EP0281041B1 - Method and device for washing and/or rinsing textile materials - Google Patents

Abstract

Process for the washing and/or rinsing of textile materials at high temperatures in aqueous liquids which may contain ingredients of washing and cleaning agents. Said process enables savings in materials and time in the field of textile washing by means of methods which, when applied in conjunction with known textile washing processes, enable substantial improvements to be made. For this purpose, at least some parts of the washing and/or rinsing processes are carried out while high-frequency vibrations from the microwave region (microwaves) are applied to the wet textile material.

Description

The invention is directed to a method for washing and rinsing textile materials with aqueous liquids, if desired containing ingredients of detergents and / or cleaning agents, using elevated temperatures due to the action of high-frequency vibrations in the microwave range (microwaves) on the wet textile material, whereby wet textile material, whose total water content is in the range of the natural retention capacity of the textile material for the aqueous phase, which is exposed to microwaves.

Furthermore, the invention is directed to a device for washing and rinsing fibers, skins, textile materials or the like for carrying out the method, which has a cavity resonator into which microwaves generated by an energy conductor can be introduced by means of a microwave transmitter or generator, and one in the cavity resonator arranged device for receiving and moving the goods brought in for washing and rinsing, such as at least one inlet for introducing aqueous liquid into the cavity and at least one outlet for removing liquid from the cavity, the aqueous liquid being pumped out of the cavity interior is pumpable.

The cleaning of soiled textile goods by treatment with liquors containing aqueous detergents can be conceptually divided into the stages of washing and rinsing. Both washing and rinsing are carried out in one or more stages according to current practice. The devices commonly used in households and businesses today allow a wide range of adaptations to the optimal washing conditions. Aimed at are - among other things - while maintaining the quality of the washing result - the saving of energy, water and washing aids. Despite the known considerable development efforts of the manufacturers of detergents and washing machines, a considerable amount of time, energy and basic chemicals used, including the required amount of water, still seem to be inevitable. The machine-controlled period for the thorough 60 ° household washing is still in the period of about 40 to 50 minutes, if pre-washing is used, this period can be considerably extended. The total amount of water required for washing and rinsing is a multiple of the amount of dry textile weight used.

A method of the type described in the opening paragraph is known from EP-A-0 247 421 and EP-A-0 079 234. In these known processes for washing and rinsing textile materials, the total water content of the soaked textile material is in the range of the natural retention capacity and thermal energy can be introduced by means of microwaves in addition to circulating warm air.

A generic device is known from DE-A-1 610 307.

The invention is based on the object of making available time and material-saving work steps in the context of textile washing, by means of which substantial improvements can be achieved in the context of known textile washing processes. This applies both to the stage of the washing processes and to the stage of rinsing the dirt-laden liquor out of the washed textile. The use and summary of the new method measures shown according to the invention opens up the possibility of substantial savings in time, energy, water and / or, if desired, detergent ingredients.

In a method of the type described in the introduction, this object is achieved according to the invention in that this soaked textile material is subjected to an intermittent action of the microwaves during the washing and at least one first rinsing step, and additionally in batches or continuously during and / or between the phases of the microwave action subjected to the influence of textile mechanics, for example circulated, the rinsing process in the specified textile moisture range being activated with microwaves in the at least one rinsing stage and subsequently further diluted with rinsing liquid without the action of microwaves.

By means of the procedure according to the invention, a type of “post-washing” is thus carried out in the at least one rinsing stage, which leads to the intensive absorption of any remaining conditioned dirt in the liquid phase. The respective rinsing stage is preferably first activated by microwave radiation and then further rinsing liquid is added for dilution. It is preferably carried out here in such a way that - after the temperature treatment of the soiled textile with the wash liquor in the wash stage - rinsing liquid is added in such an amount that now forms a liquid phase next to the dampened textile. This dirt-laden liquid phase can be separated from the textile. The remaining wet textile material still contains considerable proportions of the textile detergent mixture, so that a kind of rewashing of the textile material is possible by renewed intermittent use of microwaves.

This rinsing step and the simultaneous washing of the soaked textile material and the use of intermittently irradiated microwaves can also be repeated several times. Overall, it is possible to make the rinse water available as cold tap water and to heat only the portions of the rinse water that are retained in the respective process stage by soaked textile - which is separated from the excess of the rinse liquid - by radiation.

This has several advantages. First of all, the advantage of multiple washing, ie the cleaning ability of the detergent substances of the textile detergent mixture is used intensively. As a result, the washing effect and washing performance of the introduced textile detergent mixture is improved compared to the prior art. Furthermore, compared to the prior art, energy is also saved in the rinsing liquid. While in the prior art, the entire amount of rinse water sprayed onto the textile must be heated - and this is more than the amount of water that corresponds to the natural retention capacity of the textile, because otherwise the dirt particles and detergent residues present in the textile would not be rinsed out - is at the method according to the invention is only the one located in the textile after the washing stage The amount of water and the amount of rinsing liquid that flows in to replace the rinsing water are briefly heated by microwave radiation. In addition, in the method according to the invention, the rinsing stage is preferably only "activated" at the beginning and the increased temperature - in contrast to the previously known method - is not maintained during the entire rinsing stage. These advantages are achieved by intermittent microwave radiation also in the rinsing stage.

The invention thus makes use of two basic principles which, in this form and in particular in their combination, have not hitherto been used for the problem of textile washing.

The use of high-frequency electromagnetic vibrations in the upper megahertz range up to the middle gigahertz range, the so-called microwave range - hereinafter referred to simply as "microwave" - has been increasingly put into practice in recent years. The well-known example for the household sector is the microwave oven, which is used for rapid, thorough heating and, if necessary, prior defrosting of pre-prepared dishes. The selected microwave radiation in the lower to middle gigahertz range - for example in the range from 0.1 to 300 GHz and preferably in the range from approximately 0.1 to 30 GHz - stimulates the water molecules present in the material to be warmed up and thus causes the water-containing material to be heated from the inside heruas. The possibility of penetration of the radiation into the interior of the material to be heated is greater at low frequencies in the specified range than at the higher frequencies, see for example "Microwaves", Günter Nemitz, Munich 1989, page 115.

It has also already been proposed to use microwaves of the type mentioned for drying moist textiles. To the knowledge of the applicant, their use to promote textile rinsing processes or washing and rinsing processes has not been proposed to date. There seem to be basic starting conditions that determine the usual textile washing and cleaning processes: always in the washing stage as well as in the rinsing processes, such large quantities of liquid are used that a two-phase system soaks in textile material / aqueous liquor is several times the dry weight of the textile. The intervention by means of microwaves in such liquid / solid systems leads to heating of the entire system, which can be achieved in a conventional manner - for example by the known hot rods immersed in the washing liquor - at least as well.

