U.S. patent application number 15/752897 was filed with the patent office on 2018-08-23 for wringer device for a mopping unit.
The applicant listed for this patent is Carl Freudenberg KG. Invention is credited to Uwe Dingert, Norbert Weis.
Application Number | 20180235430 15/752897 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57130395 |
Filed Date | 2018-08-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180235430 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dingert; Uwe ; et
al. |
August 23, 2018 |
WRINGER DEVICE FOR A MOPPING UNIT
Abstract
A wringer device for a mopping apparatus includes: a basket-like
receptacle rotatably arranged in a support, the receptacle being
caused to rotate by a mechanical drive, the drive including a lever
movably mounted in the support and being provided with a spindle
nut that causes a spindle to rotate when the lever moves; a first
gear arranged on the spindle for conjoint rotation; a second gear
associated with a rotary shaft of the receptacle; a freewheel
arranged between the rotary shaft and the second gear, the
freewheel allowing torque to be transmitted to the rotary shaft in
only one direction of rotation; and a toothed belt arranged between
the first gear and the second gear.
Inventors: |
Dingert; Uwe; (Abtsteinach,
DE) ; Weis; Norbert; (Weinheim, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Carl Freudenberg KG |
Weinheim |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
57130395 |
Appl. No.: |
15/752897 |
Filed: |
October 13, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
October 13, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2016/074564 |
371 Date: |
February 15, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 13/58 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47L 13/58 20060101
A47L013/58 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 18, 2015 |
DE |
10 2015 016 414.7 |
Claims
1. A wringer device for a mopping apparatus, comprising: a
basket-like receptacle rotatably arranged in a support, the
receptacle being configured to be rotated by a mechanical drive,
the drive comprising a lever movably mounted in the support and
being provided with a spindle nut configured to cause a spindle to
rotate when the lever moves; a first gear arranged on the spindle
and configured for conjoint rotation; a second gear associated with
a rotary shaft of the receptacle; a freewheel arranged between the
rotary shaft and the second gear, the freewheel being configured to
allow torque to be transmitted to the rotary shaft in only one
direction of rotation; and a toothed belt arranged between the
first gear and the second gear.
2. The wringer device according to claim 1, wherein a spring
element is associated with the lever, the spring element being
configured to automatically move the lever into an initial position
when the lever is in an unloaded state.
3. The wringer device according to claim 1, wherein the lever is
mounted so as to move in a parallel motion.
4. The wringer device according to claim 3, wherein the lever
comprises cut-outs through which guiding elements, which are fixed
to the support, project.
5. The wringer device according to claim 1, wherein a free end of
the lever is rotatably and tiltably fixed to the support.
6. The wringer device according to claim 5, wherein the lever is
rotatably fixed to the support at the free end of the lever which
is closer to the rotary shaft.
7. The wringer device according to claim 5, wherein the lever is
rotatably fixed to the support at the free end of the lever which
is farther from the rotary shaft.
8. The wringer device according to claim 1, wherein a length of the
lever is adjustable.
9. The wringer device according to claim 1, wherein a pitch of the
spindle is variable.
10. The wringer device according to claim 9, wherein the pitch of
the spindle is greater in at least one edge region than in a
central region.
11. The wringer device according to claim 1, wherein the spindle
nut is pivotally mounted in the lever.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a U.S. National Phase application under
35 U.S.C. .sctn. 371 of International Application No.
PCT/EP2016/074564, filed on Oct. 13, 2016, and claims benefit to
German Patent Application No. DE 10 2015 016 414.7, filed on Dec.
18, 2015. The International Application was published in German on
Jun. 22, 2017 as WO 2017/102133 under PCT Article 21(2).
FIELD
[0002] The invention relates to a wringer device for a mopping
apparatus, comprising a basket-like receptacle that is rotatably
arranged in a support, it being possible for the receptacle to be
caused to rotate by means of a mechanical drive, the drive
comprising a lever that is movably mounted in the support, the
receptacle being caused to rotate by a gear train when the lever is
actuated.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A wringer device of this kind is known from DE 20 2008 014
219 U1. The wringer device described therein is in particular
suitable for extracting fluids from mops. In principle, fluids can
also be extracted from mops using a rigid wringer device, by
pushing the mop into the wringer device to wring out said mop.
However, it has been found that spin-drying the mop head or mop in
a rotating wringer device is significantly more effective that
wringing out the mop head using compression. In the wringer device
known from the prior art, a basket-like receptacle is caused to
rotate by a foot-operated lever. The lever is arranged in the base
region of the mop bucket and drives the receptacle using a gear
train comprising a freewheel. The freewheel ensures that the
receptacle rotates in only one direction. Higher rotational speeds
can thus be achieved.
