U.S. patent application number 10/205815 was filed with the patent office on 2003-09-18 for floor working machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to Penguin Wax Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Morita, Isao, Suzuki, Hiroshi, Ueda, Yasuhiro.
Application Number | 20030172480 10/205815 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27764527 |
Filed Date | 2003-09-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030172480 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ueda, Yasuhiro ; et
al. |
September 18, 2003 |
Floor Working machine
Abstract
A floor working machine includes a body frame (1), an electric
drive unit (29), a pad unit including a first pad (21) and a second
pad (21) having polishing surfaces (21a) for contacting a floor
surface, the first pad and second pad being opposed to each other,
and a pad control mechanism (50) for controlling the pad unit by
using drive of the electric drive unit. The pad control mechanism
(50) controls the first pad (21) and second pad (21) such that the
first pad and second pad reciprocate, with the respective polishing
surfaces (21a) contacting the floor surface, in a first direction
(A) in which the first pad and second pad approach each other and
in a second direction (B) in which the first pad and second pad
move away from each other. A guiding device (23, 25) guides the
first pad and second pad in reciprocating movement such that the
first direction and second direction are linear and parallel to the
floor surface.
Inventors: |
Ueda, Yasuhiro; (Osaka,
JP) ; Morita, Isao; (Osaka, JP) ; Suzuki,
Hiroshi; (Osaka, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TOWNSEND AND TOWNSEND AND CREW, LLP
TWO EMBARCADERO CENTER
EIGHTH FLOOR
SAN FRANCISCO
CA
94111-3834
US
|
Assignee: |
Penguin Wax Co., Ltd.
Osaka
JP
|
Family ID: |
27764527 |
Appl. No.: |
10/205815 |
Filed: |
July 26, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/98 ; 15/50.2;
15/52.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 11/4055 20130101;
A47L 11/12 20130101; A47L 11/4088 20130101; A47L 11/201 20130101;
A47L 11/4069 20130101; A47L 11/4036 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/98 ; 15/50.2;
15/52.2 |
International
Class: |
A47L 011/03; A47L
011/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 14, 2002 |
JP |
PAT. 2002-69739 |
Claims
What is claim is:
1. A floor working machine with: a body frame; an electric drive
unit; a pad unit including a first pad and a second pad having
polishing surfaces for contacting a floor surface, said first pad
and second pad being opposed to each other; a pad control mechanism
for controlling said pad unit by using drive of said electric drive
unit such that said first pad and second pad reciprocate, with the
respective polishing surfaces contacting the floor surface, in a
first direction in which said first pad and second pad approach
each other and in a second direction in which said first pad and
second pad move away from each other; and guide means for guiding
said first pad and second pad in reciprocating movement such that
said first direction and second direction are linear and parallel
to the floor surface.
2. A floor working machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said
guide means includes linear rails, and sliders for sliding along
said linear rails.
3. A floor working machine as defined in claim 2, wherein said
linear rails are supported said body frame as guide rails common to
said first pad and second pad, at least one of said sliders being
supported by said first pad, and at least another of said sliders
being supported by said second pad.
4. A floor working machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said pad
control mechanism is constructed as a rotational displacement to
linear displacement converting eccentric mechanism for converting a
rotational displacement from said electric drive unit into a linear
reciprocation of said first pad and second pad toward and away from
each other.
5. A floor working machine as defined in claim 4, wherein said
rotational displacement to linear displacement converting eccentric
mechanism includes a drive gear connected to an output shaft of
said electric drive unit to be rotatable together, a plurality of
driven gears meshed with said drive gear, eccentric cams provided
for said driven gears, respectively, and linear cam followers
provided for said pads for engaging said eccentric cams,
respectively.
6. A floor working machine as defined in claim 4, wherein said
rotational displacement to linear displacement converting eccentric
mechanism includes a drive gear connected to an output shaft of
said electric drive unit to be rotatable together, a plurality of
driven gears meshed with said drive gear, and slider/crank
mechanism links extending between said driven gears and said pads,
respectively.
