WO2021094058A1

WO2021094058A1 - Wiping cloth unit and wiping device

Info

Publication number: WO2021094058A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/079342
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marc Heiland
Original assignee: Carl Freudenberg Kg
Priority date: 2019-11-14
Filing date: 2020-10-19
Publication date: 2021-05-20
Also published as: DE102019130744A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a wiping cloth unit (4) for a wiping device (1), which wiping device is suitable for cleaning a surface, the wiping cloth unit comprising a plurality of wiping cloths (41), which are arranged one over the other in a plurality of layers and are interconnected by means of a binding (42). The invention further relates to a wiping device (1) for cleaning a surface, comprising: a handle (2); a wiping plate (3), which is arranged at the lower end of the handle and has a plate top (31) and a plate bottom (34), which plate bottom is to face the surface to be cleaned and forms a wiping face; and an exchangeable wiping cloth unit (4) according to at least one of the preceding claims, the wiping unit (4) being releasably arranged on the wiping plate (3), a first wiping cloth (43) of the wiping cloth unit (4) lying against a contact face (37) of the plate bottom (34) and being in contact with the surface as the surface is being cleaned.

Description

Patent application for wiper unit and wiper device

The invention relates to a wiper unit for a wiper device for cleaning a surface. The invention also relates to a wiper device with a wiper unit.

Such mopping devices are known from the prior art and represent an alternative to dry or wet mopping devices with a separate mop cover which is pulled onto a mopping plate of the dry or wet mopping device.

In contrast to these conventional dry or wet mopping devices, the mopping devices according to the present invention are particularly suitable for quick cleaning in between. The mopping devices have a handle and a mopping plate which is arranged at the lower end of the handle and has a wiping surface facing the surface to be cleaned. A single wiping cloth can be detachably attached to the mopping plate, with it essentially completely enclosing the mopping surface and being in contact with the floor to be cleaned during cleaning with the surface. The surface of this wipe is designed so that it is suitable for picking up dust and dirt particles as well as fibrous contaminants when cleaning the surface.

For wet wiping, the wiping cloth can be soaked in a cleaning agent or already moistened in the delivery state. After the cleaning process has been completed, the used wiper can be removed from the wiper plate and disposed of together with the dust and dirt particles as well as fibrous and other contaminants that have been picked up. This has a negative effect on the manageability of the mopping device and also on the duration of the cleaning process that the used mopping cloth when cleaning large areas must be removed from the mopping plate and disposed of before the cleaning process is completed, before a new, unused mopping cloth is attached to the mopping plate can be arranged. The reason for this is the limited absorption capacity of the wipe for soiling. In particular when large areas have to be cleaned, the user must therefore replace the used and dirty wipe with an unused and clean wipe at regular intervals.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing a wiper unit and a wiper device which are easier to handle than the prior art.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a wiper unit with the features of claim 1 and by a wiper device with the features of claim 7.

The subclaims referring back to them refer to advantageous embodiments.

The wiper unit according to the invention for a wiper which is suitable for cleaning a surface comprises a plurality of wipes which are arranged in multiple layers on top of one another and are connected to one another by a bond.

A section of the surface to be cleaned can be cleaned with each individual wipe of the wipe unit. In between, depending on the degree of soiling, the used wipe can be replaced by an unused wipe. It is advantageous here that the wiper unit has a plurality of wipes and the unused wipes are not separated from a user of the wiper unit before they are used must be stored, but are already included in the wipe unit. Thus, in comparison to the individual wipes known from the prior art, larger areas can be cleaned with the wiper unit according to the invention, even if they are heavily soiled. This has a positive effect on the manageability of the wiper unit and also shortens the cleaning time that the user needs for the respective surface.

The wipes are preferably formed from a textile fabric. Advantageous flat structures are, for example, fleece, fiber fabric, fiber knitted fabric or a combination thereof. Such materials are inexpensive and have a good cleaning effect.

