Cleaning tool

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning device (1), comprising a wiping plate (2) having a first main side (3) and a second main side (4), wherein the first main side (3) is assigned a cleaning cloth (5), which is / can be exchangeably secured to the wiping plate (2), wherein the wiping plate (2) is assigned a reservoir (6) for receiving dirt particles and the cleaning cloth (5) forms a boundary wall (7) of the reservoir (6).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cleaning device comprising a wiping plate with a first main surface and a second main surface, wherein a cleaning cloth is associated with the first main surface, which can be attached to the wiping plate in a replaceable manner or is attached to it.

[0002] Such cleaning devices are well known and are used for both wet and dry cleaning of smooth floors, such as tiled or parquet floors. When designed for dry cleaning, the device is typically used for spot cleaning and dusting. For this purpose, a cleaning cloth is attached to the mop head, which is removed or replaced with a new one after cleaning is complete or when saturated with dirt. It is known to make the cleaning cloth from a non-woven fabric and attach it to the mop head using a simple fastening device, such as soft clips.

[0003] From US patent 2014 / 0325774 A1, a cleaning device is known which has a housing in which a dirt reservoir is integrated.

[0004] According to an advantageous embodiment, the cleaning device is designed for dry cleaning. For this purpose, the cleaning device, with the attached cleaning cloth, is moved across the floor to be cleaned, the cleaning cloth picking up dust and small particles from the floor. Dust-like contaminants can be absorbed into the matrix of the cleaning cloth, with the absorption capacity for such contaminants being particularly good if the material of the cleaning cloth is porous, as is the case, for example, with nonwoven fabric. A problem arises, however, in that the cleaning cloth cannot absorb larger particles, and these remain on the floor to be cleaned.

[0005] The invention is based on the objective of providing a cleaning device which is designed to capture larger particles.

[0006] This problem is solved by the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

[0007] To solve the task, the cleaning device comprises a wiping plate with a first main surface and a second main surface, wherein a cleaning cloth is assigned to the first main surface, which can be attached to the wiping plate in a replaceable manner or is attached, wherein a reservoir for receiving dirt particles is assigned to the wiping plate, wherein the cleaning cloth forms a boundary wall of the reservoir.

[0008] According to the invention, the cleaning cloth has two functional surfaces. A first functional surface faces the floor to be cleaned during intended use. Depending on the design of the cleaning cloth, it picks up dust and smaller particles during the cleaning process. Larger particles, on the other hand, are directed to the reservoir formed in the cleaning plate, accumulating on the second side of the cleaning cloth, since this second side forms a boundary wall of the reservoir. Due to the arrangement of the cleaning cloth on the first main side, this boundary wall forms the underside of the reservoir. With this design, dirt can be removed particularly easily. Dust and smaller particles adhere to one side of the cleaning cloth, while larger particles lie on the other side.To remove the particles, the cleaning cloth is removed from the wiper plate and the cleaning cloth can either be disposed of together with the collected dirt or the cleaning cloth can be subjected to cleaning, for example a machine wash.

[0009] According to the invention, the wiping plate is rectangular, with the receiving opening located on one of the narrow sides of the wiping plate. This allows for particularly easy attachment of the cleaning cloth. Furthermore, the receiving opening remains accessible even when the cleaning cloth is in place and does not interfere with the wiping process.

[0010] The reservoir has a receiving opening. Dirt particles can be fed into the reservoir through this receiving opening.

[0011] The intake opening is located at an edge of the wiper plate. This makes the intake opening particularly easy to access and ensures that the dirt particles are reliably collected in the reservoir.

[0012] A sweeping device can be attached to the intake opening. The sweeping device facilitates the collection of dirt particles into the reservoir. For example, the sweeping device can include a rotating brush that can be positioned on the floor to be cleaned and which transports particles from the floor into the reservoir. The sweeping device, like the intake opening, is preferably located on one of the narrow sides of the wiper plate.

[0013] To form the reservoir, a recess can be incorporated into the wiper plate, with the recess opening towards the first main surface. This ensures that the cleaning cloth forms a boundary wall of the reservoir. Furthermore, the wiper plate is particularly easy to manufacture; for example, it can be made of plastic and produced by injection molding.

