FR2485405A1 - CLEANING HEAD FOR CLEANING FLAT SURFACES, WITH SCRAPER BANDS - Google Patents

Abstract

THROUGH OPENING 5, A CLEANING LIQUID IS INJECTED INTO THE TRIM 2. THE AIR, WHICH ENTERS THE CLEANING HEAD THROUGH A FITTING LOCATED ON THE UPPER FACE, ENTERS THE TRIM 2 THROUGH OPENINGS 7, THROUGH THIS SEAL AND IS SUCKED THROUGH OPENINGS 11 TO JOIN THE SUCTION TUBE 8. SCRAPER STRIP 22 LOCATED BEHIND THE BRUSH IN THE DIRECTION OF ITS ADVANCE SCRAPS THE CLEANING FLUID WHILE THE SAME SCRAPER STRIP 21, LOCATED AT THE FRONT, IS LIFT TO CLEAR A SUCTION OPENING 12.

Description

The present invention relates to a cleaning head for

  cleaning of flat surfaces comprising a cleaning pad, permeable to air and liquids and covering the head on its working surface, also comprising injection nozzles for bringing a cleaning liquid to an area

of the lining and comprising at least one suction for removing

  see the cleaning fluid from another area of the packing offset from the first parallel in

the direction of work progress.

  Cleaning heads of this type are known for example from the patents DE-OS 26 28 450 and DE-OS 26 40 924. In these cleaning heads, the cleaning liquid is injected into the lining in a first zone, this which means that the cleaning pad is constantly cleaned. The lining, for example a fabric of the veil type, cleans the flat surface both by mechanical action and by the action of the liquid, the liquid

contaminated is then re-aspirated in a neighboring suction zone.

  In these cleaning heads, however, it has appeared to be disadvantageous that the cleaned surface remains wet. It is not possible to walk on a wet surface because of the high risk that it will get dirty again; more on such

  surfaces there is a high risk of accident.

The object of the invention is to provide a cleaning head

with which the cleaned surface remains dry after cleaning.

According to the invention, in a cleaning head of the type mentioned at the start, this object is achieved by means that at least against the rear transverse edge, seen in the direction of advancement of the cleaning head, a strip flexible material scraper, arranged substantially vertically and resting

by its free edge on the surface to be cleaned is fixed to the head.

  The strip can scrape off the liquid film which remains on the flat surface after aspiration so as to leave a dry surface. It is favorable that the scraper strips are a little longer, in the vertical direction, than what corresponds to the distance between their support on the head and the surface to be cleaned, so that when the cleaning head advances, they hold obliquely in the vicinity of the surface. It is thus possible that the wiper strips rest on the surface to be cleaned.

by a sharp edge and scrape the liquid by quantity.

  It is favorable that such a scraper strip is also disposed at the edge located opposite. In this way, the liquid can be perfectly removed from the surface to be cleaned also in case of Head operation in both directions. In this embodiment it is advantageous that the scraper strip has, on its face opposite to the head, vertical longitudinal ribs, so that the scraper strip located at the front, seen in the direction of advancement of the work, does not does not press against the surface to be sealed, but is maintained

  at a certain distance from this surface by the ribs.

This significantly reduces friction while advancing the head. This measure also prevents dirt from being pushed back. In a preferred embodiment, provision is made for a suction to be placed in the cleaning head, in the vicinity of the scraper strips, side of these strips facing the head, suction which preferably originates in the area

  of the lining next to the scraper strip.

It is particularly advantageous that the scraper strip is fixed on a support fixed on the head with the possibility of oscillation and that it is possible to oscillate between a first position where the scraper lip bears against the surface to be cleaned and a second position o the scraper lip is far from this surface. In this way you can at will put the scraper strip in contact with the surface or in

clear.

  Another design can be achieved so that on the front face of the head opens a suction closed by the support in the first position and released in the second position, tilted upwards. In this cleared position, the dirt on the surface to be cleaned, under the raised scraper strip, comes directly into the suction line, that is to say that in front of the cleaning head there is a suction of dirtiness. When the support is lowered, this suction does not take place since the suction openings are closed. In another preferred example of the execution of the invention, provision is made for aspirations to open from the head onto the two front faces of this head; and that the flexible scraper strips are arranged above the openings o these aspirations open out so that they bend, on the face situated towards the front during the advancement of the head for cleaning, in front of the openings o opens the suction, so as to be sucked against these aspirations and to close them, while on the face of the cleaning head located at the rear, by bending,

  they move away from the suction openings and release them.

