WO2005013795A1

WO2005013795A1 - Squeezing device and its use

Info

Publication number: WO2005013795A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/007015
Authority: WO
Inventors: Franz Kresse
Original assignee: Ecolab Inc
Current assignee: Ecolab Inc
Priority date: 2003-08-11
Filing date: 2004-06-29
Publication date: 2005-02-17
Anticipated expiration: 2006-02-11
Also published as: DE602004030016D1; EP1653843B1; EP1653843A1; DK1653843T3; DE10337140A1; ATE487414T1

Abstract

A squeezing device (7) and its use for squeezing out a support (3) having a wiper cover (3) of a wiper device (1) are suggested. A simple construction with good squeezing effect is made possible in that a flexible, netted pressing element (9) is used which may be clamped around the support (3) with the wiper cover (4).

Description

SQUEEZING DEVICE AND ITS USE

The present invention relates to a squeezing device according to the preamble of Claim 1 and a use of a squeezing device of this type according to the preamble of Claim 21.

DE 100 19 211 Al, which forms the starting point of the present invention, discloses a squeezing device for a wiper device having a support, mounted in an articulated way, which supports a wiper cover. The support having the wiper cover forms a wiper surface, which may be pressed against a pressing element which is stiff and even and is provided with through openings, so that the absorbent wiper cover may be squeezed out.

The known squeezing device is only suitable for wiper devices having one single even wiper surface.

The object of the present invention is to provide a squeezing device and its use so that with a simple, cost-effective construction effective squeezing of wiper devices, particularly those having two spaced and/or slanted wiper surfaces and/or having a three-dimensional support, is made possible. One single squeezing procedure shall be sufficent for multiple wiper surfaces and/or a three- dimensional wiper surface.

The object is achieved by a squeezing device according to Claim 1 or a use ac- cording to Claim 21. Advantageous refinements are the object of subclaims.

An essential idea of the present invention is to implement the pressing element as flexible element. Thus the pressing element allows to be clamped over and/or around and/or against the wiper surface(s) for squeezing out the wiper cover. The pressing element is tensioned and pressed against the wiper cover transmitting squeezing force to the wiper cover.

Due to its flexibility the pressing element may adapt itself to different shapes and outer contours of the support and the wiper cover, even to curved or rounded wiper surfaces. The suggested squeezing device is accordingly universally usable.

The suggested squeezing device is particularly usable for three-dimensional sup- ports with wiper cover, such as those having the shape of a prism or other cross- sectional shapes due to the flexible pressing element.

A further advantage of the suggested squeezing device is that one single pressing element allows simultaneous squeezing of multiple wiper surfaces of the wiper cover, in particular two wiper surfaces. This allows simple operation and rapid squeezing. The use of a flexible pressing element thus also allows the squeezing of a wiper cover of a round wiper device, in which the wiper surfaces pass into one another without a projection.

The flexible pressing element allows a simple, cost-effective construction of the squeezing device. The requirements for adaptation to the particular wiper device and/or its support are less than in the prior art.

In principle, it is possible for the flexible pressing element to be impermeable to liquid, so that the cleaning liquid is drained off using the pressing element via channels, grooves, or the like. However, it is particularly preferable for the pressing element to be implemented as permeable to liquid per se, particularly as a kind of pressing net.

Particularly in the latter context, it is advisable for the pressing element to be manufactured from textile or film material. Commercially available materials, possibly processed in a special way, such as cotton, acetate, viscose fibers, poly- acrylic fibers, polyesters, polyamides, etc., are considered as textile materials. Textile materials may be understood to include not only woven fabrics, but also knitted fabrics. Film materials are thin, flat, flexible, windable webs made of metal or plastics, such as very thin sheet aluminum having perforations to achieve the permeability to liquid, or e.g. PVC films. The specific selection of the material of the pressing element is left to one skilled in the art. According to an especially preferred embodiment, the flexible pressing element is replaceable and/or adaptable. In this way, simple replacement is made possible in the event of contamination or wear. Furthermore, this allows adaptation to different wiper devices and/or different supports by selection of a suitable pressing element, in particular one which is adapted in its size.

Further advantages, features, properties, and aspects of the present invention can be obtained from the following description of a preferred embodiment on the basis of the drawing.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic, perspective illustration of a wiper device having a support having a wiper cover;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic, perspective illustration of a suggested squeezing device having the wiper device according to Figure 1 and an assigned container;

Fig. 3 shows a schematic sectional illustration of the squeezing device with the support inserted; and

Fig. 4 shows a schematic side view of the squeezing device, transverse to the illustration shown in Figure 3.

