U.S. patent application number 17/147491 was filed with the patent office on 2021-08-05 for floor surface cleaning apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to OMRON Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is OMRON Corporation. Invention is credited to Atsushi MIZOGUCHI.
Application Number | 20210235956 17/147491 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005344632 |
Filed Date | 2021-08-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210235956 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MIZOGUCHI; Atsushi |
August 5, 2021 |
FLOOR SURFACE CLEANING APPARATUS
Abstract
A floor surface cleaning apparatus according to one or more
embodiments may include a water collecting nozzle, rotating brushes
that may retain water, and a water collecting box that has a
pooling portion in which wastewater may be pooled. In response to
the rotating brushes being rotationally driven, wastewater on the
floor surface is absorbed and retained by the rotating brushes, and
the wastewater retained in the rotating brushes may be made into a
mist and flung upwards by a centrifugal force generated by rotation
of the rotating brushes and passed through an opening and a suction
port and pooled in the pooling portion in the water collecting
box.
Inventors: |
MIZOGUCHI; Atsushi;
(Hikone-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
OMRON Corporation |
Kyoto-shi |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
OMRON Corporation
Kyoto-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
1000005344632 |
Appl. No.: |
17/147491 |
Filed: |
January 13, 2021 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 11/4083 20130101;
A47L 11/4088 20130101; A47L 11/4041 20130101; A47L 11/4016
20130101; A47L 11/302 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47L 11/30 20060101
A47L011/30; A47L 11/40 20060101 A47L011/40 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 5, 2020 |
JP |
2020-017978 |
Claims
1. A floor surface cleaning apparatus for cleaning a floor surface
using a cleaning liquid while moving over the floor surface, the
floor surface cleaning apparatus comprising: a nozzle portion
elongated in a width direction intersecting a movement direction of
the floor surface cleaning apparatus, and configured to collect
wastewater including the cleaning liquid as the floor surface
cleaning apparatus moves; rotating brushes rotatably supported by
the nozzle portion in a state of contact with the floor surface,
and configured to retain water and fling the wastewater upward
using a centrifugal force generated during rotation; and a
wastewater collecting box provided above the nozzle portion and
comprising a suction port in communication with an inner portion of
the nozzle portion and a pooling portion configured to pool the
wastewater that has entered therein from the suction port.
2. The floor surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 1,
further comprising: a ventilator configured to suck air from an
internal space of the wastewater collecting box and generate an air
current that moves wastewater droplets dispersed by rotation of the
rotating brushes upward from the suction port; and a wastewater
guiding path provided in the wastewater collecting box and having a
tapered shape extending upward from the suction port, and
configured to guide the wastewater droplets to the internal space
of the wastewater collecting box.
3. The floor surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein the wastewater guiding path is provided on one side of the
movement direction in the internal space, and a discharge port for
air from the ventilator is provided on the other side of the
movement direction in the wastewater collecting box.
4. The floor surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein the wastewater collecting box comprises: a pair of side
walls separated in the movement direction, the pair of side walls
comprising a first side wall and a second side wall; and an
inclined plate provided between the pair of side walls, the pooling
portion being provided between the inclined plate and the first
side wall and the wastewater guiding path being provided between
the inclined plate and the second side wall.
5. The floor surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 1,
further comprising: a wastewater tank configured to contain the
wastewater; and a first pump configured to suck the wastewater
pooled in the pooling portion and transfer the wastewater to the
wastewater tank.
6. The floor surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the rotating brushes comprise at least one roller brush
that is elongated in the width direction.
7. The floor surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 6,
wherein the rotating brushes comprise a first roller brush and a
second roller brush parallel to each other and separated from each
other in the movement direction, the first roller brush is arranged
on the movement direction side relative to the suction port, and is
configured to be rotationally driven so as to slide rearwards
opposite to the movement direction against the floor surface, and
the second roller brush is arranged on a rear side opposite to the
movement direction relative to the suction port, and is configured
to be rotationally driven so as to slide in the same direction as
the movement direction against the floor surface.
8. The floor surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 7,
wherein a water retaining capacity of the second roller brush is
greater than a water retaining capacity of the first roller
brush.
9. The floor surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 1,
further comprising: a guard member provided on a rear side opposite
to the movement direction in the nozzle portion, and configured to
block the wastewater droplets dispersed rearward by the rotation of
the rotating brushes.
10. The floor surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 9,
wherein the guard member comprises a curved surface that comes in
contact with or is provided in a vicinity of an outer
circumferential surface of the rotating brush.
11. The floor surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the rotating brushes comprise a water absorbing material
that has absorbability.
12. The floor surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 1,
further comprising: a cleaning liquid tank configured to contain
the cleaning liquid; a linking tube configured to link the cleaning
liquid tank and the nozzle portion; and a second pump configured to
suck the cleaning liquid and transfer the cleaning liquid into the
nozzle portion via the linking tube.
13. The floor surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 3,
wherein the wastewater collecting box comprises: a pair of side
walls separated in the movement direction, the pair pf side walls
comprising a first side wall and a second side wall; and an
inclined plate provided between the pair of side walls, the pooling
portion being provided between the inclined plate and the first
side wall and the wastewater guiding path being provided between
the inclined plate and the second side wall.
14. The floor surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 2,
further comprising: a wastewater tank configured to contain the
wastewater; and a first pump configured to suck the wastewater
pooled in the pooling portion and transfer the wastewater to the
wastewater tank.
15. The floor surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein the rotating brushes comprise at least one roller brush
that is elongated in the width direction.
16. The floor surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 15,
wherein the rotating brushes comprise a first roller brush and a
second roller brush provided parallel to each other and separated
from each other in the movement direction, the first roller brush
is arranged on the movement direction side relative to the suction
port, and is configured to be rotationally driven so as to slide
rearwards opposite to the movement direction against the floor
surface, and the second roller brush is arranged on the rear side
opposite to the movement direction relative to the suction port,
and is configured to be rotationally driven so as to slide in the
same direction as the movement direction against the floor
surface.
17. The floor surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 16,
wherein the water retaining capacity of the second roller brush is
greater than the water retaining capacity of the first roller
brush.
18. The floor surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 2,
further comprising: a guard member provided on a rear side opposite
to the movement direction in the nozzle portion, and configured to
block the wastewater droplets dispersed rearward by the rotation of
the rotating brushes.
19. The floor surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 18,
wherein the guard member comprises a curved surface that comes in
contact with or is provided in the vicinity of an outer
circumferential surface of the rotating brush.
