JP2015534863A - Floor cleaning equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

The floor cleaning device comprises a) a rear part (12) including a front part (13) and at least two lateral rear wheels (11), and b) a lower side (22) directed to the floor (20) to be cleaned. And a chassis (10) having two side faces (23a, 23b), c) at least one front wheel (3) arranged in the front part (13), and d) attached to the chassis (10), A cleaning unit (14) comprising at least one rotatable brush (6) having a floor contact area (28) in contact with a floor (20) disposed in front of the ring (11) and being cleaned; And at least one front wheel (3) is movable relative to the chassis (10) from a retracted position to a lowered position where the front wheel protrudes from the floor contact area (28) of the at least one brush (6). .

Description

  The present invention relates to a floor cleaning apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1.

  From BELLATI German Patent No. 6920605, when the device moves forward, the roller located forward in the forward direction of movement becomes the lowest roller and the device returns to exert its action deeper on the floor. Sometimes a wooden floor planing device is known in which the roller located forward in the backward direction of movement is the lowest roller. This device can change the pressure of the rollers on the floor. It is possible to lift the roller slightly during the moving state, but this requires the driver to push down the handle, which is impractical and cumbersome, especially in large and heavy equipment.

  This known device also discloses a wheel located at the rear of the device. The wheels can be pivoted about the axis relative to the chassis of the device so that for stability the wheel contact point is always moved behind the axis. Furthermore, the angle of the shaft with respect to the floor can be adjusted by means of an actuating knob. By changing this angle of the shaft relative to the floor, the chassis of the device is such that the previously placed rollers are lower than the subsequent rollers in the direction of movement so that the functional characteristics regarding the condition of the floor being processed can be optimized. Can be adjusted in any way.

  CRIVERLARO European Patent No. A2011426 shows a floor cleaning device having two rear wheels, a steerable front wheel, and two auxiliary front wheels located on the left and right sides of the steerable front wheel. The two auxiliary front wheels are used to prevent the device from tipping over when the user goes up and down the driver's seat. However, the steerable front wheel has only a driving function, and its height cannot be adjusted. A disadvantage of this known floor cleaning device is that the brush can not be lifted off the floor and the floor can be damaged by the brush wet with the cleaning liquid.

  US Pat. No. 2,749,996 to PARKER et al. Discloses a floor cleaning apparatus (vacuum cleaner) that includes a main frame carried by two wheels. Further, two drive wheels are attached to the main frame and are driven by the power unit. The vacuum cleaner also discloses a wheel that is located behind the device and can be raised and lowered vertically by a lever. When the rear wheels are moved down to contact the floor, the rear frame is lifted up together with the drive wheels so that the drive wheels are no longer in contact with the floor. However, when the wheel behind the device is lowered, the front of the device is pushed down, resulting in compression of the brush. This is undesirable because brush compression results in undesirable distortion of the brush hair and impairs the function of the brush.

  A further mobile floor cleaning device is known from US Pat. No. 7,302,734 to NOWAK et al. This known cleaning device includes a hydraulically driven rotating brush, an air mover, and a combination of a filter and receptacle mounted on a chassis with two rear wheels and a front wheel. The steerable front wheel is driven by a hydraulic motor. A disadvantage of this known cleaning device is that trajectories or damage on the floor can occur during storage or transport because the brush is not lifted when the cleaning device is stored or cleared.

  Since small or medium floor cleaning devices are usually manually pushed or pulled as they move over the floor, the movement of the device is cumbersome due to the considerable resistance caused by the brush sliding on the floor. To avoid this inconvenience, the cleaning device must be tilted by the operator by depressing the handlebar simultaneously with pushing or pulling the device forward or backward. The effort to tilt the device is given in particular by the water in the upper water tank and can be further increased by the shaking of the water in the reservoir. Moreover, when the cleaning device is cleared, the brush can be damaged by the weight of the device that compresses the brush. In addition, the floor may be damaged due to the brush wet with the cleaning liquid.

German Patent Invention No. 69206005 European Patent Application Publication No. 2011426 U.S. Pat. No. 2,499,996 US Pat. No. 7,302,734

  It is an object of the present invention to be able to be moved more easily on the floor when not in use, and to handle the brush with care during the movement of the device and when cleared, during storage or transport. To provide a floor cleaning device that can eliminate trajectories or damage on the floor.

  The present invention solves the presented problem using a floor cleaning device comprising the features of claim 1.

