JP2018086610A - Cleaning tool - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve cleaning operability of a cleaning object such as a solar panel by a cleaning tool.SOLUTION: A cleaning tool for cleaning a surface of a cleaning object W comprises an operation rod 11, a first support shaft 21 and a second support shaft 22 respectively projecting in the right-angled direction to the operation rod 11 in the lateral direction of the tip part, and a first cleaning roller 23 is rotatably installed on the first support shaft 21, and a second cleaning roller 24 is rotatably installed on the second support shaft 22, and the respective cleaning rollers 23 and 24 are a taper shape of becoming a smaller diameter in an outer diameter on the base end part side than an outer diameter on the tip part side. When reciprocatably operating by pressing the cleaning rollers 23 and 24 to the surface of the cleaning object W, the tip part side rollingly contacts with the surface of the cleaning object W, and the base end part side slidingly contacts with the surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning tool for cleaning dirt on the surface of an object to be cleaned such as a solar panel.

  Cleaning tools are used to clean the walls and glass surfaces of houses. Foreign matter made of contaminants such as dust and dirt adheres to the walls and glass exposed to the outdoors, and it is necessary to clean the surface using these as objects to be cleaned. In particular, the surface of a solar panel needs to be periodically cleaned because the power generation capacity is reduced when contaminants adhere to the surface.

  Electric polishers and brushes are used to clean the surface of solar panels as objects to be cleaned. However, since the surface of the solar panel is made of glass, when an electric polisher or brush is used, the surface is easily damaged due to sand and contaminants. If the surface of the panel is scratched, it becomes easier to accumulate contaminants, which cannot be easily cleaned, and the power generation capacity is reduced. Therefore, sand dirt removal work is given the highest priority at the beginning of the cleaning work.

  Patent Document 1 describes a cleaning tool for cleaning the surface of a solar panel or the like as an object to be cleaned. This cleaning tool has two left and right support shafts that are inclined toward the front of the operation rod at the tip of the operation rod, and two left and right support shafts that are inclined toward the rear of the operation rod, A cylindrical water-permeable elastic roller is attached to the support shaft.

Japanese Patent No. 5914239

  In this cleaning tool, by tilting each water-permeable elastic roller in the front-rear direction, when the operating rod is reciprocated to rotate the roller, the outer peripheral surface of the roller slides and displaces with respect to the surface of the object to be cleaned. I am doing so. Thus, if the roller is tilted in the front-rear direction to provide a directional component that slides and displaces on the outer peripheral surface of the roller, it is necessary to increase the tilt angle in order to increase the amount of slip displacement. However, when the tilt angle is increased, a large resistance force is applied to the operating rod to rotate the water-permeable elastic roller, and the operability when the operating rod is reciprocated is deteriorated.

  An object of the present invention is to improve the cleaning operability of an object to be cleaned such as a solar panel by a cleaning tool.

  The cleaning tool of the present invention is a cleaning tool for cleaning the surface of an object to be cleaned, and is provided on an operating rod that is manually reciprocated in the longitudinal direction during cleaning, and on the left and right sides of the tip of the operating rod. A first support shaft projecting in a direction perpendicular to the operation rod; and a first support shaft projecting in a direction perpendicular to the operation rod on the other side in the left-right direction of the tip of the operation rod; A second support shaft that forms a pair and a taper-shaped elastic member that is rotatably attached to the first support shaft and has a smaller outer diameter on the base end side than the outer diameter on the tip end side. A first cleaning roller that can be deformed and a second support shaft that is rotatably mounted and elastic in a taper-shaped radial direction in which the outer diameter on the proximal end side is smaller than the outer diameter on the distal end side. A deformable second cleaning roller, and the first cleaning roller and the front When the operation rod is reciprocated by pressing the second cleaning roller against the surface of the object to be cleaned, each of the distal end portions rolls into contact with the surface of the object to be cleaned, and the base end side is the object to be cleaned. Sliding contact with the surface.

