Floor cleaning and floor washing machine

Abstract

An apparatus for treating and cleaning floors, comprising a lower part comprising at least one tool for treating a floor with a relative actuation motor, possibly provided with a power supply battery, a handle for guiding the lower part, a first tank configured to contain a liquid to be used for cleaning the floor, a second tank for collecting the liquid sucked from the floor after washing by means of suitable suction means, in which the lower part is characterized by uniform and constant balancing that facilitates the operator in guiding the apparatus.

Description

[0001] FLOOR CLEANING AND FLOOR WASHING MACHINE

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The object of the present invention is a machine for dry cleaning and washing floors.

[0004] PRIOR ART

[0005] There are substantially two types of machines for cleaning and treating floors currently available: machines which extend horizontally and comprise a rigid and fixed guiding handle, possibly adjustable in height, and machines of more recent conception, in which the handle is longer, does not have a fixed position, rather is free to rotate within at least one axis, and in which a part of the machinery components (for example, the tanks and power supply batteries) is arranged along the guiding handle or accommodated therein.

[0006] The machines of the first type, so-called “horizontal” machines, have the disadvantage of being cumbersome and not very maneuverable in small spaces (for example, under sinks or tables or furniture of another type) or when they have to run along tight comers or difficult paths in general.

[0007] The machines of the second type, so-called “vertical” machines, are much more maneuverable in tight spaces given that they are more compact and generally equipped with a tiltable handle adapted to facilitate guiding the lower part of the machine.

[0008] In particular, at least one tank of the two tanks in “vertical” machines - one tank containing the cleaning solution and one tank serving as recovery - is positioned on the handle so as to decrease the volumes of the lower part and therefore, allow the machine to have increased usability in situations where small spaces are available.

[0009] However, also this type of floor washing machine has drawbacks which in this case, are associated with ergonomics and maneuverability. Indeed, in machines of this type, at least one tank of the two tanks - the cleaning solution tank and the recovery tank - is positioned on the handle and the other one on the lower part. In this configuration, imbalances may occur caused by the movement of the liquid mass in the tank during the operation of the floor washing machine. The movements of the handle have an effect on the load actually applied to the lower part of the machine, and this undesired effect may result in a similar effect due to the movement of the liquid in the tank on the lower part and may also become very bothersome for the operator based on the filling level of the two tanks. The result is poor maneuverability which may result in significant difficulty for the operator.

[0010] Other problems affecting vertical type machines with the recovery tank on the lower part are associated with the small dimensions of the tank itself, which rarely exceeds 5 liters and in facts, limits the operating autonomy of the floor washing machine. Some machines of this type have an autonomy of only 15 minutes, which is greatly insufficient for use in the professional field.

[0011] Finally, vertical type machines which have the recovery tank on the lower part have the problem that, especially in the case of sudden movements or impact against obstacles, the motion of the liquid mass contained in the recovery tank may interfere with the suction system adapted to convey the liquid recovered from the floor toward the tank, with subsequent malfunctions of the suction system itself and of the floor washing machine as a whole.

[0012] In general, floor washing machines of the vertical type have problems associated with ergonomics and maneuverability because they have a very light lower part and a heavy handle which must be supported by the user. Further, when the handle is highly tilted, for example, the lower part of the machine performs a turn, the center of gravity of the machine may move significantly and, together with the propulsive action of the brushes, favor sliding and skidding by the lower part, with subsequent maneuverability difficulties and operating inefficiencies of the machine.

[0013] It therefore is an object of the present invention to provide a machine for cleaning floors which allows solving the problems in the prior art by introducing a new lower part characterized by weight distribution which ensures the wheels and brushes or rollers have the necessary grip to maintain stability and maneuverability during use.

[0014] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The machine for cleaning floors according to the present description solves the technical problems described by introducing a lower part comprising a dual tank and an optimized arrangement of the components such as to result in a homogeneous and uniform balancing adapted to ensure ergonomics and easy use of the machine. The machine of the present description comprises a lower part characterized by innovative balancing, obtained through the synergic employment of at least one movement support and two tanks, one for the cleaning liquid, the other for recovering the liquid after use on the floor, which are suitably shaped and arranged on the lower part, and preferably but not necessarily, nested inside each other. This configuration allows the weight of the section of the lower part housing the two tanks to be kept constant despite the respective filling and emptying thereof, and exploits the centered positioning of the load wheel or wheels in order to optimize the weight distribution on the lower part so as to ensure maneuverability and grip of the cleaning tools (brushes or rotating rollers) on the ground. Indeed, the aforesaid wheels, located in a suitable position in relation to the position of the two tanks and the cleaning tool actuation means, comprising an electric motor and possibly a battery, contribute to ensuring that the pressure applied by the lower part of the machine on the surface to be cleaned remains uniform, keeping constant the propulsive thrust generated by said at least one tool when actuated, improving the cleaning efficiency on the one hand and increasing the maneuverability and operating efficiency of the floor washing machine on the other.

