EP0781524A2 - Dosing device for disinfecting or cleaning fluid - Google Patents

Abstract

The device supplies disinfectant and/or cleaning liquid to a mop covering (B) fitted over a holder (H) and used for cleaning floors, etc. The valve (6) is normally closed, and is opened by a component (7) actuated by the mop. This allows fresh liquid to flow from a storage chamber (3) into a moistening one (4) sealed off from it, and in which the mop is inserted. The chambers can be separated by a partition (2), being connected by a passage (5) for the liquid (R) controlled by the valve. The latter can be mounted in either of the chambers or the partition, which contains an opening (17) through which the component (7) passes.

Description

The invention relates to a metering device for disinfection and / or cleaning fluid for wetting a cleaning tool, in particular a mop cover that has already been fitted onto a mop holder for the care of floors or the like.

For hygienic cleaning of smooth floor surfaces, mops are used in particular in commercial room care, which must be moistened at regular intervals with fresh disinfectant and / or cleaning liquid. So far, this has been done by immersing the mop on a mop holder in a bucket with the disinfectant and / or cleaning liquid. The mop absorbs an uncontrolled amount of disinfectant and / or cleaning fluid.

In order to enable reliable disinfection and / or cleaning of the surface to be treated, the mop cover should, however, absorb an amount of disinfectant and / or cleaning liquid that is adapted to the size of the floor section to be processed. On the other hand, for economic and ecological reasons it is desirable that no more than the required amount of liquid is used. The well-known immersion of the mop cover cannot meet these requirements.

The invention has for its object to provide a metering device for a disinfectant and / or cleaning liquid for wetting a cleaning tool, in particular a mop cover already applied to a mop holder for the care of floors or the like. By means of which the cleaning tool with a metered amount the disinfectant and / or cleaning liquid is wetted.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a metering device of the type mentioned which a metering valve which is closed in the rest position and by means of a e.g. can be opened via the cleaning tool actuating member, in order to allow the transfer of fresh disinfectant and / or cleaning liquid from a storage space into a wetting space sealed with respect to it for immersion of the cleaning tool. With such a metering device it is possible, e.g. To specifically control the supply of fresh disinfectant and / or cleaning liquid into the wetting space and / or the liquid level and / or the liquid composition in the wetting space via the cleaning tool itself, so that a predetermined filling level in the wetting space is not exceeded and thus the mop wets in a metered manner can be.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a partition is provided in a dosing container for dividing the container space into the storage space and the wetting space, and the storage space and the wetting space are connected via a connecting channel through which disinfectant and / or cleaning liquid is opened into the wetting space when the dosing valve is opened can cross.

A compact arrangement of the metering device according to the invention is achieved in that the metering valve in the Storage space is provided in the wetting space or in the partition and the actuator may protrude through the partition.

According to advantageous embodiments of the invention, the partition is firmly connected to the dosing container, can be inserted sealingly into the dosing container or is part of a storage container which forms the storage space and can be inserted into the dosing container, e.g. as its side and / or bottom wall. If the partition is firmly connected to the dosing container in a one-piece design, this can increase its stability. If the partition can be inserted sealingly into the dosing container, the latter can also be used for other purposes when the partition is removed. It when the partition is part of a storage container that can be inserted into the dosing container is particularly advantageous. This can simply be inserted into the dosing container and does not require any additional sealing between the storage space and the wetting space, since the latter is inevitably formed by the part of the dosing container which is not occupied by the correspondingly smaller storage container.

An effective, easily detachable fixing of the metering valve in the working position is achieved in that the metering valve and / or the storage container with the metering valve have a fastening means for gripping around the peripheral edge of the metering container.

The fastening means is advantageously formed by a curved upper wall section of the storage container.

As a further development of the invention, it is proposed that the actuating member have an actuating lever which can be pivoted, for example, about a horizontal pivot axis structurally simple, durable and easy to use design.

According to a further feature of the invention, the pivot axis lies in or near the plane of the partition, which serves the functionality of the actuating member.

