EP1219225B1 - Apparatus for moistening of mops - Google Patents

Abstract

The device for wetting a mop (3) comprises a pump (8) which feeds water to a spray (12). It is fitted on to a mop pail (5) and is removable.

Description

The invention relates to a device for moistening a wiping part attached to a support plate connected pivotally to a wet mop with a liquid, a container for holding the liquid, a moistening device having a pump with an inlet opening into the container and a humidifier connectable to the moistening device Having outlet, with a dehumidifier for dehumidifying the wiping part by means of at least one roller and with a means to guide the wiping part extracted liquid into the container.

The term wet wiper refers to those cleaning devices which have an absorbent wiping part which can be impregnated with a liquid and, in the moist state, can be passed over surfaces or objects to be cleaned. As a liquid, water is generally used together with additives if necessary. Known embodiments of wet mops are, for example, mops and wiping pads, which have a fringed or flat wiping part, which is attached to the end of a stem. Usually, such wet mops are used together with a container for receiving the liquid, wherein the container may have a dehumidifier, with which the wiping part can be pressed or wrung out. For cleaning wet wiper is usually dipped with its wiper part for moistening in the liquid, partially dehumidified to achieve optimum moisture for cleaning, and then passed over the surface to be cleaned. Subsequently, the wiping part is usually immersed in the liquid to rinse the recorded dirt from the wiper part and to moisten it again. These activities are repeated very often when cleaning in exchange.

By washing out the wiper part with the liquid, it becomes more and more soiled during cleaning, so that the wiping part moistened with it also becomes dirty. In order to prevent the wiping part of the liquid absorbs too much dirt, it must be changed more often. Furthermore, it is necessary at the beginning of the cleaning process to fill the container with the liquid and to empty the container again at the end of the cleaning process. When filling is often the problem that the usually large container can be kept poorly under a faucet for filling, whereas when emptying the container often the problem that is distributed when dumping the liquid and the dirt contained therein in the spout.

A device described in the introduction is known from WO 97/49327 A1. Therein, a wiper part attached to the wet mop for humidification and dehumidification is introduced into a longitudinal guide, thereby gliding past a wetting roller. In the inserted end position, the wiping part is sprayed with a cleaning liquid from the associated container and then pulled the wiping part of the dehumidifying along along the Longitudlnalführung. In this case, the roller bearing pressure on the wiping part presses the sprayed-on cleaning liquid out of the wiping part so that the wet wiper is then ready to clean a floor. The disadvantage of this may be that the role is only rotated by the frictional force between it and the wiping part. Under certain circumstances, it is very likely - in the case of constant moisture exposure - that its bearings are so stiff that the roller can no longer be moved by the frictional force. When inserting the wiper part and dirt would then get stuck to it and pollute the wiping after cleaning again when removing from the longitudinal guide again.

The invention has for its object to provide a device of the type mentioned, with the avoidance of the disadvantages of the prior art, the handling of the liquid is facilitated.

According to the invention this object is achieved according to the characterizing part of claim 1, characterized in that the support plate is guided under pressure on at least one pressure roller along while the roller for dehumidifying with pressure on the wiper part and is driven by a motor.

The totality of the claimed features provides a number of advantages: By providing a further, outwardly feasible line considerable additional benefits can be achieved in the device with very little effort. On the one hand, the emptying of the liquid from the container is considerably simplified. Even with rigidly attached to the container liquid outlet of the outwardly routable fluid line emptying is simplified because the container does not have to be overthrown, but only be arranged so muse that the liquid outlet is disposed over a spout. If a flexible line or in the form of a hose is used as the liquid line, the emptying is further simplified or even higher-lying spouts can be used to drain the liquid. In this case, only the end of the hose needs to be placed over the spout without having to raise the entire device with the fluid. The dehumidifier, with the by wiping between two rollers after the wiping part moistening can be withdrawn from the moistening, is driven by a motor, which can be used advantageously also for driving the pump. The cleaning is made much easier, since straight demands the manual dehumidifying a lot of power. In addition, the external drive of the roller for dehumidifying the wiping part by means of a motor is best suited to keep the role under all circumstances in rotation when the wiping part is guided along the contact pressure, so that when inserting the wiping part usefully takes place first cleaning the wiping part and then the dehumidification by the rollers.