7. A floor working machine as defined in claim 1, further
comprising a cleaning solution supplying device for supplying a
cleaning solution to the floor surface at least between said first
pad and second pad.
8. A floor working machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said
first direction and second direction correspond to a traveling
direction of said working machine.
9. A floor working machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said
floor working machine is movable by an operator over the floor
surface to be polished.
10. A floor working machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said
floor working machine is self-propelled to move over on the floor
surface to be polished.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a non-rotating pad type floor
working machine including a body frame, an electric drive unit, a
pad unit having a first pad and a second pad opposed to each other
and defining polishing surfaces for contacting a floor surface, and
a pad control mechanism for reciprocating the pads by using drive
of the electric drive unit.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] The floor working machine of the type noted above has an
advantage over a floor working machine for polishing a floor
surface with pads rotated by using torque of an electric motor, in
that a cleaning solution does not easily scatter to the ambient.
For, with the rotating pad type floor working machine, each pad is
rotatable at a higher speed at the periphery than near the axis of
rotation, and the peripheral speed becomes too fast when the speed
near the axis of rotation is adjusted to an optimal value for
cleaning or polishing the floor. This problem becomes the more
serious, the larger diameter the pads have for an enlarged range of
treatment.
[0005] One example of non-rotating pad type floor working machine
having an advantage over the rotating pad type floor working
machine as noted above is known from Japanese patent publication
(unexamined) H7-39506, for example. This floor working machine has
two pads supported by a body frame through elastically movable
fulcrums. These two pads are swung elliptically by eccentric cams
rotatable by an electric motor. To increase the range of movement
of the pads, it is necessary to increase the elastic deformation of
the movable fulcrums. However, an increased elastic deformation of
the movable fulcrums makes it difficult for the polishing surfaces
of the two pads to move synchronously with appropriateness on a
fixed horizontal plane. Moreover, reaction forces that the pads
receive from the floor surface deform the elastically movable
fulcrums in the direction of extension also, whereby the pads are
struck against the floor surface. It is thus impossible to perform
a smooth polishing operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The object of this invention is to provide a floor working
machine having a pad control mechanism for synchronously
reciprocating at least two pads so that polishing surfaces thereof
follow accurately along a horizontal floor surface.
[0007] The above object is fulfilled, according to this invention,
by a floor working machine including a body frame, an electric
drive unit, a pad unit including a first pad and a second pad
having polishing surfaces for contacting a floor surface, the first
pad and second pad being opposed to each other, and a pad control
mechanism for controlling the pad unit by using drive of the
electric drive unit, in which the pad control mechanism controls
the first pad and second pad such that the first pad and second pad
reciprocate, with the respective polishing surfaces contacting the
floor surface, in a first direction in which the first pad and
second pad approach each other and in a second direction in which
the first pad and second pad move away from each other, and a
guiding device is provided for guiding the first pad and second pad
in reciprocating movement such that the first direction and second
direction are linear and parallel to the floor surface.
[0008] With this construction, even at increased treatment speed,
the first pad and second pad are synchronously driven to repeat the
reciprocation toward and away from each other, and the
reciprocating directions of the first pad and second pad are linear
and parallel to the floor surface. Thus, the polishing surfaces of
the first pad and second pad are movable accurately along the
horizontal floor surface. The moving tracks of the pads are not
elliptical as in the prior art, but linear to smooth the polishing
operation.
[0009] Preferably, the guiding device comprises a linear guide unit
including linear rails, and sliders for sliding along the linear
rails. Such linear guide units are readily available in the market,
and desired specifications may be selected from a wide variety of
products. It will be convenient if the linear rails are supported
the body frame as guide rails common to the first pad and second
pad, at least one of the sliders being supported by the first pad,
and at least another of the sliders being supported by the second
pad.
[0010] The least expensive electric drive unit is an electric
motor. Where an electric motor is employed as the electric drive
unit, the pad control mechanism may be constructed as a rotational
displacement to linear displacement converting eccentric mechanism
for converting a rotational displacement from the electric drive
unit into a linear reciprocation of the first pad and second pad
toward and away from each other. A specific construction of the
rotational displacement to linear displacement converting eccentric
mechanism may be selected according to specifications required of
the floor working machine.
