CN107072458B

CN107072458B - High-efficiency surface treatment equipment

Info

Publication number: CN107072458B
Application number: CN201580052423.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 耶尔·史密斯
Original assignee: Ye ErShimisi
Current assignee: Ye ErShimisi
Priority date: 2014-09-29
Filing date: 2015-09-28
Publication date: 2020-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 2035-09-28
Also published as: KR20170063915A; KR102439114B1; AU2015324093B2; JP6687629B2; EP3200666A4; CA2962925C; CN107072458A; CA2962925A1; SG11201702449XA; JP2017532176A; EP3200666A1; AU2015324093A1; EP3200666B1; WO2016053872A1

Abstract

An apparatus for treating a surface lying in an XY plane. The apparatus includes a main body portion, a main body plate, a cleaning plate, a driving assembly, and a connecting assembly. The cleaning plate is located between the body plate and the XY plane. The drive assembly is connected to the cleaning plate to drive the cleaning plate in a cleaning vibration in a vibration mode parallel to the XY plane. The attachment assembly flexibly attaches the cleaning plate to the main body plate to allow the cleaning plate to vibrate relative to the main body plate and isolate the cleaning vibrations from the main body. The connector is connected to the body portion for connecting a handle or the like to move the device in the XY plane.

Description

High-efficiency surface treatment equipment

Background

The present invention relates to apparatus for treating work surfaces, such as floors made of carpet, tile, wood and other materials. The most effective surface treatments utilize a vibratory (cleaning) motion to loosen material on the work surface. On floors and other work surfaces, treatment equipment often uses cleaning towels (pads) in combination with solvents, including water or steam, and/or cleaning curatives. When the cleaning towel scrubs the floor and becomes dirty, the towel can be replaced with another towel that is clean.

A carpet cleaning device and method using vibration, heat and a cleaning curing agent is disclosed in U.S. patent publication No. 200701077150a1, yere smith, No. 5/17, 2007. This patent discloses the use of a combination of vibratory motion, controlled heat and cleaning curatives. The device includes a cleaning plate base, a heating element electrically connected, and a method for moving the cleaning plate to generate a scrubbing action.

Important characteristics of surface treatment equipment are effective cleaning, ease of use, convenience, stability, light weight, low wear, long life and ease of maintenance. These characteristics are important for professional staff in a heavy duty environment to use the device and other consumers in the home or in a light duty environment to use the device.

Effective cleaning requires the device to have a small amount of vibration to generate localized vibration on the cleaning plate to impart a "scrubbing" motion to the surface being treated. For cleaning floors, the above-mentioned local vibrations are preferably in the range of a few millimeters. Effective cleaning and convenience requires that the cleaning plate be rectangular in shape for use along straight edges and for easy movement into a right angle. To achieve the above characteristics, an apparatus having a circular bottom plate is not required.

Ease of use and convenience requires stability, proper size and weight, and ease of handling. A design that places the motor and drive assembly high on the cleaning plate is not required because this configuration exacerbates vertical instability. Vertical stability does not require the cleaning plate to be raised and lowered in a manner that moves into or out of the plane of the work surface. The plane of the work surface relates to the floor surface plane or XY plane. Vertical instability is distinguished from vibration that provides a localized scrubbing motion to the cleaning plate in the horizontal direction. The horizontal direction vibration is parallel to the plane of the work surface, i.e. parallel to the XY plane. In addition, vertical instability is not required because of the use of excess energy, reduced energy utilization of the equipment, and increased wear on the motor, drive shaft, drive members, and bushings. Increased wear increases maintenance costs and reduces the service life of the equipment. When unwanted vertical vibration occurs, the user gets fatigued sharply.

Efficient use of energy is an important feature. For ac power supplies or batteries using an ac-to-dc converter, the size and cost of the motor is a function of the energy requirements needed to supply the transmission and cleaning plate. For dc motors, the energy requirements are very important for the motor and the ac-dc converter used to convert ac power to dc power. There is a need for ac-dc converters, batteries and motors that provide energy to the equipment that utilize the energy more efficiently, are smaller and are less costly.

Another factor for effective cleaning is determined by the material in the apparatus that is in contact with the floor. The brush is not absorbent and therefore cannot effectively remove solid and liquid substances from the floor. With existing devices that use towels, the towels are generally synthetic fibers and do not absorb and grab solid and liquid substances from the floor. For towels, which are mainly cotton fabrics, they have the disadvantage that they are not cleanly scrubbed and have a high friction with the floor surface resulting in a low energy usage rate.

In view of the above, there is a need for improved surface treatment apparatus for treating carpets, tiles, floors and other surface materials.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention is an apparatus for treating a surface lying in an XY plane. The apparatus includes a main body portion, a main body plate, a cleaning plate, a driving assembly, and a connecting assembly. The cleaning plate is located between the body plate and the XY plane. The drive assembly is connected to the cleaning plate for driving the cleaning plate in a cleaning vibration mode in parallel to the XY plane. The attachment assembly flexibly connects the cleaning plate and the main body plate under pressure to allow the cleaning plate to vibrate relative to the main body plate and isolate the cleaning vibrations from the main body.

In one embodiment, the body portion has a connector attached thereto for connecting to a component, such as a handle, for moving the device in the XY plane.

In one embodiment, the attachment assembly includes a plurality of compression devices connected between the cleaning plate and the main body portion for urging the cleaning plate and the main body portion toward each other. The compression device is, for example, an O-ring, a spring, a rubber band, or a cushioned shaft connector. The attachment assembly includes a plurality of rolling spacers, such as ball bearings, under pressure from the pressing device for separating the cleaning plate and the main body plate.

In one embodiment, the bumper shaft connector includes a first end having a first end cap and a first compression washer for engaging a compressed body plate and a second end having a second end cap and a second compression washer for engaging a compressed cleaning plate. Under vibration of the cleaning plate, the first endcap and the first compression washer, and the second endcap and the second compression washer, apply increased pressure at the end of travel of the cleaning plate during cleaning vibration, tending to limit the vibration range of the cleaning plate.

In one embodiment, the drive assembly includes a motor and a power source such as a DC motor and a battery. The motor has a stator fixed to the cleaning plate and has a rotor for rotation about a motor axis about the stator. The offset weight is connected to a portion of the rotor and is asymmetrically rotated by the rotor about the motor axis to cause the motor and attached cleaning plate to vibrate. Thereby, the cleaning plate is driven to vibrate in a vibration mode parallel to the XY plane.

In an embodiment, the drive assembly comprises a first motor arrangement and a second motor arrangement. The first motor arrangement includes a first stator fixed to the cleaning plate, a first rotor for rotation about the first stator and about a first motor axis in a first direction, and a first biasing weight connected to the first rotor and rotated about the first motor axis by the first rotor, whereby the cleaning plate is driven in a first vibration mode parallel to the XY plane for a first vibration. The second motor means includes a second stator fixed to the cleaning plate, a second rotor for rotating about the second stator and about a second motor axis in a second direction, and a second biasing weight connected to the second rotor and rotated about the second motor axis by the second rotor, whereby the cleaning plate is driven to perform a second vibration in a second vibration mode parallel to the XY plane. The cleaning plate has a combined vibration formed by a combination of the first vibration mode and the second vibration mode.

In an embodiment, the first direction is clockwise and the second direction is counter-clockwise.

