EP3753466B1

EP3753466B1 - Portable apparatus for cleaning surfaces

Info

Publication number: EP3753466B1
Application number: EP20175507.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lorenzo PACINI
Original assignee: 4Cleanpro SRL
Current assignee: 4Cleanpro SRL
Priority date: 2019-05-20
Filing date: 2020-05-19
Publication date: 2022-09-07
Anticipated expiration: 2040-05-19
Also published as: ES2928696T3; EP3753466A1; IT201900007003A1; DK3753466T3; HUE060356T2; PL3753466T3

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates to an apparatus for treating floors, in particular a scrubber dryer for floors.

Prior art

Apparatuses for treating floors have long been known. In particular, apparatuses that may combine different treatment operations are known, which, for example, are able to suction, brush, scrub and dry floors.
These apparatuses may have a very different structure, depending on use. For example, for industrial applications, floor treatment apparatuses may be very bulky and therefore difficult to operate. On the other hand, apparatuses intended for domestic use, which requires limited power, usually have a small volume and are therefore more easily manoeuvrable.
For example EP 3031378 discloses a manual guided apparatus for treating floors, in particular a scrubber dryer apparatus, comprising a part on the ground and a guide part, mutually connected by means of an articulation assembly, capable of arranging the guide part rotating in all directions around a vertical axis. In particular, the floor-contact part is equipped with a pair of rotating tools made of brushes, arranged in such a way as to produce a permanent linear feed action. Furthermore, the floor-contact part is provided with a suction strip arranged on the ground when the apparatus is in use, at the rear of the brushes. The apparatus comprises as well a support means arranged on the floor-contact part, made for supporting the same floor-contact part in an inclined transport or storage position, statically determined and therefore isostatic. Another examples is known from US 2001/047562 A1 .
In the specific sector, the need is also felt to guarantee the total health of the environments in which these devices are used, in particular in order to minimize or completely cancel a contaminating effect that can be ascribed to their operation.
In particular, it is crucial that these devices suck and release flows of fluids, interacting with the environments to be treated with their own operation, and that these flows may drag contaminating particles.

Disclosure

The present invention aims at solving the aforementioned problems by devising an apparatus for treating floors, which ensures the complete healthiness of the environments in which it operates.
The invention further aims at providing an apparatus for treating floors, which has versatile use, certainly reliable operation and relatively inexpensive cost.
The mentioned aims are achieved, according to the present invention, by the apparatus for treating floors as in claim 1.
The apparatus for treating floors, in particular a scrubber dryer apparatus, comprises a floor-contact part equipped with at least one tool for treating a floor, and a guide part equipped with at least one handle.
The apparatus comprises at least one motor member for sucking an operating fluid, for example water, from the floor.
According to the invention, the apparatus comprises a cooling circuit for cooling the motor member by means of a flow of cooling air, which includes a filter member for filtering the aforementioned flow of cooling air.
Thanks to the filter element on the cooling circuit, any contamination of the environment, which may be generated, in particular, by the motor member of the apparatus itself, is prevented. In particular, the filter member is capable of retaining contaminating particles that are dragged by the flow of cooling air to the passage through the motor member. These particles, for example, could originate from the interaction of the relative components, in the case of a motor member of the brushes or permanent magnets type, usually used in apparatuses for treating floors.
In other words, the filter element enables in particular the flow of cooling air to be filtered, as this could drag contaminants produced by the functioning of the motor element.
Preferably, the filter element is an HEPA-type filter, to ensure maximum filtering efficiency.
Said cooling circuit preferably comprises a suction opening intended for the entry of the cooling air flow, for example made at a housing containing the floor-contact part.
Preferably, the cooling circuit comprises a containment cover arranged around the motor member, to seal the above-mentioned flow of cooling air.
The same cooling circuit may usefully comprise a conveying duct for said cooling air flow, arranged in communication with said containment cover, configured to convey the cooling flow coming out from said containment cover.
Said filter element may be positioned at said conveying duct, preferably at the outlet thereof.
The apparatus also comprises a circuit for collecting the operating fluid present on the floor to be treated, the operating fluid comprising at least an amount of air, and an additional filter element positioned at the collection circuit, to filter said portion of air separated from the collected operating fluid.
Said further filter element is preferably an HEPA-type.
Said collection circuit comprises a suction opening, through which the operating fluid is sucked from the floor, a collection pipe connected, on the one hand, to the suction opening and, on the other, to a collection tank of the equipment, and a return duct, which connects the top of the collection tank with the floor-contact part, for the outflow of air separated from the aspirated operating fluid.
The further filter element is arranged along the return duct, to filter any contaminating particles present in the air separated from the aspirated operating fluid.
In the case of an operating fluid comprising a cleaning liquid, it is sucked together with the aforementioned amount of air into the collection tank through said collection pipe. In the collection tank, the cleaning liquid is therefore separated, preferably by gravity, from the amount of air, which is therefore conveyed through the return duct.
The apparatus according to the invention is preferably, but not limited to, a scrubber dryer for floors. For this purpose it may comprise a suction strip positioned at the back of at least one tool, according to a direction of travel of the apparatus. The suction strip is, in use, in contact with the floor, to contain and convey the operating fluid diverted from the tool, following interaction with the floor.
Preferably the floor-contact part of the apparatus is connected to the guide part by means of an articulation assembly, which allows the guide part to be oriented in different positions with respect to the floor-contact part.
The at least one tool is, for example, a brush or a roller, rotatable on the floor.