Advantageously, the roller has an elastic covering in order to define the pressing force to the wiping part at a set distance between the pressure roller and the roller.

The detachable attachment of the container for receiving liquid with the moistening device, this can be easily removed from the device and set again. The removed container can be filled with cleaning liquid in a simple manner. A coupling arrangement located between the container and the moistening device prevents leakage of residual liquid when the container is separated from the moistening device. This avoids that cleaning solution, in particular the soiled and intended for disposal cleaning liquid from the connection opening can escape from the container when the container is separated from the humidifier. The coupling arrangement also prevents the dripping of cleaning liquid from the inlet of the hose to the pump when the container is removed.

As a clutch assembly, a known automatic clutch can be used, which has closing valves, which automatically closes the flow channel for liquid between the container and humidifier when the container is released. Alternatively, a manually operated valve assembly may be provided, which the user has to close before releasing the container, for example via a lever.

The pump, pump motor and humidifier, as well as possibly supply lines are preferably arranged separately from the container, so that as possible no electrical connections between the container and device are required. However, it is also possible parts of it, such as the supply lines and pump and / or motor to integrate into the container. The container can also be equipped with a filter arrangement, for example a sieve, which can be removed together with the container. The filter assembly may during disposal of the dirty cleaning fluid getting cleaned. The removability of the container for the cleaning liquid has the particular advantage that the handling is improved.

By providing a further, outwardly feasible line considerable additional benefits can be achieved in the device with very little effort. On the one hand, the emptying of the liquid from the container is considerably simplified. Even with rigidly attached to the container liquid outlet of the outwardly routable fluid line emptying is simplified because the container does not have to be overthrown, but only needs to be arranged so that the liquid outlet is disposed over a spout. If a flexible line or in the form of a hose is used as the liquid line, the emptying is further simplified or even higher-lying spouts can be used to drain the liquid. In this case, only the end of the hose needs to be placed over the spout without having to raise the entire device with the fluid.

Furthermore, in this way, the device can be cleaned easier, since it can be sprayed clean with a flexible fluid line. For this purpose, first of all the liquid soiled by the cleaning can be pumped down into a spout by means of the line, whereupon clean liquid is filled into the container and the hose is directed onto the soiled parts of the device when the pump is switched on. The liquid constantly flows into the container, from which it is pumped out again.

To pump out the liquid, the pump can be controlled in various ways. For example, may be attached to the device, a switch for the pump, which must be pressed constantly to operate the pump. In this way it can be prevented that, inadvertently, the line slips out of the spout and the pump emptied the liquid to the ground.

It is also conceivable to provide a valve at the end of the liquid line with which outflow of residual amounts of liquid from the line can be prevented.

In a closable with a valve liquid line, a pressure switch may be provided, which is connected to the liquid line and the pump at a Pressure drop turns on. In this way, a constant pressure can be generated in the liquid line, wherein in the event of a pressure drop due to an opening of the valve, the pump is turned on and nachfördert liquid. Furthermore, in the case of a liquid line with a valve, the pump can also be operated continuously and in particular with reduced power, so that a constant pressure prevails in the liquid line and the liquid can be pumped out via the line.

If the liquid line has a coupling for an extension, the liquid line can advantageously be made rigid and short, so that on the one hand the extension can be easily connected and on the other hand, the piece of liquid attached to the device line takes up little space and affects handling less.

In order to prevent contaminated cleaning fluid from being inadvertently pumped out when no hose is connected to the device, a sensor is provided which detects the presence of the fluid line and prevents actuation of the switching valve to a position in which the outlet of the pump connected to the fixed end of the liquid line, if the liquid line is not present. Pumping out of polluted cleaning liquid is only possible if the liquid line is locked to the device. As an alternative to the mechanical blocking of the changeover valve, an electrical interruption of the power supply to the motor of the pump can also be provided. The detection of the presence or absence of the liquid line can by mechanical means or for example via schem ways or, for example, via inductive, capacitive or optical sensors.

