U.S. patent application number 11/062627 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-17 for floor cleaning machine, particularly for industrial applications.
This patent application is currently assigned to COMAC S.p.A.. Invention is credited to Ruffo, Massimiliano.
Application Number | 20050251937 11/062627 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34933321 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050251937 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ruffo, Massimiliano |
November 17, 2005 |
Floor cleaning machine, particularly for industrial
applications
Abstract
A floor cleaning machine, particularly for industrial
applications, comprising a chassis that supports in a downward
region at least one brush, which can be actuated with a rotary
motion, and at least one floor wiper, which is arranged to the rear
of the brush along the travel direction of the machine and is
arranged substantially transversely to the travel direction of the
machine, the floor wiper being freely rotatably associated with the
chassis about a substantially vertical oscillation axis.
Inventors: |
Ruffo, Massimiliano;
(Verona, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MODIANO & ASSOCIATI
Via Meravigli, 16
MILANO
20123
IT
|
Assignee: |
COMAC S.p.A.
|
Family ID: |
34933321 |
Appl. No.: |
11/062627 |
Filed: |
February 23, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/49.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 11/305 20130101;
A47L 11/4038 20130101; A47L 11/4052 20130101; A47L 11/4061
20130101; A47L 11/4044 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/049.1 |
International
Class: |
A47L 011/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 11, 2004 |
IT |
VR2004A000082 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A floor cleaning machine for industrial applications, comprising
a chassis; at least one brush supported at said chassis in a
downward region thereof so as to be actuatable with a rotary
motion; and at least one floor wiper, which is arranged rearwardly
with respect to said at least one brush, along a travel direction
of the machine and substantially transversely to said travel
direction of the machine; said at least one floor wiper being
associated with said chassis so as to be freely rotatable about a
substantially vertical oscillation axis.
2. The machine of claim 1, wherein said at least one brush is
supported at said chassis so as to be rotatable about a
substantially vertical rotation axis, said oscillation axis of said
at least one floor wiper substantially coinciding with said
vertical rotation axis of said at least one brush, at least when
said at least one brush and said at least one floor wiper are in an
active position.
3. The machine of claim 1, comprising connecting means for
connecting said at least one floor wiper to said chassis, said
connecting means being adapted to vary on command a gap distance
between said at least one floor wiper and said chassis along a
substantially vertical direction in order to lift and lower said
floor wiper with respect to a surface of a floor.
4. The machine of claim 3, comprising motor means that are
functionally connected to said at least one brush, and a base, said
at least one brush being associated with said base, which is
connected to said chassis and supports said motor means.
5. The machine of claim 4, further comprising interconnection means
located, between said base and said chassis, which can be operated
in order to vary a spacing distance of said base from said chassis
along a substantially vertical direction.
6. The machine of claim 5, wherein said floor wiper comprises a
supporting body, and a blade made of elastically flexible material
detachably fitted on said supporting body, said blade being adapted
to engage the surface of the floor, said supporting body being
detachably associable by snap coupling with said connecting
means.
7. The machine of claim 6, wherein said connecting means comprise:
a connecting element that is connectable with said supporting body
of said floor wiper; a bush that is rotatably coupled to a rotation
pivot, which is supported in a downward region of said chassis and
is orientated coaxially to a substantially horizontal oscillation
axis; at least one pair of connecting bars which are arranged on a
substantially vertical plane so as to be substantially parallel to
each other and spaced, said connecting bars being coupled at first
ends thereof, for oscillation about said substantially horizontal
axis, with said connecting element and, at second ends thereof,
with said brush.
8. The machine of claim 5, wherein said interconnection means
comprise lever means, and a control pedal, connected to said lever
means and operatable by a user.
9. The machine of claim 7, comprising further snap-action quick
anchoring means for detachably coupling said supporting body of
said floor wiper to said connecting element.
10. The machine of claim 1, wherein said at least one floor wiper
is substantially shaped like a circular arc and lies in a region
that is located around said at least one brush.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a floor cleaning machine,
particularly for industrial applications.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Floor cleaning machines are known which generally comprise a
box-like structure that forms, in a downward region, a chamber that
is open toward the floor and accommodates a nozzle for dispensing a
washing liquid and a rotating brush that performs a mechanical
action for deep cleaning of the floor. To the rear of the brush
along the direction of travel of the machine, there is usually a
floor wiper, substantially constituted by a strip or blade made of
rubber, which is pressed elastically against the floor and is
arranged substantially transversely to the direction of travel of
the machine. The wiper is designed to collect the washing liquid
and the dirt removed from the floor by the action of the brush so
that they can be recovered by an appropriate suction intake,
thereby leaving the floor clean and dry.
