Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
, ~ 21~9S22
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a dry wipe which can be
wetted for cleaning and removing unwanted grease, paint,
grime and inks, after which the fabric can be rinsed, wrung
out, dried and reused.
BACKGROUI~D OF THE INV~NTION
Presently untreated trh~mic~lly or otherwise) cotton
or synthetic fibre wipes are extensively used by almost all
mechanics, printers and other industrial organizations. The
wipes, today are meant simply to wipe articles, machines,
hands and equipment. Rental agencies provide a delivery
and pick-up service oE wipes and rags throughout the
industrial world. Clean wipes or rags are delivered to
shops and factories on rnonthly or a weekly basis and dirty
wipes or rags are picked-up on a prearranged schedule. The
purpose of these rental wipes is, to wipe of f the excess
grease, grime or any thing that the operator wants to wipe,
or when the operator wants to really clean, the operator
generally dips the wipe or rag in a solvent, like petroleum
sprits or other solvent In the case of printers inks from
rollers or printing machines, these are generally removed
by using rags or wipes soaked with solvents, mineral
sprits, alcohol or thinners. The use of these solvents has
not only become a health hazard but a f ire hazard on
highways as these rag~ and wipes are transported from
printers, mechanics and garages to the recycling depot, for
the purpose of cleaning. Many cases of explosion and fires
have been reported on highways.
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21~9522
Recent innovation in so called "Substantially Dry
Wipes" (see CAnA~;An Patent No.2,002,952, US Patent No.
4,946,617 and 5,094,770) uses a non aqueous solution to
impregnate a fl ~Yihl~o matrix. This does not satisfy the
cleaning needs of printers or mechanics as these
impregnated wipes do n~t have the chemistry that will
dissolve inks or paints. These wipes are not totally dry
and are costly to produce. The process of coating these
wipes is carried out by means printing or transferring
chemicals from rollers and plates. The matrix is required
to be in continuous roll, and it does not lent itself to
coating individual pieces of matrix, therefore recycling of
wipes may be dif f icult. The process of coating as
described in CAnA~;An pa1:ent No.2,002,952, will not be able
to coat thin fabrics. A major ingredient used in this
(CAnA~liAn patent No.2,002,ss2) is propylene glycol which
has a flash point of 103C degrees, which may be a cause of
f ire.
BRIEF ~S~MMARY OF THE INVENTION
A dry wipe capable of being wetted, and then used for
cleaning and removing organic films, such as grease, grime,
wet paint inks (printing or otherwise~ from almost any
surface such as plastic, metal, fabric or skin, when wiped
with the wipe, moistened or wetted with water. After
wiping the unwanted material, the wipe can be rinsed with
water, wrung out, dried and used again. The wipe is a
fabric, woven or non woven, made from natural or synthetic
fibre, the fabric having been uniformly impregnated
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`` 21~9~22
(through adsorption), either by immersion or spraying with
an aqueous solution comprising up to 95 % a non-ionic
surfactant, up to 10% triethanolamine and the L~ i n-l~r
being water. Optionally a corrosion inhibitor can be added
to the said solution imparting a corrosion free surface to
metal after it has been cleaned.
Another option i; to add builders in the said
solution, such as adding sodium metasilicate, sodium
hydroxide, trisodium phosphate and
ethyl~n~ m;n~tetraacetic acid (EDTA) salt, in order to
make the said solution more active. The quantities of each
of these compounds and other such inorganic compounds will
be guided by the amour~t of activity required, area of
application, health and enviror~ment concerns.
The fabric, after immer6ion or spraying in a
continuous manner or otherwise through the said liquid
(aqueou~ solution), is passed thorough a squeegee or a
pinch roller system to remove the aqueous solution,
rendering the said fabric essentially dry. The said
impregnated fabric is then dried either in sun or air or
both, or passed through hot rollers or an open oven to
remove the rc---;n;n~ water resulting in a dry fabric. The
said fabric is then cut to the desired sizes and packaged.
It is important to note that this invention allows not
only a continuous fabric to be i."~L~..ated but separate
pieces may be processed in present day washing and drying
machines. The laundry equipment will be able to process
new fabric pieces, or reprocessing used wipes that will be
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2159522
`. --
washed in the washing machine, rinsed, spin dried and
impregnated, by simply using the aqueous solution as a
rinse solution and collccting the unabsorbed solution on so
called "sud saver" cycle, while the fabric pieces are spun
dried. The spun dried fabric piece6 then can be processed
through a normal home or industrial drier.
Yet another advan1:age of this invention is that the
yarn (thread) can be impregnated, through adsorption ,with
the said aqueous solution, dried and used to produce fabric
and subsequently used as dry wipes.
In the present inv/ ention it may be pref erable in some
cases to use a less adsorbing fabric. Experiments indicate
that synthetics may provide a better cleaning ability and
abrasive action in some cases as compared to natural fibres
such as cotton or foa1n. ~he following fabrics have been
f ound to provide good results when impregnated, through
adsorption, using the said aqueous solution and
subsequently used as wipes:
(a) Polyester
(b) Nylon
( c ) Acetate
(d) Cotton
( e ) Rayon
and a combination thereof. Cotton and Rayon are generally
less desirable as wipe substrates as compared to synthetic
materials .