The actuating lever is also preferably two-armed, with a valve-side first lever arm and an actuation-side second lever arm in order to ensure safe actuation.

It can be provided that the first lever arm is shorter than the second lever arm. This asymmetrical structure enables easy access to the second lever arm on the loading side and favorable power transmission conditions.

A particularly precise metering can be achieved if the same, in particular adjustable amount of disinfectant and / or cleaning liquid passes into the wetting space each time the actuating member is actuated by the metering valve. This makes it possible to wet the mop with a predetermined amount of liquid, which ensures economical consumption of disinfectant and / or cleaning liquid without falling below the amount of liquid required in particular for disinfection. On a given wiping surface, e.g. always the same amount of disinfectant and / or cleaning liquid.

The passage of a constant amount of disinfectant and / or cleaning liquid into the wetting space is achieved in a particularly simple manner in that the storage space is connected to it via a filling valve Dosing chamber is assigned, the content of which passes into the wetting space when the actuating member is actuated.

It can be provided that when the metering valve is actuated, the otherwise open filling valve is closed, so that only the defined content of the metering chamber of disinfectant and / or cleaning liquid passes into the wetting space.

Advantageously, according to the invention, the valve body of the metering valve and / or the filling valve, the valve body can be moved from its closed position or open position corresponding to the rest position into its open position or closed position via the actuating member, in particular the actuating lever, against the action of a return spring. The return spring ensures an automatic closing of the connection between the storage space and the wetting space, in particular in order to avoid undesired transfer of disinfectant and / or cleaning liquid in the wetting space, and an automatic opening of the dosing chamber in relation to the storage space in order to prevent disinfection and / or allow cleaning fluid.

A particularly compact arrangement is achieved in that the actuating lever with the first lever arm lies below the storage container and, when the second lever arm protruding into the wetting space is actuated, the metering valve is opened and the filling valve is closed via a transmission element protruding through the bottom of the storage container.

In order to achieve, in particular, uniform wetting of the cleaning tool, a wiping element, for example in the form of a wiping grid, is provided in the wetting space Upper edge is at the predetermined distance from the main extension level of the bottom of the wetting space.

Advantageously, the immersion depth of the cleaning tool in the wetting space and e.g. at the same time the degree of opening of the metering valve is limited. This makes it possible to wet only the surface of the cleaning tool that is effective for the subsequent wiping. The liquid absorbed in the upper part, for example, of the mop, is lost for the cleaning or disinfection process. This amount of loss cannot be neglected, in particular, where, due to the special hygiene requirements, the mop covers are often changed, sometimes even from room to room, as is the case in clinics.

Furthermore, it is proposed with the invention that the actuating member, in particular the actuating lever, projects in its rest position with its end on the loading side beyond the stripping element and can be pressed down at least to the upper edge of the stripping element, so that the actuating member receives a defined adjustment path.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the end of the actuating member, in particular the actuating lever, is located adjacent to the stripping element, so that it is easily possible to strip the cleaning tool on the stripping element even without actuating the actuating member.

On the other hand, it can be provided according to the invention that the actuating end of the actuating member, in particular the actuating lever, projects through a recess in the stripping element, which defines a predetermined adjustment path of the actuating lever.

According to the invention, the scraper element can be supported with several legs on the floor of the wetting space, which enables simple and safe insertion of the scraper element into the wetting space while maintaining the desired floor clearance.

Furthermore, the stripping element can be supported on at least one elevation of the floor of the wetting space in order to be able to withstand greater forces.

It is preferred that the at least one elevation is designed as a cross rib open to the outside. In addition to stiffening the floor, this enables the dosing container to be set up securely in a cleaning trolley in that the transverse groove corresponding to the outside of the transverse rib receives a holding rod which is firmly connected to the cleaning trolley.

According to a particularly advantageous development of the invention, the stripping element is designed as a foam that holds the disinfection and / or cleaning liquid. The foam prevents the liquid from sloshing in the wetting space and at the same time ensures its even distribution and delivery to the cleaning tool even when the dosing container is inclined, for example due to an uneven floor.