The wiper unit is preferably designed to be essentially rectangular. Rectangular cleaning wipes are suitable for most cleaning needs.

The wipes can either be dry or soaked in a cleaning agent and therefore pre-moistened. In the former case, the wipes are suitable, among other things, for dusting. In the second case, heavily soiled surfaces, for example local moist, sticky soiling, can be cleaned with a damp cloth. Furthermore, the wipers can also be designed to be electrostatically effective, so that they can bind dust and dirt particles as well as fibrous contaminants even better.

An advantageous embodiment of the wiper unit according to the invention provides that the binding connects the wipes to one another at at least one edge of the wiper. In this embodiment, the wiper unit has a structure similar to that of a notebook or writing pad, in which sheets of paper are connected to one another on one side at the edges by a binding. In order to be able to store the wiper unit in a handy format, some or all of them can Wipes of the wipe unit can be folded at least once. This allows the space requirement of the wiper unit to be reduced.

The binding can be a spiral binding, wire comb binding, thermal binding, seam binding or adhesive binding. The spiral binding is preferably a spiral or double spiral which runs along the edge of the wiper and connects the individual wipes to one another. With wire comb binding, the wipes can be hooked into wire combs, which are then bent by machine or by hand, thereby connecting the wipes to one another. The advantage of the wire comb binding is that the individual wipes of the wiper unit can be turned 360 ° around the wire comb binding. In the case of adhesive binding, an adhesive such as polyurethane adhesive is applied to at least one wiper edge of the wipes and the wipes are glued to one another at this wiper edge. In the case of thermal binding, the wipes are preferably welded to one another at the edge of the wipe. In the case of thermal binding, the use of a separate binding, as in the case of spiral binding or wire comb binding, or an adhesive, as in the case of adhesive binding, can be dispensed with. Rather, the bond comes about through local melting of the wipes in the edge of the wipe. This can be done, for example, by ultrasonic welding. In the case of a seam bond, the wipes are connected to one another by a seam produced by means of a thread.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the wiper unit according to the invention, the spiral binding and the wire comb binding are made of plastic, metal or a metal alloy. The choice of material can be adapted to the planned area of application of the wiper unit as well as to the material of the wipes used.

In order to be able to connect the wipes to one another at the edge of the wiper by means of the spiral binding or the wire comb binding, the Wipes have perforated holes into which the spiral binding or the wire comb binding can engage. These perforation holes can be made in the wipes, for example by punching. Perforation holes are preferably arranged on at least one edge of the wiper.

In order to protect in particular moist wipes from drying out or also dry wipes from premature soiling, the wipe unit can have an envelope which at least partially encloses the wipes and / or the binding. The wipes can be individually removed or pulled out of this cover before they are used by the user to clean the surfaces. The wipes can have a separation perforation, by means of which they can be separated individually from the wipe unit. The separating perforation is preferably a tear or separating line in the wiping cloth, which makes it easier to separate the wiping cloths from the wiping cloth unit. After the end of the cleaning process or during the cleaning process, the used and soiled wipe can be removed from the machine along the separation perforation

The wipe unit can be individually separated by the user and disposed of separately. The separation perforation preferably runs parallel to the binding.

The mopping device according to the invention comprises a handle, a mopping plate arranged at the lower end of the handle, which has a top side of the plate and a wiping surface facing the surface to be cleaned, and a replaceable wiper unit which is detachably arranged on the mopping plate. During cleaning, a first wipe of the wipe unit rests against the wiping surface and is in contact with the surface when the surface is cleaned. The wiper unit has at least the aforementioned features of the wiper unit according to the invention according to claim 1 or one or more features which are the subject of advantageous embodiments of the wiper unit according to the invention.

Since the wiper unit is detachably arranged on the wiper plate, it can be exchanged by the user in a simple manner for another wiper unit. This is the case when all the wipes in the wipe unit have been used up due to the cleaning of the surface. Thus, the wiper unit can also be purchased separately from the wiper device as a replacement pack by the user and can be detachably arranged on the wiper plate.

