U.S. patent application number 12/219342 was filed with the patent office on 2009-02-05 for floor cleaning machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to COMAC S.p.A.. Invention is credited to Alessandro Crivellaro.
Application Number | 20090031521 12/219342 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38870329 |
Filed Date | 2009-02-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090031521 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Crivellaro; Alessandro |
February 5, 2009 |
Floor cleaning machine
Abstract
A floor cleaning machine comprising a chassis which can travel
over the floor along a travel direction and supports, on its side
directed toward the floor, elements for cleaning the floor and, to
the rear with respect to the floor cleaning elements along the
travel direction of the chassis, a floor wiper which can move, with
respect to the chassis, along a path which is substantially
transverse to the travel direction of the chassis; the chassis is
provided with steering elements which can be operated to change its
travel direction; the machine further comprises actuation elements
which act on the floor wiper to move the floor wiper along the path
following an intervention performed on the steering elements to
change the travel direction of the chassis.
Inventors: |
Crivellaro; Alessandro;
(Padova, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MODIANO & ASSOCIATI
Via Meravigli, 16
Milano
20123
IT
|
Assignee: |
COMAC S.p.A.
|
Family ID: |
38870329 |
Appl. No.: |
12/219342 |
Filed: |
July 21, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/320 ; 15/401;
15/50.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 11/4069 20130101;
A47L 11/4044 20130101; A47L 11/4072 20130101; A47L 11/4061
20130101; A47L 11/30 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/320 ; 15/401;
15/50.1 |
International
Class: |
A47L 7/00 20060101
A47L007/00; A47L 5/00 20060101 A47L005/00; A47L 11/00 20060101
A47L011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 2, 2007 |
EP |
07425500 |
Claims
1. A floor cleaning machine comprising a chassis which can travel
over the floor along a travel direction and supports, on its side
directed toward the floor, means for cleaning the floor and, to the
rear with respect to said floor cleaning means along the travel
direction of said chassis, a floor wiper which can move, with
respect to said chassis, along a path which is substantially
transverse to the travel direction of said chassis, said chassis
being provided with steering means which can be operated to change
its travel direction, characterized in that it comprises actuation
means which act on said floor wiper to move said floor wiper along
said path following an intervention performed on said steering
means to change the travel direction of said chassis.
2. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said actuation means
are adapted to impart to said floor wiper a movement along said
path in the opposite direction with respect to the center of
curvature of the turn performed by said chassis following an
intervention on said steering means.
3. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said actuation means
can be activated by way of said steering means.
4. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said actuation means
comprise kinematic connection means, which are adapted to connect
said steering means to said floor wiper.
5. The machine according to claim 4, wherein said kinematic
connection means comprise at least one actuation rod which is
functionally connected, at a first end, to said steering means and
is connected kinematically, at a second end, to said floor wiper,
said at least one actuation rod being able to perform a
translational motion in either direction along its own axis with
respect to said chassis in order to produce a movement, in either
direction, of said floor wiper along said path in response to an
intervention on said steering means to vary the advancement
direction of said chassis.
6. The machine according to claim 5, comprising first elastic
return means which contrast, at least in one direction, the axial
translational motion of said at least one actuation rod.
7. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said floor wiper is
connected to said chassis by way of a pair of linkages which are
substantially mutually parallel and are articulated, at one of
their ends, to said chassis and, at their other end, to a
respective end portion of said floor wiper.
8. The machine according to claim 5, wherein said actuation means
comprise at least one actuation arm which is mounted so that it can
oscillate on said chassis about an oscillation axis which is
substantially perpendicular to the floor and is functionally
connected, with one of its end portions, to said floor wiper, said
actuation arm being angularly movable on command, about said
oscillation axis, following an intervention performed on said
steering means in the same direction as the steering imparted to
said chassis by said steering means.
