EP0029401B1 - Device to clean surfaces such as ceilings and walls - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning surfaces such as ceilings and walls.

This device is more specifically intended for the cleaning of walls or ceilings of buildings before passing a coat of paint or laying wallpaper.

US Patent 2,857,606 describes an apparatus intended exclusively for cleaning walls, comprising a casing, the lower part of which forms a tank containing a cleaning liquid in which a cleaning roller soaks, driven in rotation and intended to rest on the wall. to be cleaned, with which a spin roller is associated, the recovery of the cleaning liquid taking place in a chute channeling it into a tube leading it to a recovery tank.

The cleaning roller providing support, cleaning and movement of the appliance on the wall to be cleaned makes the use of the appliance very difficult, if not impossible from a practical point of view. In fact, if the pressure printed on the support is too great, the cleaning is satisfactory, but the device does not move and the cleaning roller deteriorates. On the contrary, if the printed pressure is too low, cleaning is poor and the movement of the device is too fast.

The cleaning of walls and ceilings is therefore most often carried out manually using brushes and sponges.

It is strenuous work because it must be performed with the operator holding his arms in the air. However, work in this position is strongly discouraged by the medical profession. In addition to the significant time required to clean a ceiling, it presents risks for the operator who must work in balance on a ladder.

Finally, it is impossible to perform the cleaning of a ceiling in a furnished room due to the soiling that would inevitably occur on the furniture due to splashing water.

The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks.

• - un cadre monté par l'intermédiaire d'un étrier à l'extrémité d'un manche et servant de support à deux rouleaux qui, parallèles, disposés à proximité de deux bords du cadre, et réalisés en un matériau dur mais possédant un bon coefficient d'adhérence, sont entraînés en rotation et sont destinés à assurer l'appui de l'appareil et son déplacement sur la surface à nettoyer.
• - le rouleau de nettoyage d'axe parallèle aux rouleaux d'appui sur la surface à nettoyer, étant disposé entre ceux-ci et entraîné en rotation en sens inverse de ceux-ci, alimenté en liquide de nettoyage par une rampe qui en est parallèle,
• - un racloir en matière souple disposé en arrière du rouleau de nettoyage et destiné à prendre appui sur la surface à nettoyer sur toute la largeur de l'appareil.

To this end, the apparatus it relates to, of the type comprising a cleaning roller, of flexible material with an axis parallel to the surface to be cleaned, driven in rotation and supplied with cleaning liquid, on which a roller is supported. wringing axis substantially parallel to that of the cleaning roller and made of a material harder than the latter, a tank for collecting the cleaning liquid being provided which is equipped with an evacuation of the latter, comprises:

• - a frame mounted by means of a stirrup at the end of a handle and serving as a support for two rollers which, parallel, arranged near two edges of the frame, and made of a hard material but having good coefficient of adhesion, are driven in rotation and are intended to ensure the support of the device and its movement on the surface to be cleaned.
• the cleaning roller with an axis parallel to the support rollers on the surface to be cleaned, being disposed between them and driven in rotation in the opposite direction to the latter, supplied with cleaning liquid by a ramp which is parallel thereto ,
• - a scraper made of flexible material placed behind the cleaning roller and intended to rest on the surface to be cleaned over the entire width of the appliance.

The support and drive rollers of the device have a smaller cross-section than that of the cleaning roller and are driven in rotation at a speed lower than the speed of rotation of the latter.

It suffices for the user to hold the device in abutment against the surface to be cleaned, for example a ceiling, on which it moves driven by the rollers mounted at its ends. The cleaning roller rotates in intimate contact with the surface of the ceiling, the nature of the material in which it is made allowing it to deform in contact with the latter.

The action of the spin roller allows the evacuation of the dirty cleaning water to the recovery tank, before a new soaking of the washing roller with clean liquid at the level of the feed ramp thereof.

The scraper evacuates the water droplets remaining on the cleaned surface.

Depending on the desired result, it is possible to use as cleaning liquid either water alone or water with a detergent added, in which case it is preferable to carry out a rinsing operation always at using the device supplied with clean water.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the frame carries between the two drive rollers disposed near two of its edges, two successive assemblies each having a flexible roller, a liquid supply ramp, a roller and a scraper.

• figure 1 en est une vue en perspective, la partie supérieure du manche étant coupée;
• figures 2 et 3 sont deux vues en coupe longitudinale de la partie supérieure de l'appareil, respectivement en conditions d'utilisation et hors service;
• figures 4 et 5 sont deux vues en coupe longitudinale de la partie supérieure du manche, respectivement en période de repos de l'appareil et en conditions de travail;
• figure 6 est une vue du manche dans sa partie inférieure ou centrale, le montage des différents éléments tubulaires étant représenté en coupe longitudinale;
• figure 7 est une vue du dispositif dans le cas où celui-ci est destiné à être porté par un baudrier.