  Each of the first cleaning roller and the second cleaning roller has a tapered shape, and the tip end side has a larger diameter than the base end side. When both the cleaning rollers are pressed against the surface of the object to be cleaned, The distal end portion of the diameter is more elastically deformed than the proximal end portion of the small diameter, and the pressing force on the object to be cleaned is larger on the distal end side than on the proximal end side. Therefore, when the operating rod is reciprocated in the longitudinal direction, the tip end side comes into rolling contact with the object to be cleaned, and the base end side comes into sliding contact with the object to be cleaned while rolling. Since the cleaning roller is provided in a direction substantially perpendicular to the operating rod, when the operating rod is reciprocated, the cleaning operation can be easily performed without receiving resistance from the cleaning roller. Sexuality is enhanced.

It is a perspective view which shows the cleaning tool which is one embodiment. It is a perspective view which expands and shows the front-end | tip part of the cleaning tool shown by FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. (A) is an expanded sectional view of the washing | cleaning roller shown by FIGS. 1-4, (B) is an expanded sectional view which shows the modification of a washing roller. It is drawing which shows the state by which the washing | cleaning roller was pressed on the surface of the to-be-cleaned object, (A) is sectional drawing, (B) is a top view of (A), (C) is 6C in (B). It is -6C sectional view, (D) is the 6D-6D sectional view taken in (B). It is a perspective view which shows the front-end | tip part of the cleaning tool which is a modification. It is sectional drawing which shows the front-end | tip part of the cleaning tool which is another modification. It is a perspective view which shows the front-end | tip part of the cleaning tool which is another modification. It is sectional drawing which shows the front-end | tip part of the cleaning tool which is another modification, (A) shows the state which made the cleaning roller lightly contact the surface of the to-be-cleaned object, and (B) shows the cleaning roller of the to-be-cleaned object. The state which pressed against the surface and elastically deformed the washing | cleaning roller is shown. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which wash | cleans the solar panel using a cleaning tool.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning tool 10 includes an operation rod 11 that is operated by an operator. The operation bar 11 is manually reciprocated in the longitudinal direction by the operator when the surface of the workpiece W is cleaned by the cleaning tool 10. A grip 12 that is gripped by an operator is provided at the base end of the operation rod 11. A holder 13 is provided at the distal end of the operation rod 11, and two support shafts of a first support shaft 21 and a second support shaft 22 are attached to the holder 13.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first support shaft 21 protrudes from the holder 13 in the direction perpendicular to the operation rod 11 in the left direction of the operation rod 11. The second support shaft 22 protrudes from the holder 13 in the right direction with respect to the operation rod 11 in the right direction of the operation rod 11. The left and right directions of the respective support shafts 21 and 22 indicate directions viewed from the operator while the operator holds the operation rod 11 in the grip 12 portion. Thus, the support shaft 21 protrudes to one side of the operation bar 11 in the left-right direction, the support shaft 22 protrudes to the other side of the left-right direction, and a pair of support shafts is formed by the two support shafts 21, 22. Is done.

  When the central axis of the operating rod 11 is Q, the central axis of the support shaft 21 is R1, and the central axis of the support shaft 22 is R2, the central axes R1 and R2 are angles substantially perpendicular to the central axis Q. θ.

  A first cleaning roller 23 is rotatably mounted on the first support shaft 21, and a second cleaning roller 24 is rotatably mounted on the second support shaft 22. Each of the cleaning rollers 23 and 24 is formed of an elastically deformable sponge and can absorb moisture. As shown in FIG. 3, the first cleaning roller 23 has a tapered shape in which the outer diameter d on the proximal end side is smaller than the outer diameter D on the distal end side. The taper shape is such that the outer diameter d on the proximal end side is smaller than the outer diameter D on the distal end side. Both cleaning rollers 23, 24 are substantially identical in outer diameter D, d and length. About each washing | cleaning roller 23 and 24, let the edge part by the side of the operating rod 11 be a base end part, and let the edge part on the opposite side be a front-end | tip part.

