JP2017532176A - Efficient surface treatment machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A machine for treating surfaces that extend in the XY plane. The machine includes a body, a body plate, a cleaning plate, a drive assembly, and a mounting assembly. The cleaning plate is located between the main body plate and the XY plane. The drive assembly is connected to the cleaning plate for driving the cleaning plate by a cleaning vibration in a swing pattern parallel to the XY plane. The mounting assembly flexibly attaches the cleaning plate to the body plate to allow the cleaning plate to vibrate relative to the body plate and to isolate the cleaning vibration from the body. A connector is attached to the body for connection to a member for moving the machine in the XY plane, such as a handle. [Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a machine for treating workpiece surfaces, such as floors formed from carpet, tile, wood and other materials. The most efficient and effective surface treatment utilizes a “washing” movement by vibration to loosen the material on the workpiece surface. For floors and other workpiece surfaces, machines typically use cleaning towels, “pads”, in combination with water or steam and / or solvents including cleaning agents. If the wash towel is washed off the floor and gets dirty, the towel is replaced with a clean one.

  In US Patent Application Publication No. 2007070107150, invented by Yale Smith, published May 17, 2007, describes a carpet cleaning apparatus and method using vibration, heat, and cleaning agents. In this patent application publication, oscillatory motion, controllable heat, and cleaning agents are used. The apparatus includes a base wash plate, a heating element having an electrical connection, and a means for moving the wash plate to provide a wash-out movement.

  Important attributes of surface treatment machines are cleaning effect, ease of use, simplicity, stability, light weight, low mechanical wear, long life, and ease of maintenance. These attributes are important for machines that are used in harsh usage environments by professionals, or that are used by other consumers in the home or other low-load usage environments.

  The cleaning effect requires the machine to include small oscillations that cause local vibrations within the cleaning plate to impart a “washing out” movement to the surface being treated. In order to clean the floor, the local vibration is preferably in the range of a few millimeters. The cleaning effect and simplicity requires that the shape of the cleaning plate be rectangular so that it can be easily used along a straight side and easily moved to a rectangular corner. In order to meet these attributes, a machine with a round bottom plate is undesirable.

  Ease of use and simplicity requires that the stability, size and weight are appropriate and that the operator is easy to control. A design that positions the motor and drive assembly higher than the wash plate is undesirable because such a configuration tends to increase vertical instability. As a result of the instability in the vertical direction, the cleaning plate is undesirably swung up and down in a manner that enters and exits the plane of the workpiece surface. The plane of the workpiece surface is referred to as a floor plane or an XY plane. Vertical instability is distinguished from horizontal oscillations that give local vibrations to impart a “washing” movement to the wash plate. The horizontal swing is parallel to the plane of the workpiece surface, that is, parallel to the XY plane. Vertical instability is also undesirable because it uses an excessive amount of energy to reduce the energy efficiency of the machine and cause increased wear on the motor, dive shaft, driver and drive bushing. Increased wear increases maintenance and shortens machine life. When undesirable vertical swings occur, user fatigue becomes dramatic.

  High energy efficiency is an important attribute. For machines powered by AC electrical service through an AC-DC converter or powered by batteries, the size and cost of the motor is a function of the energy requirements needed to drive the transmission and wash plate. It is. For DC motors, energy requirements are important for motors and AC-DC converters used to convert AC electrical services to DC. The higher the energy efficiency of the machine, the smaller and cheaper the AC-DC converters, batteries and motors required to power the machine.

  Another factor in the cleaning effect is determined by the machine material in contact with the flooring. Brushes are not absorbent and are therefore inefficient in removing solids and liquids from the floor. For existing machines that use towels, towels are generally synthetic and do not absorb and retain solids and liquids from the floor. For towels that are mainly cotton, this towel has the disadvantages that it does not wash out well and has high friction with the floor, resulting in low energy efficiency.

US Patent Application Publication No. 20070107150

  In light of the above background, it is desirable to have an improved surface treatment machine for treating carpet, tile, wood and other surface materials.

  The present invention is a machine for treating a surface that extends in the XY plane. The machine includes a body, a body plate, a cleaning plate, a drive assembly, and a mounting assembly. The cleaning plate is located between the main body plate and the XY plane. The drive assembly is connected to the cleaning plate for driving the cleaning plate by a cleaning vibration in a swing pattern parallel to the XY plane. The mounting assembly flexibly attaches the cleaning plate to the body plate under compression to allow the cleaning plate to vibrate relative to the body plate and to isolate the cleaning vibration from the body.

  In one embodiment, a connector is attached to the body for connection to a member for moving the machine in the XY plane, such as a handle.

  In one embodiment, the mounting assembly includes a plurality of compression devices connected between the cleaning plate and the body to propel the cleaning plate and the body toward each other. The compression device is, for example, an O-ring, a spring, an elastic band or a cushioned shaft connector. The mounting assembly includes a plurality of rotating separators, such as ball bearings, for separating the wash plate and the body plate under pressure from the compression device.

  In one embodiment, the cushioned shaft connector has a first end and a second end, the first end engaging the first end cap and the body plate in a compressed state. A first compression washer, and the second end includes a second end cap and a second compression washer for engaging the wash plate in a compressed state. In response to the oscillation of the cleaning plate, the first end cap and the first compression washer and the second end cap and the second compression washer are pressures that increase at the end of the progression of the cleaning plate during the cleaning oscillation. Thereby tending to limit the rocking range of the cleaning plate.

  In one embodiment, the drive assembly includes a motor and a power source, such as a DC motor and a battery. The motor has a stator fixed to the cleaning plate, and has a rotor for rotating on the motor shaft around the stator. An offset weight is attached to one section of the rotor and is rotated asymmetrically about the motor shaft by the rotor so as to cause vibration of the motor and attached wash plate. Therefore, the cleaning plate is driven by vibration in a swing pattern parallel to the XY plane.

  In one embodiment, the drive assembly includes a first motor device and a second motor device. The first motor device has a first stator fixed to the cleaning plate, and a first stator for rotating in the first direction around the first motor shaft with the first stator as the center. A rotor and a first offset weight attached to the first rotor and rotated about the first motor shaft by the first rotor so that the cleaning plate is in the XY plane A first offset weight driven by a first vibration in a parallel first swing pattern. The second motor device has a second stator fixed to the cleaning plate, and a second stator for rotating in the second direction around the second motor shaft with the second stator as the center. A rotor and a second offset weight attached to the second rotor and rotated about the second motor shaft by the second rotor so that the cleaning plate is in the XY plane And a second offset weight driven by a second vibration in a parallel second swing pattern. The cleaning plate has a combined vibration formed by a combination of the first vibration pattern and the second vibration pattern.

  In an embodiment, the first direction is clockwise and the second direction is counterclockwise.

  In one embodiment, the drive assembly synchronizes the rotation of the first rotor and the second rotor so that the first offset weight and the second offset weight are maintained at a synchronized rotation angle. Including a synchronizer such as a mechanical gear or an electronic network.

  In one embodiment, the first rotor and the second rotor are each measured on an axis perpendicular to the direction of travel of the machine, respectively, and the first phase of the first offset weight and the second offset weight, respectively. With the angle and the second phase angle, the synchronizer operates to keep the first phase angle and the second phase angle substantially the same.

  In one embodiment where the synchronizer includes an electronic network, the network includes a first sensor for detecting the position of the first rotor with a first position signal and a second rotor with a second position signal. A second sensor for detecting the position of the first motor, and driving the first motor and the second motor in response to the first position signal and the second position signal, thereby the first offset weight and And a controller for causing the second offset weight to remain synchronized at the same rotational angle.

  In one embodiment, the wash plate includes a wash towel attached to the wash plate.

  In one embodiment, the connector connects to the handle so that a user holding the handle can move the machine on a floor that extends into the XY plane.