[0016] The innovative configuration and the strategic arrangement of the cleaning tool actuation means, of the tanks and of the movement support, therefore ensures well-balanced and constant weight distribution, eliminating problems of imbalance and pressure variation on the surface to be treated, which are typical of conventional floor washing machines.

[0017] In further detail, the machine for cleaning floors according to the present description comprises a lower part comprising in turn: a first tank, preferably removable from the lower part, configured to contain a first liquid to be used for cleaning the floor. Said first tank is associated with means for extracting said first liquid and sending the first extracted liquid onto the floor, which means may be arranged both on the lower part and on the handle of the floor washing machine; a second tank, also preferably removable, and equipped with suction means for collecting the dirty water from the floor, which comprise a mouth for sucking from the floor, equipped with at least one floor-wiper, said suction mouth being connected to a suction hole made in a wall of said second receptacle; a handle for guiding said lower part, connected to the lower part by at least one connection. In a preferred embodiment, said connection is designed so that said handle, proceeding from a perpendicular to the floor plane, is rotatable in all directions with respect to the perpendicular and is operatively connected to the lower part so as to transmit a certain torque in any angular position with respect to the perpendicular. In the simplest embodiment, said connection is obtained by means of a metal spring, preferably a steel spring. In further preferred embodiments, advantageously said first tank may be contained inside the second tank and may be made with flexible walls so as to occupy a volume which varies as a function of the quantity of liquid it contains. Further, the second tank preferably is characterized by a height smaller than width and depth. In essence, the volume of said second tank extends mainly in depth and in width, allowing the height of said lower part to be kept quite small.

[0018] The second tank may be equipped with a handle to facilitate insertion and removal operations from the lower part of the floor washing machine.

[0019] The lower part further comprises: at least one tool for treating a floor - for example, at least one rotating brush, at least one rotating roller or at least one oscillating pad - and a motor - preferably battery powered - for actuating this at least one tool; and a movement support adapted to sustain part of the weight of the lower part so as to ensure the correct pressure on the aforesaid treatment tools.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the lower part of the floor washing machine according to the present description provides a movement support comprising at least one load wheel arranged in inner position with respect to the lower surface of the lower part and adapted to rotate around a rotation axis. The position of said at least one wheel and said rotation axis may be such as to divide said lower part into two parts having similar or substantially equal weights. For example, a first part comprising mainly said first tank and said second tank, and a second part comprising said cleaning tool actuation means, in turn comprising at least one motor, possibly associated with a battery.

[0021] In another embodiment of the floor washing machine according to the present description, said movement support comprises a load-bearing sphere.

[0022] Finally, in another preferred embodiment, said at least one tool for treating a floor comprises two actuated cleaning rollers and said at least one load wheel comprises two coaxial load wheels having the same diameter.

[0023] In various embodiments described in detail below, the floor washing machine in question employs a lower part which, through an innovative configuration and an optimized arrangement of the cleaning tool actuation means, the tanks and the movement support, ensures well balanced and constant weight distribution, eliminating the problems of imbalance and pressure variation on the surface to be treated which are typical of conventional floor washing machines. Further, due to the aforesaid lower part characterized by improved and optimized balancing, the machine for cleaning floors according to the present description allows an increased level of maneuverability and guidability, avoiding problems associated with currently available machines of this type.

[0024] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description given by way of a non-limiting example, with the aid of the figures shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0026] Figure 1 shows an axonometric view of an embodiment of the apparatus for cleaning floors according to the present description;

[0027] Figure 2 shows an axonometric view of an embodiment of the apparatus for cleaning floors according to the present description;

[0028] Figure 3 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the tanks of the apparatus for cleaning floors according to the present description;

[0029] Figure 4 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of the lower part of the apparatus for cleaning floors according to the present description;

[0030] Figure 5 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of the lower part of the apparatus for cleaning floors according to the present description;

[0031] Figure 6 shows an axonometric view of an embodiment of the lower part of the apparatus for cleaning floors according to the present description;

[0032] Figure 7 shows a plan view of the lower part of an embodiment of the lower part of the apparatus for cleaning floors according to the present description;

[0033] Figure 8 shows a plan view of the lower part of an embodiment of the lower part of the apparatus for cleaning floors according to the present description, and Figure 9 shows a plan view of the lower part of an embodiment of the lower part of the apparatus for cleaning floors according to the present description.

[0034] The following description of exemplary embodiments relates to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in various drawings identify the same elements or similar elements. The following detailed description does not limit the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the accompanying claims.