  FIG. 5A shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the cleaning roller 23. The other cleaning roller 24 has the same structure. As shown in FIG. 5A, the cleaning roller 23 has a pipe-shaped bearing sleeve 25 made of metal, resin, or the like, and a sponge 26 fixed to the outer peripheral surface thereof. The sponge 26 constitutes the main part of the cleaning roller that contacts the surface of the article W to be cleaned, and absorbs moisture and elastically deforms in the radial direction when an external force is applied in the radial compressing direction. A cap 27 with which the tip of the support shaft 21 abuts is provided at the tip of the bearing sleeve 25. The support shaft 21 is provided with a sliding bearing portion 28 a that contacts the distal end portion of the bearing sleeve 25 and a sliding bearing portion 28 b that contacts the proximal end portion of the bearing sleeve 25. Further, a retaining member 30 that enters an annular groove 29 provided in the support shaft 21 is attached to the projecting portion of the bearing sleeve 25, and the retaining member 30 is formed of a pin or a screw.

  When the sliding bearing portions 28 a and 28 b are provided at the distal end portion and the proximal end portion of the support shaft 21, the cleaning roller 23 is rotated more than when the entire inner peripheral surface of the bearing sleeve 25 is brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the support shaft 21. Rotation resistance can be reduced, and the cleaning roller 23 can be smoothly rotated. However, depending on the size of the cleaning roller 23, the outer peripheral surface of the support shaft 21 may be brought into contact with the entire inner peripheral surface of the bearing sleeve 25. Further, a seal member for preventing leakage of the lubricant may be provided between the protruding end of the bearing sleeve 25 and the support shaft 21.

  FIG. 5B is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a modification of the cleaning roller 23. In this cleaning roller 23, ball bearings 31a and 31b, which are rolling bearings, are provided at the distal end and the base end of the bearing sleeve 25, respectively. Is installed. A stopper 32 is attached to the distal end surface of the support shaft 21 by a screw member 33, and a stopper 34 is abutted against the stepped portion at the base end portion of the support shaft 21. As described above, the rotation support structure of the cleaning roller 23 may be a rolling bearing structure or a sliding bearing structure. Other cleaning rollers 24 may have the same structure.

  The outer peripheral surface of each of the tapered cleaning rollers 23 and 24, that is, the outer peripheral surface of the sponge 26 as the main body of the cleaning roller has an outer diameter from the base end portion toward the tip end portion as shown in FIGS. Are inclined so as to increase, and each of them is an inclined surface having an inclination angle α, that is, a taper angle α. On the other hand, the support shafts 21 and 22 have base end portions so that when the cleaning rollers 23 and 24 are pressed against the surface of the article to be cleaned W, the entire longitudinal direction of the cleaning rollers 23 and 24 is almost in contact. Is inclined at an angle β in a direction away from the surface of the object W to be cleaned toward the tip. As shown in FIG. 4, the inclination angle β of the support shafts 21 and 22 of the cleaning tool 10 is set to be substantially the same as the taper angle α of the cleaning rollers 23 and 24.

  As described above, when the taper angle α of the cleaning rollers 23 and 24 and the inclination angle β of the support shafts 21 and 22 are set to substantially the same angle, the cleaning rollers 23 and 24 are lightly brought into contact with the surface of the object W to be cleaned. Even in the state, the portion of the outer peripheral surface of the cleaning rollers 23 and 24 that faces the surface of the object to be cleaned W, that is, the entire longitudinal direction of the roller can be brought into line contact.