  The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

1 is a side view of one embodiment of a surface treatment machine on a surface to be treated. FIG. It is a front view of the surface treatment machine of FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic front view with further details of one embodiment of a motor in the drive assembly and wash plate assembly of the machine of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of the apparatus of FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a front view of a main body, a skirt, and a cleaning pad of the surface treatment machine of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 3 is a schematic front view with further details of another embodiment of a motor in the drive assembly and cleaning plate assembly of the machine of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 7 is a schematic top view of the machine of FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a general motor of the type shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of two motors and supports of the type of FIG. 8 attached to a cleaning plate. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a corner of one O-ring embodiment of a compression device that provides compression between the body of the surface treatment machine of FIGS. 1 and 2 and a cleaning plate. FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a corner of another embodiment of a compression device that provides compression between a body and a wash plate. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another compression device similar to the compression device shown in FIG. 11. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the compression device, main body, and cleaning plate of FIG. 11. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another compression device. It is a front view of the compression device of FIG. FIG. 15 is a front view of another embodiment of the compression device of FIG. 14. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another compression device that provides compression between the body and the wash plate. FIG. 4 shows four different positions of the cleaning plate shown as examples when the two motors are synchronized and rotating in opposite directions. FIG. 19 is a top view of four different positions of the cleaning plate when the two motors are rotated in opposite directions and synchronized as shown in FIG. FIG. 4 shows four different positions of the cleaning plate shown as examples when the two motors are synchronized and rotating in the same direction. FIG. 21 is a top view of four different positions of the cleaning plate when the two motors are rotating in the same direction as shown in FIG. FIG. 7 shows eight different positions of the cleaning plate shown as examples when the two motors are not synchronized and are rotating in opposite directions. It is a perspective view of the common motor which has an asymmetrical weight. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a pair of motors, each having an asymmetric weight and the motors being synchronized. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pair of drive gears, each having an asymmetric weight, with the drive gears synchronized by a pair of synchronized gears. FIG. 26 is a schematic top view of the gear of FIG. 25 and a motor, pulley, and belt for driving the gear. FIG. 3 is a schematic front view with further details of one embodiment of a single motor and wash plate assembly suitable for the machine of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 28 is a schematic top view of the apparatus of FIG. 27. FIG. 4 shows four different positions of the cleaning plate shown as examples when a single motor drives the cleaning plate. FIG. 30 is a top view of the cleaning plate at four different positions of FIG. 29. It is a bottom view of a main body plate. FIG. 32 is an end view of the main body plate of FIG. 31. It is a top view of a washing plate. FIG. 34 is an end view of the cleaning of FIG. 33. FIG. 35 is an end view of the body plate of FIG. 32 juxtaposed to the cleaning plate of FIG. 34 and held offset by ball bearings. FIG. 36 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 35 wherein the body plate is adjacent to the wash plate and held offset from the wash plate by one rotating ball bearing. FIG. 37 is the view of FIG. 36 wherein the body plate is held offset from the cleaning plate by a single rotating bearing that is adjacent to the cleaning plate and rotated in one direction. FIG. 37 is an enlarged view of FIG. 36 in which the body plate is offset from the cleaning plate by a single rotating bearing that is adjacent to the cleaning plate and rotated in a direction opposite to that of FIG. It is a figure which shows the battery and synchronizer unit for driving a 1st motor and a 2nd motor. It is a schematic top view of a surface treatment machine having a first motor and a second motor rotating in opposite directions. FIG. 3 is a schematic front view with further details of another embodiment of a motor in the drive assembly and cleaning plate assembly of the machine of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 5 shows a loop layer that is one of the layers that form part of the loop and hook attachment assembly. FIG. 6 shows a plastic layer, another layer of the layers forming part of the loop and hook attachment assembly. FIG. 5 shows a hook layer that is another of the layers forming part of the loop and hook attachment assembly. FIG. 45 is a cross-sectional view of a loop hook embodiment of a mounting assembly formed by the combination of layers of FIGS. 42, 43 and 44.

  In FIG. 1, the surface treatment machine 1 includes a main body 9, a drive assembly 10, and a cleaning plate assembly 12. A body plate 16 is rigidly attached to the body 9 and is part of the body 9. The cleaning plate assembly 12 is driven by the drive assembly 10 to clean or polish a floor surface 18 that extends into a floor plane that is labeled as an XY plane. The cleaning plate assembly 12 includes a cleaning plate 5 and a cleaning pad 6. In some embodiments, the machine 1 is attached as part of the body 9 and includes a skirt 8 that is superimposed on and around the cleaning plate assembly 12.

  In FIG. 1, the machine 1 includes a handle assembly 15 that is secured to the body 9 to allow a user to guide the machine 1 over a floor surface that extends in the XY plane. The handle assembly 15 extends from the main body 9 at a variable angle with respect to the XY plane, and has a length connected to the main body by a connector 15-1. The handle assembly 15 is rotatably mounted on the body 9 and is adapted to form an acute angle with the cleaning surface when used for cleaning. The handle assembly 15 includes a latch (not shown) for hanging the handle assembly 15 in a vertical position for transporting and storing the machine 1 when not in operation.

  The drive assembly 10 has a drive assembly height dimension H measured from the XY plane. The wash plate assembly 12 generally has a length and width that extends into the XY plane of the floor. The smaller of the length and width dimensions of the cleaning plate assembly 12, or the only dimension if the length and width are equal, is the minimum processing dimension M_D. In order to provide stability to the machine 1, the height dimension H is generally less than 0.25 times the minimum process dimension M_D. The low drive assembly height dimension is important to minimize or prevent undesirable vertical instability. As a result of the vertical instability, the cleaning plate is undesirably swung up and down in a manner that enters and exits the XY plane, ie the plane of the workpiece surface 18. Such undesired rocking is a complex function of floor material and machine motion during operation and machine design. For normal intended movement, the machine is operating by rocking in the XY plane of the floor. When the machine is moved around on the floor by the machine operator, some force from the XY plane is essentially brought about. If the height dimension H of the drive assembly 10 is too high, these forces from the XY plane tend to reach a resonant vibration frequency where the intensity accumulates and is identified as vertical instability. Such vertical instability can be difficult to control by an operator and is a waste of energy. In some embodiments, vertical instability is minimized or eliminated by making the drive assembly height dimension H less than 0.25 times the minimum process dimension M_D.

  In FIG. 2, a front view of the surface treatment machine 1 of FIG. 1 is shown. The surface treatment machine 1 includes a main body 9 and a handle assembly 15. The handle assembly 15 is shown hung in an upright position. The cleaning plate assembly 12 is driven by a drive assembly 10 in the main body 9 in a constant swing pattern. The main body plate 16 is a part of the main body 9 and is rigidly attached to the main body 9. The cleaning plate assembly 12 includes a cleaning plate 5 and a cleaning pad 6.

  In FIG. 3, a front view is shown having further details of one embodiment of the drive assembly 10, body plate 16 and cleaning plate assembly 12 of FIG. The drive assembly 10 includes motors 22-1 and 22-2 that are directly connected to the cleaning plate 5. Motors 22-1 and 22-2 include offset weights 23-1 and 23-2, respectively. The offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 swing the cleaning plate 5 and the attached cleaning pad 6 in the XY plane, that is, a plane parallel to the floor. The main body plate 16 is separated from the cleaning plate 5 by ball bearings 91-1 and 91-2. Ball bearings 91-1 and 91-2 hold body plate 16 and cleaning plate 5 apart while compression devices 28-1 and 28-2 point body plate 16 and cleaning plate 5 toward each other. Promote. Ball bearings 91-1 and 91-2 allow the body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5 to slide parallel to each other in parallel to the XY plane, so that the cleaning plate swings in parallel to the XY plane. Make it possible to do.

  The motors 22-1 and 22-2 are connected to the cleaning plate 5 and are not connected to any other part of the main body plate 16 or the main body 9. The body 9 includes openings 14-1 and 14-2 through which the motors 22-1 and 22-2 extend without contacting the body 9. Motors 22-1 and 22-2 preferably have small dimensions in the Z-axis direction perpendicular to the XY plane. In one embodiment, motors 22-1 and 22-2 have a Z-axis dimension of 1.1 inches (28 millimeters). In FIG. 3, the body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5 are approximately 12 inches (30.5 cm) by 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) when viewed parallel to the XY plane, in a typical embodiment. . To give the machine 1 stability, the height dimension H of about 40 millimeters is much less than 0.25 times the minimum processing dimension M_D of 16.5 centimeters (see FIG. 4). With an H / M_D ratio of 4 / 16.5 equal to about 0.24, the machine 1 of FIG. 3 is very stable without significant instability in the Z-axis direction.