The advantages of the floor cleaning device according to the invention are basically found in the following:
-Small or medium-sized devices can be moved more easily over longer distances, e.g. for entry into and withdrawal from their storage location.
-It eliminates trajectories or damage on the floor during storage or transport.
-When the device is moved or cleared, the device does not need to be tilted by pressing down on the handlebar to lift one or more brushes up from the floor. The operator's effort to push or pull the device forward or backward during movement is significantly reduced by eliminating the need to tilt the device by simultaneously depressing the handlebar.
-One or more brushes are handled more carefully compared to a two-wheel device where the brush is compressed and eventually damaged when the device is not in use.

  In a special embodiment, the front wheel is arranged between two sides of the chassis, preferably essentially in the center between the two sides. This configuration allows the advantage that the front wheel can be placed in the free space between the two brushes, such that a small brush unit including the front wheel and its actuator is realized.

  In a further embodiment, the floor cleaning device comprises at least two front wheels arranged in a lateral direction, preferably spaced essentially evenly with respect to the vertical intermediate plane of the floor cleaning device. Thereby, the high stability with respect to the inclination of a floor cleaning apparatus is realizable.

  In a further embodiment, the floor cleaning device additionally includes an actuator for moving the at least one front wheel from the upper position to the lowered position and vice versa.

  In another embodiment, the actuator includes an electric motor, preferably a linear motor, for moving the at least one front wheel from the upper position to the lowered position and vice versa. This configuration has the advantage that one or more brushes can be lifted and held in the raised position without the need to apply large manual forces so that the adaptation of the device is easy to handle. Is feasible.

  In yet another embodiment, the actuator can be configured as a mechanical actuator, preferably as a threaded spindle, for moving at least one front wheel from an upper position to a lowered position and vice versa. is there.

  In a further embodiment, at least one front wheel is pivotally coupled to the chassis and coupled to the front end of a lever that is rotatable about a pivot axis. This configuration allows a linear motor or a mechanical actuator, such as a threaded spindle, for example, to extend its longitudinal axis essentially parallel to the floor so that the height required by the front wheels along with the actuation mechanism is minimized. The advantage of being able to be placed in the presence is made possible. Alternatively, the linear motor or threaded spindle can be arranged with its longitudinal axis extending essentially perpendicular to the floor.

  Preferably, the pivot axis is arranged at right angles to the midplane of the chassis.

  Preferably, the at least one front wheel is spaced from the floor from which the at least one brush is cleaned, from an upper position where the front portion of the chassis is in a lowered position so that the at least one brush can contact the floor to be cleaned. The front part of the chassis is in the raised position and is movable to the lowered position. This allows one or more brushes to simply rotate the chassis about the central axis of the rear wheel so that no moving parts are required in the device, apart from the movable front wheel, to raise and lower the brush. Can be moved up and down.

  In another embodiment, the cleaning device includes two or more, preferably two brushes disposed on opposite sides of the midplane of the chassis, each rotatable about its axis, the axis of the midplane of the chassis. It extends on both sides at a right angle to the underside of the chassis. Thereby, the cleaning width of the device can be expanded without the need to increase the length of the device.

  Preferably, in the lowered position, the at least one front wheel protrudes vertically beyond the at least one brush in a direction perpendicular to the underside of the chassis.

  Preferably, in the retracted position of the at least one front wheel, the at least one brush protrudes vertically beyond the at least one front wheel in a direction perpendicular to the underside of the chassis.

  Preferably, the at least one brush is arranged between at least one front wheel and a rear wheel.

  Preferably, the at least one brush includes a vertical axis of rotation. Alternatively, the at least one brush can be arranged with its rotation axis extending in the horizontal direction.

  In a further embodiment, the at least one front wheel is arranged in front of the vertical rotation axis of the at least one brush.

  Preferably, the at least one front wheel is configured as a caster wheel.

  In another embodiment, the at least one brush in the lowered position of the at least one front wheel is raised a minimum of about 5 mm vertically.

  In a further embodiment, the cleaning device further includes a handlebar suitable for moving the device over the floor to be cleaned.

  Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

1 is a side view of an embodiment of a floor cleaning device according to the present invention in a working state. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of the floor cleaning device according to the invention of FIG. 1 in a stationary state. FIG. It is a top view of embodiment of the floor cleaning apparatus by this invention of FIG. It is a perspective view of the brush housing | casing containing the front wheel of embodiment of the floor cleaning apparatus of this invention of FIG. 1 which has a front wheel in an upper position. It is a perspective view of the brush housing | casing containing the front wheel of embodiment of the floor cleaning apparatus of this invention of FIG. 1 which a front wheel becomes a lower position. It is a perspective view of the brush housing | casing which has two front wheels of another embodiment of the floor cleaning apparatus by this invention. FIG. 7 is a side view of the brush housing of the embodiment of FIG. 6 of the floor cleaning device according to the present invention with the front wheel in the retracted position. FIG. 7 is a side view of the brush housing of the embodiment of FIG. 6 of the floor cleaning device according to the present invention with the front wheel in the lowered position.