  This production leads to a suction which switches automatically, that is to say that the suction has no effect on the front side of the head in the direction of advance for the work while the rear side of the head in the direction of this advance, aspiration can produce its full effect to remove

  surface by suction the scraped liquid.

  Along the two longitudinal edges of the head, a curtain can be provided for the longitudinal edges of the lining, a curtain whose free ends end at a short distance from the surface to be cleaned. Such a curtain can prevent vacuuming

by the longitudinal edges of the air lining other than.

  the one to vacuum. These curtains can for example be strips of flexible material attached to the head and hanging

vertically down or bristles hanging down.

However, these curtains do not prevent the forward movement of

the cleaning head because they are not in contact with the surface.

  In a preferred example of the execution of the invention, it is provided that the scraper strips are fixed to fixing strips placed on the head, on the front face and on the rear face of the head, with the possibility of sliding parallel to the direction of advancement of the brush and are pressed against the head by elastic devices; and that the front edge and the rear edge of the trim is wedged in the slot which exists between these fixing strips and the head. Preferably one can provide on the face of the fixing strips facing the trim, sharp fixing pins, which hold

  the packing in the flanged position particularly securely.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be

better understood on reading the description which follows

  several embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a front view of a first example

  execution of a cleaning head according to the invention.

- Figure 2 is a side section on the line 2-2

of figure 1.

  - Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 of another preferred embodiment of a cleaning head according to the invention. - Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 of another example of the preferred embodiment of a cleaning head

according to the invention.

- Figure 5 is a sectional view along line -5 of Figure 4. - Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2 of another preferred embodiment of a cleaning head

  according to the invention, in section along line 6-6 of Figure 7.-

- Figure 7 is a front view partially in section.

  The cleaning head, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, according to a first exemplary embodiment, comprises a casing 1 on the underside of which is a lining 2, permeable to air and to liquid, covering the casing essentially on its entire lower surface and resting on the surface to

  clean 3. The lining 2 can for example be a needle felt

or a carpet in the shape of a veil.

  On the upper face of the casing 1 is a first

connection 4 for an injection of liquid to be injected. This fitting 4-

  is connected, in a way which is not visible in the drawing, with liquid distribution openings 5 located on the underside of the casing and through which the liquid can be injected into the lining in the middle zone of the cleaning head. Another connector 6, located on the upper face of the housing, is in connection with air extraction openings 7 located on the lower face of the housing 1 and arranged in front of and behind the liquid distribution openings 5, seen in the sense of E1 the progress of the work. The connector 6 can have a shape which makes it possible to close it for dosing so as to be able to control the air flow which, because of this connector, passes through the packing.

  under the effect of the air extraction openings 7.

A T-shaped tubular element 8 and a suction pipe can pivot on the upper face of the casing 1 around a horizontal axis which runs transversely to the direction of advancement of the work, the ends of this tubular element 8 being covered by parts 9 and 10 in the form of a cover and serving as a bearing and connection. The interior of the connecting pieces 9 and 10 is in connection with the suction openings 11 which open on the underside of the housing in the vicinity of the front and rear edge of the lining 2. In addition, it is provided on the face front and rear 13 and 14 of the casing 1 of the

  suction openings 12 in connection with the suction line.

  On the front and rear of the housing,

  supports 15 and 16, in the form of a hood. and with essential section-

L-shaped, are placed on the housing with possibility

pivot around horizontal axes that run perpendicular to

in the direction of advancement of the head during cleaning.

  These supports 15 carry, on their vertical wing 17 and 18 scraper strips 19 and 20 which protrude downward, are made of a flexible material insensitive to the injected liquid and have scraping edges at their free end

vivid 21 and 22.

  The supports 15 and 16 can pivot between a first position o the scraper strip 19 fixed on the support rests on the surface 3 (on the right in FIG. 2) a second position o the scraper strip is moved away from the surface (on the left on the Figure 2), the internal face of the support resting in the first position on the front face of the casing and closing the suction opening 12 while in the second position it releases the suction opening 12. The horizontal wing 23 or 24 of the support 15 and 16 is provided a little oblique at its free end so that this part of the support, when it is folded up, rests on the upper face of the casing and limits the

  support folding movement (figure 2).

  The support can be fixed both in its first position, lower, than in its second position, upper, of a

in a manner known per se, for example by a notching.

  As also seen in the representation of Figure 2, the scraper strip protrudes sufficiently beyond the support to come to bend a little when the cleaning head

  rests on the surface 3 to be cleaned.