  In FIG. 3, the battery and synchronizer unit 17 provides synchronized battery power to drive the motors 22-1 and 22-2. Due to the synchronized operation, the weights 23-1 and 23-2 are maintained in a predetermined rotational direction by the operation of electrical signals to and from the motors 22-1 and 22-2. In operation, the first offset weight 23-1 and the second offset weight 23-2 are maintained at the synchronous rotation angle. The synchronous rotation angle is an angle that is repeatedly the same every time the motor rotates. For example, for each rotation, when the first offset weight 23-1 is at 90 ° and the second offset weight 23-2 is at 90 °, the first offset weight 23-1 and the second offset weight The weight 23-2 is at the synchronous rotation angle. The synchronous rotation angle may be any value. As a further example, the first offset weight 23-1 may be 0 ° and the second offset weight 23-2 may be 180 ° for each rotation. When the rotation angles are different during different rotations, the first offset weight 23-1 and the second offset weight 23-2 are maintained at the asynchronous rotation angle. For example, for one rotation, the first offset weight 23-1 is at 90 °, the second offset weight 23-2 is also 90 °, and in another rotation, the first offset weight 23 When -1 is at 90 ° and the second offset weight 23-2 is at 75 °, the first offset weight 23-1 and the second offset weight 23-2 are at an asynchronous rotation angle.

  In FIG. 3, motors 22-1 and 22-2 are 12 pole HobbyKing Donkey ST3508-730KV outrunner motors in one common embodiment. Such motors typically operate at a maximum voltage of 15 volts and a maximum current of 35 amps. The total height of such a motor is 28 mm and the revolutions per minute (RPM) in a typical 6 volt operation is about 4100 rpm.

  In FIG. 3, the mounting assembly 50 is connected between the cleaning plate 5 and the body plate 16 to drive the cleaning plate 5 and the body plate 16 toward each other, and the compression devices 28-1 and 28-2. A plurality of compression devices. Compression devices such as devices 28-1 and 28-2 are, for example, O-rings, springs, elastic bands or cushioned shaft connectors. The compression devices 28-1 and 28-2 in the embodiment of FIG. 3 are O-rings. The mounting assembly 50 is subjected to a plurality of rotations, such as ball bearings 91-1 and 91-2, to separate the cleaning plate 5 and the body plate 16 under pressure from the compression devices 28-1 and 28-2. Includes a separator.

  In FIG. 4, a schematic top view of the machine 1 of FIG. 3 is shown. The drive assembly 10 includes motors 22-1 and 22-2 that are directly connected to the cleaning plate 5. Motors 22-1 and 22-2 include center shafts 21-1 and 21-2 about which a rotor (not shown) of the motor rotates. Motors 22-1 and 22-2 include offset weights 23-1 and 23-2, respectively. The offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 cause the attached cleaning pad 6 to move in the XY plane, ie parallel to the floor, by the action of the cleaning plate 5 (as described in connection with FIG. 3). Swing in a plane. The compression devices 28-1, 28-2, 28-3 and 28-4 are O-rings (as shown for the compression devices 28-1 and 28-2 in FIG. 3) to clean the body plate 16 Proceed toward plate 5. The handle connector 15-1 is provided for connecting the handle to the main body 9. In general, the machine 1 is pushed forward in the Y-axis direction in the XY plane during surface cleaning or other surface treatment. As shown in FIG. 4, both offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 are oriented in the X-axis direction at an instant or parallel to the X-axis direction, and therefore an X-axis orientation of 0 ° It is prescribed to have The X-axis direction is perpendicular to the Y-axis direction, that is, perpendicular to the traveling direction. When the motor is rotating, the offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 are all oriented at angles of 0 ° to 360 ° at different instants.

  The embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 is a machine 1 for treating a surface that extends in the XY plane. The machine 1 has a main body 9 having a main body plate 16, a cleaning plate 5 positioned between the main body plate 16 and the XY plane, and the cleaning plate 5 by a cleaning vibration in a swing pattern parallel to the XY plane. Has a drive assembly 10 connected to the cleaning plate 5. The machine 1 flexes the cleaning plate 5 to the body plate 16 under compression to allow the cleaning plate 5 to vibrate relative to the body plate 16 and to separate the cleaning vibration from the body. Having a mounting assembly 50 for mounting to the gender. Compression between the wash plate 5 and the body plate 16 is applied by the mounting assembly 50. The mounting assembly 50 includes a plurality of compression devices 28 connected between the cleaning plate 5 and the body plate 16 to propel the cleaning plate 5 and the body plate 16 toward each other. The mounting assembly 50 includes a plurality of rotating separators, such as ball bearings 91, for separating the cleaning plate 5 and the body plate 16 under pressure from the compression device 28.

  In FIG. 5, a front view of the machine 1 of FIG. 3 is shown, which includes a handle connector 15-1, a body 9, a skirt 8 and a cleaning pad 6.

  In FIG. 6, a front view with further details of another embodiment of the surface treatment machine 1 is shown. The machine 1 of FIG. 6 includes a drive assembly 10 of the type described in connection with FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a body plate 16 and a cleaning plate assembly 12. The drive assembly 10 includes motors 22 ′-1 and 22 ′-2 that are directly connected to the cleaning plate 5. Motors 22'-1 and 22'-2 include offset weights 23-1 and 23-2, respectively. A cleaning plate extender 5 ′ is attached to the cleaning plate 5. The cleaning plate extender 5 ′ has a size larger than the size of the cleaning plate 5 so that the cleaning pad 6 ′ can be accommodated. The cleaning plate 6 ′ is significantly larger than the cleaning plate 6. The cleaning plate extender 5 ′, in one embodiment, attaches to the cleaning plate 5 using Velcro® or other attachment means, similar to the cleaning pad 6 attaching to the cleaning plate 5 in FIG. To do. The cleaning plate 6 ′ is in one embodiment attached to the cleaning plate extender 5 ′ using Velcro® or other attachment means, similar to the cleaning pad 6 attaching to the cleaning plate 5 in FIG. Adhere to.

  In FIG. 6, offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 swing the cleaning plate 5, the cleaning plate extender 5 ′, and the attached cleaning pad 6 ′ in the XY plane, that is, a plane parallel to the floor. . The main body plate 16 is separated from the cleaning plate 5 by ball bearings 91-1 and 91-2. Ball bearings 91-1 and 91-2 hold body plate 16 and cleaning plate 5 apart while compression devices 28-1 and 28-2 point body plate 16 and cleaning plate 5 toward each other. Promote. Ball bearings 91-1 and 91-2 allow body plate 16 and cleaning plate 5 and cleaning plate extender 5 'to slide parallel to each other in the XY plane, thereby cleaning plate 5, cleaning plate extender. 5 ′ and the cleaning pad 6 ′ allow to swing in the XY plane.

  The larger cleaning pad 6 'is advantageously driven by larger motors 22'-1 and 22'-2. One common motor for the motors 22-1 and 22-2 in FIG. 6 is a Turning Multistar 4822-390KV 22 pole outrunner motor that operates at a maximum voltage of 22 volts and a maximum current of 15 amps. The total height of such a motor is 28 mm and the revolutions per minute (RPM) ranges from 2500 to 5000 rpm. In typical 12 volt operation, the motor operates at about 4200 rpm. In FIG. 7, a schematic top view of the machine 1 of FIG. 6 is shown. The drive assembly 10 includes motors 22'-1 and 22'-2 that are directly connected to the cleaning plate extender 5 'through the cleaning plate 5 (see FIG. 6). Motors 22'-1 and 22'-2 include offset weights 23-1 and 23-2, respectively. The offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 cause the cleaning plate extender 5 ′ and the attached cleaning pad 6 ′ to move by the swinging operation of the cleaning plate 5 (as described in connection with FIG. 6). Oscillate in the XY plane, that is, in a plane parallel to the floor. The compression devices 28-1, 28-2, 28-3 and 28-4 face the body plate 16 towards the wash plate 5 (as shown for the compression devices 28-1 and 28-2 in FIG. 6). Promote. The handle connector 15-1 is provided for connecting the handle to the main body 9. The motors 22′-1 and 22′-2 of FIGS. 6 and 7 can be the same size as the motor of FIG. 3, or alternatively, have a larger output to drive a larger cleaning pad 6 ′. You may have.

