WO2004094717A1

WO2004094717A1 - Mechanical carpet cleaner

Info

Publication number: WO2004094717A1
Application number: PCT/GR2004/000024
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ioannis Krekoukis
Original assignee: Ioannis Krekoukis
Priority date: 2003-04-22
Filing date: 2004-04-19
Publication date: 2004-11-04
Also published as: GR1004490B

Abstract

The invention refers to a machine and a method for carpet dry-cleaning, from the solid waste which are deeply attached on the carpet tile, fibres and root. The cleaning is performed in a mechanical manner. The method is based on plicating the carpet thus opening and exposing the tile. At the area where the carpet tile is opened we apply strong shaking and air flow by nozzles (K10) to detach the waste. The plicating of the carpet and shaking is provided by a metallic rod of inverse delta crossection (Al), shaken by a vibrator (A3). Afterwards the carpet tile is scraped by an abrasion cylinder (K2) which bears non-symmetric striatons and removes the remaining hair and fuzz from the carpet. The machine which performs the cleaning procedure is a unit composed of two main parts: top and bottom. The top part is opened to place the carpet on the cleaning position. The top part when opened carries along the related mechanisms. The machine during operation is closed and surrounded by a protection cover. The removal of the detached waste is performed by strong suction (K9).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Mechanical Carpet Cleaner This invention refers to a device and a method for dry-cleaning carpets from solid waste which are usually attached to the carpet fibres and tile. This is achieved in a mechanical manner.

Devices and methods used up to date are based on the following principle: I) Shaking of the carpet by hitting it by means of a rotating axis of relatively low rotation speed. II) Scraping of the carpet by a plastic brush The upper methods and devices cause the following disadvantages:

I) The cleansing is performed without actual "opening" of the carpet tile, which prevents us from reaching the "roots" of carpet fibres and therefore the root of the problem.

II) The rotating axis function is perfomed at low frequencies of shaking and is also uniform which implies a weak and non-versatile shaking of the carpet.

III) The plastic brush used for scraping softens due to friction resistance and thus the brush performance quickly deteriorates.

IV) The carpet cleaning devices do not open on the top which makes the carpet placement difficult and time-consuming

The present invention is composed of a new method for mechanical carpet cleaning and the mechanisms which perform that operation.

The invention is depicted in the attached blueprints which describe the following: Fig.l: Bottom Part stable Fig.2: Top Part opened Fig.3 : Front View

Fig.4: Right Side View Fig.5: Left Side View

The method of the invention is based on the following principle. I) Exposure of the carpet tile root and simultaneous shaking for the detachment of the solid waste by an inverse delta-crossecrion prismatic beam (Al).

II) Strong air-flow distributed on all the surface of the opened carpet tile in order to achieved the solid waste detachment by the use of air nozzles (K10)

III) Abrasion of the carpet tile by a rotating metallic cylinder which bears non- symmetric metal striations parallel to the rotation axis. rV) Enabled top cover opening of the machine to allow easy placement of carpet on the working position. V) Carpet tension and forwarding system featuring active kinetic displacement of the carpet via the forwarding cylinder (Kl) and the brake drum (A9) respectively. VI) Pressure rod made of metal alloy (A8) which presses the carpet on the abrasion drum (K2) so as to ensure that even the few centimetres on the carpet ends are thoroughly cleaned. The mechanisms responsible for the carpet cleaning procedures compose a mechanism which includes the following main parts:

I) Mounting and lower non-movable part which includes: Semi-cylindrical base for the dirty carpet placement (K4) Nozzle for the ejection of powerful air- current

Metallic rotating cylindrical drum with embossed non-symmetric metal rods for the accomplishment of the carpet scraping and the multiple microshaking of the carpet tiles. ( 2)

Rotating cylinder for the carpet forwading (Kl) Backing of the cleaned carpet slide (K8)

Cylinder for the cleaned carpet take-up (K3)

II) Top cover with pneumatic system which includes the following main parts: Braking drum (A9) which enables carpet tensioning

Inverse delta crossection prismatic beam (Al) which provides strong shaking of the carpet by simultaneous exposure of the carpet tile.

Metallic pressure rod (A8) of the carpet on the scraping cylinder. Passive transport cylinder (A2) which presses the carpet on the forwarding cylinder (Kl)

Pneumatic pistons (A7) shutting the top cover on and off.

