The present invention relates to a dryer, in particular for drying clothes and accessories cleanroom, including:

- a dryer body

- a drying chamber,

- an air circulating system between an air inlet and said drying chamber, said system comprising

- an air suction device imparting a flow direction to the air from the air inlet to said drying chamber,

- an air heater aspirated upstream of said drying chamber, and

- an absolute filter placed upstream of said drying chamber.

Such a dryer is known from the prior art and can for example be used to perform drying clothing or accessories (goggles, shoes, ...) for clean room or any other field of activity . In the cleaning processes and packaging clothes or accessories for clean room, the passage thereof in a dryer is determinant in that decontamination is performed mainly at this stage. Indeed, clothing or accessories are subjected to temperatures of about 0 ° C to 120 ° C in the drying chamber of the dryer, which allows both to remove undesirable particles that are would be attached but also eliminate under the effect of temperature, bacteria or

Within the meaning of the present invention, the "drying chamber" words may designate a rotating drum, a basket, a drawer or any other device that may contain washing and / or accessories (goggles, clogs, ...) and / or any other element to dry for clean room or not. When the drying chamber is in the form of a rotating drum or basket inserted into the dryer, the dryer is provided with a door (e.g., a window). By cons, when the drying chamber is in the form of one or more drawers, or the drawers can themselves play the role of door.

When the dryer is used to proceed with drying clothes or accessories for clean room, it will be indispensably located in a room in response to strict standards in terms of the presence of particles in the air since the treatment of garments or cleanroom accessories must guarantee that they will be free of contaminants so that they do not constitute sources of contamination, such as a surrounding environment that operating room. To this end, since severe turbulence occur in the dryer and various contaminants are thus torn clothes or accessories for clean room or other, should be avoided that these particles can not win the conditioning room clothing room white in the drying step. Therefore, conventionally, the dryer drying chamber must be depressed relative to the pressure in the external environment of the dryer. This ensures that particles from clothing or accessories present in the drying air in the drying chamber does not earn and do not contaminate the ambient air outside the dryer.

Obviously an essential parameter in the step of drying clothes or accessories cleanroom or another is the quality of the air entering the drying chamber of the dryer. It is indeed only air as clean as possible, that is to say a particle-free air wins the drying chamber. Therefore, dryers are typically equipped with a HEPA filter (high efficiency filter) through which sucked air passes from a surrounding environment before winning the drying chamber. In the context of the present invention, preferably, so that the air considered to be free of particles wins the drying chamber, a H13 class filter having a 99.95% purification efficiency or a class filter upper (H 14,

The absolute filter is a determining factor for the quality of drying and truly affects the degree of decontamination of clothing or accessories cleanroom or another during the cleaning process. For this reason, occasionally, it is worth checking the efficiency and integrity of HEPA filters to ensure they do not present cracks or leaks, in which case the contaminants could gain the drying chamber. Conventionally, the integrity of the filters is measured and evaluated by performing a test implementing aerosol droplets of dioctyl phthalate (DOP) (DOP Test). This test measures the effectiveness and integrity of a filter in terms of particle retention in the air, on the basis of the DOP droplet retention calibrated for example to 0.3 μηι according to ASTM D 2986-71 method. For example, if a retention of 99.97% of droplets (particles) DOP is observed by this method, then calls the high efficiency filter (HEPA) filter.

Specifically, the DOP tests are based on the generation of an upstream aerosol filter to be tested, this generation aiming to saturate the upstream side (top) of the filter. To detect leakage and / or cracks, a measuring device (e.g. a photometer) is used to scan the underside downstream of the filter and measuring the amount of particles (droplets) DOP reaching through the absolute filter. Note that the DOP is gradually replaced by

dioctyl sebacate (DEHS), the method of measuring the integrity of remaining identical filters.

Unfortunately, even if the clothes dryers or dryers to clean room accessories or other current include an absolute filter allowing air free of particles or containing very little wins the drying chamber, it is necessary, as shown above, to occasionally check the integrity to ensure that it does not leak and / or cracks through which could pass contaminant particles. However, with current driers, such verification is particularly compelling since we must proceed, at least in part, to the dismantling of the dryer to extract the absolute filter and direct it to a specific independent forum where its integrity will be tested.

Also, test the integrity of the filter in a specific speaker for this purpose does not verify, in situ, the filter is positioned in the dryer because current methodologies of the filter integrity test based on withdrawing the filter out of the dryer. Now, this is just as important to check if the filter for cracks and / or leaks since improper positioning of the latter could pass contaminant particles, for example at the edges of the filter if it n ' is not correctly positioned and fixed on a receiving frame in the dryer body (insufficient or excessive tightening, crushing of a possible seal, casing deformation in which is mounted the receiving frame, ...).

Furthermore, since it is particularly restrictive removing the filter, the integrity of control measures and the effectiveness of the latter are performed only rarely and often too late. Therefore, leaks and / or cracks may be present but

being detected a posteriori, meaning that drying clothes and / or accessories, such as clothing cleanroom, is certainly not optimal, contaminating particles can win the drying chamber.

The invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by providing a drier which the integrity of the HEPA filter can be tested in-situ so as to simultaneously determine the presence of cracks and / or leaks and any poor positioning in the body of the dryer, this without having to remove the filter to avoid damage and any cumbersome and expensive handling time of the latter.

To resolve this problem, it is provided according to the invention, a dryer as indicated at the beginning, characterized in that it further comprises, upstream of said absolute filter, a connector arranged to be connected to a drive device air containing a predetermined amount of droplets of an aerosol and in that it comprises access to a space downstream of said absolute filter and upstream of said drying chamber, said access space being arranged to accommodate a measuring device.

By 'a connector arranged to be connected to an air drive device loaded in a predetermined amount of droplets of an aerosol "is meant within the meaning of the present invention, the dryer comprises a connection but that the latter is not necessarily connected to an air drive device loaded in a predetermined amount of an aerosol droplets. In other words, the connector according to the invention is capable of being connected to an air drive device loaded in a predetermined amount of an aerosol droplets.

Moreover, the meaning of the present invention, the term "connection" means any item or area of ​​the dryer for associating y (connecting, linking, joining) an air drive device loaded in a predetermined amount of droplets an aerosol. It may for example be a nozzle in the form of a pipe which can

fit the air drive device (preferably sealingly) or simply a space (an opening) wherein can be inserted the air drive device (preferably sealingly ). It is understood that any other element other openings or any other means of any form can be used as coupling is also within the scope of this invention.

According to the invention, since the clothes dryer or accessories (goggles, clogs, ...) comprises, upstream of the HEPA filter, a connector arranged to be connected to an air drive device loaded in an amount predetermined droplets of an aerosol and an access to a space downstream of the HEPA filter, it is quite possible to produce a DOP test type without having to handle the filter, that is to say without having to the extract of the dryer, drawing air via port to and through the filter and by scanning the underside thereof with a DOP particle measuring device not selected by the filter. It is therefore sufficient, according to the invention, connecting said connector to an air drive device, wherein air is charged in a predetermined amount of DOP type of aerosol droplets. For example, the DOP aerosol could be injected into the forced air prior to its arrival at said fitting.

It is therefore particularly easy to regularly perform a DOP test that does not require removal of the filter, which is particularly advantageous since the in-situ filter remains positioned in the dryer and it is therefore possible to simultaneously detect leakage and / or cracks, to ensure that the filter is correctly positioned (sufficient tightening, no crushing of a possible seal, ...), this essentially along its edges.

Preferably, according to the invention, said space located downstream of said absolute filter extends beneath the whole of said absolute filter. This will include checking a scan of the whole of the underside of the filter and thus to scan areas of the filter that could be responsible for passing particulate contaminants, eg

areas along the filter which may not ensure a good seal of the latter when placed into the body of the dryer (for example on a mounting frame).

Advantageously, according to the invention, said access to a space downstream of said absolute filter is located behind a first door.

Preferably, according to the invention, said connection upstream of said absolute filter is located behind a second door.

Advantageously, according to the invention, said first door includes at least one sealing means allowing to ensure a sealed closure.

Preferably, according to the invention, said second door comprises at least one sealing means allowing to ensure a sealed closure.

When the dryer is in use, should be avoided, as previously mentioned, that the particles (contaminants) earn the drying chamber. It is therefore preferable that the connection and access to the space downstream of the HEPA filter are closed (blocked), which is ensured by the presence of traps. Moreover, since the first and second doors provide access respectively to the spaces below and above the filter, it is preferable that they be provided with sealing means which may for example be in the form of a gasket which, by crushing, this ensures sealing.

Preferably, according to the invention, said absolute filter is a HEPA filter with high or very high integrity, for example a type of filter EPA, HEPA or ULPA.

Preferably, the dryer according to the invention further comprises an air drive device loaded in a predetermined amount of droplets of an aerosol, said device being connected to said connector.

According to this embodiment of the invention, an air drive device is connected (attached) to the connector and an integral part of the dryer according to the invention. Such dryer allows, rather than having to connect each time a forced air device kiln, to have a system (dryer) ready to achieving DOP type tests. This promotes the more frequent realization DOP type of test since the filter must not be removed, but also that the forced air device is already properly connected to the dryer.

Other embodiments of a dryer according to the invention are indicated in the appended claims.

The present invention also relates to a use of a dryer according to the invention for producing a measure of the integrity of said absolute filter.

Other embodiments using a dryer according to the invention are indicated in the appended claims.

The present invention also relates to a method of measuring the integrity of a HEPA filter of a dryer, said method comprising the steps of:

- drive, through a connection upstream of said absolute filter, air containing a predetermined amount of an aerosol droplets, and

- measurement, with a measurement device, in a space located downstream of said absolute filter, a quantity of droplets of said aerosol passed through said absolute filter.