  In FIG. 6, the body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5 are approximately 12 inches (30.5 cm) × 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) when viewed parallel to the XY plane, in a typical embodiment. . In one common embodiment, the wash plate 5 'is approximately 14 inches (35.5 cm) by 8 inches (20 cm) when viewed parallel to the XY plane. In order to provide stability to the machine 1, the height dimension H of about 40 millimeters is much smaller than 0.25 times the minimum processing dimension M_D of 16.5 centimeters (see FIG. 4). With an H / M_D ratio of 4/20 equal to about 0.2, the machine 1 of FIG. 3 is very stable without significant instability in the Z-axis direction.

  In FIG. 8, a schematic perspective view of a typical motor 22 of the type shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is shown. The motor 22 includes a motor shaft defined by the central shaft 21 and a rotor 41 that rotates about a stator 42. The stator 42 includes a motor and in particular a leg 24 for mounting the stator 42. The rotor 41 has an offset weight 23 that is attached so as to tend to sway when the rotor rotates.

  9, perspective views of two motors 22-1 and 22-2 of the type of FIG. 8 are attached to the cleaning plate 5 by legs 24-1 and 24-2, respectively.

  In FIG. 10, a perspective view of a corner of one embodiment of the machine 1 is shown having compression devices 28-1 and 28-3 that provide compression between the body plate 16 and the wash plate 5. The motor 22-1 has an offset weight 23-1. The compression devices 28-1 and 28-3 still have sufficient flexibility to allow the body plate 16 and the wash plate 5 to slide relative to each other, thereby allowing the wash plate 5 to swing. While having an O-ring or other elastic material that provides compression between the body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5. As the cleaning plate 5 vibrates relative to the body plate 16, the compression devices 28-1 and 28-3 extend and add an increase in compression that tends to limit the movement of the cleaning plate 5 relative to the position of the body plate 16. The increased compression tends to limit the cleaning plate 5 from progressing relative to the body plate 16. Generally, the amplitude of vibration is between 1 and 4 millimeters.

  In FIG. 11, a schematic perspective view of a corner of another embodiment of a compression device 28 'that provides compression between the body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5 is shown. The compression device 28 'has end caps 41 and 46 that are formed from metal or other rigid material. The end cap 41 has a plastic or other elastic washer 42 that presses against the surface of the body plate 16 under compression. The end cap 46 has a plastic or other elastic washer 45 that presses against the surface of the cleaning plate 16 under compression. A rigid connector 43 extends from the end cap 41 and engages a rigid connector 44 extending from the end cap 46. In one embodiment, the connectors 43 and 44 can adjust the spacing between the ends 41 and 46 by rotating one to the other, and thus between the body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5. The initial compression is mounted so that it is adjusted to the desired amount. When the cleaning plate 5 vibrates relative to the body plate 16, the shafts 43 and 44 are tilted and the end caps 41 and 46 are also tilted to apply increased pressure to the washers 42 and 45. When the displacement of the position of the cleaning plate 5 with respect to the position of the main body plate 16 increases, the inclination of the shafts 43 and 44 increases, and the compressive force on the elastic washers 42 and 45 increases. The increased compression tends to limit the cleaning plate 5 from progressing relative to the body plate 16.

  In FIG. 12, a perspective view of another embodiment of a compression device 28 ″ that provides compression between the body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5 is shown. The compression device 28 '' has end caps 41 and 46 that are formed of metal or other rigid material. The end cap 41 has a plastic or other elastic washer 42 that presses against the surface of the body plate 16 under compression. The end cap 46 has a plastic or other elastic washer 45 that presses against the surface of the cleaning plate 16 under compression. A non-extension connector 44 ′ extends from the end cap 41 to the end cap 46. In one embodiment, the connector 44 'is a fixed length that establishes the compression that is initially applied between the body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5 when installed in a surface treatment machine. When the cleaning plate 5 vibrates relative to the body plate 16, the shaft 44 ′ bends to a new position 44 without extending the end caps 41 and 46 to apply increased pressure to the washers 42 and 45. Take '-1 (exaggerated for purposes of illustration). The end caps 41 and 46, unlike FIG. 11, do not tilt when the shaft 44 'moves to the 44'-1 position, so that the compression of the end caps 41 and 46 against the washers 42 and 45 is more uniform. Become. When the displacement of the position of the cleaning plate 5 with respect to the position of the main body plate 16 increases, the compressive force on the elastic washers 42 and 45 increases. The increased compression tends to limit the cleaning plate 5 from progressing relative to the body plate 16.

  In FIG. 13, a cross-sectional perspective view of the compression device 28 'of FIG. 11 is shown. As described in connection with FIG. 11, the compression device 28 ′ propels the body plate 16 toward the cleaning plate 5. The ball bearing 91-1 is firmly held in place between the main body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5. In cooperation with the compression device 28 ′, the ball bearing 91-1 provides a low friction interface between the body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5 that allows the cleaning plate 5 to swing relative to the body plate 16. Support. Since the ball bearing 91-1 is kept pressed between the cleaning plate 5 and the body plate 16, undesirable swing in the Z-axis vertical direction perpendicular to the XY plane of the floor is avoided or minimized. Can be suppressed.

  In FIG. 13, a portion of the mounting assembly 50 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) is connected between the cleaning plate 5 and the body plate 16 to propel the cleaning plate 5 and the body plate 16 toward each other. A compression device 28 'is included. The mounting assembly 50 includes a rotating separator in the form of a ball bearing 91-1 for separating the cleaning plate 5 and the body plate 16 under pressure from the compression device 28 ′.

  In FIG. 14, a perspective view of another compression device 28 '' 'is shown. The compression device 28 '' 'has end caps 41 and 46 formed from metal or other rigid material. The end cap 41 has a plastic or other elastic washer 42 that presses against the surface of the body plate 16 of FIG. The end cap 46 has a plastic or other elastic washer 45 that compresses and presses the surface of the cleaning plate 16 of FIG. A connector 44 ″ extends from the end cap 41 to the end cap 46. In one embodiment, the connector 44 '' is a fixed length that establishes compression initially applied between the body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5 (see FIG. 11) when installed in a surface treatment machine. , Do not stretch. The compression device 28 '' 'tapers the shaft 44' 'of FIG. 14 to a narrower diameter than the shaft 44' of FIG. 12, is more flexible and bends when the washing plate 5 swings. This is different from the compression device 28 '' of FIG.

  In FIG. 15, a front view of the compression device 28 '' 'of FIG. 14 is shown. The compression device 28 '' 'has end caps 41 and 46 formed from metal or other rigid material. The end cap 41 has a plastic or other elastic washer 42 that presses against the surface of the body plate 16 (see FIG. 11) under compression. The end cap 46 has a plastic or other elastic washer 45 that presses against the surface of the cleaning plate 16 (see FIG. 11) under compression. A connector 44 ″ extends from the end cap 41 to the end cap 46. In one embodiment, the connector 44 '' is a fixed length that establishes compression initially applied between the body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5 (see FIG. 11) when installed in a surface treatment machine. , Do not stretch. The compression device 28 '' 'tapers the shaft 44' 'of FIG. 14 to a narrower diameter than the shaft 44' of FIG. 12, is more flexible and bends when the washing plate 5 swings. This is different from the compression device 28 '' of FIG.

  In FIG. 16, a front view of an alternative embodiment of the compression device 28 '' 'of FIG. 15 is shown. The compression device 28 '' '' 'has end caps 41' and 46 'formed from metal or other rigid material. The end caps 41 'and 46' have a slight curvature that follows the curvature experienced when the shaft 44 "" tilts during the oscillation of the cleaning plate 5 (see FIG. 11). The end cap 41 'has a plastic or other elastic washer 42' that presses against the surface of the body plate 16 (see FIG. 11) under compression. The elastic washer 42 'is adapted to the curvature of the end cap 41'. The end cap 46 'has a plastic or other elastic washer 45' that presses against the surface of the cleaning plate 16 (see FIG. 11). The elastic washer 45 'conforms to the curvature of the end cap 46'. A connector 44 "extends from end cap 41 'to end cap 46'. In one embodiment, the connector 44 '' is a fixed length that establishes compression initially applied between the body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5 (see FIG. 11) when installed in a surface treatment machine. , Do not stretch. The compression device 28 ″ ″ is more flexible when the shaft 44 ″ of FIG. 14 tapers to a smaller diameter than the shaft 44 ′ of FIG. 12, and when the washing plate 5 swings. It differs from the compression device 28 '' of FIG. 12 in that it bends. Curved end caps 41 'and 46' and matching elastic washers 42 'and 45' help to ensure that the wash plate 5 (see FIG. 11) swings smoothly.

