EP0727174A1 - In a washing machine washable textile material of the mop or washing cloth type - Google Patents

Abstract

The textile material, for a floor- or dishcloth, has a base pattern formed at least by a weft with a float and a warp without float. Pref. the floats have a length of 0.5-2.5cm and pref. 0.8-1.2 cm, with floats on both sides of the fabric. The base pattern structure has at least one or two wefts without float for four or three wefts with float. With n warps, at least one weft has a greater float than n/2 where the weft passes over or under more than n/2 warps. In a base pattern with eight warps and five wefts, the first has a float of five warps, the second has a float of five warps on the other side, the third has no float, the fourth has a float of three warps or no float, and the fifth has no floats. The patterned surface has at least one reinforcement woven strip along the weft line and around the edge. The wefts are of cellulose fibres and the warps are fibres or filaments of polyester or a mixture of polyester and cotton fibres.

Description

The present invention relates to a textile support of the mop or mop type. Said textile support, of small thickness, has two faces, at least one of which has a certain relief. It is a cleaning tool obtained by weaving, which constitutes an improvement to cleaning tools of this type, existing to date. Said textile support according to the invention has the relief necessary for its effectiveness and keeps it, without real deformation, after washing in a washing machine at 60 ° C or even 90 ° C. The characteristics and performance of said textile support are developed further in the present description.

Generally, and in the context of this description, the term "mop" is used for textile supports, of a relative thickness (2 to 5 mm), of a grammage between about 400 and 600 g / m ² and very particularly intended washing floors. For the implementation of such a washing, said textile supports are used, whether or not associated with a tool of the brush broom type.

Generally, and in the context of this description, the term dishcloth is used for textile supports thinner than the mops (1.5 to 3 mm thick), with a grammage of between approximately 300 and 400 g / m ² and especially intended for washing surfaces (walls, for example ...) other than floors.

These cleaning tools, mops or mops, according to the prior art and according to the invention, are characterized by high capacity and speed of absorption of liquids as well as a certain ability to separate from the floor or other surface to be cleaned, by mechanical action, all that does not have place to remain there. This cleaning ability is all the more developed as the faces of said cleaning tools are provided with a greater relief.

Like any fabric, the textile support of the invention is a fabric formed by the perpendicular interlacing of two sets of threads: warp threads and weft threads.

We recall below some general concepts which are useful for understanding both the invention and its closest prior art. Said notions are also useful for the very definition of the invention. They are illustrated in Figure 1.

The warp is defined as all of the threads parallel to the direction of advancement of the fabric being manufactured on the loom; the weft being the set of wires perpendicular to those of the warp.

The mode of interweaving of the warp and weft threads is called armor and is represented by a so-called carding scheme. This scheme is realized on grid paper, each vertical row representing a warp thread and each horizontal row a weft thread. Each box then represents the intersection of a warp thread and a weft thread. In this diagram, by convention, we blacken the box if at this intersection, the warp thread passes over the weft thread. The white box is left empty if, at said intersection, the weft thread passes over the warp thread. On such a diagram, we represent the basic pattern which is repeated x times to constitute the armor.

We call float in weft, the effect obtained when the weft thread (or the weft) passes over (or under) several consecutive warp threads (at least two). On a carding scheme, such a float is therefore represented by at least two adjacent blackened, painted (or not blackened, unpainted) boxes on the same horizontal line. (We define, in a similar way, chain floats). It will be understood that, in general, to ensure a minimum of connections between the frame and the chain, on a carding scheme, one cannot have float over the entire length of a frame or a chain .

FIG. 1 shows a mapping of a "theoretical" weave which comprises four weft threads 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d and four warp threads 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d. The first weft thread 1a passes below three consecutive warp threads 2d, 2a and 2b; it is said that said weft yarn has a float of 3 (there are three adjacent blackened boxes on the horizontal row which represents said first weft yarn 1a). Neither the second weft thread 1b nor the third 1c has floated. They are linked as much as possible to the warp threads 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d (neither two adjacent blackened boxes, nor two adjacent white boxes are observed on the horizontal rows which represent said second and third weft threads 1b, 1c) . The fourth weft thread 1d passes over three consecutive warp threads 2c, 2d and 2a; it is said that said weft thread has a float of 3 (we observe three white boxes, not blackened, adjacent on the horizontal row which represents said fourth weft thread 1d).