The handle can be gripped by the user with one or both hands in order to guide the mopping device in the wiping direction along the surface to be cleaned. The phrase “in the wiping direction” refers to the direction in which the user guides the mopping device over the surface to be cleaned. The mop plate and / or the handle can be made from plastic, in particular from injection-molded plastic. This reduces the total weight of the mopping device.

The mopping device can be a floor mop, with which surfaces of floors can be cleaned dry or wet.

The wiping plate can have fastening means for the wiping cloth unit, by means of which the wiping cloth unit can be detachably fastened to the wiping plate. These fastening means are preferably designed as latching elements. The wiping cloth unit is preferably arranged in the wiping direction on a front plate edge of the mopping plate.

In an advantageous embodiment of the wiper device according to the invention, the wiper unit is arranged on the top of the plate, preferably in the area of the front edge of the plate. It can be advantageous if the Wipes of the wipe unit - as described above - are folded at least once. It can thus be ensured that the wiper unit can be arranged on the upper side of the plate without the wiper unit protruding beyond an outer circumferential edge of the wiper plate. This allows the space requirement of the mopping device to be reduced when it is stored. The fastening means described above can be arranged on the upper side of the mopping plate, where fastening the wiper unit is particularly easy for the user.

The wiper unit can be arranged on the wiper plate, in particular on the top side of the wiper plate, in such a way that a longitudinal axis of the wiper unit is arranged essentially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the wiper plate. Furthermore, the wiping surface can have a convex curvature. This convex curvature leads to a better use of the surface area of the wiper in engagement with the floor to be cleaned when cleaning the surface.

The handle can be arranged on a circumferential plate edge of the mopping plate. In particular, the handle can be arranged in the wiping direction on a rear plate edge of the mopping plate. A handle designed for this purpose can have a curved clamping section connected to the plate edge and an adjoining straight holding section. The clamping section is preferably used to press or press the wiper unit, in particular the wipes, onto the top of the wiper plate. As a result, the wiper unit can be fixed in an optimal manner on the wiper plate and the wiper unit, in particular the wipers, can be prevented from slipping sideways.

The clamping section and the top side of the plate can form a receptacle for the wiper unit. The wiper unit can thus be arranged in the receptacle between the clamping section and the top side of the wiper plate. The clamping section and the holding section preferably form an angle of 0 ° to 90 °, preferably 0 ° to 60 ° and more preferably 0 ° to 45 ° to one another. The clamping section and the holding section can either be formed in one piece or connected to one another by a joint-like connection. This joint-like connection can be a universal joint, for example. The articulated connection between the clamping section and the holding section increases the maneuverability and mobility of the mopping plate on the handle and thereby simplifies the cleaning of the surface. This means that surfaces under furniture that are difficult to access can be cleaned.

Alternatively, the post can also be arranged on the upper side of the plate, the post and the upper side of the plate likewise being either formed in one piece or being connected to one another by a hinge-like connection, in particular by the universal joint described above.

So that slipping of the first wiper with which the surface is cleaned can be reduced or even completely prevented on the contact surface of the underside of the plate, the wiper plate can comprise at least one holding element for releasably fixing the first wipe. This holding element can be arranged on the upper side of the plate or the underside of the mopping plate. The holding element is preferably on a side of the plate upper side which is opposite the wiper unit in the wiping direction, i. H. in the area of the rear plate edge. For example, the holding element can be designed as a soft clip into which the first wiper can at least partially be inserted or pressed.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the wiping device is equipped with a device for transporting the wiping cloths. The device is designed in such a way that, in order to change a wiper, an unused wiper is removed from the wiper unit and conveyed in the direction of the contact surface on the underside of the plate. It can sufficient if the wiping cloth is transported over the edge of the wiping plate. The device can be electromotive. An advantageous embodiment provides a wheel which, by means of a rotational movement, detaches a wiper from the wiper unit and conveys it over the edge of the wiper plate in the direction of the underside of the wiper plate.