In the figures, the same reference numbers are used for identical or similar parts, corresponding or comparable properties and advantages being achieved, even if a repeated description is left out.

Fig. 1 shows a wiper device having a handle 2 and a support 3, attached thereto in an articulated way, to which an absorbent wiper cover 4 is assigned.

According to an embodiment variation, the wiper cover 4 is replaceable, i.e., removably attached to the support 3. Alternatively, however, the wiper cover 4 may also be attached non-replaceably to the support 3, i.e. it may particularly be implemented as permanent trmiming. Here, the support 3, together with the wiper cover 4, forms two alternately usable, oblong wiper surfaces 5, which are active in cleaning.

In the example shown, the support 3 is open on one side and/or implemented in such a way that the wiper surfaces 5 run at an acute to obtuse angle to one another - at least in the usage state - so that direct linkage of the support 3 is possible without an interruption of and/or a recess in the wiper surfaces 5 and/or their longitudinal edges 6. In the end view, as indicated in Fig. 2, the wiper surfaces 5 preferably run essentially U-shaped, V-shaped, or Y-shaped.

In the example shown the angled between the wiper surfaces 5 is at least 40°, preferably at least 50°, preferably essentially 60° to 70°, and at most 90°, preferably at most 80°.

Alternatively or additionally, the wiper surfaces 5 are spaced in such a way that a corresponding linkage of the support 3 is made possible.

It is thus possible to use each one of the two wiper surfaces 5 alternately through appropriate reversal and/or rotation of the support 3, the handle 2 correspond- ingly being pivotable. But no recess of the preferably essentially rectangular wiper surfaces 5 or the flat sides of the support 3 underneath them is necessary.

The wiper surfaces 5 and the flat sides of the support 3 are preferably at least essentially even. The flat sides of the support 3 are used to support the wiper cover 4.

In the end view, the support 3 is preferably essentially triangular, U-shaped, V- shaped, or Y-shaped, and particularly essentially in the shape of an angled profile. The support 3 is preferably essentially rigid and is manufactured from plas- tic.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic, perspective view from diagonally above a suggested squeezing device 7 and the wiper device 1, having the support 3 inserted into the squeezing device 7 in the open state. The squeezing device 7 allows the wiper cover 4 to be squeezed out, on both wiper surfaces 5 simultaneously in the ex- ample shown, so that cleaning liquid 8 absorbed by the wiper cover 4, such as water, a cleaning solution, or the like, are removed from the wiper cover 4.

The squeezing device 7 has a pressing element 9, which here is flexible. The pressing element 9 is preferably manufactured from a textile or film material. The pressing element 9 is preferably at least essentially inelastic in planar extension, in order to avoid undesired sketching.

The exemplary embodiment illustrated and preferred shows a pressing element 9 which is permeable to the cleaning liquid 8. In the exemplary embodiment shown, this element is netted. As was already explained above, pressing elements may also be considered which are not permeable to liquid, but rather allow drainage of the cleaning liquid 8 via channels or grooves. A netted structure of this type, however, results in especially effective drainage of the cleaning liquid 8 directly from the wiper cover 4.

Examples of textile or film materials to be used and corresponding materials have already been noted above.

During squeezing, the pressing element 9 is clamped over and/or around and/or against the wiper surface(s) 5 by the squeezing device 7, so that the wiper cover 4 is squeezed out. The net-like pressing element 9 is tensioned against the wiper cover 4.

The schematic sectional illustration shown in Fig. 3 indicates how the pressing element 9 is pressed against the wiper cover 4 on the wiper surfaces 5 on the support 3, and thus causes squeezing out of the wiper cover 4. For this purpose, the squeezing element 9 here is clamped by a clamping device 10.

In Fig. 3 the squeezing device 7 is shown in the clamped state and also, using a dashed line, in the undamped and/or open state.

Fig. 4 shows a lateral, partially sectional view of the suggested squeezing device 7 without the wiper device 1. In the example shown, the clamping device 10 has a rotatable clamping shaft 11 for clamping the pressing element 9. The clamping shaft 11 is preferably camlike and/or eccentric and thus forms an eccentric mechanism for clamping the pressing element 9. However, a different clamping or eccentric mechanism may also be provided.

The pressing element 9 is preferably clamped by winding, reversing, and/or pushing. In the example shown, an end region of the pressing element 9 is held by the clamping shaft 11, preferably wound thereon, preferably along a longitu- dinal edge.

