Micell Technologies, Inc.

Kenneth Grakauskas

James B McClain

Timothy J Romack

Gary C Schrebe

A wash tank adapted for use with a carbon dioxide cleaning medium has a body member having a front opening formed therein, the body member having side walls and a back wall opposite the front opening. The side walls terminate in a front body member edge portion that defines the front opening. The edge portion serves in the sealing mechanism, as discussed below. A substantially cylindrical basket is disposed within the body member for rotation about a generally horizontal axis. The basket has a front opening formed therein, and has a side wall and a back wall opposite the front opening. The basket side wall terminates in a front basket edge portion defining the basket front opening. The said basket edge portion is spaced forward from the body member edge portion when the basket is positioned in the body member, serving to prevent loose garments or materials placed within the basket from becoming caught in the seal and interfering with seal integrity. A drive mechanism is included to rotate the basket about the axis. A door is hingeably connected to the body member, with the door having front wall and side walls, and with the side walls terminating in an inner edge portion configured to abut said body member edge portion. The door inner edge portion and the body member edge portion comprise a seal for sealing the door and body member to form an enclosed pressure vessel. A lock mechanism is connected to the body member and configured to sealably connect the body member outer edge portion with the door inner edge portion when the door is in a closed position. A plug is connected to the door, the plug having a surface portion configured to abut the basket front opening when the door is closed, yet permitting rotation of the basket within the body member while preventing items within the said basket from escaping during rotation of said basket. Methods and systems employing the tank are also disclosed.

Cleaning apparatus

A wash tank adapted for use with a carbon dioxide cleaning medium has a body member having a front opening formed therein, the body member having side walls and a back wall opposite the front opening. The side walls terminate in a front body member edge portion that defines the front opening. The edge portion serves in the sealing mechanism, as discussed below. A substantially cylindrical basket is disposed within the body member for rotation about a generally horizontal axis. The basket has a front opening formed therein, and has a side wall and a back wall opposite the front opening. The basket side wall terminates in a front basket edge portion defining the basket front opening. The said basket edge portion is spaced forward from the body member edge portion when the basket is positioned in the body member, serving to prevent loose garments or materials placed within the basket from becoming caught in the seal and interfering with seal integrity. A drive mechanism is included to rotate the basket about the axis. A door is hingeably connected to the body member, with the door having a front wall and side walls, and with the side walls terminating in an inner edge portion configured to abut said body member edge portion. The door inner edge portion and the body member edge portion comprise a seal for sealing the door and body member to form an enclosed pressure vessel. A lock mechanism is connected to the body member and configured to sealably connect the body member outer edge portion with the door inner edge portion when the door is in a closed position. A plug is connected to the door, the plug having a surface portion configured to abut the basket front opening when the door is closed, yet permitting rotation of the basket within the body member while preventing items within the said basket from escaping during rotation of said basket.

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Sanford, MI, United States of America

Kenneth Grakauskas