Incidentally, it is noted here that said "theoretical" weave shown in FIG. 1 is a weave of the type that can be encountered in the structure of the textile supports of the invention. Within it, we find weft threads with float 1a and 1d and weft threads without float 1b and 1c ... We specify, further in this text, the characteristics of said textile supports of the invention, the characteristics their texture and their armor.

It is recalled that, in general, a textile support (a fabric) is only perfectly defined if one specifies, both, its weave and its texture (the characteristics of its weft and warp threads as well as the number of said threads in centimeters). All of these two data determines the properties of said textile support (of said fabric).

After this reminder of general notions, some details are provided below on the structure of textile supports of the mop or mop type (textile support according to the prior art and according to the invention; the characteristics of the present invention not being level of said texture).

To obtain the expected result in terms of capacity and absorption speed and also, advantageously, in terms of relief, large diameter yarns (1.5 to 5 mm) are used in the structure of said textile supports. , low twist, absorbent, generally yarns based on cellulosic fibers. Such threads are often prepared from waste. They are based on viscose fibers, cotton and can contain polyester, polyamide, acrylic fibers ... They generally intervene at the rate of 4 to 7 threads per centimeter.

Said wires have very little mechanical resistance and it is therefore necessary to involve other wires in the structure of said supports to ensure good cohesion and relative solidity to the assembly. Said other wires must not, however, alter the absorption capacity and speed of said assembly too much.

For this purpose, we usually associate with cellulosic yarns (in fact, in a mainly cellulosic material) pure polyester yarns or filaments or yarns based on a polyester / cotton blend, very fine and very few (there are generally from 5 to 7 per centimeter; and rather about 6 to the centimeter). With a very low absorption capacity, these do not however affect the absorption performance of the assembly insofar as, thanks to their finesse and due to their low number, they do not hide the large wires absorbent.

Thus, today, all textile supports of the mop or dishcloth type are composed of very fine warp threads (from 10 to 60 meters per 1 gram) based on polyester and weft threads based on cellulosic fibers more large (from 1 to 3 meters for 1 gram).

Said weft threads and warp threads are interlaced according to different types of weave.

The simplest is the canvas weave. It is characterized by the fact that each warp thread passes alternately above and below each weft thread and vice versa. FIG. 2a shows the mapping of this type of armor. The textile supports based on this weave, within which there is a maximum interlacing of the warp and weft threads, have a almost smooth surface. Their scouring activity is very weak. They are considered coarse, low-end products.

We find on the market more sophisticated products called embossed products which, to ensure effective cleaning, develop a certain scouring action, present on their surfaces parts in relief. On each of their faces, we created a streak effect through a particular type of weave called embossing or honeycomb. According to this type of weave, each weft thread has a float, more or less long, but always with a length of between 0.5 and 2.5 cm.

There is shown in Figure 2b, the mapping of such a type of armor. The weave shown has six weft threads and eight warp threads.

The first weft thread has a float of 5 (said thread passes consecutively under five warp threads).

The second weft thread has a float of 3 (said thread passes consecutively under three warp threads); said float of 3 is positioned symmetrically under the previous float of 5.

The third weft thread also has a float of 3 (said thread passes consecutively over three warp threads); said float of 3 is offset from the previous one.

The fourth weft thread has a float of 5 (said thread passes consecutively over five warp threads); shifted.

The fifth weft thread has a float of 3 (said thread passes consecutively over three warp threads); positioned in the same way as the previous float of 3.

The sixth weft thread, finally, has a float of 3 (said thread passes consecutively under three warp threads); identical to that of the second weft thread.

As indicated above, in the basic pattern of this weave, each weft thread has a float.

To date, there is therefore on the market this type of embossed textile support which gives complete satisfaction both in terms of aesthetics and in terms of efficiency. The honeycomb weave gives the two faces of said textile support an adequate relief.

However, these textile supports of the prior art have a major drawback. They do not support washing in a washing machine. At the end from such washing, they are found completely deformed; the deformation being irreversible. The washed product undulates strongly and becomes almost unusable.

