Field of the Invention
[0001] The invention concerns a method and an apparatus for moisturising a mop. The invention
typically finds application within the area of cleaning floors in institutions, offices
and other commercial connections.
[0002] By professional cleaning a wiping head provided with a handle or shaft is used on
which there is a linkage between the head and the shaft. Usually elongated, flat wiping
heads are used which at their bottom sides are provided with pile, hair, paper, microfibre
or absorbing textile. In the following, the term "mop" covers such flat wiping heads.
State of the Art
[0003] If the cleaning cannot be done in dry condition, e.g. in case of spots on the floor,
the bottom side of the mop is moisturised. Previously it was done manually with a
spray bottle. Today there are apparatuses that make this work operation efficient
so that it is performed faster and easier.
[0004] EP 1 219 224 A1 describes a moisturising apparatus for a flat mop. The apparatus includes a liquid
container, nozzles and moving means for lateral movement of the mop. The mop is drawn
laterally into the apparatus by means of motorised rollers with the bottom side of
the mop facing downwards. Cleaning agent is sprayed on the bottom side of the mop
from nozzles arranged under the mop. The apparatus is relatively complicated due to
the moving means for the head of the mop.
[0005] Hygienteknik Sverige AB, S-721 33 Västerås, markets an apparatus under the name "Activa
Method Control", cf. www.hygienteknik.se. The apparatus is here part of a cleaning
trolley wherein an elongated container or bucket has a holder device upon which the
mop is placed with the bottom side facing downwards. Down in the container and under
the holding device five nozzles are arranged. The mop is provided on the holding device
with the head in horizontal position and liquid is pumped to the nozzles by means
of a foot pedal. The nozzles apply liquid on the bottom side of the mop by spraying
vertically upward against the action of the force of gravity. This entails some disadvantages
due to the fact that the liquid is to be sprayed upwards since relatively much sprayed
liquid is to be used in order to ensure sufficient coverage at the bottom side of
the mop.
Explanation of the Invention
[0006] It is the object of the invention to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art methods
and apparatuses of the kind indicated in the introduction where the mop is moisturised
by liquid from a liquid container in an apparatus by means of nozzles in the apparatus.
[0007] This is achieved by a method according to the invention wherein the mop is inserted
in a holder device in a moisturising apparatus such that the bottom side of the mop
is disposed substantially in a vertical plane, whereupon the liquid is sprayed in
substantially horizontal direction against the bottom side of the mop.
[0008] The particular feature of the apparatus according to the invention is that the holder
device is designed such that the mop by bearing against the holder device is oriented
such that the bottom side of the mop is disposed substantially in a vertical plane,
and that the nozzles are disposed in relation to the holder devices such that the
liquid can be sprayed laterally and about horizontally in against the bottom side
of the mop.
[0009] The negative action of the force of gravity on the atomised liquid sprayed on the
bottom side of the mop is thereby avoided. A more efficient and more certain moisturising
of the mop as compared with the prior art is thereby achieved. The substantially vertical
position of the flat bottom side of the mop may vary some degrees, up to 15°, at either
side of vertical within the scope of the invention without losing the advantages of
the invention.
[0010] In a particularly simple embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention it
is preferred that the holder device consists of two horizontally spaced bracket members,
each bracket member having a sloping section at the top and a substantially vertical
holding section at the bottom in continuation of the sloping section, the holding
section designed with a bottom and with upright side members extending from the bottom
for supporting the mop at three sides. The mop which as mentioned is pivotably suspended
on the shaft may thereby be laid directly on the sloping section of the holder device
and then be moved down until the lower side edge of the mop hits the bottom of the
holder device as the holder device forces the mop to assume the substantially vertical
position.
[0011] The pressure for driving the liquid from the container to the nozzles may, as by
the prior art, be effected by a foot pedal or other manual pumping means.
[0012] In an embodiment of the apparatus, the feeding system may include a switch for activating
the feeding system, e.g. a battery operated pump in the feeding system so that liquid
is sprayed out from the nozzles by actuating the switch.
[0013] In a simple embodiment, the switch may be a switch that functions by manual operation,
e.g. wherein the switch is disposed behind a handle on a cleaning trolley in which
the apparatus according to the invention is provided.
[0014] Alternatively, the apparatus may include a sensor for detecting the presence of the
mop when the mop is correctly disposed in the holder device, and that the sensor is
connected with a control circuit for activating the switch and thereby the feeding
system. By inserting the mop in the holder device, the sensor detects the presence
of the mop and the liquid can be sprayed thereon automatically controlled by the control
circuit in the feeding system.
The Drawing
[0015] Example embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawing
below, where:
- Fig. 1
- shows a schematic drawing of an embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention;
and
- Fig. 2
- shows a detail of a part of the apparatus in Fig. 1 in perspective view.
Description of Example Embodiments
[0016] The apparatus according to the invention can be used as a stationary moisturising
device as well as built into a cleaning trolley where buckets, cloths, cleaning agents
etc. are assembled and which cleaning staff usually brings with them.
[0017] Fig. 1 only shows the principle of a simple embodiment of the invention and not the
real embodiment in the cases where the apparatus is incorporated in a cleaning trolley.