In one embodiment, the drive assembly includes a synchronizer, such as a plurality of mechanical gears or an electronic network, for synchronizing the rotation of the first and second rotors, whereby the first and second biasing weights are maintained at synchronized rotational angles.

In an embodiment, the first and second rotors have first and second phase angles, respectively, for the first and second offset weights, respectively, measured on an axis perpendicular to a direction of travel of the apparatus, and the synchronizer operates to maintain the first and second phase angles substantially the same.

In one embodiment, the synchronizer includes an electronic network including a first sensor for sensing a position of the first rotor via a first position signal, a second sensor for sensing a position of the second rotor via a second position signal, and a controller responsive to the first position signal and the second position signal for driving the first motor and the second motor, whereby the first offset weight and the second offset weight remain synchronized at the same rotational angle.

In one embodiment, the cleaning plate has a cleaning towel attached to the cleaning plate.

In one embodiment, the connector is connected to the handle, whereby a user grasping the handle can move the device on a floor lying in the XY plane.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of a surface treatment apparatus positioned on a surface to be treated.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the surface treatment apparatus shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a schematic front view showing more details of one embodiment of a motor and cleaning plate assembly in the drive assembly of the apparatus shown in fig. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a schematic top view of the device shown in fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a front view of the main body portion, baffle plate, and cleaning pad of the surface treating appliance shown in fig. 1 and 2.

Fig. 6 is a schematic front view showing more details of another embodiment of a motor and cleaning plate assembly in the drive assembly of the apparatus shown in fig. 1 and 2.

Fig. 7 is a schematic top view of the device shown in fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a typical motor of the type shown in fig. 4.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of two motors and supports of the type of figure 8 connected to a cleaning plate.

Fig. 10 is a corner perspective view of an O-ring embodiment of a compression device for providing compression between a body plate and a cleaning plate in the surface treating apparatus 1 shown in fig. 1 and 2.

FIG. 11 is a schematic corner view and schematic view of another embodiment of a hold-down device for providing pressure between a main body plate and a cleaning plate.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of another compression device similar to that shown in figure 11.

Figure 13 is a cut-away perspective view of the compression device, body portion and cleaning plate shown in figure 11.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of another compression device.

Figure 15 is a front view of the compression device shown in figure 14.

Figure 16 is a front view of another embodiment of the compression device shown in figure 14.

Figure 17 is a perspective view of another compression device for providing compression between the main body and the cleaning plate.

Figure 18 depicts by way of example four different positions of the cleaning plate when the two motors are synchronized and rotating in opposite directions.

Figure 19 depicts a top view of four different positions of the cleaning plate when the two motors are as in figure 18 and are rotating synchronously in opposite directions.

Figure 20 depicts by way of example four different positions of the cleaning plate when the two motors are synchronized and rotating in the same direction.

Figure 21 depicts a top view of four different positions of the cleaning plate when the two motors are as shown in figure 20 and are rotating in the same direction.

Figure 22 depicts by way of example eight different positions of the cleaning plate when the two motors are not synchronized and are rotating in opposite directions.

Fig. 23 is a perspective view of a typical motor having an asymmetric weight.

Fig. 24 is a perspective view of a pair of synchronized motors each having an asymmetric weight.

Fig. 25 is a perspective view of a pair of drive gears synchronized by a pair of synchronizing gears, each having an asymmetric weight.

FIG. 26 is a schematic top view of the gear shown in FIG. 25 with a motor, pulleys, and a conveyor belt for driving the gear.

Fig. 27 is a schematic front view of more details of an embodiment of a single motor and cleaning plate assembly suitable for the apparatus shown in fig. 1 and 2.

Fig. 28 is a schematic top view of the device shown in fig. 27.

Figure 29 depicts by way of example four different positions of the cleaning plate when a single motor drives the cleaning plate.

Figure 30 is a top view of the cleaning plate shown in figure 29 in four different positions.

Fig. 31 is a bottom view of the main body plate.

Fig. 32 is an end view of the body plate shown in fig. 31.

Figure 33 is a top view of a cleaning plate.

Figure 34 is an end view of the cleaning plate shown in figure 33.

FIG. 35 is an end view of the body plate of FIG. 32 juxtaposed with the cleaning plate of FIG. 34 and held biased by ball bearings.

FIG. 36 is an expanded view of a portion of FIG. 35 with the body plate adjacent the cleaning plate and held offset from the cleaning plate by a rolling ball bearing.

FIG. 37 is the view of FIG. 36 with the body plate adjacent the cleaning plate and held offset from the cleaning plate by a rolling bearing rolling in one direction.

FIG. 38 is an expanded view of FIG. 36 with the body plate adjacent the cleaning plate and held offset from the cleaning plate by a rolling bearing rolling in a direction opposite to that of FIG. 37.

Fig. 39 depicts a battery and synchronizer unit for driving the first and second motors.

FIG. 40 is a schematic top view of a surface treating appliance having first and second counter-rotating motors.

Detailed Description

As shown in fig. 1, the surface treatment apparatus 1 includes a main body portion 9, a driving assembly 10, and a cleaning plate assembly 12. The body plate 16 is fixedly connected to the body portion 9 and is part of the body portion 9. The cleaning plate assembly 12 is driven by the drive assembly 10 to wash or polish a floor surface 18 in a floor plane, referred to as the XY plane. The cleaning plate assembly 12 includes a cleaning plate 5 and a cleaning pad 6. In some embodiments, the apparatus 1 includes a baffle 8, the baffle 8 being connected as part of the main body portion 9 and overlying and surrounding the cleaning plate assembly 12.

As shown in fig. 1, the apparatus 1 comprises a handle assembly 15, the handle assembly 15 being secured to the main body portion 9 for enabling a user to manipulate the apparatus 1 on a floor surface lying in the XY plane. The length of the handle assembly 15 extends from the body portion 9 at a variable angle to the XY-plane and is connected to the body portion by a connector 15-1. The handle assembly 15 is rotatably connected to the main body portion 9 and is adjusted to be at an acute angle to the cleaning surface when used for cleaning. The handle assembly 15 includes a latch (not shown) for locking the handle assembly 15 in an upright position for transport and storage of the device 1 when not in operation.

The drive assembly 10 has a drive assembly height dimension H measured from the XY plane. The cleaning plate assembly 12 generally has a length and a width that lie in the XY plane of the floor surface. The smaller one of the length and width dimensions of the cleaning plate assembly 12 (or the only dimension when the length and width are equal) is the minimum process dimension M _ D. To improve the stability of the device 1, the height dimension H is typically less than 0.25 of the minimum process dimension M _ D. A low drive assembly height dimension is important to reduce or avoid unwanted vertical instability. The vertical instability results in unwanted up and down vibration of the cleaning plate into and out of the XY plane pattern of the work surface 18. The above-mentioned unwanted vibrations are a combined effect of the floor surface material and the movement of the equipment and the design of the equipment during operation. For normal and intended operation, the apparatus has vibrations in the XY plane of the floor surface when in operation. Some forces are inherently generated outside the XY plane when the device is moved from one position to another on the floor by the operator. If the height dimension of drive assembly 10 is too high, these forces out of these XY planes tend to accumulate to the strength of the resonant frequency, which is considered to be vertically unstable. Such vertical instability is difficult for the operator to control and wastes energy. In some embodiments, making the drive assembly height dimension H less than 0.25 of the minimum process dimension M _ D minimizes or eliminates vertical instability.

