WO2021255075A2

WO2021255075A2 - Floor scrubber-dryer

Info

Publication number: WO2021255075A2
Application number: PCT/EP2021/066204
Authority: WO
Inventors: Massimiliano Ruffo
Original assignee: Fimap S.P.A.
Priority date: 2020-06-18
Filing date: 2021-06-16
Publication date: 2021-12-23
Also published as: IT202000014542A1; WO2021255075A3

Abstract

A floor scrubber- dryer, comprising a base structure (2), which can move on the floor along an advancement direction (100) and supports, on its side directed toward the floor, at least one nozzle (3) for dispensing a washing liquid and at least one brush (4), which can be actuated rotationally about its own axis. The base structure (2) supports, to the rear of the brush (4) along the advancement direction of the scrubber- dryer, a floor wiper (5) and at least one suction intake (6) directed toward the floor. According to the invention, sanitizing means are provided which have at least one device (11) for dispensing an atomized jet of a disinfectant liquid that is directed substantially laterally with respect to the advancement direction (100). The dispensing device (11) furthermore comprises means for generating an air flow which carries the atomized jet.

Description

FLOOR SCRUBBER-DRYER

The present invention relates to a floor scrubber-dryer.

As is known, currently the need is strongly felt to be able to perform in a practical and quick manner, as well as effectively, the disinfection of large surfaces, such as for example the surfaces of workplaces or commercial spaces, in order to eliminate or at least significantly reduce the risks of contagion of infectious diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms.

Floor scrubber- dryers are known which are constituted in general terms by a base structure which can move on the floor, along an advancement direction, and supports in the lower part a nozzle for dispensing a washing liquid and at least one brush which acts on the floor, while to the rear of the brush along the advancement direction of the scrubber-dryer there are a floor wiper, which extends transversely to the advancement direction of the scrubber- dryer, and a suction intake, which allow to collect from the floor the washing liquid and the dirt removed by the action of the brush.

In particular, floor scrubber- dryers with an onboard operator are known in which the base structure of the scrubber- dryer has, in the front part, a driver's seat, which can be occupied by the user, and which are provided with automatic traction means, in order to allow their easy driving by the user.

Known floor scrubber-dryers are capable of performing only a deep cleaning of floors having a medium or large extension but do not allow to perform disinfection of the surfaces of the spaces in which they are used.

In order to perform space disinfection, currently adapted devices, separate from the scrubber-dryers, are used and are driven manually by the user.

Consequently, in order to perform the operations of cleaning and drying floors and disinfecting the various surfaces of the spaces, two separate steps are currently required, one carried out with scrubber- dryers and one with disinfection devices, with obvious long execution times and with the possibility that between one step and the other the surface to be disinfected might not be perfectly clean. The aim of the present invention is to provide a floor scrubber- dryer capable of improving the background art in one or more of the aspects mentioned above.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a floor scrubber-dryer that allows, in a single step, to make spaces simultaneously clean and disinfected.

Another object of the invention is to provide a floor scrubber- dryer that gives the possibility not only to perform the thorough cleaning of horizontal surfaces, such as floors, but also to perform the disinfection of surfaces or apparatuses that extend vertically from the floors, such as confinement walls of spaces, shelves or others, as well as the floors themselves, with a considerable reduction of the load of pathogen agents.

Another object of the invention is to provide a scrubber- dryer that allows to disinfect various surfaces both during its forward motion and when the scrubber- dryer is stationary. Another object of the invention is to provide a floor scrubber- dryer that allows to perform effectively the disinfection of surfaces located even at a considerable distance with respect to its position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a floor scrubber- dryer that is easy and practical in use. A further object of the invention is to provide a floor scrubber- dryer which, because of the peculiar constructive characteristics, can offer the greatest assurances of reliability and safety in operation.

A still further object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the background art in a manner that is alternative to any existing solutions. Not least object of the invention is to provide a floor scrubber- dryer that can be manufactured at competitive costs.

This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a floor scrubber- dryer according to claim 1, optionally provided with one or more of the characteristics of the dependent claims.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the floor scrubber-dryer according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the scrubber- dryer according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view from a different angle of the scrubber- dryer according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a lateral elevation view, with portions in phantom lines, of the scrubber- dryer according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of disinfection means of the scrubber- dryer according to the invention; Figure 5 is a lateral and sectional elevation view of a conveyor of the disinfection means of the scrubber-dryer according to the invention.

