FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to automatic floor-treating and -cleaning machines.
More particularly, the invention relates to such machines which are used for the cleaning
of carpets or hard surfaces of floor areas, such as in hotels, factories, office buildings,
shopping centres and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In general, such automatic floor-treating and -cleaning machines comprise an operator-pushed
or motor-driven movable body carrying one or more motor-driven rotatable scrubbers,
reservoirs for storing fresh and spent cleaning liquid, a means for dosing fresh cleaning
liquid on to the floor and a squeegee/vacuum pick-up system for recovering spent liquid
from the floor. The operation of said vacuum pick-up system is usually as follows.
During the cleaning operation spent liquid is recovered using a squeegee which is
connected to the spent liquid reservoir by way of a suction head. The suction operation
is effectuated by an under-pressure in the spent liquid reservoir and the squeegee,
the under-pressure being generated by a vacuum motor.
[0003] It has been recognised in the past that the squeegee may be damaged if it is not
raised or lifted when the machine is moved in a rearward direction. As a consequence,
several types of lifting arrangements have been disclosed. For instance, US-A-4,334,335
relates to a floor scrubbing machine having a squeegee which can be hydraulically
raised and lowered. This machine is provided with a flow sensing device which recognizes
the flow direction of the hydraulic fluid needed for driving the wheels of the machine
and which automatically lifts the squeegee when the wheels are driven in reverse.
Another type of floor scrubbing machine including a mechanism for raising the squeegee
assembly when the scrubber is moved rearwardly, is disclosed by US-A-4,619,010. The
device described in this document is a walk-behind scrubbing machine including a hand-operated
handle for moving the machine. When this handle is pushed, it also operates a switch
which activates an electric drive for moving a lever or rack such that the squeegee
assembly is lowered. When the handle is pulled, the mechanism including the switch
is operated to raise the squeegee assembly.
Yet another type of floor treating machine with a lift-off mechanism is disclosed
by US-A-3,983,592. This document describes a rug shampooing machine including means
for producing dry foam, a rotatable brush for working such foam into a carpet, and
a vacuum nozzle/squeegee assembly for picking up the resulting dirty solution. In
this machine, there is also provided a reverse stroke brush lift-off mechanism comprising
a linkage system for producing a lift-off of the brush from the surface to be cleaned
when the machine is in its backward movement.
[0004] As can be noticed in the above documents, the lifting arrangements disclosed by the
prior art are concerned with rather complicated, often partly electrically and/or
hydraulically operating mechanisms for raising the squeegee or the rotatable brushes.
In view of this, it is an object of the present invention, to provide a floor treating
machine including a fully mechanically operating mechanism for automatically raising
or lowering the squeegee or brushes. It is a further object to provide such a machine,
wherein said mechanism has a simple mechanical construction.
We have now, surprisingly, found that these and other objects can be achieved by the
floor treating machine according to the present invention.
DEFINITION OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention provides a floor cleaning machine, comprising a motor-driven
or operator-pushed movable body carrying one or more rotatable scrubbers, reservoirs
for storing fresh and spent cleaning liquid, a means for dosing fresh cleaning liquid
on to the floor and a vacuum pick-up system comprising a suction head including a
squeegee, characterised in that the machine is provided with a lifting arrangement
attached to the bottom side thereof and comprising a housing and one or more wheels,
whereby the housing includes means which can cooperate with said wheels such that
the squeegee or scrubbers are automatically raised respectively lowered when the machine
is moved in a rearward respectively forward direction. The invention also provides
said lifting arrangement which is suitable for use attached to the bottom side of
the floor cleaning machine according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The first aspect of the present invention is a floor cleaning machine which is operator-pushed
or motor-driven and comprises a mechanically operating lifting arrangement for automatically
raising or lowering the squeegee or scrubbers. This lifting arrangement has a simple
construction and may, generally, be attached to any suitable part of the bottom side
of the floor treating machine. It is preferably located near the suction head, more
preferably tightly fixed to it, so as to enable the squeegee to be automatically raised
and lowered depending on the direction of movement of the floor cleaning machine.