[0035] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0036] Apparatus 10 for treating floors according to the present description in a first embodiment comprises a lower part 11 provided with a lower part equipped with means for treating and cleaning a flat surface such as a floor, and an upper part comprising two tanks. The first tank 15 is configured to contain a liquid for cleaning the floor and has means suitable for extracting the aforesaid liquid and distributing it over the floor, while the second tank 14 is configured to collect the dirty liquid from the floor during the operation of apparatus 10. Said means for extracting the liquid from the first tank may comprise a pump, for example, a peristaltic or vibration pump.

[0037] Apparatus 10 further comprises a handle 12 for guiding said lower part 11 , connected to the lower part 11 by at least a first connection 13. In a preferred embodiment, said connection 13 is designed so that said handle 12, proceeding from a perpendicular to the floor plane, is rotatable in all directions with respect to the perpendicular and is operatively connected to the lower part 11 so as to transmit a certain torque in any angular position with respect to the perpendicular. In another embodiment, the connection of said handle 12 to said lower part 11 comprises two joints, a first joint 13 with a main joint axis transverse to the treatment direction of apparatus 10, and a second joint 33 with a main joint axis parallel to the treatment direction of apparatus 10. Said means for treating and cleaning a flat surface on the lower part of said lower part 11 comprise preferably at least one tool equipped with electric actuation and adapted to apply a rubbing action on the surface. For example, said tool may be obtained by one or more discs 36 rotating around an axis perpendicular to the surface to be cleaned, or by means of one or more rollers 26 rotating around an axis parallel to the surface to be cleaned, or again, by an oscillating pad 37. The surface of the discs, rollers 26 or pad 37 used may be smooth, rough or may comprise brushes.

[0038] The second tank 14 is associated with suction means configured to collect the dirty liquid from the floor during the operation of the apparatus. These suction means comprise a suction mouth 16 positioned close to the floor and provided with at least one floor-wiper 17. Said floor-wiper 17 preferably comprises two rubber blades which act in conjunction so as to convey the liquid on the floor toward the aforesaid suction mouth 16 when apparatus 10 is in movement during the treatment of the floor. The suction mouth 16 corresponds to a first opening 21 through which the liquid sucked from the floor by the suction mouth is poured into the second tank 14. Said suction mouth 16 is suitably connected to a suction circuit configured to create the depression required to suck the liquid from the floor.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment, said suction circuit comprises an air suction fan - driven by an electric motor which can be powered by a battery - connected by a duct 20 to a second opening 19 facing toward the inside of the second tank 14. Said duct 20 further connects said suction mouth 16 to said first opening 21. The vacuum created by the action of the suction fan, through the second opening 19, inside said second tank 14 allows to suck the liquid that is directed by the floor-wiper 17 from the floor toward said suction mouth 16. The sucked liquid rises again through duct 20 and finally is poured into the second tank 14 through said first opening 21 .

[0040] In order to avoid the level of the liquid inside the second tank 14 from exceeding a predetermined alarm level, advantageously said second tank 14 may be provided with a float connected, for example, to the driver circuit of said suction fan and configured to interrupt the suction of the liquid from the floor when the level of the liquid contained in tank 14 reaches the aforesaid predetermined alarm level. In an embodiment, said float may be accommodated in a specific protective tray.

[0041] In a preferred embodiment, the first tank 15 is inside the second tank 14. In a further embodiment, the first tank 15 is inside the second tank 14 and comprises flexible walls which allow said first tank 15 to occupy a volume that varies as a function of the quantity of liquid contained therein. Thereby, the assembly of the first and second tanks will have a constant weight and a substantially fixed center of gravity, promoting the maneuverability of apparatus 10 according to the present description.

[0042] Advantageously, the first tank 15 comprises an opening equipped with a removable cap for easy filling and emptying.

[0043] Further, the second tank 14 may be equipped with a removable cover which allows the inside of the second tank 14 to be easily accessed for cleaning and maintenance operations as well as access to the first tank 15 should it be arranged inside the second tank 14.

[0044] Said second tank 14 may be characterized by a height smaller than the width and depth so that, in essence, the volume of said second tank 14 extends mainly in depth and width, allowing a very small height to be maintained. This feature promotes employing the apparatus according to the present description also in situations in which the spaces available are small. Further, said second tank 14 may be removable from the lower part 11 , so as to facilitate the emptying, cleaning and maintenance operations, and may be equipped with suitable engagement means engaging with the lower part 11 , which are configured to lock said second tank 14 to the lower part 11 when apparatus 10 is operating, and to promote the vertical removal of said second tank 14, when required. The second tank 14 may comprise cavities on the lower base adapted to be engaged with corresponding projections present in the upper part of the lower part 11 , at the support base for said second tank 14. Further, the lower part 11 may comprise a further containment edge for said second tank 14 so as to ensure the stability of the position thereof in the event of impacts or sudden movements of the lower part 11 .

