US20210113036A1

US20210113036A1 - Cleaning apparatus for cleaning both sides of a glass panel

Info

Publication number: US20210113036A1
Application number: US16/796,124
Authority: US
Inventors: Lin-Han Yen; Chien-Hsiung Hsieh
Original assignee: FAIRWAY ELECTRONIC Co Ltd
Current assignee: FAIRWAY ELECTRONIC Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-10-17
Filing date: 2020-02-20
Publication date: 2021-04-22
Also published as: TWI700130B; TW202116431A

Abstract

The present inventive concept discloses to a cleaning apparatus for cleaning both sides of the glass panel. The cleaning apparatus comprises two cleaning components attracted to each other and attached on opposite sides of the glass panel. Each of the cleaning components comprises a body, a cleaning module, and a plurality of magnetic modules. The body has a central portion and a peripheral portion. The body has plurality of grooves on a bottom surface of the peripheral portion. Each of the magnetic modules has a magnetic wheelset disposed in the groove and exposed on the bottom surface of the body. The two cleaning components are adsorbed to opposite sides of the glass panel by the magnetic attraction of the magnetic wheelsets. One of the cleaning components could be driven by a motor to rotate itself and drive the other cleaning component on the opposite side of the glass panel to rotate together.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the priority of Taiwan Application No. 108137436, filed Oct. 17, 2019, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure generally relates to a cleaning apparatus, and, more particularly, to a cleaning apparatus that is attached on both opposite sides of the glass panel through magnetic wheelsets that move up and down.

2. Description of the Related Art

Devices used for cleaning both sides of window glasses or panel glasses on high-rise buildings are common. Because of the difficulty in high-rise window cleaning, window cleaners usually climb out of the windows at high risk. Using devices for cleaning both sides of window glasses can effectively reduce the security cost and the risk of injury.
Cleaning machine for cleaning both sides of the glass panel on the market usually include a pair of devices, each of which is attached on opposite sides of the window glass, respectively and the pair of machines attracts each other because of magnetic attraction. Since the surface of the window glasses is usually smooth and flat, machines may move and rotate smoothly on the surface of the window glasses during the cleaning process. If the window glasses are figured glasses, stained glasses, or any type of glasses with irregular protrusions on the surface, the uneven surface would cause a resistive force resisting the motion of the cleaning machines.
Therefore, it is a problem to be solved that designing a cleaning apparatus for cleaning both sides of the glass panel capable of moving and rotating smoothly on a rough and uneven surface of the glass panels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In light of solving the foregoing problems of the prior art, the present invention provides a cleaning apparatus for cleaning both sides of a glass panel comprising two cleaning components, each of which is located on opposite sides of the glass panel, respectively. Each of the cleaning components comprises a body comprising a central portion and a peripheral portion substantially surrounding the central portion, and the peripheral portion has a plurality of grooves on a bottom surface of the peripheral portion; a cleaning module disposed on a bottom surface of the body; and a plurality of magnetic modules, wherein each of the magnetic modules comprises a magnetic wheelset disposed in the groove and exposed on the bottom surface of the body.
The two cleaning components are attached to the opposite sides of the glass panel by the magnetic attraction of the magnetic wheelsets, and one of the cleaning components is driven by a motor to rotate and drives the other cleaning component on the opposite side of the glass panel to rotate together. The magnetic wheelset rolls along a surface of the glass panel and moves up and down in the groove while the two cleaning components are rotating.
In an exemplary embodiment, the magnetic wheelset comprises a shaft and a plurality of magnetic wheels, wherein the shaft passes through the plurality of magnetic wheels.
In an exemplary embodiment, the body further has a stopper disposed on an edge of the groove adjacent to the bottom surface of the peripheral portion to prevent the shaft from being detached from the groove.
In an exemplary embodiment, the cleaning components further comprises a cover mounted in the through-hole, and the body further comprises a through-hole penetrating the body, and wherein the groove is formed by the through-hole and the cover.
In an exemplary embodiment, the through-hole is an elongated hole, and the groove has two ends and extends in a direction radially outward with one of the two ends near the center of the peripheral portion and the other one of the two ends near the outer side of the peripheral portion.
In an exemplary embodiment, the cover has a sidewall, and the groove further comprises a gap, wherein the gap is formed between the sidewall and the stopper when the cover is mounted in the through-hole, and the end of the shaft is restricted in the gap.
In an exemplary embodiment, the cleaning module is a cleaning cloth, sponge, or brush.
In an exemplary embodiment, the body further has a convex portion, at the top of the central portion of the body, and a recess portion, at the bottom of the central portion of the body.
In an exemplary embodiment, the convex portion comprises a connecting hole penetrating the body for connecting to a movable joint of a water pipe or the motor.
In an exemplary embodiment, the cleaning apparatus further comprises a safety rope having two ends. One end of the safety rope is connected to the body of one of the cleaning components, and the other end is connected to a fixed object in the external environment.
In summary, the present invention provides a cleaning apparatus for cleaning both sides of the glass panel. Especially, while the cleaning apparatus contacts the uneven surface of the glass panel, the gap between the magnetic wheelset and the cover allows the cleaning apparatus to adaptably move up and down on the uneven surface. Therefore, the cleaning apparatus can be applied to various surfaces of the glass panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a structure schematic view of the cleaning apparatus for cleaning both sides of the glass panel according to the present inventive concept;

