Liquid supply device

Abstract

The objective is to provide a liquid supply device that enables wet cleaning work without causing liquid dripping onto the floor surface. [Solution] The liquid supply device 100 of this disclosure is configured to moisten a contact portion of a cleaning tool that has a contact portion that comes into contact with the floor surface by supplying liquid to the contact portion. The liquid supply device 100 includes a liquid storage section 131 for storing liquid and a liquid supply section 132 for supplying the liquid in the liquid storage section 131 to the contact portion. The liquid supply section 132 is configured such that the amount of liquid supplied to the contact portion is less than or equal to the saturation absorption capacity of the contact portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a liquid supply device that supplies liquid to a cleaning tool to enable wet cleaning operations.

Background Art

[0002] A suction nozzle attached to a suction cleaner is provided with a rotating brush that can scrape up dust by being rotationally driven while contacting the floor surface. Also, a mop can attach dust on the floor surface to the lower surface of a rag portion by the lower surface of the rag portion attached to the lower end of a handle portion held by a user being slidably contacted with the floor surface. In such a cleaning tool, by wetting a contact portion that contacts the floor surface (that is, the lower surface of the rotating brush or the rag portion) to perform a wet cleaning operation, the dust adhering to this contact portion can be increased.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a cleaning device 350 for cleaning a cleaning tool 300 shown in FIG. 28. It is allowed to perform a wet cleaning operation using the cleaning tool 300 cleaned by this cleaning device 350. This cleaning tool 300 has a handle portion 310 held by a user and a cleaning body 320 attached to the lower end of the handle portion 310. A rotating brush 321 is attached to the tip of the cleaning body 320. And during the cleaning operation, dust on the floor surface can adhere to the rotating brush 321.

[0004] The cleaning device 350 is configured to clean the rotating brush 321. That is, the cleaning device 350 has a pedestal portion 360 on which the cleaning body 320 is placed and a handle holding portion 370 erected from the pedestal portion 360 so as to be able to hold the handle portion 310. On the upper surface of the pedestal portion 360, a water storage portion 361 for storing water is recessed.

[0005] When water is stored in the water storage portion 361, a part of the rotating brush 321 of the cleaning body 320 placed on the pedestal portion 360 is immersed in the water in the water storage portion 361. And when the rotating brush 321 is rotated, the rotating brush 321 is cleaned by the water in the water storage portion 361. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2019-528148 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] After the rotating brush 321 has been cleaned but before it has dried, the user can perform wet cleaning using the cleaning tool 300. However, in this case, if a large amount of water is attached to the rotating brush 321, this water will drip onto the floor. Therefore, the user will need to wipe up the water that has dripped onto the floor.

[0008] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a liquid supply device that enables wet cleaning work without causing liquid dripping onto the floor surface. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The liquid supply device in this disclosure is configured to moisten a contact portion of a cleaning tool that has a contact portion that comes into contact with a floor surface by supplying liquid to the contact portion. The liquid supply device comprises a liquid storage section for containing liquid and a liquid supply section for supplying the liquid from the liquid storage section to the contact portion. The liquid supply section is configured such that the amount of liquid supplied to the contact portion is less than or equal to the saturation absorption capacity of the contact portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] The liquid supply device in this disclosure enables wet cleaning work without causing liquid to drip onto the floor. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] Perspective view of the liquid supply device (first embodiment) [Figure 2] Schematic diagram of cleaning tools [Figure 3] Schematic diagram of cleaning tool [Figure 4] Cross-sectional view of liquid supply device [Figure 5] Cross-sectional view of liquid supply device (Second Embodiment) [Figure 6] Cross-sectional view of other liquid supply device [Figure 7] Cross-sectional view of liquid supply device (Third Embodiment) [Figure 8] Perspective view of liquid supply device [Figure 9] Perspective view of other liquid supply device [Figure 10] Cross-sectional view of other liquid supply device [Figure 11] Cross-sectional view of other liquid supply device [Figure 12] Cross-sectional view of liquid supply device (Fourth Embodiment)<0OO0076> [Figure 13] Perspective view of liquid supply device (Fifth Embodiment) [Figure 14] Perspective view of liquid supply device (Sixth Embodiment) [Figure 15] Cross-sectional view of liquid supply device [Figure 16] Perspective view of liquid supply device [Figure 17] Perspective view of liquid supply device [Figure 18] Perspective view of liquid supply device and cleaning tool (Seventh Embodiment) [Figure 19] Cross-sectional view of cleaning tool [Figure 20] Developed perspective view of suction nozzle of cleaning tool [Figure 21] Cross-sectional view of liquid supply device [Figure 22] Perspective view of liquid supply device [Figure 23] Schematic diagram of liquid supply part [Figure 24] Perspective view of liquid storage part provided with vibration membrane [Figure 25] Schematic diagram of liquid supply part [Figure 26] Cross-sectional view of liquid storage part [Figure 27] Cross-sectional view of liquid supply device [Figure 28] Cross-sectional view of conventional cleaning device

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] The first to seventh embodiments of the liquid supply device will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings, but in order to facilitate understanding for those skilled in the art, detailed explanations of already well-known matters or redundant explanations of substantially identical configurations may be omitted. The accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand this disclosure and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0013] <First Embodiment> The liquid supply device 100 shown in Figure 1 is used for wet cleaning work. Specifically, the liquid supply device 100 is configured to supply liquid to the cleaning tool 200 shown in Figures 2 and 3. In this embodiment, the liquid supply device 100 is configured to supply an alcohol-containing liquid to the cleaning tool 200. When a user performs cleaning work on a floor surface using the cleaning tool 200 supplied with this liquid, not only is dust removed from the floor surface, but the floor surface is also disinfected.

[0014] In this embodiment, the cleaning tool 200 is configured as a mop and has a rag portion 210 and a handle portion 212 erected from the rag portion 210. The rag portion 210 may be composed of, for example, a rectangular plate-shaped base plate 213 attached to the lower end of the handle portion 212 and a nonwoven fabric sheet 214 wrapped around the base plate 213 so as to cover the lower surface of the base plate 213 as shown in Figure 2.

[0015] The rag portion 210 is connected to the handle portion 212 so as to be able to change its orientation between the orientation shown in Figure 2 and the orientation shown in Figure 3. The cleaning tool 200 is used to clean the floor surface when the rag portion 210 is in the orientation shown in Figure 2. At this time, the lower surface of the rag portion 210 is in contact with the floor surface. In the following description, the lower surface of the rag portion 210 in Figure 2 will be referred to as the "contact portion 211". In this embodiment, the contact portion 211 is formed by a nonwoven fabric sheet 214 wrapped around a rectangular plate-shaped substrate 213, so this contact portion 211 has a substantially rectangular surface.

[0016] The liquid supply device 100 is configured to supply liquid to the contact portion 211 to moisten it. When liquid is supplied from the liquid supply device 100 to the contact portion 211, the cleaning tool 200 is held in the liquid supply device 100 with the rag portion 210 in the position shown in Figure 3. When the rag portion 210 is in the position shown in Figure 3, the contact portion 211 faces horizontally.

[0017] (Configuration of the liquid supply system) As shown in Figure 1, the liquid supply device 100 has a roughly rectangular box-shaped housing 110. The housing 110 is composed of a storage case 111 and a protective case 112 arranged side by side in the front-to-back direction. The storage case 111 is provided to house the rag portion 210 of the cleaning tool 200 and constitutes the rear part of the housing 110. The protective case 112 is located in front of the storage case 111 and constitutes the front part of the housing 110. The protective case 112 houses various devices for supplying liquid to the cleaning tool 200 inside the storage case 111, and these devices are protected by the protective case 112.

[0018] The storage case 111 has an upward opening, and the case upper wall 113 forming the top surface of the storage case 111 has an insertion slot 114 for inserting the cleaning tool 200 from above. The insertion slot 114 is roughly rectangular in shape and elongated in the left-right direction, and the opening area of ​​the insertion slot 114 is smaller than the area of ​​the contact portion 211 of the rag portion 210. For this reason, when the rag portion 210 is in the position shown in Figure 2, the user cannot insert the cleaning tool 200 into the insertion slot 114. In order to insert the cleaning tool 200 into the insertion slot 114, the user positions the rag portion 210 in the position shown in Figure 3, and holds the cleaning tool 200 above the insertion slot 114 with the contact portion 211 facing forward. When the user lowers the cleaning tool 200, the rag portion 210 of the cleaning tool 200 is stored inside the storage case 111.

