CLEANING APPARATUS AND METHOD

摘要

The present invention provides a cleaning apparatus for cleaning at least one soiled substrate with a multiplicity of solid particles, the apparatus comprising: an external casing defining the external perimeter of the apparatus, said external casing defining at least an upper internal volume and a lower internal volume; a perforate drum arranged in the upper internal volume and configured for rotation about a horizontal axis, for agitation of the at least one soiled substrate during a cleaning process; a partition sealingly dividing the upper internal volume from the lower internal volume, the partition including a collecting region configured to collect and retain wash liquor and solid particles of said multiplicity of solid particles released from the drum during a cleaning process; a recirculating arrangement configured to transfer particles of said multiplicity of solid particles from said collecting region to said drum; wherein an internal surface of a wall of said external casing arranged substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum is juxtaposed to said drum proximate the intersection of said internal surface with a plane forming a horizontal bisector of the drum, the collecting region has a maximum fill level for said wash liquor and solid particles, and the drum and the collecting region are positioned such that no part of the drum is present in any part of the collecting region which is at or below said maximum fill level.

主权项

1. A cleaning apparatus for cleaning at least one soiled substrate with a multiplicity of solid particles, the apparatus comprising:
an external casing defining the external perimeter of the apparatus, said external casing defining at least an upper internal volume and a lower internal volume; a perforate-drum arranged in the upper internal volume and configured for rotation about a horizontal axis, for agitation of the at least one soiled substrate during a cleaning process; a partition sealingly dividing the upper internal volume from the lower internal volume, the partition including a collecting region configured to collect and retain wash liquor and solid particles of said multiplicity of solid particles released from the drum during a cleaning process; a recirculating arrangement configured to transfer solid particles of said multiplicity of solid particles from said collecting region to said drum; wherein an internal surface of a wall of said external casing arranged substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum is juxtaposed to said drum proximate the intersection of said internal surface with a plane forming a horizontal bisector of the drum; the collecting region has a maximum fill level for said wash liquor and solid particles, and the drum and the collecting region are positioned such that no part of the drum is present in any part of the collecting region which is at or below said maximum fill level.