It is to this technical problem of the stability in a washing machine of textile supports with relief that the present invention proposes a solution. It will be noted incidentally that said technical problem does not offer any analogy with the problems of shrinkage or deformation during washing of clothing textiles, which are themselves of different composition and structure. Said technical problem is, in the context of the invention, inherent in the nature of the intervening yarns (presence of weft yarns of large diameter, with low twist, linked with very fine and very few warp yarns) and to their arrangement within the armor (arrangement with floats, intended to generate the relief necessary for efficiency).

According to the invention, textile supports with relief of a new type are proposed which have the capacity to withstand washing in a washing machine at 90 ° C., without exhibiting any ripple phenomenon and while retaining said relief necessary for their efficiency. Such textile supports are advantageously used, with periodic washing in a washing machine, for cleaning local communities and in particular hospitals.

Therefore, according to the present invention, textile supports of the mop or mop type are provided, having two faces, at least one of which has a certain relief and a small thickness. Said textile supports, conventionally, consist of weft yarns of large diameter made of an absorbent material and fine warp yarns made of a resistant material; said weft threads and warp threads being, on most, if not all, of the surface of said supports, crisscrossed, to generate said relief, according to a weave having a basic pattern. (Said weft threads and warp threads intervene, as already specified, both, few in number per centimeter).

Typically, said basic pattern of the weave comprises at least one weft thread with float and at least one weft thread without float. Said basic pattern generally comprises weft threads with float and weft threads without float. It is incidentally recalled here that on the carding diagram of said basic pattern, there is no float over the entire length of a weft or a warp (thus the basic pattern which comprises only two weft threads must have at least four warp threads). The alternation within the meaning of the invention (frame (s) with float / frame (s) without float) is a more or less regular alternation which successively involves at least one (one or more) frame (s) with float and at least one (one or more) frame (s) without float.

To solve the technical problem mentioned above, the Applicant has modified the weave of the embossed textile supports according to the prior art.

The textile supports of the invention are produced from the same materials (weft threads of the same kind, warp threads of the same kind) and by the same technique (weaving) as those of the prior art (embossed textile supports, with honeycomb armor). They have the same texture as said textile supports of the prior art of the mop or dishcloth type. They are distinguished from these by the structure of the armor. Their armor comprises at least one weft thread with float and at least one weft thread without float. Generally, it comprises weft threads with float and weft threads without float. The weft (s) with float, which gives (s) the relief is (are) thus, in the structure of the textile supports of the invention, framed (s) and maintained (s) by wefts with maximum intersection .

Weaves of the type recommended in the context of the present invention have been described, in particular in an article entitled "New fundamental armors" of the Textile Industry (1982) June, No 1123, Paris (Fr), pp. 538-539 and implemented, in particular for making ties (see GB-A-2 280 685) and coated fabrics (see GB-A-962 693), with weft threads and warp threads, both very fine, which are very numerous in the centimeter. Their implementation, in the context of the present invention, with a totally different texture: with large weft threads (whose diameter is greater than a millimeter) and fine warp threads, both of which are few in number per centimeter (implementation which leads to very interesting results) has never been described or suggested in the prior art.

As indicated above, the basic pattern of the specific weave is reproduced on the entire surface of the textile supports of the invention or on only the major part thereof. In this second hypothesis, we generally find associated with said specific weave, canvas weave. Such canvas weave (as shown diagrammatically in the appended FIG. 2a) can be used according to at least one strip, advantageously colored, in the direction of the weft and / or over all or part of the periphery of the textile support of the invention. According to the prior art, a canvas weave with the honeycomb weave ...

The floats within the armor according to the invention are analogous to those of the prior art. They generally have a length of between 0.5 and 2.5 cm, advantageously between 0.8 and 1.2 cm.

Conventionally, they are advantageously distributed on the two faces of the textile support. This provides relief on both sides and cohesion to the whole.

• l'efficacité au nettoyage, directement liée à l'importance du relief ;
• la stabilité au lavage en machine à laver, directement liée à la force de liage des fils entre eux ;
• l'esthétique du support.

