The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 25, 2001
Filed:
Apr. 26, 2001
James B. McClain, Raleigh, NC (US);
Timothy J. Romack, Durham, NC (US);
James P. DeYoung, Durham, NC (US);
R. Bradley Lienhart, Cary, NC (US);
Joseph M. DeSimone, Chapel Hill, NC (US);
Kenneth L. Huggins, Raleigh, NC (US);
Other;
Abstract
The present invention provides a dry cleaning process that facilitates distribution of detergent and solvent and (optionally) facilitates recovery of cleaning by-products in conjunction with the cleaning of articles at a dry cleaning facility. The process comprises the steps of: (a) receiving from a source a dry cleaning solvent at the dry cleaning facility, the solvent consisting essentially of carbon dioxide; (b) receiving a concentrated detergent formulation (preferably a liquid formulation) at the cleaning facility; (c) accepting from customers soiled articles to be cleaned at the cleaning facility; (d) mixing the dry cleaning solvent and the concentrated detergent formulation to provide a dry cleaning formulation comprised of from 30 or 40 to 99 percent by weight of carbon dioxide solvent; (e) cleaning the articles in a cleaning apparatus to produce cleaned articles; (f) at least periodically distilling the dry cleaning formulation to produce a still residue comprising surfactant and soil; and then (g) returning the cleaned articles to the customers. Optionally but preferably, the process further comprises the step of: (h) returning the still residue to a waste collector or reprocessor for suitable disposal.