20. The floor surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein the rotating brushes comprise a water absorbing material
that has absorbability.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to Japanese Patent
Application No. 2020-017978 filed Feb. 5, 2020, the entire contents
of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The disclosure relates to a floor surface cleaning apparatus
that uses a cleaning liquid to clean a floor surface while moving
over the floor surface.
[0003] In related art, a floor surface cleaning apparatus that
cleans a floor surface using a rotating brush and a cleaning liquid
is known. As an example of this type of floor surface cleaning
apparatus, a floor surface cleaning device is known that, while
using a curved water collecting nozzle to collect wastewater
generated by cleaning a floor surface with a rotating brush, sucks
up the collected wastewater using a vacuum pump or the like and
transfers the wastewater to a wastewater tank (see JP 2018-304A).
The floor surface cleaning device is provided with the water
collecting nozzle so that the water suction port of the water
collecting nozzle comes into contact with a floor surface.
[0004] JP 2018-304A is an example of related art.
SUMMARY
[0005] A floor surface cleaning apparatus according to one or more
embodiments may be configured to clean a floor surface using a
cleaning liquid while moving over the floor surface. The floor
surface cleaning apparatus may include a nozzle portion, rotating
brushes, and a wastewater collecting box. The nozzle portion may be
elongated in a width direction intersecting a movement direction of
the floor surface cleaning apparatus, and may be configured to
collect wastewater including the cleaning liquid as the floor
surface cleaning apparatus. The rotating brushes may be rotatably
supported by the nozzle portion in a state of contact with the
floor surface, and may be configured to be able to retain water and
fling the wastewater upward using a centrifugal force generated
during rotation. The wastewater collecting box may be provided
above the nozzle portion and may include a suction port that is in
communication with the inner portion of the nozzle portion and a
pooling portion configured to pool the wastewater that has entered
therein from the suction port.
[0006] According to one or more embodiments, in response to the
rotating brushes being rotationally driven, wastewater on the floor
surface may be absorbed by and retained in the rotating brushes.
Also, wastewater droplets of wastewater retained in the rotating
brushes may be flung upwards by the centrifugal force generated by
rotation of the rotating brushes and moved to the pooling portion
inside the wastewater collecting box via the suction port.
Accordingly, even if the floor surface is uneven, wastewater on the
floor surface may be reliably retrieved into the pooling portion
regardless of the state of the floor surface.
[0007] A floor surface cleaning apparatus according to one or more
embodiments may further include a ventilator and a wastewater
guiding path. The ventilator may be configured to suck air from an
internal space of the wastewater collecting box and generate an air
current that moves wastewater droplets dispersed by rotation of the
rotating brushes upward from the suction port. The wastewater
guiding path may be provided in the wastewater collecting box and
is formed in a tapered shape extending upward from the suction
port, and is configured to guide the wastewater droplets to the
internal space of the wastewater collecting box.
[0008] According to the above described configuration, wastewater
droplets that have been flung toward the suction port may easily
enter the wastewater collecting box by riding an air current
generated by air intake by the ventilator. Also, because the
wastewater guiding path has an upwardly tapered shape, the updraft
pressure in the vicinity of the exit of the wastewater guiding path
may be increased even if the suction of the ventilator is small.
Accordingly, even if the ventilator may be a small capacity
ventilator with a small output, wastewater droplets that have
advanced to the wastewater guiding path may be sucked up into the
wastewater collecting box. In other words, a small capacity
ventilator may be applied in the floor surface cleaning apparatus.
As a result, the driving efficiency of the floor surface cleaning
apparatus may be increased, and the floor surface cleaning
apparatus may be made smaller due to the reduction in the size of
the ventilator.
[0009] In a floor surface cleaning apparatus according to one or
more embodiments, the wastewater guiding path may be provided on
one side of the movement direction in the internal space. A
discharge port for air from the ventilator may be provided on the
other side of the movement direction in the wastewater collecting
box.
[0010] According to the above described configuration, wastewater
droplets that have passed the wastewater guiding path and moved
upward ride the air current generated by air intake by the
ventilator and move forward and fall into the pooling portion
without reaching the discharge port, and are pooled in the pooling
portion. Accordingly, wastewater droplets may be prevented from
flowing back down the wastewater guiding path.
[0011] In a floor surface cleaning apparatus according to one or
more embodiments, the wastewater collecting box may include a pair
of side walls separated in the movement direction and an inclined
plate. The inclined plate is provided between the pair of side
walls, with the pooling portion being formed between the inclined
plate and one side wall and the wastewater guiding path being
formed between the inclined plate and the other side wall.
[0012] According to the above described configuration, the pooling
portion and the wastewater guiding path may be separated by the
single inclined plate, and thus the internal configuration of the
wastewater collecting box can be simplified.
[0013] A floor surface cleaning apparatus according to one or more
embodiments may further include a wastewater tank configured to
contain the wastewater, and a first pump configured to suck the
wastewater pooled in the pooling portion and transfer the
wastewater to the wastewater tank.
[0014] According to the above described configuration, wastewater
that cannot be pooled in the pooling portion may be retrieved to
the wastewater tank. Accordingly, the floor surface cleaning
apparatus may run for a long time before the wastewater tank is
filled with wastewater.
[0015] In a floor surface cleaning apparatus according to one or
more embodiments, the rotating brushes include at least one roller
brush that is elongated in the width direction.
[0016] In a floor surface cleaning apparatus according to one or
more embodiments, the rotating brushes may include a first roller
brush and a second roller brush that are parallel to each other and
separated from each other in the movement direction. The first
roller brush may be a brush that is arranged on the movement
direction side relative to the suction port, and may be configured
to be rotationally driven so as to slide rearwards opposite to the
movement direction against the floor surface. The second roller
brush may be a brush that is arranged on the rear side opposite to
the movement direction relative to the suction port, and may be
configured to be rotationally driven so as to slide in the same
direction as the movement direction against the floor surface.
[0017] According to the above described configuration, the first
roller brush may easily disperse wastewater retained therein toward
the suction port, and the second roller brush may easily disperse
wastewater retained therein toward the suction port. As a result,
wastewater may be efficiently moved upward by the brushes, and the
retrieval efficiency of wastewater may be increased.
[0018] In a floor surface cleaning apparatus according to one or
more embodiments, the water retaining capacity of the second roller
brush may be greater than the water retaining capacity of the first
roller brush.
[0019] According to the above described configuration, wastewater
that could not be absorbed by the first roller brush may be
reliably absorbed and retrieved by the second roller brush while
the floor surface cleaning apparatus is moving.