  In FIG. 17, a perspective view of another compression device 44 ″ ″ that provides compression between the body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5 is shown. The compression device 44 "" is a conventional metal tension spring or, alternatively, rubber or other non-metallic elastic material.

  In FIG. 18, a top view of four different positions of the cleaning plate 5 by the machine 1 of FIGS. 3 and 4 is shown. The four different positions are designated as 95-1, 95-2, 95-3 and 95-4 and represent many different positions of the machine 1 when subjected to vibration. In FIG. 18, the rotors of motors 22-1 and 22-2 are rotating in opposite directions, as indicated by the triangle symbol. In an embodiment such as FIG. 18 where the motors 22-1 and 22-2 are rotating in opposition, the cleaning operation is particularly suitable for hard surfaces such as wooden floors and short pile and loop carpets. . It has been found that a 2 millimeter swing of a machine with a minimum processing dimension M_D of 6.5 inches (see FIG. 1) is appropriate. In general, rocking between 1 and 4 millimeters works well.

  As shown in FIG. 18, both offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 are oriented parallel to the X-axis at an angle of 180 ° at an instant, as shown in view 95-1. . The X-axis direction is perpendicular to the Y-axis direction, that is, perpendicular to the traveling direction.

  In FIG. 18, the offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 are at another instant when the weight 23-1 is oriented at 270 ° with respect to the X axis, as shown in view 95-2. 23-2 is oriented at 90 ° to the X axis.

  In FIG. 18, offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 are at another instant when weight 23-1 is oriented at 0 ° with respect to the X axis, as shown in view 95-3. 23-2 is oriented at 0 ° with respect to the X axis.

  In FIG. 18, the offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 are at another instant when the weight 23-1 is oriented 90 ° relative to the X-axis, as shown in view 95-4. 23-2 is oriented at 270 ° with respect to the X axis.

  When the rotor of the motor is rotating, the offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 are all directed at angles of 0 ° to 360 ° at different instants, and views 95-1, 95-2, Examples are 95-3 and 95-4. The offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 in FIG. 18 are synchronized in that the angular orientation over multiple rotations of the offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 through 360 ° remains the same. Furthermore, the offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 in FIG. 18 are synchronized and phased at substantially the same angle in the X-axis direction, ie substantially in the direction perpendicular (perpendicular) to the direction of travel. Synchronized and phased at the same angle. In particular, in the orientation of view 95-1, offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 are both at an angle of 180 ° with respect to the X axis. In particular, in the orientation of view 95-3, offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 are both at an angle of 0 ° with respect to the X axis. The example orientations of views 95-1 and 95-3 have equal phase angles, ie 180 ° and 0 °, but very good performance is achieved when the phase angles are within about ± 10 ° of each other. The For example, when the offset weight 23-1 is at 0 °, the offset weight 23-1 can be at 20 °.

  In FIG. 19, a top view of the cleaning plate 5 without misalignment in four different representative positions of FIG. 18 is shown. According to FIG. 19, the transmission of FIGS. 10 and 14 drives through four different positions designated 95-1, 95-2, 95-3 and 95-4.

  In FIG. 20, a top view of four different positions of the cleaning plate 5 using the machine 1 of FIGS. 3 and 4 is shown. The four different positions are designated 96-1, 96-2, 96-3 and 96-4. In FIG. 20, motors 22-1 and 22-1 are rotating in the same direction and remain aligned. In embodiments where the motors 22-1 and 22-2 are rotating in the same direction, the cleaning operation is particularly suitable for soft surfaces such as carpets with long piles and loops. A 4 millimeter misalignment of a machine with a minimum processing dimension M_D of 7 inches (see FIG. 1) has been found to be appropriate. For hard surfaces such as wooden floors and carpets with short piles and loops, a 2 millimeter swing of a machine with a minimum processing dimension M_D of 6.5 inches has been found to be appropriate. . Generally, rocking in the range of about 2 millimeters to 4 millimeters works well. However, the range of oscillation may be larger for machines with different processing dimensions.

  As shown in FIG. 20, both offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 are oriented parallel to the X-axis at an angle of 180 ° at an instant, as shown in view 96-1. . The X-axis direction is perpendicular (at right angles) to the Y-axis direction, that is, perpendicular to the traveling direction.

  In FIG. 20, offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 are at another instant when the weight 23-1 is oriented at 270 ° with respect to the X axis, as shown in view 96-2. 23-2 is oriented at 270 ° with respect to the X axis.

  In FIG. 20, offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 are at another instant when the weight 23-1 is oriented at 0 ° with respect to the X-axis, as shown in view 96-3. 23-2 is oriented at 0 ° with respect to the X axis.

  In FIG. 20, offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 are at another instant when the weight 23-1 is oriented at 90 ° with respect to the X-axis, as shown in view 96-4. 23-2 is oriented at 90 ° to the X axis.

  When the rotor of the motor is rotating, the offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 are all oriented at angles of 0 ° to 360 ° at different instants, and views 96-1, 96-2, Examples are 96-3 and 96-4. The offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 in FIG. 20 are synchronized in that the angular orientation over multiple rotations of the offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 through 360 ° remains the same. Furthermore, the offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 in FIG. 20 are synchronized and phased at substantially the same angle in the X-axis direction, that is, synchronized at substantially the same angle in the direction perpendicular to the direction of travel. And are phase aligned. In particular, in the orientation of view 96-1, offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 are both at an angle of 180 ° with respect to the X axis. In particular, in the orientation of view 96-3, offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 are both at an angle of 0 ° with respect to the X axis. Examples of the orientations of views 96-1 and 96-3 have equal phase angles, i.e. 180 ° and 0 °, but very good performance is achieved when the phase angles are within about ± 10 ° of each other. The For example, when the offset weight 23-1 is at 0 °, the offset weight 23-1 can be at 20 °.

  In FIG. 21, there is shown a top view of the wash plate using the machine 1 of FIGS. 3 and 4 in the four different positions of FIG. The four different positions are designated 96-1, 96-2, 96-3 and 96-4.

  In FIG. 22, a top view of eight different positions of the cleaning plate 5 by the machine 1 of FIGS. 3 and 4 is shown. The eight different positions are 97-1, 97-2,. . . 97-8, representing many different positions of the cleaning plate 5 of the machine 1 when the motors 22-1 and 22-2 are not synchronized. In FIG. 22, the motors 22-1 and 22-1 are rotating in opposite directions. With the motor of FIG. 22, the drive shafts 21-1 and 21-2 do not remain aligned and are asynchronous. In an embodiment such as FIG. 22 where the motors 22-1 and 22-2 are rotating oppositely, the cleaning operation is suitable for hard surfaces such as wooden floors and short pile and loop carpets. It has been found that a 2 millimeter swing of a machine with a minimum processing dimension M_D of 6.5 inches (see FIG. 1) is appropriate. When the drivers 22-1 and 22-1 are asynchronous, the machine 1 sometimes tends to pull in one direction or the other in the XY plane. The desired minimum phase orientation of offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 is that with offset weight 23-1 at 0 ° and offset weight 23-2 at 180 °, as shown in view 97-8. . The synchronized operation as described in connection with FIGS. 18-21 avoids the 180 ° out-of-phase condition of view 97-8 in FIG. 22, and the 180 ° out-of-phase of view 97-8. Avoid other out-of-phase conditions that are less severe than the observed condition.

  FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a general motor 22 ′ having an asymmetric weight 23 ′ in FIG. 23. The motor 22 includes a rotor 41 that rotates about a central shaft 21 and a stator 42 (not shown). The stator 42 includes legs 24 for mounting the motor and in particular the stator. The rotor 41 is mounted so that as the rotor rotates, the offset weight 23 ′ rotates to cause vibration, and thus to cause anything attached to the legs 24 to swing. Have In the embodiment described, the ring 19 is attached to the rotor 41. The ring 19 includes a hole 30 that completely surrounds the rotor 41. Most of the holes 30 are empty and some of the holes 31 are filled with a heavy material such as metal to form an offset weight 23 '. The ring 19 is a fiber band in one embodiment, and includes a gear 51 having metal teeth in another embodiment.