  While the invention will be described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that various alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the broad scope of the appended claims. All publications, patents, and patent applications cited herein are specifically and individually described so that each individual publication, patent, and patent application is incorporated herein by reference. To the same extent, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in this application should not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention. To the extent that the title part is used, these should not necessarily be interpreted in a limited way. The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, “inclusion”, “having”, and their conjugations include “including but not limited to”. "Means. This term encompasses the terms “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of”.

  The terms "front", "rear", "front", and "rear" are oriented in the "forward movement direction" of the cleaning device so that the cleaning device moves on the floor to be cleaned first in front. This is understood as the movement of the cleaning device by manually pushing the handle bar towards the front part of the cleaning device. The term “rearward movement direction” means that the opposite direction of movement is obtained by pulling the handlebar so that the cleaning device moves on the floor with the rear part first. The phrase “lateral” or “laterally” is understood as being located next to or extending in the cross direction with respect to the forward and backward movement directions. Furthermore, the terms “lower chassis”, “upper chassis”, “up”, “lower”, “vertical”, and “horizontal” refer to a cleaning device located on the floor to be cleaned.

  The term “chassis” is understood as a skeleton that supports and / or holds the various parts of the cleaning device in place and to which a handlebar is mounted and the rear wheel is rotatably mounted.

  As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include the plural unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the term “a brush” or “at least one brush” may include a plurality of brushes.

  Throughout this application, various embodiments of this invention are presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as a fixed limitation on the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well as individual numerical values within this range. For example, a description of a range such as 1 to 6 is a small range such as 1 to 3, 1 to 4, 1 to 5, 2 to 4, 2 to 6, 3 to 6, and Individual numbers within this range, such as 5, and 6, should be considered specifically disclosed. This applies regardless of the breadth of the range.

  Whenever a numerical range is indicated herein, it is intended to include any cited numerical value (decimal or integer) within the presented range. The phrases “range between” the first display number and the second display number and the first display number “to” and the second display number “range” are used interchangeably in this specification, and It is intended to include two representation numbers and all decimals and integers in between.

  It is understood that the particular features of the invention described in the context of separate embodiments for clarity may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various embodiments of the invention described in the context of a single embodiment for the sake of brevity are also individually or any suitable in any other described embodiment of the invention. It may be provided in sub-combinations or appropriately. Certain features that are described in the context of various embodiments should not be considered essential features of these embodiments, unless the embodiment is ineffective without these elements. As used herein, the term “method” refers to a method, means, method, that is well-known to those skilled in mechanical engineering or that is easily developed from methods, means, methods, and procedures well known by them. And refers to methods, means, techniques, and procedures for accomplishing any task, including but not limited to, procedures.

  The term “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration”. Any embodiment described as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over another embodiment and / or excludes the incorporation of features from another embodiment. is not.

  The term “optionally” is used herein to mean “provided in one embodiment but not in another embodiment”. Any particular embodiment of the present invention may include a plurality of “optional” features as long as such features are not inconsistent.

  1 to 5 show a floor cleaning device comprising a front part 13, a rear part 12 with two lateral rear wheels 11, a chassis 10, a front wheel 3, a handlebar 7 and a cleaning unit 14 attached to the chassis 10. The embodiment of is shown. The chassis 10 has a lower side 22 directed to the floor 20 to be cleaned and two side surfaces 23a, 23b. The rear portion 12 includes two side rear wheels 11. Typically, the cleaning device may be provided with a handle bar 6 suitable for moving the cleaning device 1 on the floor 12 to be cleaned. Alternatively, the cleaning device can be controlled by an operator using control means driven by a motor and attached to the cleaning device, or can be controlled remotely. The front wheel 3 is disposed at the front portion 13 basically at the center with respect to the side surfaces 23 a and 23 b of the chassis 10.

  Each of the rear wheels includes a central axis, and the rear wheels 11 are arranged such that the central axis extends coaxially. The chassis 10 has an intermediate plane 18 that is perpendicular to the central axis of the rear wheel 11 and is centered between the rear wheels 11.

