Floor cleaning methods

Abstract

This invention provides a floor cleaning method that can shorten the construction period and reduce the number of workers required for floor cleaning work, while also improving cleaning quality and extending the lifespan of cleaning vehicles. [Solution] The method includes the steps of: rotating the side brushes 8 in opposite directions to sweep debris from the floor surface F towards the inside and rear of the cleaning vehicle 2; rotating the horizontal brush 16 to sweep the debris swept out by the side brushes 8 back towards the front of the cleaning vehicle 2; a dry separation step of sucking up the debris swept back by the horizontal brush 16 and separating it through a filter 20; rotating a plurality of scrub brushes 26 to polish the floor surface F; applying water or cleaning solution to the floor surface F or the scrub brushes 26 themselves between the horizontal brushes 16 and the scrub brushes 26; and a wet separation step of using a squeegee 36 positioned behind the scrub brushes 26 to block and suck up the sludge water 38 agitated by the scrub brushes 26 and separating it through a filter 42.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a floor cleaning method suitable for cleaning a wide floor surface such as a concrete slab surface, and particularly to a floor cleaning method suitable for cleaning a floor during floor construction accompanying new construction or renovation of large-scale buildings such as factories, hospitals, and large shopping malls.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, for cleaning such a wide floor surface, after rough cleaning is performed by an operator using a broom, blower, etc., polishing is done with a polisher, dust generated by the polisher is removed with a coat brush, and then washing is performed with a floor washer. However, in such a work process, it takes too much time and it is inevitable to increase the labor cost associated with this. Therefore, in recent years, automation using large machines has advanced to perform rough cleaning and polishing simultaneously in order to achieve both time reduction and labor cost suppression.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a floor cleaning and polishing machine in which a pair of cylindrical brushes are rotated in opposite directions to sweep dust on the floor surface into an upper hopper for filter processing, and when a cleaning liquid is applied to the pair of cylindrical brushes, a vacuum squeegee arranged at the rear sucks muddy water. The waste hopper that receives muddy water from the vacuum squeegee is provided so as to be able to move up and down by a hopper lift. Further, in front of the pair of cylindrical brushes, a liquid dispensing system for wetting the floor surface to suppress floating of dust is provided.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The machine described in Patent Document 1 allows for both dry and wet cleaning at will. However, considering issues such as premature clogging of filters, separating dry cleaning from wet polishing is preferable from the standpoint of maintaining the long-term function of the parts. Furthermore, in the case of a cylindrical brush, only a portion of the circumference makes instantaneous contact with the floor surface, so the polishing function cannot be said to be high. Also, when dry cleaning and wet polishing are separated, disc-shaped cleaning brushes are generally provided on both sides of the front of the vehicle body. In this case, although the stirring up of dust due to the rotation of the cleaning brushes can be suppressed to some extent by spraying with the liquid dispensing system of Patent Document 1, there is still some scattering and floating of dust that escapes from the spray area. For this reason, improvement in the dust-proof function of the work environment is also desired.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and its purpose is to provide a floor cleaning method that can shorten the construction period and reduce the manpower required for floor cleaning work, as well as improve cleaning quality and extend the lifespan of cleaning vehicles. Another purpose of the present invention is to contribute to improving the working environment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve the above objective, the floor cleaning method of the present invention is a floor cleaning method performed while an engine and / or electric-driven cleaning vehicle (2) is in motion, comprising the steps of: rotating a pair of disc-shaped side brushes (8) located on both sides of the front of the cleaning vehicle (2) in the direction of travel in opposite directions to sweep debris from the floor surface inward and backward of the cleaning vehicle (2); rotating a cylindrical horizontal brush (16) having a length extending in the width direction of the cleaning vehicle (2) and located behind the pair of side brushes (8) to sweep the debris swept out by the pair of side brushes (8) back towards the front of the cleaning vehicle (2); and using the horizontal brush (16) The system is characterized by comprising: a dry separation step of sucking up the swept-back debris and separating it through a filter (20); a step of rotating a plurality of disc-shaped scrub brushes (26) positioned behind the horizontal brush (16) and offset in the width direction of the cleaning vehicle (2) to polish the floor surface (F); a step of applying water or cleaning solution to the floor surface (F) between the horizontal brush (16) and the scrub brushes (26) or to the scrub brushes (26) themselves; and a wet separation step of using a squeegee (36) positioned behind the scrub brushes (26) to block and suck up the sludge water agitated by the scrub brushes (26) and separating it through a filter (42).

