EP0448824A1 - Washing machine for wide surfaces, in particular for industrial floorings - Google Patents
Washing machine for wide surfaces, in particular for industrial floorings Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0448824A1 EP0448824A1 EP90124953A EP90124953A EP0448824A1 EP 0448824 A1 EP0448824 A1 EP 0448824A1 EP 90124953 A EP90124953 A EP 90124953A EP 90124953 A EP90124953 A EP 90124953A EP 0448824 A1 EP0448824 A1 EP 0448824A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- brush unit
- machine according
- washing
- sides
- axle
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
- A47L11/40—Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
- A47L11/4036—Parts or details of the surface treating tools
- A47L11/4041—Roll shaped surface treating tools
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
- A47L11/29—Floor-scrubbing machines characterised by means for taking-up dirty liquid
- A47L11/30—Floor-scrubbing machines characterised by means for taking-up dirty liquid by suction
- A47L11/302—Floor-scrubbing machines characterised by means for taking-up dirty liquid by suction having rotary tools
- A47L11/305—Floor-scrubbing machines characterised by means for taking-up dirty liquid by suction having rotary tools the tools being disc brushes
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
- A47L11/40—Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
- A47L11/4013—Contaminants collecting devices, i.e. hoppers, tanks or the like
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
- A47L11/40—Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
- A47L11/4036—Parts or details of the surface treating tools
- A47L11/4038—Disk shaped surface treating tools
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
- A47L11/40—Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
- A47L11/4061—Steering means; Means for avoiding obstacles; Details related to the place where the driver is accommodated
Definitions
- the present invention has for its subject matter a washing machine for wide surfaces, in particular for industrial floorings.
- the washing and cleaning machines can be also supplied with normal brushes and rollers with long and soft bristles for getting a further sweeping and collection action of the debris or garbage having wider dimensions.
- the indicated machines have an important technical problem, that is the selection of the position of brush-holder unit: the same unit can be located overhanging before the machine chassis, as generally occurs, or also under the same chassis.
- the overhanging position before the chassis has the advantage to make very easy the control or replacement or cleaning of brushes and related motors and supports. Further the driver can observe easily the position of the washing brushes. Therefore it becomes possible to keep the brushes near to eventual obstacles or sides or walls or other matter present in conjuction with the surfaces to be cleaned.
- the position of the brush-holder unit under the chassis reduces the dimensions of these machines and increases the maneuvrability thereof. Yet this technical solution actually reduces the possibility of good running of these machines.
- the brush-holder unit located under the chassis is scarcely accessibile and therefore all operations of cleaning, maintenance and control are difficult.
- the operator that drives the machine can be obliged to skim the obstacles and sides present in conjuction with the flooring surfaces to be washed with the body sides of the same machine, and further the same operator must move his eyes from the move direction, if he must observe the chassis body sides.
- the technical aim of the present invention is to supply a machine suitable for obviating substantially to the above mentioned drawbacks.
- the technical aim is substantially obtained by a washing machine for wide surfaces, in particular for industrial floorings, including a chassis substantially limited in plan view by lateral body sides and by end sides transversal to said lateral body sides and supporting near a pavement to be cleaned at least wheels for the movement of said machine, and a brush unit including washing brushes and located between said end sides,
- the machine according to the invention is generally indicated by the reference number 1 . It includes a support chassis 2 that in plan view has overall dimensions substantially limited by body sides 3 and end edges 4 .
- the lateral body sides 3 are substantially parallel with one another and to the main development direction of machine 1.
- the end edges 4 are transversal to the lateral body sides 3 and establish the front and rear edges of chassis 2.
- the chassis 2 holds, in direction of a pavement 44 to be cleaned, wheels for the movement of the machine 1 divided in two rear wheels 5 , located adjacent to the lateral body sides 3 and aligned with one another in conjuction with a rear axle 6 transversal to the same body sides, and a single front steering wheel 7 located onto a front axle 8 .
- the same front axle 8 is joined to an electric motor 7a .
- the front steering wheel is a drive wheel and the two rear wheels 5 are idle wheels.
