EP2641524A1

EP2641524A1 - Floor cleaning system

Info

Publication number: EP2641524A1
Application number: EP11841565.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Manuel Albeza Guijarro
Original assignee: Nuove Eleganza International Holding Group
Current assignee: Nuove Eleganza International Holding Group
Priority date: 2010-11-15
Filing date: 2011-11-08
Publication date: 2013-09-25
Also published as: CN103220956A; ES2382531B8; RU2013122061A; ES2382531A1; CA2817667A1; WO2012066170A1; EP2641524A4; WO2012066170A4; US20130219641A1; JP2014515620A; ES2382531B1; KR20130126914A

Abstract

The invention is based on the rotation of a roller (2) mounted on a structure comprising two containers, one on top of the other, in such a way that, when said roller (2) rotates, as it comes into contact with the floor, it collects particles and liquids, driving the particles into the first container (1) where they are stored, while a draining element (9) drains the liquids collected by the roller into the second container (1'). Water is applied to the roller (2) from an upper receptacle (7) that ends in a tip with a type of scraper (8) for preventing rotation of the roller (2) in the opposite direction and for cleaning off particles that may be adhered to the roller. Flexible bristles (17) or mop strips are provided in the upper and rear part of the container (1) so that, when the set is in the inverted position, after being rotated and tipping up, a sweeping and/or mopping action is performed. Said set comprises a pivoting handle (18) and a skid (13) for clearing obstacles and uneven parts.

Description

PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION

This invention refers to a floor cleaning system designed to carry out all cleaning tasks such as sweeping, removing dirt, washing and drying the floor itself, so that the system contains in a single assembly what is considered as a broom, a dustpan, a mop and a bucket in a single assembly.
The purpose of the invention is to unify the means used to clean floors, reduce cleaning times and economise the cleaning work itself and reduce the physical effort.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Floor cleaning first involves sweeping to collect and remove the particles or objects on the floor's surface, followed by the washing of the particle-free floor, an operation carried out with a mop and a squeezing bucket, while in the first case a broom or brush and dustpan are required.
Evidently, these tasks require different and totally independent tools, as well as requiring first the cleaning of particles and then the floor washing, all of which involves a considerable financial cost and an important operation time, to which must be added the fact that the physical action of sweeping and washing is more disagreeable than "pushing a roller."

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The floor cleaning system advocated has been designed to solve the problems described above since, based on its special structuring, the elements for cleaning or sweeping the floor and washing and drying it are combined in a single assembly.
More specifically, the invention system consists of a container of a general prismatic configuration with the side considered its front tilted, onto which a roller with a handle, also rotating relative to the roller, is rotably mounted, all such that the rotation of the roller collects the particles and dirt from the floor, sending them into the container together with the water also collected from the floor and also sent into the container since the roller is made of absorbent material (sponge type), so that the particles of dirt are stored in the latter, with a second container to collect the liquids, while the outlet of a tank containing clean water with soap aligns with the top part of the roller. causing an element to act as a scraper to prevent the dragging of any dirt particles on the roller as it rotates, which would be dragged from inside the container, there also being a second roller with a very small diameter aligned with the latter, contacting laterally on one side with the main roller to squeeze out the liquid absorbed by the main roller, which falls into the second compartment described above, while cleaning off any particles carried by the latter as it rotates.
Optionally, and compatible with the secondary roller, the main roller could be squeezed by including a flat surface pressing against that roller to squeeze it over the above mentioned second compartment.
There is also a special blade on the rear of the dirt particles and liquid container for removing dirt lodged next to skirting boards and walls.
The lower surface of this container has means for cleaning and drying the flat surface over which the rotating roller has previously passed so that this lower cleaning and drying surface may consist of various materials and/or textiles, depending on the type of floor or surface to be cleaned.
At the front of the container there is a skid with an arched, upturned front to overcome small obstacles and/or differences in levels over which the assembly is moved, with movement by the rotation of the main roller, it also having a circumferential groove which fits onto a rib inside the general structure of the container to prevent the exit of the liquids collected.
Another feature is that on the top, rear and side of the container there are bristles, which may be flexible and/or absorbent, that allow sweeping and/or washing functions when the container is swivelled and its position is inverted, with the skid acting as a support and hinge and immobilising the device, the bristles in this inverted position resting on the floor to perform the above mentioned sweeping and/or washing.
In this case or inverted position for using the assembly, the handle can be locked, using a recessed section on it, in a slot at the start of the skid to allow the assembly to be handled and operated.
The above mentioned particles and liquids containers will be assisted by their lids for removing the particles and liquids collected in each.
Finally, the skid on the lower front of the container is determined by two side parts with an oblique sloping section that scrapes on the ground to guide objects and dirt to the roller itself, that is, towards the roller's collection system and to the container's collector.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description given below and to help the better understanding of the features of the invention, in accordance with an example preferred practical embodiment of it, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of it to illustrate, but not limiting, showing the following:

Figure 1. Shows a lateral view of the device showing the floor cleaning system that forms the subject of the invention.
Figure 2. Shows a front elevation of the assembly shown in the previous figure, showing the front skid and the roller's groove, as well as its installation on the container's flat sloping front.
Figure 3. Shows a view as in the previous figure, but in this case with the handle installed on the roller's axle.
Figure 4. Shows an upper plan view of the part of the assembly's structure on which the rotating handle is installed, as well as the slope of the side skids.
Figure 5. Shows a front view of the assembly shown in the previous figure.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

As can be seen in the figures referred to, the invention's system comprises a first container (1) as a tank for storing and collecting particles, dirt and objects collected from a floor surface. This first container (1) has a sloping plane on the front, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, on which a rotating roller (2) is installed, with the direction of rotation shown by the arrow (3) in Figure 1, such that the roller (2) is made of a spongy, flexible and plain material with a continuous body to absorb liquids and any particle and/or dirt. On the support (4) for the roller (2) on the floor (5) or surface to be cleaned, there is a small deformation in the roller (4) which drags the particles and water on the floor (5) as it turns and via the small ramp, which may be sloping and concave (6) that acts tangentially to the floor, on the front of the container (1), these particles, dirt and objects are moved into this container (1) and collected in it while the liquids are absorbed by the above mentioned roller for discharge into a second container (1').
Thus, the support (4) and rotation of the roller (2) on the floor (5) absorbs the liquid, washing at the same time with clean, soapy water and/or any cleaning product, contained in an upper tank (7), as shown in Figure 1, a tank (7) containing clean and soapy water which is applied on the side surface of the roller (2) with its rotation, through a type of nozzle (8) which acts as a scraper on the surface of the roller (2) to clean any particles or impurities stuck to it. This nozzle acting as a scraper also prevents the roller from turning in the opposite direction to that shown, also providing an opening or nozzle to wet the roller (2) with clean and soapy water from the tank (7). This nozzle can be equipped with a system to reduce and/or impede the application of water so that it acts only as a broom/collector.
Inside the container (1) there is a squeezing element (9), which could be a roller or a flat surface or a combination of both, which in any of these cases presses on the side surface of the roller (2) and squeezes out the liquid absorbed by the roller (2), at the same time the squeezing element (9) cleaning any particles resulting from the rotation of the roller (2) to the exit of the first container (1), such that the squeezed liquid is sent to the second container (1') located immediately above the first container (1).
The lower part or surface (10) of the container (1) will be made of any textile or material that dries and cleans the surface of the floor left after the passing of the roller (2).
Likewise, on the rear of the container (1) there is a special blade (11) to remove dirt from next to skirting boards and corners.
Figures 2 and 3 show how the first container (1) extends at its front in a flat support section (12) the function of which is to oblige it to act horizontally on the plain surface to be cleaned, with a skid (13) with a curved/concave profile at the front projected divergently upwards, to overcome small obstacles or differences in levels, this skid (13) having, as shown in Figure 4, oblique and divergent sections (13') to channel the particles to the first container (1). The roller (2) is installed on a rotary axle (14) with suitable fixing means in its mounting and with the possibility of removing it for any type of maintenance work such as removing pieces, replacing them, cleaning elements, etc.
The roller itself (2) has a groove (15) that fits onto a rib (16) inside the container's structure (1), to prevent the collected liquids from exiting.
On the rear of the container (1) there is a set of bristles (17) which may be flexible or mop strips, to use the assembly for sweeping or washing, since this will require only lifting and turning the container (1), setting it in the inverted position so that these bristles (17) rest on the floor, so that this this change of position is made with the skid (13) as a support, for turning or hinging and stabilising the device when used as a broom.
More specifically, on the axle (14) of the roller (2) there is a rotating handle (18) with a recessed section (19) which, when the device is inverted, as described above, locks into a slot (20) provided for the purpose at the start of the skid (13), a slot (20) that is visible in Figures 2 and 3, to stabilise the device when used as a broom.
Figure 3 shows an arc (22) indicating the rotation of the handle (18) to each side, this being removable.
Finally, it should be mentioned that the above mentioned containers (1-1') will be assisted by their lids (21-21') for extracting the particles and liquids collected.