Description of drawings

The details of the invention become more evident from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus for treating floors according to the invention, illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, where:

Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of an apparatus for treating floors according to the invention;
Figure 2 shows a schematic plan view of the floor-contact part of the same apparatus.

Best mode

With particular reference to these figures, the apparatus for treating floors according to the invention has been indicated as a whole with numeral reference 1.
The apparatus 1 comprises a floor-contact part 2 and a guide part 3, preferably connected to each other by means of an articulation assembly 4, which allows the guide part 3 to be oriented in different positions with respect to the floor-contact part 2.
The guiding part 3 is provided with at least one handle 3a.
The floor-contact part 2 comprises at least one preferably rotating tool 5, for example a pair of tools 5, arranged so as to have a respective operating surface 5a facing the floor P to be treated and, in particular, in use, in contact with it.
The tools 5, if provided in pairs, may be arranged side by side, on opposite sides with respect to the guide part 3, rotating according to a rotation axis substantially orthogonal to the floor, therefore, for example, substantially vertical when the tools are in use resting on a substantially horizontal floor, so that the operating surface 5a of each tool 5 is substantially parallel to the floor P to be treated and may interact with it. The tools 5, for example brushes, are driven in rotation by respective motor members, in the opposite direction.
Alternatively and, in a known way, the rotation axis of the tools 5 may be arranged slightly inclined with respect to an axis orthogonal to the floor P. In practice, the axes A of the tools 5 may have opposite and specular inclinations with respect to a longitudinal median axis of the apparatus. Due to said inclination between the operating surface 5a of each tool 5 and the floor P, a differentiated friction action is produced, which is greater at the portion which, following the rotation, is closest to the floor, such that it determines an action resulting not null, with the same direction for the pair of counter-rotating tools 5. This resulting action has a continuous propulsive effect.
In the following, reference will be made to a pair of tools 5, however also referring to the case in which the tool 5 is one.
The apparatus 1 may preferably comprise a tank for a clean operating fluid, for example water, for treating the floor P, and a collection tank 6 for the dirty operating fluid, so as to achieve, for example, the scrubber-dryer function. For example, the tank for the clean operating fluid may be integrated in the floor-contact part 2, while the collection tank 6 of the dirty operating fluid in the guide part 3.
In this case, then, the ground part 2 preferably also comprises, in a known way, a suction strip 7 (see the schematic view illustrated in Figure 1), arranged at the back of the tools 5, according to a direction of travel B.
The suction strip 7, known in the sector as "squeegee", is arranged, in use, in contact with the floor P, to contain and convey the deviated dirty operating fluid by the tools 5, following the interaction with the floor P.
More precisely, the suction strip 7 comprises at least one pair of stripes 8, preferably arranged curved peripherally to the floor-contact part 2, so that it substantially covers the working width of the tools 5. In particular, the pair of stripes 8 provides for a front stripe and a rear stripe, with respect to the direction of travel B of the apparatus 1: the first is preferably equipped with leaks for the leakage of the operating fluid to be collected, the second, on the other hand, is continue, therefore without leaks, for the collection of the same fluid. Thus, a chamber for collecting dirty operating fluid is formed between the stripes 8, which may be sucked up.
The stripes 8 are also supported by a frame 9 (see Figure 1) fixed to the structure of the floor-contact part 2 and associated with a suction member operated by a motor member 10 arranged, for example, on the same floor-contact part 2.
The motor member 10, which is preferably brushed-type or permanent magnet type, is powered for example by a battery assembly 11 arranged in the floor-contact part 2.
Preferably the motor member 10 and the battery assembly 11 are contained within a containment casing 12 of the floor-contact part 2.
The apparatus 1 also comprises a cooling circuit 100 for cooling the motor member 10 during operation and a suction circuit 200 for conveying the dirty operating fluid sucked from the floor P.
More precisely, the cooling circuit 100 of the motor member 10 may comprise an inlet opening 110 formed in the containment casing 12 near the motor member 10, for example in front of it, for the entry of a cooling air flow from the outside.