[0019] As shown in Figure 4, the storage case 111 has a case top wall 113, a case bottom wall 115 that forms the bottom surface of the storage case 111, and a case periphery wall 116 that is erected upward from the case bottom wall 115. The case top wall 113, the case bottom wall 115, and the case periphery wall 116 form an internal space 117 for storing the rag portion 210 of the cleaning tool 200.

[0020] The case perimeter wall 116 is formed such that the height of the internal space 117 is greater than the vertical size of the rag section 210 in the orientation shown in Figure 3 (i.e., the horizontal size of the rag section 210 in the orientation shown in Figure 2). Therefore, the rag section 210 can be completely housed within the storage case 111.

[0021] As shown in Figure 4, the front wall portion of the case peripheral wall 116 that demarcates the front end of the internal space 117 of the housing case 111 separates the internal space 117 of the housing case 111 from the internal space 118 of the protective case 112. In the following description, this front wall portion will be referred to as the "partition wall 119".

[0022] The protective case 112 has a bottom wall portion 121 extending forward from the bottom wall 115 of the housing case 111, an upper wall portion 122 extending forward from the upper wall 113 of the housing case 111, and a peripheral wall portion 123 erected from the bottom wall portion 121 to the upper wall portion 122. The internal space 118 of the protective case 112 is partitioned by these bottom wall portion 121, upper wall portion 122, peripheral wall portion 123, and the partition wall 119 of the housing case 111. The protective case 112 further includes an intermediate wall 124 that divides this internal space 118 vertically, and the space above the intermediate wall 124 will be referred to as the "control room 125" in the following description. The space below the intermediate wall 124 will be referred to as the "main room 126" in the following description.

[0023] The main chamber 126 contains a liquid reservoir 131 that holds an alcohol-containing liquid. The liquid reservoir 131 preferably has an airtight structure to suppress leakage of volatile alcohol.

[0024] This liquid is sprayed into the internal space 117 of the containment case 111 by the liquid supply unit 132. The liquid supply unit 132 has a nozzle 133 fixed to the partition wall 119, a pipe 134 extending from the liquid storage unit 131 to the nozzle 133, a pump 135 provided on the pipe 134, and a control unit 136 that controls the pump 135. The pipe 134 and the pump 135 are located in the main chamber 126, while the control unit 136 is located in the control room 125. As a result, even if volatile alcohol leaks from the liquid storage unit 131, the control unit 136 is less likely to be exposed to this alcohol.

[0025] The pump 135 is configured to draw liquid from the liquid storage section 131 and to discharge this liquid. This liquid flows through the pipe section 134 to the ejection section 133. The ejection section 133 may consist of a spray nozzle that atomizes the liquid and sprays it into the internal space 117 of the containment case 111. In this case, the atomized liquid may flow backward while spreading vertically and horizontally within the internal space 117.

[0026] The ejection unit 133 is fixed to the partition wall 119 in a position where the nozzle from which the mist-like liquid is ejected opens backward. Furthermore, the ejection unit 133 is held by the partition wall 119 at a height position opposite to the front-to-back direction, with the upper end of the rag portion 210, as shown in Figure 3, inserted deeply into the storage case 111 to the extent that the lower end of the rag portion 210 contacts the bottom wall 115 of the case.

[0027] To enable the user to instruct the operation of the pump 135, an operating unit 137 is provided on the upper wall 122 of the protective case 112, as shown in Figure 1. The control unit 136 shown in Figure 4 is configured to operate the pump 135 for a predetermined period of time after the user instructs the operation of the pump 135 by operating the operating unit 137. This period of time is set so that the amount of liquid supplied to the contact portion 211 of the rag portion 210 inside the housing case 111 is less than or equal to the saturation absorption amount of the contact portion 211. The saturation absorption amount can be defined as follows.

[0028]

number

[0029] Preferably, the operating time of the pump 135 is determined assuming that the rag portion 210 remains stationary within the housing case 111 while the pump 135 is operating. That is, if the amount of atomized liquid sprayed from the ejection portion 133 is constant, the adhesion density of the atomized liquid to the contact portion 211 will be higher when the rag portion 210 is stationary within the housing case 111 than when the rag portion 210 is moving within the housing case 111. Therefore, liquid dripping from the rag portion 210 is more likely to occur when the rag portion 210 is stationary within the housing case 111 than when the rag portion 210 is moving within the housing case 111. Accordingly, it is preferable to set the operating time of the pump 135 so that the amount of liquid in the adhesion area of ​​the atomized liquid within the contact portion 211 of the rag portion 210, which is stationary within the housing case 111, is less than or equal to the saturation absorption amount. In this way, once the operating time of the pump 135 is set, dripping from the rag part 210 becomes less likely, regardless of how the user moves the cleaning tool 200 while the pump 135 is operating.

[0030] (Operation of the liquid supply device) The user can store the cleaning tools 200 with the rag portion 210 housed in the storage case 111. In this case, the contact portion 211 of the rag portion 210 faces forward and is opposite the partition wall 119.

[0031] When starting cleaning work, the user operates the control unit 137 to instruct the pump 135 to operate. In response to this operation, the control unit 136 operates the pump 135 for a predetermined time period.

[0032] As the pump 135 operates, the liquid in the reservoir 131 flows through the pipe 134 to the nozzle 133. This liquid is then atomized by the nozzle 133 and sprayed into the containment case 111.

[0033] The mist-like liquid spreads vertically and horizontally within the storage case 111, flowing backward. This liquid then adheres to the contact portion 211 of the rag portion 210 housed within the storage case 111. When the lower end of the rag portion 210 is in contact with the bottom wall 115 of the case, as shown in Figure 3, the mist-like liquid adheres to the upper end portion of the contact portion 211. However, when the user pulls the cleaning tool 200 upward, the area where the liquid adheres moves from the upper end portion to the lower end portion of the contact portion 211. As a result, the mist-like liquid can adhere to the entire contact portion 211.

[0034] The operating time of the pump 135 is limited by the control unit 136 so that the amount of liquid supplied to the contact part 211 is less than or equal to the saturation absorption capacity of the contact part 211. Therefore, when the user pulls the rag part 210 upward from the storage case 111, liquid is less likely to drip from the rag part 210.

[0035] After removing the rag part 210 from the storage case 111, the user can perform wet cleaning by rubbing the contact part 211 against the floor surface. At this time, the alcohol component in the liquid that moistens the contact part 211 can also disinfect the floor surface.

[0036] In the liquid supply device 100 shown in Figure 4, the atomized liquid is sprayed inside the containment case 111. This suppresses the scattering of liquid outside the liquid supply device 100. Furthermore, if dust adheres to the contact surface 211 and the atomized liquid is sprayed onto the contact surface 211, the dust may fall from the contact surface 211. However, this dust does not scatter outside the liquid supply device 100 but falls inside the containment case 111 and can be caught by the bottom wall of the case.

[0037] In this embodiment, the liquid in the liquid reservoir 131 contains alcohol. Alternatively, it may contain other disinfectant components that have a bactericidal effect on the floor surface. If disinfection of the floor surface is not required, the liquid in the liquid reservoir 131 does not need to contain any components with a bactericidal effect. In this case, the liquid reservoir 131 may contain, for example, water. Alternatively, the liquid in the liquid reservoir 131 may contain a surfactant to promote the decomposition of dirt adhering to the floor surface. Furthermore, as an alternative, the liquid may contain a fragrance to allow the user to perform wet cleaning work comfortably.

[0038] In this embodiment, the spraying unit 133 is fixed to the partition wall 119 in a position where the nozzle from which the mist-like liquid is ejected opens backward. Alternatively, the nozzle of the spraying unit 133 may open diagonally downward and backward. In this case, since the mist-like liquid is ejected diagonally downward and backward, even if the user operates the operating unit 137 without inserting the cleaning tool 200 into the storage case 111, less mist-like liquid will leak out from the upward-opening insertion port 114.

[0039] To broaden the spray area of ​​the mist-like liquid, the ejection unit 133 may have multiple nozzles. In this case, to broaden the spray area of ​​the mist-like liquid vertically, the ejection unit 133 may have a nozzle opening facing backward, a nozzle opening diagonally upward and backward, and a nozzle opening diagonally downward and backward. Furthermore, to suppress interference between the mist-like liquid jets ejected from these nozzles, these nozzles may be positioned spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction. In this case, not only is interference between the mist-like liquid jets suppressed, but the spray area of ​​the mist-like liquid can also broaden in the left-right direction.