The basis for the advantageous new use of microwaves according to the invention in connection with the rinsing or washing and rinsing of textile materials is the departure from known washing and rinsing processes described below. This new concept is of general importance for improved textile washing and / or rinsing. This one The present disclosure of the invention accordingly comprises the general new principle described below for improving both the washing and the rinsing steps on textile materials, in particular on soiled textile material.

At the heart of this aspect of the new teaching is the limitation of the aqueous phase in decisive sections of the overall process to such amounts as are determined, for example, by the natural water retention - the retention ability - of the textile material to be treated, with amounts of liquid going slightly beyond that to a certain extent as a "serum phase" "can be tolerated. In no case, however, these amounts of liquid can be compared with the amount of water usually used in large excess, which forms the usual washing liquor.

It is known that, depending on its structure and nature, dry textile materials can be increasingly moistened with varying amounts of water and finally soaked, before a separate aqueous phase forms in addition to the soaked textile. According to the common notion of textile laundry, dirty textiles, for example oil or Grease / pigment soiling of a detergent surfactant and other washing aids, in particular washing alkalis, builder substances and the like, in aqueous washing liquor in excess. The washing constituents dissolved in this washing liquor are brought into contact with the soiled textile phase by suitable measures, in particular by the action of temperature and / or textile mechanics, where they loosen the incrustations of dirt and stabilize the loosened dirt in the washing liquor, details of the theory of the washing process and the washing auxiliaries used for example in Ullmann "Encyclopedia of Technical Chemistry", 4th edition, Volume 24, detergents, in particular subchapter 2, "Theory of the washing process" loc. Cit. 68 ff and subchapters 3.1 "surfactants" and 3.2 "builder" loc. Cit. Pages 81 to 96.

The invention is based on the prerequisite discussed here, the fundamental finding that it is not necessary for the effective implementation of the decisive processes for dirt removal and removal of the textile fiber, an aqueous washing liquor separated from the moist textile. On the contrary, surprising increases in effectiveness, which manifest themselves in particular and especially in a reduction in the time required to set a given washing result, are achieved when the amount of water is essentially restricted to the amount of the textile adjusted to a moist state until Condition of the soaked textile can be recorded. It immediately lights up: If the washing ingredients normally used are no longer distributed in a large amount of water, but only the amount of water that can bind the textile is available, cleaning-promoting conditions are set in several ways. For example, the concentration of detergent ingredients in the now greatly reduced amount of liquid has increased significantly, thus improving the activity of wetting surfactants, for example. Of decisive importance is also the fact that the detergent active in this embodiment can naturally only be in the immediate vicinity of the fiber - and not far from the fiber dissolved in the bath liquid. Surfactants, bleaches, activators, enzymes, builders, washing alkalis and any other detergent ingredients are - as stated preferably also in increased concentration - bound to the place where they have to fulfill their task.

It has been shown that a subtask can be solved in an improved manner that is of outstanding importance for the washing result. This is the displacement of microdispersed residual air from the microstructure of the fiber, which plays a significant role in particular wherever such stubborn amounts of residual air must be expected due to the fiber structure. This aspect has only recently received increased attention, compare the older patent applications DE-A-36 30 183.3, DE-A-36 31 318.1, DE-A-36 31 727.6

Surprisingly, it has been shown that the range of moisture restricted according to the invention to a maximum of approximately such amounts as can be absorbed by the textile without forming excessive amounts of serum phase is particularly suitable for facilitating, accelerating and promoting the varied processes. with which the previous extensive theory of the washing process has dealt intensively - so far, however, always based on the framework of working in a conventional system with excess aqueous liquor. In the sense of the new action according to the invention, the use of such an aqueous excess of washing liquor can be dispensed with in the washing stages. The moist to soaked textile is subjected to known process elements, in particular to the textile mechanical action and / or heating, but these processes are now carried out in the absence or practically in the absence of large amounts of excess aqueous liquor on the moistened or soaked textile under sufficiently intensive conditions.

There is an additional process simplification for the conception of the use of microwaves to support the washing and / or rinsing of textile materials and promotion: The penetrating energy attack of the microwaves in the GHz range mainly affects the water molecules in and in the immediate vicinity of the textile fiber structure. The water or the aqueous solution and / or slurry of washing constituents is thus heated up where the effective temperature increase to intensify the washing result is desired. Excess and ultimately lost energy for heating up a large fleet is no longer required. In this embodiment, the use of microwaves to facilitate, shorten and improve textile washing becomes an advantage.

The use of microwaves in the process according to the invention takes place intermittently, based on the respective process step, and can thereby sweep over a process step as a whole or only affect parts of such a process step.

Microwave radiation of the damp or soaked textile material means the heating of the irradiated material. In the context of the method according to the invention, it may be desirable to set temperatures in the textile material from approximately 35 ° C. to the boiling point of the aqueous phase, it often being suitable to work at temperatures in the range from approximately 40 to 90 ° C. In this context, the general laws for textile washing must be observed. In general, hot laundry can also be safely heated to correspondingly high temperatures under the process conditions according to the invention. Other temperature-sensitive textile materials, for example purely synthetic materials based on polyester or wool, are subject to the known restrictions with regard to the water temperatures to be used. However, it must be taken into account here that the period of exposure to the elevated temperature can be shortened considerably in the process according to the invention down to the range of 1 minute and below, for example down to an exposure range of 10 seconds. Such a period of time is long enough for the promotion of washing processes between detergent ingredients and fiber under the process conditions according to the invention, so it has a positive effect here, without any serious damage to the temperature of the textile material. This is an important difference from conventional washing processes, which work with comparatively long periods of time for heating up the entire fleet and the goods to be washed. The temperature to be set in the textile can be controlled by selecting the intensity and duration of the energy radiation. The intermittent irradiation with comparatively low powers - for example with a maximum of 100 to 200 watts per household washing machine - allows the setting of moderate temperatures if necessary. Such temperature control can be promoted by known measures in connection with textile washing. It may be preferred to subject the soaked textile material in batches or continuously during and / or between the phases of microwave exposure to the influence of textile mechanics. In particular, it is preferred in this embodiment to circulate the moist to wet textile material. This results in a temperature compensation within the textile material and with the surrounding container wall, so that practically any temperature range can be set. The process of, for example, wetting the soiled textile with the surfactant-containing aqueous phase absorbed by the textile can then also be selected for as long as desired at predetermined temperature ranges.

