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US 7,235,109 B2Granted
Apparatus for processing garments including a water and air system
OwnerRichard G. Klekerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A garment processing apparatus is disclosed. The garment processing apparatus may include a manifold having a plurality of arms. Each of the arms may be configured to discharge air. A cabinet may be configured to support a plurality of garments with each of the garments positioned between a different pair of adjacent arms. A closed loop air system may include a condenser to remove water from the air discharged from the manifold, and/or a steam generator to inject steam into the air discharged from the manifold. A chemical agent may also be injected into the air discharged from the manifold.
Claims26
A method of processing garments, comprising:
- supporting one or more garments in a stationary position in a cabinet;
- blowing air onto both sides of the at least one of the garments in the cabinet from a manifold having a plurality of arms configured to discharge air;
- translating the manifold vertically to traverse the vertical length of the garments at least one time while blowing the air onto the garments;
- recirculating the air blown onto each of the garments back to the manifold;
- and
- removing water from the recirculated air.
3 more elements
A garment processing apparatus, comprising:
- a manifold having a plurality of arms, each of the arms being configured to discharge air;
- a cabinet configured to enclose the plurality of arms, the cabinet capable of supporting one or more garments suspended therein;
- and
- a condenser configured to remove water from the air discharged from the manifold,
- wherein at least some of the plurality of arms form at least one pair of adjacent arms, the at least one pair of adjacent arms being configured to receive a garment suspended vertically therebetween, the one or more pairs of adjacent arms being configured to extend horizontally across the garment suspended therebetween to allow the air to be discharged toward both sides of the garment disposed proximate thereto wherein the manifold is further configured to traverse, by vertical translation, the length of the garment at least one time while discharging the air.
2 more elements
A garment processing apparatus, comprising:
- an air pump;
- a cabinet having a stationary hanging bar from which one or more garments may be vertically supported, the cabinet further having an air outlet;
- a condenser disposed between the air outlet of the cabinet and the air pump;
- and,
- a manifold coupled to the air pump, the manifold having a plurality of horizontal arms, each of the arms having one or more exits, at least two adjacent arms of the plurality of horizontal arms forming a pair of arms, the pair of arms being configured to receive one of the garments vertically disposed therebetween, the pair of arms being configured to discharge air toward both sides of the one garment through one or more exits disposed adjacent the one garment wherein the manifold is movable by translation in the vertical direction.
2 more elements
A garment processing apparatus, comprising:
- means for providing stationary support for one or more garments in a cabinet;
- means for blowing air onto both sides of at least one of the garments in the cabinet using a manifold that traverses by vertical translation of the manifold the vertical length of the garments at least one time;
- means for recirculating the air blown onto each of the garments back to the manifold;
- and
- means for removing water from the recirculated air.
2 more elements
A garment processing apparatus, comprising:
- an air source;
- a manifold coupled to the air source, the manifold having a plurality of horizontal arms, each of the arms having one or more exits;
- a cabinet having a fixed hanging bar configured to support one or more garments, at least two adjacent arms of the plurality of horizontal arms forming a pair of arms, the pair of arms being configured to receive one of the garments vertically disposed therebetween, the pair of arms being configured to discharge air toward both sides of the one garment through the one or more exits disposed adjacent the one garment wherein the manifold is movable by translation in the vertical direction;
- and
- a steam generator configured to inject stream into the air discharged by the manifold wherein the manifold is further configured to traverse by vertical translation of the manifold the length of the one or more garments at least one time while discharging the air and steam.
2 more elements
A garment processing apparatus, comprising:
- an air source;
- a manifold coupled to the air source, the manifold having a plurality of arms, each of the arms having one or more exits;
- a cabinet having a fixed hanging bar configured to support one or more garments, at least two adjacent arms of the plurality of horizontal arms forming a pair of arms, the pair of arms being configured to receive one of the garments vertically disposed therebetween, the pair of arms being configured to discharge air toward both sides of the one garment through the one or more exits disposed adjacent the one garment wherein the manifold is movable by translation in the vertical direction;
- a reservoir configured to hold a chemical agent;
- and
- a pump configured to inject the chemical agent from the reservoir into the air discharged from the manifold wherein the manifold is further configured to traverse by vertical translation of the manifold the length of the one or more garments at least one time while discharging the air.
3 more elements
A garment processing apparatus, comprising:
- a fluid source;
- a manifold coupled to the fluid source, the manifold having a plurality of arms, each of the arms having one or more exits;
- a cabinet having a hanging bar configured to support one or more garments in a fixed position, at least two adjacent arms of the plurality of horizontal arms forming a pair of arms, the pair of arms being configured to receive one of the garments vertically disposed therebetween, the pair of arms being configured to spray both sides of the one garment with the fluid through the one or more exits disposed adjacent the one garment wherein the manifold is movable by translation in the vertical direction;
- a reservoir configured to hold a chemical agent;
- and
- a pump configured to inject the chemical agent from the reservoir into the fluid discharged from the manifold wherein the manifold is further configured to traverse by vertical translation of the manifold the length of the one or more garments at least one time while discharging the fluid.
3 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a manifold having a plurality of arms, each of the arms being configured to discharge air, the plurality of arms comprising a pair of adjacent arms about parallel, the pair of adjacent arms being
- configured to receive a garment suspended vertically therebetween,
- configured to extend horizontally across the garment suspended vertically therebetween, and
- configured to discharge the air toward both sides of the garment suspended vertically therebetween,
- the manifold configured to traverse by vertical translation the length of the garment suspended vertically between the pair of adjacent arms, one or more times while discharging the air;
- a cabinet configured to enclose the plurality of arms, the cabinet capable of supporting the garment suspended vertically between the pair of adjacent arms;
- and
- a condenser configured to remove water from the air discharged from the manifold.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.