EP2080468A2 - A floor-cleaning machine - Google Patents
A floor-cleaning machine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2080468A2 EP2080468A2 EP08173063A EP08173063A EP2080468A2 EP 2080468 A2 EP2080468 A2 EP 2080468A2 EP 08173063 A EP08173063 A EP 08173063A EP 08173063 A EP08173063 A EP 08173063A EP 2080468 A2 EP2080468 A2 EP 2080468A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- floor
- cleaning machine
- group
- cleaning
- trolley
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
- A47L11/02—Floor surfacing or polishing machines
- A47L11/20—Floor surfacing or polishing machines combined with vacuum cleaning devices
- A47L11/202—Floor surfacing or polishing machines combined with vacuum cleaning devices having separate drive for the cleaning brushes
- A47L11/2025—Floor surfacing or polishing machines combined with vacuum cleaning devices having separate drive for the cleaning brushes the tools being disc brushes
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
- A47L11/29—Floor-scrubbing machines characterised by means for taking-up dirty liquid
- A47L11/30—Floor-scrubbing machines characterised by means for taking-up dirty liquid by suction
- A47L11/302—Floor-scrubbing machines characterised by means for taking-up dirty liquid by suction having rotary tools
- A47L11/305—Floor-scrubbing machines characterised by means for taking-up dirty liquid by suction having rotary tools the tools being disc brushes
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
- A47L11/40—Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
- A47L11/4013—Contaminants collecting devices, i.e. hoppers, tanks or the like
- A47L11/4016—Contaminants collecting devices, i.e. hoppers, tanks or the like specially adapted for collecting fluids
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
- A47L11/40—Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
- A47L11/4027—Filtering or separating contaminants or debris
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
- A47L11/40—Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
- A47L11/4036—Parts or details of the surface treating tools
- A47L11/4041—Roll shaped surface treating tools
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
- A47L11/40—Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
- A47L11/4036—Parts or details of the surface treating tools
- A47L11/4044—Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
- A47L11/40—Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
- A47L11/4052—Movement of the tools or the like perpendicular to the cleaning surface
- A47L11/4055—Movement of the tools or the like perpendicular to the cleaning surface for lifting the tools to a non-working position
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
- A47L11/40—Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
- A47L11/4061—Steering means; Means for avoiding obstacles; Details related to the place where the driver is accommodated
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
- A47L11/40—Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
- A47L11/408—Means for supplying cleaning or surface treating agents
- A47L11/4083—Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
- A47L11/40—Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
- A47L11/408—Means for supplying cleaning or surface treating agents
- A47L11/4088—Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
Definitions
- the invention concerns a floor-cleaning machine, and in particular, a professional-type floor-cleaning machine which is mainly designed for cleaning relatively extensive floors, for example inside commercial and/or small industrial premises.
- This invention concerns in particular "walk-behind” machines.
- floor-cleaning machines of the walk-behind type comprise operating groups which perform specific floor-cleaning operations, among which, one or more motorised rotating brushes which scrub the surfaces, a dispenser group which dispenses a detergent liquid, and a suction group to which a floor-wiping group is associated.
- the floor-cleaning group normally comprises one or more flexible rubber blades, which drag on the floor to collect the detergent liquid and the dislodged dirt.
- the operating groups are usually covered by suitable plastic or sheet-metal covers, and are mounted on board a sturdy, solid support trolley, usually of large dimensions, which is provided with handles or grips to be grasped by the operative in order to guide it in movement over the floor to be washed.
- a common requirement in all profession floor-cleaning machines is to enable the floor-cleaning group to move vertically between a lowered work position, in which the blades are in contact with the floor, and a raised rest position, in which the blades are distanced from the floor such as not to scrape on it.
- This movement is usually obtained by means of complicated kinematic activating systems, typically hinged systems having one or more jointed arms, which are mounted on the support trolley and to which the floor-cleaning group is coupled.
- a drawback of professional floor-cleaning machines is therefore that they are rather expensive, not only because of the presence of the above-mentioned kinematic activating systems, but also because of the presence of all the motorisation organs and control organs which the kinematic systems require in order to function.
- the aim of the present invention is to at least partly obviate the mentioned drawback, by providing a floor-cleaning machine which is so simple and rational as to enable a significant reduction in construction costs with respect to the floor-cleaning machines presently available.
- the invention provides a floor-cleaning machine which comprises a support trolley on which at least a floor-cleaning group is installed, which group is provided with at least a rotating flexible blade and a motor for activating the blade, and gripping means which are destined to be held by a user in order to guide the trolley on the floor.
- the gripping means are made available by a rigid frame, which is hinged to the support carriage and on which the operating group is directly fixed.
- the support trolley can advantageously be made smaller and less sturdy than the trolleys usually used for professional floor-cleaners, thus further contributing to the constructional simplicity and therefore to the relative inexpensiveness of the machine.
- the floor-cleaning machine comprises means for blocking the rigid frame in the configuration in which the operating group is in the raised rest position.