[0004] However, a disadvantage is that relatively large gears must
be used because of the necessary gear ratio, which gears cannot be
covered because of the association thereof with the lever. As a
result, there is some risk of injury to the user. The gears are
subjected to relatively heavy wear because of the large forces
acting thereon.
SUMMARY
[0005] In an embodiment, the present invention provides a wringer
device for a mopping apparatus, comprising: a basket-like
receptacle rotatably arranged in a support, the receptacle being
configured to be rotated by a mechanical drive, the drive
comprising a lever movably mounted in the support and being
provided with a spindle nut configured to cause a spindle to rotate
when the lever moves; a first gear arranged on the spindle and
configured for conjoint rotation; a second gear associated with a
rotary shaft of the receptacle; a freewheel arranged between the
rotary shaft and the second gear, the freewheel being configured to
allow torque to be transmitted to the rotary shaft in only one
direction of rotation; and a toothed belt arranged between the
first gear and the second gear.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The present invention will be described in even greater
detail below based on the exemplary figures. The invention is not
limited to the exemplary embodiments. Other features and advantages
of various embodiments of the present invention will become
apparent by reading the following detailed description with
reference to the attached drawings which illustrate the
following:
[0007] FIG. 1 shows a wringer device comprising a lever which moves
in a parallel motion;
[0008] FIG. 2 shows a wringer device comprising a tiltable
lever;
[0009] FIG. 3 shows the initial position and end position of the
lever;
[0010] FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of a wringer device
comprising a tiltable lever;
[0011] FIG. 5 shows the initial position and end position of the
lever.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] In an embodiment, the present invention provides a wringer
device for a mopping apparatus, comprising a basket-like receptacle
which is rotatably arranged in a support, it being possible for the
receptacle to be caused to rotate by means of the mechanical drive,
the drive comprising a lever that is movably mounted in the support
and is provided with a spindle nut which causes a spindle to rotate
when the lever moves, a first gear being arranged on the spindle
for conjoint rotation, a second gear being associated with the
rotary shaft of the receptacle, a freewheel, which allows torque to
be transmitted to the rotary shaft in only one direction of
rotation, being arranged between the rotary shaft and the second
gear, and a toothed belt being arranged between the first gear and
the second gear.
[0013] The transformation of the translational movement, induced by
the lever, into a rotational movement results from the combination
of the spindle nut attached to the lever and a spindle which is
rotatably mounted in the support. When the lever is actuated by the
foot of the user, i.e. moved from an initial position to an end
position, the spindle nut, which is mounted on the lever for
conjoint rotation, moves along the rotary shaft of the spindle. The
spindle is thereby caused to rotate. A gear, which is arranged on
the spindle for conjoint rotation and so as to be stationary, and
which rotates with the spindle, transmits the rotation to a second
gear by means of a toothed belt. The second gear is in turn secured
to the rotary shaft of the receptacle.
[0014] A freewheel is provided between the second gear and the
rotary shaft, which freewheel allows torque to be transmitted to
the rotary shaft in only one direction of rotation. A torque is
thus transmitted to the rotary shaft only when the lever is moved
from the initial position to the end position. If, however, the
lever is moved back to the initial position from the end position,
i.e. when the direction of rotation of the spindle is reversed, no
torque is transmitted. Very high rotational speeds of the
receptacle can thus be achieved, allowing the mop head located in
the receptacle to be effectively spin-dried.
[0015] The receptacle comprises slit-like cut-outs or other
openings, through which the spun-out cleaning fluid is conveyed
into the mop bucket.
[0016] The combination of the spindle drive and the toothed belt
drive allows the receptacle to be driven in very limited
installation space. Furthermore, the toothed belt drive, together
with the two gears and the toothed belt, can be encased such that
intervention by the user or other external influences can be
prevented.
[0017] Only the spindle together with the spindle nut is exposed in
part, because of the association thereof with the lever. However, a
spindle drive has only a low risk of injury. A spindle drive and a
toothed belt drive are both very robust components and make it
possible to produce a robust wringer device which has a long
service life.
[0018] A spring element can be associated with the lever, which
spring element automatically moves the lever into an initial
position when said lever is in an unloaded state.
[0019] When the receptacle is to be caused to rotate, the lever is
moved from the initial position to an end position. The spindle nut
is thus moves in the axial direction of the spindle and causes the
spindle, which is rotatably mounted in the support, to rotate. The
rotation is transmitted to the receptacle by the toothed belt. In
order for the lever to automatically reach the initial position
from the end position, a spring element is provided which moves the
lever back when said lever is unloaded. The movement from the
initial position to the end position can thus be repeated in rapid
succession, such that a high rotational speed can be achieved.