Fig. 2 is a front view of one of the surface treatment apparatuses 1 shown in fig. 1. The surface treating appliance 1 includes a main body portion 9 having a handle assembly 15. The handle assembly 15 is shown latched in a vertical position. The cleaning plate assembly 12 is driven into a vibration mode by the drive assembly 10 in the main body portion 9. The body plate 16 is part of the body portion 9 and is fixedly connected to the body portion 9. The cleaning plate assembly 12 includes a cleaning plate 5 and a cleaning pad 6.

Fig. 3 is a front view showing more details of one embodiment of the drive assembly 10, main body plate 16, and cleaning plate assembly 12 shown in fig. 1. The drive assembly 10 includes motors 22-1 and 22-2 that are directly connected to the cleaning plate 5. Motors 22-1 and 22-2 include offset weights 23-1 and 23-2, respectively. The offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 cause the cleaning plate 5 and attached cleaning pad 6 to vibrate in the XY plane, i.e., in a plane parallel to the floor. The main body plate 16 is separated from the cleaning plate 5 by ball bearings 91-1 and 91-2. The pressing means 28-1 and 28-2 urge the main body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5 toward each other while the ball bearings 91-1 and 91-2 keep the main body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5 separated. Ball bearings 91-1 and 91-2 slide the body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5 parallel to each other and to the XY plane, allowing the cleaning plate to vibrate parallel to the XY plane.

The motors 22-1 and 22-2 are connected to the cleaning plate 5 and not to the main body plate 16 or any other part of the main body portion 9. The body portion 9 includes openings 14-1 and 14-2 into which the motors 22-1 and 22-2 extend without contacting the body portion 9. The motors 22-1 and 22-2 preferably have a small dimension in the Z-axis direction perpendicular to the XY plane. In one embodiment, motors 22-1 and 22-2 have a Z-axis dimension of 1.1 inches (28 millimeters). In fig. 3, the body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5 measure, in an exemplary embodiment, about 12 inches (30.5 cm) by 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) from a view parallel to the XY plane. To improve the stability of the device 1, the height dimension H of about 40 mm is much smaller than 0.25 of the minimum process dimension M _ D of 16.5cm (see fig. 4). According to the ratio H/M _ D4/16.5 being equal to about 0.24, the device 1 of fig. 3 is very stable and does not present significant Z-axis instability.

In FIG. 3, the battery and synchronizer 17 provides synchronized battery power to drive the motors 22-1 and 22-2. By synchronized operation, the weights 23-1 and 23-2 are maintained in a predetermined rotational orientation by manipulation of electrical signals to and from the motors 22-1 and 22-2. In operation, the first and second offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 are maintained at synchronous rotational angles. The synchronous rotation angle is an angle repeated to be the same for each cycle of the motor. For example, when the first offset weight 23-1 is 90 degrees and the second offset weight 23-2 is also 90 degrees for each cycle, the first offset weight 23-1 and the second offset weight 23-2 are at synchronous rotational angles. The synchronous rotation angle may be any value. By way of another example, the first offset weight 23-1 may be 0 degrees and the second offset weight 23-2 may be 180 degrees per cycle. When the rotation angles are different in different periods, the first and second biasing weights 23-1 and 23-2 are maintained at asynchronous rotation angles. For example, when the first offset weight 23-1 of one cycle is 90 degrees and the second offset weight 23-2 is also 90 degrees, and the first offset weight 23-1 of another cycle is 90 degrees and the second offset weight 23-2 is 75 degrees, the first offset weight 23-1 and the second offset weight 23-2 are not rotated at the same angle.

In FIG. 3, the motors 22-1 and 22-2 are in an exemplary embodiment 12 th order Donkey (HobbyKing Donkey) ST3508-730KV pioneer motors. Such motors typically operate at a maximum voltage of 15 volts and a maximum current of 35 amps. The overall height of such a motor is 28mm and the RPM is about 4100RPM for a typical 6 volt operation.

In FIG. 3, the attachment assembly 50 includes a plurality of compression devices, such as compression devices 28-1 and 28-2, attached between the cleaning plate 5 and the body plate 16 for urging the cleaning plate 5 and the body plate 16 toward each other. Compression means such as compression means 28-1 and 28-2, for example, O-rings, springs, elastic bands, or cushioned shaft connectors. The compression devices 28-1 and 28-2 are O-rings in the embodiment of fig. 3. The attachment assembly 50 includes a plurality of rolling spacers, such as ball bearings 91-1 and 91-2, for separating the cleaning plate 5 and the main body plate 16 under pressure from the compression assemblies 28-1 and 28-2.

In fig. 4, a schematic top view of the device 1 of fig. 3 is shown. The drive assembly 10 includes motors 22-1 and 22-2 that are directly connected to the cleaning plate 5. The motors 22-1 and 22-2 include central shafts 21-1 and 21-2 about which the rotors (not expressly shown) of the motors rotate. Motors 22-1 and 22-2 include offset weights 23-1 and 23-2, respectively. The offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 cause the attached cleaning pad 6 to vibrate in the XY plane, i.e., in a plane parallel to the floor, through the operation of the cleaning plate 5 (as described in connection with figure 3). The compression devices 28-1, 28-2, 28-3, and 28-4 are O-rings and urge the body plate 16 toward the cleaning plate 5 (as shown in fig. 3 for compression devices 28-1 and 28-2). The handle connector 15-1 is used to connect the handle to the main body portion 9. Typically, during cleaning of the surface or other surface treatment, the machine 1 is pushed forward in the Y-axis direction in the XY-plane. As shown in FIG. 4, both offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 are oriented in the X-axis direction or parallel to the X-axis direction in one instance of time, and are thus defined as having a 0 degree X-axis orientation. The X-axis direction is perpendicular to the Y-axis direction, that is, perpendicular to the direction of travel. As the motor rotates, the offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 become oriented, in different instances of time, at any angle from 0 degrees to 360 degrees.

The embodiment of fig. 3 and 4 is an apparatus 1 for treating a surface lying in the XY plane. The apparatus 1 comprises a main body 9 having a main body plate 16, comprising a cleaning plate 5 located between the main body plate 16 and the XY plane, comprising a drive assembly 10 connected to the cleaning plate 5 for driving the cleaning plate 5 in a cleaning oscillation in an oscillation pattern parallel to the XY plane. The apparatus 1 comprises a linkage assembly 50 for flexibly connecting the cleaning plate 5 to the main body plate 16 under pressure to allow the cleaning plate 5 to vibrate relative to the main body plate 16 and to isolate the cleaning vibrations from the main body. Compression between the cleaning plate 5 and the main body plate 16 is applied by the attachment assembly 50. The attachment assembly 50 includes a plurality of compression devices 28 connected between the cleaning plate 5 and the body plate 16 for urging the cleaning plate 5 and the body plate 16 toward each other. The attachment assembly 50 includes a plurality of rolling spacers, such as ball bearings 91, for separating the cleaning plate 5 and the main body plate 16 under pressure from the pressing device 28.

In fig. 5, a front view of the device 1 of fig. 3 is shown, including the handle connector 15-1, the body portion 9, the baffle 8, and the cleaning pad 6.