The clamping device 10 also has a mechanism, here and preferably a manually operable clamping lever 12, for rotating the clamping shaft 11. Upon operation of the clamping lever 12 - in the pivot direction 13, as indicated in Fig. 2 and 3 - the pressing element 9 is wound up and clamped, i.e. pressed against the wiper cover 4.

The clamping lever 12 is preferably connected and/or connectable directly in a rotationally fixed way - removably if necessary - to the clamping shaft 11, i.e., no gears and no transmission are necessary. Rather, the peripheral surface and/or cross-sectional shape of the clamping shaft 11 and the free length of the pressing element 9 are tailored to the support 3 having the wiper cover 4 in such a way that pivoting of the clamping lever 12, preferably about at most 180°, preferably at most 150°, very especially preferably about at most 120° or even only about at most 90°, is sufficient to squeeze out the wiper cover 4.

However, in principle a geared connection, i.e. a reduction or a transmission between the clamping shaft 11 and the operating element, such as the clamping lever 12, may also be provided.

The other end region of the pressing element 9 is preferably buttressed on the squeezing device 7. Here, the squeezing device 7 has a support shaft 14 for this purpose as the buttress for holding the squeezing element 9. The clamping shaft 11 and the support shaft 14 preferably run essentially parallel and at a distance to one another and delimit an opening 15 for receiving the support 3 having the wiper cover 4. The flexible pressing element 9 preferably hangs like a loop between the clamping shaft 11 and the support shaft 14.

For squeezing, the support 3 having the wiper cover 4 is inserted, preferably using the handle 2, into the squeezing device 7 through the opening 15 between the clamping shaft 11 and the support shaft 14 and is placed on the pressing element 9. During subsequent operation of the clamping device 10 and/or the clamping lever 12, the pressing element 9 is clamped and pressed against the wiper surfaces 9, so that the wiper cover 4 is squeezed out.

In order to keep the support 3 secure and/or buttress it during the squeezing procedure, preferably for the essentially triangular cross-sectional shape provided in the example shown, the two shafts 11 and 14 are each preferably positioned on the squeezing side of the pressing element 9 facing the support 3. In other words, the pressing element 9 is preferably supported and/or wound on the outer sides of the shafts 11 and 14, facing away from the opening 15.

However, the squeezing device 7 may also have other devices, shoulders, or separate buttresses for fixing and/or securing the support 3 during the squeezing procedure.

In order to achieve optimum clamping and/or securing of the support 3 during the squeezing procedure, the clamping shaft 11 is preferably movable transversely to its axis of rotation, toward the support 3 and/or the support shaft 14. For this purpose, here the clamping shaft 11 is movably guided in oblong holes 16 of the squeezing device 7 in the exemplary embodiment shown.

The suggested squeezing device 7 is preferably implemented in such a way that a component of the pivot movement 13 of the pivot lever 12 acts in the direction of the transverse movability of the clamping shaft 11 toward the support 3 and/or the support shaft 14 during clamping of the clamping device 10. In this way, the clamping shaft 11 is displaced toward the support shaft 14 during the squeezing procedure and/or the clamping of the pressing element 9 and the support 3 is se- cured and/or fixed in the squeezing device 7 before the pressing element 9 presses firmly against the support 3 and/or the wiper cover 4 having the wiper surfaces 5.

Fig. 3 shows a special arrangement of the clamping shaft 11 and the support shaft 14 in such a way that the pressing element 9 runs on the outer side of each of the corresponding shafts 11, 14. In this way, the shafts 11; 14 project inward in relation to the pressing element 9. If the clamping shaft 11 is displaced toward the support shaft 14 at the beginning of the squeezing procedure, the upper edges of the support 3 are displaced under the respective shafts 11; 14 This is helpfull for the securing of the support 3 in the squeezing device 7.

Instead of the free movability of the clamping shaft 11 in the oblong holes 16 described above, restricted guidance may be provided, using an engagement (not shown) of geared wheels assigned to the clamping shaft 11 in toothed racks or the like.

According to another embodiment, the clamping shaft 11 may be provided with geared wheels (not shown), which engage in separate toothed rods attached to lateral walls 18 of the squeezing device 7, for example, in order to achieve restricted guidance for transverse displacement of the clamping shaft 11 upon rotation of the clamping shaft 11 by the clamping lever 12.

In the example shown, the clamping lever 12 is positioned laterally on the out- side and engages on an axial projection and/or axial section 17 of the clamping shaft 11. For a compact construction, the clamping lever 12 may also, however, be positioned inside lateral walls 18 of the squeezing device 7 and engage directly on the clamping shaft 11. In particular, the oblong holes 16 may then be implemented only as grooves open toward the clamping shaft 11.