[0008] According to the floor cleaning method of the present invention, since the process is divided into dry cleaning and wet polishing, it is possible to improve the quality of cleaning by maintaining the function of parts for a long period of time and to extend the lifespan of the cleaning vehicle.

[0009] Furthermore, the above floor cleaning method may include a step in which airborne debris (25) stirred up by the rotation of a pair of side brushes (8) is sucked up from an air intake (27) provided on the front of the cleaning vehicle (2), passed through a filter (20), and then exhausted to the outside of the cleaning vehicle (2). This makes it possible to suppress the generation of airborne debris and improve the working environment.

[0010] Furthermore, in the floor cleaning method described above, the suction source (18) in the dry separation process and the suction source (18) in the process of sucking up airborne debris (25) may be the same suction source, and the filter (20) in the dry separation process and the filter (20) in the process of sucking up airborne debris (25) may be the same filter. This allows for an improvement in the working environment with a simple configuration.

[0011] Furthermore, the floor cleaning method described above may include a step of spraying mist (M) around a pair of side brushes (8). This allows for the suppression of dust being stirred up from the floor surface by spraying mist, and in combination with the step of vacuuming up airborne dust, the working environment can be further improved.

[0012] Furthermore, the floor cleaning method described above may be adapted to have a cleaning width of 1500 mm or more. This would shorten the cleaning time and contribute to reducing labor costs. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to shorten the construction period and reduce the manpower required for floor cleaning work, as well as improve the quality of cleaning and extend the lifespan of cleaning vehicles. Furthermore, it contributes to improving the working environment. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a schematic side view of a cleaning vehicle used to carry out floor cleaning work using the floor cleaning method of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a bottom view of the cleaning vehicle. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram showing the area to be covered by the floor cleaning work. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Figure 1 is a side view showing an overview of a cleaning vehicle for performing floor cleaning work using the floor cleaning method according to this embodiment, and Figure 2 is a bottom view thereof. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the target area for floor cleaning work.

[0016] [Overview of floor cleaning work] The following outlines the procedure for performing floor cleaning work using a floor cleaning method according to one embodiment of the present invention. The following explanation uses the procedure for floor cleaning work performed during floor surface construction associated with the new construction or renovation of large buildings such as factories, hospitals, and large shopping malls as an example.

[0017] (1) Preparations before construction As preparation for floor cleaning work, ensure that furniture is moved, rough cleaning is completed, and scraping (removing mortar residue and other debris from concrete surfaces on floors and walls) is finished by the day before the cleaning work is scheduled. Also, determine the locations for water intake and drainage in the area to be cleaned in advance. Furthermore, if an automatic floor cleaning machine is to be used, since lifting is not possible, confirm whether an elevator is available and whether ramps and ramps are installed to allow the machine to travel on all floors. Also, confirm that the necessary lighting for the work is prepared. If there are distribution boards or other electrical panels installed in the work area, take measures such as installing them so that they are elevated from the floor surface beforehand.

[0018] (2) During construction During floor cleaning work, the following steps (A) to (D) are performed in this order. However, with the floor cleaning method of this embodiment, these steps can be performed as a series of steps at once by operating a single cleaning vehicle 2 (see Figures 1 and 2). This makes it possible to shorten the construction period and significantly reduce manpower for floor cleaning work compared to conventional methods in which each of these steps is performed separately by manpower or by small work vehicles capable of performing only the individual steps. (A) Rough floor cleaning process (B) Floor Polishing Process (C) Floor Washing and Cleaning Process (D) Floor Moisture Removal (Drying) Process

[0019] Hereinafter, the specific procedures for carrying out the above floor cleaning work will be described in detail.

[0020] [Detailed Explanation of Floor Cleaning Process] As shown in Fig. 1, the cleaning vehicle 2 is a manned or unmanned vehicle driven by an engine and / or electric drive, and has left and right front wheels 4 and a rear wheel 6 at the center of the rear part. The rear wheel 6 is a followable driven wheel. On both lower sides at the front of the traveling direction (arrow X direction) of the cleaning vehicle 2, a pair of disc-shaped side brushes 8 that are rotationally driven around the vertical axis by a motor (not shown) are arranged.

[0021] While the cleaning vehicle 2 is traveling at an appropriate speed, the pair of side brushes 8 are rotated in opposite directions to each other, and a process (the first process) of sweeping the dust on the floor surface F to the inside and rear of the cleaning vehicle 2 as shown by the arrow N in Fig. 2 is performed. The pair of side brushes 8 are provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction (arrow Z direction) by a lift mechanism (not shown), and the contact / non-contact state with the floor surface F can be arbitrarily set.