- the means for blocking preferably comprise at least a telescopic arm, which is hinged to the trolley and the tilting frame, and to which disengageable stop means are associated, which stop means are destined to block the arm in a predetermined extended position.
- the floor-cleaning machine further comprises a floor-cleaning group, which is provided with at least a flexible blade and which is mobile on the support trolley between a work position, in which the flexible blade is in contact with the floor, and a rest position, in which the flexible blade is distanced from the floor.
- Magnetic means are preferably associated to the floor-cleaning group which block the group in the rest position.
- Figure 1 is a side view of a floor-cleaning machine of the invention, with some components removed in order better to illustrated the aspects of the invention, and shown with the operating group 5 and the floor-cleaning group 7 both in the work position.
- Figure 2 is a plan view of the floor-cleaning machine of figure 1 .
- Figure 3 is a side view of the floor-cleaning machine of figure 1 , shown with the operating group 5 and the floor-cleaning group 7 both in the rest position.
- Figure 4 is a side view of the machine of figure 1 complete with all components, and shown with the operating group 5 in the work position and the floor-cleaning group 7 in the rest position.
- Figure 5 is larger-scale detail of figure 1 .
- Figure 6 is a schematic view of the section of the floor-cleaning group 7 made according to line VI-VI denoted in figure 2 , in which a broken line shows the flexion of the blades 70 during the dragging thereof on the floor.
- the floor-cleaning machine 1 comprises a rather compact, lightweight support trolley 2 which exhibits a horizontal base 20 and is provided with three support wheels, two of which are coaxial, fixed-axle, forward wheels 21, and one of which is a pivoting rear wheel 22.
- the frame 3 has rounded corners and exhibits two transverse bars, a forward transverse bar 30 and a rear transverse bar 31, which are connected by two oppositely-positioned, identical, shaped longitudinal bars 32.
- the rigid frame 3 is inserted externally on the side elements 23 of the mobile support trolley 2, to which mobile support trolley 2 it is hinged by means of two hinge joints 24 which singularly join a respective side element 23 to the adjacent longitudinal bar 32.
- the hinge joints 24 are perfectly coaxial, such as to define a single axis of rotation A of the rigid frame 3 with respect to the mobile support trolley 2.
- the axis of rotation A is oriented such as to be horizontal when the mobile support trolley 2 is resting on the floor, and is arranged in an intermediate position along the longitudinal bars 32, such that the rigid frame 3 is hinged to the mobile support trolley 2 like a reciprocating lever.
- the longitudinal bars 32 of the frame 3 develop in a downwards direction, such that the forward transverse bar 30 is before the base 20 and is located substantially at a same height as the base 20, while the rear transverse bar 31 is at a higher level.
- the rear transverse bar 31 functions as a grip for the user pushing the floor-cleaning machine 1, and is therefore positioned at a height at which it can be comfortably gripped.
- the longitudinal bars 32 are extensible in the tract comprised between the axis of rotation A and the rear transverse bar 31, such as to enable height-regulation of the rear transverse bar 31 according to the user's needs.
- a support plate 33 is further attached to the rigid frame 3 (see figure 2 ) at the forward transverse bar 30 position, on which support plate 33 a vertical bar 34 is welded.
- a first end of a telescopic arm 4 (see figure 1 ) is hinged to the vertical bar 34, while a second end thereof is hinged to a fork 25 fixed below the base 20 of the trolley 2.
- the hinge axes of the telescopic arm 4 with the vertical bar 34 and the fork 25 are both parallel to the axis of rotation A of the frame 3, and are positioned such that the telescopic arm 4 extends following a rotation of the frame 3 in an anticlockwise direction B which corresponds to the raising of the forward transverse bar 30.
- the telescopic arm 4 is provided with stop means (not visible in the figures and of known type) which block the telescopic arm 4 in a predetermined extended position, and which can be commanded such as to free the block in order to enable a successive shortening of the telescopic arm 4.
- the stop means act during an extension of the telescopic arm 4, blocking it when it reaches a predetermined length. With the block inserted the telescopic arm 4 cannot shorten and remains in the position reached.
- Telescopic arms provided with such stop means are commercially available and are widely used for example in the furniture industry to keep the swinging doors of cupboards open.
- An operating group denoted in its entirety by reference numeral 5 is installed upon the support plate 33, which operating group comprises a rotating brush with frontal bristles 50 to which a gear reducer 51 is associated.
- the brush 50 is positioned below the support plate 33, with the rotation axis substantially vertical, such as to be able to rest the bristles frontally on the floor, while the gear reducer 51 is located above the support plate 33, at a hole (not visible) which enables mechanical connection with the brush 50.
- the gear reducer 51 is controlled by a command lever 52 which is mounted on the rear transverse bar 31 of the frame 3 and which is connected to the gear reducer 51 via flexible cables (not illustrated).
- a suction group denoted in its entirety by 6, is also mounted on the support plate 33, which suction group 6 schematically comprises a pump with the relative activating motor.