[0014] A handle can be articulatedly attached to the second main side. The joint is preferably designed as a universal joint, which allows for particularly good maneuverability of the cleaning device with the handle. The articulated connection of the handle is preferably designed such that it can be folded back far enough to be aligned parallel to the surface to be cleaned. This allows the cleaning device to reach even hard-to-reach areas, such as under furniture.

[0015] The cleaning cloth can be made from a textile fabric. Such cleaning cloths are inexpensive and easy to manufacture. Depending on its design, the cleaning cloth can be intended for single use or for reuse. If the cleaning cloth is intended for reuse, it is advantageously designed to be machine washable.

[0016] Preferably, the cleaning cloth is made of non-woven fabric. In this design, the cleaning cloth is a disposable cloth and is disposed of after use along with the collected dirt.

[0017] Some embodiments of the cleaning device according to the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. These show, schematically: Fig. 1 a cleaning device in section; Fig. 2 in perspective view the cleaning device with the sweeping unit in the rest position; Fig. 3 in perspective view the cleaning device with the sweeping unit in the sweeping position; Fig. 4 the cleaning device made of Fig. 3 in a section through the sweeping element; Fig. 5 the cleaning device made of Fig. 3 in a section through the drive wheel; Fig. 6 the cleaning device made of Fig.2 with the sweeping device in the rest position in section; Fig. 7 another perspective view of the cleaning device made of Fig. 3 from the side; Fig. 8 a perspective view of the sweeping device of the cleaning machine from Fig. 7 from a slightly oblique angle above; Fig. 9 a perspective view of the sweeping device from Fig. 8 without cover; Fig. 10 a perspective view of the sweeping device made of Fig. 8 from below; Fig. 11 a perspective view of the sweeping device of the cleaning machine made of Fig. 7 with the pedal drive; Fig. 12 a section of the wiper plate of the cleaning device made of Fig. 7 ; Fig. 13 a sectional view through the sweeping element suspension of the cleaning device made of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 14 a sectional view through the drive wheel suspension of the cleaning device made of Fig. 1 .

[0018] The figures show a cleaning device 1 in the form of a flat wiper for dry cleaning. The cleaning device 1 comprises a wiper plate 2 with a first main surface 3 and a second main surface 4. The wiper plate 2 is rectangular and has two long sides 20, 21 and two short sides 10, 22. A circumferential edge 9 is located between the first main surface 3 and the second main surface 4. The wiper plate 2 is made of injection-moldable plastic.

[0019] A cleaning cloth 5 is assigned to the first main surface 3 of the wiper plate 2. The cleaning cloth covers the first main surface 3 and is looped over the two long sides 20, 21 to the second main surface 4. In the present embodiment, the cleaning cloth 5 is designed as a textile surface made of nonwoven fabric. Fastening elements 30 in the form of soft clips are arranged on the second main surface 4 of the wiper plate 2 to secure the cleaning cloth 5. The fastening elements 30 are located in the corner areas of the wiper plate 2.

[0020] The wiper plate 2 is associated with a reservoir 6 for collecting dirt particles. A recess 12 is formed in the wiper plate 2 to create the reservoir 6, opening towards the first main surface 3. The cleaning cloth 5 thus forms a boundary wall 7 of the reservoir 6. Because the cleaning cloth 5 is positioned below the wiper plate 2 during normal use, dirt particles collected in the reservoir 6 accumulate on the cleaning cloth 5. After removing the cleaning cloth 5, the dirt particles can be disposed of without loss, for example, by folding the cleaning cloth 5.

[0021] To receive the dirt particles into the reservoir 6, a receiving opening 8 is formed in the reservoir 6, which opens into an edge 9 of the wiper plate 2 arranged on the narrow side 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the receiving opening 8 is arranged in the area of ​​the edge 9, between the wiper plate 2 and the sweeping device 11.

[0022] A handle 13 is articulated on the second main surface 4 of the mop plate 2 via a universal joint 23. The universal joint 23 is designed such that the handle 13 can be tilted during cleaning so that it lies flat against the mop plate 2 and is essentially parallel to the floor being cleaned.

[0023] A sweeping device 11 is associated with the receiving opening 8. The sweeping device 11, like the receiving opening 8, is arranged on the narrow side 10 of the wiper plate 2. The sweeping device 11 is attached to the wiper plate 2 in such a way that it can move between a sweeping position 14 and a rest position 15. The sweeping device 11 has a rotatably mounted sweeping element 16, which is designed as a sweeping roller and contacts the floor to be cleaned in the sweeping position 14. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the sweeping element 16 is made of an elastic foam.