[0011] In one preferred embodiment, the rotational displacement to
linear displacement converting eccentric mechanism includes a drive
gear connected to an output shaft of the electric drive unit to be
rotatable together, a plurality of driven gears meshed with the
drive gear, eccentric cams provided for the driven gears,
respectively, and linear cam followers provided for the pads for
engaging the eccentric cams, respectively. This construction has an
advantage that the pads make a steady linear reciprocation.
[0012] In another preferred embodiment, the rotational displacement
to linear displacement converting eccentric mechanism includes a
drive gear connected to an output shaft of the electric drive unit
to be rotatable together, a plurality of driven gears meshed with
the drive gear, and slider/crank mechanism links extending between
the driven gears and the pads, respectively. This construction has
an advantage of being simple and requiring a reduced number of
components.
[0013] In one preferred embodiment of this invention, the floor
working machine includes a cleaning solution supplying device for
supplying a cleaning solution to the floor surface at least between
the first pad and second pad. With this construction, since the
cleaning solution is supplied to the floor surface between the
pads, the part of the cleaning solution remaining on the floor
surface after the solution spreading action of the pads tends to
collect between the pads. Such part of the cleaning solution is
held between the pads and does not readily flow out from between
the pads. Thus, the part of the cleaning solution remaining on the
floor surface after the solution spreading action of the pads does
not readily scatter.
[0014] Where the first pad and second pad are arranged in the
traveling (fore and aft) direction of the working machine, and are
reciprocable in the traveling (fore and aft) direction, the machine
may engaging in an operation along a wall, with lateral ends of the
pads moving close along the wall. With the rear pad following the
front pad, no part of the floor remains untreated even though the
pads are spaced from each other.
[0015] The floor working machine according to this invention may be
the type moved by an operator, or may be the self-propelled
type.
[0016] Other features and advantages of this invention will be
apparent from the following description of the embodiments to be
taken with reference to the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a side view in vertical section of a floor working
machine in a first embodiment of this invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a polisher device;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the polisher device;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a side view in vertical section of the polisher
device;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a front view of a pad control mechanism;
[0022] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the pad control mechanism;
[0023] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a floor working machine in a
second embodiment of this invention;
[0024] FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a mode of transporting
the floor working machine shown in FIG. 7;
[0025] FIG. 9 is a side view in vertical section of a polisher
device of the floor working machine shown in FIG. 7; and
[0026] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a pad control mechanism of the
floor working machine shown in FIG. 7.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] [First Embodiment]
[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, a floor working machine in this
embodiment includes a body frame 1, one front wheel 2 disposed in a
longitudinally and transversely middle position of the body frame
1, freely rotatable rear wheels 3 of the caster type disposed at
opposite sides adjacent the rear end of body frame 1, a steering
post 4 disposed at the rear end of body frame 1, steering handles 5
fixed to opposite upper sides of the steering post 4, a power
supply unit with a plurality of batteries 6 arranged fore and aft
in a rear region of the body frame 1, and a cleaning solution
collecting device 30. Further, a cleaning solution supplying device
10 and a polisher device 20 are disposed below the front end of the
body frame 1. A squeegee 31 is attached to the rear end of the body
frame 1 and connected to the cleaning solution collecting device
30. The cleaning solution supplying device 10 has a pair of
cleaning nozzles 11 arranged in the fore and aft direction.
[0029] The polisher device 20 includes a pad unit with a first pad
21 and a second pad 21 arranged in the traveling direction (fore
and aft direction) of the machine. This embodiment provides two
pads which are named the first pad and the second pad. However,
they may be called just the pads when no distinguishment is needed
therebetween. Each pad 21 is shaped rectangular parallelopiped with
a bottom surface acting as a polishing surface 21a for contacting a
floor surface.