  Under this state, when the cleaning rollers 23 and 24 are pressed toward the surface of the article W to be cleaned, the cleaning rollers 23 and 24 are elastically deformed in a direction contracting in the radial direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the cleaning rollers 23 and 24 have a larger amount of elastic deformation in the direction of contracting in the radial direction on the distal end side having a larger diameter than on the proximal end side. That is, the amount of elastic deformation contracting in the radial direction gradually increases from the proximal end side toward the distal end side. Therefore, when the operation bar 11 is reciprocated in the longitudinal direction with the cleaning rollers 23 and 24 being pressed by the operation bar 11, the tip end side of the cleaning rollers 23 and 24 having a large elastic deformation amount is Since the object to be cleaned W is pressed more strongly than the end side, the surface of the object to be cleaned W rolls and comes into contact with the surface without slipping. On the other hand, on the base end side, the pressing force against the object to be cleaned W is smaller than that on the tip end side, and the circumferential speed of the outer peripheral surface is slower than that on the tip end side. Along with this, the base end side comes into sliding contact with the object W to be cleaned.

  6 shows a state in which one cleaning roller 23 is pressed against the surface of the object W to be cleaned. FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view seen from the same direction as FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 (A) is a plan view, FIG. 6 (C) is a sectional view taken along line 6C-6C in FIG. 6 (B), and FIG. 6 (D) is a sectional view taken along line 6D-6D in FIG. 6 (B). is there.

  As shown in FIG. 6 (A), when the cleaning roller 23 is pressed against the workpiece W and elastically deformed in the radial direction by the stroke S, the outer peripheral surface of the cleaning roller 23 is as shown in FIG. 6 (B). A region indicated by dashed hatching is in contact with the object to be cleaned W. Thus, the area which contacts the surface of the article to be cleaned W due to elastic deformation gradually increases from the base end side toward the tip end side. Therefore, if the cleaning roller 23 is moved at the moving speed M as shown in FIGS. 6C and 6D by reciprocating the operating rod 11 in the longitudinal direction, the outer periphery on the tip end side is assumed. The surface rolls and contacts the surface of the article W to be cleaned at the peripheral speed P1. That is, the cleaning roller 23 is rotationally driven at a rotational speed corresponding to the moving speed M. On the other hand, the outer peripheral surface on the base end side having a smaller diameter than the tip end side has a peripheral speed P2 smaller than the peripheral speed P1, so that the outer peripheral surface on the base end side slides on the surface of the object W to be cleaned. Touch and slide on the surface. As a result, when the operation rod 11 is reciprocated in a state where moisture is attached to at least a part of the surface of the object W to be cleaned, the foreign matter attached to the surface can be efficiently removed with the sliding contact portion as a main region. The foreign matter can be easily cleaned by reciprocating the operating rod 11 a plurality of times, and the surface of the object W to be cleaned such as a solar panel can be efficiently cleaned.

  The support shafts 21 and 22 protrude in the left-right direction from the distal end portion of the operation rod 11, and the cleaning rollers 23 and 24 are provided on the respective support shafts 21 and 22. When pressed, the outer peripheral surfaces of the left and right cleaning rollers 23 and 24 are elastically deformed in the same manner. As a result, the operating rod 11 can be smoothly reciprocated without elastic force being transmitted to the operating rod 11 in the direction of rotating and twisting the operating rod 11, and the cleaning operability is improved.

  Further, the cleaning rollers 23 and 24 are rotationally driven by the reciprocating operation of the operation rod 11. Since the cleaning rollers 23 and 24 are provided in a direction substantially perpendicular to the operation rod 11, the reciprocating operation force in the longitudinal direction of the operation rod 11 is directly converted into the rotational force of the cleaning roller 23, and the operation force is reduced. Smoothly transmitted to the rotational motion of the cleaning rollers 23 and 24. Accordingly, the cleaning operation can be easily performed without receiving a large resistance from the cleaning rollers 23 and 24 during the cleaning operation, and the cleaning operability is improved.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a distal end portion of a cleaning tool 10 which is a modified example. In this cleaning tool 10, two support shafts 21 and 22 are directly fixed to the distal end portion of the operation rod 11 by welding or the like. Yes. Thus, as a connection structure of the operating rod 11 and the support shafts 21 and 22, as shown in FIG. 1, the holder 13 may be used, or a structure of direct connection may be used.