- a brush unit 9 located under the chassis 2 in a position included between the end edges 4, and also included between front axle 8 and rear axle 6. In pratice the brush unit 9 is located along the move direction immediately downstream the front steering wheel 7.
- the brush unit 9 is supported by the chassis 2 by the insertion of a pin 10 , that forms an oscillation axle 10a for the same brush unit 9, substantially in vertical direction.
- the oscillation axle 10a coincides with the rotation axle of the front steering wheel 7.
- the brush unit 9 has a transversal dimension exceeding the maximum distance between the body sides 3 and therefore establishes a washing path 9a having washing edges 9b , reciprocally spaced of a measure greater than said distance between the same body sides 3.
- the brush unt 9 develops according to a shape that surrounds partially the front steering wheel 7 and includes an articulated structure 11 , suitable for supporting a plurality of motors 12 , to which a plurality of washing brushes 13 are joined.
- the articulated structure 11 On its turn the articulated structure 11 includes a first support body 14 , rotatably joined with the pin 10, a couple of arms 15 engaged, in conjuction with the first ends 16 thereof, to the first support body 14 along first pins 17 , located parallel with one another and transversal to the oscillation axle 10a.
- a second support body 18 suitable for supporting the motors 12 and the washing brushes 13, is rotatably engaged to second ends 19 of the arms 15 in conjuction with second pins 20 parallel to the first pins.
- a presser device 22 engaged to the first support body 14 and developing between this last body and the crosspiece body 21, presses the second support body 18 in the direction of surfaces to be cleaned by the insertion of elastic elements 23 .
- the presser device 22 includes a drive unit 24 and a bar 25 sliding substantially in the axial direction included between the first support body 14 and the crosspiece body 21.
- the control unit 24 is preferably made by a known electric actuator, including a geared motor 24a , suitable for rotating, e.g. by means of a worm screw, a toothed coupling 24b , winding the bar 25 and screwed thereto.
- the bar 25 can be axially moved and rotatably fixed and therefore the rotation of the toothed coupling 24b causes the bar 25 to be moved axially.
- the elastic elements 23 are made-up by tensile springs restrained at its ends with the rod 26 and with projections 29 of the same wings 28.
- a roller 30 substantially cylindrical in form is foreseen between the rear wheels 5 for collecting debris or garbage and this roller is turning with respect to a rotation axle substantially coincident with the rear axle 6.
- the roller 30 establishes a debris collection path 30a with collection edges 30b , having a width lower to the minimum distance between the body sides 3.
- the debris or garbage are thrown by the roller 30 into a collector 31 , of the extractable type for getting a better cleaning, having the bottom supplied with holes for allowing the collected water to be discharged onto the ground.
- the Figures 1 and 2 show the conveyor members 32 that are made up of scraping wings located onto the edges of the second support body 18.
- the Figure 4 shows that the conveyor members 32 include also elastic members 34 that press the scraping wings 33 onto the flooring 44.
- the elastic members 34 have a strut 34a supporting scraping wings 33 and sliding through the support body 18, under the control of a lever 34b driven by a spring element 34c .
- the centering means 35 includes a rod 36 located transversal to the oscillation axle 10a and engaged at its end by a projection 10b of pin 10, turning around the oscillation axle 10a together with the brush unit 9.
- the engagement of the rod 36 with the protrusion 10b is made by a manually detachable connection pin 36a .
- the rod 36 is partially slidingly embodied into a tubular housing body 37 rotatably joined to the chassis 2. Further the rod 36 is slidingly surrounded by elastic means 38 formed by a compression spring hold between a couple of housing rings 39 sliding internally to the housing body 37 and locked in the inside of the housing body 37 by limit stop means 40 .
- the residual water remaining onto the pavement 44 is sucked by suction elements 42 , located downstream the rear axle 6 and in contact with the pavement ground 44 and sent into a tank housed in the zone 43 .
- the running of the machine occurs as follows.
- the second support body 18 supporting the washing brushes 13 is pressed against the ground by means of a presser device 22 and the pressure, adjustable by the operator, controlling the drive unit 24, depends on the intensity of the required cleaning action and by the type of treated pavement 44.
