GB2329698A - Conditioning apparatus for textiles - Google Patents
Conditioning apparatus for textiles Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2329698A GB2329698A GB9812464A GB9812464A GB2329698A GB 2329698 A GB2329698 A GB 2329698A GB 9812464 A GB9812464 A GB 9812464A GB 9812464 A GB9812464 A GB 9812464A GB 2329698 A GB2329698 A GB 2329698A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- tunnel
- articles
- air
- conditioning
- textile
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B25/00—Packaging other articles presenting special problems
- B65B25/20—Packaging garments, e.g. socks, stockings, shirts
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06B—TREATING TEXTILE MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS, GASES OR VAPOURS
- D06B3/00—Passing of textile materials through liquids, gases or vapours to effect treatment, e.g. washing, dyeing, bleaching, sizing, impregnating
- D06B3/30—Passing of textile materials through liquids, gases or vapours to effect treatment, e.g. washing, dyeing, bleaching, sizing, impregnating of articles, e.g. stockings
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F87/00—Apparatus for moistening or otherwise conditioning the article to be ironed or pressed
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F26—DRYING
- F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
- F26B15/00—Machines or apparatus for drying objects with progressive movement; Machines or apparatus with progressive movement for drying batches of material in compact form
- F26B15/10—Machines or apparatus for drying objects with progressive movement; Machines or apparatus with progressive movement for drying batches of material in compact form with movement in a path composed of one or more straight lines, e.g. compound, the movement being in alternate horizontal and vertical directions
- F26B15/12—Machines or apparatus for drying objects with progressive movement; Machines or apparatus with progressive movement for drying batches of material in compact form with movement in a path composed of one or more straight lines, e.g. compound, the movement being in alternate horizontal and vertical directions the lines being all horizontal or slightly inclined
- F26B15/14—Machines or apparatus for drying objects with progressive movement; Machines or apparatus with progressive movement for drying batches of material in compact form with movement in a path composed of one or more straight lines, e.g. compound, the movement being in alternate horizontal and vertical directions the lines being all horizontal or slightly inclined the objects or batches of materials being carried by trays or racks or receptacles, which may be connected to endless chains or belts
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F26—DRYING
- F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
- F26B21/00—Arrangements or duct systems, e.g. in combination with pallet boxes, for supplying and controlling air or gases for drying solid materials or objects
- F26B21/02—Circulating air or gases in closed cycles, e.g. wholly within the drying enclosure
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F26—DRYING
- F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
- F26B21/00—Arrangements or duct systems, e.g. in combination with pallet boxes, for supplying and controlling air or gases for drying solid materials or objects
- F26B21/06—Controlling, e.g. regulating, parameters of gas supply
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Textile Engineering (AREA)
- Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)
Abstract
Apparatus for the conditioning of textile articles comprises an elongate tunnel (1), conveyor means (10) for moving hanging articles such as garments through the tunnel, means (7,8) for extracting air from the tunnel, for treating the extracted air to adjust the humidity and/or temperature thereof and for reintroducing the treated air back into the tunnel, and at each of a plurality of portions of the tunnel, separate means (6,9) for extracting air from the tunnel and for blowing the extracted air on to the articles passing through the respective portion. The apparatus may be used to dry textile articles prior to vacuum packing and may be combined with a vacuum packing machine.
Description
CONDITIONING APPARATUS FOR TEXTILES
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to apparatus for conditioning garments and other textile articles prior to packaging, and to a packaging system for textile articles.
Background to the Invention
The trade in textile articles such as garments, bedding, towels and the like is increasingly carried on internationally, resulting in such articles being transported large distances. The cost of transporting the articles becomes as a result a significant factor in the selling price of the article. A particular problem with transporting textile articles is that they are relatively bulky in comparison with their weight, especially where the articles include thermally-insulating materials such as down, fibres, or plastics foam, or padding materials. Increasing the density of packing during transporting carries with it the risk of unwanted creasing, reducing the value of the articles or requiring remedial treatment on delivery, adding to the cost of the articles.
One way of reducing the volume of articles during transporting is to vacuum pack the articles in plastics bags or the like, either singly or in multiples. While this has proved a very effective way of reducing transport costs, it has been found to be very important in avoiding permanent creasing to ensure that the moisture content of the articles is reduced before packing. Moisture can be introduced during processing of the textile articles, or even by exposure to the humid environments which can be experienced in some countries where manufacture is carried out, for example Far
Eastern countries. Removal of moisture is also important to avoid the risk of mould growth during transportation. Treatment of articles to lower the moisture content must, however, be carried out in such a way that the cost does not negate the savings achievable in transport costs by vacuum packing.