The present invention as a method and a mechanism features the following advantages:

I) The cleaning of the carpet is achieved by exposing the carept tile and thus the "root" of the problem. II) Carpet tile exposure is performed on the edge of the delta beam(Al). In this area of the carpet tile strong shaking is applied by the beam (Al) and also a strong airstream from the nozzles(K10). This contributes to the faster and more complete detachment of the solid waste.

III) Abrasion by the metallic cylinder (K2) due to the non-symmetric bars provides a high frequency of vibration (multi shaking) and a stable efficiency of the attached hair and fuzz detachment beacause the metallic bars do not wear.

IV) The fact that the machine top cover opens by the way described here enables the carpet placement very easy. V) The braking drum operates in a passive manner, does not require energy, while contributes to the smooth carpet travel.

In the following blueprints the main parts of the machine are described, which are the following: Bottom part — Mounting , Fig.1

Kl -Carpet forwaeding(travel) cylinder

K2-Mettalic cylinder featuring embossed non-symmetric striations parallel to the rotation axis, enabling multishaking and carpet tile abrasion (removal of fuzz and hair). Abrasion drum K3- Cleaned Carpet take-up Cylinder

K4- Semi-cylindrical hollow mount for the dirty carpet placement

K5- Motor for the rotation of K1-K3

K6- Air-compressor to the nozzles for the improvement of impurity removal

K7-Electrical Panel K8-Backing of the cleaned carpet slide K9- Suction of the detached solid waste KlO-Air pressure nozzles Kll -Motor Top Part- (opening )-Fig.2

Al- Inverse Delta crossection prismatic beam enabling the plicating of the carpet and opening of the tile by simultaneous strong shaking of the carpet on the tile opening area.

A2- Passive rolling cylinder to press the carpet on the forwarding cylinder (Kl) A3- Vibrator for beam shaking (Al)

A4- Mount with springs to damp the shaking vibrations

A5- Stiffness Slabs to support the cover

A6- Slide supporting the passive roll cylinder (A2) on the top part during opening.

A7- Pneumatic piston, opening-closing A8- Pressure rod made of metal alloy on the metallic abrasion cylinder (K2)

A9- Brake drum, passive, enabling controlled carpet forwarding

A10- Suspension Springs

Al l- Control Panel The way to operate the machine is described as follows:

We open the machine top cover.

We place the carpet folded on the semi-cylindrical hollow mount (K4). We unfold the carpet manually and place it on the processing position, namely the one edge reaches the forwarding cylinder (Kl) and whilst the carpet tile faces downwards. We close the machine tope cover.

In this position the passive roll cylinder (A2) exerts pressure on the forwarding cylinder (Kl).

The metallic pressure rod (A8) holds the carpet elastically on the metallic abrasion cylinder (K2). The prismatic beam (Al) stresses the carpet and due to its shape plicates the carpet fully opening the tile. In this way the roots of the carpet fibres are revealled and the attached solid waste.

The braking cylinder (A9) holds the carpet passively on the carpet mount (K4).

We start the machine. The prismatic beam (Al) stongly shakes the carpet at the spot where the carpet tile is opened, simultaneously eject a strong air flow at the same spot, as a result, all the solid waste detach from the carpet tile and fibre roots.

The forwarding cylinder (Kl) transports the carpet whereas the braking cylinder (A9) deccelerates the movement passively and helps carpet tensioning. The metallic abrasion cylinder (K2) rotates at a high speed reversely to the carpet movement. The non-symmetric embossed metallic striations scrape the carpet tile removing the attached hair and fuzz, while due to their assymetric geometry stimulate multiple microshaking which support the detachment of the above solid waste.

The metallic pressure rod (A8) holds the carpet elastically on the metallic abrasion cylinder (K2) while it conveys microshaking (conveyed from the metallic support beam Al). This enhances the further detachment of fuzz and hair, and also the abrasion from the abrasion cylinder (K2) of the last carpet centimetres.

The cleaned carpet now is forwarded on the slide (K8) and after to the take-up cylinder (K3). The solid waste, hair and fuzz , which detach from the carpet are sucked from the base cask through strong suction.

The rotation of the metallic abrasion cylinder (K2) is induced by pulleys and belts from the motor (Kl 1).

The rotation of the forwarding cylinder (Kl) and the take-up cylinder (K3) is induced by chain and gears from the motor (K5).

The air flow at the nozzles is provided by an air-compressor (K6).