- the pressure is suitable for locating the rod 26 in an intermediate position within the slots 27: therefore the elastic elements 23 transmit elastically the force of the presser device 22 to the crosspiece body 21 and to the arms 15.
- the slots 27 allow oscillations of the second support body 18 and arms 15 and these oscillations are balanced by the elastic elements 23. There are possible oscillations both in vertical direction, with equal tensile force of the two elastic elements 23, and tilts for the lifting of a lateral brush and following tensile force different in the elastic elements 23.
- the first and second pins 17 and 20, or at least these last pins are assembled with play for allowing twists between the joined parts. Further the second pins 20, aligned with one another, establish a pitch axle suitable for allowing adjustment movements of the second support body 18 around the same axle.
- the scraping wings 33 during the move of the machine, transport water and debris or garbage in conjuction with the roller 30 that projects them into the collector 31.
- the remaining water laid onto the surfaces is removed by the suction elements 42 in contact with the ground.
- the brush unit 9 can be lifted by means of the presser device 22, that, under the control of the drive unit 24, causes the lifting of the rod 25 and rod 26.
- This last rod slides lifting along the slots 27, reducing the tensile force of the elastic elements 23 and finally adjusting itself in mechanical rest onto the superior ends of the slots 27. Therefore the lifting can be completed by the direct action onto the wings 28 and onto the crosspiece body 21.
- the invention achieves important advantages.
- the particular washing brushes are positioned backwards with respect to the front edge of the machine chassis, in such a manner to make the same machine compact and manoeuvrable, but this does not cause a reduced access possibility to the same brushes, or a difficult control of the washing action in presence of obstacles.
- conveyor members 32 allows that, notwithstanding the amplitude of the brush unit 9, a collecting roller 30 of very reduced width can be used, located between the rear wheels 5 and therefore in a zone not used by members that act directly onto pavements.
Abstract
Description
- The present invention has for its subject matter a washing machine for wide surfaces, in particular for industrial floorings.
- As it is known the cleaning of floorings, e.g. in the inside or in the outside of industrial sheds is made using machines supplied, among other equipments, with particular rotating washing brushes.
These brushes develop, in presence of a suitable water or any other liquid spraying, a washing and scraping action on the flooring surfaces and have bristles much more short and stiff than the ones commonly used in brushes and rollers for street swipers, suitable for simple garbage collecting. - For supporting these brushes it is generally foreseen a brush-holder unit that surrounds the same brushes.
- As an ancillary equipment for these particular brushes, that have a particularly active action onto the ground, the washing and cleaning machines can be also supplied with normal brushes and rollers with long and soft bristles for getting a further sweeping and collection action of the debris or garbage having wider dimensions.
- The indicated machines have an important technical problem, that is the selection of the position of brush-holder unit: the same unit can be located overhanging before the machine chassis, as generally occurs, or also under the same chassis.
- The overhanging position before the chassis has the advantage to make very easy the control or replacement or cleaning of brushes and related motors and supports. Further the driver can observe easily the position of the washing brushes. Therefore it becomes possible to keep the brushes near to eventual obstacles or sides or walls or other matter present in conjuction with the surfaces to be cleaned.
- In fact it cannot be carried out an efficient washing and scraping action, as the action made by said brushes, neglecting spaces or angles having a certain dimension.
- Nevertheless the overhanging position on the chassis front part has the great drawback to cause great overall dimensions of the washing machines. These great dimensions cause a limited maneuvrability of the same machines and therefore a difficult access in various areas to be cleaned and a limited maneuvre capacity near obstacles or sides.
- The position of the brush-holder unit under the chassis reduces the dimensions of these machines and increases the maneuvrability thereof. Yet this technical solution actually reduces the possibility of good running of these machines.
- In fact the brush-holder unit located under the chassis is scarcely accessibile and therefore all operations of cleaning, maintenance and control are difficult. Further the operator that drives the machine can be obliged to skim the obstacles and sides present in conjuction with the flooring surfaces to be washed with the body sides of the same machine, and further the same operator must move his eyes from the move direction, if he must observe the chassis body sides.