Claims

Floor cleaning system, designed for sweeping, collecting, washing and drying a floor surface, characterised in that there is a first container tank (1) to collect and store the dirt collected from the floor (5) itself, the front of this first container (1) having a rotating roller (2) which rests on the floor (5) itself and as it rotates gathers impurities and liquids, with a second container (1') on the first container to receive the liquids absorbed by the roller; with a tank (7) at the top containing clean water with soap that discharges in a nozzle with scraper (8) to apply clean water on the side surface of the roller (2) itself and to clean off the particles stuck to the roller (2) as it turns inside the container (1), there also being in this container (1) means of squeezing (9), such as a small roller or a flat surface which in any of these cases is arranged such that it rests on the roller (2) to squeeze the water out of it into the second container (1') and to clean off the particles stuck to it.
Floor cleaning system according to claim 1, characterised in that the container (1) has a lower surface (10) equipped with material to dry and clean the surface of the floor (5) left behind the roller (2) as it turns and cleans the floor.
Floor cleaning system according to the preceding claims, characterised in that on the rear of the container (1) there is a blade (11) to clean the skirting boards, walls and similar places.
Floor cleaning system according to the preceding claims, characterised in that the roller (2) is of spongy, flexible and plain material and with a continuous body to absorb liquids and any particles and/or dirt.
Floor cleaning system according to the preceding, characterised in that there are flexible and/or absorbent bristles (17) on the rear and top of the container (1) to allow the assembly to act as a broom and/or mop, after lifting, hinging and inverting the container (1), with these bristles (17) resting on the floor.
Floor cleaning system according to the preceding claims, characterised in that on the mounting and rotation axle of the roller (2) there is a rotating handle (18) which can be fitted and removed.
Floor cleaning system according to the preceding claims, characterised in that on the rear of the container (1) there is a flat section (12) to rest on the surface of the floor (5) and a skid (13) with an arched and upturned front to overcome small obstacles and/or differences in levels, the start of this skid (13) having a slot (20) into which an element (19) on the handle (18) can be locked when the container (1) is lifted, hinged and inverted for use as a mop and/or broom.
Floor cleaning system according to the preceding claims, characterised in that the containers (1-1') are assisted by their lids (21-21') to extract particles and liquids collected in each of them.
Floor cleaning system according to the preceding claims, characterised in that the roller (2) has a groove (15) into which a lateral rib (16) inside the container (1) is fitted to prevent the exit of the liquids collected by the roller (2) itself.