[0030] The front wheel 2 has a wheel drive sprocket 2a connected to
the rim thereof to be rotatable together. The sprocket 2a is
interlocked through a transmission chain 7 to an output sprocket 8a
attached to an output shaft of an electric propelling motor 8. With
the front wheel 2 driven by the electric propelling motor 8, the
floor working machine moves in a self-propelled mode as supported
by the front wheel 2 and the pair of rear wheels 3. At the same
time, the polisher device 20 is operated to dean and polish the
floor surface continuously. That is, as the machine moves, the
cleaning solution supplying device 10 supplies a cleaning solution
stored in a cleaning solution tank 12 mounted in a front region of
the machine body, through the pair of cleaning nozzles 11 to the
floor surface. The polisher device 20 with the pad unit deans and
polishes the floor surface supplied with the cleaning solution. The
cleaning solution collecting device 30 collects the cleaning
solution contaminated as a result of cleaning treatment, into a
collection tank 32 mounted in a rear region of the machine
body.
[0031] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, the cleaning
solution supplying device 10 includes a front cleaning nozzle 11
formed of one long metal pipe extending transversely of the machine
body, a rear cleaning nozzle 11 formed of one long metal pipe
extending transversely of the machine body, and the cleaning
solution tank 12 having an outlet port 12a communicating with
opposite ends of each cleaning nozzle 11 through cleaning solution
supplying hoses 13. The front cleaning nozzle 11 is fixed through a
pair of right and left support brackets 22b to an outer surface of
a front wall 22a of a box-like sub-frame 22 vertically adjustably
attached to a front portion of the body frame 1 through a lift
mechanism 40. The rear cleaning nozzle 11 is fixed to right and
left side walls 22c of the sub-frame 22 and disposed above and
between the first pad 21 and second pad 21.
[0032] The cleaning solution supplying hoses 13 include a plurality
of nozzle-side hoses 13a each communicating at one end thereof with
one end of one cleaning nozzle 11, and a tank-side hose 13b having
one end thereof communicating with the other ends of the plurality
of nozzle-side hoses 13a through a distributing pipe 14, and the
other end communicating with the outlet port 12a of cleaning
solution tank 12. The tank-side hose 13b has an electromagnetic
switch valve 15 mounted thereon.
[0033] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, for example, the lift mechanism
40 includes a connecting member 41 fixed to the sub-frame 22, two
pairs of upper and lower swing links 42 extending between the
connecting member 41 and opposite sides of a support member 1a
forming part of the body frame 1, a control member 44 rigidly
connected to one end of a rotary shaft 43 swingably connecting the
upper swing links 42 to the support member 1a, a female screw
member 45 rotatably attached to the control member 44, and an
electric lift motor 46 having an output screw shaft 46a meshed with
the female screw member 45.
[0034] When the lift motor 46 is rotated forward or backward, the
control member 44 is swung in an ascending or descending direction
by the drive of lift motor 46. As a result, the swing links 42 are
swung to raise or lower the sub-frame 22. Thus, the lift motor 46
drives the sub-frame 22 upward or downward for selectively
establishing a lower operative state and an upper inoperative
state. In the lower operative state, the polisher device 20 is in a
lower position with the pad unit contacting the floor surface with
a contact pressure necessary for polishing treatment. In the upper
inoperative state, the polisher device 20 is in an upper position
with the pad unit afloat above the floor surface, for the machine
to move while the pads 21 remain clear of the floor surface.
Further, when the polisher device 20 is lowered to the lower
operative position, the pair of front and rear cleaning nozzles 11
are lowered to a level close to the floor surface. When the
polisher device 20 is raised to the upper inoperative position, the
pair of front and rear cleaning nozzles 11 are raised high above
the floor surface.
[0035] The cleaning solution tank 12 has an inlet port formed in an
upper rearward position thereof and opened and closed by a
removable lid 12b. The cleaning solution is supplied through the
inlet port into and stored in the cleaning solution tank 12. With
the polisher device 20 switched to the lower operative position,
the cleaning solution supplying device 10 opens the electromagnetic
switch valve 15 to supply the cleaning solution to the floor
surface.