  In various embodiments of the cleaning device according to the present invention, the cleaning unit 14 may include one or more brushes 6. Typically, but not exclusively, the cleaning device embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 is provided with a cleaning unit 14 comprising two brushes 6. Each brush 6 is rotatable about a rotation axis. The brush 6 can be arranged, for example, with its axis of rotation extending vertically on both sides of the vertical intermediate plane 18 and essentially perpendicular to the direction of forward and backward movement of the cleaning device, However, the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, the one or more brushes 6 can be arranged with their rotational axes extending horizontally in the lateral direction of the cleaning device. The brush 6 has a floor contact area 28 so as to contact the floor 20 to be cleaned.

  Further, the floor cleaning device can include a power supply 15 for supplying power to a drive motor (not shown) and a vacuum turbine (not shown) of the brush 6, from the floor 20 to be cleaned. The collecting tank 1 is caused to suck dirty cleaning liquid. Alternatively, the cleaning device can be configured without using an electric drive motor. Apart from the recovery tank 1, the floor cleaning device includes a new water tank 9 for cleaning liquid.

  Further, the front wheel 3 is movable with respect to the chassis 10 from an upper position to a lower position. When the front wheel 3 is in the upper position, the brush 6 is lowered and contacts the floor 20 to be cleaned. Alternatively, when the front wheel 3 is in the lower position, the brush 6 is lifted above and separated from the floor 20 to be cleaned.

  The cleaning device includes an actuator 4 that can take the form of an electric linear motor 21 to move the front wheel 3 from an upper position to a lower position or vice versa. Alternatively, the actuator 4 is a mechanical actuator, for example a threaded spindle, whose central axis is arranged in the vertical direction or in the horizontal direction as in the direction of the axis of the electric linear motor 21 in FIGS. Also good.

  Due to the fact that the brush 6 can be raised or lowered, the device rotates the handle bar 7 horizontally relative to the floor 20 to be cleaned, so that the operator does not press the handle bar 7. It only needs to be pushed or pulled forward or backward. During the movement and rest of the cleaning device (FIG. 2), the front wheel 3 is lowered in an electrically or mechanically operated actuator 4 that can be actuated by a button 8 located on the handlebar 7. Maintained.

  FIG. 1 shows the cleaning device in the activated state in which the front wheel 3 is maintained in the upper position through the operation of an electric actuator 4 that can be controlled by an electric button 8 located on the handlebar 7. The handle bar 7 can include two handle grips and a control panel having one or more power buttons 8 for controlling the electric actuator 4.

  The front wheel 3 is configured as a caster wheel, and can turn around a vertical axis with respect to the floor 20 to be cleaned. In various embodiments, the front wheel 3 can have a diameter of a minimum of about 2 cm and a maximum of about 30 cm. The front wheel 3 is spaced from the floor 20 where the brush 6 is lifted and cleaned from the upper position where the front portion 13 of the chassis 10 is lowered so that the brush 6 is lowered and contacted with the floor 20 to be cleaned. Can be moved to a lower position where the front portion 13 of the chassis 10 is lifted.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the front wheel 3 is coupled to the front end of the lever 16 that is pivotally coupled to the chassis 10 via the brush housing 5 and the upper support 19. The lever 16 is rotatable about a pivot shaft 17 disposed at a right angle to the intermediate plane 18 of the chassis 10. The electric actuator 4 may be coupled to the rear end of the lever 16 at its front end and to the upper support 19 at its rear end so that the lever 16 can be rotated about the pivot shaft 17 by the electric actuator 4. Is possible. With this arrangement, the operator can push or pull the device horizontally as indicated by arrow 2 in FIGS. 1 and 2 without any additional effort to tilt the cleaning device. Thus, it is only necessary to push or pull the two handle grips of the handle bar 7. The shaking of the dirty cleaning liquid in the recovery tank 1 or the purified water in the solution tank 9 is completely irrelevant for the operator.

  FIGS. 6 to 8 show another embodiment of the floor cleaning device that differs from the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5 only in that the floor cleaning device includes two front wheels 3 instead of only one. The two front wheels 3 can be configured as caster wheels or can have a fixed axis with respect to the chassis 10. The two front wheels 3 are arranged in the lateral direction and are basically equally spaced from the intermediate plane 18. Similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5, the floor cleaning apparatus typically includes two brushes 6 disposed on opposite sides of the midplane 18 of the chassis 10, but is not limited thereto. Each brush 6 is driven by an electric drive motor 25 attached to the brush housing 5. The front wheel 3 is rotatably held in the wheel frame 24. Each wheel frame 24 is coupled to a shaft 26 that extends perpendicularly to the intermediate plane 18 across the brush housing 5 and is rotatably mounted on the upper surface of the brush housing 5. The actuator 4 includes a motor 27, preferably electrically driven, suitable for rotating the shaft 26 in either direction to lower or retract the front wheel 3. Alternatively, the actuator 4 may be a mechanical actuator, such as a threaded spindle, with a central axis arranged vertically or horizontally.

  Similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, the front wheel 3 has a front portion of the chassis 10 that is in contact with the floor 20 to be cleaned with the brush 6 lowered while being spaced from the floor 20 to which the front wheel 3 is to be cleaned. It is movable from an upper position (FIG. 7) where 13 is lowered to a lowered position (FIG. 8) where the front portion 13 of the chassis 10 is lifted away from the floor 20 where the brush 6 is lifted and cleaned. .

  While various descriptions of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that various features may be used singly or in any combination. The scope of the invention is accordingly defined as specified in the appended claims.

Claims (18)

A rear portion (12) comprising a front portion (13) and at least two lateral rear wheels (11);
A chassis (10) having a lower side (22) directed to the floor (20) to be cleaned and two side surfaces (23a, 23b);
At least one front wheel (3) arranged in the front part (13);
At least one rotatable brush attached to the chassis (10) and disposed in front of the rear wheel (11) and having a floor contact area (28) in contact with the floor (20) to be cleaned A cleaning unit (14) including 6);
A floor cleaning device comprising:
The at least one front wheel (3) is movable relative to the chassis (10) from a retracted position to a lowered position where the front wheel protrudes from the floor contact area (28) of the at least one brush (6). And floor cleaning equipment.   2. The front wheel (3) according to claim 1, wherein the front wheel (3) is arranged essentially between the two side surfaces (23 a, 23 b) of the chassis (10), preferably between the two side surfaces (23 a, 23 b). Floor cleaning device.   The floor cleaning device according to claim 1, comprising at least two front wheels (3) arranged laterally, preferably spaced essentially evenly relative to the vertical intermediate plane (18) of the floor cleaning device. The floor cleaning device described.   The floor cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an actuator (4) for moving the at least one front wheel (3) from the upper position to the lowered position and vice versa.   5. Floor cleaning according to claim 4, wherein the actuator (4) comprises an electric motor, preferably a linear motor (21), for moving the at least one front wheel (3) from the upper position to the lowered position and vice versa. apparatus.   5. Actuator (4) as a mechanical actuator, preferably as a threaded spindle, for moving at least one front wheel (3) from an upper position to a lowered position and vice versa. Floor cleaning equipment.   The at least one front wheel (3) is pivotally coupled to the chassis (10) and coupled to the front end of a lever (16) rotatable about the pivot axis (17). The floor cleaning apparatus as described in any one of.   8. The floor cleaning device according to claim 7, wherein the pivot shaft (17) is arranged at right angles to the intermediate plane (18) of the floor cleaning device.   From the upper position, at least the front part (13) of the chassis (10) is in the lowered position so that the at least one front wheel (3) can contact the floor (20) from which at least one brush (6) is cleaned. 9. Any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the front part (13) of the chassis (10) is in the raised position so that one brush (6) is spaced from the floor (20) to be cleaned. A floor cleaning apparatus according to claim 1.   The cleaning device is arranged on both sides of the intermediate plane (18) of the floor cleaning device and comprises two or more, preferably two brushes (6), each rotatable about an axis, the axis being the middle of the floor cleaning device 10. The floor cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the floor cleaning device extends at right angles to the lower side (22) of the chassis (10) on both sides of the plane (18).   In the lowered position, the at least one front wheel (3) projects vertically beyond the at least one brush (6) in a direction perpendicular to the lower side (22) of the chassis (10). The floor cleaning apparatus as described in any one of 1 to 10.   In the retracted position, the at least one brush (6) projects vertically beyond the at least one front wheel (3) in a direction perpendicular to the lower side (22) of the chassis (10). The floor cleaning apparatus as described in any one of 1 to 11.   The floor cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one brush (6) is arranged between at least one front wheel (3) and a rear wheel (11).   14. A floor cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one brush (6) comprises a vertical axis of rotation.   15. The floor cleaning device according to claim 14, wherein the at least one front wheel (3) is arranged in front of the vertical axis of rotation of the at least one brush (6).   The floor cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one front wheel (3) is configured as a caster wheel.   The floor cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one brush (6) is lifted vertically by a minimum of about 5 mm in the lowered position of the at least one front wheel (3).   18. The floor cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning device further comprises a handle bar (7) suitable for moving the device over the floor (20) to be cleaned.

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