With reference to the above figures, the floor scrubber- dryer according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1 , comprises a base structure 2, which can move on the floor along an advancement direction 100 and supports, on its side directed toward the floor, at least one nozzle 3 for dispensing a washing liquid and at least one brush 4, which can be actuated rotationally about its own axis.

To the rear of the brush 4, along the advancement direction of the scrubber-dryer, there are a floor wiper 5, which extends transversely to the direction 100 and retains the washing liquid and the dirt removed by the brush 4, while a suction intake 6 collects them in a collection tank 7 formed in the base structure 2.

The base structure 2 rests on the floor by means of wheels 8, at least one of which, arranged at the front with respect to the advancement direction of the scrubber-dryer, is conveniently steerable.

The base structure 2 is provided, moreover, with automatic traction means which can be activated on command in order to perform the forward movement of the base structure 2 and are constituted conveniently by an electric motor functionally connected to at least two of the wheels 8 of the base structure 2, preferably the ones arranged at the rear with respect to the advancement direction of the scrubber-dryer.

On the base structure 2 there is, preferably in its front part along the advancement direction of the scrubber- dryer, a driver's seat 9, which can be occupied by the user and in which devices 10 for controlling the automatic traction means and the steerable wheel 8 are arranged, in order to allow the user to maneuver the scrubber- dryer on the floor in forward or reverse travel.

The floor scrubber-dryer according to the invention further comprises sanitizing means which have at least one device 11 for dispensing an atomized jet of a disinfectant liquid that is directed substantially laterally with respect to the advancement direction 100.

Also according to the invention, the dispensing device 11 comprises means for generating an air flow which allows to convey the atomized jet of the disinfectant liquid, so that it can reach even regions that are from the scrubber-dryer, such as vertical surfaces, shelves or others.

Advantageously, as will be explained better hereinafter, the dispensing device 11 is provided furthermore with means for the electrostatic charging of the droplets of disinfectant liquid contained in the atomized jet emitted by the dispensing device 11, so as to render the droplets of disinfectant liquid capable of better adhering to the surfaces to be sanitized.

Preferably, there is at least one pair of dispensing devices 11 , which are mutually opposite with respect to a central plane of symmetry of the scrubber-dryer that is substantially parallel to the advancement direction 100 and substantially perpendicular to the floor, and which are directed substantially laterally with respect to the advancement direction 100 in mutually opposite directions.

In more details, each dispensing device 11 comprises, conveniently, a respective box-like body 12 which forms at least one conveyance duct 13 which leads outward and supports at least one nozzle 14 for emitting the disinfectant liquid, located substantially at the outlet of the conveyance duct 13 and capable of spraying outward the disinfectant liquid that it receives through a supply duct 14a, which extends, at least partially, inside the conveyance duct 13 of the corresponding box-like body 12.

Conveniently, there is a pair of emitting nozzles 14, advantageously arranged so that their own axes are oriented according to a substantially V- shaped arrangement.

It should be noted that the emitting nozzles 14 can be atomizer nozzles. As an alternative, instead of a pair of emitting nozzles 14, a single emitting nozzle 14 of the blade type may also be provided.

Advantageously, the box-like body 12 of each dispensing device 11 supports internally an impeller 15 which can be actuated rotationally in order to produce, through the conveyance duct 13, an air flow which, by leading outside through the outlet of the conveyance duct 13, allows to convey the atomized jet emitted by the dispensing device 11 through the corresponding emitting nozzles 14.

Preferably, the conveyance duct 13 has, at its outlet, a substantially duckbill-like shape.

Advantageously, the cited electrostatic charging means comprise means for electrostatically charging the air flow generated in order to carry the atomized jet of disinfectant liquid, so as to be able to charge, indirectly, by virtue of the electrostatically charged air, also the droplets of disinfectant liquid that are contained in the atomized jet emitted by the dispensing devices 11.

For example, the means for electrostatically charging the air flow comprise, along the conveyance duct 13, at least one electrode 16, which can be supplied with electric power so as to charge electrostatically the air in its passage through the conveyance duct 13.

As an alternative, the electrostatic charging means can be constituted by means for electrifying the emitting nozzles 14, so that the emitting nozzles 14, being in direct contact with the disinfectant liquid, can transfer the electrostatic charge directly to the droplets of disinfectant liquid released by them.

As in the embodiment shown, it is possible to provide a plurality of electrodes 16, having an elongated shape and arranged substantially in a comb-like manner along the extension of the conveyance duct 13.