  When the cleaning head described operates, for example this head is first slide from right to left, in the representation of FIG. 2. The support 15 which is located on the front face is tilted upwards there as seen in the drawing, so that the banner

  scraper 9 is moved away from the surface 3 and that the suction opening

  tion 12, which moreover extends over the entire width of the casing, is released. In this way, through the suction opening 12, the dirt which is in front of the cleaning head is sucked

  in the forward movement of this head.

At the same time, through the liquid distribution opening which can for example be formed by a series of injection nozzles extending over the entire width of the head, liquid is injected into the lining 2. cleans in the air passage area and at the same time arrives, crossing it on the

  surface to be cleaned and dissolves the dirt therein.

  The distribution of the liquid in the packing is favored by the suction openings 11 which suck the liquid from the

two sides of the central liquid distribution opening 5.

The force of the suction of the liquid can be adjusted by a dosage

air which can pass through the packing under the effect of the opening

  Air extraction system 7. When the cleaning head is advanced, the packing cleans the flat surface, the dirt entrained by it being in turn entrained by the liquid

crossing it.

  On the rear edge, seen in the direction of advancement of the cleaning work, the scraper edge 22 of the scraper strip 20, bent backwards as a result of the advancing movement of the head, so that the 'scraper edge 22 bears linearly against the surface to be cleaned, scrapes the remaining liquid which is then sucked through the lining 2 through the rear suction opening 11, not shown in the drawing. In this way, after passage of the cleaning head according to the invention,

  the surface 3 is free of liquid.

  With the cleaning head of FIGS. 1 and 2, it is also possible to work in the opposite direction, since the support 16 then pivots in the upper position and the support 15 in the lower position, so that it is then the scraper strip 19 which comes into contact. of the surface to be cleaned while the strip

scraper 20 is released.

FIG. 3 represents another preferred example of the execution of a cleaning head which largely corresponds to that of FIGS. 1 and 2; the corresponding parts therefore bear the

same benchmarks.

  By difference with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, in this embodiment, there is no pivoting support for the wiper strips 19 and 20 are, in this embodiment,

rather rather directly attached to the front faces of the housing.

As a result, there are also no provision for vacuum openings.

ration 12 on the front faces.

  In this embodiment, the two scraper strips 19 and 20 always press against the surface to be cleaned 3. It is favorable for the. longitudinal strips on their faces, side opposite to the head, longitudinal ribs, so that the scraper strip respectively disposed at the front, seen in the direction of advancement of the cleaning, rests on the surface to be cleaned by its longitudinal ribs during advancement of the cleaning head, due to its flexible bending, while between the ribs there remains an intermediate space through which air can be sucked. This lowers the friction

  of the head when advancing for cleaning.

  On the face turned towards the head, the scraper strips nevertheless retain a smooth shape, so that the scraper edges rest linearly on the surface 3 along

  the entire width of the cleaning head.

  In what was known, using FIG. 4, another

preferred example of the execution of a modified cleaning head.

  This head largely resembles the embodiment of Figure 3; the corresponding parts therefore also bear the same references. Unlike the example of execution of FIG. 3, in this example of execution there is no suction opening 11 which opens into the lining 2; instead, there are suction openings 25 on the front faces of the housing, similar to those of the example

Figure 1.

In this embodiment, the scraper strips 19 and 20 are fixed to the casing above the suction openings 25, so that their flexible profile is located in front of the intake openings 25. When the cleaning head is operating, this leads to the fact that the front scraper strip, seen in the direction of advancement during cleaning, bends in the direction of the front face of the casing, is sucked against the suction opening 25 and closes it. The scraper strip situated opposite, on the other hand, is bent outwards, away from the suction opening 25, when the head advances, so that it releases this suction opening 25. In this way, when the direction of advance of the cleaning head is reversed,

the suction opening before 25 closes each time automatically.

while the rear suction opening 25 opens.

  This leads to the fact that it is always the full power of the suction which is at the disposal of the respective rear suction opening, that is to say that in the rear zone, where the scraper strip scrapes from the surface to be cleaned the liquid therein, the suction of the scraped liquid can always be

produce with maximum efficiency.

  As can be seen in the representation of FIG. 5, one can provide, along the longitudinal edges of the casing,

  to seal the longitudinal edges of the lining

curtain, a curtain 26, for example a strip of flexible material such as rubber or a row of bristles. This arrangement makes it possible to minimize the suction of air in the longitudinal edges of the lining. So that the curtain 26 does not prevent the advancement of the cleaning head it is advantageous for the free ends of the curtain to end

a short distance from the surface 3.

  Curtains 26 of the type shown in FIG. 5 can be provided for all the examples of execution of the head of

cleaning according to the invention.