[0036] That is, when the polisher device 20 is switched to the
lower operative position, the pair of cleaning nozzles 11 assume an
operative state close above the floor surface. The cleaning
solution flows down by gravity from the cleaning solution tank 12
into the tank-side hose 13b of the cleaning solution supplying
hoses 13. The distributing pipe 14 distributes the cleaning
solution to each nozzle-side hose 13a whereby the cleaning solution
flows in from the opposite ends of each cleaning nozzle 11. Then,
the front cleaning nozzle 11 allows the cleaning solution to drip
from a plurality of supply bores 11a formed longitudinally of the
nozzle 11, to the floor surface forwardly of the pad unit. The rear
cleaning nozzle 11 allows the cleaning solution to drip from a
plurality of supply bores 11a formed longitudinally of the nozzle
11, to the floor surface between the first pad 21 and second pad
21.
[0037] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, for example, the polisher device
20 includes a pair of right and left guide rails 23 formed of round
rods arranged at opposite sides in the sub-frame 22 and extending
straight longitudinally of the machine body, pad supports 24
rectangular in plan view, extending transversely of the machine
body and arranged fore and aft in a lower region of the sub-frame
22 for supporting the first pad 21 and second pad 21, respectively,
and a pad control mechanism 50 having a drive gear 51 mounted in
the sub-frame 22.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 6, for example, each of the right and left
guide rails 23 extends between and fixed to the front wall 22a and
rear wall 22e of the sub-frame 22. Each pad support 24 has rail
receiving blocks 25 fixed to upper surfaces adjacent opposite ends
thereof and acting as sliding elements for sliding along the guide
rails 23. The rail receiving blocks 25 adjacent one end of each pad
support 24 receive one of the guide rails 23, while the rail
receiving blocks 25 adjacent the other end receive the other guide
rail 23. The straight guide rails 23 and rail receiving blocks 25
act as a device for guiding the pad supports 24 or the pads 21.
Thus, the pads 21 are guided to reciprocate straight along the
traveling direction of the machine. As a result, each pad 21
reciprocates linearly while maintaining a track of its polishing
surface 21a in one plane. The polishing surface 21a thereby
contacts the floor surface reliably and smoothly.
[0039] The first pad 21 is removably connected to the lower surface
of the front pad support 24 by a mounting pawl 26a disposed at one
end of a mounting plate 26 attached to the upper surface of the
first pad 21, the mounting pawl 26a engaging a mounting bore formed
in the pad support 24, and a mounting bracket 27 at the other end
of the mounting plate 26 fastened to the pad support 24 by a hook
28 of the pad support 24. Similarly, the second pad 21 is removably
connected to the rear pad support 24. The pad supports 24 carrying
the pads 21 are supported by the sub-frame 22 to be slidable along
the traveling direction of the machine by the pad control mechanism
50 and the guiding device.
[0040] As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, for example, the pad control
mechanism 50 includes a polisher motor 29 fixed to an upper surface
of a top board 22d of the sub-frame 22 to act as an electric drive
unit of the polisher device 20, the drive gear 51 connected, to be
rotatable together, to an output shaft 29a projecting downward from
the motor 29, and four driven gears 53 acting as rotatable control
elements arranged equidistantly around the drive gear 51 and meshed
with the drive gear 51. Each driven gear 53 is supported by a
support shaft 52 attached to the top board 22d to be rotatable
about the axis 52a, with a gear portion 53a thereof having a
smaller number of teeth than the drive gear 51.
[0041] Each driven gear 53 has an eccentric cam 55 formed of a
bearing disposed below a main body 54 thereof and having an axis of
rotation offset from the axis of rotation 52a of driven gear 53.
This eccentric cam 55 is slidably and rotatably fitted in a control
groove 57 formed in a profile member acting as a linear cam
follower 56 formed on the upper surface of the pad support 24. That
is, the drive gear 51, driven gears 53, eccentric cams 55 and
linear cam followers 56 constitute a rotational displacement to
linear displacement converting eccentric mechanism.