In any case, the invention will be clearly understood with the aid of the description which follows with reference to the appended schematic drawing representing, by way of nonlimiting example, an embodiment of this device:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view, the upper part of the handle being cut;
• Figures 2 and 3 are two views in longitudinal section of the upper part of the device, respectively in conditions of use and out of service;
• Figures 4 and 5 are two views in longitudinal section of the upper part of the handle, respectively in the period of rest of the device and in working conditions;
• Figure 6 is a view of the handle in its lower or central part, the mounting of the various tubular elements being shown in longitudinal section;
• Figure 7 is a view of the device in the case where it is intended to be carried by a harness.

The apparatus shown in the drawing comprises a frame 1 pivotally mounted at the end 2 of the branches of a stirrup 3. This stirrup 3 is, for its part, mounted at the upper end of a handle 4. On the frame 1 are fixed, near two opposite edges of it, two rollers 5 driven in rotation, intended to ensure the support and the drive of the device on the surface to be cleaned. These rollers are made of a relatively hard material, but having a good coefficient of adhesion, and are mounted in an adjustable manner, in a plane orthogonal to the frame on legs 5a.

On the frame are also mounted a washing roller 6 and a rinsing roller 7 made of a semi-flexible material, these two rollers being driven in the opposite direction to that of the rollers 5 and at a higher speed. Roller 6 is associated with a ramp 8 for supplying washing products, and roller 7 with a ramp 9 for supplying rinsing water, each ramp comprising orifices opening out opposite the roller with which it is associated, and being mounted behind it in the direction of movement of the device. With the two rollers 6 and 7 are associated wiping rollers, respectively 10 and 12 made of a hard material, each maintained in pressure against the roller with which it is associated by a spring 13. A flexible scraper, respectively 14 and 15, is associated with each of the spin rollers, respectively 10 and 12, preventing the liquid extracted from the roller in question from being returned to it.

The rollers 10 and 12 are covered, on the sides of the surface to be cleaned, with covers respectively 16 and 17 parallel to the plane of the frame.

The apparatus further comprises scrapers 18 and 19 located behind the rollers, respectively 6 and 7. At the lower part of the frame is mounted a tank 20 intended for recovering washing and rinsing liquids, this tank comprising at minus an evacuation pipe 22 in the bottom and / or 22 'lateral. The washing product is supplied using a pump 23 from a container 24 by a tube 25, the water supply being made by a tube 26 connected to the network.

The upper part of the handle 4 forms a yoke 2 open upwards, in the two wings of which are provided two central and longitudinal slots 28, the central branch 29 of the stirrup 3 being engaged in this yoke and having two opposite fingers 30 engaged in the two lights 28.

A spring 32 is mounted inside the handle, which bears, at its lower end, against a stop 33 and, at its upper end, against the central branch 29 of the stirrup.

The yoke has, near its other end, a pin 34 connecting its two wings, which cooperates with two symmetrical ramps 35 secured to the central branch 29 of the stirrup and forming a V open upwards. A contactor not shown in the drawing is associated with the ramps 35, which causes the device to stop when the axis 34 is in contact with the bottom of the V-shaped recess.

From a practical point of view, when, as shown in FIG. 4, no action is exerted on the upper part of the apparatus, the spring 32 is in the relaxed position and the axis 34 is in abutment at the bottom of the V-shaped recess. This support, combined with the action of the fingers 30 in the slot 28, maintains the branch 29 of the stirrup perpendicular to the handle 4.

In the working position, on the contrary, as shown in FIG. 5, the spring 32 is compressed so that the axis 34 is no longer at the bottom of the V-shaped recess, which allows a lateral deposit of the frame relatively to the handle until the axis 34 comes to bear against one of the ramps 35.

As shown in Figures 1 and 6, the handle 4 is made from three tubular elements of different sections. The lower element 36 of larger section is equipped, at its lower end, with a wheel 37 of known type intended to bear on the ground, orientable by means of a lever 38 on which are mounted the control of the operation of the device and allowing the actuation of a brake 39, which operates as soon as the lever 38 is released, under the effect of the simple weight thereof.

In the tubular element 36, a spring 40 is mounted on which comes to bear the intermediate tubular element 42 which slides inside the tubular element 36 and the upper end of which forms a collar 43. This collar 43 is intended to cooperate with a ratchet lock 44 to ensure, when necessary, the maintenance of the intermediate tube 42 in the engaged position in the lower tube 36.

In the intermediate tube 42 is engaged the upper tubular element 45 which is blocked in translation relative to the tube 42. The tube 45 has means for adjusting its length, not shown in the drawing.

The lower tube 36 can be equipped with a handle 46 facilitating its handling.

From a practical point of view, under conditions of use, the apparatus is in the position shown in FIG. 1, that is to say that the intermediate tube 42 is partially disengaged from the lower tube 36 under the spring action 40.

The device stands between floor and ceiling under the effect of spring 40 and spring 32, after adjusting the length of the tube 45.