[0020] A floor surface cleaning apparatus according to one or more
embodiments may further include a guard member. The guard member
may be provided on a rear side opposite to the movement direction
in the nozzle portion, and may be configured to block the
wastewater droplets dispersed rearward by the rotation of the
rotating brushes.
[0021] According to the above described configuration, wastewater
droplets dispersed rearward by the centrifugal force generated by
rotation of the rotating brushes are prevented from being dispersed
to the outer side of the nozzle portion.
[0022] In a floor surface cleaning apparatus according to one or
more embodiments, the guard member may include a curved surface
that comes in contact with or is provided in the vicinity of an
outer circumferential surface of the rotating brush.
[0023] According to the above described configuration, wastewater
droplets flung rearward from the rotating brushes may be caught by
the curved surface. Accordingly, wastewater caught by the curved
surface may be reabsorbed by the rotating brushes.
[0024] In a floor surface cleaning apparatus according to one or
more embodiments, the rotating brushes may include a water
absorbing material that has absorbability.
[0025] A floor surface cleaning apparatus according to one or more
embodiments may further include a cleaning liquid tank configured
to contain the cleaning liquid; a linking tube configured to link
the cleaning liquid tank and the nozzle portion; and a second pump
configured to suck the cleaning liquid and transfer the cleaning
liquid into the nozzle portion via the linking tube.
[0026] According to the above described configuration, there may be
no need to spray the cleaning liquid onto the floor surface in
advance. Also, because the cleaning liquid is supplied to the
inside of the nozzle portion, wasteful consumption of the cleaning
liquid may be suppressed compared to a case where the cleaning
liquid is sprayed over a large area of the floor surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a perspective external
view, from a front side, of a floor surface cleaning apparatus
according to one or more embodiments.
[0028] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration
of an inner portion of a floor surface cleaning apparatus.
[0029] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cross-section
taken along a cutting line III-Ill in FIG. 2, and showing a
configuration of a supporting holder supporting a water collecting
box.
[0030] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a rear-side perspective
view of a configuration of a supporting holder.
[0031] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a side view of a rear
portion of a floor surface cleaning apparatus, and showing a state
where a water collecting box is mounted to a floor surface cleaning
apparatus.
[0032] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a side view of a rear
portion of a floor surface cleaning apparatus, and showing a state
where a water collecting box has been removed from a floor surface
cleaning apparatus.
[0033] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a perspective view of a
configuration of a water collecting box included in a floor surface
cleaning apparatus.
[0034] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an enlarged view of a
configuration of an inner portion of a water collecting box.
[0035] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a flow of
cleaning liquid, wastewater, and air in a water collecting box.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0036] Hereinafter, one or more embodiments will be described with
reference to the appended drawings. The one or more embodiments are
examples and are not to be interpreted as limiting the invention.
To facilitate understanding, internal configurations may be
illustrated with solid lines in the drawings. Also, a vertical
direction D1, a front-rear direction D2, and a left-right or width
direction D3 shown in the drawings will be used in the description
below.
Floor Surface Cleaning Apparatus 10
[0037] FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram showing an external view,
from the front side, of a floor surface cleaning apparatus 10,
which is an example of a floor surface cleaning apparatus according
to the one or more embodiments. The floor surface cleaning
apparatus 10 is an autonomous travel-type cleaning apparatus. As
the floor surface cleaning apparatus 10 autonomously travels
forward (in an advancing direction) over a floor surface 23 (see
FIG. 2) of a concourse of an airport, a station, a shopping mall or
the like, the floor surface cleaning apparatus 10 cleans the floor
surface 23 by brushing the floor surface 23 (cleaned surface) while
using a cleaning liquid. The floor surface cleaning apparatus 10
automatically performs cleaning while autonomously travelling over
the floor surface 23 based on various kinds of cleaning information
input in advance, such as a travelling route, a cleaning area, a
cleaning time period, and a return position to which the floor
surface cleaning apparatus returns to recharge.
[0038] It should be noted that the floor surface cleaning apparatus
10 is just one example of the floor surface cleaning apparatus and
embodiments of the invention are not limited to a floor surface
cleaning apparatus that travels autonomously. For example, one or
more embodiments may also be directed to a cleaning apparatus that
cleans the floor surface 23 using a cleaning liquid while being
manually pushed by an operator to move over the floor surface 23.
Alternatively, one or more embodiments may also be directed to a
cleaning apparatus that cleans a path surface of an outdoor
footpath, a road, etc. while travelling autonomously or being
manually moved over the path surface.
[0039] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of the
floor surface cleaning apparatus 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the floor
surface cleaning apparatus 10 is constituted by an apparatus body
11 and various functional units that the apparatus body 11 is
provided with. Specifically, the apparatus body 11 is provided with
a travelling portion 12, a motor 13, a battery 14, an air intake
fan 15 (an example of a ventilator according to one or more
embodiments), a water collecting box 16 (an example of a wastewater
collecting box according to one or more embodiments), a supporting
holder 17, a water collecting nozzle 18 (an example of a nozzle
portion according to one or more embodiments), an operation unit
20, a display panel 21, a cleaning liquid tank 24 (an example of a
cleaning liquid tank according to one or more embodiments), a
supply pump 25 (an example of a second pump according to one or
more embodiments), a wastewater tank 22 (an example of a wastewater
tank according to one or more embodiments), a retrieval pump 27 (an
example of a first pump according to one or more embodiments), a
control unit 40, and the like.
[0040] The apparatus body 11 is the housing of the floor surface
cleaning apparatus 10, and, as shown in FIG. 1, the floor surface
cleaning apparatus 10 has an exterior cover 11A that forms the
exterior thereof. Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus body 11
is provided with a chassis 11B on the lower portion thereof. The
chassis 11B is provided approximately parallel to the floor surface
23. Also, the inner portion of the apparatus body 11 is
appropriately provided with a frame for supporting the various
functional units described above.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 2, a travelling portion 12 is provided on
the lower portion of the apparatus body 11. The travelling portion
12 is a portion for transferring a conveyance force acting in an
advancing direction to the floor surface 23 while maintaining the
travelling orientation of the apparatus body 11, and is attached to
the chassis 11B. The travelling portion 12 includes a pair of
travelling wheels 121 that are rotationally driven by the motor 13
and four orientation maintaining casters 122. When the rotating
speed of the wheels 121 is controlled to be the same speed, the
floor surface cleaning apparatus 10 advances forward in a straight
line, and when the rotating speeds of the wheels 121 are controlled
to different speeds, the floor surface cleaning apparatus 10 turns
to the side of the wheel 121 with the lower rotating speed.