[0042] Thus, by appropriately adjusting a position of each
eccentric cam 55, the first pad 21 and second pad 21 are driven to
reciprocate in a first direction A in which the first pad 21 and
second pad 21 approach each other and in a second direction B in
which the first pad 21 and second pad 21 move away from each other.
Moreover, by the, aid of the guiding device described above, the
first direction A and second directions B for reciprocating the
first pad 21 and second pad 21 may be made linear and parallel the
floor surface.
[0043] More particularly, when the polisher motor 29 is operated,
the drive gear 51 is driven by the polisher motor 29 to rotate all
the driven gears 53. Then, the eccentric cams 55 of the pair of
right and left driven gears 53 disposed forwardly of the drive gear
51 with respect to the traveling direction of the machine
reciprocate the first pad 21 in the traveling direction of the
machine along the right and left guide rails 23. Similarly, the
eccentric cams 55 of the pair of right and left driven gears 53
disposed rearwardly of the drive gear 51 with respect to the
traveling direction of the machine reciprocate the second pad 21 in
the traveling direction of the machine along the right and left
guide rails 23.
[0044] By appropriately selecting a relative position (phase
relationship) between the eccentric cams 55 of driven gears 53 that
drive the first pad 21 and the eccentric cams 55 of driven gears 53
that drive the second pad 21, the first pad 21 and second pad 21
repeat a linear reciprocation toward and away from each other.
[0045] As described hereinbefore, the polisher device 20 is placed
in the lower operative state by lowering action of the lift
mechanism 40 driven by the lift motor 46. In this state, the
polisher motor 26 may be driven to dean and polish the floor
surface.
[0046] That is, the polisher motor 29 drives the drive gear 51,
whereby the pads 21 repeat the linear reciprocation toward and away
from each other as noted above, to polish the floor surface while
spreading the cleaning solution dripping from the cleaning nozzles
11 over the floor surface. At this time, the front cleaning nozzle
11 supplies the cleaning solution forwardly of the first pad 21,
and the rear cleaning nozzle 11 supplies the cleaning solution
between the first pad 21 and second pad 21. Even if each cleaning
nozzle 11 supplies a relatively small quantity of the cleaning
solution, a proper quantity of the cleaning solution reliably
adheres to both pads 21 to be spread over the floor surface. As a
result, a minimum quantity of the cleaning solution will remain on
the floor surface as excess. With the first pad 21 and second pad
21 repeating the linear reciprocation toward and away from each
other, any excess quantity of the cleaning solution spread and
remaining on the floor surface is collected and held between the
pads 21. As a result, such part of the cleaning solution does not
readily flow out or scatter to the ambient.
[0047] As shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning solution collecting device
30 includes the squeegee 31 disposed below the steering post 4, the
collection tank 32 having its interior communicating through a
suction hose 33 with a suction port 31a disposed in a middle
position of the squeegee 31 transversely of the machine body, and
an electric vacuum pump 35 communicating through an exhaust hose 34
with the interior of the collection tank 32.
[0048] The squeegee 31 is connected to the body frame 1 to be
vertically movable between a lower operative position having a
lower end thereof in contact with the floor surface, and an upper
inoperative position above the floor surface. With the squeegee 31
placed in the lower operative position and the vacuum pump 35
driven, the cleaning solution collecting device 30 collects into
the collection tank 32 the cleaning solution contaminated as a
result of the cleaning and polishing action of the polisher device
20.
[0049] Specifically, the vacuum pump 35 takes air out of the
collection tank 32 through the exhaust hose 34, and discharges the
air from an exhaust port 35a, to generate a suction force in the
collection tank 32. The squeegee 31, by flexion, rakes to its
middle portion the contaminated cleaning solution remaining on the
floor surface after the polisher device 20. The suction hose 33, by
virtue of the suction force in the collection tank 32, sucks the
cleaning solution collected to the middle portion of the squeegee
31, from the suction port 31a into the collection tank 32.