In fig. 6, a front view of a further embodiment of a surface treatment apparatus is shown in more detail. The apparatus 1 of fig. 6 comprises a drive assembly 10, a main body plate 16 and a cleaning plate assembly 12 of the kind described in connection with fig. 1, 2 and 3. The drive assembly 10 includes motors 22'-1 and 22' -2 that are directly connected to the cleaning plate 5. Motors 22'-1 and 22' -2 include offset weights 23-1 and 23-2, respectively. A cleaning plate extender 5' is connected to the cleaning plate 5. The cleaning plate extender 5 'is sized larger than the cleaning plate 5 to accommodate the cleaning pad 6'. The cleaning plate 6' is substantially larger than the cleaning plate 6. The cleaning plate extenders 5' are in one embodiment attached to the cleaning plate 5 using Velcro (Velcro) or other attachment means in the same manner as the cleaning pads 6 are attached to the cleaning plate 5 in FIG. 3. The cleaning plate 6 'is in one embodiment attached to the cleaning plate extenders 5' using Velcro (Velcro) or other attachment means in the same manner as the cleaning pads 6 are attached to the cleaning plate 5 in FIG. 3.

In FIG. 6, the offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 cause the cleaning plate 5, cleaning plate extender 5' and attached cleaning pad 6 to vibrate in the XY plane, i.e., in a plane parallel to the floor. The main body plate 16 is separated from the cleaning plate 5 by ball bearings 91-1 and 91-2. The pressing means 28-1 and 28-2 urge the main body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5 toward each other while the ball bearings 91-1 and 91-2 keep the main body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5 separated. Ball bearings 91-1 and 91-2 slide the main body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5 and the cleaning plate extender 5' parallel to each other in the XY plane, allowing the cleaning plate 5, the cleaning plate extender 5' and the cleaning plate 6' to vibrate in the XY plane.

The larger cleaning plate 6' is advantageously driven by larger motors 22' -1 and 22' -2. A typical motor for the motors 22-1 and 22-2 of FIG. 6 is a Tenitpole Marstatt (TurnniyMultistarr) 4822 and 390KV, 22-pole precursor motor operating at a maximum voltage of 22 volts and a maximum current of 15 amps. The total height of such a motor is 28mm and the RPM is in the range 2500 to 5000 RPM. In a typical 12 volt operation, the motor runs at about 4200 rpm. In fig. 7, a schematic top view of the device 1 of fig. 6 is shown. The drive assembly 10 includes motors 22' -1 and 22' -2 that are directly connected to the cleaning plate extender 5' through the cleaning plate 5 (see FIG. 6). Motors 22'-1 and 22' -2 include offset weights 23-1 and 23-2, respectively. The operation of the offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 through vibration of the cleaning plate 5 (as described in connection with FIG. 6) causes the cleaning plate extender 5 'and attached cleaning pad 6' to vibrate in the XY plane, i.e., in a plane parallel to the floor. The hold-down devices 28-1, 28-2, 28-3, and 28-4 urge the body panel 16 toward the cleaning panel 5 (as shown in fig. 6 for hold-down devices 28-1 and 28-2). The handle connector 15-1 is used to connect the handle to the main body portion 9. The motors 22' -1 and 22' -2 in fig. 6 and 7 may have the same dimensions as the motors in fig. 3, or alternatively may have more power to drive a larger cleaning pad 6 '.

In fig. 6, the body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5 measure, in an exemplary embodiment, about 12 inches (30.5 cm) by 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) from a view parallel to the XY plane. In an exemplary embodiment, the cleaning plate 5' measures about 14 inches (35.5 cm) by 8 inches (20 cm) from a view parallel to the XY plane. To improve the stability of the device 1, the height dimension H of about 40 mm is much smaller than 0.25 of the minimum process dimension M _ D of 16.5cm (see fig. 4). The device 1 of fig. 3 is very stable according to the ratio 4/20 of H/M _ D being equal to about 0.2, without significant Z-axis instability.

In fig. 8, a perspective view of such a typical motor 22 as shown in fig. 3 and 4 is shown. The motor 22 comprises a rotor 41, which rotor 41 rotates around a motor axis defined by the central shaft 21 and around a stator 42. The stator 42 includes legs 24 for mounting the motor, and in particular the stator 42. The rotor 41 has an offset weight 23, which offset weight 23 is connected so that vibrations tend to occur when the rotor rotates.

In FIG. 9, there is shown a perspective view of two motors 22-1 and 22-2 of the type of FIG. 8 connected to the cleaning plate 5 by feet 24-1 and 24-2, respectively.

In fig. 10, a corner perspective view of an embodiment of the device 1 is shown with the compression means 28-1 and 28-3 providing compression between the body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5. The motor 22-1 has an offset weight 23-1. The compression devices 28-1 and 28-3 are O-rings or other resilient materials that provide pressure between the body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5 while still having sufficient flexibility to allow the body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5 to slide relative to each other, thereby allowing the cleaning plate 5 to vibrate. When the cleaning plate 5 vibrates with respect to the main body plate 16, the pressing devices 28-1 and 28-3 stretch and apply increased pressure, tending to restrict the movement of the position of the cleaning plate 5 with respect to the main body plate 16. This increased pressure tends to limit the travel of the cleaning plate 5 relative to the main body plate 16. Typically, the amplitude of the vibration is between 1 and 4 mm.

In fig. 11, a schematic corner perspective view of another embodiment of a pressing device 28' is shown, which provides a pressing force between the main body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5. The compression unit 28' has

end caps

41 and 46 made of metal or other rigid material. The end cap 41 has a plastic or other resilient gasket 42 that pushes against the surface of the body plate 16 under compressive force. The end cap 46 has a plastic or other resilient gasket 45 that pushes against the surface of the cleaning plate 16 under compressive forces. A rigid connector 43 extends from the end cap 41 and engages a rigid connector 44 extending from an end cap 46. In one embodiment,

connectors

43 and 44 are threaded so that the space between ends 41 and 46 can be adjusted by placing one into the other, thereby adjusting the initial pressure applied between body plate 16 and cleaning plate 5 to a desired value. When the cleaning plate 5 is vibrated relative to the main body plate 16, the

shafts

43 and 44 are inclined, and the end caps 41 and 46 are also inclined, so as to apply increased pressure on the

gaskets

42 and 45. As the bias of the position of the cleaning plate 5 with respect to the position of the main body plate 16 increases, the inclination of the

shafts

43 and 44 increases, and the pressure on the

elastic washers

42 and 45 also increases. This increased pressure tends to limit the travel of the cleaning plate 5 relative to the main body plate 16.

In fig. 12, a perspective view of another hold down device 28 "is shown, which provides a hold down force between the body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5. The hold-down device 28 "has

end caps

41 and 46 made of metal or other rigid material. The end cap 41 has a plastic or other resilient gasket 42 that pushes against the surface of the body plate 16 under compressive force. The end cap 46 has a plastic or other resilient gasket 45 that pushes against the surface of the cleaning plate 16 under compressive forces. The tensionless connector 44' extends from end cap 41 to end cap 46. In one embodiment, the connector 44' is of a fixed length that first causes a compressive force to be applied between the main body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5 when installed in the surface treating appliance. When the cleaning plate 5 vibrates relative to the body plate 16, the shaft 44 'flexes, assuming a new position 44' -1 (which is exaggerated for illustration), and does not lengthen such that the end caps 41 and 46 exert increased pressure on the

gaskets

42 and 45. The end caps 41 and 46, unlike in fig. 11, do not tilt when the shaft 44 'moves to position 44' -1, so the pressure of the end caps 41 and 46 pressing against the

gaskets

42 and 45 is more equalized. As the bias of the position of the cleaning plate 5 relative to the position of the body plate 16 increases, the pressure on the

elastic washers

42 and 45 increases. This increased pressure tends to limit the travel of the cleaning plate 5 relative to the main body plate 16.