[0024] To rotate the sweeping element 16, the sweeping device 11 is equipped with a drive unit in the form of a drive wheel 24. The drive wheel 24 is designed as a friction wheel. When the sweeping device 11 is in the sweeping position 14, the drive wheel 24 rests against the floor (or other surface) to be cleaned. The drive wheel 24 is made of an elastomeric material, at least on its outer circumference, and rests against the floor to be cleaned with preload. However, other suitable materials can also be used for the drive wheel 24. When the cleaning device 1 is pushed over the narrow side 10, the drive wheel 24 moves and thus drives the sweeping element 16. The rotational speed of the sweeping element 16 is determined by a gear stage 25 arranged between the drive wheel 24 and the sweeping element 16.

[0025] The sweeping device 11 is further equipped with a receiving ramp 26, which opens into a cleaning lip 27. This allows for particularly effective collection of contaminants and their transfer to the reservoir 6. In the sweeping position 14, the cleaning lip 27 faces the floor to be cleaned. The receiving ramp 26 and the sweeping element 16 are at least partially congruent, and there is only a narrow gap between the sweeping element 16 and the receiving ramp 26. This gap ultimately opens into the receiving opening 8 of the reservoir 6.

[0026] In the rest position 15, the sweeping element 16 is spaced away from the floor to be cleaned. In this rest position 15, the sweeping element 16 is partially retracted into the mop plate 2. A cover 28 is arranged on the second main surface 4 of the mop plate 2, which covers the sweeping device 11.

[0027] The wiper plate 2 is associated with an actuating device 17, which is operatively connected to the sweeping device 11. Actuating the actuating device 17 moves the sweeping device 11 from the rest position 15 to the sweeping position 14 and vice versa. For this purpose, the actuating device 17 is equipped with a pedal 18. The actuating device 17 is also equipped with a spring element 19, which automatically moves the sweeping device 11 from the rest position 15 to the sweeping position 14 after the actuating device 17 is actuated. Pressing the pedal 18 into the wiper plate 2 unlocks the actuating device 17, and the spring element 19 causes the sweeping device 11 to move from the rest position 15 to the sweeping position 14. During this movement, the pedal 18 pivots away from the wiper plate 2 and remains in a folded-down position in the sweeping position 14.To move the sweeping device 11 from the sweeping position 14 back to the rest position 15, the pedal 18 is folded back towards the wiper plate 2, whereby the sweeping device 11 moves against the force of the spring element 19 from the sweeping position 14 to the rest position 15.

[0028] Figure 1 Figure 1 shows a cross-section of the cleaning device 1 described above. It can be seen that the reservoir 6 is formed by a recess 12, which is incorporated into the first main surface 3 of the wiping plate 2. The cleaning cloth 5, with its side facing the wiping plate 2, forms a boundary wall 7 of the reservoir 6.

[0029] Figure 2 Figure 1 shows the cleaning device 1 in perspective. The design is as follows: Figure 2The sweeping unit 11 of the cleaning device 1 is in the rest position 15 and is partially retracted into the mop plate 2. When the sweeping unit 11 is in the rest position, the cleaning device 1 can be moved across the floor to be cleaned in a mopping motion.

[0030] Figure 3 Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the cleaning device 1, with the sweeping unit 11 in the sweeping position 14. In this position, the sweeping element 16 and the cleaning lip 27 contact the floor to be cleaned. The pedal 18 of the operating device 17 protrudes from the wiper plate 2.

[0031] The Figure 4 and 5 show the cleaning device 1 according to Figure 3 each on average. In Figure 4 The cut is chosen so that the sweeping element 16 is recognizable, while in Figure 5 the cut runs through the drive wheel.

[0032] In the Figure 4 and 5The figure further shows that the pedal 18 is designed as a single-armed lever that can pivot about the axis of rotation 51. In the illustrated embodiment, the pedal 18 is provided with a push-push locking mechanism 50. To unlock it, a single downward press of the pedal 28 near its free end is sufficient. When the pedal 18 is subsequently folded downwards again, it is locked by a further press.