[0040] <Second Embodiment> In the liquid supply device 100 of the first embodiment, it is assumed that the rag part 210 will be in an excessively close position to the spray part 133. In this state, an excessive amount of mist-like liquid may adhere to a part of the contact part 211, while a large area of ​​the contact part 211 may remain free of liquid. To suppress such uneven adhesion, the liquid supply device 100 may be improved as shown in Figure 5.

[0041] The liquid supply device 100 shown in Figure 5 has a positioning unit 140 that positions the rag unit 210 at a position away from the spraying unit 133 so that the mist of liquid sprayed from the spraying unit 133 adheres to a wide area of ​​the contact area 211. The positioning position of the rag unit 210 by the positioning unit 140 can be set based on the spraying angle of the mist of liquid from the spraying unit 133.

[0042] The positioning section 140 has a lower positioning piece 141 that protrudes backward from the partition wall 119 below the ejection section 133, and an upper positioning piece 142 that protrudes backward from the partition wall 119 above the ejection section 133. The lower positioning piece 141 and the upper positioning piece 142 are thin plate-shaped members.

[0043] The protrusion amounts of the lower positioning piece 141 and the upper positioning piece 142 from the partition wall 119 are approximately equal to each other, and in a plan view, the lower positioning piece 141 and the upper positioning piece 142 are set so as not to protrude into the insertion opening 114. The upper positioning piece 142 is positioned at a height where it contacts the upper end of the contact portion 211 when the lower end of the rag portion 210 shown in Figure 3 is in contact with the case bottom wall 115 of the storage case 111. In this state, the lower positioning piece 141 contacts the lower end of the contact portion 211. Since the upper and lower ends of the contact portion 211 are in contact with the upper positioning piece 142 and the lower positioning piece 141, the contact portion 211 is positioned at a distance from the partition wall 119 by the amount of protrusion of the lower positioning piece 141 and the upper positioning piece 142.

[0044] In this embodiment, the spraying section 133 is fixed to the partition wall 119 at a position lower than the upper positioning piece 142 that contacts the upper end of the contact section 211. In other words, with the lower end of the rag section 210 shown in Figure 3 in contact with the bottom wall 115 of the storage case 111, the upper end of the contact section 211 is at a higher position than the spraying section 133. In order to deliver a mist of liquid to the upper end of the contact section 211, which is at a higher position than the spraying section 133, it is preferable that the spraying section 133 has a nozzle that opens diagonally upward and backward. In addition to this nozzle, the spraying section 133 may also have a nozzle that opens diagonally downward and / or backward.

[0045] In the liquid supply device 100 shown in Figure 5, the rag portion 210 is positioned by an upper positioning piece 142 and a lower positioning piece 141 so that the contact portion 211 does not come too close to the spray portion 133. In this state, when the mist-like liquid flows backward from the nozzle of the spray portion 133, spreading in the vertical and horizontal directions, the mist-like liquid can adhere to a wide area of ​​the contact portion 211.

[0046] Furthermore, when the rag portion 210 is inserted into the storage case 111, the upper positioning piece 142 is in contact with the upper end of the contact portion 211 of the rag portion 210. Therefore, the upper positioning piece 142 restricts the rag portion 210 from changing its orientation from the orientation shown in Figure 3 to the orientation shown in Figure 2. If the orientation change from the orientation shown in Figure 3 to the orientation shown in Figure 2 within the storage case 111 were permitted, the following problems could arise. That is, when a user inserts the rag portion 210 into the storage case 111 after cleaning, dust and debris will be attached to the contact portion 211 of the rag portion 210. If this rag portion 210 changes its orientation from the orientation shown in Figure 3 to the orientation shown in Figure 2 within the storage case 111, the contact portion 211 may come into contact with the spray portion 133. As a result of this contact, the dust and debris attached to the contact portion 211 may block the nozzle of the spray portion 133, preventing the spraying of liquid. Such problems can be prevented by the upper positioning piece 142 restricting the change in the orientation of the rag portion 210 within the storage case 111.

[0047] In the liquid supply device 100 shown in Figure 5, the contact portion 211 of the rag portion 210 is positioned at a distance from the spray portion 133 by the positioning portion 140, thereby preventing contact between the contact portion 211 and the spray portion 133. To prevent contact between the contact portion 211 and the spray portion 133, a retractable portion 143 may be provided instead of the positioning portion 140, as shown in Figure 6. The retractable portion 143 shown in Figure 6 is recessed outward (i.e., towards the main chamber 126) relative to the partition wall 119, and the spray portion 133 may be attached to this retractable portion 143.

[0048] In the liquid supply device 100 shown in Figure 6, the partition wall 119 is erected from the case bottom wall 115 at a position corresponding to the front end of the insertion port 114. The retracted section 143 is configured to form a retracted space 144 that communicates with the internal space 117 of the housing case 111 at a predetermined height. The ejection section 133 can be spaced apart from the contact section 211 inside the housing case 111 by the size of this retracted space 144. Furthermore, the supply of liquid to the contact section 211 inside the housing case 111 is permitted through this retracted space 144.

[0049] The retraction space 144 has the shape of a truncated cone, with its diameter increasing towards the rear (i.e., as it approaches the internal space 117 of the storage case 111). Furthermore, the retraction space 144 is formed at a height where it is closed by the upper end portion of the contact portion 211 of the rag portion 210 when the rag portion 210 is inserted into the storage case 111 to the point where the lower end of the contact portion 211 of the rag portion 210 abuts against the bottom wall 115 of the case.

[0050] The ejection nozzle 133 is fixed so as to block the front end of the retraction space 144. Therefore, the ejection nozzle 133 can be spaced apart from the contact portion 211 of the rag portion 210 inside the storage case 111 by the length of the retraction space 144 from the front end to the rear end.

[0051] In the liquid supply device 100 shown in Figure 6, the partition wall 119 and the retraction section 143 ensure a certain distance between the contact section 211 of the rag section 210 inside the containment case 111 and the ejection section 133. In addition, the partition wall 119 restricts changes in the orientation of the rag section 210 inside the containment case 111.

[0052] When the spraying unit 133 sprays a mist of liquid into the retraction space 144, this liquid flows backward and adheres to the contact portion 211 of the rag portion 210. Specifically, when the lower end of the contact portion 211 of the rag portion 210 is in the position shown in Figure 3 and is in contact with the bottom wall 115 of the case, the mist of liquid adheres to the upper end portion of the contact portion 211. Subsequently, when the user raises the rag portion 210, the position of the liquid adhesion on the contact portion 211 moves towards the lower end of the contact portion 211. As a result, the mist of liquid can adhere to the entire contact portion 211.

[0053] In the liquid supply device 100 shown in Figure 6, the positioning unit 140 shown in Figure 5 may be further added. In this case, the rag unit 210 is positioned by the positioning unit 140 at a position away from the partition wall 119, and the spray unit 133 is held by the retractable unit 143 at a position away from the partition wall 119. As a result, a long distance is secured between the spray unit 133 and the contact area 211 of the rag unit 210, and the mist-like liquid sprayed from the spray unit 133 can adhere to a wide area of ​​the contact area 211.

[0054] <Third Embodiment> The user can store the cleaning tools 200 after cleaning by inserting them into the storage case 111. It is assumed that dust will adhere to the contact surface 211 of the rag portion 210 of the cleaning tools 200 after cleaning, but it is preferable that the dust be removed from the contact surface 211 before the next cleaning. For this reason, the liquid supply device 100 may have a scraping section 145 for scraping off dust attached to the contact surface 211, as shown in Figure 7.

[0055] The scraping unit 145 shown in Figure 7 includes a rotating brush 146 rotatably held within the housing case 111, and a drive unit 147 that rotates the rotating brush 146 in the direction of the arrow in Figure 7. The drive unit 147 may be configured as a motor electrically connected to the control unit 136. In this case, the control unit 136 is configured to control not only the pump 135 of the liquid supply unit 132, but also the drive unit 147.

[0056] As shown in Figure 8, an operating unit 148 is provided on the upper wall portion 122 of the protective case 112 to instruct the operation and stopping of the drive unit 147. In response to the operation of the operating unit 148, the control unit 136 operates or stops the drive unit 147.

[0057] As shown in Figure 8, the rotating brush 146 is a rod-shaped member that is long in the left-right direction, and as shown in Figure 7, it is positioned closer to the partition wall 119 than the case rear wall 149 that forms the rear surface of the housing case 111 on the case peripheral wall 116 of the housing case 111. In addition, the rotating brush 146 is held at a position higher than the midpoint of the internal space 117 of the housing case 111 in the height direction.

[0058] After completing the cleaning work, the user can operate the control unit 148 to activate the drive unit 147. The rotating brush 146 rotates in conjunction with the operation of the drive unit 147.