Advantageously, the box-like body 12 of each dispensing device 11 can be oriented, with respect to the base structure 2, about at least one orientation axis and, more preferably, about at least two mutually perpendicular orientation axes, respectively a first orientation axis 12a that is substantially parallel to the advancement direction 100 and at least one second orientation axis 12b that is substantially perpendicular to the floor, so as to allow a broad possibility of adjustment of the orientation of the dispensing devices 11 and allow the atomized jet of disinfectant liquid emitted by each one of the dispensing devices 11 to affect the desired region without waste of product.

In particular, the box-like body 12 of each dispensing device 11 is rotatably supported, about the first orientation axis 12a, by a respective supporting element, for example constituted by a supporting bracket 17 and in turn rotatably connected to the base structure 2 so that it can rotate about the second orientation axis 12b.

Advantageously, the box-like body 12 of each dispensing device 11 can be locked in rotation, about the first and second orientation axes 12a, 12b, by means of wing nuts 18a, 18b, which define, with their corresponding axes, respectively the first and the second orientation axes 12a, 12b.

With reference in particular to Figure 4, it can be noted that the emitting nozzles 14 of each dispensing device 11 are connected, by means of the corresponding supply duct 14a and by means of the interposition of pumping means 19 supported by the base structure 2, to a tank 20 for containing the disinfectant liquid, also formed in the base structure 2.

It should be noted that the dispensing devices 11 are advantageously located in the rear and, preferably, upper part of the base structure 2 and, more particularly, to the rear of the driver's seat 9, according to the advancement direction of the scrubber- dryer, so that the atomized jets of disinfectant liquid emitted by the dispensing devices 11 do not disturb the user during the advancement of the scrubber- dryer, while the tank 20 for containing the disinfectant liquid is conveniently defined at the front part of the base structure 2, again according to the advancement direction of the scrubber-dryer, and, more preferably, is defined inside the so-called “nose” of the scrubber-dryer.

For example, the dispensing devices 11 are mounted on a supporting body 21, which protrudes upward from the rear part of the scrubber- dryer, in which means for activating and controlling the dispensing devices 11 are arranged which are constituted, for example, by at least one first activation button 22a, adapted to control the opening or closing of at least one first electric valve which connects the pumping means 19 to the emitting nozzles 14 of the dispensing devices 11, and by a knob 23 for adjusting the atomized jets emitted by the dispensing devices 11.

Conveniently, in addition to the dispensing devices 11 , one or more nozzles 24 for dispensing the disinfectant liquid can also be provided which face the floor and are preferably arranged in the lower part of the base structure 2 and are also connected to the containment tank 20 by virtue of the pumping means 19 and can be activated on command, for example by means of the operation of a second activation button 22b, preferably laterally adjacent to the first activation button 22a and connected to a corresponding second electric valve which controls the connection between the pumping means 19 and the dispensing nozzles 24, in order to allow the disinfection of the floor during the advancement of the scrubber- dryer regardless of the activation, or lack thereof, of the dispensing devices 11.

The dispensing nozzles 24 are preferably arranged behind the floor wiper 5, according to the advancement direction of the scrubber- dryer, and can be, for example, constituted by atomizer nozzles or blade nozzles.

Advantageously, the scrubber-dryer is further provided with at least one gun 25 for spraying disinfectant liquid, which can be gripped by the user.

In particular, the spraying gun 25 can be coupled detachably to the base structure 2, for example at its rear side with respect to the advancement direction of the scrubber- dryer, and is connected to the pumping means 19 by means of an extensible duct 26, in order to allow the user to perform, when the scrubber-dryer is stationary, the disinfection of the scrubber- dryer or of regions close thereto.

The activation of the spraying gun 25 can occur by means of a corresponding control button 27, which controls the opening of a corresponding electric valve interposed between the extensible duct 26 and the pumping means 19 and which is located, for example, on the side of the supporting body 21 that is directed opposite with respect to the advancement direction of the scrubber-dryer. ft should also be noted that it is possible to conveniently interpose, between the pumping means 19 and the tank 20 for containing the disinfectant liquid, a tap 30, which can be operated on command in order to open or close the connection between the containment tank 20 and the pumping means 19, and at least one filter 31, which allows the filtration of the disinfectant liquid that exits from the containment tank 20.

The operation of the floor scrubber- dryer, according to the invention, is as follows.

With the scrubber-dryer stationary, the user orients the box-like bodies 12 of the dispensing devices 11 as desired, subsequently locking them by means of the wing nuts 18a, 18b, and then activates the dispensing devices 11 by operating the first activation button 22a, and adjusts their emission of the atomized jets of disinfectant liquid by means of the adjustment knob 23.