[0022] In Fig. 2, the symbol W indicates the cleaning width, and in this embodiment, it is set to 1500 mm or more in order to shorten the working time.

[0023] During the first process, in order to suppress the dust from rising due to the rotation of the pair of side brushes 8, a process (the second process) of spraying mist M from the pair of nozzles 10 on both sides to the periphery of the pair of side brushes 8 is performed. The pair of nozzles 10 are driven by a pump 14 connected to the water tank 12.

[0024] Behind the pair of side brushes 8 on the cleaning vehicle 2, a cylindrical horizontal brush 16 is positioned, having a length that extends in the width direction of the cleaning vehicle 2 (arrow Y direction in Figure 2). Along with the first step, a third step is performed in which the horizontal brush 16 is rotated to sweep the debris swept out by the pair of side brushes 8 back towards the front side (diagonally upward) of the cleaning vehicle 2. Along with the third step, a dry separation step (fourth step) is performed in which the debris swept back by the horizontal brush 16 is sucked up by a vacuum pump 18 and separated into air and debris via a filter 20. The vacuum pump 18 has suction power that can suck up relatively heavy foreign objects such as nails and metal fragments that have fallen on the floor surface F, and debris including nails and metal fragments is collected in a hopper 22. The air that has passed through the filter 20 is exhausted to the outside of the cleaning vehicle 2 from the exhaust port 24. The horizontal brush 16 is also provided to be able to move up and down, similar to the pair of side brushes 8.

[0025] The front of the cleaning vehicle 2 has an air intake port 27 for sucking up airborne debris 25 that is stirred up by the rotation of a pair of side brushes 8 and is not suppressed by the spraying of mist M. The air intake port 27 is in communication with a filter 20 via a suction passage 29. Along with the fourth step, a fifth step is performed in which airborne debris 25 stirred up by the rotation of the pair of side brushes 8 is sucked up, passed through the filter 20, and then exhausted to the outside of the cleaning vehicle 2 through an exhaust port 24. The suction source in the dry separation step (fourth step) and the suction source in the step of sucking up airborne debris 25 (fifth step) are both the same vacuum pump 18, and the filter in the dry separation step (fourth step) and the filter in the step of sucking up airborne debris 25 (fifth step) are both the same filter 20 (they share the filter 20).

[0026] By vacuuming up airborne debris 25, the dust-free level of the work environment can be improved, which in turn contributes to improving the health of workers. The dust-free level can be further improved by performing this process in conjunction with the step of spraying mist M around a pair of side brushes 8.

[0027] In the cleaning vehicle 2, multiple (in this case, three) disc-shaped scrub brushes 26 are arranged behind the horizontal brush 16, offset in the width direction of the cleaning vehicle 2 (arrow Y direction in Figure 2). Along with the first step, a step (sixth step) is performed in which the three scrub brushes 26 are rotated to polish the floor surface F. As shown in Figure 2, the three scrub brushes 26 are arranged so that their polishing areas partially overlap in the width direction of the cleaning vehicle 2, preventing any areas from being missed. Since the disc-shaped surfaces are in contact with the floor surface F simultaneously, the polishing function is improved.

[0028] Along with the sixth step, a seventh step is performed in which water or cleaning solution is applied to the floor surface F between the horizontal brush 16 and the scrub brush 26 or to the scrub brush 26 itself. Water from the water tank 12 and cleaning agent from the cleaning agent tank 28 are mixed in the confluence tank 30, and the mixed cleaning solution is applied from the nozzle 34 via the pump 32. In Figure 2, the symbol L indicates the area where the cleaning solution is applied. The three scrub brushes 26 are unitized and are provided to be able to move up and down, similar to the pair of side brushes 8. By operating a valve (not shown), it is also possible to apply only water directly from the water tank 12 using the pump 32.

[0029] A squeegee 36 is provided behind the scrub brush 26 of the cleaning vehicle 2, allowing it to be raised and lowered. A wet separation process (the eighth step) is performed in which the sludge water 38 agitated by the scrub brush 26 is blocked by the squeegee 36, sucked up by the vacuum motor 40, and separated through the filter 42. The sucked-up sludge water 38 is stored in the waste liquid tank 44, and the air is exhausted to the outside of the cleaning vehicle 2 through the exhaust port 46 after passing through the filter 42.