9. The machine according to claim 5, wherein said steering means
comprise at least one steerable wheel, which is mounted on said
chassis so that it can rotate about a steering axis which is
substantially perpendicular to the floor, and can be actuated so as
to rotate by means of an actuatable steering element, said at least
one steerable wheel being adapted to act on said first end of said
at least one actuation rod in order to produce a translational
motion of said at least one actuation rod along its own axis
following a rotation of said at least one steerable wheel about
said steering axis.
10. The machine according to claim 9, wherein said at least one
actuation rod is connected, at said second end thereof, to lever
means which act on said actuation arm to produce, following an
axial translational motion of said at least one actuation rod
achieved by way of a rotation of said at least one steerable wheel
about said steering axis, an angular movement of said actuation arm
about its own oscillation axis in the same direction as the
rotation of said at least one steerable wheel.
11. The machine according to claim 8, wherein said lever means
comprise a first lever which is pivoted, at one of its ends, to
said second end of said at least one actuation rod and, at the
other end, to said chassis, and a second L-shaped lever which is
pivoted with an intermediate region to said chassis, in contrast
with second return means, and has one side of its L-shape pivoted
to an end of a linkage which is articulated, at its other end, to
an intermediate portion of said first lever, and the other side of
the L-shape with a fork-shaped free end which engages said
actuation arm.
12. The machine according to claim 5, wherein said at least one
steerable wheel has abutment means, which are designed to engage
said first end of at least one actuation rod to apply an axial
thrust to said at least one actuation rod in one direction or the
other depending on the direction of rotation about said steering
axis imparted to said at least one steerable wheel to turn said
chassis.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a floor cleaning
machine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] As is known, floor cleaning and drying machines for
industrial or professional use are constituted substantially by a
chassis which can move on the floor and supports floor cleaning
means, constituted typically by at least one brush which can be
actuated so as to rotate, by a device for dispensing a washing
liquid, and by a suction device which draws the washing liquid and
the dirt, partially drying the floor.
[0003] To the rear of the cleaning means, along the direction of
travel of the chassis along the floor, there is usually a floor
wiper, constituted by an elongated body which is arranged
substantially transversely to the direction of travel of the
machine and supports a strip of flexible material, such as rubber
or the like, which is kept elastically in contact with the floor in
order to allow, as the machine travels, to collect the washing
liquid and the dirt removed by the action of the brush, which can
thus be removed easily by the suction device, so as to leave the
floor dry and clean.
[0004] In some known solutions, the floor wiper is fixed to the
machine chassis and typically has a considerable length, which
increases its lateral footprint, so that if the machine chassis
steers, regions which are wet because they are not affected by the
action of the floor wiper are not left on the floor.
[0005] In other known solutions, in order to avoid leaving dirty
liquid residues on the floor if the machine chassis steers, the
floor wiper is mounted so that it can rotate freely about an axis
which is substantially perpendicular to the floor, so that when the
machine steers the floor wiper automatically arranges itself
laterally with respect to the machine chassis due to its friction
against the floor.
[0006] However, even this solution, while allowing to reduce
significantly the lateral space occupation of the floor wiper, has
not turned out to be fully satisfactory, since the movements
performed by the floor wiper in case of machine steering are often
limited in extent, and therefore wet regions at the turns of the
machine still tend to remain on the floor.
[0007] Moreover, with this solution the floor wiper, in case of
steering, tends to arrange itself proximate to the side of the
chassis that is directed toward the inside of the turn made by the
machine, with the consequence however of leaving wet the region of
the floor that lies on the opposite side.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The aim of the present invention is to solve the drawbacks
noted above by providing a floor cleaning machine which is devised
particularly for use in the industrial field and can perform deep
cleaning of the floor without leaving residues of dirty liquid on
the floor if the machine steers.
[0009] Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to
provide a floor cleaning machine which has a very simple structure
and is easy to use.
[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide a floor
cleaning machine which is capable of offering great assurances of
reliability and safety in use.
