Continuous batch tunnel washer and method

摘要

A method of washing fabric articles in a tunnel washer includes moving the fabric articles from the intake of the washer to the discharge of the washer through first and second sectors that are a pre-wash zone. Liquid can be counter flowed in the wash interior along a flow path that is generally opposite the direction of travel of the fabric articles. The main wash zone can be heated as an option. In the wash zone, there is a pre-rinse and/or a rinse. The fabric articles are transferred to a water extraction device that enables removal of excess water. A sour solution can be added to the fabric articles while extracting excess water.

主权项

1. A method of washing fabric articles, comprising the steps of:
a) providing a reservoir of washing liquid; b) providing a continuous batch washing machine having an interior for holding fabric articles and multiple modules, a hopper for enabling addition of fabric articles to the interior one module being an inlet module, one module being an outlet module, multiple of said modules being dual use modules that function as both wash modules and rinse modules, the dual use modules including at least a downstream module and an upstream module, and the fabric articles having a particular batch time that the fabric articles spend in each of said dual use modules before being transferred to the adjacent downstream dual use module for further processing; c) placing fabric articles to be washed in the inlet module; d) sequentially transferring the fabric articles from one module to another module until the fabric articles travel from the inlet module to the outlet module and through the dual use modules; e) pumping the washing liquid from the reservoir to the washing machine interior in step “d”; f) during a first period of a particular batch time the fabric articles are spending in a particular dual use module, not flowing a rinsing liquid in the washer interior for a selected time interval after step “e”, so that a standing bath condition is created in the particular dual use module for the fabric articles; g) after step “f” during a second period of time of the particular batch time the fabric articles are spending in the particular dual use module, pulse flowing fluid to the fabric articles for a selected time interval in one or more of the dual use modules that function as rinse modules; h) after the end of the particular batch time of steps “f” and “g” transferring the fabric articles in the particular dual use module to the adjacent downstream dual use module; and i) wherein liquid is recirculated from the inlet module to the hopper.