[0030] As described above, steps 1 through 8 are carried out as a series of processes by operating a single cleaning vehicle 2. These steps 1 through 8 make it possible to perform all of the above-mentioned steps in floor cleaning work: (A) rough floor cleaning, (B) floor polishing, (C) floor water washing, and (D) floor moisture removal (drying).

[0031] The instructions for each of the above work processes are given via a touch panel in the driver's seat in the case of a manned vehicle, and via a controller screen, for example, in the case of an unmanned vehicle. However, since a single cleaning vehicle 2 can be driven and operated unmanned or by only one worker, it is possible to significantly reduce the manpower required for floor cleaning work compared to conventional methods. In addition, the time (construction period) required for floor cleaning work, which involves performing each of the processes (A) to (D) in order, can also be significantly shortened.

[0032] Furthermore, when cleaning vehicle 2 performs floor cleaning work in the target area, as shown in Figure 3, cleaning vehicle 2 patrols the floor surface F within the target area A where floor cleaning work is to be performed, thereby carrying out the above steps 1 to 8, and thereby performing each of the above steps (A) to (D). If the cleaning water carried in cleaning vehicle 2 becomes insufficient or the wastewater tank becomes full of collected contaminated water during the work, the vehicle will move to the water intake / drainage area X1 located adjacent to the target area, where it will perform the necessary water intake or drainage. After water intake or drainage is complete, the vehicle will return to its original position within the target area and continue patrolling. Also, if the hopper 22 becomes full of waste, the vehicle will move to the waste disposal area X2 located adjacent to the target area A, where it will dispose of the waste in the hopper 22. After waste disposal is complete, the vehicle will return to its original position within the target area and continue patrolling.

[0033] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims, specification, and drawings. For example, in the above embodiments, all steps from the first to the eighth are performed, but the second step of spraying mist M around the pair of side brushes 8 and the fifth step of sucking up floating debris 25 can be omitted if they are not necessary. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0034] 2 Cleaning vehicles 4 Front wheels 6 Rear wheels 8 pairs of side brushes 16 horizontal brush 18, 40 Vacuum motor (suction source) 20, 42 filters 24, 46 Exhaust vents 25. Floating debris 26 Scrub Brushes 27 Air intake 36 squeegee 38 Sludge water 44 Waste liquid tank F Floor M Mist W Cleaning width A (Floor cleaning service) Service area X1 Water intake / drainage area X2 Waste Disposal Area

Claims

1. A floor cleaning method performed while an engine-driven and / or electric-powered cleaning vehicle is in motion, The process involves rotating a pair of disc-shaped side brushes, positioned on both sides of the front of the cleaning vehicle in the direction of travel, in opposite directions to sweep debris from the floor surface inward and towards the rear of the cleaning vehicle. Along with the sweeping step, the process includes rotating a cylindrical lateral brush, which has a length extending in the width direction of the cleaning vehicle and is positioned behind the pair of side brushes, to sweep the debris swept out by the pair of side brushes back towards the front of the cleaning vehicle. Along with the sweeping step, a dry separation step is performed in which the debris swept back by the horizontal brush is sucked up and separated through a filter, Along with the sweeping step, the process involves rotating a plurality of disc-shaped scrub brushes, which are positioned behind the horizontal brush and offset in the width direction of the cleaning vehicle, to polish the floor surface. Along with the step of polishing the floor surface, the step of applying water or cleaning solution to the floor surface between the horizontal brush and the scrub brush or to the scrub brush itself, Along with the step of polishing the floor surface, a wet separation step is performed in which a squeegee positioned behind the scrub brush is used to dam and suck up the sludge water agitated by the scrub brush, and separate it through a filter. Along with the dry separation step, the cleaning vehicle also includes a floating debris suction step in which floating debris stirred up by the rotation of the pair of side brushes is sucked up from an air intake provided on the front of the cleaning vehicle, passed through a filter, and then exhausted to the outside of the cleaning vehicle. Along with the sweeping step, the process includes spraying mist around the pair of side brushes from a nozzle located behind the air intake in the direction of travel of the cleaning vehicle and capable of spraying mist forward in the direction of travel of the cleaning vehicle, A floor cleaning method characterized by including the following:

2. The floor cleaning method according to claim 1, characterized in that the suction source in the dry separation step and the suction source in the step of sucking up the airborne debris are the same suction source, and the filter in the dry separation step and the filter in the airborne debris sucking step are the same filter.

3. The floor cleaning method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cleaning width is 1500 mm or more.

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