[0042] The wheels 121 are located at the center, in a front-rear
direction D2, of the chassis 11B, and are rotatably supported at
two end portions thereof in a width direction D3. The four casters
122 are rotatably supported at two end portions of the front end of
the chassis 11B and two end portions of the rear end of the chassis
11B. In a state where the floor surface cleaning apparatus 10 is
placed on the floor surface 23, the outer circumferential surfaces
of the wheels 121 and the casters 122 are supported by the floor
surface 23. Accordingly, the apparatus body 11 is kept in the
travelling orientation shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0043] The air intake fan 15 is provided on the rear side of the
inner portion of the apparatus body 11. The air intake fan 15
generates suction for sucking up wastewater mist (wastewater
droplets) along with air from a later-described suction port 168
provided in the water collecting box 16 into the water collecting
box 16. The air intake fan 15 makes the pressure in the water
collecting box 16 negative by sucking out air in the water
collecting box 16 from a discharge port 165 (an example of a
discharge port according to one or more embodiments) of the water
collecting box 16, and thus creates an air current that moves air
and wastewater mist from the suction port 168 upward. The air
intake port of the air intake fan 15 is connected to a
later-described air intake port 174 by a flexible tube 151 for air
intake. Also, the air outlet of the air intake fan 15 is connected
by an exhaust pipe (not shown) to a discharge port (not shown)
provided in the chassis 11B. Thus, when the air intake fan 15 is
driven, air is sucked in from the air intake port at the leading
end of the flexible tube 151, and the air passes from the discharge
port 165 through the flexible tube 151, the air intake fan 15, and
the exhaust pipe to be discharged to the outside.
[0044] In a state where the water collecting box 16 is mounted to
the supporting holder 17, the air intake port 174 is connected to
the discharge port 165 provided in the upper portion of the water
collecting box 16. In this way, due to a suitable interval being
provided in a vertical direction D1 between the suction port 168
and the discharge port 165, wastewater mist sucked up from the
suction port 168 by the air intake fan 15 falls into and is pooled
in a later-described pooling portion 31, without reaching the
discharge port 165. Meanwhile, only air sucked up from the suction
port 168 rises with the upward air current generated by the air
intake fan 15, and is discharged to the outside from the discharge
port 165 (see the dotted arrows in FIG. 9).
[0045] The battery 14 is provided at the center of the apparatus
body 11. The battery 14 supplies driving power to the motor 13 and
the air intake fan 15. Also, the battery 14 supplies driving power
to a later-described motor 62 (see FIG. 3) for rotationally driving
rotating brushes 26.
[0046] As shown in FIG. 2, the water collecting box 16 is provided
on the rear side of the apparatus body 11. The water collecting box
16 is covered by a cover 162 when mounted to the apparatus body 11.
The water collecting box 16 is detachably mounted to the
later-described supporting holder 17. Note that the cover 162 is
attached to the supporting holder 17.
[0047] The supporting holder 17 is provided on the rear side of the
apparatus body 11. The supporting holder 17 is configured to
detachably support the water collecting box 16. The supporting
holder 17 is provided with the air intake port 174. The air intake
port 174 extends through the front face of the supporting holder 17
to the discharge port 165 of the water collecting box 16. The air
intake port 174 is connected to an end portion of the flexible tube
151.
[0048] The water collecting nozzle 18 is provided in the lower
portion of the supporting holder 17. The water collecting nozzle 18
is in communication with the water collecting box 16. Accordingly,
when the air intake fan 15 is driven, air and wastewater mist
sucked in from the water collecting nozzle 18 passes through an
opening 177 and the suction port 168, and into the water collecting
box 16. Note that the water collecting box 16, the supporting
holder 17, and the water collecting nozzle 18 will be described
later in detail.
[0049] The operation unit 20 is provided in the upper portion of
the rear face of the apparatus body 11. The operation unit 20 is
attached to the exterior cover 11A. The operation unit 20 is an
apparatus that is operated by an operator, and is, for example, a
terminal apparatus that includes a touch panel that enables touch
operations. Various kinds of cleaning information (travelling
route, cleaning area, cleaning time frame, return position, and
other information) can be input to the floor surface cleaning
apparatus 10 from the operation unit 20. Input cleaning information
is transferred to the control unit 40 and used in travelling
control performed by the control unit 40.
[0050] The display panel 21 is provided on the front face of the
apparatus body 11. The display panel 21 is a liquid crystal panel,
for example. Various kinds of announcement information are
displayed on the display panel 21 by the control unit 40 during
cleaning. The announcement information is information including,
for example, information indicating that cleaning is underway and
guide information regarding a floor being cleaned.
[0051] The control unit 40 is provided in the upper portion of the
apparatus body 11. The control unit 40 controls travelling of the
floor surface cleaning apparatus 10, driving of the air intake fan
15, driving of the rotating brushes 26, screen display of the
display panel 21, and the like. The control unit 40 includes, for
example, controlling devices such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM,
storage mediums or storage apparatuses such as an HDD or flash
memory, and the like. The CPU is a processor for executing various
types of arithmetic processing. The ROM is a non-volatile memory in
which a control program such as BIOS or OS for executing various
types of processing on the CPU is stored in advance. The RAM is a
volatile or non-volatile memory that stores various kinds of
information, and is used as a temporary storage memory (work area)
for various types of processing executed by the CPU. The control
unit 40 uses the CPU to execute various types of control programs
stored in advance in the ROM or a storage apparatus to control
travelling of the floor surface cleaning apparatus 10, driving of
the air intake fan 15, driving of the rotating brushes 26, and the
like.
[0052] The cleaning liquid tank 24 and the wastewater tank 22 are
provided on a supporting frame 11C above the battery 14. The
cleaning liquid tank 24 contains cleaning liquid used to clean the
floor surface 23. The cleaning liquid is, for example, a liquid in
which a detergent is dissolved in a solvent such as water, or
alternatively, is just water. The wastewater tank 22 contains
wastewater transferred by the later-described retrieval pump
27.
[0053] The supply pump 25 is a pump that sucks the cleaning liquid
from the cleaning liquid tank 24, and transfers the cleaning liquid
to the water collecting nozzle 18. A plate-shaped vertical frame
11D is provided extending upward from the rear end portion of the
chassis 11B, inside the apparatus body 11. The supply pump 25 is
attached to the front face of the vertical frame 11D. The cleaning
liquid tank 24 and the water collecting nozzle 18 are linked by a
supply tube 241 (an example of a linking tube according to one or
more embodiments) via the supply pump 25. The supply tube 241 is a
flexible tube that has flexibility, for example. For this reason,
when the supply pump 25 is driven, cleaning liquid is sucked from
the cleaning liquid tank 24, and the cleaning liquid is supplied to
the inside of the water collecting nozzle 18 via the supply tube
241. In the present embodiment, or in other embodiments, when the
floor surface cleaning apparatus 10 is performing a cleaning
operation, the cleaning liquid is supplied to a gap 182 (see FIG.