[0059] After operating the control unit 148, the user holds the cleaning tool 200 above the insertion opening 114, positions the rag part 210 as shown in Figure 3, and faces the contact part 211 of the rag part 210 forward. In this state, the user lowers the rag part 210 and inserts it into the insertion opening 114.

[0060] When the rag section 210 is inserted into the insertion opening 114, the rotating brush 146 rubs against the lower end portion of the contact portion 211 of the rag section 210. As the rag section 210 moves downward, the contact position of the rotating brush 146 with respect to the contact portion 211 moves toward the upper end portion of the contact portion 211. During this time, the rotating brush 146 is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow in Figure 7, so that dust adhering to the contact portion 211 is scraped off onto the bottom wall 115 of the case.

[0061] The user may move the cloth part 210 up and down while maintaining the state in which the rotating brush 146 is in contact with the contact part 211 of the cloth part 210. As a result, the removal of dust adhering to the cloth part 210 is promoted. After determining that sufficient dust has been removed from the contact part 211 of the cloth part 210, the user can operate the control unit 148 to stop the drive unit 147 and the rotating brush 146.

[0062] When resuming cleaning work, the user operates the control unit 137 for the liquid supply unit 132. In response to the operation of the control unit 137, the pump 135 is activated and a mist of liquid is sprayed from the nozzle 133. This liquid then adheres to the contact surface 211 of the dust-free rag unit 210. The user can then remove the rag unit 210, now moistened with this liquid, from the storage case 111 and perform wet cleaning.

[0063] To simplify the structure of the scraping portion 145, it may be configured as shown in Figure 9. The scraping portion 145 shown in Figure 9 is a thin, plate-shaped elastic member that protrudes rearward from the partition wall 119. The scraping portion 145 is formed to be long in the left-right direction, and the rear edge of the scraping portion 145 is formed in a comb-like shape to facilitate the removal of dust from the contact portion 211 of the rag portion 210. In this case, the user can scrape off dust adhering to the contact portion 211 by pressing the contact portion 211 of the rag portion 210 against the rear edge of the scraping portion 145 and moving it up and down.

[0064] The positioning unit 140 shown in Figure 5 may be applied to the liquid supply device 100 shown in Figures 7 and 9. Alternatively, the retractable unit 143 shown in Figure 6 may be applied to the liquid supply device 100 shown in Figures 7 and 9.

[0065] If the scraping section 145 is positioned higher than the ejection section 133 and in contact with the contact section 211, dust scraped off from the contact section 211 by the scraping section 145 may adhere to the ejection section 133. That is, as shown in Figure 7, if the rotating brush 146 is positioned close to the partition wall 119, the dust scraped off by the rotating brush 146 will fall near the partition wall 119. This dust may then block the nozzle of the ejection section 133, which is held in place by the partition wall 119. In this case, the spray of liquid from the ejection section 133 may be obstructed by the dust. By holding the ejection section 133 at a position forward and away from the partition wall 119 with the retractable section 143 shown in Figure 6, the possibility of dust scraped off by the rotating brush 146 blocking the nozzle of the ejection section 133 can be reduced. However, even in this case, it is conceivable that dust falling from the contact portion 211 will enter the retraction space 144 formed by the retraction portion 143, and that some of this dust will block the nozzle of the ejection portion 133.

[0066] To reduce the likelihood of blockage of the nozzle of the ejection section 133 due to dust scraped off by the rotating brush 146, the rotating brush 146 may be positioned closer to the rear wall 149 of the case than to the partition wall 119, as shown in Figure 10. In this case, after the user has finished cleaning, inserts the rag section 210 into the storage case 111 with the contact section 211 facing the rear wall 149 of the case. Then, as the user moves the rag section 210 up and down while pressing the contact section 211 against the rotating brush 146, the dust attached to the contact section 211 is scraped off by the rotating brush 146. At this time, the internal space 117 of the storage case 111 is partitioned front to back by the rag section 210, and the dust scraped off by the rotating brush 146 falls into the space between the rag section 210 and the rear wall 149 of the case. The dust can be prevented from entering the space between the rag section 210 and the partition wall 119 by the rag section 210, which divides the internal space 117 of the storage case 111 into front and back sections. Therefore, the dust scraped off by the rotating brush 146 is less likely to adhere to the ejection section 133 attached to the partition wall 119.

[0067] When resuming cleaning work, the user removes the rag part 210 from the storage case 111. Then, the user inserts the rag part 210 in a position where the contact part 211 faces forward. In this state, the contact part 211 faces the spray part 133, and when liquid is sprayed from the spray part 133, this liquid adheres to the contact part 211. After wetting the contact part 211 with the liquid sprayed from the spray part 133 in this way, the user can remove the rag part 210 from the storage case 111 and resume cleaning work.

[0068] In the liquid supply device 100 shown in Figure 10, the ejection nozzle 133 is attached to the partition wall 119. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 11, the ejection nozzle 133 may be attached to a retraction section 143 provided in the partition wall 119. In this case, the ejection nozzle 133 can be further away from the rotating brush 146 by the amount of the retraction space 144 formed by the retraction section 143.

[0069] In the liquid supply device 100 shown in Figures 10 and 11, the scraping section 145 is composed of a rotating brush 146 and a drive unit 147 that rotates the rotating brush 146. Alternatively, the scraping section 145 may be a thin, plate-shaped elastic member as shown in Figure 9. In this case, the thin, plate-shaped elastic member configured as the scraping section 145 may be provided so as to protrude forward from the upper end portion of the rear wall 149 of the case.

[0070] <Fourth Embodiment> In the liquid supply device 100 of the third embodiment, dust scraped off by the scraping section 145 accumulates on the bottom wall 115 of the storage case 111. When dust has accumulated on the bottom wall 115 of the case, if the user inserts the rag section 210 into the storage case 111, the dust on the bottom wall 115 may reattach to the rag section 210. To avoid this situation, the liquid supply device 100 may be configured as shown in Figure 12.

[0071] In the liquid supply device 100 shown in Figure 12, a communication port 151 is formed between the lower end of the partition wall 119 and the bottom wall 115 of the case. A collection box 152 for collecting dust is placed inside the main chamber 126 of the protective case 112, and the internal space of the collection box 152 communicates with the internal space 117 of the housing case 111 through the communication port 151. A filter 153 is attached to the upper wall of the collection box 152, configured to capture dust while allowing air to pass through. A dust collection unit 154 is located above the collection box 152, which generates a suction force to draw air from inside the collection box 152 through the filter 153.

[0072] When the dust collection unit 154 is activated, its suction force acts on the dust on the case bottom wall 115 through the internal space of the collection box 152 and the communication port 151. This dust is then collected into the collection box 152 through the communication port 151 by the suction force of the dust collection unit 154. As a result, there is no more dust on the case bottom wall 115. Consequently, the re-adhesion of dust to the rag 210 subsequently inserted into the storage case 111 is suppressed.

[0073] In the liquid supply device 100 shown in Figure 12, the collection box 152, filter 153, and dust collection unit 154 are located within the main chamber 126 of the protective case 112. However, the placement of the collection box 152, filter 153, and dust collection unit 154 is not limited to the main chamber 126. That is, the collection box 152, filter 153, and dust collection unit 154 can be placed at any location outside the housing case 111.

[0074] The collection box 152, filter 153, and dust collection unit 154 can be applied to various liquid supply devices 100 equipped with a scraping unit 145. For example, the collection box 152, filter 153, and dust collection unit 154 may be applied to the liquid supply devices 100 shown in Figures 9 to 11.

[0075] The partition wall 119 of the liquid supply device 100 shown in Figure 12 may be provided with a positioning section 140 as shown in Figure 5, or with a retractable section 143 as shown in Figure 6. If the partition wall 119 is provided with a retractable section 143, the ejection section 133 is attached to the retractable section 143.

[0076] <Fifth Embodiment> To prevent the problem of blockage of the nozzle of the ejection section 133 due to dust scraped off from the rag section 210, a space for supplying liquid to the cleaning tool 200 and a space for removing dust from the cleaning tool 200 may be formed separately. In this case, the liquid supply device 100 may be configured as shown in Figure 13.

[0077] The liquid supply device 100 shown in Figure 13 comprises a housing case 111 and a protective case 112. The internal structure of the protective case 112 is the same as that shown in Figure 4, and the liquid supply unit 132 is configured within the protective case 112. The nozzle 133 of the liquid supply unit 132, configured within the protective case 112, is attached to the partition wall 119 of the housing case 111. The partition wall 119 may be provided with a positioning section 140 as shown in Figure 5, or with a retraction section 143 as shown in Figure 6. If the partition wall 119 is provided with a retraction section 143, the nozzle 133 is attached to the retraction section 143.