If, on the other hand, cook-resistant or largely cook-resistant laundry is subjected to this section of the process, it is generally safe to use batches of high power - for example up to 1000 watts per washing machine load be worked. Here too it is preferred to use additional textile mechanics in the sense described above. This movement of the textile material leads to an intensification of the wetting and cleaning processes which take place between the liquid phase in the textile containing the detergent ingredients and the fiber or the dirt present on the fiber.

In the washing stage of a textile wash under the conditions according to the invention, in the preferred embodiment, no more than about 15 minutes and in particular no more than about 10 minutes are required in order to bring about the required sufficient reaction between the washing constituents and dirt-laden fiber. This applies in particular to the processes of detaching and conditioning oil, grease and pigment soiling which take place under the influence of surfactant detergent substances. The term conditioning means the creation of such a condition in the overall system that subsequent addition of washing liquid - for example also cold water - causes the conditioned dirt to be washed out of the textile.

This period of preparatory conditioning of the soiled textile in the sense of such a washing process is often measured in minutes and can, for example, already be completed in a period of up to about 5 minutes. Depending on the load on the machine and the intensity of the energy input, sufficient conditioning effects for the subsequent rinsing can also be set in seconds. Compared to previously known experiences in textile washing, there are completely new possibilities here.

For the purpose of rational energy consumption at the location of the desired action, as already stated, it becomes soaked Textile goods exposed to the action of microwaves, the amount of liquid is largely limited to the amount held in the textile. As a rule, the amount of liquid in the periods of energy irradiation does not exceed at most about twice the maximum retention capacity of the textile material for the liquid phase. The amount of the liquid phase is preferably restricted in such a way that this maximum retention capacity is not exceeded by more than about 0.5 times. In particular, a wide variety of embodiments are possible for acting according to the invention. In an important embodiment, amounts of liquid are used in the range of the maximum retention capacity. This ensures that there is enough liquid phase in all parts of the textile material to ensure the desired penetrating wetting while displacing the microdisperse residual air. In another important embodiment, however, much smaller amounts of liquid can be used, at least at the beginning of the washing phase. Here, for example, a concentrated solution or slurry of the detergent adjuvants is distributed as evenly as possible on the textile surface, for example by spraying with simultaneous textile movement. The liquid phase can then be added until the maximum retention capacity of the textile material is reached. From the beginning, or even afterwards, batches of energy radiation by microwaves can be provided.

In practice, it has proven to be expedient to work with weight ratios of dry textile weight to aqueous liquid phase in the range from about 1: 1 to 1: 3, with amounts of liquid in the range from about 1: 1 to 1: 3.5 preferably being used . In the phase of washing, that is, in the phase of conditioning the dirt for subsequent washing, the moisture content can not only can be shifted in the direction of increasing moisture, in particular by partial evaporation of water components by energy radiation, a decrease in the moisture can, if desired, be practically adjusted down to the dry textile. In this way, other desired effects can again be achieved, for example the intensified dirt conditioning by increasing concentration of the detergent ingredients on the fiber or the dirt.

The liquid phase containing the detergent ingredients can be applied to the dry textile; on the other hand, to simplify the most uniform possible distribution of the detergent ingredients over the entire textile material, the textile material to be wetted can first be wetted with an aqueous liquid phase, for example pure water, and then by a simple and customary one mechanical process step, for example by spinning off and / or pressing off again from a portion of the liquid phase. The liquid phase containing detergent ingredients is then applied to such pre-wetted material and evenly distributed there. Even with such a sequence of process steps, the intermittent use of microwave radiation and thus the temperature increase in the textile material can be advantageous. It can be seen that the combination of process measures chosen according to the invention enables a hitherto unknown degree of freedom in the control of the processes desired on the textile between fiber, dirt and detergent ingredients.

In the preferred embodiment of the washing processes according to the invention, the detergent ingredients and in particular surfactant components are used in such an amount that - based on the limited amount of the liquid phase in the textile - their concentration is higher than in conventional textile washing in an aqueous liquor - in each case based on the volume unit of the liquid phases to be compared with one another. Overall, however, it may still be preferred to select the amount of detergent ingredients, and here in particular detergent-active surfactants, in such grades in such a way that it - now based on textile dry goods - corresponds approximately to that of conventional textile laundry. The intensification of the work steps for dirt detachment and conditioning, which is possible according to the invention, also makes it possible, however, to reduce the amount of detergent constituents in excess in comparison with the previously usual washing processes with aqueous liquor. The nature of the soiled textile goods and the dirt to be removed, as well as the amount of dirt to be removed, determine the amounts of detergent to be used in individual cases.

In an important embodiment of the invention, particularly intensive cleaning results are achieved with simultaneously shortened process periods in that multiple washing is provided. Conventional textile washing, for example in the household washing machine, also knows the pre-wash and the downstream main wash. The method according to the invention follows on from this principle, but has the advantage over the previously known technology of substantially shortening the successive washing steps, which, if desired, can be separated from one another by one or more rinsing stages of the type to be described below. Even with two or more washing stages in the sense of the method according to the invention, only a modest period of time is required compared to current practice.

In principle, the general laws of the textile washing process also apply to the implementation of the method according to the invention. Increasing the temperature leads to intensification and / or shortening of the washing process, the same applies to increasing the Concentration of detergent additives and for the use or intensification of textile mechanics. The process according to the invention can be carried out in the washing stage described here with mixtures of detergent ingredients in the customary sense, for example with so-called heavy-duty textile detergents. Detergent ingredients and items to be washed are coordinated with one another in a manner known per se. Details can be found in the cited chapter "Detergents" in Ullmann op. Cit. The individual detergent ingredients and their function are also explained in detail here.

Within the scope of the action according to the invention, however, the textile treatment is also divided into this preliminary stage of the washing or conditioning processes for the soiling. For example, a distinction can be made between a first washing process, which is carried out essentially with detersive surfactants and auxiliaries suitable for them, and leads to the conditioning and subsequent detachment of grease, oil and / or pigment stains. In a subsequent work step, a first group of problem stains can be tackled, for example bleachable stains. Working with peroxidic components and associated activators, for example the use of sodium perborate and associated activators such as TAED, requires the use of temperature to activate the bleaching component. Here again the advantages of the action according to the invention are evident, which concentrates the peroxide-forming components in the immediate vicinity of the fiber or the contamination and specifically enables the temperature to be increased by microwave radiation. Finally, another area of problem soiling can be addressed in a subsequent work step by using wash-active enzymes. Details can also be found in Ullmann op. Cit.