8) provided at the front of the inner portion of the water
collecting nozzle 18 (see dotted arrow in FIG. 9).
[0054] The retrieval pump 27 is attached to the wastewater tank 22.
The retrieval pump 27 is a pump that sucks wastewater pooled in the
later-described pooling portion 31 provided in the water collecting
box 16, and transfers the wastewater to the wastewater tank 22. The
retrieval pump 27 and the water collecting box 16 are linked via a
retrieval tube 221, which is a flexible tube or the like.
Specifically, the end portion of the retrieval tube 221 on the
water collecting box 16 side is connected to a tube joint 41
provided in the water collecting box 16.
Supporting Holder 17
[0055] As shown in FIG. 2, the supporting holder 17 is provided on
the rear side of the floor surface cleaning apparatus 10. The
supporting holder 17 is attached to the vertical frame 11D inside
the apparatus body 11.
[0056] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the
supporting holder 17 that supports the water collecting box 16, and
is a cross-sectional view taken along cutting line III-III shown in
FIG. 2 as seen from the rear side looking forward. FIG. 4 is a
rear-side perspective view showing the configuration of the
supporting holder 17. Note that FIG. 4 shows a state where the
water collecting box 16 has been removed. Also, in FIG. 4, all
structures other than the supporting holder 17 and the water
collecting nozzle 18 are omitted from the diagram.
[0057] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the supporting holder 17 includes
a base portion 171 extending in the vertical direction D1 and a box
accommodating portion 172 fixed to the base portion 171.
[0058] The base portion 171 is formed by bending sheet metal, and
configured by a base plate 171A attached to the vertical frame 11D
and side plates 171B and 171C that respectively protrude rearward
from two ends in the width direction D3 of the base plate 171A. The
cylindrical air intake port 174 (see FIG. 4) for connecting an end
portion of the flexible tube 151 is attached to the upper end of
the base plate 171A. The air intake port 174 protrudes forward from
the base plate 171A. Also, the air intake port 174 passes through
the base plate 171A, and an end portion thereof is visible in an
upper end portion on the rear face of the base plate 171A (see FIG.
4).
[0059] In a state where the water collecting box 16 is mounted to
the box accommodating portion 172, the discharge port 165 provided
in a front wall 16B of the water collecting box 16 is connected to
the end portion of the air intake port 174. Accordingly, the
flexible tube 151 and the water collecting box 16 are connected so
that air can be sucked from the water collecting box 16.
[0060] Note that an air filter 169 that catches and removes waste
such as rubbish and dust from the air discharged from the discharge
port 165 and cleans the air is provided in the water collecting box
16. A chemical filter, an HEPA filter, an ULPA filter, or the like
can be used as the air filter 169, for example.
[0061] The box accommodating portion 172 detachably supports the
water collecting box 16. The box accommodating portion 172 is fixed
to the rear face of the base portion 171, and is disposed in the
center, with respect to the width direction D3, of the base portion
171. The box accommodating portion 172 is formed by bending sheet
metal, and is configured by an attachment plate 172A fixed to the
base portion 171 and side plates 172B and 172C that respectively
protrude rearward from two ends in the width direction D3 of the
attachment plate 172A. The box accommodating portion 172 is shorter
in the width direction D3 than the base portion 171, and thus the
box accommodating portion 172 is accommodated in a space surrounded
by the side plate 171B and the side plate 171C of the base portion
171.
[0062] The box accommodating portion 172 is open on the rear side
thereof and is also open upward. Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 5
and 6, in a state where an unshown door of the cover 162 is open,
the water collecting box 16 can be lifted obliquely upward and
rearward relative to the box accommodating portion 172, and the
water collecting box 16 can be easily removed from the box
accommodating portion 172. Here, FIGS. 5 and 6 are side views of
the rear portion of the floor surface cleaning apparatus 10, where
FIG. 5 shows a state where the water collecting box 16 is mounted
to the box accommodating portion 172, and FIG. 6 shows a state
where the water collecting box 16 has been removed from the box
accommodating portion 172.
[0063] A bottom face 172D of the box accommodating portion 172 is
provided with a rectangular opening 177 (see FIG. 4) that is
elongated in the width direction D3. The opening 177 is in
communication with the later-described water collecting nozzle 18.
In the state where the water collecting box 16 is mounted to the
box accommodating portion 172, the suction port 168 (see FIG. 6)
provided in a bottom face 16A of the water collecting box 16 is
aligned with the opening 177. Accordingly, the water collecting
nozzle 18 and the water collecting box 16 are in communication with
each other, and wastewater mist sucked up with air from the water
collecting nozzle 18 can flow through the suction port 168 and into
the water collecting box 16.
[0064] As shown in FIG. 3, the supporting holder 17 is provided
with a motor 62 that supplies a driving force to the
later-described rotating brushes 26, and a transfer mechanism 64
constituted by a plurality of gears. The motor 62 is provided in an
accommodating portion 179 provided between the side plate 172C and
the side plate 171C. The rotational driving force of the motor 62
is transferred to rotation shafts 261 of the rotation brushes 26
via the transfer mechanism 64. When the motor 62 is driven by the
control unit 40 while the floor surface cleaning apparatus 10 is
travelling, the rotation brushes 26 rotate in predetermined
directions.
Water Collecting Box 16
[0065] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the configuration of
the water collecting box 16. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view showing the
configuration inside the water collecting box 16. The water
collecting box 16 is for temporarily pooling wastewater sucked from
a later-described suction port 181 of the water collecting nozzle
18. As shown in FIG. 7, the water collecting box 16 is formed in a
hollow box shape, and formed in a parallelepiped shape that is long
in the vertical direction D1 and the width direction D3 and is thin
in the front-rear direction D2.
[0066] The suction port 168, which is long in the width direction
D3, is formed in the bottom face 16A of the water collecting box
16. The suction port 168 is formed on the rear side of the bottom
face 16A. In a state where the water collecting box 16 is mounted
to the supporting holder 17, the suction port 168 is aligned with
the opening 177 formed in the bottom face 172D of the box
accommodating portion 172 (see FIGS. 4 and 8).