  In FIG. 24 there is shown a perspective view of two motors 22'-1 and 22'-2 each having asymmetric weights 23'-1 and 23'-2, respectively, and the motors are synchronized. The motor 22'-1 includes a rotor 41-1 that rotates about a central shaft 21-1 attached to the leg portion 24-1. The leg portion 24-1 is rigidly attached to the cleaning plate 5. The rotor 41-1 is mounted so that when the rotor rotates, the offset weight 23'-1 rotates and causes vibration, and thus causes the cleaning plate 5 attached to the leg 24-1 to swing. And has an offset weight 23'-1. In the described embodiment, the ring 19-1 is attached to the rotor 41-1. The ring 19-1 includes a hole 30-1 that completely surrounds the rotor 41-1. Most of the holes 30-1 are empty and some of the holes 31-1 are filled with a heavy material such as metal to form an offset weight 23'-1. Ring 19-1 includes a gear 51-1. The motor 22'-2 includes a rotor 41-2 that rotates about a central shaft 21-2 attached to the leg 24-2. The leg portion 24-2 is rigidly attached to the cleaning plate 5. The rotor 41-2 is mounted such that when the rotor rotates, the offset weight 23'-2 rotates to cause vibration, and thus causes the cleaning plate 5 attached to the leg 24-2 to swing. Offset weight 23'-2. In the described embodiment, ring 19-2 is attached to rotor 41-2. Ring 19-2 includes a hole 30-2 that completely surrounds rotor 41-2. Most of the holes 30-2 are empty, and some of the holes 31-2 are filled with a heavy material such as metal to form an offset weight 23'-2. The ring 19-2 includes a gear 51-2. In the motors 22′-1 and 22′-2, the gear 51-1 has teeth that engage with the teeth of the gear 51-2, whereby the rotations of the rotors 41-1 and 41-2 are synchronized. Positioned so that. Such synchronization causes the motors 22'-1 and 22'-2 to rotate in opposite directions and the swing motion is as described in connection with FIGS.

  In FIG. 25, a perspective view of a pair of drive gears 37-1 and 37-2 is shown. The drive gears 37-1 and 37-2 have asymmetric offset weights 23'-1 and 23'-2, respectively. The drive gears 37-1 and 37-2 rotate around the spindles 21-1 and 21-2, respectively. Spindles 21-1 and 21-2 are attached to a stator (not shown) and are attached to legs 24-1 and 24-2, respectively, which are attached to the cleaning plate 5 by bolts, welding or other fastening means. Drive gears 37-1 and 37-2 are driven by synchronous gears 38-1 and 38-2, respectively. The synchronous gears 38-1 and 38-2 are attached to the cleaning plate 5 through bushings 39-1 and 39-2, respectively. When the synchronous gear 38-2 rotates clockwise, the drive gear 37-2 and the synchronous gear 21-3 rotate counterclockwise. When the synchronous gear 21-3 is rotating counterclockwise, the drive gear 37-1 and the synchronous gear 21-3 rotate clockwise, opposite to the counterclockwise direction of the drive gear 37-2. Yes.

  In FIG. 26, a schematic top view of gears 37-1, 37-2, gears 38-1 and 38-2 of FIG. 25 shows a motor 22-3, pulleys 35-1 and 35-2 for driving the gears, and Shown with belt 36. In the embodiment of FIGS. 25 and 26, a single motor 22-3 drives two separate offset drivers 37-1 and 37-2 synchronously in opposite directions.

  In FIG. 27 there is shown a schematic front view with further details of one embodiment of a drive assembly 10 having a single motor 22′-1 and a cleaning plate 5, which is shown in the machine 1 of FIGS. Is suitable. The drive assembly 10 includes a motor 22 ′-1 that is directly connected to the cleaning plate 5. The motor 22'-1 has an offset weight 23'-1. The offset weight 23'-1 causes the cleaning plate 5 and the attached cleaning pad 6 to swing in the XY plane, that is, a plane parallel to the floor. The main body plate 16 is separated from the cleaning plate 5 by ball bearings 91-1 and 91-2. Ball bearings 91-1 and 91-2 hold body plate 16 and cleaning plate 5 apart while compression devices 28-1 and 28-2 point body plate 16 and cleaning plate 5 toward each other. Promote. Ball bearings 91-1 and 91-2 allow the body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5 to slide parallel to each other in the XY plane, thereby allowing the cleaning plate to swing in the XY plane. to enable. The compression devices 28-1 and 28-2 may be any equivalent compression device, such as those described in connection with FIGS.

  In FIG. 27, the motor 22 ′-1 is connected to the cleaning plate 5 and is not connected to any other part of the main body plate 16 or the main body 9. The body 9 includes an opening 14-1 through which the motor 22'-1 extends without contacting the body 9. The battery unit 17 'provides battery power for driving the motor 22'-1.

  In FIG. 28, a schematic top view of the machine 1 of FIG. 27 is shown. The drive assembly 10 includes a motor 22 ′-1 that is directly connected to the cleaning plate 5. The motor 22'-1 has an offset weight 23'-1. The offset weight 23-1 swings the attached cleaning pad 6 in the XY plane, i.e. a plane parallel to the floor, by the action of the cleaning plate 5 (as described in connection with FIG. 3). Move. The compression devices 28-1, 28-2, 28-3 and 28-4 face the body plate 16 towards the wash plate 5 (as shown for the compression devices 28-1 and 28-2 in FIG. 3). Promote. The handle connector 15-1 is provided for connecting the handle to the main body 9.

  FIG. 29 shows four different positions shown as examples of the cleaning plate 5 when the single motor 22-1 of FIGS. 27 and 28 drives the cleaning plate 5. FIG. The four different positions are designated 98-1, 98-2, 98-3 and 98-4.

  In FIG. 30, a top view of the four different positions of FIG. 29 is shown. The four different positions are designated 98-1, 98-2, 98-3 and 98-4.

  31, a bottom view of the main body plate 16 of FIG. 3 is shown. The body plate 16 has a pocket 81 including pockets 81-1, 81-2, 81-3 and 81-4 for receiving ball bearings. The body plate 16 has notches 83-1, 83-2, 83-3 and 83-4 for receiving the compression O-rings 28-1, 28-2, 28-3 and 28-4 of FIG.

  In FIG. 32, an end view of the body plate 16 of FIG. 31 is shown, taken along section line 32-32 'of FIG. Body plate 16 includes deep recesses 81-2 and 81-4 for holding a ball bearing, such as ball bearing 91, typically shown in recess 81-2.

  33, a top view of the cleaning plate 5 of FIG. 31 is shown. The cleaning plate 5 has pockets 82-1, 82-2, 82-3 for receiving ball bearings in the pockets 81-1, 81-2, 81-3 and 81-4, respectively, of the body plate 16 of FIG. And a pocket 82 containing 82-4. Wash plate 16 has cutouts 84-1, 84-2, 84-3 and 84-4 for receiving compressed O-rings 28-1, 28-2, 28-3 and 28-4 of FIG.

  34, an end view of the cleaning plate 5 of FIG. 33 is shown, taken along section line 34-34 'of FIG. The cleaning plate 5 includes shallow recesses 82-2 and 82-4 for engaging a ball bearing, such as the ball bearing 91 of FIG. The shallow depressions 82-2 and 82-4 are juxtaposed to the deep depressions 81-2 and 81-4 when the main body plate 16 is juxtaposed to the cleaning plate 5. A ball bearing, such as ball bearing 91, rests in deep recesses 81-2 and 81-4 and contacts shallow recesses 82-2 and 82-4. The diameter of the ball bearing is greater than the combined depth of the shallow recesses 82-2 and 82-4 and the deep recesses 81-2 and 81-4, so that the ball bearing causes the body plate 16 to move to the cleaning plate. Hold away from 5.

  In FIG. 35, the fixed body plate 16 is adjacent to the cleaning plate 5 and is held out of the cleaning plate 5 by rotating the bearings, in particular the ball bearings 91-2 and 91-4 shown as representatives. The The ball bearing 91-2 rotates in the recessed portion 81-2 of the main body plate 16 and the recessed portion 82-2 of the cleaning plate 5. The ball bearing 91-4 rotates in the recessed portion 81-4 of the main body plate 16 and the recessed portion 82-4 of the cleaning plate 5.