In one embodiment of the invention, an old suggestion can be taken up for bleaching which has so far not been able to prevail in practice. This is the irradiation of the textile goods freed from pigment and fat or oil stains with UV light. The action according to the invention brings particular advantages for such a mode of operation here because the textile is not suspended in excess aqueous phase, which absorbs substantial portions of the UV light.

Regardless of the elements described so far in the washing or power supply steps of a textile washing process, the working method according to the invention of irradiating microwave energy with simultaneous limitation of the liquid phase brings the maximum of the retention capacity of the textile material to be treated compared to the liquid phase but also substantial advantages for the Soil detachment and conditioning subsequent rinsing of the textile. The way in which this dirt removal and / or conditioning has been carried out is irrelevant. The following information on this part of the teaching according to the invention deals generally with an improved, preferably multi-stage, rinsing process for textile materials.

This rinse is carried out according to the invention in at least 1 rinse stage under the action of microwaves. One can proceed in such a way that the rinsing process is activated in the defined textile moisture range according to the invention by the action of microwaves, whereupon the mixture is subsequently further diluted with rinsing liquid without additional input of radiation energy. The decisive factor is the activation - that is, the temperature increase - in the first section of such a rinsing step, which takes place in the liquid phase in the immediate vicinity of the textile fiber. If flushing is then to take place in several stages, repeated activation by irradiation can be used, for example of microwaves are designed as follows: rinsing liquid is added to the soaked material until a separating, contaminated liquid phase is formed. This separated portion of the dirt-laden liquid phase is separated from the soaked textile material. This separation can only take place approximately until the maximum retention capacity for the liquid phase has been set, but if desired a further reduction in the liquid phase content can also take place by simple mechanical action such as spinning and / or pressing. At least in the first rinse stages, it may be expedient to dispense with such a further mechanical separation of the liquid phase and instead to expose the well-soaked textile material - preferably with simultaneous textile mechanics - to the action of microwaves. This triggers a kind of after-wash in the textile material with the liquid phase, which is diluted but still contains washing constituents, which leads to the intensive absorption of any remaining conditioned dirt in the liquid phase. Subsequently, it is then expediently diluted with washing liquid again, expediently without the action of microwave energy, until a dirty liquid phase can again be separated from the textile material. This cycle of "post-washing" with a decreasing content of washing ingredients can be repeated several times, if this appears to be desired. In practice, it has been shown that an intensive cleaning of the textile material can be achieved with a few stages of this type, for example with 2 to 5 such post-rinse stages. At the same time, however, only very small amounts of excess liquid phase are required in these rinsing stages. Ultimately, a saving of liquid phase over the entire process can be achieved, which was previously not considered practically possible. For example, if the liquid phases are discarded - i.e. without recycling, as is common in commercial laundries - 1 kg of dirty laundry can be 5 to 7 times as much Amount of liquid to be washed and rinsed. It is particularly advantageous that, if desired, each rinsing phase can be initiated by irradiating microwave energy with hot rinsing liquid, which can then be completed in an energy-saving manner by dilution with cold rinsing water.

It has also been shown that the intensive wetting of soiled textile material described at the outset is particularly suitable under the conditions according to the invention to bring about the optimal conditions for subsequent immediate cleaning by the action of ultrasound on the textile material. For this purpose, the textile conditioned according to the invention under the action of microwaves in the wet stage is taken up in an aqueous liquor and then exposed to the action of ultrasound transmitters, in particular in the range from approximately 20 to 100 kHz, preferably in the range from approximately 20 to 40 kHz, due to the optimal wetting and apparently complete displacement of the microdisperse residual air in the textile preconditioned according to the invention, an almost sudden detachment of the dirt load from the textile material takes place under the influence of the ultrasound. With regard to the details of the process for such a washing process under the influence of ultrasound, reference is made to the older applications mentioned DE-A-36 30 183.3, DE-A-36 31 318.1 and DE-A-36 31 727.6.

A further embodiment of the invention, which proves to be particularly advantageous for many applications, provides that the treated material is also dried with at least partial exposure to microwaves. For example, the drying of textiles washed in the sense of the invention can be carried out in the same device with batch or continuous exposure to microwaves. For this purpose, on the one hand, the textile mechanics provided anyway in the preferred embodiment - that is, that Circulation of the material to be dried - are used, but on the other hand, alternatively or additionally, further process aids can be used. It has proven to be particularly expedient to promote the drying process with at least partial action of the microwaves by simultaneously flowing through the possibly circulated material with an air stream which carries the air laden with moisture out of the washing device. Compared to the usual laundry drying in a hot air stream, there are considerable process advantages here. The air to be used does not need to be heated as such, under the influence of the microwaves the moisture evaporates in the textile, it is taken up by the air flow passing through the washing device and discharged from the cleaning chamber. By loading the air flow with moisture, the heating of this moisture-laden air flow in the area of the microwave radiation is ensured at the same time, so that the undesired condensation in the gas phase of the moisture content absorbed in the interior of the cleaning chamber can be prevented.

Fig. 1

in schematischer Darstellung eine Ausführungsform nach Art einer Bottichwaschmaschine,

Fig. 2

in schematischer Seitenansicht eine Ausführungsform nach Art einer Trommelwaschmaschine und in

Fig. 3

in schematischer Rückansicht eine Ausführungsform nach Art einer Trommelwaschmaschine.

The device according to the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing, for example. This shows in

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of an embodiment in the manner of a tub washing machine,

Fig. 2

in a schematic side view of an embodiment in the manner of a drum washing machine and in

Fig. 3

a schematic rear view of an embodiment in the manner of a drum washing machine.

FIG. 1 shows a cavity resonator 2 designed as a metal tub 1 which is closed on all sides and has walls which reflect microwaves towards the cavity resonator interior 3. An energy conductor 4 designed as a waveguide opens into the upper region of the cavity resonator 2. The cross section of the energy conductor 4 to form a coupling hole 5 is reduced in the region of its opening into the cavity resonator 2. The energy conductor 4 is connected to a microwave transmitter or generator designed as a magnetron 6, the area of which projects into the waveguide 4 has the usual distance of lambda / 4 from the inner surfaces of the waveguide 4. In the area of the coupling hole 5, a movable closure 7 is arranged, with which the energy conductor can be sealed against the ingress of water. The movable closure 7 can be made of metal, plastic, rubber or the like.