Claims

1. The mechanical carpet cleaner is a machine to clean carpets from solid waste, hair and fuzz which are attached to the pile and carpet fibre root. The mechanical carpet cleaner is composed of the following main parts:

I) Mounting and lower non-movable part which includes:

Semi-cylindrical base for the dirty carpet placement (K4)

Nozzle for the ejection of powerful air- current (K10)

Metallic rotating cylindrical drum with embossed non-symmetric metal rods for the accomplishment of the carpet scraping and the multiple microshaking of the carpet tiles. (K2)

Rotating cylinder for the carpet forwading (Kl)

Backing of the cleaned carpet slide (K8)

Cylinder for the cleaned carpet take-up (K3) II) Top cover with pneumatic system which includes the following main parts:

Braking drum (A9) which enables carpet tensioning

Metallic pressure rod (A8) of the carpet on the scraping cylinder (K2) Passive transport cylinder (A2) which presses the carpet on the forwarding cylinder

(Kl)

Pneumatic pistons (A7) shutting the top cover on and off.

The machine features the following characteristics: I) The top part opens and carries along the beam (Al), the passive roll cylinder (A2) and the braking cylinder (A9), the mettalic pressure rod (A8) when opened. This contributes to the easy placement of the carpet on the working position without requiring more than one operators. II) The inverse delta crossection beam (Al) is shaking by a vibrator (A3) and by closing the top part of the machine, it will press the carpet dowhwards.

The beam (Al) enforces the carpet to follow both its edges and thus induces the exposure of the carpet tile.

The beam (Al) also provides strong shaking to the carpet at the tile exposure area. This contributes to the detachment of waste.

III) The nozzles (K10) are supplied by pressurized air from an air-compressor (K6), are mounted on the bottom part of the machine and provide a strong air current over the whole of the exposed tile surface. This contributed to the waste detachment.

IV) The metallic abrasion cylinder (K2) rotates in the opposite direction than the one of carpet forwarding and scrapes the carpet tile.

It features embossed metallic, non-symmetric striations placed along the cylinder rotation axis. This results to the abrasion and cleaning of the carpet tile from hair and fuzz. Simultaneously due to the non-symmetric geometry of the striations it conveys to the carpet multiple microvibrations which contribute to the detachment of the above waste. V) The metallic pressure rod (A8) presses the carpet on the metallic abrasion rod (K2) elastically. It holds the carpet in contact with the abrasion cylinder (K2) so as the abrasion will be performed on the total carpet length. VI) The braking cylinder (A9) is mounted on the top part of the machine, which when closed presses the unfolded dirty carpet on the semi-cylindrical hollow mount (K4). It features passive rolling and contributes to the carpet tensioning in the forwading phase. 2) The mechanical carpet cleaner according to claim No. 1 features the following additional characteristics:

I) The solid waste such as fuzz and hair which detach from the carpet are sucked from the base cask, through strong suction (K9).

II) The rotation of the metallic abrasion cylinder (K2) is induced by pulleys and belts from the motor (Kl 1 ).

III) The metallic pressure rod (A8) due to its elastic mounting conveys microvibrations to the carpet assisting the waste detachment.

3) The method of mechanical carpet cleaning from solid waste, such as hair and fuzz which attach themselves to the carpet tile, by using the machine which is described in the claim No. 1 features the following characteristics:

I) opening on the top part of the machine allowing the easy placement of the carpet at the working position.

II) Carpet movement and tensioning by active forwarding from a forwarding cylinder (Kl) and passive braking cylinder (A9) respectively.

III) Exposure of the carpet tile root by the prismatic beam (Al) and simultaneous shaking for the detachment of the solid waste. IV) Blowing of strong air-current distributed on the whole of the exposed carpet tile in order to assist the waste detachment by nozzles (K10).

V) Scraping of the carpet tile by a rotating metallic abrasion cylinder (K2) which bears non-symmetric metallic striations placed along the rotation axis.

VI) Pressure of the carpet by a metallic pressure rod (A8), on the abrasion cylinder (K2) in order to clean all of the carpet length.

4) The method of mechanical carpet cleaning from solid waste, such as hair and fuzz which attach themselves to the carpet tile, acoording to claim No. 3, features the following additional characteristic: I) The cleaned carpet after being bent along its edge by the machine operator, is being taken -up on the take-up cylinder (K3).