  36, an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 35 is shown in which the fixed body plate 16 is adjacent to the cleaning plate 5 and held offset from the cleaning plate 5 by one rotating bearing, ball bearing 91. It is shown. The ball bearing 91 is a representative of the ball bearings 91-2 and 91-4. The ball bearing 91 has a diameter Db large enough to maintain a gap of dimension C for separating the main body plate 16 and the cleaning plate 5. The diameter Db is equal to a height Hb that is sufficient to maintain the gap C when the ball bearing is in the pockets 81 and 82. The diameter Dc of the pockets 81 and 82 is significantly larger than the diameter Db to allow the cleaning plate 5 to swing in the XY plane with respect to the stationary body plate 16.

  In FIG. 37, an enlarged view of FIG. 36 is shown in which the fixed main body plate 16 is adjacent to the cleaning plate 5 and is held offset from the cleaning plate 5 by the ball bearing 91. The cleaning plate 5 has moved a maximum amount in one direction along the Y axis. The ball bearing 91 has enough room in the pockets 81 and 82 to allow movement of the cleaning plate 5 because the cavity diameter Dc is large enough to allow movement of the cleaning plate 5.

  In FIG. 38, an enlarged view of FIG. 36 is shown in which the fixed main body plate 16 is adjacent to the cleaning plate 5 and held offset from the cleaning plate 5 by the ball bearing 91. The cleaning plate 5 moves by the maximum amount in the direction along the Y axis, which is opposite to the direction of movement in FIG. The ball bearing 91 has enough room in the pockets 81 and 82 to allow movement of the cleaning plate 5 because the cavity diameter Dc is large enough to allow movement of the cleaning plate 5.

  In FIG. 39, the battery and the synchronizer unit 17 for driving the first motor 22-1 and the second motor 22-2 are shown. The first position sensor 94-1 detects the position of the rotor 41-1 of the first motor 22-1 and the second position sensor 94-2 is the rotor 41-2 of the second motor 22-1. The position of is detected. The first position sensor 94-1 provides the controller 93 with a first position signal indicating the position of the rotor 41-1 of the first motor 22-1 and the second position sensor 94-2 includes the first position sensor 94-2. A second position signal indicating the position of the rotor 41-2 of the first motor 22-2 is provided to the controller 93. The first position signal essentially indicates the position of the first offset weight 23-1, and the second position signal essentially indicates the position of the second offset weight 23-2. The controller 93 analyzes the difference between the first position signal and the second position signal, and the difference reaches zero, so the first offset weight 23-1 and the second offset weight 23- The first motor 22-1 and the second motor 22-2 are driven so that the two angular positions are the same.

  In FIG. 40, a schematic top view of a portion of the surface treatment machine 1 is shown. The surface treatment machine 1 includes a first motor 22-1 and a second motor 22-2 that rotates in the opposite direction. The first motor 22-1 and the second motor 22-2 have a stator connected to the cleaning plate 5. The first motor 22-1 has a rotor that rotates in a counterclockwise direction, and the second motor 22-2 has a rotor that rotates in a clockwise direction. The first motor 22-1 and the second motor 22-2 are located in front of a connector 15-1 that is a part of the handle assembly 15 (not shown, see FIGS. 1 and 2) in the Y-axis direction. . The rotating first motor 22-1 and second motor 22-2 have rotational momentum and are therefore constrained by the well-known physical law known as conservation of rotational momentum. As a result, the first motor 22-1 tends to develop a force vector Vcc in the Y-axis direction, and the second motor 22-2 tends to develop a force vector Vc in the Y-axis direction. As a result of these force vectors, the washing plate 5 and the attached first motor 22-1 and second motor 22-2 are translated into the dashed dashed washing plate 5 ′ and the attached first motor. As shown by the motor 22-1 'and the second motor 22-2', it tends to be driven in the Y-axis direction. It has been found that the driving force resulting from the force vector is beneficial and greatly contributes to facilitating operation when a surface treatment machine is advanced over a surface being cleaned or otherwise treated. Yes.

  In FIG. 41, a front view is shown having further details of one embodiment of the drive assembly 10, body plate 16 and wash plate assembly 12 of FIG. The drive assembly 10 includes motors 22-1 and 22-2 that are directly connected to the cleaning plate 5. Motors 22-1 and 22-2 include offset weights 23-1 and 23-2, respectively. The offset weights 23-1 and 23-2 swing the cleaning plate 5 and the attached cleaning pad 6 in the XY plane, that is, a plane parallel to the floor. The cleaning pad 6 is attached to the cleaning plate 5 by a connection device 74. In one embodiment, the connection device includes a loop surface on one side for attaching to a hook element 53 that is rigidly attached to the cleaning plate 5. The main body plate 16 is separated from the cleaning plate 5 by ball bearings 91-1 and 91-2. Ball bearings 91-1 and 91-2 hold body plate 16 and cleaning plate 5 apart while compression devices 28-1 and 28-2 point body plate 16 and cleaning plate 5 toward each other. Promote. Ball bearings 91-1 and 91-2 allow body plate 16 and cleaning plate 5 to slide parallel to each other and parallel to the XY plane so that the cleaning plate is parallel to the XY plane. Allows rocking.

  The motors 22-1 and 22-2 are connected to the cleaning plate 5 and are not connected to any other part of the main body plate 16 or the main body 9. The body 9 includes openings 14-1 and 14-2 through which the motors 22-1 and 22-2 extend without contacting the body 9. The motors 22-1 and 22-2 preferably have small dimensions in the Z-axis direction perpendicular to the XY plane to help lower the center of gravity of the machine 1 toward the XY plane.

  In FIG. 41, a power supply unit 117 supplies electric power for driving the motors 22-1 and 22-2. When power supply unit 117 includes a battery and a synchronization device, weights 23-1 and 23-2 are maintained in a predetermined rotational direction by the action of electrical signals to and from motors 22-1 and 22-2. . In operation, the first offset weight 23-1 and the second offset weight 23-2 are maintained at the synchronous rotation angle. The synchronous rotation angle is an angle that is repeatedly the same every time the motor rotates. For example, for each rotation, when the first offset weight 23-1 is at 90 ° and the second offset weight 23-2 is at 90 °, the first offset weight 23-1 and the second offset weight The weight 23-2 is at the synchronous rotation angle. The synchronous rotation angle may be any value. As a further example, the first offset weight 23-1 may be 0 ° and the second offset weight 23-2 may be 180 ° for each rotation. When the rotation angles are different during different rotations, the first offset weight 23-1 and the second offset weight 23-2 are maintained at the asynchronous rotation angle. For example, for one rotation, the first offset weight 23-1 is at 90 °, the second offset weight 23-2 is also 90 °, and in another rotation, the first offset weight 23 When -1 is at 90 ° and the second offset weight 23-2 is at 75 °, the first offset weight 23-1 and the second offset weight 23-2 are at an asynchronous rotation angle.

  When the power supply unit 117 includes a battery and does not include a synchronizer, the weights 23-1 and 23-2 tend not to be maintained in a predetermined direction of rotation, but tend to be in a random direction of rotation, thereby causing asynchronous operation can get. Asynchronous operation causes the offset weights to be at synchronous and asynchronous rotation angles at different times.

  In FIG. 41, the mounting assembly 50 is connected between the cleaning plate 5 and the body plate 16 to drive the cleaning plate 5 and the body plate 16 toward each other, the compression devices 28-1 and 28-2. A plurality of compression devices. Compression devices such as devices 28-1 and 28-2 are, for example, O-rings, springs, elastic bands or cushioned shaft connectors. The compression devices 28-1 and 28-2 in the embodiment of FIG. 41 are O-rings. The mounting assembly 50 is subjected to a plurality of rotations, such as ball bearings 91-1 and 91-2, to separate the cleaning plate 5 and the body plate 16 under pressure from the compression devices 28-1 and 28-2. Includes a separator.

  42, 43 and 44, the three layers of one embodiment of connection device 74 are shown. The three layers form a loop hook embodiment of the connection device 74.

  In FIG. 42, the loop layer 73 is one of the layers that form part of the loop and hook assembly. The loop of the loop layer 73 forms a good loop and hook fastening for hanging 53 a hook element 53 that is rigidly attached to the cleaning plate 5 of FIG.

  In FIG. 43, the plastic layer 72 is another layer that forms part of the connection device 74.