The cooling circuit 100 also preferably comprises a containment cover 120 shaped for example in the form of a cap, to collect the aforementioned flow of cooling air around the motor member 10. Said containment cover 120 is tightly sealed around the motor member 10, so as to prevent the leakage of the flow of cooling air.
The cooling circuit 100 may also comprise a conveying duct 130 for conveying said flow of cooling air coming out of the containment cover 120.
The conveying duct 130 comprises an inlet section 131 in communication with the containment cover 120 and an outlet section 132.
The apparatus 1 advantageously comprises a filter member 140 associated with the cooling circuit 100 to filter the flow of cooling air which passes through the motor member 10 and which therefore may drag contaminating particles coming from it.
Preferably the filter element 140 is arranged at the outlet section 131 of the conveying duct 130, so as to release outside said flow of cooling air, suitably filtered of any contaminating particles.
The collection circuit 200 is instead associated with the suction strip 7, to convey the dirty operating fluid sucked from the floor P, by the motor member 10.
The collection circuit 200 comprises a suction opening 210, through which the dirty operating fluid is sucked, for example, by the collection chamber defined between the stripes 8 into said collection tank 6, and a collection pipe 220 connected, on one side, to the aforesaid suction opening 210 and, on the other, to the collection tank 6 of the dirty operating fluid.
The collection circuit 200 also comprises a return duct 230, which connects the top of the collection tank 6 with the floor-contact part 2, for the downflow of air separated from the operating fluid sucked by the suction strip 7.
Preferably a further filter element 240 is arranged along said return duct 230, to filter any contaminating particles present in the air separated from the aspirated operating fluid.
Preferably, said further filter 240 is an HEPA-type filter, to ensure maximum filtering efficiency.
The operation of the apparatus for treating floors according to the invention is easily understandable from the above description.
In the particular case of a scrubber dryer apparatus, a detergent operating fluid, for example water, is fed onto the floor P and sucked by the actuation of the motor member 10, together with the dirt, through the suction strip 7.
At the same time the motor member 10 is passed through by a flow of cooling air, which enters the containment casing 12 through the opening 110 of the cooling circuit 100.
This flow of cooling air is collected in the containment cover 120 arranged tightly around the motor member 10 and then conveyed to the outlet through the conveying duct 130 and the filter element 140, thus preventing any contamination of the external environment.
At the same time, a flow of operating fluid, sucked by the suction strip 7, is conveyed through the collection circuit 200.
First, the flow of operating fluid is conveyed through the suction opening 210 and the collection pipe 220, to separate inside the collection tank 6 the dirty operating fluid from the air.
Finally the separated air is conveyed to the outlet through the return duct 230, passing through the further filter member 240, so as to prevent, also in this case, any contamination of the external environment in which the apparatus operates 1.
The apparatus for treating floors according to the invention therefore achieves the aim of guaranteeing the complete healthiness of the environment in which it operates.
This aim is achieved mainly thanks to the provision of the filter element 140 located along the cooling circuit 100 of the air cooling the engine. This provision guarantees the total absence of contaminants in the air passing through the motor member 10.
In particular, in the case of the use of a brushed-type motor member, the filter member 140 prevents the leakage of particles that may be produced by sliding between the mechanical members which make up the engine.
The filtering action thus guaranteed is very important in work environments, such as operating rooms, for example, where the healthiness of the environment is an essential condition of work.
This filtering effect is maximum in the preferential case in which the filter member and possibly the additional filter member are an HEPA-type filters.
The provision of the additional filter element in the collection circuit of the dirty fluid sucked from the floor P cooperates with the same result, retaining any contaminations already present in the environment, deposited on the floor P and sucked by the apparatus.
In the practical implementation of the invention, the materials used, as well as the shape and size, may be modified depending on needs.
Should the technical features mentioned in any claim be followed by reference signs, such reference signs were included strictly with the aim of enhancing the understanding of the claims and hence they shall not be deemed restrictive in any manner whatsoever on the scope of each element identified for exemplifying purposes by such reference signs.