In fig. 13, a schematic cross-sectional view of the hold-down device 28' as shown in fig. 11 is shown. As described in connection with fig. 11, the pressing means 28' urges the body plate 16 towards the cleaning plate 5. The ball bearing 91-1 is stably held in position between the main body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5. In cooperation with the hold down 28', the ball bearing 91-1 assists in providing a low friction interface between the body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5, allowing the cleaning plate 5 to vibrate relative to the body plate 16. Since the ball bearing 91-1 is held in compression between the cleaning plate 5 and the main body plate 16, adverse vibration in the Z-axis vertical direction perpendicular to the XY plane of the floor is avoided or minimized.

In fig. 13, a portion of the attachment assembly 50 (see fig. 3 and 4) includes a compression arrangement 28' connected between the cleaning plate 5 and the main body plate 16 for urging the cleaning plate 5 and the main body plate 16 toward each other. The attachment assembly 50 includes a rolling spacer in the form of a ball bearing 91-1 which bears pressure from the compression means 28' for separating the cleaning plate 5 and the main body plate 16.

In fig. 14, a perspective view of another hold-down device 28' ″ is shown. The compression device 28 "' has

end caps

41 and 46 made of metal or other rigid material. The end cap 41 has a plastic or other resilient gasket 42 that pushes under pressure against the surface of the body plate 16 shown in fig. 11. The end cap 46 has a plastic or other resilient gasket 45 that pushes under pressure against the surface of the cleaning plate 16 shown in fig. 11. Connector 44 "extends from end cap 41 to end cap 46. In an embodiment, the connector 44 ″ is of a fixed length and is not stretched, which when installed in the surface treating apparatus first causes a pressure to be applied between the body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5 (see fig. 11). The hold-down device 28 "'differs from the hold-down device 28" in fig. 12 in that the shaft 44 "of fig. 14 tapers to a narrower diameter and is more flexible than the shaft 44' of fig. 12 and bends when the cleaning plate 5 vibrates.

In fig. 15, a front view of the compression device 28' ″ as shown in fig. 14 is shown. The compression device 28 "' has

end caps

41 and 46 made of metal or other rigid material. The end cap 41 has a plastic or other resilient gasket 42 that pushes under pressure against the surface of the body plate 16 (see fig. 11). The end cap 46 has a plastic or other resilient gasket 45 that pushes under pressure against the surface of the cleaning plate 16 (see fig. 11). Connector 44 "extends from end cap 41 to end cap 46. In an embodiment, the connector 44 ″ is of a fixed length and is not stretched, which when installed in the surface treating apparatus first causes a pressure to be applied between the body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5 (see fig. 11). The hold-down device 28 "'differs from the hold-down device 28" in fig. 12 in that the shaft 44 "of fig. 14 tapers to a narrower diameter and is more flexible than the shaft 44' of fig. 12 and bends when the cleaning plate 5 vibrates.

In fig. 16, a front view of an alternative embodiment of the compression device 28' ″ as shown in fig. 15 is shown. The compression device 28 "' has end caps 41' and 46' made of metal or other rigid material. The end caps 41' and 46' have a slight curvature along the curvature that occurs when the shaft 44 ″ ' is tilted during vibration of the cleaning plate 5 (see fig. 11). The end cap 41 'has a plastic or other resilient gasket 42' that pushes under pressure against the surface of the body plate 16 (see fig. 11). The resilient washer 42 'conforms to the curvature of the end cap 41'. The end cap 46 'has a plastic or other resilient gasket 45' that pushes under pressure against the surface of the cleaning plate 16 (see fig. 11). The resilient washer 45 'conforms to the curvature of the end cap 46'. Connector 44 "extends from end cap 41 'to end cap 46'. In an embodiment, the connector 44 ″ is of a fixed length and is not stretched, which when installed in the surface treating apparatus first causes a pressure to be applied between the body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5 (see fig. 11). The hold-down device 28 "'differs from the hold-down device 28" in fig. 12 in that the shaft 44 "of fig. 14 tapers to a narrower diameter relative to the shaft 44' of fig. 12, and is more flexible and bends when the cleaning plate 5 vibrates. The curved end caps 41 'and 46' and the conforming resilient washers 42 'and 45' help ensure smooth vibration of the cleaning plate 5 (see fig. 11).

In fig. 17, a perspective view of another pressing device 44' ″ is shown, which provides a pressing force between the main body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5. The compression device 44 "' is a conventional metal tension spring or alternatively is rubber or other non-metallic resilient material.

In fig. 18, a top view of the movement of the cleaning plate 5 according to the device 1 shown in fig. 3 and 4 in four different positions is shown. These four different positions are labeled 95-1, 95-2, 95-3, and 95-4 and represent many different positions of the device 1 when subjected to vibration. In FIG. 18, the rotors of motors 22-1 and 22-2 rotate in opposite directions as indicated by the triangular symbols. In embodiments such as fig. 18, the cleaning action is particularly suited to hard surfaces such as wood floors and carpets with short piles and loops by the reverse rotation of the motors 22-1 and 22-2. A 2 mm vibration is suitable for a device with a minimum process dimension M _ D of 6.5 inches (see fig. 1). In general, vibrations between 1 and 4 millimeters work well.

As shown in FIG. 18, both offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 are oriented parallel to the X-axis direction at an angle of 180 degrees in one instance of time as shown in view 95-1. The X-axis direction is perpendicular to the Y-axis direction, that is, perpendicular to the direction of travel.

In FIG. 18, offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 are oriented at 270 degrees with respect to the X-axis for weight 23-1 and 90 degrees with respect to the X-axis for another example of time as shown in view 95-2.

In FIG. 18, offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 are oriented at 0 degrees with respect to the X-axis for weight 23-1 and 0 degrees with respect to the X-axis for weight 23-2 in another example of time as shown in view 95-3.

In FIG. 18, offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 are oriented at 90 degrees with respect to the X-axis for weight 23-1 and 270 degrees with respect to the X-axis for another example of time as shown in view 95-4.

As the rotor of the motor rotates, the offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 become directional, in different instances in time, at all angles from 0 degrees to 360 degrees, views 95-1, 95-2, 95-3, 95-4 being exemplary. The offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 in fig. 18 are synchronized, wherein the angular orientation of the offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 remains the same for many rotations through 360 degrees. Further, the offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 in FIG. 18 are synchronized and periodic so as to be at substantially the same angle in the X-axis direction, that is, synchronized and periodic so as to be at substantially the same angle in a direction perpendicular (at right angles) to the direction of travel. Specifically, in the orientation of view 95-1, both offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 are 180 degrees relative to the X-axis. Specifically, in the orientation of view 95-3, both offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 are at 0 degrees with respect to the X-axis. When the examples of orientations of views 95-1 and 95-3 have equal phase angles, that is, 180 degrees and 0 degrees, very good performance is obtained when the phase angles are within about +/-10 degrees of each other. For example, offset weight 23-1 may be 20 degrees when offset weight 23-1 is 0 degrees.