[0078] To the right of the storage case 111 and protective case 112 is a dust removal case 160, which forms a dust removal space 161 for removing dust from the contact portion 211 of the cleaning tool 200 after cleaning. The dust removal space 161 opens upward at the front portion of the dust removal case 160. Similar to the insertion opening 114 of the storage case 111, the opening of this dust removal space 161 is designed to allow insertion of the cleaning tool 200 when the rag portion 210 is in the state shown in Figure 3, but to prevent insertion of the cleaning tool 200 when the rag portion 210 is in the state shown in Figure 2. The dust removal space 161 is separated from the internal space 117 of the storage case 111 by the case peripheral wall 116 of the storage case 111.

[0079] An intermediate wall 157 is erected approximately midway along the front-to-back direction of the dust removal case 160, and a rotating brush 146 of the scraping section 145 is attached to the intermediate wall 157. The drive unit 147 that rotates the rotating brush 146 is housed in the front part of the dust removal case 160 (i.e., the front part of the intermediate wall 157). The front part of the dust removal case 160 may also house the collection box 152, filter 153, and dust collection section 154 shown in Figure 12. In this case, the intermediate wall 157 is formed so that the internal space of the collection box 152 and the dust removal space 161 are in communication, so that dust scraped off in the dust removal space 161 flows to the collection box 152.

[0080] After completing the cleaning work, the user stores the cleaning tool 200 inserted into the dust collection case 160. When resuming the cleaning work, the user rotates the rotating brush 146 by operating the drive unit 147. In this state, the user presses the contact part 211 of the rag part 210 against the rotating brush 146 and pulls the cleaning tool 200 upward from the dust collection case 160. As a result, dust adhering to the contact part 211 of the rag part 210 is scraped off in the dust collection space 161 of the dust collection case 160.

[0081] After removing dust from the contact portion 211 of the rag portion 210, the user inserts the rag portion 210 into the storage case 111 with the contact portion 211 facing the partition wall 119 of the storage case 111. In this state, when liquid is sprayed from the nozzle 133 attached to the partition wall 119, the contact portion 211 becomes wet. After that, the user can pull the rag portion 210 out of the storage case 111 and perform wet cleaning.

[0082] In the liquid supply device 100 shown in Figure 13, dust removal from the contact area 211 of the rag section 210 is performed in the dust removal case 160 rather than in the containment case 111, thus suppressing dust adhesion to the spraying section 133 that sprays liquid inside the containment case 111.

[0083] In the liquid supply device 100 of Figure 13, after dust is removed from the contact portion 211 of the rag portion 210, the rag portion 210 can be inserted into the storage case 111. Therefore, the amount of dust that falls from the rag portion 210 and accumulates on the bottom wall 115 of the storage case 111 can be reduced. Consequently, even if the ejection nozzle 133 is attached to the bottom wall 115 of the case, the risk of dust falling from the rag portion 210 blocking the nozzle of the ejection nozzle 133 is reduced. For this reason, the ejection nozzle 133 may be attached to the bottom wall 115 of the case. In this case, the insertion opening 114 of the storage case 111 is formed to be large enough to allow the user to insert the cleaning tool 200 into the insertion opening 114 when the rag portion 210 is in the position shown in Figure 2.

[0084] The scraping section 145 of the liquid supply device 100 in Figure 13 is composed of a rotating brush 146 and a drive unit 147. Alternatively, the scraping section 145 may be composed of a thin, plate-shaped elastic member as shown in Figure 9.

[0085] <Sixth Embodiment> In the third to fifth embodiments, the user needs to lift the rag portion 210 to a position higher than the liquid supply device 100 and insert it into the liquid supply device 100. If dust falls from the rag portion 210 during this lifting operation, this dust can be scattered over a wide area on the floor. To avoid such a situation, the liquid supply device 100 may be configured as shown in Figures 14 and 15.

[0086] The liquid supply device 100 shown in Figures 14 and 15 comprises a housing case 111 and a protective case 112. The internal structure of the protective case 112 is substantially the same as that shown in Figure 4, and the liquid supply section 132 is configured within the protective case 112. The nozzle 133 of the liquid supply section 132 configured within the protective case 112 is attached to the partition wall 119 of the housing case 111. The partition wall 119 may be provided with a positioning section 140 as shown in Figure 5, or with a retraction section 143 as shown in Figure 6. If the partition wall 119 is provided with a retraction section 143, the nozzle 133 is attached to the retraction section 143.

[0087] Below the storage case 111 and the protective case 112, a roughly rectangular box-shaped dust removal case 160 is positioned, forming a dust removal space 161 for removing dust adhering to the rag portion 210. The dust removal space 161 opens towards the rear, and the cleaning tool 200 is inserted into the dust removal space 161 from the rear, as shown in Figures 14 and 15.

[0088] As shown in Figure 15, the dust collection case 160 has a bottom portion 162 that demarcates the lower end of the dust collection space 161. The bottom portion 162 has an upper surface 163 that rises toward the front. A housing recess 164 for housing the rotating brush 146 is formed in this upper surface 163. The upper end of the rotating brush 146 protrudes upward from the housing recess 164. A drive unit 147 for rotating the rotating brush 146 is also housed within the bottom portion 162.

[0089] The drive unit 147 rotates the rotating brush 146 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 15. When the user inserts the rag part 210 into the dust removal space 161 from the rear in this state, the contact part 211 of the rag part 210 is rubbed by the rotating brush 146. As a result, dust adhering to the contact part 211 is scraped off by the rotating brush 146. This dust is then stored in the storage recess 164.

[0090] After dust removal by the rotating brush 146, the user pulls the rag part 210 backward from the dust removal space 161. Then, the user lifts the rag part 210 to the upper side of the storage case 111 and holds the cleaning tool 200 in a position where the contact part 211 of the rag part 210 faces forward. In this state, the user can lower the rag part 210 and store it in the storage case 111.

[0091] When the user lifts the rag portion 210 to the upper side of the storage case 111, dust has already been removed from the contact portion 211 of the rag portion 210. Therefore, when the rag portion 210 is stored in the storage case 111, dust is not scattered onto the floor surface.

[0092] Furthermore, because the dust removal case 160 is stacked vertically with the storage case 111 and the protective case 112, the installation area of ​​the liquid supply device 100 is smaller than if the dust removal case 160 were arranged in the front-to-back or left-to-right direction relative to the storage case 111 and the protective case 112.

[0093] In the liquid supply device 100 shown in Figures 14 and 15, the rag portion 210 can be inserted into the storage case 111 after dust has been removed from the contact portion 211 of the rag portion 210. Therefore, the amount of dust that falls from the rag portion 210 and accumulates on the bottom wall 115 of the storage case 111 can be reduced. Consequently, even if the ejection nozzle 133 is attached to the bottom wall 115 of the case, the risk of dust falling from the rag portion 210 blocking the nozzle of the ejection nozzle 133 is reduced. For this reason, the ejection nozzle 133 may be attached to the bottom wall 115 of the case. In this case, the insertion opening 114 of the storage case 111 is formed to be large enough to allow the user to insert the cleaning tool 200 into the insertion opening 114 when the rag portion 210 is in the position shown in Figure 2.

[0094] In the liquid supply device 100 shown in Figure 15, dust scraped off from the contact area 211 by the scraping section 145 accumulates in the storage recess 164. To collect this dust, a collection box 152, shown in Figure 12, may be provided so as to communicate with the storage recess 164. In this case, by arranging the dust collection section 154 to draw air from inside the collection box 152 through a filter 153 provided in the collection box 152, it becomes possible to allow the dust in the storage recess 164 to flow into the collection box 152.

[0095] In the liquid supply device 100 shown in Figure 15, the scraping section 145 is composed of a rotating brush 146 and a drive unit 147. Alternatively, the scraping section 145 may be composed of a thin, plate-shaped elastic member as shown in Figure 9.

[0096] The liquid supply device 100 shown in Figure 15 may be modified to facilitate the insertion of the rag portion 210 into the dust collection case 160. For example, as shown in Figures 16 and 17, the left and right side walls of the dust collection case 160 may be removed. In this case, the user can insert the rag portion 210 into the dust collection case 160 in the direction of their choice.