- the suction group 6 is also controlled by manual organs (not illustrated) which are preferably mounted on the rear transverse bar 31 of the frame 3, such as to be easily operated by the user.
- the suction group 6 is connected via a first flexible pipe 60 to a closed collecting reservoir 61, preferably made of plastic, which is arranged on board the mobile support trolley 2, and is in turn connected, via a second flexible pipe 62, to a floor-cleaning group 7.
- the collecting reservoir 61 rests upon a lower reservoir 63, which is mounted on the base 20 of the mobile support trolley 2, which reservoir 63 contains a washing liquid, typically water or possibly water mixed with a detergent substance.
- a washing liquid typically water or possibly water mixed with a detergent substance.
- the lower reservoir 63 is connected via a flexible tube 64 to one or more dispensing nozzles of the cleaning liquid (not shown), which are attached to the rigid frame 3 at the cleaning organ 50.
- the dispensing nozzles are connected to the lower reservoir 63 by at least a flexible conduit, denoted by 64 in figure 4 , along which a manual check valve (not visible) is generally located for regulating the flow of cleaning liquid which normally flows from the lower reservoir 63 towards the dispensing nozzles, simply by force of gravity.
- the floor-cleaning group 7 comprises two thin flexible blades 70, made of a coherent material, preferably rubber, which are oriented vertically so as to be arranged with edges thereof against the floor.
- the flexible blades 70 are perfectly facing one another and have horizontal lower edges located substantially at a same height, such as to be contemporaneously in contact with the floor along the whole longitudinal development thereof.
- the flexible blades 70 develop transversally with respect to the trolley 2, from which they project on both lateral flanks, and exhibit a plan profile which is substantially crossbow-shaped, with the concavity thereof facing in the forwards direction.
- the flexible blades 70 are joined together at the ends and are kept separate by a rigid framework 71, which defines a space that is open at a bottom thereof and closed at the top thereof (see figure 6 ).
- a connector 73 is associated to the rigid framework, which connector 73 terminates within the space 72 and is connected to the second flexible pipe 62 coming from the collecting reservoir 61.
- the rigid framework 71 is borne on a central plate 74, to which it is removably joined in order to enable replacement of the floor-cleaning group 7 when the flexible blades 70 are worn.
- a raised block 75 is welded to the central plate 74, to which the ends of two superposed con rods 76 are hinged, the con rods 76 being of equal length and parallel to one another, opposite ends of which are hinged to a support 77 fixed below the base 20 in the rear part of the trolley 2 (see figure 5 ).
- the hinge axes of the con rods 76 with the block 75 and the support 77 are horizontal, such that the con rods 76 define a four-bar hinge enabling the floor-wiping group 7 to perform vertical movements of the floor-cleaning group 7, keeping the flexible blades 70 parallel to themselves.
- the four-bar hinge enables the floor-wiping group 7 to be moved between a work position, in which the flexible blades 70 are in contact with the floor, and a rest position, in which the flexible blades 70 are raised and are not in contact with the floor.
- a permanent magnet 26 is fixed on the trolley 2, which can be substituted by an electromagnet or like magnetic means, which magnet 26 is positioned such as to contactingly receive the upper con rod 76 of the four-bar hinge when the floor-cleaning group 7 is in the raised rest position.
- the magnetic attraction exerted by the magnet 26 on the ferro-magnetic material of the con rod 76 enables the floor-cleaning group 7 to be effectively blocked in the rest position, for example when the floor-cleaning machine 1 is not being used.
- the floor-cleaning group 7 comprises a shaped lever 78, which is fixed on the rigid frame 71 and develops in an upwards direction, such as to make available a comfortable grip for a user who, by acting on the shaped lever 78, can overcome the magnetic force exerted by the magnet 26 and unblock the floor-cleaning group 7 from the rest position, leaving it to rest by force of gravity on the floor, thus moving into the work position.
- the floor-cleaning group is guided on the floor by the user who walks behind it, gripping the rear transverse bar 31 of the tilting frame 3.
- the tilting frame 3 is in the configuration illustrated in figure 1 , where the operating group 5 is in a lowered work position in which the bristles of the rotating brush are frontally in contact with the floor.
- This work position is maintained thanks to the weight of the operating group 5 and the suction group 6, which tend to cause the tilting frame 3 to rotate in a clockwise direction C, i.e. in the direction corresponding to a lowering of the forward transverse bar, pressing the rotating brush 50 down onto the floor.
- the floor-cleaning group 7 is also in a lowered work position, with the flexible blades 70 both in contact with the floor.
- the work position of the floor-cleaning group 7 is maintained thanks to the weight of the group itself, which acts in the direction of pressing the flexible blades 70 onto the floor.
- the rotating brush 50 is rotated by the gear reducers 51, and at the same time the suction group 6 is activated, which places the collecting reservoir 61 in depression and, via the flexible conduit 62, also the space 71 defined between the flexible blades 70 of the floor-cleaning group 7.
- the liquid is dispensed directly onto to bristles of the rotating brush 50 such that the scrubbing action of the brush 50 and the detergent action of the liquid enable the dirt to be removed from the floor.
