters (8, 17), the control panels (10, 20) and the main distribution board (6, 19) are installed in the assembly workshop on a machine base (13, 23) to form one single machine module assembly, which is transported to the site of use in a pre-installed state which has been subjected to test runs and tests beforehand. 2. A method as defined in claim 1, characterised in that the machine module assembly is installed on a suitable machine base (13, 23) in a shipping container. 3. A method as defined in claim 1, characterised in that the machine module assembly is installed on the base (13, 23) of the shipping container. 4. A machine module for carrying out the method of claim 1, characterised in that the machine module consists of washing machines (1, 2, 3, 14, 15), finishing devices (4, 5, 16, 17), a water treatment and circulating system and a control system (10, 20), all of which are installed on a machine base (13, 23). 5. A machine module as defined in claim 4, characterised in that the machine module comprises a main distribution board (6, 19). 6. A machine module as defined in claim 4 and 5 for washing textiles, characterised in that the machine module comprises washing machines (1, 2, 3), finishing machines (4, 5) for finishing textiles, control panels (10), a main distribution board (6), a compressor (7), filter basins and pumps (8), and a water softening unit (9). 7. A machine module as defined in claim 4 and 5 for washing and finishing carpets, characterised in that the machine module comprises washing machines (14, 15), finishing machines (16) for finishing the carpets, control panels (20), a main distribution board (19), a filter for separating sand from rinse water and circulating pumps, as well as a water softening unit (18). 8. A machine module as defined in claims 4-7, characterised in that a water tank (11, 21) has been placed in the upper part of the machine module, preferably above the washing machines. 9. A machine module as defined in claim 8, characterised in that the water tank (11, 21) is divided by partitions into reservoirs for supply water and circulated water.

Inventors: NIEMI PEKKA, ROIHA JUKKA, NIEMI, PEKKA, ROIHA, JUKKA
Applicants: LINDSTROEM OY, NIEMI PEKKA, ROIHA JUKKA, NIEMI, PEKKA, ROIHA, JUKKA
Application year: 2001
Main classification: D06F29
IPC codes: D06F29, D06F95