[0011] Still another object of the invention is to provide a floor
cleaning machine which can be obtained easily starting from
commonly commercially available elements and materials and is
further competitive from an economical standpoint.
[0012] This aim and these and other objects which will become
better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a floor cleaning
machine according to the invention, as defined in claim 1.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] 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:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the machine according to
the invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is an elevated perspective view of the machine
according to the invention with some parts omitted and other parts
shown in phantom lines for the sake of simplicity;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the machine
according to the invention, with parts omitted for greater
clarity;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the rear part of the
machine according to the invention, with some elements omitted for
the sake of simplicity and illustrating the floor wiper in the
central position;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the floor wiper of the
machine according to the invention, shifted laterally with respect
to the position shown in FIG. 3;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the front portion of the
machine, with portions shown in phantom lines and other portions
omitted, to show a steerable wheel which is arranged so as to allow
the machine to turn in one direction;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the steerable wheel of FIG.
5, arranged for turning in the opposite direction;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a schematic top plan view of the machine according
to the invention, during a turn.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] With reference to the figures cited above, the machine
according to the invention, generally designated by the reference
numeral 1, comprises a chassis 2 which can move along the floor in
a travel direction and supports, in a downward region, floor
cleaning means 3, which can comprise for example a nozzle, not
shown, for dispensing a washing liquid, at least one brush 3a which
has a vertical or horizontal axis and can be actuated so as to
rotate about its own axis by motor means which are supported by the
chassis 2 and are not shown for the sake of simplicity, and a
suction port 3b, which can be connected to a known type of suction
device and allows to pick up the washing liquid and the dirt
removed by the brush 3a.
[0023] To the rear of the floor cleaning means 3 along the travel
direction of the chassis 2, there is a floor wiper 4 which lies
transversely to the travel direction of the machine.
[0024] In particular, the floor wiper 4 is mounted on the chassis 2
so that it can move along a path 4a which lies substantially
transversely to the advancement direction of the chassis 2.
[0025] Moreover, the chassis 2 is provided with steering means 5
which can be maneuvered by the user to change the direction of
travel of the chassis 2.
[0026] As shown, the steering means 5 are arranged for example at a
driver's seat 6, which is preferably provided in a front region of
the chassis 2, and conveniently comprise at least one steerable
wheel 7, which is supported by the chassis 2 so that it can rotate
about its own axis and about a steering axis which is substantially
perpendicular to the floor.
[0027] Conveniently, the steerable wheel 7 can rotate about the
steering axis by means of a steering element which can be
maneuvered and is constituted for example by a steering wheel 8,
which is connected to the steerable wheel 7 in a per se known
manner.
[0028] Preferably, the output shaft of a driving motor 7a, for
example of the electric type, is functionally connected by way of
transmission means to the axle of the steerable wheel 7; such motor
is advantageously mounted monolithically with respect to the
steerable wheel 7 in its rotation about the steering axis.
[0029] It should be noted that two rear wheels 9 also are
conveniently connected to the chassis 2.
[0030] The peculiarity of the invention consists in that it
provides actuation means 10 which act on the floor wiper 4 to move
it along the path 4a following an intervention performed by the
user on the steering means 5 to vary the travel direction of the
chassis 2.
[0031] Advantageously, the actuation means 10 are adapted to move
the floor wiper 4 along the path 4a in the opposite direction with
respect to the center of curvature 100 of the turn made by the
chassis 2. In this manner, the floor wiper 4 is capable of drying
the floor correctly in a region which is external to the turn made
by the machine.
[0032] Conveniently, the actuation means 10 can be activated by way
of the steering means 5 and are advantageously provided by
providing kinematic connection means which are capable of producing
a mechanical connection between the steering means 5 and the floor
wiper 4.
[0033] Conveniently, such kinematic connection means comprise at
least one actuation rod 11, which is functionally connected, at a
first end 11a to the steering means 5 and is connected
kinematically, at a second end 11b, to the floor wiper 4.