- the liquid mixed with dirt is then swept and collected by the flexible blades 70 which drag on the floor, and filters into the space 72, from where it is aspirated internally of the collecting reservoir 61.
- the telescopic arm 4 blocks by effect of the stop means thereof, such that the position is maintained even if the user lets go of the grip.
Abstract
A floor-cleaning machine comprising a support trolley (2), on which support trolley (2) at least a floor-cleaning group (7) is installed, which floor-cleaning group (7) is provided with at least a flexible blade (70) and is mobile on board the support trolley (2) between a work position, in which the flexible blade (70) is in contact with a floor, and a rest position, in which the flexible blade (70) is distanced from the floor, the floor-cleaning machine comprising magnetic means (26) which are destined to block the floor-cleaning group (7) in the rest position.
Description
- The invention concerns a floor-cleaning machine, and in particular, a professional-type floor-cleaning machine which is mainly designed for cleaning relatively extensive floors, for example inside commercial and/or small industrial premises.
- Professional floor-cleaning machines are usually divided into two different categories. Machines mounted on self-propelled vehicles, which are designed to be driven by an operative, are usually called "man on board" machines, while machines mounted on trolleys which are manually propelled by an operator walking behind the machine are referred to as "walk-behind" machines.
- This invention concerns in particular "walk-behind" machines.
- As is known, floor-cleaning machines of the walk-behind type comprise operating groups which perform specific floor-cleaning operations, among which, one or more motorised rotating brushes which scrub the surfaces, a dispenser group which dispenses a detergent liquid, and a suction group to which a floor-wiping group is associated. The floor-cleaning group normally comprises one or more flexible rubber blades, which drag on the floor to collect the detergent liquid and the dislodged dirt.
- The operating groups are usually covered by suitable plastic or sheet-metal covers, and are mounted on board a sturdy, solid support trolley, usually of large dimensions, which is provided with handles or grips to be grasped by the operative in order to guide it in movement over the floor to be washed.
- A common requirement in all profession floor-cleaning machines is to enable the floor-cleaning group to move vertically between a lowered work position, in which the blades are in contact with the floor, and a raised rest position, in which the blades are distanced from the floor such as not to scrape on it.
- This movement is usually obtained by means of complicated kinematic activating systems, typically hinged systems having one or more jointed arms, which are mounted on the support trolley and to which the floor-cleaning group is coupled.
- A drawback of professional floor-cleaning machines is therefore that they are rather expensive, not only because of the presence of the above-mentioned kinematic activating systems, but also because of the presence of all the motorisation organs and control organs which the kinematic systems require in order to function.
- The aim of the present invention is to at least partly obviate the mentioned drawback, by providing a floor-cleaning machine which is so simple and rational as to enable a significant reduction in construction costs with respect to the floor-cleaning machines presently available.
- The aim is attained by the characteristics of the invention included in the independent claim. The dependent claims delineate preferred and/or particularly advantageous aspects of the invention.
- In particular, the invention provides a floor-cleaning machine which comprises a support trolley on which at least a floor-cleaning group is installed, which group is provided with at least a rotating flexible blade and a motor for activating the blade, and gripping means which are destined to be held by a user in order to guide the trolley on the floor.
- The gripping means are made available by a rigid frame, which is hinged to the support carriage and on which the operating group is directly fixed.
- Thanks to this solution, by manually rotating the rigid frame about the hinge axis with the support trolley, the user is effectively able to raise the operating group with respect to the floor, displacing it from the lowered work position into a raised rest position, without any need for complicated kinematic activating systems or motors or command organs therefor, making the constructional solution provided very simple and consequently very economical.
- Further, owing to the absence of the above-mentioned activating systems, the support trolley can advantageously be made smaller and less sturdy than the trolleys usually used for professional floor-cleaners, thus further contributing to the constructional simplicity and therefore to the relative inexpensiveness of the machine.
- In a preferred aspect of the invention, the floor-cleaning machine comprises means for blocking the rigid frame in the configuration in which the operating group is in the raised rest position. The means for blocking preferably comprise at least a telescopic arm, which is hinged to the trolley and the tilting frame, and to which disengageable stop means are associated, which stop means are destined to block the arm in a predetermined extended position.
- In a further preferred aspect of the invention, the floor-cleaning machine further comprises a floor-cleaning group, which is provided with at least a flexible blade and which is mobile on the support trolley between a work position, in which the flexible blade is in contact with the floor, and a rest position, in which the flexible blade is distanced from the floor.
- Magnetic means are preferably associated to the floor-cleaning group which block the group in the rest position.
- In this way, production costs of the floor-cleaning machine are further reduced with respect to those presently available, in which the floor-cleaning group is generally associated to complicated automatic raising and blocking systems.
- Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following detailed description provided by way of a non-limiting example, with the aid of the appended figures of the drawings.