In the context of the invention, attempts have been made to optimize the proposed armor, according to which the floats imparting the relief are stabilized. To this end, the following three optimization criteria have been taken into account:

• cleaning efficiency, directly linked to the importance of the relief;
• stability in washing in a washing machine, directly linked to the bonding strength of the threads together;
• the aesthetics of the support.

• au sein du motif de base de l'armure des supports de l'invention, on trouve avantageusement au moins un fil de trame sans flotté (à liage maximum) pour quatre fils de trame avec flotté (on génère ainsi un relief avec un liage conséquent);
• au sein du motif de base de l'armure des supports de l'invention, on trouve, encore plus avantageusement, deux fils de trame sans flotté pour trois fils de trame avec flotté (on génère ainsi un relief avec un liage plus conséquent);
• selon un mode de réalisation préféré, au sein du motif de base de l'armure des supports de l'invention, motif de base qui comporte n fils de chaîne (on parle aussi d'une armure dont le rapport d'armure en chaîne est n), on trouve au moins un fil de trame avec un flotté supérieur à $\frac{\text{n}}{\text{2}}$
  
  (ledit fil de trame passe sur ou sous plus de fils $\frac{\text{n}}{\text{2}}$
  
  de chaîne)(on optimise ainsi le relief généré).

As part of this optimization:

• within the basic pattern of the weave of the supports of the invention, there is advantageously at least one weft thread without float (with maximum binding) for four weft threads with float (this generates a relief with a consequent binding );
• within the basic pattern of the weave of the supports of the invention, there are, even more advantageously, two weft threads without float for three weft threads with float (this generates a relief with a more substantial binding);
• according to a preferred embodiment, within the basic pattern of the weave of the supports of the invention, basic pattern which comprises n warp threads (we also speak of a weave whose warp weave ratio is n), there is at least one weft thread with a float greater than $\frac{\text{not}}{\text{2}}$
  
  (said weft thread passes over or under more threads $\frac{\text{not}}{\text{2}}$
  
  chain) (this optimizes the relief generated).

• - le premier fil de trame présente un flotté de 5 ;
• -le second fil de trame présente également un flotté de 5 (avantageusement positionné sous le précédent et sur la même face) ;
• - le troisième fil de trame ne présente pas de flotté ;
• - le quatrième fil de trame présente un flotté de 3 (sur la face opposée à celle présentant lesdits flottés de 5) ;
• - le cinquième fil de trame ne présente pas de flotté.

Thus, according to the invention, a particularly preferred type of armor has been developed. Its mapping is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3a. The basic pattern of this weave has five weft threads and eight warp threads. Said weft and warp threads are arranged so that:

• - the first weft yarn has a float of 5;
• the second weft thread also has a float of 5 (advantageously positioned under the previous one and on the same face);
• - the third weft yarn does not float;
• - the fourth weft yarn has a float of 3 (on the face opposite to that having said floats of 5);
• - the fifth weft thread does not show any float.

The relative positioning of the floats of 5 and that of 3 has been optimized to generate the relief and yet ensure minimum binding.

This weave allows in particular the development of textile supports, pleasing to the eye, efficient, stable after washing in a washing machine, using materials conventionally used for the preparation of known supports with conventional weaving techniques.

A neighboring armor, shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3c, also constitutes an advantageous variant of the invention. It differs from the previous one in that the fourth weft thread does not have any float.

As already indicated in the present text, the weft yarns are generally based on cellulose fibers while the warp yarns are generally based on polyester fibers or filaments or a mixture of polyester fibers / cotton fibers.

It is recalled here that within the textile supports of the invention, the weft threads (large threads with a diameter greater than one millimeter, generally greater than or equal to 1.5 mm) generally have a metric number between 1 and 3 while warp threads (fine threads) generally have a metric number between 10 and 60. It is also indicated, for all practical purposes, that one generally finds within said supports, from 4 to 7 weft threads to the centimeter (for generally 5 to 7, around 6, warp threads to the centimeter).

Throughout the present text, we have positioned the weft threads and the warp threads as is done logically for practical reasons. We talked about float for said weft threads. It is by no means excluded to develop the invention in a reverse context (<---> warp frame).