[0003] A drawback that is observed in this type of machine arises
from the fact that unless a wiper is provided that has a
considerable width with respect to the width of the box-like
structure of the machine and a powerful suction system connected to
the suction intake, these machines are not capable of ensuring
optimum floor drying if a turn is made as the machine travels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The aim of the present invention is to solve the problem
noted above by providing a floor cleaning machine, particularly for
industrial applications, that can perform deep cleaning of the
floor so as to avoid, if the machine turns, leaving residues of
dirty liquid on the floor, without having to use bulky floor wipers
or powerful suction systems.
[0005] Within this aim, another object of the present invention is
to provide a machine that is structurally simple and can be
provided at competitive production costs.
[0006] This aim and these and other objects that will become better
apparent hereinafter are achieved by a floor cleaning machine,
particularly for industrial applications, according to the
invention, comprising a chassis that supports in a downward region
at least one brush, which can be actuated with a rotary motion, and
at least one floor wiper, which is arranged to the rear of said at
least one brush along the travel direction of the machine and is
arranged substantially transversely to the travel direction of the
machine, characterized in that said at least one floor wiper is
freely rotatably associated with said chassis about a substantially
vertical oscillation axis.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will
become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not
exclusive embodiment of the machine according to the invention,
illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a machine
according to the invention, with parts omitted for the sake of
simplicity;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the machine of FIG.
1, taken along a vertical plane, with the brush and the wiper in
the operating or active condition;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the machine, taken
along a vertical plane, in an inactive or idle condition of the
brush and of the wiper;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a front view of the machine of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0012] In the examples of embodiments that follow, individual
characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may
actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that
exist in other examples of embodiments.
[0013] Moreover, it is to be noted that anything found to be
already known during the patenting process is understood not to be
claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.
[0014] With reference to the figures, the floor cleaning machine
particularly for industrial applications according to the
invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1,
comprises a chassis 2, which supports in an upward region several
service devices of the machine, such as for example means for
dispensing the washing liquid, means for aspirating the washing
liquid, and means for the electrical and/or mechanical actuation of
said machine, all of which are of a per se known type and are not
illustrated for the sake of simplicity.
[0015] As clearly shown, the chassis 2 may have a box-like shape,
which forms a chamber 3, which is open on its side directed toward
the floor 4 and in which there is at least one brush 5, which can
be actuated with a rotary motion about a respective rotation axis
5a, which is preferably substantially vertical.
[0016] In a region of the chamber 3 that is arranged to the rear of
the brush 5 along the direction of travel 6 of the machine during
use, there is at least one floor wiper 7, which lies substantially
transversely to the travel direction 5 and is designed to collect,
in cooperation with an appropriate suction intake (not shown in the
figures) arranged between the brush 5 and the floor wiper 7, the
washing liquid dispensed by appropriately provided nozzles (also
not shown), which are also arranged in the chamber 3, and the dirt
removed by the action of the brush 5.
[0017] The peculiarity of the invention consists in that the floor
wiper 7 is freely rotatably associated with the chassis 2 about a
substantially vertical oscillation axis 7a. In this way, the floor
wiper 7 is in fact capable of rotating automatically about its
oscillation axis 7a if the machine turns, due to the friction
caused by its sliding on the floor 4, so as to be able to follow
the machine in every change of direction thereof and avoid leaving
on the floor regions that have not been dried by the floor wiper
7.
[0018] Advantageously, at least when the machine according to the
invention is in the active condition with the floor wiper 7 and the
brush 5 acting on the floor 4, the oscillation axis 7a of the floor
wiper 7 substantially coincides with the rotation axis 5a of the
brush 5. It has in fact been noted that in practical use, with this
arrangement of the rotation axis 5a with respect to the oscillation
axis 7a, a better rotation response of the floor wiper 7 following
a turn of the machine is achieved.
[0019] Conveniently, the floor wiper 7 is connected to the chassis
2 by connecting means 8, which allow to vary on command, i.e. upon
actuation by a user, the gap distance between the floor wiper 7 and
the chassis 2 in a substantially vertical direction and therefore
to lift or lower the floor wiper 7 with respect to the surface of
the floor 4.
[0020] Substantially, the connecting means 8 allow, when lifted, to
position the floor wiper 7 in an inactive condition, in which it
does not engage the floor 4 and therefore does not act thereon to
collect the dirt and detergent and, when lowered, to arrange it in
an active position, optionally with the possibility to adjust its
preloading against the floor 4 and compensate for any play caused
by wear.