In its bottom area, the cavity resonator 2 has a glass plate 8 which, as a so-called base load, prevents microwaves from being returned to the magnetron when the device is in use is operated without load. Furthermore, a metal propeller 9 is arranged as a field distributor in the cavity 2 at the level of the coupling hole 5.

Axial to its central longitudinal axis, the cavity resonator 2 has in its interior 3 a wing element 10, the drive shaft 11 of which is guided centrally through the bottom 12 of the cavity resonator 2. The passage area of the drive shaft 11 through the base 12 is sealed, for example, by a labyrinth seal 29 with appropriate shielding in a microwave and water-tight manner against the cavity resonator interior 3. Outside the cavity resonator interior 3, the drive shaft 11 is fastened to a reversing gear 13, by means of which the rotational movement which can be picked up on an electric motor 14 is transmitted to the drive shaft 11.

Furthermore, the cavity resonator 2 has an outlet 15 in the region of its base 12 for draining liquid from the cavity resonator interior 3. The opening 16 into the cavity 3 is covered by a movable closure 17 made of metal and can be shielded against the passage of microwaves. The outlet 15 is connected to a pump 18, by means of which liquid is sucked out of the cavity resonator interior 3 when the orifice 16 is not closed and is fed to a drain line 19 or return line 20. The pump 18 is designed in terms of its performance and design in such a way that it can generate a slight negative pressure in the cavity interior 3, for which purpose the cavity interior 3 is advantageously sealed off from the outside environment. The return line 20 opens into the inlet 21, through which the aqueous liquid required for washing and / or rinsing is fed to the cavity interior 3. The inlet 21, like the outlet 15, can be closed with a movable closure 22. Instead of the closures 17 and 22, valves, for example solenoid valves, can be provided in the outlet 15 and the inlet 21 directly adjacent to the wall regions of the cavity resonator 2. Furthermore, a tub 23 and a further pump 24 are arranged in the return line 20. Furthermore, a detergent dispenser 25 with fresh water inlet 26 opens into the return line 20 or the inlet 21. The liquid flow within the return line 20 and to the inlet 21 can be regulated with valves 27 and 28.

For the filling of the cavity resonator 2 with goods intended for washing and / or rinsing, the cavity resonator 2 has an opening 31 in its upper region, which can be closed in a microwave and water-tight manner with a door or flap 30. The treated material is also removed from the cavity resonator 2 through the opening 31.

To monitor the temperature in the cavity resonator interior 3 during the washing or rinsing process, a temperature sensor 32 and a moisture sensor 33 are attached to the inner wall of the cavity resonator 2, which are effectively connected to the microwave generator 6 in a manner not shown here and which when the desired temperature is reached Prevent the generation of further microwaves.

Preferably, the above-described components of the device according to the invention are arranged in or on a housing 34 which is designed and can be handled similarly to known tub washing machines.

To carry out the method described further above, the cavity resonator 2 is filled through the opening 31 with the items to be washed, for example textiles. After closing the opening 31 with the flap 30, the cavity interior becomes 3 fed through the inlet 21 aqueous washing liquid. This aqueous washing liquid gets onto the textiles and wets them. During this process, the textiles are moved by the rotating wing element 10. Unnecessary washing liquid, or one not yet taken up by the textiles, is sucked off in the outlet 15 and fed back via the return line 20 in the inlet 21 or, if desired, pumped into the outlet line 19. This process is carried out until the textiles in the cavity resonator are adequately wetted, in particular up to their maximum retention capacity, with the washing liquid. Thereupon the liquid, which may still be present in excess in the textiles and which may still be in the cavity resonator interior 3, is pumped out of the cavity resonator 2, possibly with the formation of a slight negative pressure, and passed into the drain line 19 or the suds storage container 23. The actual washing process described further above is then started. The wing element 10 is also kept rotating in the washing process. In order to subject the cavity resonator interior 3 to microwaves, the inlet 21 and the outlet 15 are covered with the closures 22 and 17 and the closure 7 is removed from the coupling hole 5. The microwave radiation that is now set in can be timed, intermittent or even, and can take place with constant or different power. If necessary, microwave irradiation can already take place when the aqueous liquid enters the cavity interior. This has the advantage that water vapor forms during the wetting process, which can penetrate particularly well into the pores of the textiles. The individual processes of supplying and, where appropriate, removing aqueous liquid and microwave radiation can be carried out alternately several times in succession, as already described above. After washing and / or Rinsing treatment of the textiles can also be dried in the device according to the invention, for which purpose the cavity resonator 2 is to be provided with air supply and steam removal in the manner of conventional exhaust air or condensation dryers, which is not described in more detail in the present figures.

The sequence of one or more washing and / or washing programs can be controlled and regulated by an automatic program (not shown here) and associated switching elements, as is customary in modern washing machines of known type.

Figures 2 and 3 show a device according to the invention in the manner of conventional drum washing machines. Here, the cavity resonator 35 is designed as a metal tub closed on all sides. The cavity resonator 35 is resiliently suspended in a housing 36. This resilient suspension consists of spring elements 37 acting externally on the cavity resonator 35 in its upper region and of shock absorbers 38 acting externally on the cavity resonator 35 in its lower region, which spring elements 37 and shock absorbers 38 are articulated to the housing 36 with their respective other ends. The cavity resonator interior 39 has a lying drum 40 made of plastic, which is provided in its radial side wall with sieve-like openings 41 and inner driver ribs 42. A drive shaft 43 is axially attached to the drum 40, which is led out of the cavity resonator through a wall of the cavity resonator 35 and ends in a further bearing in the region of an outer wall of the housing 36. A rotary movement that can be generated by means of an electric motor 44 is transmitted to the drive shaft 43 by means of a V-belt 45. Various speeds can be generated with the electric motor 44, in particular slow speeds which set the drum 40 in the usual washing rotation and faster speeds which set the drum 40 in the usual spin rotation. With their front area is the drum 40 is mounted in a groove 46 of a sheet metal wall 47 forming a side wall of the cavity resonator 35. Starting from the groove 46 delimiting a central opening 71 in the sheet metal wall 47, a rubber or plastic seal 48 seals the space 49 between the housing front wall 50 and sheet metal wall 47 in a watertight manner. The housing front wall 50 is made of metal and has in the area of the drum 40 a door 51 for filling the drum 40 with the items to be washed. The intermediate space 49 and the door 51 are sealed against the emergence of microwaves, in particular out of the housing 36, and each have a high frequency or microwave-proof shielding. The door 51 can have a viewing window made of glass with an inserted wire mesh for shielding the microwaves.