At the end of use of the apparatus, the operator need only, after having caused it to stop, to cause two upper tubes to slide downwards, until the latch 44 comes to cap the collar 43. It is thus possible to neutralize the action of the spring 40, which facilitates the handling of the assembly.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the handle 36,42,45 is mounted with the interposition of a chain 46 or the like at one end of a lever 47, the central part of which is suspended from a harness 48 whose can equip the operator, the other end of the lever comprising a handle 49. This arrangement is advantageous when mounting on casters cannot be envisaged, for example on stairs. The operator can control the operation by pressing the handle 49 to raise the device or by releasing it to bring it down.

As is clear from the above, the invention brings a great improvement to the existing technique by providing a device of simple design requiring no effort from the operator during operation.

It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the sole embodiment of this device, described above by way of example.

It is thus in particular that, for apparatuses for industrial use, it is possible to replace the caster mounted at the lower end of the handle by a carriage capable of carrying simultaneously containers containing the washing and rinsing products without the this goes beyond the scope of the invention.

Claims (14)

1. Apparatus for cleaning surfaces, such as ceilings and walls, of the type comprising a cleaning roller (6) of flexible material, which has an axis parallel to the surface to be cleaned, is rotatably driven and supplied with cleaning fluid and on which there bears a drying roller (10) having an axis substantially parallel to that of the cleaning roller and made of a material which is harder than the latter, a tank (20) for recovering the cleaning fluid being provided and equipped with an evacuation duct for the latter, characterised in that it comprises:

- a frame (1) which is mounted by means of a bracket (3) at the end of a handle (4) and serves to support two parallel rollers (5) which are arranged in the vicinity of two edges of the frame, are made of a material which is hard but has a good co-efficient of adhesion, are rotatably driven and are used to ensure the support of the apparatus and the movement thereof on the surface to be cleaned;

- a cleaning roller (6) which has an axis parallel to the rollers bearing on the surface to be cleaned, is disposed behind the latter rollers, is driven in the opposite direction thereto and is supplied with cleaning liquid by a distributor (8) which is parallel thereto; and

- a squeegee (18) of flexible material, which is disposed behind the cleaning roller and bears on the surface to be cleaned over the entire width of the apparatus.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the bearing and driving rollers have a cross-section which is smaller than that of the cleaning roller and are driven rotatably at a speed which is lower than the speed of rotation of the latter.

3. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that between the two driving rollers disposed in the vicinity of two of the sides of the frame, the latter carries two successive assemblies each having a flexible roller, a liquid supply distributor, a drying roller and a squeegee.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the rollers (5) bearing on the surface to be cleaned are mounted such that they may be adjusted transversely with respect to the frame (1).

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the cleaning liquid supply distributor (8) is mounted behind the cleaning roller (6) in the feed direction of the apparatus, a protection cover (16) being disposed parallel to the plane of the frame, between the supply distributor (8) and the plane in which the apparatus bears on the surface to be cleaned.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the frame (1) is articulated on the bracket about a spindle (2) which is transverse to the feed direction of the apparatus.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the handle (4) is articulated on the central part of the bracket (3) about an axis which is longitudinal with respect to the frame.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the bracket (3) bearing the frame is mounted so as to pivot on the handle about an axis which is perpendicular to that of the rollers (5, 6, 7, 10, 12) which the frame includes, the central arm of the bracket returning resiliently in a manner perpendicular to the handle (4) as soon as the washing and rinsing rollers are no longer pressed against the surface to be cleaned.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that the upper part of the handle (4) forms a fork member (27) which is open at the top and in the two arms of which central and longitudinal apertures (28) are provided, the central arm (29) of the bracket being engaged in this fork member and comprising opposed fingers (30) engaged in these two apertures, a spring (32) being mounted inside the handle end bearing, at its lower end, against a stop (33) and, at its upper end, against the central arm of the bracket, the fork member comprising, in the vicinity of its end, a spindle (34) which connects the two arms thereof and co-operates with two sloping members (35) which are symmetrical, integral with the central arm of the bracket and form a V which is open at the top.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 and 9, characterised in that the handle (4) is of an adjustable length and comprises a lower section which is equipped with a caster (37) and is mounted in a manner which is resilient with respect to the upper part of the handle.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that the caster (37) is connected to a lever (38) which is of a length sufficient to enable it to be guided and on which there are mounted the means for controlling the drive of the rollers and for the supply of washing and rinsing fluids.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that a brake (39) is associated with the lever (38) and acts as soon as the lever is in the released position.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 12, characterised in that the handle is formed by three tubular elements, i.e. a lower element (36) which has the largest cross-section and is provided with a caster (37), an intermediate element (42) which can slide in the lower element and comprises, at its upper end, a collar (43) for co-operating with a catch bar (44), which is mounted on the lower element (36), when the intermediate element (42) is engaged in the lower element against the action of a spring (40) placed between these two elements, and an upper element (45) which has an adjustable length and is engaged in the intermediate element and is blocked in translation with respect to the latter.

14. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 and 9, characterised in that the handle is mounted at the end of a lever (47), the central portion of which is suspended from a cross-belt, and the other end of which comprises a handhold.

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