[0097] <Seventh Embodiment> In the first to sixth embodiments, the cleaning tool 200 is configured to be able to change its orientation between a position in which the contact portion 211 faces downward (Figure 2) and a position in which the contact portion 211 faces horizontally (Figure 3). Alternatively, the cleaning tool 200 may have a structure that makes it difficult to change its orientation from the position in which the contact portion 211 faces downward. For example, the cleaning tool 200 may be a stick-type vacuum cleaner as shown in Figure 18.

[0098] The cleaning tool 200 shown in Figure 18 has a roughly cylindrical housing 220 that is long in the vertical direction, and a roughly cylindrical gripping section 221 that extends upward from the upper end of the housing 220. The gripping section 221 is thinner than the housing 220 so that the user can grip it. The gripping section 221 is provided with an operating section 222 that is operated to start and stop the cleaning tool 200.

[0099] As shown in Figure 19, a suction pipe 223 is housed in the lower part of the housing 220, forming a flow path for dust. The lower end of the suction pipe 223 is connected to a suction nozzle 224, which is wider than the suction pipe 223. The connection between the suction nozzle 224 and the suction pipe 223 is configured to allow the suction pipe 223 to tilt backward from the upright position shown in Figure 19.

[0100] A check valve 239 is attached to the upper end of the suction pipe 223. The check valve 239 shown in Figure 19 closes the upper end of the suction pipe 223. The check valve 239 is rotatable upward around its rear end.

[0101] The space above the check valve 239 is divided vertically by a filter 225. The filter 225 is configured to allow air to pass through while capturing dust contained in this air. The space below the filter 225 is used as a dust storage chamber 226 for storing dust. The space above the filter 225 is used as an drive chamber 229, which houses a suction source 227 that generates an upward suction force to draw up dust from the floor surface, and a battery 228 that stores power to operate the suction source 227.

[0102] A suction space 230 into which dust flows is formed inside the suction nozzle 224, so that dust on the floor surface is drawn through the suction nozzle 224 to the suction pipe 223 by the suction force of the suction source 227. The suction space 230 opens downward at the front part of the suction nozzle 224.

[0103] As shown in Figure 20, the suction nozzle 224 includes a nozzle case 231 which has a C-shape in plan view so as to partition the rear, left, and right ends of the suction space 230, and a nozzle cover 232 which is attached to the nozzle case 231 from above. When the nozzle cover 232 is attached to the nozzle case 231, it partitions the front and upper ends of the suction space 230.

[0104] A pair of left and right rotating brushes 233 and 234 are arranged within the suction space 230 of the suction nozzle 224, and brush drive units 235 and 236 that rotate these brushes 233 and 234 are housed in the rear portion of the nozzle case 231. The right rotating brush 234 and brush drive unit 236 are symmetrical to the left rotating brush 233 and brush drive unit 235. For this reason, the left rotating brush 233 and brush drive unit 235 will be described below, and the description of the right rotating brush 234 and brush drive unit 236 will be omitted.

[0105] The rotating brush 233 has a rotating rod 237 that is cantilevered by the left end portion of the nozzle case 231, and a plurality of brush strips 238 that protrude from the circumferential surface of the rotating rod 237. The left end portion of the rotating rod 237 is recessed into the left end portion of the nozzle case 231 and is connected to the brush drive unit 235 via a drive belt located inside the nozzle case 231. The rotating rod 237 extends to the right from the left end portion of the nozzle case 231.

[0106] Multiple brush strips 238 are provided at intervals around the circumferential direction of the rotating rod 237 and are attached to the circumferential surface of the rotating rod 237 in an inclined position with respect to the axis of the rotating rod 237. The brush strips 238 located on the underside of the rotating rod 237 come into contact with the floor surface. As the rotating rod 237 rotates, these brush strips 238 rub against the floor surface, scraping off dust and debris from the floor surface. In this embodiment, the contact portion 211 is composed of multiple brush strips 238.

[0107] As shown in Figure 18, the cleaning tool 200 is installed on the liquid supply device 100 with the suction pipe 223, housing 220, and gripping part 221 positioned upright relative to the suction nozzle 224. The liquid supply device 100 has a roughly rectangular box-shaped housing 110 that is wider than the suction nozzle 224. Inside this housing 110, as shown in Figure 21, a liquid storage section 131 and a liquid supply section 132 are housed.

[0108] As shown in Figure 22, the upper wall portion 158 forming the top surface of the housing 110 has a roughly rectangular opening 172 that is elongated in the left-right direction. The user can place the suction nozzle 224 on the upper wall portion 158 so that the lower part of the rotating brush 233 of the suction nozzle 224 enters this opening 172.

[0109] The ejection part 133 of the liquid supply part 132 is supported by a support part 173 within the housing 110 at a position spaced downward from the upper wall part 158. The ejection part 133 is supported by the support part 173 in a position in which a mist of liquid is ejected upward, and the mist of liquid ejected from the ejection part 133 is configured to flow upward while spreading in the left and right directions. The distance between the upper wall part 158 ​​and the ejection part 133 supported by the support part 173 is set so that the mist of liquid ejected from the ejection part 133 can adhere to the entire length of the rotating brushes 233, 234 of the suction nozzle 224 on the positioning part 140. In this embodiment, the positioning part 140 is composed of the upper wall part 158 ​​and the support part 173.

[0110] Before starting the cleaning work, the user places the cleaning tool 200 on the housing 110 of the liquid supply device 100 as shown in Figure 21. Then, the user operates the pump 135 of the liquid supply unit 132, spraying a mist of liquid from the nozzle 133. In this state, when the rotating brush 146 of the suction nozzle 224 is rotated, the mist of liquid adheres to the entire surface of the multiple brush bands 238. The amount of liquid sprayed from the nozzle 133 is controlled by the control unit 136 of the liquid supply unit 132 to be below the saturation suction amount given by Equation 1, so no liquid drips from the rotating brush 146 after spraying. After finishing spraying the liquid from the nozzle 133, the user can remove the cleaning tool 200 from the housing 110 of the liquid supply device 100 and perform wet cleaning on the floor surface.

[0111] The liquid supply device 100 shown in Figure 18 supplies liquid to a cleaning tool 200 configured as a stick-type vacuum cleaner. Alternatively, the liquid supply device 100 may be used to supply liquid to a canister-type vacuum cleaner, a handheld vacuum cleaner, or a mop.

[0112] (Other fluid supply points) In the first to seventh embodiments, a mist of liquid is sprayed toward the contact portion 211 of the cleaning tool 200. Alternatively, steam may be sprayed toward the contact portion 211. As the steam changes from the gas phase to the liquid phase on the contact portion 211, the contact portion 211 becomes wet, enabling wet cleaning. When steam is sprayed toward the contact portion 211, the liquid supply unit 132 may be configured as shown in Figure 23, for example.

[0113] In the liquid supply unit 132 shown in Figure 23, a heating unit 174 is provided to heat the liquid (water) flowing from the pump 135 to the ejection unit 133. The heating unit 174 is electrically connected to the control unit 136, and the amount of heating by the heating unit 174 is controlled by the control unit 136 to be approximately constant. In the liquid supply unit 132 shown in Figure 23, the pressure of the steam generated by the heating unit 174 can cause the steam to be forcefully ejected toward the contact unit 211. Furthermore, the heat of the steam ejected toward the contact unit 211 sterilizes the contact unit 211.

[0114] In the first to seventh embodiments, the ejection section 133 is configured separately from the liquid storage section 131. Alternatively, in order to miniaturize the liquid supply device 100, the liquid in the liquid storage section 131 may be atomized by a vibrating membrane 181 formed integrally with the liquid storage section 131, as shown in Figure 24.

[0115] The liquid reservoir 131 in Figure 24 is a rectangular box shape, and liquid is contained within it. An opening 175 is formed in the peripheral wall of the liquid reservoir 131, and the vibrating membrane 181 is attached to the liquid reservoir 131 so as to close this opening 175. The liquid inside the liquid reservoir 131 is in contact with the inner surface of the vibrating membrane 181.

[0116] As shown in Figure 25, the vibrating membrane 181 has numerous micropores 176 formed therein. The micropores 176 are provided to allow the liquid in the reservoir 131 to be released to the outside when the vibrating membrane 181 vibrates in the direction of the arrows shown in Figure 26, but when the vibrating membrane 181 is at rest, they are sized to retain the liquid in the reservoir 131.

[0117] As shown in Figure 25, a ring-shaped piezoelectric element 177 is attached to the outer edge of the vibrating membrane 181, and a pair of electrodes 178 and 179 to which an AC voltage is applied are fixed to this piezoelectric element 177. The piezoelectric element 177 is formed to expand and contract radially when an AC voltage is applied to the electrodes 178 and 179. In accordance with the radial expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element 177, the vibrating membrane 181 vibrates in the direction of the arrow in Figure 26.