[0050] [Second Embodiment]
[0051] FIG. 7 shows a floor working machine in the second
embodiment. This working machine includes a body frame 60, a pair
of right and left transport wheels 61 attached to the rear end of
the body frame 60, a control handle 62 with legs 62a connected to
opposite sides of a middle portion in the fore and aft direction of
the body frame 60, a cleaning solution supplying device 70 having a
pair of front and rear cleaning nozzles 71 arranged in the fore and
aft direction under the body frame 60, and a polisher device 20
having a first pad 21 and a second pad 21 arranged in the fore and
aft direction.
[0052] This working machine may be moved to a site of operation by
the operator holding the control handle 62 by grips 62b and using
the transport wheels 61 as shown in FIG. 8. At the site of
operation, the machine is allowed to rest on the floor surface
through the pair of pads 21, with the entire weight thereof falling
on the pads 21. A cleaning solution stored in a cleaning solution
tank 72 installed in a halfway position on the control handle 62 is
supplied to the floor surface through the pair of cleaning nozzles
71. A pad unit having the first pad 21 and second pad 21 cleans and
polishes the floor surface supplied with the cleaning solution.
[0053] The cleaning solution supplying device 70 includes the front
cleaning nozzle 71 formed of one long metal pipe fixed to an outer
surface of a front wall of the body frame 60 and extending
transversely of the machine body, the rear cleaning nozzle 171
formed of one long metal pipe disposed between the first pad 21 and
second pad 21, extending transversely of the machine body and fixed
to right and left side walls of the machine frame 60, and the
cleaning solution tank 72 having an outlet port 72a communicating
with opposite ends of each cleaning nozzle 71 through cleaning
solution supplying hoses 73.
[0054] The cleaning solution supplying hoses 73 include a plurality
of nozzle-side hoses 73a each communicating at one end thereof with
one end of one cleaning nozzle 71, and a tank-side hose 73b having
one end thereof communicating with the other ends of the plurality
of nozzle-side hoses 73a through a distributing pipe 74, and the
other end communicating with the outlet port 72a of cleaning
solution tank 72.
[0055] A switch valve 75 is mounted in the outlet port 72a of
cleaning solution tank 72. Control levers 76 are disposed on the
control handle 62 below the grips 62b for operating the switch
valve 75 through a control cable.
[0056] Thus, the cleaning solution is supplied through an inlet
port 72b disposed in an upper position of the cleaning solution
tank 72 and stored in the cleaning solution tank 72. The cleaning
solution is supplied to the floor surface by operating the switch
lever 76 to open the switch valve 75.
[0057] That is, the cleaning solution flows down by gravity from
the cleaning solution tank 72 into the tank-side hose 73b of the
cleaning solution supplying hoses 73. The distributing pipe 74
distributes the cleaning solution to each nozzle-side hose 73a
whereby the cleaning solution flows in from the opposite ends of
each cleaning nozzle 71. Then, the front cleaning nozzle 71 allows
the cleaning solution to drip from a plurality of supply bores
formed longitudinally thereof, to the floor surface forwardly of
the pad unit. The rear cleaning nozzle 71 allows the cleaning
solution to drip from a plurality of supply bores formed
longitudinally thereof, to the floor surface between the first pad
21 and second pad 21.
[0058] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the polisher device 20, as in
the preceding embodiment, includes a pair of right and left guide
rails 23 formed of round rods arranged at opposite sides in the
machine frame 60 and extending straight longitudinally of the
machine body, a pair of front and rear pad supports 24 rectangular
in plan view, extending transversely of the machine body and
arranged fore and aft in a lower region of the machine frame 60,
the first pad 21 and second pad 21 supported by the pad supports
24, respectively, and a pad control mechanism 80 having a drive
gear 81 mounted centrally of the machine frame 60.
[0059] Each of the right and left guide rails 23 extends between
and fixed to the front wall and rear wall of the machine frame 60.
Each of the front and rear pad supports 24 has rail receiving
blocks 25 fixed to upper surfaces adjacent opposite ends thereof
and acting as sliding elements for sliding along the guide rails
23. In this embodiment also, the guide rails 23 and rail receiving
blocks 25 act as a device for guiding the first pad 21 and second
pad 21.