A particularly uniform wetting of the cleaning tool is possible in that the foam can be elastically deformed by pressure by means of the cleaning tool in order to deliver the disinfectant and / or cleaning liquid absorbed to the cleaning tool. Since the liquid can be metered particularly economically due to the metering device according to the invention, it is all the more important to dispense this metered amount evenly to the cleaning tool, in particular the mop.

According to a further advantageous feature of the invention, the foam is open-celled and made of chemically resistant material.

Furthermore, it is proposed with the invention that a side wall of the dosing container delimiting the wetting space has a bevel, at least in its lower region, which runs from the top outside down to the inside. This configuration of the dosing container offers the possibility of easier pouring out of the container contents, in particular the dirty liquid from the wetting space, and on the other hand protection against splashing out of the liquid during movement.

Furthermore, a closable outlet can be provided in the wetting space, which is preferably arranged below the wiping element. This allows excess liquid to be easily drained from the wetting space.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the metering valve is part of a metering pump, through which the metered amount of disinfectant and / or cleaning liquid can be conveyed into the wetting space in a simple manner.

Further objectives, features, advantages and possible uses of the present invention result from the following description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawing. All of the described and / or illustrated features, alone or in any combination, form the subject matter of the invention, regardless of how they are summarized in the claims or their relationship.

Fig. 1

eine erste Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Dosiervorrichtung, die in einen Dosierbehälter integriert ist, im Schnitt,

Fig. 2

eine weitere Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Dosiervorrichtung, bei welcher ein gesonderter Vorratsbehälter mit Dosierventil in einen Dosierbehälter einsetzbar ist, im Schnitt, und

Fig. 2a

den in Fig. 2 dargestellte Vorratsbehälter vor dem Einsetzen in den Dosierbehälter, im Schnitt.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a first embodiment of a dosing device according to the invention, which is integrated in a dosing container, in section,

Fig. 2

a further embodiment of a metering device according to the invention, in which a separate storage container with a metering valve can be inserted into a metering container, in section, and

Fig. 2a

the storage container shown in Fig. 2 before insertion into the dosing container, in section.

The dosing device shown in FIG. 1 is integrated in a dosing container 1, which is divided into a storage space 3 and a wetting space 4 by means of a partition 2. The storage space 3 serves to hold clean or fresh disinfection and / or cleaning liquid R, while in the wetting space 4 the cleaning or wetting of a cleaning tool, in particular a mop cover B drawn onto a mop holder H, with the disinfection and / or cleaning liquid R can take place.

The storage space 3 and the wetting space 4 are connected to one another via a connecting channel 5 which opens into the storage space 3 via an opening 17 of the partition 2. A liquid flow can pass under the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid volume filled in the storage space 3 from the storage space 3 into the wetting space 4 if a metering valve 6 arranged in the connecting channel 5 is opened in a controllable manner.

The metering valve 6 is arranged on the floor 16 of the storage space 3 in the latter adjacent to the partition 2 and above an actuator 7 in the form of an operating lever 7 'can be operated. The actuating lever 7 'is pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis 8 near the partition 2 and has an asymmetrical structure with two lever arms 9, 10, the shorter arm being a valve-side lever arm 9 and the longer one being an actuation-side lever arm 10. The shorter lever arm 9 lies below the metering valve 6. The action-side lever arm 10 projects through the opening 17 of the partition 2 into the wetting space 4, runs there adjacent to a wiping element 12 in the form of a wiping grid 38 arranged at a predetermined distance from the bottom 11 of the wetting space 4 The stripping element 12 has a plurality of legs 18 which stand on the floor 11 of the wetting space 4. The length of the legs 18 determines the position of the wiping element 12 in the wetting space 4 and thus also the greatest possible immersion depth of the mop cover B.