Claims

An apparatus for treating floors, in particular a scrubber dryer apparatus for floors comprising a floor-contact part (2) equipped with at least one tool (5) for treating a floor (P), and a guide part (3) connected to said floor-contact part (2), at least one motor member (10) to suck an operating fluid from said floor (P), a cooling circuit (100) to cool said motor member (10) by means of a flow of cooling air, said circuit cooling (100) comprising a filter member (140) for filtering said flow of cooling air, said floor-contact part (2) and said guide part (3) being mutually connected by means of an articulation assembly (4) which enables said guide part (3) to be oriented in different positions with respect to said floor-contact part (2), said guide part (3) being provided with at least one handle (3a) characterised in that it comprises a collection circuit (200) of said operating fluid present on the floor (P) to be treated, said operating fluid comprising at least a portion of air, and a further filter member (240) positioned at said collection circuit (200), to filter said portion of air separated from said collected operating fluid, said collection circuit (200) comprising a suction opening (210), through which said operating fluid is sucked from said floor (P), a collection pipe (220) connected, at one end, to said suction opening (210) and, at the other end, to a collection tank (6) of said apparatus (1) arranged in the guide part (3) of the apparatus (1), and a return duct (230), which connects the top of said collecting tank (6) in use with said floor-contact part (2), so that the air separated from the sucked operating fluid flows out, said further filter member (240) being arranged in said return duct (230), in order to filter out any contaminating particles present in the air separated from the aspirated operating fluid.
An apparatus for treating floors as in claim 1, characterised in that said filter member (140) is an HEPA type filter.
An apparatus for treating floors as in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said cooling circuit (100) comprises an inlet opening (110) intended for the entry of said cooling air flow.
An apparatus for treating floors as in claim 3, characterised in that said cooling circuit (100) comprises a containment cover (120) arranged around said motor member (10) to seal tightly said air cooling flow.
An apparatus for treating floors as in claim 4, characterised in that said cooling circuit (100) comprises a conveying duct (130) for said air cooling flow, arranged in communication with said containment cover (120), configured to convey said cooling flow outgoing from said containment cover (120).
An apparatus for treating floors as in claim 5, characterised in that said filter member (140) is positioned at said conveying duct (130).
An apparatus for treating floors as in claim 6, characterised in that said filter member (140) is positioned at an outlet section (132) of said conveying duct (130).
An apparatus for treating floors as in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said further filter member (240) is HEPA type filter.
An apparatus for treating floors as in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a suction strip (7), arranged at the rear of said tool (5) according to a direction of travel (B) and, in use, in contact with said floor (P), to contain and convey said operating fluid deviated by said tool (5), following the interaction with said floor (P).
An apparatus for treating floors as in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said tool (5) comprises at least one brush or a roller rotatable on said floor (P).