In fig. 19, a non-moving top view of the cleaning plate 5 is shown in four different representative positions as shown in fig. 18. According to fig. 19, the transmission of fig. 10 and 14 is driven through four different positions labeled 95-1, 95-2, 95-3, and 95-4.

In fig. 20, a top view of four different positions shows the cleaning plate 5 of the device 1 as shown in fig. 3 and 4. These four different locations are labeled 96-1, 96-2, 96-3, and 96-4. In fig. 20, motors 22-1 and 22-2 rotate in the same direction and remain aligned. In embodiments in which the direction of rotation of the motors 22-1 and 22-2 is the same, the cleaning action is particularly suited to soft surfaces such as carpets with deep pile and loops. The 4 mm offset is suitable for a device with a minimum process dimension M _ D of 7 inches (see FIG. 1). For hard surfaces such as wood floors and carpets with short pile and loop, 2 mm vibration is suitable for equipment with a minimum process dimension M _ D of 6.5 inches (see FIG. 1). Generally, vibrations in the range of about 2 mm to 4 mm work well. However, the range of vibration may be larger for devices having different process sizes.

As shown in FIG. 20, both offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 are at an angle of 180 degrees parallel to the X-axis direction as shown in view 96-1 in one instance of time. The X-axis direction is perpendicular (at right angles) to the Y-axis direction, that is, perpendicular to the direction of travel.

In FIG. 20, offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 are oriented at 270 degrees with respect to the X-axis for weight 23-1 and 270 degrees with respect to the X-axis for another example of time as shown in view 96-2.

In FIG. 20, offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 are oriented at 0 degrees with respect to the X-axis for weight 23-1 and 0 degrees with respect to the X-axis for weight 23-2 in another example of time as shown in view 96-3.

In FIG. 20, offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 are oriented at 90 degrees with respect to the X-axis for weight 23-1 and 90 degrees with respect to the X-axis for weight 23-2 in another example of time as shown in view 96-4.

As the rotor of the motor rotates, the offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 become directional, in different instances in time, at all angles from 0 degrees to 360 degrees, as exemplified by views 96-1, 96-2, 96-3, 96-4. The offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 in fig. 20 are synchronized, wherein the angular orientation of the offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 remains the same for many rotations through 360 degrees. Further, the offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 in FIG. 20 are synchronized and periodic so as to be at substantially the same angle in the X-axis direction, that is, synchronized and periodic so as to be at substantially the same angle in the direction perpendicular to the direction of travel. Specifically, in the orientation of view 96-1, both offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 are 180 degrees relative to the X-axis. Specifically, in the orientation of view 96-3, both offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 are at 0 degrees with respect to the X-axis. When the examples of orientations of views 96-1 and 96-3 have equal phase angles, i.e., 180 degrees and 0 degrees, very good performance is obtained when the phase angles are within about +/-10 degrees of each other. For example, offset weight 23-1 may be 20 degrees when offset weight 23-1 is 0 degrees.

In fig. 21, a non-moving top view of the cleaning plate of the device 1 as shown in fig. 3 and 4 is shown in four different positions as shown in fig. 20. These four different locations are labeled 96-1, 96-2, 96-3, and 96-4.

In fig. 22, a top view of the movement of eight different positions of the cleaning plate 5 of the device 1 according to fig. 3 and 4 is shown. These eight different positions are labeled 97-1, 97-2 … … 97-8, and represent many different positions of the cleaning plate 5 of the appliance 1 when the motors 22-1 and 22-2 are not synchronized. In FIG. 22, the motors 22-1 and 22-1 rotate in opposite directions. With the motor of FIG. 22, the drive shafts 21-1 and 21-2 are not maintained in alignment and are not synchronized. In embodiments such as fig. 22, the cleaning action is suitable for hard surfaces such as wood floors and carpets with short piles and loops by reverse rotation of the motors 22-1 and 22-2. A 2 mm vibration is suitable for a device with a minimum process dimension M _ D of 6.5 inches (see fig. 1). When the drives 22-1 and 22-2 are not synchronized, the device 1 sometimes tends to pull from one direction or the other in the XY plane. The least desirable phase orientation of offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 is shown in view 97-8, where offset weight 23-1 is at 0 degrees and offset weight 23-2 is at 180 degrees. The synchronized operation as described in connection with fig. 18-21 avoids the 180 degree out-of-phase condition shown in view 97-8 of fig. 22 and avoids other out-of-phase conditions that are less severe than the 180 degree out-of-phase condition shown in view 97-8.

Fig. 23 is a perspective view of an exemplary motor 22 'having an asymmetric offset weight 23'. The motor 22 includes a rotor 41 that rotates about the central shaft 21 and about a stator 42 (not expressly shown). The stator 42 includes legs 24 for mounting the motor, particularly the stator. The rotor 41 has an offset weight 23', which offset weight 23' is connected such that upon rotation of the rotor the offset weight 23' rotates to generate vibrations, thereby vibrating anything connected to the leg 24. In the embodiment depicted, the ring 19 is connected to the rotor 41. The ring 19 includes a plurality of holes 30 that entirely surround the rotor 41. Most of the holes 30 are empty and some holes 30 are filled with a material as heavy as metal to form the offset weight 23'. The ring 19 includes a gear 51, which in one embodiment is a fiber belt, and in another embodiment has metal teeth.

In fig. 24, a perspective view of two motors 22'-1 and 22' -2 are shown, each having an asymmetric offset weight 23'-1 and 23' -2, respectively, wherein the motors are synchronized. The motor 22' -1 includes a rotor 41-1, which rotor 41-1 rotates about a central shaft 21-1 connected to the leg 24-1. The leg portion 24-1 is fixedly attached to the cleaning plate 5. The rotor 41-1 has an offset weight 23' -1, and the offset weight 23' -1 is connected such that the offset weight 23' -1 rotates to generate vibration when the rotor rotates, thereby vibrating the cleaning plate 5 connected to the leg portion 24-1. In the embodiment depicted, ring 19-1 is coupled to rotor 41-1. The ring 19-1 includes a plurality of holes 30-1 that entirely surround the rotor 41-1. Most of the holes 30-1 are empty and some of the holes 30-1 are filled with a material such as metal or the like to form the offset weight 23' -1. The ring 19-1 includes a gear 51-1. The motor 22' -2 includes a rotor 41-2, which rotor 41-2 rotates about a central shaft 21-2 connected to the leg 24-2. The leg portion 24-2 is fixedly connected to the cleaning plate 5. The rotor 41-2 has an offset weight 23' -2, which offset weight 23' -2 is connected such that upon rotation of the rotor the offset weight 23' -2 rotates to generate vibrations, thereby vibrating the cleaning plate 5 connected to the leg 24-2. In the embodiment depicted, ring 19-2 is connected to rotor 41-2. The ring 19-2 includes a plurality of holes 30-2 that entirely surround the rotor 41-2. Most of the holes 30-2 are empty and some of the holes 30-2 are filled with a material such as metal or the like to form the offset weight 23' -2. The ring 19-2 includes a gear 51-2. The motors 22'-1 and 22' -2 are positioned such that the gear 51-1 has teeth that mesh with the teeth of the gear 51-2 so that the rotations of the rotors 41-1 and 41-2 are synchronized. With such synchronization, the motors 22'-1 and 22' -2 rotate in opposite directions, and the vibrating operation is as described in connection with fig. 18 and 19.