[0021] Advantageously, the brush 5 is associated with a base 9,
which is connected to the chassis 2 and supports motor means 10,
which are constituted for example by a known type of electric motor
and are designed to rotationally actuate the brush 5.
[0022] More particularly, the base 9 is rigidly coupled to the
chassis 2 with the interposition of interconnection means 11, which
conveniently can be operated in order to allow to vary the spacing
distance of the base 9 from the chassis 2 along a substantially
vertical direction. Thanks to the interconnection means 11, it is
therefore possible to move the brush 5 from a raised inactive
position, in which it is spaced upwardly from the floor 4, to a
lowered active position, in which the brush 5 can apply its
mechanical cleaning action to the floor 4, and vice versa.
[0023] Preferably, the floor wiper 7 comprises a supporting body
12, which is detachably associable by snap coupling with the
connecting means 8 and on which a blade 13 made of elastically
flexible material, such as for example rubber, is detachably
fitted; said blade is designed to engage in a known manner the
surface of the floor 4 in order to allow to recover the washing
liquid and the dirt. In a preferred example of embodiment, the
blade 13 can be associated with the supporting body 12 by means of
anchoring devices (not shown), constituted by toothed levers, which
are rotatably associated with a first portion of the supporting
body 12 and cooperate with traction members associated with a
second portion of the supporting body 12, in order to move the
second portion closer to the first portion so as to stably and
rapidly fasten the blade 13 between them.
[0024] Advantageously, the connecting means 8 comprise at least one
pair of connecting bars 14, which are arranged side by side and
superimposed so that they are substantially parallel and spaced
with respect to each other on a substantially vertical plane. The
connecting bars 14 are associated so that they can oscillate, about
a substantially horizontal axis, at one of their ends, with a
connecting element 15, which is designed to be coupled to the
supporting body 12 of the floor wiper 7, and are associated, at
their other end, with a bush 16, which is rotatably coupled to a
rotation pivot 17 that protrudes downwardly from the chassis 2 and
is orientated coaxially to the oscillation axis 7a. Appropriate
control means are further conveniently provided which act on the
connecting means 8 and allow to control and actuate the
lifting/lowering of the floor wiper 7.
[0025] The interconnection means 11 are preferably constituted by
lever means, which are for example functionally connected to an
actuation or control pedal 18, which can be operated by the user in
contrast with elastic return means in order to lift the brush 5
with respect to the floor 4.
[0026] In an example of embodiment, the supporting body 12 of the
floor wiper 7 can be detachably coupled to the connecting element
15 by way of snap-acting quick-coupling means, which are
constituted for example by at least one pivot 20, which is
associated with the supporting body 12 and can be inserted in a
receptacle, which is formed in the connecting body 15 and at which
a pivoted lever 21 acts, said lever being elastically loaded in
order to engage by snap action, by way of an engagement end, an
engagement region formed on the pivot 20, said lever being
actuatable, at its other end, so as to allow quick assembly and
disassembly of the floor wiper 7.
[0027] It should be noted that the floor wiper 7 is advantageously
shaped substantially like a circular arc and lies in a region
around the brush 5, so as to surround it at least in its rear part
and preferably at least partially also laterally with respect to
the travel direction 6 of the machine.
[0028] For the sake of completeness in description, it should be
noted that the chassis 2 can be provided with free wheels in order
to facilitate movement of the machine or with motorized driving
wheels 22 for mechanical propulsion of said machine.
[0029] Operation of the machine according to the invention is as
follows.
[0030] If deep cleaning of the floor 4 is required, the machine is
equipped with the floor wiper 7, which is arranged in the active
condition, while the brush 5 is arranged into the lowered active
position and rotated about the rotation axis 5a.
[0031] Travel of the machine along the direction 6 causes the floor
wiper 7 to collect the washing liquid and the dirt removed by the
brush 5. If the travel direction of the machine is changed, for
example by steering, the floor wiper 7 orientates itself
automatically, by rotating about the oscillation axis 7a, in a
position that is substantially transverse to the new travel
direction of the machine by way of the friction caused by its
sliding on the floor 4.
[0032] All the characteristics of the invention described above as
advantageous, convenient or the like may also be omitted or be
replaced with equivalents.
[0033] The individual characteristics described with reference to
general teachings or particular embodiments may all be present in
other embodiments or may replace characteristics in these other
embodiments.
[0034] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous
modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of
the appended claims.
[0035] In practice it has been observed that the invention achieves
its aim and objects in all of its embodiments.
[0036] In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent
shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements.
[0037] All the details may further be replaced with other
technically equivalent elements.
[0038] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No.
VR2004A000082 from which this application claims priority are
incorporated herein by reference.
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