  Figures 6 and 7 show another preferred example of the execution of a cleaning head according to the invention, which is largely constructed identically to the cleaning head of Figure 3; the corresponding parts therefore bear the

same benchmarks.

In this exemplary embodiment, fixing strips 27 and 28 are placed on the casing, parallel to these front faces, with the possibility of sliding parallel to the direction of advance of the cleaning work, for example using

two rods 29 and 30 guided in a bore of the casing.

Using suitable elastic means, the fixing strips

27 and 28 are compressed against the front faces of the casing.

In the embodiment shown, the rods 29 and 30 are surrounded by helical springs 31 which bear on one side against the casing and on the other side against a bowl

32 rods.

  On their face facing the front faces of the casing, the fixing strips carry pointed pins 33, as

we see it in the representation of figure 6.

  In this exemplary embodiment, the lining 2 is pulled around the lateral faces of the casing and is wedged in the slot 34 or 35, located between the fixing strips 27 and 28 and the corresponding end faces of the casing. To detach the trim, simply move the fixing strips aside

  by acting against the force of the coil springs.

This guarantees a secure attachment of the gasket to

the housing.

  The fixing strips also serve as supports for the scraper strips 19 and 20, as can also be seen in FIG. 6; so they fill in this preferred example

of execution, a double function.

  Of course various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art to the devices which have just been described only by way of nonlimiting examples without departing from the

part of the invention.

Claims (13)

  1. Cleaning head for cleaning flat surfaces comprising a cleaning pad, permeable% to air and liquids and covering the head on its working surface, also comprising injection nozzles for bringing a cleaning liquid into a zone of the lining and comprising at least one suction for removing the cleaning liquid from another zone of the lining offset with respect to the first parallel in the direction of advancement of the work, characterized in that at less against the rear transverse edge, seen in the direction of advancement of the cleaning head, a scraper strip (19 and 20), of flexible material, disposed substantially vertically and resting by its free edge (21,22)   on the surface to be cleaned (3) is fixed to the head. 2. Cleaning head according to claim 1, characterized in that the scraper strips (19 and 20) are a little longer, in the vertical direction, than what corresponds to the distance between their support on the head and the surface to clean (3), so   when the cleaning head advances, they stand obliquely only in the vicinity of L surface (3).   3. Cleaning head according to claim 1 or the claim   cation 2, characterized in that such a scraper strip is   also arranged at the edge opposite.   4. Cleaning head according to any one of the claims.   tions 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that a suction (11,12,25) is arranged in the cleaning head, in the vicinity of the scraper strips (19, 20), side of these strips facing the head. 5. Cleaning head according to claim 4, characterized in that the suction (11) originates in the area of the gasket (2) adjacent to the scraper strip (19, 20).   6. Cleaning head according to any one of the claims.   tions above, characterized in that the scraper strip (19,20) is fixed on a support fixed on the head with possibility of oscillation and that it is possible to oscillate between a first position where the scraper lip (20) s' presses against the surface (3) to be cleaned and a second position o the scraper lip   (9) is distant from this surface (3).   7. Cleaning head according to claim 6, characterized in that on the front face of the head opens a suction (12) closed by the support (15,16) in the first position and released in the second position, tilted upwards.   8. Cleaning head according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that aspirations (25) open from the head onto the two front faces of this head; and in that the flexible scraper strips (19,20) are arranged above the openings where these aspirations open out so that they bend, on the face situated towards the front during the advancement of the head for cleaning, in front of the openings where the suction opens, so as to be sucked against these aspirations and to close them, while on the face of the cleaning head located at the rear, by bending they move apart   suction openings and clear them.   9. Cleaning head according to any one of the claims   previous, characterized in that on the two longitudinal edges   the head are arranged curtains (26) for the longitudinal edges of the lining (2), curtains whose free ends end at a short distance from the surface to be cleaned (3). 10. Cleaning head according to claim 9, characterized in that the curtains (26) are strips of flexible material   attached to the head and hanging vertically downwards.   11. Cleaning head according to claim. 9, characterized in that the curtains (26) are bristles attached to the head and hanging vertically down.   12. Cleaning head according to any one of the claims.   previous tions, characterized in that the wiper strips   (19,20) are fixed to fixing strips (27,28) placed -   on the head, on the front and on the back of the head, with the possibility of sliding parallel to the forward direction cement of the brush and are pressed against the head by elastic devices (31); and in that the front edge and the rear edge of the lining (2) is wedged in the slot (34) which exists between these fixing strips (27,28) and the head.   13. Cleaning head according to claim 12, characterized in that on the side of the fixing strips (27, 28) facing the lining (2) there are provided sharp fixing pins (33).