To further support the stripping element 12, two rib-shaped elevations 19, 19 'are provided in the base 11 of the wetting space 4, which additionally stiffen the base 11. Characterized in that the elevations 19 are designed in the form of transverse ribs 19 ', the outer complementary transverse grooves can hold holding rods of a cleaning trolley (not shown) for securing the hold of the metering container 1 thereon.

The metering valve 6 has a valve body 14, which is held in its closed rest position by a return spring 15 in order to prevent a liquid flow from the storage space 3 into the wetting space 4 when no force acts on the actuating lever 7 '.

The side wall 20 of the wetting space 4 opposite the partition 2 is provided with a bevel 21 in the lower region, in order firstly to pour off contaminated To facilitate liquid from the wetting space 4 and on the other hand to reduce the likelihood of cleaning liquid spilling out of the wetting space 4 when the metering container 1 is moved.

The upper peripheral edge 22 of the metering container 1 is designed in the form of a bent grip edge 22 ′ in order to facilitate handling of the metering container 1. The grip edge 22 'also stiffens the shape of the container.

The metering device constructed in this way enables a mop cover B drawn onto a mop holder H to be wetted with disinfectant or cleaning liquid as follows:

First of all, the storage space 3 is substantially filled with the disinfection or cleaning liquid R.

Since the metering valve 6 is designed such that it is closed in its rest position due to the return spring 15, liquid R is prevented from entering the wetting space 4 in an uncontrolled manner.

If desired, the mop cover B can be immersed in the wetting space 4 for wetting and cleaning. As soon as the mop cover B presses the end 13 of the actuating lever 7 on the loading side, as shown in FIG. 1, the valve body 14 is pressed upward against the force of the return spring 15 and the metering valve 6 is opened; Liquid R reaches the wetting space 4 as long as the metering valve 6 is kept open by pressure by means of the mop cover B on the lever arm 10. The degree of opening of the metering valve 6 is limited in that the mop cover B can only be immersed in the wetting space 4 as far as the stripping element 12.

As soon as sufficient liquid R has passed into the wetting space 4, for example until the level of the liquid R just protrudes above the wiper grille 12, as in the state shown in the drawing, the mop cover B can be withdrawn from the end 13 of the actuating lever 7 ′ on the loading side and adjacent to be lowered onto the stripping element 12 so as to be wetted or cleaned with the liquid R by rubbing back and forth on the stripping element 12.

The metering device shown in FIGS. 2 and 2a has a correspondingly narrower storage container 23 which can be inserted separately into the metering container 1 and in the bottom of which the metering valve 6 is arranged. In addition, a storage chamber 3 is assigned to the storage room 3, adjacent to the metering valve 6, and is connected to the storage room 3 via a filling channel 25. In the filling channel 25, a filling valve 26 is provided, which is combined with the metering valve 6 to form a double-acting valve. The valve arrangement 6, 26 has a common valve body 14, which is held in its rest position by the return spring 15. In this, the filling valve 26 and thus the filling channel 25 connecting the metering chamber 24 to the storage space 3 is opened, while the metering valve 6 is closed. The disinfectant or cleaning liquid R can fill the dosing chamber 24 in this valve position, but cannot pass into the wetting space 4 which is kept free in the dosing container 1 next to the storage container 23.

When the actuating lever 7 is actuated, the valve body 14 is moved from its rest position into its working position against the force of the return spring 15, the filling valve 26 closing the filling channel 25 and at the same time the metering valve 6 opening the connecting channel 5 to the wetting space 4, so that the infection and / or cleaning fluid R can pass from the metering chamber 24 into the wetting space 4.

The upper edge of the storage container 23 serves as a fastening element 27 for gripping around the peripheral edge 22 of the dosing container 1 by being designed as a curved upper wall section 28. This fixes the position of the storage container 23 in the dosing container 1.

The storage container 23 can be inserted in the direction of the arrow 29 into the dosing container 1, as shown in FIG. 2a, which in turn is arranged on a cleaning trolley 30 equipped with rollers 31.

