Flat mop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flat mops for cleanrooms face challenges in achieving reliable cleanliness and controlled moistening while ensuring high cleaning performance, often leading to incomplete disinfection or particle contamination.
Innovation Solution
A flat mop design featuring a top layer made of bonded nonwoven material and a cleaning layer with alternating microfiber and non-microfiber strip-shaped areas, which ensures uniform liquid distribution and effective dirt removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the flat mop is insufficiently saturated with liquid, then a continuous film of liquid fails to form on the surface being cleaned, but complete disinfection or cleaning does not occur; however, if too much liquid is introduced into the mop during saturation, then there is a risk that dirt particles will not be absorbed by the fiber structure or will be trapped within it
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning layer is divided into multiple layers with different functions: a first cleaning layer with higher liquid retention for initial wetting and disinfection, and a second cleaning layer with lower liquid retention for dirt absorption. This segmentation allows the mop to handle both liquid distribution and particle capture effectively without trapping dirt in excessive moisture.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the cleaning layer have different liquid retention properties. The first cleaning layer (or its outer region) is designed to retain more liquid for forming a continuous film and disinfection, while the second cleaning layer (or its outer region) retains less liquid to facilitate dirt particle absorption and prevent trapping.
2Ease of manufacture
If reusable flat mops are used for cleanroom cleaning, then cost and ecological benefits are achieved, but they may release particles and fail to meet stringent cleanliness requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The flat mop is designed as a disposable product with a cleaning layer that can be easily replaced. This allows the use of simple, cost-effective materials that may release particles, while maintaining cleanroom standards by discarding the contaminated cleaning layer after use and replacing it with a fresh one. The base structure remains reusable, balancing cost efficiency with cleanliness requirements.
3Reliability
If the cleaning layer is made entirely of microfiber material, then high cleaning performance and particle capture are achieved, but uniform liquid distribution and controlled moistening become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning layer incorporates different materials in different regions: microfiber material in areas requiring high particle capture and cleaning performance, and non-microfiber material in areas requiring controlled liquid distribution and moistening. This local differentiation allows the mop to achieve both particle capture effectiveness and liquid distribution control.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning layer is constructed as a composite structure combining microfiber material and non-microfiber material. The microfiber component provides superior particle capture and cleaning performance, while the non-microfiber component contributes to uniform liquid distribution and controlled moistening characteristics.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The mop achieves efficient cleaning performance, prevents particle contamination, and maintains cleanliness in cleanrooms by ensuring thorough disinfection and dirt removal, even for stubborn particles.
Implementation Method 1
the cleaning layer has or is a woven, knitted or crocheted layer, with a front and a back, containing or consisting of microfiber material
Implementation Method 2
the top layer has or is a bonded nonwoven material, in particular comprising or consisting of polyester fibers
Implementation Method 3
the front and optionally the back of the cleaning layer have alternating, in particular substantially parallel, first and second strip-shaped areas extending from or spaced apart from the first edge towards the second edge
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The present invention relates to a flat mop with a cover sheet layer and an opposite cleaning layer, which has a first edge and an opposite second edge, the cleaning layer having or representing a woven, knitted or knitted layer, with a front and a back, and wherein the Cover sheet layer has or represents a solidified nonwoven material, in particular comprising or consisting of polyester fibers, wherein the front side and optionally the back side of the cleaning layer have alternating, in particular essentially parallel, first and second strip-shaped areas which are from or spaced from the first edge Extend in the direction of the second edge or to the second edge, the first areas of the cleaning layer on the front and in particular also on the back predominantly, in particular essentially exclusively, containing or consisting of woven, knitted or knitted microfiber material and the second areas of the cleaning layer predominantly on the front, in particular essentially exclusively containing or consisting of woven, knitted or knitted fiber material that is not microfiber material (non-microfiber material). The invention further relates to a cleaning device comprising an actuating element, in particular a handle, and, connected or connectable to the actuating element, a flat mop holder and a flat mop according to the invention. Finally, the invention relates to the use of the flat mop according to the invention and the cleaning device according to the invention for cleaning clean rooms or sterile clean rooms.