  In FIG. 44, the hook layer 71 is another layer that forms part of the connection device 74.

  In FIG. 45, a cross-sectional view of the loop hook embodiment of the connecting device 74 is formed by the combination of the layers of FIGS. 42, 43 and 44. Layers 71, 72 and 73 are glued together to form the loop hook embodiment of connecting device 74 as a single piece. In one embodiment, the layers 71, 72 and 73 are stitched together to form a single attachment structure 74. The loop layer 73 is designed to be fastened to the hook 53 of the cleaning plate 12 (see FIG. 41). Loop hook fastening by loops of hook 53 and layer 73 uses a “small hook” of about 0.04 inches. Similarly, the hook layer 71 provides a “small hook” of about 0.04 inches. Alternatively, the hook layer 71 provides a “large hook” ranging from 0.08 inches to 0.25 inches. In one embodiment, the hook is 0.10 inches. By selecting a small hook for layer 73 and a large hook for layer 71, the loop and hook connection device 74 functions as a hook size converter. The small hook is useful for loop hook fastening to the wash plate 12. Large hooks are useful for loop hook fastening to cleaning heads, such as floor pad heads. In addition to the function of being a hook size converter, the loop and hook assembly 74 functions as a barrier to prevent dust and liquid from entering the cleaning plate 12 of FIG. Accordingly, the loop and hook connection device 74 is generally larger than the cleaning plate 12. In one embodiment, the wash plate 12 is 7 inches x 11 inches and the loop and hook connection device 74 is 8 inches x 12 inches.

  The loop and hook connection device 74 in one embodiment is formed using three separate layers 71, 72 and 73, although other structures may be formed. For example, the hooks in layer 71 can be molded as part of plastic layer 72, thereby eliminating the need for layer 71. As an additional alternative to the connecting device 74, the hook element 53 of FIG. 41 and the loop layer 73 of FIGS. 42 and 45 are similar to the layer 72 of FIGS. May be removed by allowing it to adhere directly to.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will recognize that various changes can be made in the invention in form and detail without departing from the scope of the invention. Let's be done.

Claims (21)

A machine for treating a surface extending in an XY plane,
A body having a body plate;
A cleaning plate positioned between the body plate and the XY plane;
A drive assembly connected to the cleaning plate for driving the cleaning plate by a cleaning vibration in a swing pattern parallel to the XY plane;
To flexibly attach the cleaning plate to the body plate by compression to allow the cleaning plate to vibrate relative to the body plate and to separate the cleaning vibration from the body. A mounting assembly. The mounting assembly is
A plurality of compression devices connected between the cleaning plate and the body to propel the cleaning plate and the body toward each other;
The machine of claim 1, comprising a plurality of rotating separators for separating the cleaning plate and the body plate under pressure from the compression device.   The machine of claim 2, wherein the compression device is one or more of an O-ring, a spring, an elastic band, and a cushioned shaft connector.   The machine of claim 2, wherein the rotating separator is a ball bearing.   The machine of claim 2, wherein each compression device compresses a corresponding rotating separator.   The compression device includes a cushioned shaft connector having a first end and a second end, the first end engaging a first end cap and the body plate in a compressed state. A first compression washer for the cleaning plate, and the second end includes a second end cap and a second compression washer for engaging the cleaning plate in a compressed state, the cleaning plate The first end cap and the first compression washer and the second end cap and the second compression washer at the end of the progress of the cleaning plate during the cleaning swing. The machine of claim 2, wherein an increasing pressure is applied. The drive assembly is
A stator fixed to the washing plate;
A rotor for rotating on the motor shaft around the stator;
An offset weight that is rotated asymmetrically by the rotor about the motor shaft, whereby the washing plate is driven by vibrations in a swing pattern parallel to the XY plane. The machine according to claim 1.   The machine of claim 7, wherein the motor is a DC motor.   The machine of claim 8, further comprising a battery for supplying power to the DC motor. The drive assembly is
A first motor device,
A first stator fixed to the cleaning plate;
A first rotor for rotating in a first direction about the first stator and the first motor shaft;
A first offset weight attached to the first rotor and rotated by the first rotor about the first motor shaft, thereby being parallel to the XY plane; A first motor device comprising: a first offset weight, wherein the cleaning plate is driven by a first vibration in one swing pattern;
A second motor device,
A second stator fixed to the cleaning plate;
A second rotor for rotating in a second direction about the second stator and second motor shaft;
A second offset weight attached to the second rotor and rotated about the second motor shaft by the second rotor, thereby being parallel to the XY plane. A second motor device having a second offset weight, wherein the cleaning plate is driven by a second vibration in a second rocking pattern;
2. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning plate has a combined vibration formed by a combination of the first vibration pattern and the second vibration pattern.   The machine of claim 10, wherein the first direction is clockwise and the second direction is counterclockwise.   The drive assembly synchronizes the rotation of the first rotor and the second rotor so that the first offset weight and the second offset weight are maintained at a synchronous rotation angle. 11. A machine according to claim 10, comprising a synchronizer for doing so.   The first rotor and the second rotor are each measured on an axis perpendicular to the direction of travel of the machine, and the first phase of the first offset weight and the second offset weight, respectively. 13. The machine of claim 12, having an angle and a second phase angle, wherein the synchronizer is operative to keep the first phase angle and the second phase angle substantially the same. .   The machine of claim 12, wherein the synchronizer includes a mechanical gear. The synchronization device includes an electronic feedback network, and the electronic feedback network includes:
A first sensor for detecting the position of the first rotor by a first position signal;
A second sensor for detecting a position of the second rotor by a second position signal;
Driving the first motor and the second motor in response to the first position signal and the second position signal, whereby the first offset weight and the second offset weight are 13. A machine according to claim 12, comprising a controller for being kept synchronized at a synchronous rotation angle.   The machine of claim 1, wherein the cleaning plate includes a vibrator plate, a towel support plate connected to the vibrator plate, and a cleaning towel attached to the towel support plate.   The machine of claim 1, wherein the connector includes a handle so that a user can move the machine on a floor extending in the XY plane. A machine for treating a surface extending in an XY plane,
A body having a body plate;
A cleaning plate positioned between the body plate and the XY plane;
A drive assembly connected to the cleaning plate for driving the cleaning plate by a cleaning vibration in a swing pattern parallel to the XY plane, the drive assembly comprising:
A first stator fixed to the cleaning plate;
A first rotor for rotating in a first direction about the first stator and the first motor shaft;
A first offset weight attached to the first rotor and rotated by the first rotor about the first motor shaft, thereby being parallel to the XY plane; A first motor device comprising: a first offset weight, wherein the cleaning plate is driven by a first vibration in one swing pattern;
A second stator fixed to the cleaning plate;
A second rotor for rotating in a second direction about the second stator and second motor shaft;
A second offset weight attached to the second rotor and rotated about the second motor shaft by the second rotor, thereby being parallel to the XY plane. A second motor device, including a second offset weight, wherein the cleaning plate is driven by a second vibration in a second rocking pattern;
Thereby, the cleaning plate has the cleaning vibration formed by a combination of the first vibration pattern and the second vibration pattern;
To flexibly attach the cleaning plate to the body plate by compression to allow the cleaning plate to vibrate relative to the body plate and to separate the cleaning vibration from the body. Mounting assembly;
A machine comprising a connector attached to the body for receiving a member for moving the machine in the XY plane. The mounting assembly is
A plurality of compression devices connected between the cleaning plate and the body to propel the cleaning plate and the body toward each other;
The machine of claim 18, comprising a plurality of rotating separators for receiving pressure from the compression device to separate the wash plate and the body plate.   The machine of claim 18, wherein the drive assembly has a height dimension H, the cleaning plate has a minimum processing dimension M_D, and the ratio H / M_D is less than 0.25. A machine for treating a surface extending in an XY plane,
A body having a body plate;
A cleaning plate positioned between the body plate and the XY plane;
A drive assembly connected to the cleaning plate for driving the cleaning plate by a cleaning vibration in a swing pattern parallel to the XY plane;
To flexibly attach the cleaning plate to the body plate by compression to allow the cleaning plate to vibrate relative to the body plate and to separate the cleaning vibration from the body. Mounting assembly;
And a connecting device having one side for connecting to the cleaning plate and having the other side for connecting to a cleaning pad.