The lifting arrangement can be fixed equally at the back and in the front of the suction
head, as seen in the direction of the forward movement of the floor cleaning machine.
[0007] In general, the lifting arrangement comprises a housing and one or more wheels. The
housing is preferably tightly fixed to the suction head. The level at which the housing
is attached to the suction head is desirably adjustable so as to enable the operator
of the floor cleaning machine to apply several types of squeegees with varying heights.
[0008] The housing, generally, includes means which can cooperate with the wheels such that
the squeegee is automatically lifted or lowered depending on the direction of movement
of the machine. These means preferably include openings for the axis of the wheels
to be movably attached therein, whereby the dimensions of said openings are larger
than the diameter of the axis. These openings can have varying sizes and shapes. Preferably,
they have a rectangular or square shape.
Furthermore, the means which cooperate with the wheels desirably comprise one or more
projections which can cooperate with the wheels for lifting the squeegee when the
machine is moved in a rearward direction. These projections can have varying dimensions
and shapes, such as square, rectangular, oval and round shapes. They can be tightly
fixed to the housing at one specific location or the location of their fixation can
be adjustable.
Preferably, the means which cooperate with the wheels also include one or more turnable
rolls which can have any suitable size but are preferably smaller than the wheels
and which cooperate with the wheels as long as the floor cleaning machine is moved
in reverse. These rolls can be connected to eachother or have separate bearings. Their
position with respect to the wheels can be adjustable or fixed. Furthermore, these
rolls can be mounted to be freely rotating; however, for practical reasons (i.e. to
ensure that the squeegee is lifted quickly when needed) the rolls are preferably mounted
such that they are dragging.
These rolls as well as the wheels can be made of several types of material, such as
metal, rubber or plastic, and their surface can vary from very smooth to very rough.
[0009] A varying number of wheels can be applied in the lifting arrangement of the invention.
When more than one wheel is applied, the wheels can be connected or have separate
bearings. Preferably, two wheels are used which are effectively connected by one axis.
[0010] The second aspect of the invention relates to a lifting arrangement which is suitable
for use in a floor cleaning machine of the invention.
[0011] The invention will now be better explained by way of the following preferred embodiment,
and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figures 1 A and B show schematic cross-sectional views of a lifting arrangement according
to the invention, as seen from the front and from the side respectively;
Figures 2 A,B, and C show schematic crossectional side-views of the same lifting arrangement
attached to a suction head of a floor cleaning machine,
(A) when moving the machine in a forward direction,
(B) just after starting to move the machine in a backward direction, and
(C) when continuously moving the machine backwardly.
[0012] Figures 1 A and B show two schematic cross-sectional views of the lifting arrangement
(1) of the invention. This lifting arrangement features a housing (2) divided into
two separate parts and surrounding two wheels (3) which are connected by an axis (4).
This housing can be attached to the suction head of a floor cleaning machine by way
of the plates (8). Furthermore, Figure 1B schematically shows the preferred means
which can cooperate with the wheels (3) such that the squeegee is automatically raised
or lowered depending on the direction of movement of the floor cleaning machine. These
means include the rectangular openings (5) which are located in the plate-form elements
of the housing adjacent to the wheels (3) and of which the dimensions are clearly
larger than the diasmeter of the axis (4). The other means which can cooperate with
the wheels are shown to be the projections (6) and the rolls (7). These means are
described in more detail below.
[0013] In Figures 2 A,B and C, it is shown what happens when moving the floor cleaning machine
forward and subsequently changing the direction of movement of the machine. These
three Figures show schematic cross-sectional side views of the lifting arrangement
tightly fixed to the suction head (9) of a floor cleaning machine. Also shown is a
squeegee (10) consisting of two rubber blades, which are tightly but removably attached
to the suction head. The direction of movement is indicated with large arrows.