- So it is caused a work slowing-down and there are also present serious possibilities of damages by shock, both for the machine and for the civil or industrial structures present in conjuction with the flooring to be washed. In pratice, using these machines, it can be advisable to let a little distance between the brush-holder unit and poles, columns, sides, shelvings, plant basements, walls or the like, with the consequence that the cleaning is not perfect or complete.
- In this situation the technical aim of the present invention is to supply a machine suitable for obviating substantially to the above mentioned drawbacks.
- The technical aim, is substantially obtained by a washing machine for wide surfaces, in particular for industrial floorings, including a chassis substantially limited in plan view by lateral body sides and by end sides transversal to said lateral body sides and supporting near a pavement to be cleaned at least wheels for the movement of said machine, and a brush unit including washing brushes and located between said end sides,
- characterized in that said brush unit has a transversal dimension in a direction transversal to said lateral body sides exceeding the maximum distance between said lateral body sides, in a manner suitable for establishing a washing path having washing sides with reciprocal distance higher than said maximum distance between said lateral body sides,
- in that between said brush unit and said chassis it is interposed a pin establishing an oscillation axle for said brush unit, said brush unit being rotatable around said oscillation axle in a direction substantially parallel to said pavement,
- and in that there is centering means engaged to said chassis and suitable for preventing said brush unit to rotate freely around said oscillation axle.
- In the following it is described a preferred fulfilment form of a machine according to the invention, making reference to the annexed drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 shows in a lateral view a machine according to the invention, in general view;
- Figure 2 shows how some machine members are developed and act onto the ground, considering the overall dimensions of the chassis with respect to ground, indicated in dotted lines;
- Figure 3 shows a part of brush unit shown in preceding figures in perspective view;
- Figure 4 shows a detail of said brush unit in partial section and lateral view;
- Figure 5 shows the centering means of said brush unit;
- Figure 6 shows a front view of Figure 3;
- Figure 7 shows a detail of Figures 3 and 6 in lateral view; and
- Figure 8 is a partial lateral view of brush unit of Figures 3 and 7.
- Making now reference to the annexed figures, the machine according to the invention is generally indicated by the
reference number 1. It includes asupport chassis 2 that in plan view has overall dimensions substantially limited bybody sides 3 andend edges 4. Thelateral body sides 3 are substantially parallel with one another and to the main development direction ofmachine 1. Theend edges 4 are transversal to thelateral body sides 3 and establish the front and rear edges ofchassis 2. - The
chassis 2 holds, in direction of apavement 44 to be cleaned, wheels for the movement of themachine 1 divided in tworear wheels 5, located adjacent to thelateral body sides 3 and aligned with one another in conjuction with arear axle 6 transversal to the same body sides, and a singlefront steering wheel 7 located onto a front axle 8. The same front axle 8 is joined to anelectric motor 7a. Preferably the front steering wheel is a drive wheel and the tworear wheels 5 are idle wheels. - Further it is foreseen a
brush unit 9 located under thechassis 2 in a position included between theend edges 4, and also included between front axle 8 andrear axle 6. In pratice thebrush unit 9 is located along the move direction immediately downstream thefront steering wheel 7. - The
brush unit 9 is supported by thechassis 2 by the insertion of apin 10, that forms anoscillation axle 10a for thesame brush unit 9, substantially in vertical direction. In a novel way theoscillation axle 10a coincides with the rotation axle of thefront steering wheel 7. - As shown in Figure 2, the
brush unit 9 has a transversal dimension exceeding the maximum distance between thebody sides 3 and therefore establishes a washing path 9a having washing edges 9b, reciprocally spaced of a measure greater than said distance between thesame body sides 3. - The