The invention is now briefly reconsidered with reference to the appended figures.

Figure 1, as indicated above in this text, illustrates the "principle" of the invention and the definitions proposed in the preamble of said text.

Figure 2a, as indicated above in this text, shows the mapping of the canvas weave (prior art).

Figure 2b, as indicated above in this text, shows the carding of the embossed or honeycomb (prior art) armor.

Figures 3a, 3b and 3c show three layouts of weaves suitable for the structure of textile supports of the invention; weaves which have patterns comprising weft yarns with float and weft yarns without float.

FIG. 3a illustrates the preferred variant of the invention. FIG. 3c illustrates a variant close to said preferred variant.

These two weaves have five weft threads and eight warp threads.

It is observed that the armor according to FIG. 3a contains 3 float wefts for 2 without float while the armor according to FIG. 3c contains 2 float wefts for 3 without float. Said armor according to FIG. 3c distinctly comprises a part giving the relief (upper part: the first two weft threads) and a part ensuring the mechanical strength (lower part: the last three weft threads).

Figure 3b illustrates another variant of the invention. According to the latter, the weave comprises six weft threads and eight warp threads. It is observed that said armor contains 4 float wefts for 2 without float.

• l'armure toile (Fig. 2a) qui ne renferme pas de flotté ;
• l'armure gaufrée (Fig. 2b) dont chaque fil de trame présente un flotté.

Whatever the variant embodiment of the invention, an alternation is observed at the level of the basic pattern of the weave, a combination of weft yarn (s) with float and weft yarn (s) without float ( said combination respecting the basic principle: no float over the entire length of a weft or warp). This perfectly distinguishes the armor of the invention from that according to the prior art:

• the canvas weave (Fig. 2a) which does not contain float;
• the embossed weave (Fig. 2b) in which each weft thread has a float.

The washing machine washing stability of the textile supports of the invention was checked. In particular, samples of such supports were washed - supports whose warp and weft threads are crisscrossed according to the three weaves whose carding is as shown in FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c - with a mass of 1,700 g ± 150 g in a Thomson washing machine. The washing cycle was carried out under the following conditions: Temperature 90 ° C Amount of detergent 92 g ± 2 g prewash (Mentor laundry) 92 g ± 2 g washing Cycle time about 2 h 30 min (450 rpm) Spinning 850 rpm.

Said samples after such washing were found to be slightly shrunk but in no way deformed. No ripples were observed on their surface.

Claims (10)

Textile support of the mop or mop type, having two faces, at least one of which has a certain relief and a small thickness, consisting of weft yarns of large diameter made of an absorbent material and fine warp yarns of a material resistant; said weft threads and warp threads being on most, if not all, of the surface of said support, intertwined, to generate said relief, in a weave having a basic pattern, characterized in that said basic pattern comprises at least a weft yarn with float and at least one weft yarn without float. Textile support according to claim 1, characterized in that said floats have a length of between 0.5 and 2.5 cm, advantageously between 0.8 and 1.2 cm. Textile support according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the said floats are distributed on the two faces of the said support. Textile support according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, within said basic pattern, there is at least one weft thread without float for four weft threads with float. Textile support according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, within said basic pattern, there are two weft threads without float for three weft threads with float. Textile support according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, within said basic pattern which comprises n warp threads, there is at least one weft thread with a float greater than $\frac{\text{not}}{\text{2}}$

(said weft thread passes over or under more than $\frac{\text{not}}{\text{2}}$

warp threads). Textile support according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said basic pattern comprises, for eight warp threads, five weft threads: - the first with a float of 5 (said weft thread passes over or under five warp threads), - the second with a float of 5 (said weft thread passes over or under five warp threads), positioned under the previous one, - the third without float, - the fourth with a float of 3 (said weft thread passes under or over three warp threads) or without float, - the fifth without float. Textile support according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it has on its surface, in addition to said repeated basic pattern, at least one strip in plain weave, in the direction of the weft. Textile support according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a perimeter in canvas weave. Textile support according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said weft threads are based on cellulosic fibers and said warp threads are based on polyester fibers or filaments or a mixture of polyester fibers / cotton fibers.

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