It is a well known fact that compounds containing
halides (such as are described in r;~nA~ n Patent No.
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2159~2~
2,002,952) do cause irritation of the skin and corrosion of
metals . In the present invention such c~ ~ _ ullds are
avoided .
In the present invention a single composition fulfils
the needs of a vast majority of industry and household
cleaning needs. The aqueous solution reduces the hazards
of pollution and personal health, which were present in
prior art practices. Ilo the present invention, even though
the water has left the i,l,~Lu~llated the fabric during
drying, the wipe regains the lost water when moistened
prior to use, and the chemistry reaches almost the aqueous
stage it started with. The present invention does not use
any fragrance to mask or camouflage any odour that other
products may have in the matrix.
It is principal object of the invention to provide a
surface cleaning system, wipe or a fabric which when
moistened or wetted with water, cleans and removes films
such as grease, inks, uncured or wet paint and grime,
without spreading or smearing over the surface. This
invention is not necessarily designed to remove dust per se
or inorganic salts.
It is another object of the invention to provide
corrosion free cleanin~ of most metal surfaces, and other
material6 such as plastic, rubber and f abrics such as
upholstery materials, a s well as natural materials such as
wood, without adversely effecting the surfaces in most
cases. The chemistry of the said solution is designed not
to irritate most skins Under normal use and conditions,
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~ 21S9~2~
it is relatively l~uch less hazardous and more
environmentally friendly.
The various features of novelty which characterize the
invention are pointed ~ut with more particularity in the
claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
For a better understanding of the invention, its operating
advantages and specific objects attained by its use,
reference should be had to the ~ nying drawings and
descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and
described preferred embodiments of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF A SPEC~FIC RMRnnIMRNT:
The present invention relates to a dry wipe capable
of cleaning and removing organic and a combination of
inorganic unwanted materials such as inks, printing or
others, paints (uncured), greases and grime, from most
surfaces, including skin as well as fabrics (clothing and
upholstery). The dry wipe comprises a substrate made from
synthetic or natural fibres. The preferred substrate is a
fabric, non-woven, wovel~, knitted or formed by other means.
The fabric can be made from natural or synthetic fibres or
a mixture thereof.
The fabric is treated with an aqueous solution
comprising 5% to 9596 a non-ionic surfactant, such as a
modified fatty alcohol, between 0.0% to 10% triethanolamine
and the balance being water. In order to increase the
activity of the wipe another option is to add O .1% to 4 . o%
sodium metasilicate and O .1% to 1. 0% sodium hydroxide and
0.1~ to ~ et yl-~Ai ~n~tet :"ce~ ~ ~cid ::lt. A
2159~22
second option is to boost corrosion inhibition properties
of triethanolamine's by inrlll~l;n~ 0.1% to 0.5% boric acid.
The said fabric is dipped, soaked or sprayed until
each fibre in the said fabric is totally wet with the said
aqueous solution. The fabric i6 then passed through a
squeegee or a pinch roller or spin dryer, whereby excess
aqueous solution is reDIoved as well as ensuring that each
f ibre was able to adsorb the said aqueous solution . The
fabric is then dried naturally or by means of radiant heat.
According to one aspect of the invention there is
provided an aqueous solution comprising water and:
A) Non-ionic surfactant and detergent for example a
modified fatty alcohol, ethoxylate propoxylate,
B) Softening agent for example triethanolamine,
C) An aid in saponiflcation, emulsification of oils and
fats, corrosion inhibition and solubilization of paints and
some proteinaceous materials, for example sodium
metasilicate,
D) Water, which can be from the tap, or better.
Formula ~4 1
1) Non-ionic surfactant
Fatty alcohol ethoxylate propoxylate 8. 5%
2 ) Triethanolamine 6 . 0%
3) Sodium metasilicate 0.9%
4) Water 84 . 6%
In the blending process for the aqueous solution, the
ino ganic ~alt s~dium m--t silicate ~s di~ ved in water
2159~22
prior to mixing wit~l the rest of the ingredients.
Preferably the following 6equence of blending is to be
followed to blend the aqueous solution:
1~ Weigh out triethanolamine and transfer to a blending
tank (made from st~inleF:ç: or pla6tic) equipped with a
motorized mixing propeller capable of blending the aqueou6
solution .
2) Weigh out the surf~ctant and transfer to the above and
mix thoroughly.
3 ) Measure the amouht of water and weigh out sodium
metasilicate and dissolve in water.
4 ) Add water and sodium meta6ilicate to the above
mixture .
The foregoing is a description of a preferred
f~mho~ t of the invehtion which is given here by way of
example only. The invention which is not to be taken as
limited to any of the specific features as described, but
comprehends all such variations thereof as come within the
scope of the ~rp~n~d claims.
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