2, the storage container 23 is supported at the top with its curved wall section 28 on the peripheral edge 22 and at the bottom with a web 32 at the bottom 11 of the metering container 1 and is also in large area with its wall section 33 against a side wall 20 of the metering container 1 . Another wall section 34 of the storage container 23 forms the partition 2, which divides the storage space 3 from the wetting space 4.

On the floor 11 of the wetting space 4, an open-pore, chemically resistant foam 35 is provided as the wiping element 12, the size of which approximately corresponds to the size of the mop cover.

The metering device constructed in this way enables a mop cover B drawn onto a mop holder H to be wetted as follows:

First, the storage space 3 of the storage container 23, as shown in FIG. 2a, is substantially filled with disinfectant or cleaning liquid R.

Since the filling valve 26 is open in its rest position due to the return spring 15, the liquid R can enter the metering chamber 24 through the filling channel 25 in the direction of the arrow 36 and fill it. Since at the same time the metering valve 6 is closed in its rest position 15, the liquid R cannot initially get into the wetting space 4.

As soon as the mop cover B presses the end 13 of the actuating lever 7 ′ on the loading side, the filling valve 26 is closed and the metering valve 6 is opened. The liquid volume in the metering chamber 24, and only this, can now pass into the wetting space 4 in the direction of arrow 37 via the connecting channel 5.

The metered amount of disinfectant or cleaning liquid R which has thus entered the wetting space 4 is absorbed by the foam 35. When the mop cover B compresses the elastically deformable foam 35, the liquid R is evenly delivered to the mop cover B. Only the lower side of the mop cover B that is effective for wiping is evenly wetted.

The dosing device according to the invention thus enables precise dosing of the disinfection or cleaning liquid R into the wetting space 4 and a defined wetting of the mop cover B.

Reference symbol list:

1

Dosing container

2nd

partition wall

3rd

Pantry

4th

Wetting space

5

Connecting channel

6

Dosing valve

7

Actuator

7 '

Actuation lever

8th

Swivel axis

9

first lever arm

10th

second lever arm

11

ground

12th

Wiper element

13

end on the application side

14

Valve body

15

Return spring

16

ground

17th

opening

18th

legs

19th

Survey

19 '

Cross rib

20th

Side wall

21

bevel

22

Peripheral edge

22 '

Grip edge

23

Storage container

24th

Dosing chamber

25th

Filling channel

26

Filling valve

27

Fasteners

28

Wall section

29

direction

30th

Cleaning trolley

31

roll

32

web

33

Wall section

34

Wall section

35

Foam

36

direction

37

direction

38

Scraper

Claims (29)