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Figure 1 is a side view of a floor-cleaning machine of the invention, with some components removed in order better to illustrated the aspects of the invention, and shown with theoperating group 5 and the floor-cleaning group 7 both in the work position. -
Figure 2 is a plan view of the floor-cleaning machine offigure 1 . -
Figure 3 is a side view of the floor-cleaning machine offigure 1 , shown with theoperating group 5 and the floor-cleaning group 7 both in the rest position. -
Figure 4 is a side view of the machine offigure 1 complete with all components, and shown with theoperating group 5 in the work position and the floor-cleaning group 7 in the rest position. -
Figure 5 is larger-scale detail offigure 1 . -
Figure 6 is a schematic view of the section of the floor-cleaning group 7 made according to line VI-VI denoted infigure 2 , in which a broken line shows the flexion of theblades 70 during the dragging thereof on the floor. - The floor-
cleaning machine 1 comprises a rather compact,lightweight support trolley 2 which exhibits ahorizontal base 20 and is provided with three support wheels, two of which are coaxial, fixed-axle,forward wheels 21, and one of which is a pivotingrear wheel 22. - Two oppositely-positioned
salient side elements 23, which are identical in shape and preferably made of plastic, are fixed to themobile support trolley 2 and laterally delimit the loading space of themobile support trolley 2. - A
rigid frame 3, which is preferably made from sheet steel, is hinged to theside elements 23. - As shown in
figure 2 , theframe 3 has rounded corners and exhibits two transverse bars, a forwardtransverse bar 30 and a reartransverse bar 31, which are connected by two oppositely-positioned, identical, shapedlongitudinal bars 32. - The
rigid frame 3 is inserted externally on theside elements 23 of themobile support trolley 2, to whichmobile support trolley 2 it is hinged by means of twohinge joints 24 which singularly join arespective side element 23 to the adjacentlongitudinal bar 32. - The
hinge joints 24 are perfectly coaxial, such as to define a single axis of rotation A of therigid frame 3 with respect to themobile support trolley 2. - As shown in
figure 1 , the axis of rotation A is oriented such as to be horizontal when themobile support trolley 2 is resting on the floor, and is arranged in an intermediate position along thelongitudinal bars 32, such that therigid frame 3 is hinged to themobile support trolley 2 like a reciprocating lever. - In this way, when the rear
transverse bar 31 is lowered, the forwardtransverse bar 30 is raised, and vice versa. - In more detail, the
longitudinal bars 32 of theframe 3 develop in a downwards direction, such that the forwardtransverse bar 30 is before thebase 20 and is located substantially at a same height as thebase 20, while the reartransverse bar 31 is at a higher level. - The rear
transverse bar 31 functions as a grip for the user pushing the floor-cleaning machine 1, and is therefore positioned at a height at which it can be comfortably gripped. Thelongitudinal bars 32 are extensible in the tract comprised between the axis of rotation A and the reartransverse bar 31, such as to enable height-regulation of the reartransverse bar 31 according to the user's needs. - A
support plate 33 is further attached to the rigid frame 3 (seefigure 2 ) at the forwardtransverse bar 30 position, on which support plate 33 avertical bar 34 is welded. - A first end of a telescopic arm 4 (see
figure 1 ) is hinged to thevertical bar 34, while a second end thereof is hinged to afork 25 fixed below thebase 20 of thetrolley 2. - The hinge axes of the
telescopic arm 4 with thevertical bar 34 and thefork 25 are both parallel to the axis of rotation A of theframe 3, and are positioned such that thetelescopic arm 4 extends following a rotation of theframe 3 in an anticlockwise direction B which corresponds to the raising of the forwardtransverse bar 30. - The
telescopic arm 4 is provided with stop means (not visible in the figures and of known type) which block thetelescopic arm 4 in a predetermined extended position, and which can be commanded such as to free the block in order to enable a successive shortening of thetelescopic arm 4. - In more detail, the stop means act during an extension of the
telescopic arm 4, blocking it when it reaches a predetermined length. With the block inserted thetelescopic arm 4 cannot shorten and remains in the position reached. - In order to free the block, it is generally necessary to cause a further short extension of the
telescopic arm 4, following which the stop means disengage, enabling thetelescopic arm 4 to freely shorten. - Telescopic arms provided with such stop means are commercially available and are widely used for example in the furniture industry to keep the swinging doors of cupboards open.