brush unt 9 develops according to a shape that surrounds partially thefront steering wheel 7 and includes an articulatedstructure 11, suitable for supporting a plurality ofmotors 12, to which a plurality ofwashing brushes 13 are joined. - On its turn the articulated
structure 11 includes afirst support body 14, rotatably joined with thepin 10, a couple ofarms 15 engaged, in conjuction with thefirst ends 16 thereof, to thefirst support body 14 alongfirst pins 17, located parallel with one another and transversal to theoscillation axle 10a. - A
second support body 18, suitable for supporting themotors 12 and thewashing brushes 13, is rotatably engaged tosecond ends 19 of thearms 15 in conjuction withsecond pins 20 parallel to the first pins. - Further there is a
crosspiece body 21 developing between thearms 15 and hinged with respect to the same arms for allowing a different angular position thereof with respect to the ground. - A
presser device 22, engaged to thefirst support body 14 and developing between this last body and thecrosspiece body 21, presses thesecond support body 18 in the direction of surfaces to be cleaned by the insertion ofelastic elements 23. - In detail the
presser device 22 includes adrive unit 24 and abar 25 sliding substantially in the axial direction included between thefirst support body 14 and thecrosspiece body 21. - The
control unit 24 is preferably made by a known electric actuator, including a gearedmotor 24a, suitable for rotating, e.g. by means of a worm screw, a toothed coupling 24b, winding thebar 25 and screwed thereto. Thebar 25 can be axially moved and rotatably fixed and therefore the rotation of the toothed coupling 24b causes thebar 25 to be moved axially. - At the end of the
bar 25 it is joined transversally arod 26 that is inserted, with a play, inslots 27 made in couple ofwings 28 joined to thecrosspiece body 21. - The
elastic elements 23 are made-up by tensile springs restrained at its ends with therod 26 and withprojections 29 of thesame wings 28. - A
roller 30 substantially cylindrical in form is foreseen between therear wheels 5 for collecting debris or garbage and this roller is turning with respect to a rotation axle substantially coincident with therear axle 6. Theroller 30 establishes adebris collection path 30a withcollection edges 30b, having a width lower to the minimum distance between thebody sides 3. - The debris or garbage are thrown by the
roller 30 into acollector 31, of the extractable type for getting a better cleaning, having the bottom supplied with holes for allowing the collected water to be discharged onto the ground. - For allowing the debris collection onto a path wider than the
roller 30, there areconveyor members 32 converging towards thesame roller 30 and developing between the washing edges 9b and thecollection edges 30b. - The Figures 1 and 2 show the
conveyor members 32 that are made up of scraping wings located onto the edges of thesecond support body 18. The Figure 4 shows that theconveyor members 32 include alsoelastic members 34 that press thescraping wings 33 onto theflooring 44. Theelastic members 34 have astrut 34a supportingscraping wings 33 and sliding through thesupport body 18, under the control of a lever 34b driven by a spring element 34c. - Further centering means 35, indicated in Figures 1 and 5, acting onto the
brush unit 9 and suitable for hindering its oscillations around theoscillation axles 10a is arranged. - The
centering means 35 includes arod 36 located transversal to theoscillation axle 10a and engaged at its end by a projection 10b ofpin 10, turning around theoscillation axle 10a together with thebrush unit 9. The engagement of therod 36 with the protrusion 10b is made by a manuallydetachable connection pin 36a. - The
rod 36 is partially slidingly embodied into atubular housing body 37 rotatably joined to thechassis 2. Further therod 36 is slidingly surrounded byelastic means 38 formed by a compression spring hold between a couple ofhousing rings 39 sliding internally to thehousing body 37 and locked in the inside of thehousing body 37 by limit stop means 40. - The housing rings 39 and therefore the spring means 38 engage by pressure the
presser elements 41, formed by two threaded nuts, engaged fixedly to therod 36 in position external to the housing rings 39. - The residual water remaining onto the
pavement 44 is sucked bysuction elements 42, located downstream therear axle 6 and in contact with thepavement ground 44 and sent into a tank housed in thezone 43. - The running of the machine occurs as follows.