Fig. 1

eine seitliche Schnittansicht durch eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung zum Befeuchten und Entfeuchten zusammen mit dem Feuchtwischer,

Fig. 2

eine Vorderansicht der Antriebs- bzw. Entfeuchtungseinrichtung der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

eine teilweise Ansicht einer zweiten Ausführungsform der Erfindung,

Fig. 4

eine Schnittansicht durch eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung mit einem von der Vorrichtung lösbarem Behälter für die Reinigungsflüssigkeit,

Fig. 5

einen schematische Darstellung eines Sensors, der das Vorhandensein der Flüssigkeitsleitung erkennt und

Fig. 6

einen Querschnitt durch das Umschaltventil aus Fig. 5.

Two embodiments of the invention are shown purely schematically in the drawings and will be described in more detail below. Show it

Fig. 1

a side sectional view through a device according to the invention for moistening and dehumidifying together with the wet mop,

Fig. 2

1 is a front view of the drive or dehumidifying device of the device according to FIG. 1,

Fig. 3

a partial view of a second embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 4

a sectional view through a device according to the invention with a detachable from the device container for the cleaning liquid,

Fig. 5

a schematic representation of a sensor that detects the presence of the liquid line and

Fig. 6

a cross section through the switching valve of FIG. 5th

In Fig. 1, a wet mop 1 is shown in the form of a wiper pad, in which at the bottom of a partially illustrated stem, a support plate 2 is hinged, which in turn has an absorbent wiper part 3 at the bottom. The wiping part 3 is made of a textile material.

Right in Fig. 1, a first embodiment of a device 4 according to the invention for moistening or dehumidifying the wiping part 3 is shown. The device 4 has a container 5 for receiving a cleaning liquid 6. At the top, the container 5 is closed by an intermediate bottom 17, on which the other components necessary for loading or dehumidifying are fastened and which can be taken out of the container 5 together with these components.

Above the intermediate floor 17, a drive device is arranged which consists of opposite rollers 9, 10, of which the lower rollers 10 can be driven by a motor 16. The wiping part 3 can be detected by the rollers 9, 10 together with the carrier plate 2 and moved in the longitudinal direction of the wiping part 3. The distance between the rollers 9, 10 is dimensioned so that the wiping member 3 is pressed together while passing through it, while the liquid 6 contained therein is pressed out. In order to improve the Auspresswirkung and seize the wiper part 3 safely and be able to move, the roller 10 has an elastic coating. In front of and behind the drive or dehumidifying device formed from the rollers 9, 10, guides 13 for the carrier plate 2 and wiper part 3 are arranged.

In the drawing to the left of the dehumidifier 9, 10, a moistening device 12 is arranged in the form of a slot nozzle. The slot 12 is supplied by a pump 8 via a hose 11 with the liquid 6. In this case, the inlet of the hose 11 may be provided with an inlet filter. The pump 8 is connected to the intermediate bottom 17 and can be taken out of the container 5 together with this. The pump 8 may have its own drive or be driven by the motor 16, including only suitable transmission means are provided.

The intermediate bottom 17 further has a removable filter 15 through which liquid 6, which has been pressed out of the wiping part 3 above the intermediate bottom 17 by the dehumidifying device 9, 10, can flow into the container 5.

In the insertion area for the wiping part 3, a switch 14 is further arranged, which is activated upon insertion of the carrier plate 2 and the wiping part 3.

In Fig. 2, the drive device is shown from the side. The lower roller 10 extends over the entire width of the wiping part 3 and is mounted on the sides of fixed to the intermediate bottom 17 vertical supports. The motor 16 for driving the roller 10 and optionally the pump 8 is also attached via a vertical support to the intermediate bottom 17. Above the two end portions of the roller 10, a roller 9 is mounted in each case, wherein between the rollers 9 in the axial direction is sufficient distance to pass the stem of the wet mop 1 can. The rollers 9 press from above against the support plate 2, which in turn the wiping part 3 against the roller 10 pushes. In this way, the wiping member 3 is driven to pass and simultaneously dehumidified. The roller 10 is provided with an elastic covering to better drive and dehumidify the wiper part 3.

The device 4 shown in Fig. 1 further comprises a two-way valve 19, with which the output of the pump 8 can be connected either to the spray nozzle 12 or to an external fluid line 18. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the external fluid line 18 consists of a tube piece which is guided over the edge of the container 5 and whose end is arranged at the top outside the container 5. Furthermore, a switch 21 is arranged on top of the intermediate bottom 17, with which the pump 8 can be controlled.