Dosing device for disinfectant and / or cleaning liquid (R) for wetting a cleaning tool, in particular a mop cover (B) already fitted to a mop holder (H) for the care of floors or the like, with a dosing valve (6), which is in the rest position closed and by means of an example Actuating element (7) which can be actuated by the cleaning tool can be opened in order to allow fresh disinfectant and / or cleaning liquid (R) to pass from a storage space (3) into a wetting space (4) which is sealed with respect to it and for immersing the cleaning tool. Dosing device according to claim 1, characterized in that a partition (2) is provided in a dosing container (1) for dividing the container space into the storage space (3) and the wetting space (4), and in that the storage space (3) and the wetting space ( 4) are connected via a connecting channel (5), through which disinfection and / or cleaning liquid (R) can enter the wetting space (4) when the metering valve (6) is opened. Dosing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the dosing valve (6) is provided in the storage space (3), in the wetting space (4) or in the partition (2) and the actuating member (7), if necessary, through an opening ( 17) protrudes through the partition (2). Dosing device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the partition (2) is firmly connected to the dosing container (1), can be inserted sealingly into the dosing container (1) or can be inserted into the dosing container (1) forming the storage space (3) Storage container (23), for example as its side and / or bottom wall. Dosing device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the dosing valve (6) and / or the storage container (23) has / has fastening means (27) for gripping around the peripheral edge (22) of the dosing container (1). Dosing device according to claim 5, characterized in that the fastening means (27) is formed by a curved wall section (28) of the storage container (23). Dosing device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the actuating member (7) has an actuating lever (7 ') which can be pivoted, for example, about a horizontal pivot axis (8). A metering device according to claim 7, characterized in that the pivot axis (8) is of the actuating lever (7 ') in or near the plane of the partition (2). Dosing device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the actuating lever (7 ') has two arms, with a first lever arm (9) on the valve side and a second lever arm (10) on the loading side. Dosing device according to claim 9, characterized in that the first lever arm (9) is shorter than the second lever arm (10). Dosing device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that each time the actuating member (7) is actuated by the dosing valve (6), the same, in particular the adjustable amount of disinfectant and / or cleaning liquid (R) passes into the wetting space (4). Dosing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the storage space (3) is associated with a dosing chamber (24) connected to it via a filling valve (26), the contents of which, upon actuation of the actuating member (7), into the wetting space (4). crosses. Dosing device according to claim 12, characterized in that when the dosing valve (6) is actuated, the otherwise open filling valve (26) is closed, so that only the content of the dosing chamber (24) of disinfectant and / or cleaning liquid passes into the wetting space (4) . Metering device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve body (14) of the metering valve (6) and / or the valve body of the filling valve (26) via the actuating member (7), in particular the actuating lever (7 '), against the action of a Return spring (15) can be transferred from its closed position or open position corresponding to the rest position into its open position or closed position. Dosing device according to one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that the actuating lever (7) with the first lever arm (9) lies below the storage container (23) and upon actuation of the second lever arm (10) projecting into the wetting space (4) through the bottom of the reservoir (23) projecting transmission member, the metering valve (6) can be opened and the filling valve (26) can be closed. Dosing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the wetting space (4) a stripping element (12), for example in the form of a stripping grid (38) It is provided, the upper edge of which is at a predetermined distance from the main extension plane (E) of the bottom (11) of the wetting space (4). Metering device according to claim 16, characterized in that the immersion depth of the cleaning tool in the wetting space (4) and, for example, at the same time the degree of opening of the metering valve (6) is limited by the stripping element (12). Dosing device according to one of claims 16 or 17, characterized in that the actuating member (7), in particular the actuating lever (7 '), projects in its rest position with its end (13) on the action side beyond the stripping element (12) and at least up to the upper edge the stripping element (12) can be depressed. Dosing device according to Claim 18, characterized in that the end (13) of the actuating member (7), in particular the actuating lever (7 ') on the action side, projects through a recess in the stripping element (12). Dosing device according to claim 18, characterized in that the end (13) of the actuating member (7), in particular the actuating lever (7 '), is located adjacent to the wiping element (12) and that the cleaning tool, in particular the mop cover (B), is adjacent to the Actuating end (13) of the actuator (7) can be brought into contact with the stripping element (12). Container according to one of claims 16 to 20 , characterized in that the stripping element (12) is supported with a plurality of legs (18) on the floor (11) of the wetting space (4). Dosing device according to one of claims 16 to 21, characterized in that the bottom (11) of the wetting space (4) is provided with at least one elevation (19) on which the stripping element (12) rests. Dosing device according to claim 22, characterized in that the at least one elevation (19) is designed as a transverse rib (19 ') open to the outside. Dosing device according to one of Claims 16 to 23, characterized in that the stripping element (12) is designed as a foam (35) which receives the disinfectant and / or cleaning liquid (R). Dosing device according to claim 24, characterized in that the foam (35) can be elastically deformed by pressure by means of the cleaning tool in order to deliver the disinfectant and / or cleaning liquid (R) to the cleaning tool. Dosing device according to one of claims 24 or 25, characterized in that the foam (35) is open-celled and consists of chemically resistant material. Dosing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a side wall (20) of the dosing container (1) delimiting the wetting space (4) has at least in its lower region a bevel (21) which runs from the top outside down to the inside. Dosing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a closable outlet in the wetting space (4), which is preferably arranged below the wiping element (12). Metering device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the metering valve (6) is part of a metering pump.

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