A perspective view of a pair of drive gears 37-1 and 37-2 is shown in fig. 25. The drive gears 37-1 and 37-2 each have an asymmetric offset weight 23'-1 and 23' -2, respectively. Drive gears 37-1 and 37-2 rotate about spindles 21-1 and 21-2, respectively. Spindles 21-1 and 21-2 are connected to a stator (not shown) and to feet 24-1 and 24-2, respectively, which are connected to cleaning plate 5 by bolts, welding or other fastening means. The drive gears 37-1 and 37-2 are driven by synchronizing gears 38-1 and 38-2, respectively. The synchronizing gears 38-1 and 38-2 are connected to the cleaning plate 5 through bushings 39-1 and 39-2, respectively. When the synchronizing gear 38-2 rotates in the clockwise direction, the drive gear 37-2 and the synchronizing gear 21-3 rotate in the counterclockwise direction. When the synchronizing gear 21-3 rotates in the counterclockwise direction, the drive gear 37-1 rotates in the clockwise direction, which is opposite to the counterclockwise direction of the drive gear 37-2.

FIG. 26 is a schematic top view of gears 37-1 and 37-2, gears 38-1 and 38-2 shown in FIG. 25 with motor 22-3, pulleys 35-1 and 35-2, and belt 36 for driving the gears. In the embodiment of fig. 25 and 26, a single motor 22-3 drives two separate bias drivers 37-1 and 37-2 in opposite directions and in synchronization.

Fig. 27 is a schematic front view of an embodiment of the apparatus 10 with a single motor 22' -1 and cleaning plate 5 in more detail, which is suitable for the apparatus 1 as shown in fig. 1 and 2. The drive assembly 10 includes a motor 22' -1 directly connected to the cleaning plate 5. The motor 22'-1 includes an offset weight 23' -1. The offset weight 23' -1 causes the cleaning plate 5 and attached cleaning pad 6 to oscillate in the XY plane, i.e., the plane parallel to the floor. The main body plate 16 is separated from the cleaning plate 5 by ball bearings 91-1 and 91-2. The pressing means 28-1 and 28-2 urge the main body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5 toward each other while the ball bearings 91-1 and 91-2 keep the main body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5 separated. The ball bearings 91-1 and 91-2 slide the main body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5 parallel to each other in the XY plane, thereby allowing the cleaning plate to vibrate in the XY plane. The hold-down devices 28-1 and 28-2 may be any hold-down devices equivalent to those described in connection with fig. 11-17.

In fig. 27, the motor 22' -1 is connected to the cleaning plate 5, but not to the main body plate 16 or any other part of the main body portion 9. The body portion 9 includes an opening 14-1, and the motor 22' -1 extends into the opening 14-1 without contacting the body portion 9. The battery unit 17 'provides battery power to drive the motor 22' -1.

Fig. 28 is a schematic top view of the apparatus 1 shown in fig. 27. The drive assembly 10 includes a motor 22' -1 directly connected to the cleaning plate 5. The motor 22-1 includes an offset weight 23' -1. The offset weight 23-1 causes the attached cleaning pad 6 to vibrate in the XY plane, i.e., the plane parallel to the floor, through operation of the cleaning plate 5 (as described in connection with fig. 3). The hold-down devices 28-1, 28-2, 28-3 and 28-4 urge the body panel 16 toward the cleaning panel 5 (as shown by hold-down devices 28-1 and 28-2 in fig. 3). The handle connector 15-1 is used to connect the handle to the main body portion 9.

Fig. 29 depicts by way of example four different positions of the cleaning plate 5 when the cleaning plate 5 is driven by a single motor 22-1 as shown in fig. 27 and 28. These four different positions are labeled 98-1, 98-2, 98-3, and 98-4.

Fig. 30 is a top view of the four different positions shown in fig. 29. These four different positions are labeled 98-1, 98-2, 98-3, and 98-4.

Fig. 31 is a bottom view of the main body plate 16 shown in fig. 3. The body plate 16 has a plurality of pockets 81, including pockets 81-1, 81-2, 81-3 and 81-4, for receiving ball bearings. The body plate 16 has notches 83-1, 83-2, 83-3 and 83-4 to receive the compression O-rings 28-1, 28-2, 28-3 and 28-4 shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 32 is an end view of the body plate 16 of FIG. 31 taken along section line 32-32' of FIG. 31. The body plate 16 includes deep grooves 81-2 and 81-4 to retain ball bearings, as is typically shown with ball bearings 91 in the grooves 81-2.

Fig. 33 is a top view of the cleaning plate 5 shown in fig. 31. The cleaning plate 5 has a plurality of pockets 82, including pockets 82-1, 82-2, 82-3 and 82-4, for receiving ball bearings in pockets 81-1, 81-2, 81-3 and 81-4, respectively, of the body plate 16 of FIG. 31. The cleaning plate 16 has notches 84-1, 84-2, 84-3 and 84-4 for receiving the compression O-rings 28-1, 28-2, 28-3 and 28-4 shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 34 is an end view of the cleaning plate 5 of FIG. 33 taken along section line 34-34' of FIG. 33. The cleaning plate 5 includes shallow grooves 82-2 and 82-4 to engage ball bearings like ball bearing 91 in FIG. 32. When the main body panel 16 is juxtaposed with the cleaning panel 5, the shallow recesses 82-2 and 82-4 are juxtaposed with the deep recesses 81-2 and 81-4. Ball bearings, like ball bearing 91, are received in deep grooves 81-2 and 81-4 and are in contact with shallow grooves 82-2 and 82-4. The diameter of the ball bearings is larger than the combined depth of the shallow grooves 82-2 and 82-4 and the deep grooves 81-2 and 81-4 so that the ball bearings keep the main body plate 16 separated from the cleaning plate 5.

In fig. 35, the fixed body plate 16 abuts the cleaning plate 5 and is held offset from the cleaning plate 5 by rolling bearings, in particular ball bearings 91-2 and 91-4 as typically shown. The ball bearings 91-2 roll in the grooves 81-2 of the main body plate 16 and in the grooves 82-2 of the cleaning plate 5. The ball bearings 91-4 roll in the grooves 81-4 of the main body plate 16 and in the grooves 82-4 of the cleaning plate 5.

Fig. 36 is an expanded view of a portion of fig. 35 with the fixed body plate 16 adjacent the cleaning plate 5 and held offset from the cleaning plate 5 by a rolling ball bearing, ball bearing 91. Ball bearing 91 is typical of ball bearings 91-2 and 91-4. Diameter D of ball bearing 91_bLarge enough to maintain the gap dimension C so as to separate the body plate 16 from the cleaning plate 5. Diameter D_bEqual to height H_bThe height H_bIt is sufficient to maintain the clearance C when the ball bearings are in

pockets

81 and 82. Diameter D of

pockets

81 and 82_cSubstantially greater than diameter D_b，So that the cleaning plate 5 can oscillate in the XY plane relative to the fixed body plate 16.

Fig. 37 is an expanded view of fig. 36 with the fixed body plate 16 adjacent the cleaning plate 5 and held offset from the cleaning plate 5 by ball bearings 91. The cleaning plate 5 is moved in one direction by the maximum amount along the Y-axis. Ball bearing 91 has sufficient space in

pockets

81 and 82 to allow cleaning plate 5 to move because of chamber diameter D_cLarge enough to allow such movement.