- An operating group denoted in its entirety by
reference numeral 5 is installed upon thesupport plate 33, which operating group comprises a rotating brush withfrontal bristles 50 to which agear reducer 51 is associated. - In particular, the
brush 50 is positioned below thesupport plate 33, with the rotation axis substantially vertical, such as to be able to rest the bristles frontally on the floor, while thegear reducer 51 is located above thesupport plate 33, at a hole (not visible) which enables mechanical connection with thebrush 50. - The
gear reducer 51 is controlled by acommand lever 52 which is mounted on the reartransverse bar 31 of theframe 3 and which is connected to thegear reducer 51 via flexible cables (not illustrated). - A suction group, denoted in its entirety by 6, is also mounted on the
support plate 33, whichsuction group 6 schematically comprises a pump with the relative activating motor. - The
suction group 6 is also controlled by manual organs (not illustrated) which are preferably mounted on the reartransverse bar 31 of theframe 3, such as to be easily operated by the user. - As illustrated in
figure 4 , thesuction group 6 is connected via a firstflexible pipe 60 to a closedcollecting reservoir 61, preferably made of plastic, which is arranged on board themobile support trolley 2, and is in turn connected, via a secondflexible pipe 62, to a floor-cleaning group 7. - The
collecting reservoir 61 rests upon alower reservoir 63, which is mounted on thebase 20 of themobile support trolley 2, whichreservoir 63 contains a washing liquid, typically water or possibly water mixed with a detergent substance. - The
lower reservoir 63 is connected via aflexible tube 64 to one or more dispensing nozzles of the cleaning liquid (not shown), which are attached to therigid frame 3 at thecleaning organ 50. The dispensing nozzles are connected to thelower reservoir 63 by at least a flexible conduit, denoted by 64 infigure 4 , along which a manual check valve (not visible) is generally located for regulating the flow of cleaning liquid which normally flows from thelower reservoir 63 towards the dispensing nozzles, simply by force of gravity. - As illustrated in
figure 5 , the floor-cleaning group 7 comprises two thinflexible blades 70, made of a coherent material, preferably rubber, which are oriented vertically so as to be arranged with edges thereof against the floor. - The
flexible blades 70 are perfectly facing one another and have horizontal lower edges located substantially at a same height, such as to be contemporaneously in contact with the floor along the whole longitudinal development thereof. - As illustrated in
figure 2 , theflexible blades 70 develop transversally with respect to thetrolley 2, from which they project on both lateral flanks, and exhibit a plan profile which is substantially crossbow-shaped, with the concavity thereof facing in the forwards direction. - The
flexible blades 70 are joined together at the ends and are kept separate by arigid framework 71, which defines a space that is open at a bottom thereof and closed at the top thereof (seefigure 6 ). - A
connector 73 is associated to the rigid framework, whichconnector 73 terminates within thespace 72 and is connected to the secondflexible pipe 62 coming from thecollecting reservoir 61. - As shown in
figure 2 , therigid framework 71 is borne on acentral plate 74, to which it is removably joined in order to enable replacement of the floor-cleaning group 7 when theflexible blades 70 are worn. - A raised
block 75 is welded to thecentral plate 74, to which the ends of two superposedcon rods 76 are hinged, thecon rods 76 being of equal length and parallel to one another, opposite ends of which are hinged to asupport 77 fixed below thebase 20 in the rear part of the trolley 2 (seefigure 5 ). - The hinge axes of the
con rods 76 with theblock 75 and thesupport 77 are horizontal, such that thecon rods 76 define a four-bar hinge enabling the floor-wiping group 7 to perform vertical movements of the floor-cleaning group 7, keeping theflexible blades 70 parallel to themselves. - In detail, the four-bar hinge enables the floor-wiping
group 7 to be moved between a work position, in which theflexible blades 70 are in contact with the floor, and a rest position, in which theflexible blades 70 are raised and are not in contact with the floor. - As illustrated in
figure 5 , apermanent magnet 26 is fixed on thetrolley 2, which can be substituted by an electromagnet or like magnetic means, whichmagnet 26 is positioned such as to contactingly receive theupper con rod 76 of the four-bar hinge when the floor-cleaning group 7 is in the raised rest position. - In this way, the magnetic attraction exerted by the
magnet 26 on the ferro-magnetic material of thecon rod 76 enables the floor-cleaning group 7 to be effectively blocked in the rest position, for example when the floor-cleaningmachine 1 is not being used. - Naturally the same result could be reached by mounting the
magnet 26 on thecon rod 76 and predisposing a ferro-magnetic stop on thetrolley 2; or by mounting two magnets having opposite polarity respectively on thecon rod 76 and thetrolley 2, such that the magnets come into contact when the floor-cleaning group 7 is in the rest position. - Finally, the floor-
cleaning group 7 comprises a shapedlever 78, which is fixed on therigid frame 71 and develops in an upwards direction, such as to make available a comfortable grip for a user who, by acting on the shapedlever 78, can overcome the magnetic force exerted by themagnet 26 and unblock the floor-cleaning group 7 from the rest position, leaving it to rest by force of gravity on the floor, thus moving into the work position. - In use, the floor-cleaning group is guided on the floor by the user who walks behind it, gripping the rear
transverse bar 31 of thetilting frame 3. - The