[0020] In a first embodiment, the lever is mounted so as to move in
a parallel motion. In this embodiment, the lever is preferably
aligned approximately in parallel with the base of the wringer
device, said alignment being retained even when the lever moves
from the initial position to the end position. This embodiment has
the advantage that no transverse forces are introduced into the
receptacle because no tilting motion of the lever occurs.
[0021] In order to achieve the parallel motion, the lever can
comprise cut-outs through which guiding elements fixed to the
receptacle project. The guiding elements are rigidly fastened in
the support. During actuation of the lever, said lever slides along
the guiding elements from the initial position to the end position.
In this embodiment, the spring element, which automatically moves
the lever back to the initial position when said lever is in an
unloaded state, can be arranged either on the spindle or on the
guiding elements. In this case, the spring element may be a simple
spiral spring.
[0022] In a further embodiment, a free end of the lever can be
rotatably and tiltably fixed to the receptacle, according to a
first variant, the lever being rotatably fixed to the receptacle at
the free end of said lever which is closer to the rotary shaft,
and, according to a second variant, being fixed at the free end
further from the rotary shaft.
[0023] In the first variant, the lever tilts upwards at the free
end thereof which is closer to the user. This forms the initial
position. In order to actuate the lever, the user must lift their
foot and place it on the lever. The advantage in this case is that
the user can introduce large forces into the lever. The
disadvantage is that, because the foot must be lifted, usage may be
unsafe.
[0024] In the second variant, the end of the lever closer to the
user forms the fulcrum, which is arranged on the base of the
support. The user can therefore place their foot on the lever
comfortably and safely. The disadvantage in this case is that not
as large forces can be introduced into the lever.
[0025] The length of the lever may be adjustable. In this case, it
is conceivable that a lever extension could be pulled out from the
lever in the translational direction. Alternatively, it is
conceivable that an extension could be folded out from the lever.
The lever extension increases the lever arm, and thus the force
introduced into the wringer device.
[0026] The pitch of the spindle can be variable. In this case, it
is in particular conceivable for the pitch of the spindle to be
designed so as to be greater in at least one edge region than in
the central region. In the region having a greater pitch, the ratio
of the distance travelled by the spindle nut to the number of
spindle rotations increases. In turn, the force required for
causing the receptacle to rotate decreases because of the increased
distance. This is advantageous in particular at the dead centers of
the spindle and at the very beginning of the actuation of the
lever. In this case, it is possible for a large force to be
introduced, while operation is comfortable at the same time, in
particular in combination with the variant in which the lever is
fixed at the end thereof which is further from the rotary
shaft.
[0027] The spindle nut is preferably pivotally mounted in the
lever. Furthermore, the spindle nut can be mounted in the lever so
as to be able to move relative to the longitudinal axis of the
lever. The spindle nut can thus drive the spindle without the
occurrence of limiting transverse forces or shear forces.
[0028] The drawings show a wringer device 1 for a mopping
apparatus, comprising a basket-like receptacle 2 which is rotatably
arranged in a support 3. The support 3 comprises a base 18 to which
the components of the wringer device 1 are fastened. The base 18
can in turn be fastened in a mop bucket, by screws for example. A
mop bucket equipped for integrating the wringer device 1 comprises
an external indentation in the base region, which indentation
receives the wringer device 1, together with the base 18, in part.
The indentation comprises an opening through which the rotary shaft
9 of the receptacle 2 projects. The receptacle 2 is in turn
arranged inside the mop bucket. Only the rotary shaft 9 penetrates
the wall of the mop bucket. With regard to the extension thereof,
the base 18 is designed such that said extension projects far
enough from the mop bucket that tilting moments introduced by the
lever 5 are absorbed.
[0029] The receptacle 2 comprises slit-like openings through which
the cleaning fluid spun out from the mop head or mop is conveyed
into the mop bucket.
[0030] The receptacle 2 can be caused to rotate by means of a
mechanical drive 4. For this purpose, the drive 4 comprises a lever
5 which is movably mounted in the support 3 and provided with a
spindle nut 6. The spindle nut 6 causes a spindle 7 to rotate when
the lever 5 moves, a first gear 8 being arranged on the spindle 7
for conjoint rotation. A second gear 10 is in turn associated with
the rotary shaft 9 of the receptacle 2, and a freewheel 11 is
arranged between the rotary shaft 9 and the second gear 10, which
freewheel allows torque to be transmitted from the second gear 10
to the rotary shaft 9 in only one direction of rotation. A toothed
belt 12 is arranged between the first gear 8 and the second gear
10.
[0031] The spindle 7 is rotatably mounted in the support 3. The
spindle 7 is preferably mounted by plastics bearings 23. The
freewheel 11, arranged between the second gear 10 and the rotary
shaft 9, is preferably designed as a roller-type freewheel. In this
case, the second gear 10 and the freewheel 11 form a preassembled
unit.