[0067] Also, the discharge port 165, which is in communication with
the inside of the water collecting box 16, is formed in the upper
portion of the front wall 16B on the front side of the water
collecting box 16. In other words, the discharge port 165 is
provided in the water collecting box 16 on the forward side, which
coincides with the advancing direction (forward-movement direction)
of the floor surface cleaning apparatus 10. The discharge port 165
is a through hole for discharging air in the water collecting box
16 to the outside due to air being sucked in by the air intake fan
15. In a state where the water collecting box 16 is mounted to the
box accommodating portion 172, the discharge port 165 is connected
to the air intake port 174.
[0068] In the present embodiment, or in other embodiments, while
the suction port 168 is provided on the rear side of the bottom
face 16A, the discharge port 165 is provided in the front wall 16B
of the water collecting box 16 and at a position separated upward
from the bottom face 16A. Accordingly, wastewater mist that has
been flung towards the suction port 168 from the water collecting
nozzle 18 is more likely to ride the air current generated by air
intake by the air intake fan 15 and flow into the water collecting
box 16. Also, the wastewater that has flowed into the water
collecting box 16 moves forward on the air current generated by air
intake by the air intake fan 15, falls into the later-described
pooling portion 31 without reaching the discharge port 165, and is
pooled in the pooling portion 31 (see the solid arrows in FIG.
9).
[0069] As shown in FIG. 8, the pooling portion 31 for temporarily
pooling wastewater is provided in the water collecting box 16.
Wastewater that has flowed from the water collecting nozzle 18 and
through the opening 177 and the suction port 168 into the water
collecting box 16 is pooled in the pooling portion 31.
[0070] A wastewater guiding path 32 is formed in the water
collecting box 16. The wastewater guiding path 32 extends upward
from the suction port 168 and is formed in an upwardly tapered
shape. The wastewater mist that has advanced upward from the
suction port 168 travels along the wastewater guiding path 32, and
is guided into the space in the water collecting box 16 from an
exit 321 at the upper end portion of the wastewater guiding path
32. In this way, because the wastewater guiding path 32 is formed
in an upwardly tapered shape, the suction force of the air intake
fan 15 can increase the updraft pressure in the vicinity of the
exit 321 of the wastewater guiding path 32, even if the suction
force is not of a magnitude with which the wastewater mist can
reach the discharge port 165. Thus, even if a small capacity air
intake fan 15 with a small output is employed, wastewater mist that
has advanced to the wastewater guiding path 32 can be sucked up
into the water collecting box 16.
[0071] Specifically, an inclined plate 35 is provided between the
front wall 16B of the water collecting box 16 and a rear wall 16C
facing the front wall 16B from the rear side, and the wastewater
guiding path 32 is formed by this inclined plate 35 and the rear
wall 16C. The inclined plate 35 is a plate-shaped member elongated
in the width direction D3, and both end portions thereof in the
width direction D3 are joined to two side walls 16D (see FIG. 7) of
the water collecting box 16. Also, the inclined plate 35 extends
rearward and obliquely upward from the bottom face 16A of the water
collecting box 16, and as a result of being bent upward from the
extension end thereof, the upwardly tapered wastewater guiding path
32 is formed between the inclined plate 35 and the rear wall 16C.
Note that the front wall 16B and the rear wall 16C are an example
of a pair of side walls according to one or more embodiments.
[0072] Also, a base end portion 351 of the inclined plate 35 is
joined to the front end of the suction port 168 of the bottom face
16A. As described above, both ends in the width direction D3 of the
inclined plate 35 are respectively joined to the side walls 16D of
the water collecting box 16, and thus the pooling portion 31 is
formed by the bottom face 16A, the front wall 16B, the inclined
plate 35, and the rear wall 16C. In other words, the pooling
portion 31 is formed between the inclined plate 35 and the front
wall 16B.
[0073] The tube joint 41 is provided in the water collecting box
16. The tube joint 41 is fixed to the inner surface of the front
wall 16B of the water collecting box 16. The tube joint 41 is
provided above the pooling portion 31. The tube joint 41 is
connected to the retrieval tube 221 via the through hole formed in
the front wall 16B.
[0074] The tube joint 41 is, for example, a so-called one-touch
female joint, and is linked to the end portion of the retrieval
tube 221 according to an attachment/detachment operation to
attach/detach the water collecting box 16 to/from the supporting
holder 17. By pulling the water collecting box 16 rearward and
obliquely upward when removing the water collecting box 16, the
tube joint 41 is removed from a male-type tube joint 222 provided
at an end portion of the retrieval tube 221 due to a tensile force
acting rearwards. Also, when the water collecting box 16 is mounted
to the supporting holder 17, the tube joint 41 is inserted into the
tube joint 222 of the retrieval tube 221 by a pressing force acting
forward generated at the time of mounting, and the tube joint 222
and the tube joint 41 are thus linked. Note that the tube joint 222
is fixed to the vertical frame 11D.
[0075] Straight piping 45 is provided in the water collecting box
16, extending from the tube joint 41 to the bottom face of the
pooling portion 31. The lower end portion of the piping 45 is
provided with a filter 46 made of a sponge material, unwoven cloth,
or the like. Thus, when the retrieval pump 27 is driven, wastewater
is sucked into the piping 45 from the pooling portion 31 via the
filter 46, and wastewater then passes through the piping 45, the
tube joint 41, and the retrieval tube 221 to be transferred to the
wastewater tank 22 (see the dotted arrows in FIG. 9).
Water Collecting Nozzle 18
[0076] As shown in FIG. 8, the water collecting nozzle 18 is
provided on the lower side of the supporting holder 17. When the
floor surface cleaning apparatus 10 moves while performing a
cleaning operation, as the floor surface cleaning apparatus 10
moves, the water collecting nozzle 18 collects wastewater including
cleaning liquid sprayed onto the floor surface 23. Also, the water
collecting nozzle 18 is a portion for moving the collected
wastewater and air to the water collecting box 16 in response to
the air intake fan 15 and the motor 62 running during a cleaning
operation performed by the floor surface cleaning apparatus 10. The
water collecting nozzle 18 has the suction port 181 that faces the
floor surface 23.
[0077] The water collecting nozzle 18 has an elongated shape in the
width direction D3, and is configured by a bottom plate 183 that
forms the bottom plate 172D of the box accommodating portion 172,
and a square-shaped tubular outer peripheral wall 184 that
protrudes downward from the outer peripheral edge of the bottom
plate 183. That is, the water collecting nozzle 18 and the box
accommodating portion 172 share the bottom plate 183 and are
separated from each other in the vertical direction by the bottom
plate 183. In other words, the box accommodating portion 172 and
the water collecting box 16 are provided above the water collecting
nozzle 18. The outer peripheral wall 184 is open downward and forms
the suction port 181 mentioned above.