[0118] Vibration of the vibrating membrane 181 can cause the liquid in the reservoir 131 to pass through the micropores 176 of the vibrating membrane 181 and be released as follows: When the vibrating membrane 181 is displaced in the direction of arrow B in Figure 26 (outward from the reservoir 131), the pressure near the inner surface of the vibrating membrane 181 decreases. In response to this pressure drop, the liquid near the inner surface of the vibrating membrane 181 flows towards the outwardly displaced vibrating membrane 181. Subsequently, when the vibrating membrane 181 is displaced in the opposite direction (inward from the reservoir 131), the direction of the displacement of the vibrating membrane 181 becomes opposite to the direction of liquid flow near the inner surface of the vibrating membrane 181. As a result, the liquid strongly strikes the inner surface of the vibrating membrane 181 and passes through the multiple micropores 176 of the vibrating membrane 181. The liquid that has passed through these micropores 176 can be released from the reservoir 131 in a mist-like form.

[0119] The vibration period of the vibrating membrane 181 is controlled so that the amount of liquid passing through the micropores 176 is less than or equal to the saturation absorption amount given by Equation 1. That is, as shown in Figure 25, electrodes 178 and 179 are electrically connected to the control unit 136. The control unit 136 then applies an AC voltage to these electrodes 178 and 179 for a predetermined time length set so that the amount of liquid passing through the micropores 176 is less than or equal to the saturation absorption amount. In Figure 25, the liquid supply unit 132 is composed of the control unit 136, electrodes 178 and 179, piezoelectric element 177, and vibrating membrane 181.

[0120] The liquid supply unit 132 may consist of an ultrasonic transducer 182 submerged in the liquid of the liquid storage unit 131, as shown in Figure 27, and a control unit 136 electrically connected to the ultrasonic transducer 182. When the ultrasonic transducer 182 vibrates in the liquid of the liquid storage unit 131, a portion of this liquid is atomized. The control unit 136 controls the vibration period of the ultrasonic transducer 182 so that the amount of atomized liquid is less than or equal to the saturation absorption amount given by Equation 1.

[0121] In Figure 27, the liquid reservoir 131 is supported by a support 173 at a position spaced downward from the positioning section 140 of the housing 110 of the liquid supply device 100. The support 173 forms a space filled with atomized liquid generated by the ultrasonic transducer 182. This atomized liquid is released through the opening 172 of the positioning section 140 shown in Figure 22. As shown in Figure 26, if the suction nozzle 224 is placed on the positioning section 140, the atomized liquid released through the opening 172 may adhere to the rotating brush 146 of the suction nozzle 224.

[0122] The liquid does not need to be atomized or vaporized, as long as it is possible to supply a liquid below the saturation liquid absorption amount to the contact portion 211 of the cleaning tool 200. For example, the liquid supply portion 132 may have a coating roller having a circumferential surface capable of carrying liquid. Then, with an amount of liquid below the saturation liquid supply amount carried on the circumferential surface of this coating roller, the coating roller may be rolled over the contact portion 211 of the cleaning tool 200 to supply liquid to the contact portion 211.

[0123] (Effects, etc.) The liquid supply device 100 according to the above embodiment has the following features and provides the following effects.

[0124] A liquid supply device according to one aspect of the above-described embodiment is configured to moisten a contact portion of a cleaning tool that has a contact portion in contact with the floor surface by supplying liquid to the contact portion. The liquid supply device comprises a liquid storage section for containing liquid and a liquid supply section for supplying the liquid from the liquid storage section to the contact portion. The liquid supply section is configured such that the amount of liquid supplied to the contact portion is less than or equal to the saturation absorption capacity of the contact portion.

[0125] In the above configuration, to enable wet cleaning, the liquid in the reservoir is supplied to the contact area of ​​the cleaning tool by the liquid supply section. Since the amount of liquid supplied is less than or equal to the saturation absorption capacity of the contact area, dripping from the contact area is unlikely to occur.

[0126] In the above configuration, the liquid supply device may further include a housing case formed to accommodate the contact portion. The liquid supply portion may have a spraying section that sprays liquid onto the contact portion within the housing case.

[0127] Another aspect of the above-described embodiment of the liquid supply device is configured to moisten a contact portion of a cleaning tool that has a contact portion that comes into contact with the floor surface by supplying liquid to the contact portion. The liquid supply device comprises a liquid storage section for storing liquid, a storage case formed to accommodate the contact portion, and a spray section for spraying the liquid onto the contact portion within the storage case.

[0128] In the above configuration, the spraying unit atomizes the liquid, so the mist-like liquid can adhere to the contact surface in a scattered state. This prevents the contact surface from becoming excessively wet in a localized area. As a result, dripping from the contact surface is suppressed. Furthermore, since the liquid is sprayed within the containment case, the mist-like liquid remains within the containment case, suppressing the scattering of liquid outside the liquid supply device.

[0129] In the above configuration, the storage case may have an upward opening.

[0130] In the configuration described above, the storage case opens upwards, allowing the user to insert the contact part into the case from above. When liquid is sprayed from the liquid supply in this state, the contact part of the cleaning tool becomes wet. After the liquid is sprayed onto the contact part, the user can lift the contact part and remove it from the storage case. The user can then perform wet cleaning.

[0131] In the above configuration, the containment case may be configured so that the contact portion is inserted with the contact portion facing horizontally, rather than with the contact portion facing downwards. The containment case may have a bottom wall that catches dust falling from the contact portion, and a peripheral wall that rises from the bottom wall. The spraying part may be attached to the peripheral wall of the case so as to spray liquid onto the horizontally facing contact portion inside the containment case.

[0132] In the above configuration, it is assumed that dust will fall from the contact point of the cleaning tool when it is inserted into the storage case after cleaning. This dust is caught by the bottom wall of the storage case. The spray nozzle is attached to the case perimeter wall, which is erected from the bottom wall of the case, rather than to the bottom wall of the case itself, so the dust that falls from the contact point does not accumulate on the spray nozzle. Therefore, the spray of liquid from the spray nozzle is not obstructed by the dust that falls from the contact point. Furthermore, the storage case is configured so that the contact point is facing horizontally, rather than downwards, so that the liquid sprayed from the spray nozzle attached to the case perimeter wall adheres to the contact point inside the storage case.

[0133] In the above configuration, the ejection nozzle may be mounted on the case perimeter wall so as to spray the liquid horizontally or diagonally downward.

[0134] In the above configuration, the nozzle sprays the liquid horizontally or diagonally downwards, thus suppressing the scattering of mist-like liquid from the upward-opening containment case.

[0135] In the above configuration, the containment case may be configured so that the contact portion is inserted horizontally, rather than downward. The containment case may have a bottom wall that catches dust falling from the contact portion, and a peripheral wall that rises from the bottom wall. The liquid supply device may further include a retractable section that is recessed outward from the peripheral wall and forms a retractable space that communicates with the internal space of the containment case. The ejection section is attached to the retractable section so as not to come into contact with the contact portion inserted into the containment case.

[0136] In the above configuration, if the contact portion is inserted into the containment case with the contact portion facing horizontally, it is assumed that the contact portion will rub against the case wall of the containment case. To prevent the spray portion from rubbing against this contact portion, the liquid supply device has a retractable portion that is recessed outward from the case wall and forms a retractable space that communicates with the internal space of the containment case, and the spray portion is attached to the retractable portion. As a result, the spray portion is held at a position away from the case wall by the amount of the retractable space, and even if the contact portion rubs against the case wall, no contact occurs between the contact portion and the spray portion.

[0137] In the above configuration, the liquid supply device may further include a scraping section that scrapes off dust adhering to the contact surface by rubbing against it within the containment case. The scraping section may be positioned to contact the contact surface at a position higher than the midpoint in the depth direction of the containment case.

[0138] In the configuration described above, when the contact part and scraping part of the cleaning tool rub against each other inside the storage case after cleaning, dust and debris that have adhered to the contact part during cleaning are scraped off by the scraping part. Since the scraping part is positioned to contact the contact part at a position higher than the midpoint in the depth direction of the storage case, the area over which the scraping part rubs against the contact part widens as the contact part moves up and down when it is inserted into and removed from the storage case. Therefore, dust and debris can be removed from a wide area of ​​the contact part.

[0139] In the above configuration, the liquid supply device may further include a dust collection unit that sucks the dust scraped off by the scraping unit to the outside of the containment case.

[0140] In the above configuration, the dust scraped off by the scraping section is sucked out of the containment case, thus preventing dust from accumulating inside the containment case.