[0033] The pedal 18 is connected via a strut 52 to a retaining body 53, which is linearly displaceable in a guide 54 attached to the wiper plate 2. The guide 54 includes two grooves formed in the wiper plate on both sides of the retaining body 53. In this way, the pivoting movement of the pedal 18 is converted into a translational movement of the retaining body 53, which can be moved back and forth in the guide 54 by the pedal. The strut 52 is movably connected to the lever 18 about the pivot axis 55. One end of the spring element 19 is also attached to the retaining body 53 in order to move the lever 18 away from the wiper plate 2 and bring the sweeping device 11 into the sweeping position 15 after the locking mechanism 50 is released. The other end of the spring element 19 is attached to the wiper plate 2.

[0034] Figure 6 The cleaning device 1 shows according to Figure 2The sweeping device 11 is in the rest position 15 and is partially retracted into the wiper plate 2. Furthermore, the sweeping element 16 is spaced away from the floor to be cleaned. The pedal 18 of the actuating device 17 lies flat against the wiper plate 2, with a recess congruent to the pedal 18 being provided in the wiper plate 2, into which the pedal 18 is recessed in the rest position 15.

[0035] Figure 7 Figure 1 shows the cleaning device 1 with the sweeping unit 11 in the sweeping position. The pedal 18 is in the folded-down position. This moves the retaining body 53 in the guide 54 towards the first narrow side 10. The movement is transmitted to the sweeping unit 11 via an actuating element 57 designed as a rod. This movement occurs under the action of the spring 19, which is connected to the pedal 18 via the retaining body 53.

[0036] Figure 7Figure 11 further shows that the sweeping device 11 comprises a movable body 60, which is designed as a movable carriage. A cam guide 61 is associated with the sweeping device 11 and is arranged on the wiper plate 2. The cam guide 61 comprises guide elements 62 arranged on both sides of the movable body 60, each with a guide groove 63. Guide cams 64, which are arranged on both sides of the movable body 60, engage in the guide grooves 63 (see Figure 1). Figure 8 The guide 61 is designed to allow the sweeping device 11 to be moved along the wiper plate 2. This ensures that, in the sweeping position 14, the sweeping device 11 projects laterally beyond the narrow side 10 of the wiper plate 2, while in the rest position 15 it does not project beyond the edge of the wiper plate 2 (see figure). Figure 2For this purpose, the guide groove 63 has a first section 65 that runs parallel to the plane of the wiper plate 2. This is also well represented in Figure 12 to identify which represents a section of the wiper plate 2 with the cam guide 61, but without the sweeping device 11.

[0037] The guide 61 is further designed to allow the sweeping device 11 to be displaced transversely to the wiper plate 2, so that in the sweeping position 14 the sweeping device 11 projects beyond the first main surface 3 of the wiper plate 2. This is achieved by the guide groove 63 of the guide 61 having a second section 66, which extends from section 65 transversely to the plane of the wiper plate 2 and towards the first main surface 3. Section 66 is located on the side of section 65 facing the narrow side 10.

[0038] The guide rail 61 further comprises a third section 67 of the guide groove 63, in which the guide groove 63 runs transversely to the plane of the wiper plate 2. The section 67 is located on the side of the section 65 facing away from the narrow side 10. The third section 67 enables the sweeping device to be moved towards the wiper plate 2, so that in the rest position 15 it is partially received in a recess formed in the wiper plate 2.

[0039] The Figures 8 to 10 show further details of the sweeping facility 11. Figure 8 The sweeping device 11 shows the cover 28, while in Figure 9 The sweeping device 11 is shown without a cover in order to more clearly illustrate the drive wheel 24 designed as a friction wheel as well as the sweeping element 16 designed as a sweeping roller and the gear stage 25.

[0040] The figures show that the sweeping device 11 has a drive wheel suspension 71 which is movably arranged on the wiper plate 2 about a first pivot axis 72.

[0041] The sweeping device 11 further comprises a sweeping element suspension 73, which is movably arranged on the wiper plate 2 about a second pivot axis 74. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and the second pivot axes 72, 74 are arranged coaxially.