To clean a floor with the wet mop 1, this is introduced with its wiper part 3 from the left into the device 4. In this case, the switch 14 is actuated in the guides 13 of the support plate 2 and the wiping part 3, which then controls the motor 16 and the pump 8. Now, if the wiping part 3 is guided over the spray nozzle 12, the wiping part 3 is moistened by the liquid jet and optionally rinsed out adhering dirt. As soon as the wiping part 3 and the carrier plate 2 reach the roller 10, it can be grasped by it and pulled through the device 4 from left to right. In this case, the wiping member 3 between the rollers 9, 10 is compressed and dehumidified. The thereby expressed liquid 6 flows to the intermediate bottom 17 and from there through a filter 15 back into the container 5. The control of the device 4 is designed so that motor 16 and pump 8 remain activated for a while, when the wiping part. 3 is past the switch 14 so that the wiping member 3 is completely pulled through the device 4 therethrough. Subsequently, for example, the floor to be cleaned can be wiped with the moistened wiping part 3. In order to free the wiping part 3 of the dirt collected during wiping and to moisten it again, it only needs to be passed through the device 4 again as described above, wherein it is first rinsed and moistened and then dehumidified to the desired residual moisture. This process can also be repeated more often if the wiping part 3 is heavily soiled.

The dirt collected by the soil collects during the cleaning process in the filter 15. This can be taken from time to time, cleaned and replaced This can also be done during the cleaning process, as long as only at least the spray nozzle 12 is out of operation.

At the end of the cleaning process, the liquid 6 is usually disposed of. For this purpose, in the device 4 according to the invention, the two-way valve 19 is transferred and thus the outlet of the pump 8 is connected to the external fluid line 18. Subsequently, the device 4 is arranged so that the end of the external fluid line 18 is above a spout. In this position, the pump 8 can be controlled with the switch 21, which then pumps the liquid 6 from the container 5 through the liquid line 18. In this case, the device 4 is designed so that the pump 8 can be controlled with the switch 21 only when the two-way valve 19 is in the position in which it connects the outlet of the pump 8 with the external fluid line 18.

In Fig. 3, another embodiment of the invention is shown, in which the liquid line 18 is formed by a flexible hose. The flexible hose 18 has at its end a valve 7 with an actuating element 21. This actuating element 21 serves, on the one hand, to control the pump 8 and is connected via electrical lines to a control of the device 4 and, on the other hand, to close the tube 18, so that inadvertent outflow of residual amounts from the tube 18 can be prevented. In this case, the emptying of the container 5 is further simplified because the device 4 needs to be moved only in the vicinity of a spout and the liquid 6 can be pumped through the hose 18 into the spout. Since the pump 8 is designed for applying the spray nozzle 12 in any case usually for a higher operating pressure, even large delivery heights when pumping the liquid 6 are possible.

Also in the second embodiment, the device 4 is arranged so that the pump 8 can be controlled with the actuator 21 only when the two-way valve 19 is in the position in which it connects the outlet of the pump with the hose 18.

In both embodiments, a further switch may be provided, with which the conveying direction of the pump 8 is reversible. In this way, with the pump 8 of the Container 5 not only emptied but also filled. For this purpose, the end of the liquid line 18 must be immersed in a liquid, for example in a bucket, and the pump 8 are driven in the reverse conveying direction.

The device 4 is further equipped with a splash guard, not shown, which can be placed on top of the container 5 and ejection of the liquid emerging from the spray nozzle 12 6 prevents. In order to introduce the wet mop 1, the splash guard on a slot or passage, which extends in the direction in which the wet mop 1 is passed through the device 4. The passage through the splash guard has substantially the same cross section as the lower end of the wet mop seen from the direction in which the wet mop is passed through the device 4. The gap or the passage of the splash guard advantageously has a seal made of rubber lips or rows of bristles to prevent the ejection through this slot.

Furthermore, the device 4 may have a device for detecting the filling level of the container 5. The level can be displayed to the outside, so that an operator can inform himself about the level, in addition to under or exceeding limit values an optical and / or acoustic signal can be delivered. Furthermore, the detected level in the control of the device 4 can be taken into account, for example, by operating at too low or too high level is prevented or the pump 8 is operated at low level with lower power in order not to lower the level in operation so far.