[0032] In this case, the wringer device 1 can be designed such that
the first gear 8, the second gear 10, together with the freewheel
11, and the toothed belt 12 are encased. A covering, for example,
which covers the rotating components of wringer device 1, can be
provided for this purpose. Manual intervention in said components
is thus prevented.
[0033] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the wringer device 1. In
this embodiment, the lever 5 is mounted so as to move in a parallel
motion 15. For this purpose, the lever 5 comprises cut-outs 19,
through which guiding elements 16, which are fixed to the
receptacle 2, project. In the present embodiment, two circular
cut-outs 19 are provided in the lever 5. The guiding elements 16
are columnar and fixed to the base 18. When the lever 5 is actuated
from the initial position 14 into the end position 17, the lever 5
slides along the guiding elements 16 in a parallel manner, the
alignment with the base 18 remaining substantially unchanged.
[0034] A spring element 13 is associated with the lever 5, which
spring element automatically moves the lever 5 into the initial
position 14 when said lever is in an unloaded state. In this
embodiment, the spring element 13 is designed as a spiral spring
and is fitted to the spindle 7.
[0035] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the wringer device 1. In
this embodiment, the a free end of the lever 5 is rotatably and
tiltably fixed to the receptacle 2. In the embodiment shown in FIG.
2, the lever 5 is rotatably fixed to the receptacle 2 at the free
end of said lever closer to the rotary shaft 9. The free end of the
lever 5 closer to the user is thus at a distance from the base 18
in the initial position 14. The lever 5 is fastened to the support
3 by a joint 20. For this purpose, a projection which receives the
joint 20 is carved from the base 18. The spring element 13 is
associated with the joint 20. The lever 5 is rotatable along the
lever path 24.
[0036] The spindle nut 6 is mounted in the lever 5 so as to be
pivotable and movable along the longitudinal axis of the lever 5.
For this purpose, an opening 21 which receives the spindle nut 6 is
made in the lever 5. Two slots 22 laterally adjoin the opening 21,
which slots allow the spindle nut 6 to be pivotably mounted, and
allow the spindle nut 6 to move longitudinally within specific
limits.
[0037] FIG. 3 shows in detail the lever 5 and the movement thereof
together with the spindle nut 6, relative to the spindle 7. The
position further from the base 18 is the initial position 14, and
the position closer to the base 18 is the end position 17. The
lever 5 is moved from the initial position 14 to the end position
17 by the foot of the user, and automatically moves back to the
initial position 14 from the end position 17 by means of the spring
tension of the spring element 13. The receptacle 2 is caused to
rotate by rhythmic actuation of the lever 5, it being possible to
achieve high rotational speeds.
[0038] FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the wringer device 1.
In this embodiment, which substantially corresponds to the
embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the lever 5 is rotatably fixed to the
receptacle at the free end of said lever which is further from the
rotary shaft 9. The joint 20, comprising the integrated spring
element 13, is therefore close to the user, so that, in order to
actuate the lever 5, the foot can remain on the lever 5 throughout
the entire actuation process. The spindle nut 6 is mounted in a
manner corresponding to that in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.
[0039] FIG. 5 shows the initial position 14 and the end position 17
of the lever 5 according to the embodiment of the wringer device 1
shown in FIG. 4.
[0040] In this embodiment, the pitch of the spindle 7 is variable,
the pitch of the spindle 7 being designed so as to be greater in
the region of the initial position 14 of the lever 5 which
corresponds to an edge region of the spindle 7 than in the central
region.
[0041] While the invention has been illustrated and described in
detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration
and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and
not restrictive. It will be understood that changes and
modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill within the
scope of the following claims. In particular, the present invention
covers further embodiments with any combination of features from
different embodiments described above and below. Additionally,
statements made herein characterizing the invention refer to an
embodiment of the invention and not necessarily all
embodiments.
[0042] The terms used in the claims should be construed to have the
broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the foregoing
description. For example, the use of the article "a" or "the" in
introducing an element should not be interpreted as being exclusive
of a plurality of elements. Likewise, the recitation of "or" should
be interpreted as being inclusive, such that the recitation of "A
or B" is not exclusive of "A and B," unless it is clear from the
context or the foregoing description that only one of A and B is
intended. Further, the recitation of "at least one of A, B and C"
should be interpreted as one or more of a group of elements
consisting of A, B and C, and should not be interpreted as
requiring at least one of each of the listed elements A, B and C,
regardless of whether A, B and C are related as categories or
otherwise. Moreover, the recitation of "A, B and/or C" or "at least
one of A, B or C" should be interpreted as including any singular
entity from the listed elements, e.g., A, any subset from the
listed elements, e.g., A and B, or the entire list of elements A, B
and C.
* * * * *