[0034] With reference to the example shown in the figures, the
actuation rod 11 lies substantially parallel to the longitudinal
extension of the chassis 2 and can perform a translational motion,
in one direction or the other, along its own axis with respect to
the chassis 2 in order to move in one direction or the other the
floor wiper 4 along the path 4a in response to an intervention of
the user on the steering means 5.
[0035] Advantageously, first elastic return means 12 act on the
actuation rod 11 and are adapted to contrast the axial
translational motion of the actuation rod 11 at least in one
direction.
[0036] In particular, the first elastic return means 12 are
constituted for example by a helical spring 13, which is arranged
around the actuation rod 11, between an annular shoulder 14, which
is rigidly coupled to the actuation rod 11, and an eye 15, which is
fixed to the chassis 2 and slidingly supports the actuation rod
11.
[0037] Conveniently, the floor wiper 4 is connected to the chassis
2 by way of a pair of linkages 16, which lie substantially parallel
to each other and are articulated, at one of their ends, to the
chassis 2 and, at their other end, to a respective end portion of
the floor wiper 4.
[0038] Advantageously, the actuation means 10 of the floor wiper 4
comprise at least one actuation arm 17, which is pivoted to the
chassis 2 about an oscillation axis which is substantially
perpendicular to the floor and is functionally connected, with one
of its end portions, to the floor wiper 4.
[0039] In particular, the actuation arm 17 is capable of performing
on command, following an intervention performed on the steering
means 5, an angular movement about its own oscillation axis in the
same direction as the turn imparted to the chassis 2 by the
steering means 5 and more precisely as the direction of rotation
actuated to the steerable wheel 7 about its own steering axis, to
steer the chassis 2.
[0040] The actuation arm 17 engages conveniently between the prongs
of a fork-like element 18, which is connected to a central region
of the floor wiper 4 so that it can rotate about a pivoting axis
which is substantially parallel to the oscillation axis of the
actuation arm 17, in order to allow the movement of the floor wiper
4 along the path 4a when the actuation arm 17 rotates about its own
oscillation axis.
[0041] As shown in particular in FIGS. 6 and 7, the steerable wheel
7 is adapted to act on the first end 11a of the actuation rod 11 to
produce a translational motion of the actuation rod 11 along its
own axis following a rotation performed by the steerable wheel 7
about its own steering axis.
[0042] Preferably, the actuation rod 11 is provided, at its first
end 11a, with an engagement head 19, which protrudes with respect
to the axis of the actuation rod 11 toward the steerable wheel 7
and is provided conveniently with a gliding wheel 19a.
[0043] Conveniently, on the steerable wheel 7 there are abutment
means which are designed to engage the first end 11a of the
actuation rod 11 and more particularly its engagement head 19 so as
to push axially on the actuation rod 11 in one direction or the
other depending on the direction of rotation imparted to the
steerable wheel 7 about its own steering axis when the chassis 2 is
steered.
[0044] In particular, such abutment means are provided by providing
a structure 20 which is connected monolithically to the steerable
wheel 7 in its rotation about the steering axis and substantially
defines, in points which are diametrically opposite with respect to
the axis of the steerable wheel 7 and on opposite sides with
respect to its steering axis, two abutment surfaces 21 which are
directed toward each other and can engage selectively against the
engagement head 19 of the actuation rod 11 depending on the
direction of rotation imparted to the steerable wheel 7, about the
steering axis.
[0045] In greater detail, the structure 20 has an elongated plate
22 which lies substantially at right angles to the axis of the
steerable wheel 7 and to its steering axis and has two folded end
portions 22a, 22b, which protrude with respect to the plane of
arrangement of the remaining portion of the elongated plate 22 in
the opposite direction with respect to the steerable wheel 7 and
define, with their mutually facing faces, the abutment surfaces 21.