Following removal of the articles from the plastics bags, different materials recondition themselves to varying degrees and at different rates, depending on local conditions of humidity and temperature. Typically, this reconditioning is carried out by simply hanging the articles in a warehouse for a period of time. This is, however, a costly operation, both in the labour involved and in the storage space required, and these costs can reduce the cost advantages of the initial vacuum packaging.
Summary of the Invention
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for the conditioning of textile articles prior to packaging, comprising an elongate tunnel, conveyor means for moving hanging articles through the tunnel, means for extracting air from the tunnel, for treating the extracted air to adjust the humidity and/or temperature thereof and for reintroducing the treated air back into the tunnel, and at each of a plurality of portions of the tunnel, separate means for extracting air from the tunnel and for blowing the extracted air on to the articles passing through the respective portion.
Preferably, at least one of the separate means is arranged to blow air downwardly on to the articles and to extract air from beneath the articles.
Another aspect of the invention provides apparatus for the conditioning of textile articles prior to packaging, comprising an elongate tunnel, conveyor means for moving hanging articles through the tunnel, and means for blowing air downwardly over the articles from above as they move through the tunnel.
Preferably, the means for blowing air are disposed at intervals along the tunnel, each said means being associated with means for extracting air from the tunnel below the articles.
Dehumidifying means may be provided for dehumidifying air from within the tunnel and returning the dehumidified air to the tunnel.
The tunnel is suitably of rectangular section, and may be bent so as to accommodate a long tunnel in a smaller floor area.
The conveyor means is preferably arranged to ensure that each article is separated from the adjacent articles, for example by a distance of 35-50 mm, so that air can pass between the articles.
If desired, means for heating or cooling the air in the tunnel may be provided.
The invention also provides a packaging system for textile articles comprising conditioning apparatus in accordance with the invention and, at the end of the tunnel from which the articles emerge, vacuum packing apparatus for sealing the articles in plastics film under reduced internal pressure.
It has been found that use of the apparatus in accordance with the invention enables the textile articles to be vacuum packed for transport, the articles being readily restored to saleable condition by removing them from the packaging and hanging them for a short period of time. Any creases apparent on first removal from the packaging drop out of the article during hanging, without requiring further, labour-intensive, treatment.
A further advantage has been found with the apparatus in which air is recirculated in the tunnel independently of the flow through the dehumidifying means and that is that the maximum conditioning effect can be achieved with a smaller dehumidifying plant than is required if all the airflow directed over the articles is passing through the dehumidifier, as with some conventional systems of this general type. This can reduce capital costs.
Brief Description of the Drawings
In the drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the invention:
Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of one segment of the tunnel;
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the segment shown in Figure 2; and
Figure 4 is an end elevation of the same segment.
Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiment
Referring first to Figure 1, the apparatus illustrated is configured as a transportable ready-to-use unit. It will be appreciated, however, that the apparatus may be constructed as a fixed installation configured quite differently from that shown in the drawings. The apparatus comprises a tunnel 1 formed by partitioning a rectangular enclosure 2 into three parallel sections 3, 4 and 5, one leading into the next, to reduce the overall length of the apparatus. A plurality of modules 6, illustrated in more detail in Figures 2 to 4, are arranged at spaced intervals along the path of the tunnel 1. In the roof of the tunnel, ducting 7 and 8 runs along with openings into the spaces between the modules 6. The ducting 7 and 8 is linked to dehumidifying apparatus (not shown) which extracts air from the tunnel, for example at one end thereof, or from floor-level or under-floor openings and reduces the moisture content before returning it to the ducting 7 and 8 for reintroduction to the tunnel. Heat may be added or removed from the air during the dehumidifying process, according to the requirements for treating the textile articles.
Each module 6, as will be explained in more detail hereinafter, is generally hollow and has a fan 9 in the ceiling part to propel air downwardly from within the hollow section on to the articles being conveyed along the tunnel. The hollow section opens adjacent the floor of the tunnel to admit air.