[0060] The first pad 21 disposed forwardly with respect to the
traveling direction of the machine is detachably attached to the
lower surface of the front pad support 24 by the same mounting
structure as in the preceding embodiment. As a result, the first
pad 21 is supported by the body frame 60 to be slidable
longitudinally of the machine body through the pad support 24 and
the pair of right and left guide rails 23. Similarly, the second
pad 21 disposed rearwardly with respect to the traveling direction
of the machine is detachably attached to the lower surface of the
rear pad support 24, and supported by the body frame 60 to be
slidable longitudinally of the machine body through the pad support
24 and the pair of right and left guide rails 23.
[0061] The pad control mechanism 80 includes a polisher motor 29
fixed to an upper surface of a top board 60a of the machine frame
60 through a motor deck 64, the drive gear 81 connected, to be
rotatable together, to an output shaft 29a projecting downward from
the motor 29, and two driven gears 82 acting as rotatable control
elements distributed forwardly and rearwardly and to the right and
left of the drive gear 51 and supported by support shafts 82a fixed
to the top board 60a of the machine frame 60 to be rotatable about
the axes 82b of the support shafts 82a, and links 83 each having
one end thereof pivotally connected to a position of one of the
driven gears 82 offset from the axis of rotation 82b, and the other
end pivotally connected to the upper surface of one of the pad
supports 24. Both of the driven gears 82 are meshed with the drive
gear 81. The drive gear 81, driven gears 82 and links 83 constitute
a slider/crank mechanism for the pad unit.
[0062] The pad control mechanism 80 acting as the slider/crank
mechanism is driven by the polisher motor 29 to reciprocate the
first pad 21 and second pad 21 in a first direction A in which the
first pad 21 and second pad 21 approach each other and in a second
direction B in which the first pad 21 and second pad 21 move away
from each other. Moreover, by the aid of the guiding device
described above, the first direction A and second directions B for
reciprocating the first pad 21 and second pad 21 are linear and
parallel the floor surface.
[0063] More particularly, when the polisher motor 29 is operated,
the drive gear 81 is driven by the polisher motor 29 to rotate the
two driven gears 82. Then, the links 83 connected to the driven
gears 53 convert the rotation of the driven gears 82 to a linear
reciprocal displacement. This converted drive slides the pad
supports 24 back and forth along the right and left guide rails 23.
As a result, the two pads 21 also reciprocate in the fore and aft
direction of the machine frame 60 along the right and left guide
rails 23.
[0064] By adjusting a phase of assembly between the two driven
gears 82 and corresponding links 83, the first pad 21 and second
pad 21 may make a linear reciprocation toward and away from each
other.
[0065] With the machine body 60 resting on the floor surface
through the pads 21, the polisher motor 29 may be operated to drive
the drive gear 81. Then the pad control mechanism 80 is driven to
reciprocate the two pads 21 linearly toward and away from each
other in the fore and aft direction on the floor surface. The two
pads 21 polish the floor surface while spreading the cleaning
solution dripping from the front and rear nozzles 11 over the floor
surface.
[0066] This working machine is operable with the weight of the
entire machine body falling on the pads 21. The two pads 21 are
slidably supported by the body frame 60 through the pad supports 24
and guide rails 23 to make a linear reciprocation toward and away
from each other. Thus, reaction forces applied from the floor to
the respective pads 21 cancel each other. The machine can operate
while suppressing slippage and vibration due to the reaction forces
from the floor. As a result, the machine body is maintained steady
by the operator lightly holding the control handle 62, and the
operation may be carried out easily with little vibration
transmitted to the operator's hands holding the control handle
62.
[0067] In each of the above embodiments, the pad unit includes two
pads 21. Instead, the pad unit may include three or more pads 21.
In this case, an adjacent pair of pads among the plurality of pads
21 may be arranged linearly reciprocable toward and away from each
other.
[0068] The cleaning solution supplying device 10 or 70 may have
only a cleaning nozzle for supplying the cleaning solution
forwardly of the pad unit, or only a cleaning nozzle for supplying
the cleaning solution between the pads 21.
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