[0141] In the above configuration, the liquid supply device may further include a scraping section that scrapes off dust adhering to the contact surface by rubbing against it within the containment case. The scraping section is provided to contact the contact surface at a higher position than the ejection section, and may be located on the case perimeter wall closer to a wall surface other than the wall surface to which the ejection section is attached.

[0142] In the above configuration, the scraping section is positioned higher than the ejection section in order to increase the area that rubs against the contact surface. Furthermore, in order to prevent dust that falls due to the scraping section rubbing against the contact surface from adhering to the ejection section, the scraping section is positioned on a different wall surface on the case perimeter than the wall surface to which the ejection section is attached. As a result, the dust scraped off by the scraping section can fall at a position away from the wall surface to which the ejection section is attached.

[0143] In the above configuration, the liquid supply device may further include a scraping section that scrapes off dust adhering to the contact surface by rubbing against it within the containment case. The scraping section is provided to contact the contact surface at a higher position than the ejection section, and may be located closer to a wall surface other than the wall surface in which the retraction space is recessed on the case perimeter wall.

[0144] In the above configuration, the scraping section is positioned closer to a wall surface other than the wall surface in which the retraction space is recessed. Therefore, dust scraped off by the scraping section can fall at a position away from the wall surface in which the retraction space is recessed. As a result, dust scraped off by the scraping section is prevented from entering the retraction space and adhering to the ejection nozzle attached to the retraction section.

[0145] In the above configuration, the liquid supply device may further include a dust removal case that is formed to allow insertion of the contact portion and has a dust removal space for removing dust adhering to the contact portion, and a scraping portion provided in the dust removal case for scraping off dust adhering to the contact portion inside the dust removal case.

[0146] In the configuration described above, after cleaning, the user can insert the contact part into the dust removal case and scrape off any dust adhering to the contact part with the scraping part. When resuming cleaning, the user can then place the contact part of the cleaning tool into the storage case and wet the contact part with the liquid spray from the nozzle. Since the removal of dust from the contact part is performed in the dust removal case rather than in the storage case where the liquid is sprayed, the adhesion of dust to the nozzle that sprays the liquid is suppressed.

[0147] In the above configuration, the storage case may be placed on top of the dust removal case.

[0148] In the above configuration, the storage case and the dust removal case are stacked vertically, so the installation area of ​​the liquid supply device is smaller compared to when the storage case and dust removal case are arranged in the front-to-back or left-to-right direction. Furthermore, the dust removal case is positioned below the storage case to prevent dust that falls from the contact part when it is inserted into the dust removal space from scattering over a wide area. In other words, if dust falls from the contact part when it is in a high position, this dust can scatter over a wide area on the floor surface. To prevent such widespread scattering of dust, the dust removal case is positioned at a relatively low position, making it possible for the user to insert the contact part into the dust removal space of the dust removal case without having to lift the contact part high.

[0149] In the above configuration, the liquid supply unit may have a nozzle that sprays liquid. The liquid supply device may further include a positioning unit that positions the contact portion opposite the nozzle at a position spaced apart from the nozzle. The nozzle may be configured such that the spray range of the liquid expands as it approaches the contact portion positioned by the positioning unit.

[0150] In the above configuration, the contact portion is positioned at a distance from the discharge portion and opposite the discharge portion, and the spray range of the liquid expands as it approaches the contact portion of the cleaning tool positioned by the positioning portion, so that the mist of liquid can adhere to a wide area of ​​the contact portion.

[0151] In the above configuration, the contact area may be planar. The ejection part may be configured to spray the liquid obliquely to the contact area.

[0152] In the above configuration, the spraying unit sprays the liquid obliquely onto the surface cleaning area, so the mist-like liquid can adhere to a wide area of ​​the contact surface.

[0153] In the above configuration, the liquid storage section may be formed to be able to contain a liquid containing alcohol or a surfactant.

[0154] In the configuration described above, the user can perform wet cleaning using a liquid containing alcohol or a surfactant. If the liquid contains alcohol, the user can not only remove dust from the floor surface but also disinfect it. If the liquid contains a surfactant, it may be easier to remove oily components adhering to the floor surface. [Industrial applicability]

[0155] The liquid supply device of the above embodiment is suitably used in devices used for cleaning work. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0156] 100...Liquid supply device 111············Storage case 115···········Case bottom wall 116···········Case surrounding wall 117············Internal space 131...Liquid storage part 132·······················································Liquid supply 133······························ Spout 140············Positioning section 143············Evacuation Section 144············Evacuation space 145············Scraped area 154···········Vacuum Cleaning Department 160·············Dust removal ケース 161···········Dust Removal Space 200··········· Cleaning tools 211············Contact Department

Claims

1. A liquid supply device that moistens a cleaning tool having a contact part that comes into contact with the floor surface by supplying liquid to the contact part, A liquid storage section for containing liquid, The system includes a liquid supply unit that supplies the liquid in the liquid storage unit to the contact unit, The liquid supply unit is configured such that the amount of liquid supplied to the contact unit is less than or equal to the saturation absorption capacity of the contact unit.

2. The facility further comprises a housing case formed to accommodate the aforementioned contact portion, The liquid supply device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid supply unit has a spray unit that sprays liquid onto the contact unit within the containment case.

3. A liquid supply device that moistens a cleaning tool having a contact part that comes into contact with the floor surface by supplying liquid to the contact part, A liquid storage section for containing liquid, A housing case formed to accommodate the aforementioned contact portion, A liquid supply device comprising a spraying unit that sprays liquid onto the contact area within the aforementioned containment case.

4. The liquid supply device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the housing case has an upward opening.

5. The aforementioned storage case is configured so that the contact portion is inserted in a horizontal position, rather than with the contact portion facing downwards. The aforementioned housing case has a bottom wall that catches dust falling from the contact area, and a peripheral wall that is erected from the bottom wall of the case. The liquid supply device according to claim 4, wherein the ejection part is attached to the peripheral wall of the case so as to spray liquid onto the contact part which is oriented horizontally within the housing case.

6. The liquid supply device according to claim 5, wherein the ejection part is attached to the peripheral wall of the case so as to spray liquid horizontally or diagonally downward.

7. The aforementioned storage case is configured so that the contact portion is inserted in a horizontal position, rather than with the contact portion facing downwards. The aforementioned housing case has a bottom wall that catches dust falling from the contact area, and a peripheral wall that is erected from the bottom wall of the case. The liquid supply device further includes a retractable section recessed outward from the case periphery wall and forming a retractable space that communicates with the internal space of the housing case, The liquid supply device according to claim 4, wherein the ejection part is attached to the retracted part so as not to come into contact with the contact part inserted into the housing case.

8. The storage case further includes a scraping section that scrapes off dust and debris adhering to the contact surface by rubbing against it. The liquid supply device according to claim 4, wherein the scraping portion is arranged to contact the contact portion at a position higher than the intermediate position in the depth direction of the storage case.

9. The liquid supply device according to claim 8, further comprising a dust collection unit for sucking dust scraped off by the scraping unit to the outside of the storage case.

10. The storage case further includes a scraping section that scrapes off dust and debris adhering to the contact surface by rubbing against it. The liquid supply device according to claim 5, wherein the scraping portion is provided to contact the contact portion at a higher position than the ejection portion, and is located on the peripheral wall of the case closer to a wall surface other than the wall surface to which the ejection portion is attached.

11. The storage case further includes a scraping section that scrapes off dust and debris adhering to the contact surface by rubbing against it. The liquid supply device according to claim 7, wherein the scraping portion is provided to contact the contact portion at a higher position than the ejection portion, and is located on the case peripheral wall closer to a wall surface other than the wall surface in which the retraction space is recessed.

12. A dust removal case is formed to allow insertion of the contact portion and to form a dust removal space for removing dust adhering to the contact portion, The liquid supply device according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising: a scraping section provided in the dust removal case for scraping off dust adhering to the contact portion in the dust removal case.

13. The liquid supply device according to claim 12, wherein the containment case is installed on the dust removal case.

14. The liquid supply unit has a nozzle that sprays liquid, The liquid supply device further includes a positioning unit that positions the contact portion so that it faces the ejection portion at a position spaced apart from the ejection portion. The liquid supply device according to claim 1, wherein the ejection part is configured such that the spray range of the liquid expands as it approaches the contact part positioned by the positioning part.

15. The contact portion is planar, The liquid supply device according to claim 14, wherein the ejection part is configured to spray liquid obliquely to the contact part.

16. The liquid supply device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid storage section is formed to be able to contain a liquid containing alcohol or a surfactant.

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