Analogous to the device according to FIG. 1, a hollow conductor 52 opens into the cavity resonator interior 39 and has a coupling hole 53 in the opening region. As also described for FIG. 1, microwaves can be generated in the waveguide 52 by means of a magnetron 54. Field distributors 55 and a base load 56 are arranged in the cavity resonator interior 39. Furthermore, an inlet 57 and an outlet 58 open into the cavity resonator interior 39. The coupling hole 53, the inlet 57 and the outlet 58 can be closed as described in FIG. 1 by means of movable closures 59, 60 and 61 in a microwave or watertight manner. The drain 58 is connected to a pump 63 by means of a line 62. A fluff filter 64 is arranged upstream of the pump 63 in the line 62. Liquid pumped out of the cavity resonator interior 39 can be fed from the pump 63 to a drain line 65 or a return line 66. The return line 66 opens into the inlet 57. Likewise, a fresh water supply line 67 opens into the return line 66 in the area of the inlet 57. A detergent dispenser 68 is arranged in line 67. To regulate the liquid flows in lines 65, 66 and 67 are in the return line 66 valves 69 and 70 are provided.

The area where the drive shaft 43 passes through the cavity resonator 35 is sealed in a microwave and water-tight manner by a bearing 72 in the manner of a labyrinth seal.

The washing process takes place in the devices according to FIGS. 2 and 3 analogously to that described for a device according to FIG. 1. Only here, of course, instead of the wing element 10, the drum 40 moves. The squeezing and removal of excess water or washing liquid present in the wetted material in the sense of the method according to the invention takes place in the device according to FIGS. 2 and 3 in that the rotational speed of the drum 40 increased briefly to spin speed and the liquid is pumped out by means of the pump 63. It is not necessary here for a slight negative pressure to be generated in the cavity resonator interior 39.

Both the drum and the wing element 10 can be set in rotation continuously or discontinuously, if desired by changing the direction of rotation.

A thermocouple 73, which extends into the interior of the drum 40, is arranged coaxially to the axis of the drive shaft 43. The thermocouple 73 is plastic-coated and its measuring tip 74 ends in the interior of the plastic cylinder 75 surrounding the thermocouple.

All elements made of plastic arranged in the cavity resonator 2 or 35, in particular the wing element 10 and the drum 40, consist of a high-temperature-resistant plastic, for example made of polycarbonate or polysulfone.

The microwave transmitter or generator 6 or 54 has one Power between 100 watts and 1.5 kilowatts. The microwave generator used in each case, as is known, for example, from the technology for microwave ovens, can be regulated to different power outputs. Likewise, the microwave generation can be constant, timed or intermittent. Of course, the device according to the invention is not limited to the use of a magnetron for microwave generation. Depending on the desired performance, a reflex klystron, a changing field tube, Gunn oscillators, avalanche delay diodes, microwave transistors or the like can also be used.

In a further embodiment, the device according to FIGS. 1 to 3 can have a security element arranged on the door 51 or the flap 30, which is effectively connected to the microwave generator and / or the devices regulating the liquid inflow and / or outflow, so that by means of the security element the Microwave generation or the liquid supply is interrupted.

Furthermore, the inlets 21 and 57 to the interior of the cavity resonator 2 and 35 can be designed as spray heads or nozzles.

Finally, ultrasound generators for generating ultrasound vibrations and / or UV radiation-emitting devices can be arranged in or on the cavity resonator 2 or 35, but in particular in the cavity resonator 2 designed as a metal tub.

Of course, individual elements, such as the moisture sensor 33 or the fluff filter 64 and the equipment of the cavity resonator with air supply and steam discharge for drying introduced goods, which are only described for one of the devices according to the invention, are on the other Attach device.

Further elements, such as electrical lines and modules for an automatic washing machine, which, however, are already necessary for the operation of conventional washing machines and are familiar to the person skilled in the art, are not shown in more detail in FIGS. 1 to 3. These correspond to the elements known from the usual washing machine technology.

Of course, the described embodiment of the device according to the invention can be modified in many ways without departing from the basic idea of the invention. Thus, of course, commercial washing machines can also be operated using the method according to the invention and can be provided with appropriate cavity resonators for microwave reflection. For example, in the case of discontinuous processes following the wetting or soaking process which has been customary to date, a device is conceivable in which the items to be washed are introduced into a plastic drum which can be subjected to microwaves and which is arranged in a metal housing. Likewise, to carry out a continuous process, an elongated drum of the rotary tube type is conceivable, which has a double drum section with an inner drum made of plastic, which can be exposed to microwave radiation, while the outer drum in this area and the subsequent drum areas, which may be designed as single drum sections, are made of metal , wherein the single-drum areas are optionally provided on the inside of the drum with microwave-absorbing material to form a reflection-free finish.

Examples

A commercially available microwave oven of the "Siemens HF 0650" brand is used as the microwave device, which provides for a time-controlled power input in the following stages: 90 W, 180 W, 360 W or 600 W. The radiated energy has a frequency of 2.45 GHz.

The washing tests are carried out with tissue samples which are soiled with standard dirt and which come from the applicant's own production.

The soiling initial values of the soiled test fabric used, determined by measuring the degree of remission with the Elrephomat DFC 5 (Carl Zeiss, Oberkochen, FRG), are as follows: Polyester-cotton blended fabric, refined (dust / skin grease soiling) 30.0 (% remission) Cotton refined (tea staining) 33 (% remission)

example 1

With a commercially available liquid heavy-duty detergent, a stock liquor is prepared which contains the liquid heavy-duty detergent in a 6-fold concentration compared to the detergent concentration used in normal textile washing.

Polyester / cotton blended fabric (SH-PBV) soiled with dust / skin oil is treated with an amount of the base liquor which is just sufficient to soak the textile material without forming substantial amounts of an additional serum phase. The soaked textile is placed in a glass jar in the microwave oven and then treated as follows:
10 sec irradiation with a power input of 180 watts
Removal of the textile from the stove and intensive circulation of the soaked textile sample
Re-irradiate the soaked textile in the microwave oven for 10 sec
Repetition of the intensive circulation of the irradiated, soaked textile sample
Repetition of the previously described two-stage work cycle, however, the irradiation time is only 5 seconds each.

The textile material pretreated in this way is then washed out with lukewarm water, dried and subjected to the determination of the remission value. Determined remission value: 71 (% remission).