[0045] Said second tank 14 may be “U”-shaped or “horseshoe”- shaped so as to allow the connection point between handle 12 and the lower part 11 of the apparatus to be arranged in a central position with respect to the lower part 11 , thereby improving the ergonomics of apparatus 10 and optimizing the maneuverability thereof by the user.

[0046] The lower part of the floor washing machine according to the present description further provides actuating means 35 for actuating the cleaning tools, comprising an electric motor 34 for actuating the brushes or rollers 26 for treating the floor surface, and possibly a battery connected to said electric motor 34.

[0047] Said lower part further comprises a movement support arranged in an inner position with respect to the lower surface of the lower part and configured to support said lower part 11 and favor the movement thereof imparted by the propulsive thrust generated by said at least one tool when actuated.

[0048] Said movement support is configured to support part of the weight of the lower part 11 so as to ensure the correct pressure on the tool (obtained with brushes 36 or rotating rollers 26 or oscillating pads 37) for treating the floor surface.

[0049] Further, in a preferred embodiment, the plane orthogonal to the lower surface of the lower part and passing through said movement support is such as to divide said lower part 11 into two parts, a first part comprising mainly said first tank 15 and said second tank 14, and a second part comprising mainly said actuation means 35 of the cleaning tools. Finally, said movement support may be advantageously arranged at said connection 13 of handle 12 with said lower part 11 in order to make guiding the machine easier. In an embodiment, said movement support may be obtained by at least one load wheel 32 adapted to rotate around a rotation axis. In another embodiment, said movement support may be obtained with a load-bearing sphere.

[0050] This arrangement allows the lower part 11 of the floor washing machine 10 in question to have a uniform weight distribution which is reflected in improved and easier maneuverability for the user. Further, in addition to being uniformly distributed, the weight of said lower part 11 is such as to remain substantially constant during use. Indeed, since said first tank 15 and said second tank 14 are both arranged on the lower part - and, in an embodiment, nested one inside the other - the respective emptying and filling operations do not have an impact on the overall weight of the lower part 11 , which remains substantially unvaried.

[0051] In a preferred embodiment, said at least one tool for treating a floor comprises two actuated cleaning rollers 26 and said at least one load wheel comprises two coaxial load wheels 32 having the same diameter.

[0052] Due to the aforesaid lower part characterized by improved balance and equilibrium, the machine for cleaning floors according to the present description allows a very high level of maneuverability and guidability, avoiding problems associated with the currently available machines of this type.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . Apparatus (10) for treating a floor, comprising: a lower part (11 ) comprising at least one tool for treating a floor and relative actuation means (35); a handle (12) for guiding said lower part (11 ), in which said handle is associated with the lower part by means of a first connection (13); wherein said lower part (11 ) further comprises: a first tank (15) configured to contain a liquid to be used for cleaning the floor; a second tank (14) adapted to collect the liquid sucked from the floor and associated with a circuit for sucking said liquid from the floor; a movement support configured to support said lower part (11 ) and favor the movement thereof imparted by the propulsive thrust generated by said at least one tool when actuated.

2. Apparatus (10) according to claim 1 , wherein said movement support is arranged in a substantially intermediate position between a first section of said lower part (11 ) comprising said first tank (15) and said second tank (14), and a second section of said lower part (11 ) comprising said actuation means (35) of said at least one tool .

3. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 2, wherein said movement support comprises at least one load wheel (32) arranged in an inner position with respect to the lower surface of said lower part (11 ) and adapted to rotate around a rotation axis.

4. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, wherein said movement support comprises at least one load-bearing sphere.

5. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, wherein said at least one tool for treating a floor comprises at least one rotating brush (36).

6. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, wherein said at least one tool for treating a floor comprises at least one rotating roller (26).

7. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, wherein said at least one tool for treating a floor comprises at least one oscillating pad (37).

8. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, wherein said actuation means (35) of said at least one tool comprise an electric motor (34).

9. Apparatus (10) according to claim 8, wherein said actuation means (35) of said at least one tool comprise a battery associated with said electric motor.

10. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 9, wherein said second tank (14) has a height which is smaller than both the width and the depth.11 . Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 10, wherein said second tank (14) comprises a removable cover.

12. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 11 , wherein said second tank (14) is removable from the lower part (11 ).

13. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 12, wherein the first tank (15) is inside the second tank (14).

14. Apparatus (10) according to claim 13, wherein the first tank (15) comprises flexible walls which allow said first tank (15) to occupy a volume which varies as a function of the quantity of liquid contained therein.

15. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 14, comprising at least one floor-wiper (17).

16. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 15, wherein said second tank (14) is “U”-shaped or “horseshoe”- shaped so as to allow the connection point between the handle (12) and the lower part (11 ) of the apparatus (10) to be arranged in a central position with respect to the lower part (11 ).

17. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 16, wherein said movement support is arranged at said first connection (13) of the handle (12) with said lower part (11 ).

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