- During the work the
second support body 18 supporting the washing brushes 13 is pressed against the ground by means of apresser device 22 and the pressure, adjustable by the operator, controlling thedrive unit 24, depends on the intensity of the required cleaning action and by the type of treatedpavement 44. Normally the pressure is suitable for locating therod 26 in an intermediate position within the slots 27: therefore theelastic elements 23 transmit elastically the force of thepresser device 22 to thecrosspiece body 21 and to thearms 15. - If the surfaces to be cleaned have unevennesses, the
slots 27 allow oscillations of thesecond support body 18 andarms 15 and these oscillations are balanced by theelastic elements 23. There are possible oscillations both in vertical direction, with equal tensile force of the twoelastic elements 23, and tilts for the lifting of a lateral brush and following tensile force different in theelastic elements 23. - For making possible the lateral liftings, in which the
arms 15 are lifted in different manner, the first andsecond pins second support body 18 around the same axle. - The eventual lateral obstacles met by the
brush unit 9, that projects from the machine body sides, do not cause any hitch to the machine movement, owing to the oscillation possibility of thebrush unit 9 around thepin 10, opposing to the centeringmeans 35. In these last means therod 36 is moved mainly in axial direction and is resisted by the elastic means 38 on which it is pressed one of the holding rings 39, according to the oscillation direction, under the action of apresser element 41. - Disengaging the connecting
pin 36a between therod 36 and thebrush unit 9, it is possible to turn completely thebrush unit 9 towards the outside, around thepin 10, allowing an easy replacement of brushes and an easy maintenance or cleaning of thewhole brush unit 9. - The scraping
wings 33, during the move of the machine, transport water and debris or garbage in conjuction with theroller 30 that projects them into thecollector 31. The remaining water laid onto the surfaces is removed by thesuction elements 42 in contact with the ground. - When the machine must make simple movements, the
brush unit 9 can be lifted by means of thepresser device 22, that, under the control of thedrive unit 24, causes the lifting of therod 25 androd 26. This last rod slides lifting along theslots 27, reducing the tensile force of theelastic elements 23 and finally adjusting itself in mechanical rest onto the superior ends of theslots 27. Therefore the lifting can be completed by the direct action onto thewings 28 and onto thecrosspiece body 21. - The invention achieves important advantages.
- The particular washing brushes are positioned backwards with respect to the front edge of the machine chassis, in such a manner to make the same machine compact and manoeuvrable, but this does not cause a reduced access possibility to the same brushes, or a difficult control of the washing action in presence of obstacles.
- In fact owing to the presence of the
pin 10, it is possible to extract completely the brush unit from the lower side of the chassis, for allowing the access to the brushes, and it exists no danger of shocks, owing to the oscillation possibility of the brushes, and it is possible to adjust systematically the brushes in contact with sides and walls, becouse the brush unit can work in angled position. - In pratice the machine allows to work quickly, without keeping a particular attention to obstacles. Therefore the work capacity increases and the washing costs are reduced. Further the quality of the executed work increases as a complete cleaning is more easy, even near the sides or walls.
- The presence of
conveyor members 32 allows that, notwithstanding the amplitude of thebrush unit 9, a collectingroller 30 of very reduced width can be used, located between therear wheels 5 and therefore in a zone not used by members that act directly onto pavements. - In this manner the overall dimensions of machine on ground are reduced and its maneuvrability is increases.
- This advantageous position between the rear wheels is also possible as the rear wheels are not drive wheels.
- Finally it must be also underlined that the use of a sole drive and
steering wheel 7 located in front side of thebrush unit 9 allows to obtain for this unit a shape that partially surrounds thesame wheel 7, that is useful for a more efficient reciprocal layout of the washing brushes, without requiring greather overall dimensions of the machine.
Claims (14)
- . A washing machine for wide surfaces, in particular for industrial floorings, including a chassis (2) substantially limited in plan view by lateral body sides (3) and by end sides (4) transversal to said lateral body sides (3) and supporting near a pavement (44) to be cleaned at least wheels (5, 7) for the movement of said machine, and a brush unit (9) including washing brushes (13) and located between said end sides (4),- characterized in that said brush unit (9) has a transversal dimension in a direction transversal to said lateral body sides (3) exceeding the maximum distance between said lateral body sides (3), in a manner suitable for establishing a washing path (9a) having washing sides (9b) with reciprocal distance higher than said maximum distance between said lateral body sides (3),- in that between said brush unit (9) and said chassis (2) it is interposed a pin (10) establishing an oscillation axle (10a) for said brush unit (9), said brush unit (9) being rotatable around said oscillation axle (10a) in a direction substantially parallel to said pavement (44),- and in that there is centering means (35) engaged to said chassis (2) and suitable for preventing said brush unit (9) to rotate freely around said oscillation axle (10a).