Example 2

Under the operating conditions of Example 1, SH-PBV soiled test material is again subjected to the wetting under the action of microwaves with subsequent rinsing. However, the wetting is now carried out as follows:
Power input 180 watts, irradiation time 10 sec
Intensive textile mechanics by hand circulation
Again power input 180 watts for 10 sec.
Single rinsing of the washed material with lukewarm water and pressing the rinsed textile goods in a dry cloth.
Saturation of the prewashed textile goods with new concentrated wash liquor, again until the saturation value of the textile goods compared to the wash liquor is reached.
Subsequent repetition of the irradiation and between the switched textile mechanics as in the wetting processes before the fresh addition of fresh wash liquor.

The textile goods subjected to double washing in this way are carefully rinsed out with lukewarm water and dried, and their remission value is then determined to be 79.8 (% remission).

Example 3

A piece of textile (SH-PBV) soaked through with the concentrated soapy water is wrapped in a dry terry towel. The package is placed in the microwave oven and irradiated in two process stages for 30 seconds each with a power input of 600 watts.

The packet-shaped textile mass is removed from the microwave oven and opened. The dry covering of the terry towel shows no tangible warming up. However, the interior and especially the soaked soiled test fabric are heated up. The soiled test fabric has given deeply colored stains to the dry terry material.

The textile material to be washed is once again soaked with the concentrated soapy water and again wrapped in the dry terry towel. The textile package is then exposed again to the irradiation of 600 watts of power for a period of 30 seconds.

The hot rag is rinsed intensively with cold water, dried and used to determine the remission value. Measured value: 76.8 (% remission).

Example 4

Example 3 is repeated, but now, instead of a dry covering with terry cloth, the test fabric to be cleaned is covered with a wet terry cloth. The degree of saturation of the textile test material to be cleaned corresponds to the maximum retention capacity of this sample, the terry cloth is first completely wetted with pure water, but then squeezed out by hand and used in this form as a covering.

The working conditions of Example 3 are repeated.

Compared to the experiment in Example 3, the outer terry cloth is also heated up strongly in this experiment, whereby when the package is opened, it is shown that the temperature inside the package is obviously higher than it can be felt on the outer surface of the package.

The pre-wetted soiled test material is washed in lukewarm water and dried. The remission value of the washed and dried material is 80.7.

Example 5

Test fabric containing bleachable tea stain is impregnated with a concentrated wash liquor which contains a commercially available powdered heavy-duty detergent in a concentration of 5 to 6 times that of a conventional textile wash.

The impregnated textile material is treated in three irradiation sections, each with a power irradiation of 180 watts, first for 20 seconds and then 2 x 10 seconds. Between these periods of microwave radiation, the well-wetted textile is subjected to intensive manual circulation.

The pre-wetted material is washed out intensively with water. The color of the tea contamination has decreased or brightened overall. However, the following picture emerges in detail: There is an irregular brightening in such a way that the overall specimen is interspersed with punctiform areas that are almost pure white, while areas in between still show clear residues of the - although lightened - brown tea stains.

This phenomenon is evidently due to the following process: The sodium perborate tetrahydrate present as a bleach in the heavy-duty detergent used is poorly water-soluble and has not completely dissolved when the highly concentrated washing liquor is prepared. Crystals of this bleaching agent have been applied to the test textile together with the liquor, so that high bleaching potential is available at certain points. In the subsequent thermal treatment due to the action of microwaves, the uneven distribution of the bleaching agent becomes visible.

Overall, the bleaching result is roughly comparable to that of a cook wash using the same detergent.

Claims (38)

