Cleaning apparatus for soiled substrates having a removable cage sealing means

摘要

The invention provides an apparatus and method for use in the cleaning of soiled substrates, the apparatus comprising: (a) housing means, having: (i) a first upper chamber having mounted therein a rotatably mounted cylindrical cage, and (ii) a second lower chamber located beneath said cylindrical cage; (b) at least one recirculation means; (c) access means; (d) a multiplicity of delivery means; and (e) sealing means, wherein said sealing means is removably attached to the outer surface of the cylindrical side walls of said rotatably mounted cylindrical cage, and is adapted to prevent the ingress or egress of fluids and solid particulate matter from the interior of said cage. The method involves cleaning the soiled substrate by treatment of the substrate with a formulation comprising solid particulate cleaning material and wash water, the method being carried out using the apparatus of the invention, and the apparatus and method find particular application in the cleaning of textile fabrics.

主权项

1. An apparatus for use in the cleaning of soiled substrates, said apparatus comprising:
(a) housing means, having:
(i) a first upper chamber having mounted therein a rotatably mounted cylindrical cage, and(ii) a second lower chamber located beneath said cylindrical cage; (b) at least one recirculation means, wherein said at least one recirculation means optionally comprises pumping means; (c) access means; (d) a multiplicity of delivery means; and (e) sealing means, wherein said rotatably mounted cylindrical cage comprises a plurality of perforations in its cylindrical side walls, thereby allowing for ingress and egress of fluids, fine particulate materials and discrete particulate materials, wherein said sealing means is removably attached to the surface of the cylindrical side walls of said rotatably mounted cylindrical cage, and is adapted to prevent the ingress or egress of fluids and solid particulate matter from the interior of said cage by covering said perforations, wherein said cage optionally comprises a cylinder with a diameter in the region of 75 to 120 cm and an optional length of between 40 and 100 cm.