Some configurations of the wiper unit according to the invention and the wiper device according to the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. These each show schematically:

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of an inventive

Wiper device in a perspective view;

FIG. 2 shows the mopping device from FIG. 1 as a schematic sectional illustration along the sectional plane A-A shown in FIG. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment of the invention

Wiper device in a perspective view; and FIG. 4 shows the mopping device from FIG. 2 as a schematic sectional illustration along the sectional plane B-B 'shown in FIG. Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of an inventive

Mopping device 1. This mopping device 1 comprises a handle 2, a mopping plate 3 arranged at the lower end of the handle 2 and a wiping cloth unit 4 arranged on a plate top 31 of the mopping plate 3. In the present exemplary embodiment, both the handle 2 and the mopping plate 3 are made of injection-molded plastic educated.

The handle 2 comprises a curved clamping section 21 and an adjoining straight holding section 22. The clamping section 21 and the straight holding section 22 enclose an angle of 45 ° to one another. On a side facing away from the straight holding section 22 of the

Clamping section 21, the clamping section 21 is arranged in the wiping direction on a rear panel edge 32 of the mopping panel 3. The wiping direction of the wiper device 1 is indicated in FIG. 1 by an arrow. In the present exemplary embodiment, the wiper unit 4 is arranged in the wiping direction on a front plate edge 33 of the wiper plate 3. The wiper unit 4 is arranged on the wiper plate 3 in such a way that a longitudinal axis of the wiper unit 4 runs parallel to a longitudinal axis of the wiper plate 3. The clamping section 21 and the plate top 31 of the mopping plate 3 form a receptacle 5 for the wiper unit 4, the wiper unit 4 being held in the region of the receptacle 5 by the clamping section 21 on the plate top 31 of the mopping plate 3. The wiper unit 4 has a plurality of wipes 41 which are arranged in multiple layers one above the other and are connected to one another by a bond 42 on one side at a single wiper edge. In this case, the wiper unit 4 is arranged on the plate top 31 in such a way that the binding 42 runs essentially parallel to the front plate edge 33. In the present exemplary embodiment, the binding 42 is designed as a spiral binding which engages in perforation holes 43 of the wipes 41 and thus connects them to one another.

A first wiper 43 of the wiper unit 4 partially envelops the mopping plate 3 by first wrapping it around the front plate edge 33 from the binding 42, then running along a plate underside 34 opposite the plate top 31, the wiping surface, to the rear plate edge 32 and there again is turned over around the rear plate edge 32. The first wiper 43 is used to clean the surface and for this purpose is guided by the user in the wiping direction along the surface to be cleaned. So that the first wiper 43 does not slip when cleaning the surface or forms undesirable creases on the underside 34 of the board, the top 31 of the board has two holding elements 35, 36 designed as soft clips in the area of the rear board edge 32, into which the first wiper 43 is pressed and thus detachable is fixed.

FIG. 2 shows the exemplary embodiment from FIG. 1 as a schematic sectional illustration along the sectional plane A-A 'shown in FIG. In the area of the plate underside 34, the wiper plate 3 has a contact surface 37 for the first wiper 43 of the wiper unit 4. The first wiper 43 rests against this contact surface 37 when the surface is cleaned and is thus facing the surface to be cleaned. It can be seen from FIG. 2 that the wiper unit 4 has a plurality of wipes 41 which are connected to one another by the spiral binding 42 at their wiper edge. In the present exemplary embodiment, the individual wipes 41 are each folded once, although alternative folds are also conceivable. The first wiper 43, which rests on the contact surface 37 and is detachably fixed in the area of the rear panel edge 32 by pressing into the soft clips 35, 36 on the panel top 32, is unfolded and therefore has its full size. The individual wipes 41 have a separating perforation 44 which runs parallel to the binding 42. After the cleaning process has ended, the first wiper 43 can be detached from the soft clips 35, 36 by the user and separated or torn off from the wiper unit 4 in the area of the separating perforation 44. A second, unused wiper of the wiper unit 4 can then be arranged again on the contact surface 35 and releasably fixed in the soft clips 35, 36. Alternatively, it is conceivable to cover a used wipe with an unused wipe of the wipe unit 4. With this configuration, it is not necessary to separate the wipe. It is particularly advantageous that a user can perform cleaning work, for example cleaning a room, using the required number of wipes and covering used wipes with unused cleaning wipes and only removing the used cleaning wipes after the cleaning work has been completed.

Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of the wiper device 1 according to the invention in a perspective view. This second exemplary embodiment differs from the first exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in that the handle 2 is arranged on the plate top 31 of the mopping plate 3 and does not have a bent clamping section. Rather, the stem 2 is straight formed and connected on its side facing the plate top 31 of the mopping plate 3 via a hinge-like connection 23 to the plate top 31. This joint-like connection 23 is designed as a universal joint in the present exemplary embodiment. The universal joint 23 increases the maneuverability and mobility of the mopping plate 3 on the handle 2 and thereby simplifies the cleaning of the surface. A further difference between the first and the second exemplary embodiment of the wiper device 1 is that the wiper unit 4 in the second exemplary embodiment has an envelope 45 which almost completely surrounds the wipes 41. In the present exemplary embodiment, the wipes 41 are soaked in a cleaning agent and are therefore pre-moistened. The cover 45 prevents the wipes 41 from drying out and protects them from premature soiling. FIG. 4 shows the second exemplary embodiment from FIG. 1 as a schematic sectional illustration along the sectional plane B-B ′ shown in FIG. In the second exemplary embodiment, the wipes 41 in the envelope 45 are folded several times in order to reduce the space requirement of the wiper unit 4 on the plate top 32 of the wiper plate 3 and to minimize any possible drying out of the wipes 41 in the envelope 45.

Claims

1 . Wiper unit (4) for a wiper device (1) which is suitable for cleaning a surface, comprising a plurality of wipes (41) which are arranged in multiple layers on top of one another and are connected to one another by a bond (42).

2. Wiper unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the binding (42) connects the wipes (41) to one another at at least one edge of the wiper.

3. wiper unit according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the binding (42) is a spiral binding, wire comb binding, thermal binding, seam binding or adhesive binding.

4. wiper unit according to claim 3, characterized in that the spiral binding and the wire comb binding are formed from plastic, from metal or from a metal alloy.

5. wiper unit according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the wipes (41) have perforation holes (43) into which the spiral binding or the wire comb binding engages.

6. wiper unit according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the wipes (41) have a separation perforation (44) by means of which they can be separated individually from the wipe unit (4).

7. Mopping device (1) for cleaning a surface, comprising a

Handle (2), a mopping plate (3) arranged at the lower end of the handle, which has a plate top (31) and a plate bottom (34) facing the surface to be cleaned, which forms a wiping surface and an exchangeable wiper unit (4) according to at least one of the preceding claims, the wiping unit (4) being detachable from the wiping plate (3) is arranged, wherein a first wiper (43) of the wiper unit (4) rests on a contact surface (37) of the plate underside (34) and is in contact with the surface when the surface is cleaned.

8. Mopping device according to claim 7, characterized in that the wiping cloth unit (41) is arranged on the plate top (31).

9. Mopping device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the handle (2) is arranged on a circumferential plate edge, in particular on a rear plate edge (32) in the direction of the wiping cloth, of the mopping plate (3).

10. Mopping device according to claim 9, characterized in that the handle (2) has a curved clamping portion (21) connected to the plate edge and an adjoining straight holding portion (22).

11. Wiper device according to claim 10, characterized in that the clamping section (21) and the plate top (32) form a receptacle (5) for the wiper unit (4).

12. Mopping device according to one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the mopping plate (3) comprises at least one holding element (35, 36) for releasably fixing the first wiping cloth (43).