Fig. 38 is an expanded view of fig. 36 with the fixed body plate 16 adjacent the cleaning plate 5 and held offset from the cleaning plate 5 by ball bearings 91. The cleaning plate 5 is moved in one direction opposite to the moving direction in fig. 37 by the maximum amount along the Y-axis. Ball bearing 91 has sufficient space in

pockets

Fig. 39 depicts the battery and synchronizer unit 17 for driving the first motor 22-1 and the second motor 22-2. The first position sensor 94-1 senses the position of the rotor 41-1 of the first motor 22-1 and the second position sensor 94-2 senses the position of the rotor 41-2 of the second motor 22-1. The first position sensor 94-1 provides a first position signal to the controller 93 indicative of the position of the rotor 41-1 of the first motor 22-1 and the second position sensor 94-2 provides a second position signal to the controller 93 indicative of the position of the rotor 41-2 of the first motor 22-2. The first position signal inherently indicates the position of the first offset weight 23-1 and the second position signal inherently indicates the position of the second offset weight 23-2. The controller 93 analyzes the difference between the first position signal and the second position signal and drives the first motor 22-1 and the second motor 22-2 such that the difference is close to 0, and thus the angular positions of the first offset weight 23-1 and the second offset weight 23-2 are the same.

Fig. 40 is a schematic top view of a part of the surface treatment apparatus 1. The surface treatment apparatus 1 includes a first motor 22-1 and a second counter-rotating motor 22-2. The first motor 22-1 and the second motor 22-2 include stators that are connected to the cleaning plate 5. The first motor 22-1 has a rotor that rotates in a counterclockwise direction and the second motor 22-2 has a rotor that rotates in a clockwise direction. The first motor 22-1 and the second motor 22-2 are positioned forward in the Y-axis direction of the connector 15-1, which connector 15-1 is part of the handle assembly 15 (not shown, see fig. 1 and 2). The rotating first motor 22-1 and second motor 22-2 have rotational momentum and are accordingly constrained by the well-known physical principle, the conservation of rotational momentum by anthropomorphic means. Thus, the first motor 22-1 tends to establish a force vector Vcc in the Y-axis direction and the second motor 22-2 tends to establish a force vector Vc in the Y-axis direction. As a result of these force vectors, cleaning plate 5 and the associated first motor 22-1 and second motor 22-2 tend to be driven in the Y-axis direction, as illustrated by cleaning plate 5' and the associated first motor 22-1' and second motor 22-2' as explained by the dashed lines. The driving force from the force vector is beneficial and contributes significantly to ease of operation when propelling the surface treating apparatus onto a cleaned or otherwise treated surface.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications in form and detail may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for treating a surface lying in an XY plane, comprising,

a main body portion having a main body plate,

a cleaning plate located between the body plate and the XY plane,

a drive assembly connected to the cleaning plate for driving the cleaning plate in a cleaning shock in a vibration mode parallel to the XY plane; the drive assembly includes a motor directly connected to the cleaning plate, the motor being connected to the cleaning plate without being connected to the main body plate or any other part of the main body portion;

a connection assembly flexibly connecting the cleaning plate and the main body plate under pressure so as to allow the cleaning plate to vibrate with respect to the main body plate and isolate the cleaning vibration from the main body;

wherein the connecting assembly comprises a connecting rod and a connecting rod,

a plurality of compression devices connected between the cleaning plate and the body plate for urging the cleaning plate and the body plate toward each other,

a plurality of rolling spacers for separating the cleaning plate and the main body plate under pressure from the pressing device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the compression device is one or more of an O-ring, a spring, a rubber band, and a cushioned shaft connector.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rolling isolator is a ball bearing.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each compression device compresses a corresponding rolling spacer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the compression device comprises a bumper shaft connector having a first end and a second end, the first end comprising a first end cap and a first compression washer to engage the body plate under compression, the second end having a second end cap and a second compression washer to engage the cleaning plate under compression, whereby under vibration of the cleaning plate, the first end cap and the first compression washer and the second end cap and the second compression washer exert increased pressure at the end of travel of the cleaning plate during cleaning vibration.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motor has

A stator fixed to the cleaning plate,

a rotor for rotating about a motor shaft about the stator,

an offset weight that is asymmetrically rotated about the motor axis by the rotor, whereby the cleaning plate is driven to vibrate in a vibration mode parallel to the XY plane.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the motor is a direct current motor.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a battery for powering the DC motor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motor comprises:

a first motor including

A first stator fixed to the cleaning plate,

a first rotor for rotating in a first direction about the first stator and about a first motor axis,

a first biasing weight connected to the first rotor and rotated by the first rotor about the first motor axis, whereby the cleaning plate is driven to make a first vibration in a first vibration mode parallel to the XY plane,

a second motor including

A second stator fixed to the cleaning plate,

a second rotor for rotation about the second stator and about a second motor shaft in a second direction,

a second biasing weight connected to the second rotor and rotated about the second motor axis by the second rotor, whereby the cleaning plate is driven to make a second vibration in a second vibration mode parallel to the XY plane,

thereby, the cleaning plate has a combined vibration formed by the first vibration mode and the second vibration mode in combination.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first direction is a clockwise direction and the second direction is a counterclockwise direction.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the drive assembly includes a synchronizer for synchronizing rotation of the first and second rotors whereby the first and second offset weights remain at synchronized rotational angles.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first and second rotors have first and second phase angles, respectively, for the first and second offset weights, respectively, measured on an axis perpendicular to a direction of travel of the apparatus, and wherein the synchronizer operates to keep the first and second phase angles substantially the same.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the synchronizer comprises a mechanical gear.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the synchronizer comprises an electronic feedback network comprising

A first sensor for sensing a position of the first rotor via a first position signal,

a second sensor for sensing a position of the second rotor by a second position signal,

a controller responsive to the first and second position signals to drive the first and second motors whereby the first and second biasing weights remain synchronized at a synchronized rotational angle.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cleaning plate comprises a vibrating plate, a towel support plate connected to the vibrating plate, and a cleaning towel attached to the towel support plate.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a handle by which a user can move the device on a floor lying in the XY plane.

17. An apparatus for treating a surface lying in an XY plane, comprising,

a main body portion having a main body plate,

a cleaning plate located between the body plate and the XY plane,

a drive assembly connected to the cleaning plate for driving the cleaning plate in a cleaning shock in a vibration pattern parallel to the XY plane, wherein the drive assembly comprises a motor directly connected to the cleaning plate, the motor being connected to the cleaning plate without being connected to the body plate or any other part of the body;

the motor includes:

a first motor including

A first stator fixed to the cleaning plate,

a second motor including

A second stator fixed to the cleaning plate,

whereby the cleaning plate has cleaning vibrations formed by a combination of the first vibration mode and the second vibration mode,

a connection assembly flexibly connecting the cleaning plate and the main body plate under pressure to allow the cleaning plate to vibrate with respect to the main body plate and to isolate the cleaning vibration from the main body,

a plurality of rolling spacers for separating the cleaning plate and the main body plate under pressure from the pressing device;

a connector connected to the body portion for receiving a component to move the device in the XY plane.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the drive assembly has a height dimension H, the cleaning plate has a minimum process dimension M _ D, and wherein the ratio of H/M _ D is less than 0.25.

19. An apparatus for treating a surface lying in an XY plane, comprising,

a main body portion having a main body plate,

a cleaning plate located between the body plate and the XY plane,

an attachment device having one side attached to the cleaning plate and another side attached to a cleaning pad.