In Fig. 4, the container 5 for the cleaning liquid 6 releasably connected to the device. The clutch assembly 22 is disposed between the container 5 and pump 8 in this example. On the device is a locking means 23 which fixes the container inserted in the device. The container 5 additionally has a handle 24 for removal of the container from the device. On the container 5, a filter assembly 26 is provided, which is detachable via a separate handle portion 25 from the container.

In Fig. 5 it is shown how a mechanical sensor 27 rests against the liquid line 18. If a liquid line 18 is applied to the sensor 27, a pushbutton 29 is actuated via the lever 30, which establishes the electrical connection to the motor 31 of the pump 8.

In cooperation of a mechanical link 32 with the lever 30 actuation of the switching valve 19 is prevented when no liquid line 18 is applied to the sensor 27. Only when the lever 30 slides out of the gate 32 can be actuated via the actuating means 28, the switching valve 19.

In Fig. 6 the cross section through the switching valve 19 and the motor 31 driven by the pump 8 is shown.

Claims (20)

1. Device (4) for moistening a wiping part (3), which is fastened to a support plate (2) pivotably connected with a moist wiping device (1), with a liquid (6), comprising a container (5) for reception of the liquid (6), a moistening device (12), which has a pump (8) with an inlet opening into the container (5) and an outlet connectible with the moistening device (12), a moisture removal device for removal of moisture from the wiping part (3) by means of at least one roller (10), and means to conduct into the container (5) liquid (6) removed from the wiping part (3), characterised in that the support plate (2) is guided under pressure along at least one pressure roller (9) and in that case the roller (10) for removal of moisture pressurably loads the wiping part (3) and is drivable by a motor (16).
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the roller (10) has a resilient covering.
3. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the container (5) is detachably connected with the moistening device (8, 12).
4. Device according to claim 3, characterised in that a coupling arrangement (22) is provided in terms of fluid between container (5) and the moistening device (8, 12) and prevents issue of liquid (6) when the container (5) is separated from the moistening device (8, 12).
5. Device according to claim 4, characterised in that the coupling arrangement (22) is arranged between container (5) and pump (8).
6. Device according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the coupling arrangement (22) is arranged between pump (8) and moistening device (12) and that the pump (8) forms, with the container (5), a constructional unit which is detachably fastened to the moistening device (12).
7. Device according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterised in that a detent means (23) is present, which detachably fixes the container (5) to the moistening device (8, 12).
8. Device according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterised in that the detachable container (5) comprises a handle (24) and/or a filter arrangement (26).
9. Device according to claim 1, characterised by a liquid line (18) with a free end which can be led to outside the device (4) and with an end connectible with the outlet of the pump (8).
10. Device according to claim 9, characterised in that the free end of the liquid line (18) is rigidly connected with the device (4) and led to outside the device (4).
11. Device according to claim 9, characterised in that the liquid line (18) is flexible.
12. Device according to claim 11, characterised by a winding-up device for the liquid line (18).
13. Device according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterised in that the liquid line (18) has a valve (20) at its free end.
14. Device according to claim 13, characterised in that the device (4) comprises a pressure-dependent switch which is connected with the liquid line (18) and controls the pump (8) in drive on recognition of a pressure drop.
15. Device according to one of claims 9 to 14, characterised in that the device (4) comprises a switch-over valve (19) by which the outlet of the pump (8) is selectably connectible with the moistening nozzle (12) or with the fixed end of the liquid line (18).
16. Device according to claim 15, characterised in that a sensor (27) is provided, which recognises the presence of the liquid line (18) and prevents actuation of the setting means (28) for switching over the switch-over valve (19) into a setting, in which the outlet of the pump (8) is connected with the fixed end of the liquid line (18), when the liquid (18) is not present.
17. Device according to claim 18, characterised in that the motor (16) is equipped for drive of the pump (8).
18. Device according to one of claims 9 to 17, characterised in that the conveying direction of the pump (8) is reversible.
19. Device according to one of claims 9 to 18, characterised in that the liquid outlet (12) of the moistening device (8, 12) is a spray nozzle.
20. Device according to one of claims 9 to 19, characterised in that the liquid line (18) comprises a coupling with which an extension of the liquid (18) can be connected.

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