[0078] A pair of rotating brushes 26 (26A and 26B) are rotatably
provided in the water collecting nozzle 18. The pair of rotating
brushes 26 are made of an absorbent material that has absorbency so
that they can retain the cleaning liquid. In other words, the pair
of rotating brushes 26 are formed so as to be able to retain
water.
[0079] In the water collecting nozzle 18, the pair of rotating
brushes 26 are lined up in the front-rear direction D2, and are
arranged so as to be parallel to each other. Also, the pair of
rotating brushes 26 each have the same outer diameter and the same
length in the width direction D3. The pair of rotating brushes 26
are rotatably supported by the water collecting nozzle 18 in a
state where the outer circumferential surfaces of both brushes 26
are in contact with the floor surface 23. Each of the pair of
rotating brushes 26 is a roller brush that is elongated in the
width direction D3. The rotation shaft 261 of each rotating brush
26 is rotatably supported piercing two side plates 186 (see FIG. 3)
in the width direction D3 of the outer peripheral wall 184 of the
water collecting nozzle 18.
[0080] Of the two rotating brushes 26, the front brush 26A (an
example of a first roller brush according to one or more
embodiments) arranged on the front side is provided forward of the
suction port 168 and the opening 177. Also, the rear brush 26B (an
example of a second roller brush according to one or more
embodiments) arranged on the rear side of the front brush 26A is
provided rearward of the suction port 168 and the opening 177. More
specifically, the rotating brushes 26 are arranged so that a center
point P of the line segment joining the center of the front brush
26A and the rear brush 26B is located below the suction port 168
and the opening 177. In the present embodiment, or in other
embodiments, as described later, the rear brush 26B has a higher
water holding capacity, and thus the rotating brushes 26 are
arranged so that the center point P is located on the forward side
of the central line of the suction port 168 and the opening 177.
Note that, as shown in FIG. 8, the front brush 26A and the rear
brush 26B are arranged spaced apart from each other in the
front-rear direction D2 by a predetermined interval .DELTA.T. The
predetermined interval .DELTA.T is defined as being in the range of
0<.DELTA.T<=20 mm.
[0081] The rotational driving of the rotating brushes 26 is
controlled by the control unit 40. In the present embodiment, or in
other embodiments, the rotating speeds of the rotating brushes 26
are controlled to be the same. Meanwhile, the front brush 26A is
rotationally driven such that the outer circumferential surface
thereof slides rearward against the floor surface 23. Specifically,
in FIG. 8, the front brush 26A is rotationally driven in a
counter-clockwise rotation direction. Also, the rear brush 26B is
rotationally driven such that the outer circumferential surface
thereof slides forward against the floor surface 23. Specifically,
in FIG. 8, the rear brush 26B is rotationally driven in a clockwise
rotation direction.
[0082] As described above, the front brush 26A and the rear brush
26B are made of a material that has absorbency. In the present
embodiment, or in other embodiments, the water retaining capacity
of the front brush 26A differs from the water retaining capacity of
the rear brush 26B, specifically, the water holding capacity of the
rear brush 26B is greater than the water holding capacity of the
front brush 26A. For example, the rear brush 26B is a brush flocked
with innumerable soft linear fibers, and the front brush 26A is a
brush flocked with innumerable hard linear fibers. Accordingly, the
front brush 26A mainly has the role of cleaning away dirt on the
floor surface 23 rather than absorbing wastewater on the floor
surface 23. Also, the rear brush 26B mainly has the role of
absorbing wastewater on the floor surface 23 rather than cleaning
away dirt on the floor surface 23.
[0083] Because the rotating brushes 26 are configured this way, due
to the rotating brushes 26 rotating, the floor surface 23 can be
cleaned while wastewater on the floor surface 23 is absorbed by the
rotating brushes 26. Also, using the centrifugal force generated
during rotational driving, the retained wastewater can be made into
a mist and flung from the opening 177 and the suction port 168
toward the wastewater guiding path 32 (see the solid arrows in FIG.
9).
[0084] The front end portion of the outer peripheral wall 184 of
the water collecting nozzle 18 is provided with a sheet-shaped seal
member 187 that has elasticity, extending toward the floor surface
23. The seal member 187 has a rectangular shape elongated in the
width direction D3, and is joined to the front end portion of the
outer peripheral wall 184 over the entire width direction D3 length
thereof. A minute gap is provided between the lower end of the seal
member 187 and the floor surface 23. Because the seal member 187 is
provided in this manner, even if cleaning liquid is supplied to the
gap 182 forward of the water collecting nozzle 18 during a cleaning
operation performed by the floor surface cleaning apparatus 10, the
seal member 187 can prevent the cleaning liquid from splashing
forward and leaking to the outside. Also, even if cleaning liquid
is dispersed forward by the rotation of the front brush 26A, the
seal member 187 can prevent the cleaning liquid from being
dispersed to the outside.
[0085] Also, the rear end portion of the outer peripheral wall 184
of the water collecting nozzle 18 is provided with a guard member
188 that extends toward the floor surface 23. The guard member 188
is a long member elongated in the width direction D3, and is joined
to the rear end portion of the outer peripheral wall 184 over the
entire width direction D3 length thereof. The lower end of the
guard member 188 either comes in contact with the floor surface 23
or, alternatively, a minute gap is provided between the lower end
and the floor surface 23. The guard member 188 is a member for
preventing wastewater dispersed rearward by the centrifugal force
generated by rotation of the rear brush 26B from being dispersed
rearward and to the outside of the water collecting nozzle 18, and
is formed as a resin member that has elasticity, for example.
[0086] A curved surface 189 that comes into contact with the outer
circumferential surface of the rear brush 26B is provided on the
front side of the guard member 188. In this way, by eliminating a
gap between the outer circumferential surface of the rear brush 26B
and the curved surface 189, even if retained wastewater is flung by
the centrifugal force generated by rotation of the rear brush 26B,
the flinging of the wastewater is impaired by the curved surface
189 and is reabsorbed by the rear brush 26B. Note that the curved
surface 189 does not need to come into contact with the outer
circumferential surface of the rear brush 26B, and may be provided
close to the outer circumferential surface with a minute gap
therebetween.
[0087] As described above, in the floor surface cleaning apparatus
10 according to the present embodiment, or in other embodiments,
because the water retaining rotating brushes 26 (26A and 26B) are
provided in the water collecting nozzle 18 and the pooling portion
31 that can pool wastewater is provided in the water collection box
16, when the rotating brushes 26 are rotationally driven, the
rotating brushes 26 can absorb and retain wastewater from the floor
surface 23. Also, using the centrifugal force generated by the
rotation of the rotating brushes 26, the wastewater retained in the
rotating brushes 26 can be made into a mist and flung upward, and
moved to the pooling portion 31 in the water collecting box 16 via
the opening 177 and the suction port 168. Accordingly, even if the
floor surface 23 is uneven, wastewater on the floor surface 23 can
be reliably retrieved to the pooling portion 31.