- . A machine according to Claim 1, in which there is a single front steering wheel (7), and in which said front steering wheel (7) has a rotation axle located in conjuction with said oscillation axle (10a) of said brush unit (9).
- . A machine according to Claim 2, in which said brush unit (9) surrounds said front steering wheel (7) in plan view.
- . A machine according to Claim 1, in which under said chassis (2) there is a roller (30) substantially cylindrical in form for collecting debris, located backwards with respect to said brush unit (9), in the movement direction of said machine and showing a rotation axle substantially parallel to said pavement (44) said roller (30) establishing a collection path (30a) having a width inferior than said washing path (9a), and in which there are conveyor members (32), developing between said washing path (9a) and said collection path (30a) in contact with said pavement (44) and suitable for conveying debris and washing liquid in direction of said roller (30).
- . A machine according to Claim 4, in which said conveyor members (32) are supported by said brush unit (9) and mobile therewith.
- . A machine according to Claim 4, in which said conveyor members (32) include scraping wings (33) converging towards said collection path (30a) from said washing edges (9b) of said washing path (9a), and elastic members (34) suitable for pressing elastically said scraping wings (33) against said flooring (44).
- . A machine according to Claim 4, in which said roller (30) is located between the rear wheels (5) of said machine aligned with one another following a rear axle (6) transversal to said lateral body sides (3), said rotation axle of said roller (30) substantially coiciding with said rear axle (6) and said roller (30) establishing said collection path (30a) of width inferior than said maximum distance between said lateral body sides (3).
- . A machine according to Claim 1, in which said brush unit (9) is provided with an articulated structure (11) including: a first support body (14) rotatably joined to said pin (10), at least a couple of arms (15) engaged to said first support body (14) in conjuction with first pins (17) parallel with one another and transversal to said oscillation axle (10a) and a second support body (18) suitable for supporting said brushes (13) and rotatably engaged to said arms (15) in conjuction with second pins (20) located substantially parallel to said first pin (17).
- . A machine according to Claim 8, in which there is at least a presser device (22), engaged to said first support body (14) and suitable for pressing said second support body (18) in the direction of said flooring (44).
- . A machine according to Claim 9, in which said presser device (22) includes a control unit (24) and a bar (25) axially mobile under the action of said control unit (24) in the direction of said second support body (18).
- . A machine according to Claim 9, in which there is a crosspiece body (21) developing between said arms (15), hinged with respect to said arms and engaged to said presser device (22), said presser device (22) developing between said first support body (14) and said crosspiece body (21).
- . A machine according to Claim 11, in which there are elastic elements (23), interposed between said presser element (22) and said crosspiece body (21) and suitable for acting onto said flooring (44).
- . A machine according to Claim 1, in which said centering means (35) includes: a rod (36) mobile with said brush unit (9) and engaged to said unit by a manually releasable connection pin (36a), and elastic means (38) being interposed between said chassis (2) and said rod (36).