  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the tip of a cleaning tool 10 which is another modification. In this cleaning tool 10, spiral grooves 35 are provided on the outer peripheral surfaces of the cleaning rollers 23 and 24, respectively. When the spiral groove 35 is provided in the cleaning rollers 23 and 24, the edge of the groove 35 is displaced in the axial direction along with the rotation of the cleaning rollers 23 and 24 at the time of cleaning.

  FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a distal end portion of a cleaning tool 10 which is another modified example. In this cleaning tool 10, a pair of first support shaft 21 and a first support shaft 21 are paired at the distal end portion of the operation rod 11. Two pairs of support shafts 22 are provided, and cleaning rollers 23 and 24 are rotatably mounted on the support shafts 21 and 22, respectively. When two pairs of support shafts are provided, a hinge portion is provided between the holder 13 on the near side and the operation rod 11 so that the four cleaning rollers come into contact with the surface of the object W to be cleaned. The proximal end side is bent with respect to the distal end portion of the operation rod 11. As described above, when a plurality of pairs of support shafts are provided, the area to be cleaned by the reciprocating operation of the operation rod 11 can be increased, and the foreign matter removal efficiency can be further increased. In the embodiment in which a plurality of pairs of support shafts are provided, each support shaft may be attached to one holder 13.

  FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a tip portion of a cleaning tool 10 which is still another modified example, and shows the same cross section as the cleaning tool shown in FIG.

  In the cleaning tool 10, the central axes R <b> 1 and R <b> 2 of the support shafts 21 and 22 are parallel to the surface of the article W to be cleaned. That is, both central axes R1 and R2 are coaxial. Therefore, the central axes of the cleaning rollers 23 and 24 are also parallel to the surface. That is, the support shafts 21 and 22 of the cleaning tool 10 shown in FIG. 1 are inclined at an inclination angle β with respect to the surface, whereas in the cleaning tool 10 of FIG. It has become. The outer peripheral surfaces of the cleaning rollers 23 and 24 shown in FIG. 10 are inclined at an inclination angle of the taper angle α as in the case described above.

  In the cleaning tool 10 shown in FIG. 10, as shown in FIG. 10 (A), when the cleaning rollers 23 and 24 are lightly brought into contact with the surface, the distal end side having a large diameter comes into contact. In this state, when the cleaning rollers 23 and 24 are pressed against the surface, as shown in FIG. 10B, the distal end side is elastically deformed in a direction that contracts more in the radial direction than the proximal end side. Therefore, the cleaning rollers 23 and 24 are elastically deformed so that the entire longitudinal direction of each outer peripheral surface is in contact. As a result, as in the case described above, the area where the outer peripheral surfaces of the cleaning rollers 23 and 24 come into contact with the surface of the object W to be cleaned due to elastic deformation gradually increases from the base end side toward the tip end side. The part side rolls into contact with the surface, and the base end part side makes sliding contact.

  As described above, when the cleaning rollers 23 and 24 are tapered, and the cleaning rollers 23 and 24 are pressed against the surface of the object to be cleaned W, the amount of elastic deformation in the direction in which the cleaning rollers 23 and 24 contract in the radial direction is large. If the diameter side portion and the small diameter side portion can be made different, the inclination angle β of the support shafts 21 and 22 is not the same as the taper angle α of the cleaning rollers 23 and 24 but is smaller than the taper angle α. But it ’s okay. Further, it may be slightly inclined in the opposite direction.

  The inclination angle β of the support shafts 21 and 22 is an angle at which the entire longitudinal direction of the cleaning rollers 23 and 24 can substantially come into contact when the cleaning rollers 23 and 24 are pressed against the surface of the object W to be cleaned. good. The inclination angle β is preferably equal to or less than the taper angle α of the cleaning rollers 23 and 24, and is set to an angle of 0 ° or more. That is, the inclination angle β is set to 0 ≦ β ≦ α. However, the inclination angle β may be slightly inclined in the opposite direction.

  In the cleaning tool 10 shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the support shafts 21 and 22 may be directly connected to the operation rod 11 as shown in FIG. 7.