FIG. 2 is a structure schematic view of the cleaning component according to the present inventive concept;

FIG. 3 is a bottom schematic view of the cleaning component according to the present inventive concept

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the cleaning component with a movable joint according to the present inventive concept; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a part of the cleaning component with a movable joint according to the present inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present inventive concept is described by the following specific embodiments. Those with ordinary skills in the arts can readily understand other advantages and functions of the present inventive concept after reading the disclosure of this specification. Any changes or adjustments made to their relative relationships, without modifying the substantial technical contents, are also to be construed as within the range implementable by the present inventive concept.
Moreover, the word “exemplary” or “embodiment” is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as exemplary or an embodiment is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. Rather, use of the word “exemplary” or “embodiment” is intended to present concepts and techniques in a concrete fashion.
As used in this application, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.” That is, unless specified otherwise or clear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as used in this application and the appended claims should generally be construed to mean “one or more,” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form.
Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a structure schematic view of the cleaning apparatus for cleaning both sides of the glass panel according to the present inventive concept. The cleaning apparatus for cleaning both sides of the glass panel comprise two cleaning components 100, each of which is located on opposite sides of the glass panel, respectively. Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. FIG. 2 is a structure schematic view of the cleaning component according to the present inventive concept. FIG. 3 is a bottom schematic view of the cleaning component according to the present inventive concept. The cleaning component 100 may comprise a body 1, a plurality of magnetic modules 2, and a cleaning module 3. The shape of the body 1 may be a triangle, a square or a circle. The shape of the body 1 is exemplified by a circle in the present inventive concept. The body 1 may comprise a central portion 11 and a peripheral portion 12 substantially surrounding the central portion. The peripheral portion 12 has a plurality of grooves 123 on a bottom surface of the peripheral portion 12. The cleaning module 3 is disposed on the bottom surface of the body 1. Each of the magnetic module 2 may comprise a magnetic wheelset 21. The magnetic wheelset 21 is disposed in the groove 123and partially exposed on the bottom surface of the body 1. Since the bottom surface of the body 1 may be attached to one side of the glass panel, the part of the wheelset 21 exposed on the bottom surface of the body 1 may be also attached to the surface of the glass panel. At the same time, the other cleaning component 100 may be attached to the opposite side of the glass panel. The two cleaning components 100 are attached to opposite sides of the glass panel by the magnetic attraction of the magnetic wheelsets 21.
In one embodiment of the present inventive concept, the cleaning components may further comprise a cover 22 mounted in the through-hole 121, and the body 1 may further comprise a through-hole 121 penetrating the body 1. The groove 123 may be formed by the through-hole 121 and the cover 22. The through-hole 121 may be an elongated hole. The groove 123 may have two ends and extends in a direction radially outward with one of the two ends near the center of the peripheral portion 12 and the other one of the two ends near the outer side of the peripheral portion 12. The cover 22 may be positioned and cover above the magnetic wheelset 21. The cover 22 may be detachable from through-hole 121, so the user could remove the magnetic wheelset 21 from the through-hole 121. The size and shape of the cover 22 may correspond to that of the through-hole 121.
Moreover, the cover 22 may have a sidewall 221. The magnetic wheelset 21 may include a shaft 211 and a plurality of magnetic wheels 212. The shaft 211 may pass through the plurality of magnetic wheels 212. The body 1 may further have a stopper 122 disposed respectively on the edge of the groove123 adjacent to the bottom surface of the peripheral portion 12 of the body 1. When the cover 22 is mounted in the through-hole 121, a gap D may be formed the stopper 122 and the sidewall 221 of the cover 22, and the end of the shaft 211 may be restricted in the gap D.
According to a more specific embodiment of the present inventive concept, as shown in FIG. 2, the cover 22 may have two sidewalls 221, and the body 1 may have two stoppers 122 disposed respectively on the two edge of the groove123. Each of the two sidewalls 221 may correspond to each of the two stoppers 122. According to this embodiment, the magnetic wheelset 21 may be disposed in the through-hole 121 and both ends of the shaft 211 may be abutted against the two stoppers 122. The cover 22 may further be mounted in the through-hole 121 above the magnetic wheelset 21. When the cover 22 is mounted in the through-hole 121, two gaps D may be formed between two stoppers 122 and two sidewalls 221 of the cover 22, and both ends of the shaft211 may be restricted in the two gaps D.