- . A machine according to Claim 13, in which said rod (36) is located transversally to said oscillation axle (10a) and mobile in a main axial direction, and in that said centering means (35) further includes a tubular holder body (37) rotatably hinged to said chassis (2) and housing at least partially and slindingly said rod (36) and said elastic means (38), said elastic means (38) being slidingly wound onto said rod (36), limit stops (40) for said elastic means (38) engaged to said holder body (37) and presser elements (41) of said elastic means (38) engaged onto said rod (36).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IT19818A IT1239825B (en) | 1990-03-26 | 1990-03-26 | WASHING AND CLEANING MACHINE FOR SURFACES, ESPECIALLY OF INDUSTRIAL FLOORS |
IT1981890 | 1990-03-26 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0448824A1 true EP0448824A1 (en) | 1991-10-02 |
EP0448824B1 EP0448824B1 (en) | 1994-11-30 |
Family
ID=11161531
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP90124953A Revoked EP0448824B1 (en) | 1990-03-26 | 1990-12-20 | Washing machine for wide surfaces, in particular for industrial floorings |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0448824B1 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE114435T1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69014603D1 (en) |
IT (1) | IT1239825B (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP3569128A3 (en) * | 2018-05-14 | 2019-12-11 | i-mop GmbH | Wet cleaning device for wet cleaning a floor surface |
EP3639718A1 (en) * | 2018-10-17 | 2020-04-22 | Kärcher North America, Inc. | Wheel propelled steerable floor cleaning machine |
USD1016416S1 (en) | 2022-02-14 | 2024-02-27 | Karcher North America, Inc. | Floor cleaning machine |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR1019363A (en) * | 1950-05-31 | 1953-01-21 | Automotive sweeper | |
US3233274A (en) * | 1963-01-28 | 1966-02-08 | Tennant Co G H | Sweeping machine dust separator apparatus |
US3345671A (en) * | 1966-01-11 | 1967-10-10 | Ross D Wilson | Floor scrubbing and polishing machine |
US3701177A (en) * | 1971-04-22 | 1972-10-31 | Star Ind Inc | Front wheel driven floor scrubber |
US4009500A (en) * | 1976-04-26 | 1977-03-01 | Star Industries, Inc. | Floor scrubbing apparatus |
US4754521A (en) * | 1986-07-31 | 1988-07-05 | Dulevo S.P.A | Street sweeper machine for trash collecting |
-
1990
- 1990-03-26 IT IT19818A patent/IT1239825B/en active IP Right Grant
- 1990-12-20 AT AT90124953T patent/ATE114435T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1990-12-20 DE DE69014603T patent/DE69014603D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1990-12-20 EP EP90124953A patent/EP0448824B1/en not_active Revoked
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR1019363A (en) * | 1950-05-31 | 1953-01-21 | Automotive sweeper | |
US3233274A (en) * | 1963-01-28 | 1966-02-08 | Tennant Co G H | Sweeping machine dust separator apparatus |
US3345671A (en) * | 1966-01-11 | 1967-10-10 | Ross D Wilson | Floor scrubbing and polishing machine |
US3701177A (en) * | 1971-04-22 | 1972-10-31 | Star Ind Inc | Front wheel driven floor scrubber |
US4009500A (en) * | 1976-04-26 | 1977-03-01 | Star Industries, Inc. | Floor scrubbing apparatus |
US4754521A (en) * | 1986-07-31 | 1988-07-05 | Dulevo S.P.A | Street sweeper machine for trash collecting |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
publicity brochure "tennant 42 power sweeper" pages 3 to end copyright 1969 by tennant cy * |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP3569128A3 (en) * | 2018-05-14 | 2019-12-11 | i-mop GmbH | Wet cleaning device for wet cleaning a floor surface |
US11297993B2 (en) | 2018-05-14 | 2022-04-12 | I-Mop Gmbh | Wet-cleaning apparatus for the wet cleaning of a floor surface |
EP3639718A1 (en) * | 2018-10-17 | 2020-04-22 | Kärcher North America, Inc. | Wheel propelled steerable floor cleaning machine |
CN111053499A (en) * | 2018-10-17 | 2020-04-24 | 卡彻北美股份有限公司 | Wheeled propelled steerable floor cleaning machine |
KR20200043295A (en) * | 2018-10-17 | 2020-04-27 | 카처 노쓰 아메리카, 인크. | Wheel propelled steerable floor cleaning machine |
USD1016416S1 (en) | 2022-02-14 | 2024-02-27 | Karcher North America, Inc. | Floor cleaning machine |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
ATE114435T1 (en) | 1994-12-15 |
EP0448824B1 (en) | 1994-11-30 |
IT1239825B (en) | 1993-11-15 |
DE69014603D1 (en) | 1995-01-12 |
IT9019818A1 (en) | 1991-09-26 |
IT9019818A0 (en) | 1990-03-26 |
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