  FIG. 11 shows a state where the surface of the solar panel, which is the object to be cleaned W, is cleaned using the cleaning tool 10 described above. FIG. 11 shows a part of the power generation facility in which a large number of solar panels, that is, solar cell modules are laid, and shows the solar panel installed on the base B. When cleaning the surface of the solar panel, the operator T holds the operation bar 11 in the hand at the grip 12 and reciprocates the operation bar 11 in the longitudinal direction. At this time, the cleaning operation is performed in a state where moisture is attached to at least a part of the surface of the solar panel in advance. In the case of cleaning the surface of the solar panel installed on the roof of the house, the cleaning operation can be similarly performed using the cleaning tool 10.

  The water supply to the surface of the solar panel may be performed by spraying tap water or well water at the time of cleaning work, or may be performed in the rain when rainwater is attached to the solar panel due to rain. When tap water is used, water may be sprayed on the surface by a hose. As described in the patent document, a hose is connected to the operation rod 11 and water is discharged from the sponge 26. You may make it do. However, since tap water contains mineral components such as calcium, it is desirable to remove the mineral components contained in the tap water by wiping the surface moisture after washing with the cleaning tool 10. On the other hand, since rainwater does not contain mineral components, it is not necessary to remove rainwater from the surface after cleaning work, and it is possible to perform solar panel cleaning work in a short time. it can.

  The main body of the cleaning rollers 23 and 24 described above is formed of the sponge 26, but the main body of the cleaning rollers 23 and 24 may be made of cloth or a brush as long as it has a characteristic of absorbing or holding moisture. A part may be formed.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, as the operation rod 11, another auxiliary operation rod may be connected to the base end portion thereof. Further, the cleaning object W is not limited to the solar panel, and the cleaning tool 10 can clean the surface of various objects.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Cleaning tool 11 Operation rod 21 1st support shaft 22 2nd support shaft 23 1st cleaning roller 24 2nd cleaning roller 26 Sponge 35 Spiral groove P1 Peripheral speed P2 Peripheral speed W Object to be cleaned α Taper angle β tilt angle

Claims (5)

A cleaning tool for cleaning the surface of an object to be cleaned,
An operating rod that is manually reciprocated in the longitudinal direction during cleaning;
A first support shaft projecting in a direction perpendicular to the operation rod on one side of the left and right direction of the tip of the operation rod;
A second support shaft that protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the operation rod on the other side in the left-right direction of the distal end portion of the operation rod, and makes a pair with the first support shaft;
A first cleaning roller that is rotatably mounted on the first support shaft and is elastically deformable in a taper-shaped radial direction in which the outer diameter on the proximal end side is smaller than the outer diameter on the distal end side;
A second cleaning roller that is rotatably attached to the second support shaft and is elastically deformable in a tapered radial direction in which the outer diameter on the base end side is smaller than the outer diameter on the tip end side;
Have
When the first cleaning roller and the second cleaning roller are pressed against the surface of the object to be cleaned and the operation rod is reciprocated, the respective tip end portions are brought into rolling contact with the surface of the object to be cleaned, A cleaning tool in which the base end side is in sliding contact with the surface of an object to be cleaned.   2. The cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein when the first cleaning roller and the second cleaning roller are brought into contact with the surface of an object to be cleaned, the entire longitudinal direction of each of the cleaning rollers is in contact. A cleaning tool, wherein the first support shaft and the second support shaft are inclined in a direction away from the surface of the object to be cleaned from the base end portion toward the tip end portion.   The cleaning tool according to claim 2, wherein an inclination angle of each of the support shafts is set to an angle that is equal to or less than a taper angle of an outer peripheral surface of each of the cleaning rollers and is equal to or more than 0 degrees.   The cleaning tool according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of pairs of the first support shaft and the second support shaft are provided at the tip of the operation rod, and the cleaning roller is attached to each support shaft. .   The cleaning tool according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a spiral groove is provided on an outer peripheral surface of each cleaning roller.

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