tilting frame 3 is in the configuration illustrated infigure 1 , where theoperating group 5 is in a lowered work position in which the bristles of the rotating brush are frontally in contact with the floor. - This work position is maintained thanks to the weight of the
operating group 5 and thesuction group 6, which tend to cause thetilting frame 3 to rotate in a clockwise direction C, i.e. in the direction corresponding to a lowering of the forward transverse bar, pressing therotating brush 50 down onto the floor. - The floor-
cleaning group 7 is also in a lowered work position, with theflexible blades 70 both in contact with the floor. - The work position of the floor-
cleaning group 7 is maintained thanks to the weight of the group itself, which acts in the direction of pressing theflexible blades 70 onto the floor. - During the cleaning operations, the rotating
brush 50 is rotated by thegear reducers 51, and at the same time thesuction group 6 is activated, which places the collectingreservoir 61 in depression and, via theflexible conduit 62, also thespace 71 defined between theflexible blades 70 of the floor-cleaning group 7. - At the same time the command is given for the cleaning liquid to be dispensed from the
lower reservoir 63. - The liquid is dispensed directly onto to bristles of the rotating
brush 50 such that the scrubbing action of thebrush 50 and the detergent action of the liquid enable the dirt to be removed from the floor. - The liquid mixed with dirt is then swept and collected by the
flexible blades 70 which drag on the floor, and filters into thespace 72, from where it is aspirated internally of the collectingreservoir 61. - When washing operations are terminated, the user pushes the rear
transverse bar 31 of thetilting frame 3 downwards, raising the forwardtransverse bar 30 and causing a progressive extension of thetelescopic arm 4. - In this way, the
operating group 5 and thesuction group 6, which are solidly constrained to the forwardtransverse bar 30, are raised from the floor up to reaching the rest position illustrated infigure 3 , in which the rotatingbrush 50 is not touching the floor. - On reaching this rest position, the
telescopic arm 4 blocks by effect of the stop means thereof, such that the position is maintained even if the user lets go of the grip. - At this point, the user grips the
lever 78 and raises the floor-cleaning group 7, returning it into the rest position in which it is blocked by themagnet 26. - To perform a new cleaning operation, it will be sufficient to unblock the
telescopic arm 4 such that by force of gravity theoperating group 5 returns into the work position, and to free the floor-cleaning group 7 from themagnet 26. - Obviously, a person skilled in the art might bring numerous technical and applicational modifications to the invention without forsaking the ambit of the invention as claimed herein below.
Claims (14)
- A floor-cleaning machine comprising a support trolley (2), on which support trolley (2) at least an operating group (5) is installed, which operating group (5) comprises at least a rotating brush (50) destined to go into contact with a floor and a motor (51) for activating the rotating brush (50), and gripping means (31) destined to be held by a user to guide the trolley (2) on the floor, characterised in that the gripping means (31) are provided by a rigid frame (3), which rigid frame (3) is hinged to the support trolley (2) and on which the operating group (5) is directly fixed.
- The floor-cleaning machine of claim 1, characterised in that the rigid frame (3) is hinged to the support trolley (2) as a reciprocating lever.
- The floor-cleaning machine of claim 2, characterised in that the operating group (5) and the gripping means (31) are on opposite sides of the rigid frame (3) with respect to the axis of rotation (A) thereof with respect to the trolley (2).
- The floor-cleaning machine of claim 1, characterised in that it comprises blocking means for blocking the rigid frame (3) in a rest configuration, in which the brush (50) of the operating group (5) is distanced from the floor.
- The floor-cleaning machine of claim 4, characterised in that the blocking means comprise a telescopic arm (4) hinged to the rigid frame (3) and to the trolley (2), which telescopic arm (4) is provided with disengageable stop means.
- The floor-cleaning machine of claim 1, characterised in that a suction group (6) is further fixed on the rigid frame (3).
- The floor-cleaning machine of claim 6, characterised in that the suction group (6) is connected to a collecting reservoir (61) located on a base (20) of the trolley (2).
- The floor-cleaning machine of claim 1, characterised in that it comprises means (63, 64) for dispensing a cleaning liquid onto the floor.
- The floor-cleaning machine of claim 8, characterised in that the means for dispensing the cleaning liquid comprise a reservoir (63) for containing the liquid, which reservoir (63) is located on the base (20) of the trolley (2).
- The floor-cleaning machine of claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a floor-cleaning group (7), which is provided with at least a flexible blade (70) and which is mobile on board the support trolley (2) between a work position, in which the flexible blade (70) is in contact with the floor, and a rest position, in which the flexible blade (70) is distanced from the floor.
- The floor-cleaning machine of claim 10, characterised in that it comprises magnetic means (26) which block the floor-cleaning group (7) in the rest position.
- The floor-cleaning machine of claim 11, characterised in that the magnetic means comprise at least a magnet (26) fixed on the trolley (2).
- The floor-cleaning machine of claim 10, characterised in that the floor-cleaning group (7) comprises a pair of flexible blades (70) separated by a space (72).
- The floor-cleaning machine of claims 13 and 7, characterised in that the space (72) is in communication with the suction group (6) via the collecting reservoir (61).