A conveyor track 10 extends through the tunnel from a loading point 11 to an unloading point12, or to an alternative unloading point 1 3. At the end of each of the first two parallel sections 3 and 4 of the tunnel, the track 10 curves round through 1 800 to enter the next section 4 or 5. The track 10 suitably provides carrying hooks at predetermined intervals along its length, for example 35-50mm, to enable articles to hang as they are conveyed, in the case of garments by hangers of conventional form.
Referring now to Figures 2 to 4, the modules 6 are in the form of hollow inverted L-shaped units having an opening 14 near to the floor of the tunnel through which air may be drawn by an electric fan 9 mounted in an opening in the hollow ceiling 1 5 of the module 6. Air is blown downwardly by the fan 9 out of the hollow unit and passes over the articles as they move along the tunnel. Because the airflow is downwards over the articles, there is no tendency for the articles to flap, ensuring that the shape is not distorted and that unwanted creases are not introduced, while the effectiveness of the drying is maximised. Because the articles are separated one from another along the conveyor, there is no possibility of portions of the articles remaining unaffected by the airflow and thus having an undesirably high local moisture content.
Adjacent to the unloading point 12 or 1 3 is located a vacuum packing machine for use in sealing the garments individually or in batches into plastics bags from which air is first withdrawn to reduce the bulk of the garments. It has been found desirable to leave some air in the bags to act as a cushion to protect the articles during transport.
The amount left is such as to avoid pulling the plastics film into intimate contact with the articles, but not so much as to permit the articles to move freely within the bag. Some types of article, for example those containing wadding or other insulating material of high volume, can be compressed to a greater degree.
While the apparatus has been particularly described with reference to dehumidification prior to packaging and transport, it will be appreciated that a similar apparatus may be used for the re-humidification of the articles after they are unpacked at the destination, the dehumidifying apparatus being replaced by humidifying apparatus arranged to increase the humidity to a degree where the articles are rapidly returned to normal condition, and therefore a state in which they may be sold, as they pass through the tunnel. It will be appreciated that it is much less labour-intensive to load the articles on to and off the conveyor than to load on to racks in a warehouse, and then remove them again after a period of time, perhaps measured in days.
Claims (12)
1. Apparatus for the conditioning of textile articles, comprising an elongate tunnel, conveyor means for moving hanging articles through the tunnel, means for extracting air from the tunnel, for treating the extracted air to adjust the humidity and/or temperature thereof and for reintroducing the treated air back into the tunnel, and at each of a plurality of portions of the tunnel, separate means for extracting air from the tunnel and for blowing the extracted air on to the articles passing through the respective portion.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein at least one of said separate means is arranged to blow air downwardly on to the moving articles and to extract air from beneath the articles.
3. Apparatus for the conditioning of textile articles, comprising an elongate tunnel, conveyor means for moving hanging articles through the tunnel, and means for blowing air downwardly over the articles from above as they move through the tunnel.
4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the means for blowing air are disposed at intervals along the tunnel, each said means being associated with means for extracting air from the tunnel below the articles.
5. Apparatus according to Claim 3 or 4, comprising dehumidifying means for dehumidifying air from within the tunnel and returning the dehumidified air to the tunnel.
6. Apparatus according to Claim 3 or 4, comprising humidifying means for increasing the humidity of air extracted from the tunnel and for returning the humidified air to the tunnel.
7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the tunnel is of rectangular section.
8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the tunnel is bent so as to accommodate a long tunnel in a smaller floor area.
9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the conveyor means is arranged to ensure that each article is separated from the adjacent articles so that air can pass between the articles.
10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein the conveyor means is arranged to space the article by 35-50mm.
11. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, comprising means for heating or cooling the air in the tunnel.
12. Apparatus for the conditioning of textile articles, substantially as described with reference to the drawings.
1 3. A packaging system for textile articles, comprising conditioning apparatus in accordance any of the preceding claims and, at the end of the tunnel from which the articles emerge, vacuum packing apparatus for sealing the articles in plastics film under reduced internal pressure.