The mechanism design of the stoppers 122 and the sidewalls 221 of the cover 22 enables the magnetic wheelset 21 to move up and down within the gaps D. To operate the cleaning apparatus of the present inventive concept, the user first attaches the cleaning apparatus of the present inventive concept to the glass panel, and two cleaning components 100 of the cleaning apparatus may be attracted to each other on the opposite sides of the glass panel by the magnetic attraction of the magnetic wheelsets 21. The cleaning component 100 inside the room may be attached to the inside surface of the glass panel and equipped with a motor (the mounting direction of the motor may be shown as the arrow A in FIG. 1). The cleaning component 100 outside the room may connect with a movable joint 4 and the water pipe as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. The cleaning component 100 equipped with a motor may bedriven by the motor to rotate and may be manually moved by the user. The cleaning component 100 may start cleaning the inside surface of the glass panel. The cleaning component 100 attached to the outside surface of the glass panel is driven by the cleaning component 100 attached to the inside surface of the glass panel and rotates along with the rotation and movements of the cleaning component 100 equipped with the motor and cleans the outside surface of the glass panel. In the process of cleaning both sides of the glass panel, the cleaning component 100may move on the irregular and uneven surface of the glass panel because the magnetic wheelset 21 is capable of moving elastically within the gap D. The cleaning component 100 may further comprise a cleaning module 3 attached to the bottom surface of the body 1. The cleaning module 3may be a cleaning cloth, a sponge, or a brush, which may be freely replaced by the user. In another embodiment of the present inventive concept, the cleaning module 3 is also attached to the edge of the body 1, so that the cleaning module 3 may clean the edge of the glass panel during the rotation and the movement of the cleaning component 100.
The body 1 may further have a convex portion111 at the top of the central portion 11 of the body land a recess portion112 at the bottom of the central portion 11 of the body 1. The convex portion 111 comprises a connecting hole 113 penetrating the body 1. Please refer to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the cleaning module with a movable joint according to the present inventive concept. The design of the convex portion 111 may make it easier to insert the movable joint 4 in the connecting hole 113. Please further refer to FIGS. 4 and 5. A water outlet 41 of the movable joint 4 passes through the connecting hole 113 and exposes in an accommodation space between the recess portion 112 and the surface of the glass panel. The movable joint 4 conveys water or cleaning solution may flow to the surface of the glass panel through a water pipe 42, and the cleaning module 3may clean the surface of the glass panel with water or cleaning solution.
Since the two cleaning components 100 of the cleaning apparatus are attracted to each other by magnetic attraction, one of the cleaning components 100 is attached to one side of the glass panel facing inside of the room, and the other cleaning member 100 is attached to the other side of the glass panel facing the outside of the room. Please refer to FIG. 5. In one embodiment of the present inventive concept, the cleaning apparatus further comprises a safety rope 43 having two ends. One end of the safety rope 43 may be connected to the body 1 of one of the cleaning components 100, such as the one attached to the surface of the glass panel facing the outside of the room, and the other end is connected to a fixed object in the external environment. The safety rope 43 prevents the cleaning component 100 from falling. The safety rope 43 could also make the user pull the outdoor cleaning component 100 back after cleaning.
In summary, the present inventive concept provides a cleaning apparatus including two cleaning components for cleaning both sides of the glass panel. The cleaning component comprises a body and a magnetic module mounted in the through-hole. The magnetic wheelset could move up and down within the gaps formed by the stoppers of the through-hole and the cover of the magnetic module. The magnetic wheelset of the cleaning apparatus in the present inventive concept could overcome the unevenness of the surface of the glass panel and clean any irregular and uneven surface of the glass panel.
The foregoing descriptions of the detailed embodiments are only illustrated to disclose the features and functions of the present inventive concept and not restrictive of the scope of the present inventive concept. It should be understood to those in the art that all modifications and variations according to the spirit and principle in the disclosure of the present inventive concept should fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A cleaning apparatus for cleaning both sides of a glass panel, comprising two cleaning components, each of which is located on opposite sides of the glass panel, respectively, wherein each of the cleaning components comprises:

a body comprising a central portion and a peripheral portion substantially surrounding the central portion, and the peripheral portion has a plurality of grooves on a bottom surface of the peripheral portion;

a cleaning module disposed on a bottom surface of the body; and

a plurality of magnetic modules, wherein each of the magnetic modules comprises, a magnetic wheelset disposed in the groove and partially exposed on the bottom surface of the body;

wherein each of the two cleaning components are attached to the opposite sides of the glass panel by the magnetic attraction of the magnetic wheelsets, and one of the cleaning components is driven by a motor to rotate and drive the other cleaning component on the opposite side of the glass panel to rotate together, and wherein the magnetic wheelset rolls on a surface of the glass panel and moves up and down in the groove while the two cleaning components are rotating.

2. The cleaning apparatus for cleaning both sides of a glass panel of claim 1, wherein the magnetic wheelset comprises a shaft and a plurality of magnetic wheels, wherein the shaft passes through the plurality of magnetic wheels.

3. The cleaning apparatus for cleaning both sides of a glass panel of claim 2, wherein the body further has a stopper disposed on an edge of the groove adjacent to the bottom surface of the peripheral portion to prevent the shaft from being detached from the groove.

4. The cleaning apparatus for cleaning both sides of a glass panel according to claim 1, wherein

the cleaning components further comprises a cover mounted in the through-hole, and

the body further comprises a through-hole penetrating the body, and wherein

the groove is formed by the through-hole and the cover mounted in the through-hole.

5. The cleaning apparatus for cleaning both sides of a glass panel of claim 4, wherein

the through-hole is an elongated hole, and

the groove has two ends and extends in a direction radially outward with one of the two ends near the center of the peripheral portion and the other one of the two ends near the outer side of the peripheral portion.

6. The cleaning apparatus for cleaning both sides of a glass panel of claim 5, wherein the cover has a sidewall, and the groove further comprises a gap, wherein the gap is formed between the sidewall and the stopper when the cover is mounted in the through-hole, and the end of the shaft is restricted in the gap.

7. The cleaning apparatus for cleaning both sides of a glass panel of claim 1, wherein the cleaning module is a cleaning cloth, sponge, or brush.

8. The cleaning apparatus for cleaning both sides of a glass panel of claim 1, wherein the body further has:

a convex portion, at the top of the central portion of the body, and

a recess portion, at the bottom of the central portion of the body.

9. The cleaning apparatus for cleaning both sides of a glass panel of claim 8, wherein the convex portion comprises a connecting hole penetrating the body for connecting to a movable joint of a water pipe or the motor.

10. The cleaning apparatus for cleaning both sides of a window glass panel of claim 1, the cleaning apparatus further comprises a safety rope having two ends, and wherein one end of the safety rope is connected to the body of one of the cleaning components, and the other end is connected to a fixed object in the external environment.