This process makes it easy to achieve without dismantling and removal of the filter out of the dryer, for integrity testing and efficiency of the filter (DOP test for example). Indeed, according to the invention, only an air drive loaded in a predetermined amount of an aerosol droplets through the filter should be performed and be followed by measuring, downstream of the latter, the amount of droplets (particles) having been able to pass through the filter. Again, this allows, since this method is simple and fast, regular and unconstrained realization of tests to verify the integrity and effectiveness of filters, for example DOP type tests.

Advantageously, according to the invention, said air drive step loaded in a predetermined amount of droplets of an aerosol based on the drive of an air laden droplets dioctyl phthalate or dioctyl sebacate.

Other features, details and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description given below, without limitation and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a clothes dryer and / or accessories of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of a clothes dryer and / or accessories of the invention.

In the figures, identical or similar elements bear the same references.

Figure 1 shows a dryer 1 according to the invention. The dryer 1 has a body 2 of hair, a rotating drum corresponding to a drying chamber 3 and arranged to be driven by a motor, an air circulation system 7 comprising a suction device 4 (not visible) of outside air from a surrounding medium by an air inlet 8, a heater 5 (not visible) arranged to heat the outside air sucked in before it wins the drying chamber 3 and an absolute filter 6 having an upper face and a lower face. As illustrated, so that air sucked in and heated can win the drying chamber 3, the latter is provided with openings 9 air inlet. Moreover, according to the invention, the drier 1 comprises front,

15 droplets of an aerosol 16, such as droplets of DOP or DEHS.

Figure 2 is a side view of a dryer 1 according to the invention. As illustrated, during the realization of a type of test DOP, the second door 12 (at the rear of the dryer) of access to a connection 13 is opened to allow to connect a device 14 for air loaded drive in a predetermined amount of droplets 15 of an aerosol 16 towards the upper side of the absolute filter 6 so that this air containing a predetermined amount of droplets of an aerosol 15 16 (DOP) passes through the absolute filter 6. for example, the aerosol 16 is injected using an injection device 17 in the air flow drawn such that forced air is loaded into droplets 15 of the aerosol 16.

When achieving the same DOP test, the first door 10 for access to a space 1 1 Located on the underside of the absolute filter 6 is also opened to allow a probe 19 a measuring device 18 (e.g. a photometer) to be slid into the space 1 1 located on the underside of the absolute filter 6. in this way, by moving the probe 19 under the entire surface of the HEPA filter 6, an easy measurement the amount of droplets 15 'of the aerosol 16 having been through the absolute filter 6 can be realized. This allows to detect the possible presence of cracks and / or leaks at the filter, which results in detection and measurement of an amount greater than a predetermined threshold value of droplets having won the Space 1 1 under the absolute filter 6. This makes it possible also when the probe 19 scans the edges of the absolute filter 6 to determine whether the latter is correctly positioned in the body 2 of hair, that is to say if it is placed in sealed manner so as not to pass contaminant particles. Optionally, a prefilter 20 is provided at the air inlet 8.

It is understood that the invention is in no way limited to the forms of the above described embodiments and that many modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

CLAIMS

1. Drier (1), particularly for drying clothes and accessories for clean room, comprising:

- a body (2) of hair,

- a drying chamber (3),

- an air circulation system (7) between an air inlet (8) and said drying chamber (3), this system (7) comprising

- a suction device (4) for air giving a flow direction of air from the air inlet (8) to said drying chamber (3),

- a heating device (5) of the intake air upstream of said drying chamber (3), and

- an absolute filter (6) placed upstream of said drying chamber (3),

said dryer (1) being characterized in that it further comprises, upstream of said absolute filter (6), a fitting (13) arranged to be connected to a device (14) of forced air charged in a predetermined amount droplets (15) of an aerosol (16) and in that it comprises access to a space (1 1) located downstream of said absolute filter (6) and upstream of said drying chamber (3), said access to a space (1 1) being arranged to accommodate a metering device (18).

2. Dryer (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said space (1 1) located downstream of said absolute filter (6) extends under the whole of said absolute filter (6).

3. Dryer (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said access to a space (1 1) located downstream of said absolute filter (6) is located behind a first door (10).

4. Dryer (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fitting (13) upstream of said absolute filter (6) is located behind a second door (12).

5. Dryer (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said first door (10) comprises at least one sealing means allowing to ensure a sealed closure.

6. Dryer according to (1) of claim 4, characterized in that said second door (12) comprises at least one sealing means allowing to ensure a sealed closure.

7. Dryer (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said absolute filter (6) is an absolute filter with high or very high integrity, for example a type of filter EPA, HEPA or ULPA.

8. Dryer (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a device (14) of forced air charged with a predetermined amount of droplets (15) of an aerosol (16 ), said device being connected to said connector (13).

9. Use of a dryer (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 to make a measurement of the integrity of said absolute filter (6).