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/GB1998/002922 WO1999016952A1 (en) | 1997-09-30 | 1998-09-29 | Conditioning apparatus for textiles |
AU91798/98A AU9179898A (en) | 1997-09-30 | 1998-09-29 | Conditioning apparatus for textiles |
EP98944134A EP1019575A1 (en) | 1997-09-30 | 1998-09-29 | Conditioning apparatus for textiles |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GBGB9720614.8A GB9720614D0 (en) | 1997-09-30 | 1997-09-30 | Conditioning apparatus for textiles |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB9812464D0 GB9812464D0 (en) | 1998-08-05 |
GB2329698A true GB2329698A (en) | 1999-03-31 |
GB2329698B GB2329698B (en) | 2001-03-21 |
Family
ID=10819754
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GBGB9720614.8A Ceased GB9720614D0 (en) | 1997-09-30 | 1997-09-30 | Conditioning apparatus for textiles |
GB9812464A Expired - Fee Related GB2329698B (en) | 1997-09-30 | 1998-06-11 | Conditioning apparatus for textiles |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GBGB9720614.8A Ceased GB9720614D0 (en) | 1997-09-30 | 1997-09-30 | Conditioning apparatus for textiles |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (2) | GB9720614D0 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
NL1024469C2 (en) * | 2003-10-06 | 2005-04-07 | Solutherm B V | Method and device for treating a product with conditioned air. |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB579916A (en) * | 1944-09-28 | 1946-08-20 | Hunt & Moscrop | Improvements in continuous hank drying machines |
GB709498A (en) * | 1952-04-15 | 1954-05-26 | Proctor & Schwartz Inc | Tobacco leaf drying apparatus and method |
Family Cites Families (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2322693B (en) * | 1997-02-28 | 2001-01-24 | W T Shipping Ltd | Packaging of commodities |
-
1997
- 1997-09-30 GB GBGB9720614.8A patent/GB9720614D0/en not_active Ceased
-
1998
- 1998-06-11 GB GB9812464A patent/GB2329698B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB579916A (en) * | 1944-09-28 | 1946-08-20 | Hunt & Moscrop | Improvements in continuous hank drying machines |
GB709498A (en) * | 1952-04-15 | 1954-05-26 | Proctor & Schwartz Inc | Tobacco leaf drying apparatus and method |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
NL1024469C2 (en) * | 2003-10-06 | 2005-04-07 | Solutherm B V | Method and device for treating a product with conditioned air. |
WO2005033601A2 (en) * | 2003-10-06 | 2005-04-14 | Solutherm B.V. | Method and apparatus for treating a product with conditioned air |
WO2005033601A3 (en) * | 2003-10-06 | 2005-06-30 | Solutherm B V | Method and apparatus for treating a product with conditioned air |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB9720614D0 (en) | 1997-11-26 |
GB2329698B (en) | 2001-03-21 |
GB9812464D0 (en) | 1998-08-05 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US20070245587A1 (en) | Drying and/or Cooling Conveyor | |
SG45235A1 (en) | Method and apparatus for continous drying in superheated system | |
EP1926385B1 (en) | Device for treating elongate food products with a conditioned airflow | |
GB2329698A (en) | Conditioning apparatus for textiles | |
US6487790B2 (en) | Apparatus for continuously drying unpackaged food products, in particular vegetables | |
EP1019575A1 (en) | Conditioning apparatus for textiles | |
EP0218733B1 (en) | Process and equipment for quick drying of ceramics | |
AU727883B2 (en) | Apparatus for conditioning of commodities for vacuum packing | |
CN115769039A (en) | Drying machine with cooling function | |
US2995829A (en) | Method and apparatus for drying and cooling sub-divided material | |
EP0100686A2 (en) | Methods and apparatus for conditioning materials for packing | |
JP3555673B2 (en) | Agriculture and marine products processing system | |
US9206992B2 (en) | Storage configuration with predeterminable storage atmosphere | |
US2552120A (en) | Process for drying macaroni | |
JPH02195844A (en) | Method and device for treating hung meat | |
US3445902A (en) | Method and apparatus for reconditioning pile fibers | |
JPS6022268B2 (en) | Forced circulation dehumidifying dryer | |
JP3596655B2 (en) | Agriculture and marine products processing system | |
JPH03194383A (en) | Cereals drying facility | |
JPH11215916A (en) | Agricultural and marine product treating system | |
JPS62134480A (en) | Veneer drier | |
CS204202B1 (en) | Apparatus for post-production conditioning substrates,especially dried products,or fodder formed therefrom | |
JPS59225278A (en) | Wicket type plate drier | |
JPH0618896U (en) | Sample grain dryer | |
NZ513374A (en) | Conditioning tunnel for fabric articles and clothes to be vacuum packed |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20020611 |