[0014] Figure 2A depicts the situation wherein the floor cleaning machine is moved forward.
The wheels (3) are turning freely in the housing (2), while the axis (4) of said wheels
is located at the lefthand side of the openings (5). As a result, the vertical position
of the suction head (9) is not influenced by the lifting arrangement.
[0015] Figure 2B shows the situation just after changing the direction of the movement of
the floor cleaning machine from forward to backward movement. Because of this changed
direction of movement, the axis (4) of the wheels (3) is moved slightly towards the
righthand side of the openings (5) and said wheels are pushed towards the projections
(6). As a consequence, the housing (2) as well as the suction head (9) including the
squeegee are pushed upward, as shown.
When backward movement is continued, the housing (2) and the suction head (9) are
automatically lifted up further by exertion of the upward directed force resulting
from the force with which the wheels (3) are pushed towards the projections (6). Concurrently
the axis of said wheels moves towards the lower righthand side of the openings (6).
[0016] In Figure 2C, the situation is shown after a short period of backward movement of
the floor cleaning machine. It can be seen that in this situation the wheels (3) are
fee to rotate and not in contact with the projections (6) anymore, and that the axis
(4) of the wheels is now positioned at the righthand side of the openings (5). As
the axis (4) cannot move further and the upward directed force has stopped, the final
lifted position of the suction head including the squeegee has been reached in this
situation. It can be noticed that in this situation the wheels (3) are turning against
the rolls (7). As a result, a steady lifted position of the suction head during backward
movement of the floor cleaning machine, is ensured.
[0017] When the direction of movement is changed again to forward movement, the axis (4)
of the wheels will promptly start moving towards the left hand side of the openings
(5) and, as a consequence, the housing (2) and the suction head (9) will be lowered
automatically such that the squeegee can again properly perform its cleaning function.
[0018] It is emphasized that the dispenser shown in the Figures illustrates a only preferred
embodiment of the invention and that various constructional alternatives will be immediately
evident to the man skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
1. Floor cleaning machine, comprising a motor-driven or operator-pushed movable body
carrying one or more rotatable scrubbers, reservoirs for storing fresh and spent cleaning
liquid, a means for dosing fresh cleaning liquid on to the floor and a vacuum pick-up
system comprising a suction head including a squeegee, characterised in that the machine
is provided with a lifting arrangement attached to the bottom side thereof and comprising
a housing and one or more wheels, whereby the housing includes means which can cooperate
with said wheels such that the squeegee or scrubbers are automatically raised respectively
lowered when the machine is moved in a rearward respectively forward direction.
2. Floor cleaning machine according to claim 1, wherein the lifting arrangement is tightly
fixed to the suction head so as to enable the squeegee to be automatically raised
or lowered.
3. Floor cleaning machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the means which can cooperate
with the wheels include one or more openings for an axis of the wheels to be movably
attached therewith and wherein the dimensions of said openings are larger than the
diameter of the axis.
4. Floor cleaning machine according to any of claims 1-3, wherein said means comprise
one or more projections which can cooperate with the wheels for lifting the squeegee
when the machine is moved in a rearward direction.
5. Floor cleaning machine according to any of claims 1-4, wherein said means include
one or more turnable rolls which cooperate with the wheels as long as the machine
is moved rearwardly.
6. Floor cleaning machine according to any of claims 1-5, wherein the axis is provided
with two wheels.
7. Lifting arrangement suitable for use in the floor cleaning machine according to any
of claims 1-6, characterised in that the arrangement comprises a housing and one or
more wheels, whereby the housing includes means which cooperate with said wheels such
that the squeegee or scrubbers of the floor cleaning machine are automatically raised
respectively lowered when the structure is attached to the bottom side of the machine
and said machine is moved in a rearward respectively forward direction.