Conveniently, the folded end portions 22a, 22b are inclined and
mutually converge toward the steerable wheel 7.
[0046] It should be noted that the engagement of the abutment means
against the engagement head 19 of the actuation rod 11 can occur
for example after exceeding a preset angle of rotation of the
steerable wheel 7 with respect to its non-steered position which
allows the chassis 2 to travel in a straight line, so as to exclude
the intervention of the actuation means 10 on the floor wiper 4 in
case of turns of the chassis 2 with a limited steering angle.
[0047] At its second end 11b, the actuation rod 11 is
advantageously connected to lever means which act on the actuation
arm 17 to produce, following an axial translational motion of the
actuation rod 11 produced by a rotation about the steering axis of
the steerable wheel 7, an angular movement of the actuation arm 17
about its own oscillation axis in the same direction as the
rotation performed by the steerable wheel 7 about its own steering
axis.
[0048] Conveniently, such lever means comprise a first lever 23,
which is pivoted, at one of its ends, to the second end 11b of the
actuation rod 11 and, at the other end, to the chassis 2, and a
second L-shaped lever 24, which is pivoted, with an intermediate
region, to the chassis 2 about an articulation axis which is
substantially perpendicular to the floor. The second lever 24 can
rotate about its own articulation axis in contrast with second
return means, which are connected between the second lever 24 and
the chassis 2 and are constituted for example by a torsion spring
25 which is arranged on the pivot of the second lever 24.
[0049] In particular, the second lever 24 is pivoted with one side
24a of the L-shape to an end of a linkage 26, which is articulated,
at its other end, to an intermediate portion of the first lever 23
and is conveniently adjustable in length by means of threaded
elements.
[0050] The other side 24b of the second lever 24 advantageously has
a fork-shaped free end 27 which straddles the actuation arm 17 in
order to engage it rigidly in the rotation of the second lever 24
about its articulation axis.
[0051] Operation of the floor cleaning machine according to the
invention is as follows.
[0052] With the steerable wheel 7 in the non-steered position, the
floor wiper 4 is in a substantially centered position with respect
to the rear part of the chassis 2, as shown in FIG. 3.
[0053] When rotation in one direction of the steerable wheel 7
about its own steering axis is actuated by operating the steering
wheel 8 to correspondingly turn the chassis 2 and thus change the
travel direction of the machine, one of the folded end portions
22a, 22b engages the engagement head 19 of the actuation rod 11 so
that the steerable wheel 7, in its rotation about the steering
axis, can push the actuation rod 11, causing an axial translational
motion thereof.
[0054] As a consequence of this fact, the first lever 23 performs a
rotation about its own fulcrum, which is connected to the chassis
2, so as to actuate, by way of the linkage 26, the second lever 24
so that it rotates about its own articulation axis, overcoming the
action of the torsion spring 25.
[0055] The second lever 24, thus actuated, in turn causes an
angular movement of the actuation arm 17 about its own oscillation
axis, in the same direction of rotation as the steerable wheel 7,
consequently achieving a movement of the floor wiper along the path
4a, in the opposite direction with respect to the center of
curvature of the turn performed by the chassis 2.
[0056] Once the steerable wheel 7 has been returned to the
non-steered position, the action of the torsion spring 25 on the
second lever 24 allows to return the actuation arm 17 automatically
to its initial position and consequently return the floor wiper 4
to its centered position.
[0057] In practice it has been found that the invention fully
achieves the intended aim and in particular the fact is stressed
that thanks to the actuation means of the floor wiper it is
possible to ensure the correct movement of the floor wiper and
therefore perfect cleaning of the floor when the machine turns.
[0058] The individual characteristics described with reference to
general teachings or particular embodiments may all be present in
other embodiments or replace characteristics in these other
embodiments.
[0059] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous
modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of
the inventive concept.
[0060] In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent
shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements.
[0061] All the details may further be replaced with other
technically equivalent elements.
* * * * *