At this point, from the driver's seat 9, the user activates the traction means of the scrubber-dryer by acting on the control devices 10 so as to set the base structure 2 in motion along the advancement direction 100.

During the advancement motion of the scrubber- dryer, the dispensing nozzle 3 dispenses the washing liquid onto the floor and the brush 4 removes the dirt, while the floor wiper 5 retains the washing liquid and the dirt removed by the brush 4 so that they can be picked up by the suction intake 6 and collected in the collection tank 7.

Again during the advancement motion of the scrubber- dryer, the dispensing devices 11 gradually affect, with their atomized jet of disinfectant liquid, the regions that are located laterally to the scrubber- dryer with respect to its advancement direction 100.

Optionally, the user may also activate the dispensing nozzles 24 by means of the operation of the second activation button 22b, so that during the advancement of the scrubber-dryer it is possible not only to thoroughly clean the floor but also to sanitize it.

When the scrubber-dryer is stationary, the user may also, once he has dismounted from the driver's seat 9, grip the spraying gun 25 and, after releasing it from the base structure 2 and after operating the corresponding control button 27, may sanitize the scrubber-dryer or regions close to it.

In practice it has been found that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects, providing a floor scrubber- dryer which allows to render the space simultaneously clean and disinfected with a single step.

In particular, it has been possible to verify experimentally that the scrubber-dryer according to the invention allows, with a single step, to thoroughly clean the floor and to sanitize both the floor and the vertical walls, reducing the bacterial load by up to 99%. The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102020000014542 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference. Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A floor scrubber-dryer, comprising a base structure (2), which can move on the floor along an advancement direction (100) and supports, on its side directed toward the floor, at least one nozzle (3) for dispensing a washing liquid and at least one brush (4), which can be actuated rotationally about its own axis, said base structure (2) supporting, to the rear of said at least one brush (4), along the advancement direction of the scrubber- dryer, a floor wiper (5) and at least one suction intake (6) directed toward the floor, characterized in that it comprises sanitizing means provided with at least one device (11) for dispensing an atomized jet of a disinfectant liquid that is directed substantially laterally with respect to said advancement direction (100), said at least one dispensing device (11) comprising means for generating an air flow that carries said atomized jet.

2. The scrubber- dryer according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one dispensing device (11) comprises means for the electrostatic charging of the droplets of disinfectant liquid contained in said atomized jet.

3. The scrubber-dryer according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one dispensing device (11) comprises a respective box-like body (12) which forms at least one conveyance duct (13) which leads outward and supports at least one nozzle (14) for emitting a disinfectant liquid, located substantially at the outlet of said conveyance duct (13), said box-like body (12) supporting internally an impeller (15) which can be actuated rotationally in order to produce said air flow through said conveyance duct (13).

4. The scrubber-dryer according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said electrostatic charging means comprise means for electrostatically charging said air flow.

5. The scrubber-dryer according to one or more of the preceding claims characterized in that said means for electrostatically charging said air flow comprise, along said conveyance duct (13), at least one electrode (16) which can be supplied with electric power in order to charge electrostatically the air in its passage through said conveyance duct (13).

6. The scrubber-dryer according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said electrostatic charging means comprise means for electrifying said at least one emission nozzle (14).

7. The scrubber-dryer according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said box-like body (12) is orientable, with respect to said base structure (2), about at least one orientation axis (12a, 12b).

8. The scrubber-dryer according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one emission nozzle (14) is connected, by means of the interposition of pumping means (19) supported by said base structure (2), to a tank (20) for containing said disinfectant liquid.

9. The scrubber-dryer according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one dispensing device (11) is located in the rear part of said base structure (2) along the advancement direction of the scrubber-dryer.

10. The scrubber-dryer according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said containment tank (20) is formed at the front part of said base structure (2) along the advancement direction of the scrubber-dryer.

11. The scrubber-dryer according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one pair of dispensing devices (11) which are mutually opposite with respect to a central plane of symmetry of the scrubber-dryer that is substantially parallel to said advancement direction and substantially perpendicular to the floor.

12. The scrubber-dryer according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sanitizing means comprise at least one gun (25) for spraying disinfectant liquid, which is detachably supported by said base structure (2) and can be gripped by the user, said spraying gun (25) being connected to said pumping means (19) by means of an extensible duct (26).

13. The scrubber-dryer according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sanitizing means comprise at least one nozzle (24) for dispensing disinfectant liquid that is directed toward the floor.