Here is shown a container 1 with liquid which is a cleaning agent or water with cleaning
agent, the container 1 connected to a pump 3 by a tube 2. The pump 3 is connected
to a switch 4 which is connected to a not shown power supply. The power supply can
be a public network or a battery, e.g. a rechargeable battery.
[0018] Via a line 5 the liquid can be conducted from the pump 3 to nozzles 6 located in
a vessel 7. For the sake of clarity only one nozzle 6 is shown on Fig. 1, but the
number may vary, depending on the actual need. The peculiar feature of the apparatus
according to the invention is that the nozzles 6 are directed laterally, in this case
such that the liquid as shown on Fig. 1 can be sprayed out at a spraying angle 8 which
is symmetrical about a horizontal plane. The flat head 9 of a mop is placed opposite
the nozzles 6 such that the wiping or cleaning face of the mop, i.e. its bottom side,
faces the nozzles 6. The mop 9 is therefore disposed such that its bottom side is
located substantially in a vertical plane as lesser deviations, however, may occur
within the scope of the invention. In the shown embodiment, the mop 9 is held in the
moisturising position by a holder 12 which in its simplest embodiment consists of
two brackets of wire material, see Fig. 2. Each bracket includes a horizontal section
13 at the bottom, of which a part is support for the mop 9 when placed in the holder
12. Two parallel sections 14 extend upwardly from the horizontal section 13 in order
to keep the mop 9 in the approximately vertical position at which the bottom side
is facing the nozzles 6. There is provided a top section 15 which is connected with
one of the sections 14 and which is sloping up towards the upper edge of the container
7.
[0019] The mop 9 is of the common type wherein a hinge joint 11 connects the mop head with
a shaft or handle 10. By an embodiment of the method according to the invention, the
bottom side of the mop 9 is placed on the sloping top sections 15, whereupon the mop
9 is moved down along the sections 14 until the lower edge of the mop bears against
the horizontal section 13. Then liquid is sprayed on the bottom side of the mop by
activating the switch 4. Activation may be effected manually by a finger or by a foot.
In another not shown embodiment, the switch 4 can be provided down in the vessel 7;
the switch can then be a mechanical part of the suspension for the holder 12 so that
when the mop 9 applies a load on the holder 12, the switch 4 activates an electric
circuit, thereby starting the pump 3. Alternatively, a mechanical switch may be established
at the side of the holder 12, e.g. between the brackets such that the switch is triggered
by moving the mop 9 down, as the presence of the mop 9 is thereby detected and the
pump 3 is started.
[0020] In a further, not shown embodiment of the invention, the apparatus is equipped with
an electronic control circuit in which is provided a touch-free sensor, e.g. a photocell,
in the vessel 7 for detecting the presence of the mop 9 and thereby activating the
switch 4.
[0021] On Fig. 2 four nozzles 6 are shown. Fewer or additional nozzles are possible within
the scope of the invention. In this case just one nozzle may be used if capable of
spraying the liquid in a shape which substantially corresponds to the shape of the
bottom side of the mop.
[0022] Other embodiments of the apparatus according to the invention are possible. The sloping
section 15 on the holder 12 is thus not necessary as the parallel sections 14 may
just continue upwards diverging away from each other, or they may form a funnel-like
shape in other ways. The holder may furthermore be made of other means than wire-like
materials, e.g. narrow plate pieces, or the holder can be designed as a device that
support or holds the mop only at its lateral ends or at the back side facing upwards
during normal use.
1. A method for moisturising a mop, which mop is designed at its bottom side with a substantially
plane wiping surface for cleaning floors, wherein the mop is moisturised with liquid
from a liquid container in an apparatus by means of nozzles in the apparatus in that
the mop is inserted in a holder device in the apparatus such that the bottom side
of the mop is disposed substantially in a vertical plane, whereupon the liquid is
sprayed in substantially horizontal direction against the bottom side of the mop.
2. An apparatus for moisturising a mop, wherein the apparatus is provided with nozzles,
a liquid container for containing liquid, a ducting system for conducting the liquid
to the nozzles and a feeding system for feeding the liquid to the nozzles, wherein
the apparatus includes a holder device which is designed as support for the mop and
for orienting the mop when the bottom side of the mop is to be applied liquid via
the nozzles, and wherein the holder device is designed so that the mop by bearing
against the holder device is oriented such that the bottom side is disposed substantially
in a vertical plane and such that the nozzles are disposed relative the holder device
so that the liquid can be sprayed laterally and about horizontally against the bottom
side of the mop, characterised in that the holder device consists of two horizontally spaced bracket members, each bracket
member having a sloping section at the top and a substantially vertical holding section
at the bottom in continuation of the sloping section, the holding section designed
with a bottom and side members extending upright from the bottom for supporting the
mop at three sides.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterised in that the feeding system includes a switch for activating the feeding system, e.g. a pump
in the feeding system so that liquid is sprayed out from the nozzles by actuating
the switch.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterised in that the switch is a switch functioning by manual operation.
5. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterised in that the apparatus includes a sensor for detecting the presence of the mop when the mop
is correctly disposed in the holder device, and that the sensor is connected with
a control circuit for activating the switch and thereby the feeding system.