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IT000006A ITRE20080006A1 (en) | 2008-01-15 | 2008-01-15 | '' FLOOR WASHER '' |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2080468A2 true EP2080468A2 (en) | 2009-07-22 |
Family
ID=40290283
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP08173063A Withdrawn EP2080468A2 (en) | 2008-01-15 | 2008-12-30 | A floor-cleaning machine |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20090178228A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2080468A2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN101487240A (en) |
IT (1) | ITRE20080006A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2013017167A1 (en) * | 2011-08-02 | 2013-02-07 | Alfred Kärcher Gmbh & Co. Kg | Drivable floor cleaning machine and method for operating a floor cleaning machine |
EP4275568A1 (en) * | 2022-05-10 | 2023-11-15 | Hako GmbH | Hand-held floor cleaning machine with a suction foot holder |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN109106291A (en) * | 2016-11-24 | 2019-01-01 | 卢思雨 | Clear up the device of broken hair automatically for barber shop |
CN109208516A (en) * | 2017-07-06 | 2019-01-15 | 广元公正科技有限公司 | The equipment for removing ground stain, mark |
CN114129099A (en) * | 2021-12-31 | 2022-03-04 | 苏州威摩尔智能科技有限公司 | Floor brush for floor washing machine and floor washing machine |
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US580606A (en) * | 1897-04-13 | Tongue-and-groove machine | ||
US2188390A (en) * | 1937-09-23 | 1940-01-30 | Hoover Co | Suction cleaner |
US2701377A (en) * | 1949-01-17 | 1955-02-08 | Tennant Co G H | Rotary brush power sweeper |
US2978719A (en) * | 1957-12-30 | 1961-04-11 | Advance Machine Co | Mobile floor treating machine |
US3204280A (en) * | 1963-01-17 | 1965-09-07 | Campbell Cleatis | Floor cleaning and waxing machine |
SE439792B (en) * | 1984-03-16 | 1985-07-01 | Gosta Agergard | SWEEPER |
USD364012S (en) * | 1994-04-25 | 1995-11-07 | Windsor Industries, Inc. | Floor cleaning machine |
US6088873A (en) * | 1997-10-20 | 2000-07-18 | Breuer Electric Mfg. Co. | Floor cleaning machine and method |
USD417045S (en) * | 1998-07-11 | 1999-11-23 | Breuer Electric Mfg. Co. | Floor cleaning device |
US6295682B1 (en) * | 1999-09-24 | 2001-10-02 | John H. Klucznik | Rideable cleaning appliance |
US6530117B2 (en) * | 2001-02-12 | 2003-03-11 | Robert A. Peterson | Wet vacuum |
ES2266398T3 (en) * | 2001-05-31 | 2007-03-01 | Johnsondiversey, Inc. | MACHINE FOR SURFACE TREATMENT. |
US7533435B2 (en) * | 2003-05-14 | 2009-05-19 | Karcher North America, Inc. | Floor treatment apparatus |
WO2005032323A2 (en) * | 2003-09-30 | 2005-04-14 | Levi Deaton | Fresh dispense cleaning product |
EP1729622B1 (en) * | 2004-03-05 | 2012-05-09 | Tennant Company | Simplified rear squeegee linkage for surface cleaning equipment |
USD533320S1 (en) * | 2004-11-11 | 2006-12-05 | Castle Rock Industries, Inc. | Floor treatment device |
USD542988S1 (en) * | 2005-08-18 | 2007-05-15 | Alfred Kaercher Gmbh & Co. Kg | Cleaning apparatus |
USD544659S1 (en) * | 2006-02-01 | 2007-06-12 | Johnsondiversey, Inc. | Floor cleaning machine |
USD549405S1 (en) * | 2006-03-27 | 2007-08-21 | Alfred Kaercher Gmbh & Co. Kg | Vacuum trash collection vehicle |
USD571434S1 (en) * | 2006-12-14 | 2008-06-17 | Alfred Kaercher Gmbh & Co. Kg | Hand-operated spray gun for a high pressure washer |
-
2008
- 2008-01-15 IT IT000006A patent/ITRE20080006A1/en unknown
- 2008-12-30 EP EP08173063A patent/EP2080468A2/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2009
- 2009-01-08 CN CNA2009100035226A patent/CN101487240A/en active Pending
- 2009-01-09 US US12/351,511 patent/US20090178228A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2013017167A1 (en) * | 2011-08-02 | 2013-02-07 | Alfred Kärcher Gmbh & Co. Kg | Drivable floor cleaning machine and method for operating a floor cleaning machine |
CN103717117A (en) * | 2011-08-02 | 2014-04-09 | 阿尔弗雷德·凯驰两合公司 | Drivable floor cleaning machine and method for operating a floor cleaning machine |
US9456727B2 (en) | 2011-08-02 | 2016-10-04 | Alfred Kärcher Gmbh & Co. Kg | Drivable floor cleaning machine and method for operating a floor cleaning machine |
EP4275568A1 (en) * | 2022-05-10 | 2023-11-15 | Hako GmbH | Hand-held floor cleaning machine with a suction foot holder |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20090178228A1 (en) | 2009-07-16 |
ITRE20080006A1 (en) | 2009-07-16 |
CN101487240A (en) | 2009-07-22 |
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