[0088] Also, the air intake fan 15 is provided in the floor surface
cleaning apparatus 10 and the wastewater guiding path 32 is
provided in the water collecting box 16. Thus, wastewater mist
flung toward the opening 177 and the suction port 168 can easily
move into the water collecting box 16 by riding an air current
generated by air intake by the air intake fan 15. Also, because the
wastewater guiding path 32 is formed in an upwardly tapered shape,
the updraft pressure in the vicinity of the exit 321 of the
wastewater guiding path 32 can be increased, even if the suction
power of the air intake fan 15 is low. Accordingly, even if a small
capacity air intake fan 15 with a small output is employed,
wastewater mist that has advanced to the wastewater guiding path 32
can be sucked up into the water collecting box 16. In other words,
in the floor surface cleaning apparatus 10, a small capacity air
intake fan 15 can be applied. As a result, depletion of the battery
14 can be suppressed, and the driving efficiency of the air intake
fan 15 can be increased. Also, by making the air intake fan 15
smaller, the floor surface cleaning apparatus 10 can be made
smaller.
[0089] Also, inside the water collecting box 16, the wastewater
guiding path 32 is provided in the lower portion on the rear side
of the water collecting box 16, and the discharge port 165 for air
from the air intake fan 15 is provided in the upper portion of the
front wall 16B of the water collecting box 16. Thus, wastewater
mist that has moved along the wastewater guiding path 32 and passed
the exit 321 upward rides the air current generated by air intake
by the air intake fan 15 and moves forward, and falls into the
pooling portion 31 without reaching the discharge port 165, and is
pooled in the pooling portion 31 (see the solid arrows in FIG. 9).
Accordingly, wastewater mist is prevented from moving back down the
wastewater guiding path 32 from the exit 321.
[0090] Also, in the water collecting box 16, the pooling portion 31
and the wastewater guiding path 32 are separated in the front-rear
direction D2 by the single inclined plate 35. Thus, the internal
structure of the water collecting box 16 can be simplified.
[0091] Also, the floor surface cleaning apparatus 10 is provided
with the wastewater tank 22 and the retrieval pump 27 that sucks up
wastewater pooled in the pooling portion 31 and transfers the
wastewater to the wastewater tank 22. Accordingly, wastewater that
cannot be pooled in the pooling portion 31 can be retrieved to the
wastewater tank 22. Accordingly, the floor surface cleaning
apparatus 10 can be run for a long time before the wastewater tank
22 is filled with wastewater.
[0092] Also, the water collecting nozzle 18 is provided with two
rotating brushes 26 (26A and 26B), and the front brush 26A and the
rear brush 26B are rotationally driven in different rotation
directions as described above while the floor surface cleaning
apparatus 10 performs a cleaning operation. Accordingly, the
wastewater retained in the front brush 26A is likely to be
dispersed toward the opening 177, and the wastewater retained in
the rear brush 26B is also likely to be dispersed toward the
opening 177. As a result, wastewater can be efficiently moved
upward by the rotating brushes 26.
[0093] Also, as described above, the water retaining capacity of
the rear brush 26B is greater than the water retaining capacity of
the front brush 26A. For this reason, while the floor surface
cleaning apparatus 10 is moving forward, even if wastewater that
could not be absorbed by the front brush 26A moves rearward, the
wastewater can be reliably retrieved by the rear brush 26B.
[0094] Also, because the water collecting nozzle 18 is provided
with the guard member 188, wastewater dispersed rearward by a
centrifugal force generated by rotation of the rear brush 26B can
be prevented from being dispersed to the outside from the rear side
of the water collecting nozzle 18. The guard member 188 is provided
with a curved surface 189. Thus, wastewater that has been flung
rearward from the rear brush 26B is caught by the curved surface
189, and can be reabsorbed by the rear brush 26B.
[0095] Also, the floor surface cleaning apparatus 10 is provided
with the cleaning liquid tank 24, the supply tube 241, and the
supply pump 25, and thus there is no need to spray the cleaning
liquid onto the floor surface 23 in advance. Also, cleaning liquid
is supplied to the inside of the water collecting nozzle 18, and
thus wasteful consumption of the cleaning liquid can be suppressed
compared to a case where the cleaning liquid is sprayed over a
large area of the floor surface 23.
[0096] It should be noted that, in the above-described embodiment,
the front brush 26A and the rear brush 26B were exemplified as
being constituted by linear fibers, but one or more embodiments are
not limited to the above described configuration. For example, the
front brush 26A and the rear brush 26B may be made of sponge
materials with different water retaining capacities, or other resin
or fibrous materials.
[0097] Also, in the above-described embodiment, a configuration is
exemplified where the pair of rotating brushes 26 are provided in
the water collecting nozzle 18, but the number of rotating brushes
26 is not limited to two, and one or three or more may be
employed.
[0098] Also, in the above-described embodiment, the floor surface
cleaning apparatus 10 is exemplified as the configuration shown in
FIG. 1 including the air intake fan 15, the cleaning liquid tank
24, the wastewater tank 22, and the like, but one or more
embodiments are not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 1.
One or more embodiments may be realized as a floor surface cleaning
apparatus including at least the water collecting nozzle 18, the
rotating brushes 26, and the water collecting box 16.
[0099] Floor surface cleaning device in related art, the water
collecting nozzle has a structure where air is sucked in along with
wastewater from the water suction port thereof, and thus a large
capacity vacuum pump with a large output needs to be employed,
which means that not only is the apparatus large, but also that the
driving efficiency of the vacuum pump is poor. Also, wastewater
cannot be sucked up without the water collecting nozzle being
brought into close contact with a floor surface. Thus, if a floor
surface is uneven, a gap occurs between the water collecting nozzle
and the uneven portions of the floor surface, which leads to the
problem of not being able to suck up wastewater and the possibility
of wastewater being left on the floor surface. Also, if the floor
surface cleaning device moves while the water collecting nozzle is
in contact with a floor surface, waste such as rubbish and dust
clogs up the contact portion and thus the waste then has to be
removed.
[0100] One or more embodiments provide a floor surface cleaning
apparatus in which a reduction in the size of the apparatus may be
realized, the driving efficiency may be increased, and wastewater
on a floor surface can be reliably retrieved regardless of the
state of the floor surface.
* * * * *