1. Method for the washing and rinsing of textile materials with watery liquids, which in a desired case contain components of washing and/or cleaning agents, with the use of increased temperatures through the influence of high-frequency oscillations of the microwave range (microwaves) on the soaked textile stock, wherein soaked textile stock, the total water content of which lies in the range of the natural retention capacity of the textile stock for the watery phase, is exposed to the influence of microwaves, characterised thereby, that this soaked textile stock is exposed to an intermittent influence of the microwaves during the washing stage and at least a first rinsing stage and in that case subjected additionally to the influence of textile mechanics, for example is rolled around, in stages or continuously during and/or between the phases of the microwave influence, while the rinsing operation is activated by microwaves In the indicated textile moisture range during the at least one rinsing stage and diluted further by rinsing liquid subsequently without microwave influence.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised thereby, that a multistage rinsing, in particular with not preheated watery phase, is undertaken in such a manner that at least one rinsing stage, preferably at least two and, in particular, two to five such rinsing stages are operated under the influence of microwaves.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised thereby, that one develops a rinsing stage activated by microwaves as following:
   addition of rinsing liquid to the soaked stock until the formation of a dirt-laden liquid phase beside the soaked textile stock, separation of this liquid phase, treatment of the soaked textile stock remaining behind by microwaves and subsequent renewed addition of rinsing liquid.
4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised thereby, that in the wetting step, the fibre microstructure of the textile stock including its dirtied regions is penetratingly wetted and ventilated with displacement of microdispersely distributed residual air.
5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised thereby, that the soaked textile stock is heated to temperatures in the range of 35°C to the boiling point of the watery phase, in particular to temperatures in the range of about 40 to 90°C.
6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised thereby, that a soaked textile stock, the liquid quantity of which does not lie above about twice the maximum retention capacity of the textile stock and preferably does not exceed this maximum value by more than about half, is exposed to the influence of microwaves.
7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised thereby, that weight ratios of dry textile weight to watery liquid phase in the range of 1:1 to 1:3, preferably in the range of about 1:1 to 1:2.5, are operated with.
8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised thereby, that wetting is done by a liquid phase, which contains washing components and, in particular, surface-active components and the content of which of these components lies higher, referred to the volume unit of the liquid phase, than for the usual textile laundry in watery liquor.
9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised thereby, that the content of washing components, in particular of washing-active surfactants, in the wetting stage corresponds, when referred to dry textile stock, to about the usual textile laundry in watery liquor.
10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised thereby, that the time duration of the wetting under the influence of microwaves amounts to no more than about 15 minutes, preferably to no more than about 10 minutes and in particular does not exceed about 5 minutes.
11. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised thereby, that the duration of the wetting with intermittent microwave influence is controlled in dependence on temperature in such a manner that wetting times are operated with, which are the shorter, the higher the temperature is set in the soaked textile stock.
12. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised thereby, that washing components for the elimination of problem contaminations, in particular bleaching agents and - if desired - activators for these and/or washing-active enzymes, are operated with in the presence or absence of further textile washing aids.
13. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised thereby, that dry and/or preliminarily wetted textile stock is used in the wetting with at least staged influence of microwaves.
14. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised thereby, that the washing and rinsing under the influence of microwaves is performed in that moisture range of the textile stock, which is bounded upwardly by about the maximum retention capacity of the textile for the liquid phase and downwardly by the residual moisture after a usual mechanical separation of the liquid phase, for example by centrifuging and/or pressing away.
15. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised thereby, that conventional textile washing agent compositions, for example complete textile-washing agents, are used for the treatment of the dirtied textile stock with wetting components and/or components cleaning in other manner or that the clearing operation is subdivided into a plurality of successive partial steps, for example eliminating of contaminations by pigment or fat and subsequent treatment of problem contaminations.
16. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised thereby, that the rinsing-out of the textile contamination is accelerated by the influence of ultrasonic waves, in particular of the frequency range of about 20 to 100 kilohertz, on the textile stock suspended in the rinsing bath.
17. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised thereby, that high-frequency electromechanical vibrations of the upper megahertz range and into the middle gigahertz range, in particular the range from about 0.1 to 300 gigahertz, preferably about 0.1 to 30 gigahertz, are used as microwaves.
18. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised thereby, that the drying of the treated stock also takes place under at least partial influence of microwaves.
19. Device for the washing and rinsing of fibrous substances, skins, textile materials or the like for the performance of the method according to one of the claims 1 to 18, which device comprises a cavity resonator (2, 35), into which microwaves generated by means of a microwave transmitter or generator (6, 54) are introducible through an energy conductor (4, 52), and an equipment (10, 40), which is arranged in the cavity resonator (2, 35), for the reception and movement of the stock introduced for washing and rinsing, as well as at least one inlet (21, 57) for the introduction of watery liquid into the cavity resonator (2, 35) and at least one outlet (15, 58) for loading liquid out of the cavity resonator (2, 35), wherein the watery liquid is pumpable away out of the interior space (3, 39) of the cavity resonator by means of a pump (18, 63), characterised thereby, that the power of the microwave generator (6, 54) is regulable and microwaves are generable intermittently by the generator and that the watery liquid is returnable to the interior space of the cavity resonator, in a given case subject to flowing through a reserve container (23).
20. Device according to claim 19, characterised thereby, that the cavity resonator (2, 35) consists of metal, the energy conductor (4, 52) is constructed as waveguide and the microwave generator (6, 54) is a magnetron.
21. Device according to claim 19 or one of the following, characterised thereby, that at least one field distributor, in particular a metal propeller (9, 55), is arranged in the cavity resonator (2, 35) in the region of the coupling hole (5, 53) of the energy conductor (4, 52).
22. Device according to claim 19 or one of the following, characterised thereby, that a base load, in particular constructed as glass plate (8, 56), is arranged in the cavity resonator (2, 35).
23. Device according to claim 19 or one of the following, characterised thereby, that the energy conductor (4, 52), the inlet (21, 57) and the outlet (15, 58) are partitionable off from the interior space (3, 39) of the cavity resonator against the passage of microwaves and/or water particularly by means of movable (7, 17, 22, 59, 60, 61) closures which cover these (4, 15, 21, 52, 57, 58) and are of metal or synthetic material.
24. Device according to claim 19 or one of the following, characterised thereby, that the equipment, which is arranged in the cavity resonator (2,35) for the reception and/or movement of the introduced stock, is an impeller element (10) or shaft wheel of metal or synthetic material or a drum (40), which is of synthetic material and provided in particular with sieve-like openings (41) and inwardly lying entraining ribs (42).
25. Device according to claim 24, characterised thereby, that the impeller element (10), the shaft wheel or the drum (40) consist of synthetic material resistant to high temperature.
26. Device according to claim 24 or 25, characterised thereby, that the impeller element (10), the shaft wheel or the drum (40) is movable by an electrical motor (14, 44), in a given case with an interconnected gear, in particular a worm gear (13).
27. Device according to claim 19 or one of the following, characterised thereby, that the cavity resonator (2, 35) is chargeable with stock to be washed through openings (31, 37) and the openings (31, 37) are closable in microwavetight and watertight manner by means of a door (51) or flap (30) provided high-frequency screening.
28. Device according to claim 27, characterised thereby, that the door (51) or flap (30) comprises a safety element which is operatively connected with the microwave generator (6, 54) and/or equipments regulating the inflow and/or outflow of liquid.
29. Device according to claim 19 or one of the following, characterised thereby, that an underpressure is settable in the interior space (3) of the cavity resonator by means of a pump (18).
30. Device according to claim 19 or one of the following, characterised thereby, that the cavity resonator (2) is constructed as metal tub (1) in the manner of usual tub washing machines.
31. Device according to claim 19 or one of the following, characterised thereby, that the cavity resonator (35) is constructed as resiliently suspended liquor container of metal with a drum (40) of synthetic material arranged therein in the manner of usual drum washing machines.
32. Device according to claim 19 or one of the following, characterised thereby, that temperature-measuring sensors (32, 73) and/or moisture-measuring sensors (33), in particular a thermocouple (73), which is sheathed in synthetic material and has a measuring tip (74) lying in the interior of a cylinder (75) of synthetic material, are arranged in the cavity resonator (2, 35) or in the drum (40).
33. Device according to claim 19 or one of the following, characterised thereby, that the inlet (21, 57) to the interior space (3, 39) of the cavity resonator is constructed as spray head or as spray nozzle.
34. Device according to claim 19 or one of the following, characterised thereby, that a fluff sieve (64) is arranged in the region of the outlet (15, 58).
35. Device according to claim 19 or one of the following, characterised thereby, that the parts of synthetic material, which are arranged in the interior space (3, 39) of the cavity resonator, in particular the impeller element (10), the shaft wheel or the drum (40), consist of synthetic materials of the group of the polycarbonates or polysulphones.
36. Device according to claim 19 or one of the following, characterised thereby, that ultrasonic generators are arranged in the cavity resonator (2, 35), particularly in that constructed as metal tub (1).
37. Device according to claim 19 or one of the following, characterised thereby, that equipments emitting ultraviolet radiation are arranged in the cavity resonator (2, 35).
38. Device according to claim 19 or one of the following, characterised thereby, that the interior space (3, 39) of the cavity resonator is provided with an air feed and a vapour exhaust in the manner of usual exhaust air driers or condensation driers for the drying of the introduced stock.

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