[0042] The drive wheel suspension 71 includes a spring 75 which biases the drive wheel 24 towards the surface to be cleaned. The sweeping element suspension 73 includes a spring 76 which biases the sweeping roller 16 towards the surface to be cleaned. The drive wheel suspension 71 and the sweeping element suspension 73 are independent of each other, so that the sweeping element 16 and the drive wheel 24 can be pivoted independently of each other about the first and second pivot axes 72 and 74, respectively.

[0043] Figure 9Figure 2 illustrates how the sweeping element 16 can be set into a rotating motion by the drive wheel 24 via the gear stage 25. When the wiper plate 2 is moved along a surface to be cleaned, the drive wheel 24 can be set in rotation by contact with the surface. The gear stage 25 is provided for this purpose. It has a gear wheel 81 that is rotatable about a gear axis 80. The gear axis 80 is arranged coaxially with the first pivot axis 72 and the second pivot axis 74. The gear wheel 81 comprises a first toothed ring 82 and a second toothed ring 83. The first toothed ring 82 engages with the drive wheel toothed ring 84, which is provided on the drive wheel 24. The second toothed ring 83 engages with the sweeping element toothed ring 85, which is provided on the sweeping element 16. In this way, a rotating motion of the drive wheel 24 can be transferred into a rotating motion of the sweeping element 16.The gear stage 25 achieves a transmission ratio such that the rotational speed of the rotating sweeping element 16 differs from the rotational speed of the drive wheel 24. In the illustrated example, the rotational speed of the sweeping element 16 is greater than the rotational speed of the drive wheel 24. This is achieved by the first gear ring 82 having fewer teeth than the drive wheel gear ring 84, and by the second gear ring 83 having more teeth than the sweeping element gear ring 85.

[0044] Figure 10 Figure 11 shows the sweeping device from below. Here it is clearly visible how the cleaning lip 27 is arranged along the sweeping element 16.

[0045] Figure 11Figure 1 shows the sweeping device 11 and the pedal 18, with other elements of the cleaning device omitted. It also shows the elements by which the movement of the pedal 18 is transmitted to the sweeping device 11. In particular, it can be seen that the retaining body 53 is connected to the carriage of the sweeping device 11 via an actuating element 57 designed as a rod. Furthermore, the figure 1 shows... Figure 11 the arrangement of the spring element 19, one end of which is attached to the retaining body 53.

[0046] Figure 12 The wiper plate 2 is shown without the sweeping device 11. The guide rail 61 for the sweeping device 11 is clearly visible here. Furthermore, it shows Figure 12 the reservoir 6 formed in the wiper plate 2.

[0047] Figure 13Figure 1 shows a cross-section through the sweeping element 16 and also the arrangement of the cleaning lip 27 associated with the sweeping element 16. In addition, the sweeping element suspension 73 with the associated spring 76 is shown.

[0048] Figure 13 Figure 11 further shows that the sweeping device 11 has a scraper 90 which rests against the sweeping element 16. This scraper allows dirt adhering to the sweeping element 16 to be loosened so that it can be collected in the reservoir 6. The scraper 90 is arranged tangentially to the cylindrical sweeping element 16.

[0049] Figure 14 shows a cross-section through the drive wheel suspension 71 with the drive wheel 24 and the associated spring 75.

Claims

1. Cleaning device (1), comprising a mop plate (2) having a first main side (3) and a second main side (4), wherein the first main side (3) is assigned a cleaning cloth (5) which can be fastened or is fastened to the mop plate (2) in an exchangeable manner, wherein the mop plate (2) is assigned a reservoir (6) for taking up dirt particles, and that the cleaning cloth (5) forms a delimiting wall (7) of the reservoir (6), characterized in that a take-up opening (8) is formed from the reservoir (6), in that the take-up opening (8) leads into an edge (9) of the mop plate (2), in that the mop plate (2) is of rectangular configuration, and in that the take-up opening (8) is assigned to a narrow side (10) of the mop plate (2).

2. Cleaning device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the take-up opening (8) is assigned a sweeping device (11).

3. Cleaning device according to one of Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that, to form the reservoir (6), an aperture (12) is introduced into the mop plate (2), wherein the aperture (12) is open toward the first main side (3).

4. Cleaning device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a handle (13) is fastened to the second main side (3) in an articulated manner.

5. Cleaning device according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cleaning cloth (5) is formed from a textile sheetlike structure.

6. Cleaning device according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cleaning cloth (5) is formed from nonwoven material.

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