According to an embodiment, axial sections 17 used for mounting the clamping shaft 11, which are shown in the sectional illustration in Fig. 4, may be implemented as toothed in the regions of the oblong holes 16 and may engage in a long wall of each of the oblong holes 16 which is implemented as a toothed rack on one side, in order to achieve the restricted guidance for the transverse displacement of the clamping shaft 11.

The suggested squeezing device 7 is preferably implemented as a top for a con- tainer 19 of cleaning liquid and preferably has corresponding attachment means (not shown) for preferably form-fitting however detachable attachment on the container 19.

However, the squeezing device 7 may also, if necessary, be implemented in one piece with the container 19 and/or be attachable to another object, such as a chassis (not shown). For adapting and/or adjusting the tension of the pressing element 9, the clamping shaft 11 and/or the support shaft 14 may be rotatable. According to one variant, the pressing element 9 is replaceable, and is particularly connected removably to the clamping shaft 11 and/or the support shaft 14.

It may be seen from the description above that the suggested squeezing device 7 is particularly suitable for wiper devices 1 having non-flat, but rather three- dimensional supports 3. In addition, this squeezing device 7 is expedient as well for wiper devices having supports 3 which are essentially round in cross-section, i.e. cylindrical overall (round wiper devices).

The present invention is related as well to the use of a squeezing device 7 for mechanical squeezing of a wiper device 1 with a support 3 of preferably three- dimensional shape. The disclosure of the respective claims 21 to 27 is here in- corporated into the description by referring to those claims. The explanation of claims 21 to 27 follows from the explanation of the embodiments discussed above.

Claims

1. A squeezing device (7), for a wiper device (1) having a support (3), which is preferably mounted to a handle (2) in an articulated way, and a wiper cover (4) assigned to the support (3), wherein, preferably, the support (3) with the wiper cover (4) forms two alternately usable wiper surfaces (5), which are active in cleaning, and/or the support (3) is formed three-dimensional or prism-shaped, wherein the squeezing device (7) comprises a pressing element (9), which may be pressed against the wiper cover (4) to squeeze out the wiper cover (4), characterized in that the pressing element (9) is flexible and the squeezing device (7) is implemented in such a way that the pressing element (9) may be clamped over and/or around and/or against the wiper surface(s) (5) to squeeze out the wiper cover (4).

2. The squeezing device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the pressing element (9) is implemented as liquid-permeable, particularly netted.

3. The squeezing device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pressing element (9) is implemented in one piece.

4. The squeezing device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressing element (9) is manufactured from textile or film material and/or is made of synthetic and/or natural polymers.

5. The squeezing device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressing element (9) is manufactured from planar material which is prefera- bly essentially not stretchable in planar extension.

6. The squeezing device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the squeezing device (7) supports the pressing element (9) like a loop to receive the support (3).

7. The squeezing device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the squeezing device (7) has only one single pressing element (9).

8. The squeezing device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the squeezing device (7) has a clamping device (10) for clamping the pressing element (9).

9. The squeezing device according to Claim 8, characterized in that the clamping device (10) has an eccentric mechanism or rotatable clamping shaft (11) for clamping the pressing element (9), particularly by winding, reversing, and/or pushing, and preferably has a mechanism, particularly a manually operable clamping lever (12), for rotating the clamping shaft (11).

10. The squeezing device according to Claim 9, characterized in that the clamping shaft (11) is implemented as cam-like in cross-section.

11. The squeezing device according to Claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the diameter and/or the cross-sectional shape of the clamping shaft (11) and the length of the pressing element (9) are tailored to the support (3) having the wiper cover (4) in such a way that rotation of the clamping shaft (11) about at most 180°, preferably about at most 150°, especially preferably about at most 120°, or only about at most 90°, is sufficient to squeeze out the wiper cover (4).

12. The squeezing device according to any one of Claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the clamping shaft (11) is transversely movable - freely or guided - particularly during clamping of the pressing element (9) toward the wiper cover (4) and/or toward a buttress of the pressing element (9).

13. The squeezing device according to any one of Claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the clamping shaft (11) is positioned on the squeezing side of the pressing element (9), facing the wiper cover (4), particularly for buttressing the support (3) during the squeezing procedure.

14. The squeezing device according to any one of Claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the pressing element (9) is removably attached to the clamping shaft (11).

15^*. The squeezing device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the squeezing device (7) has a buttress, particularly a support shaft (14), for the pressing element (9).

16. The squeezing device according to Claim 15, characterized in that the support shaft (14) is positioned on the squeezing side of the pressing element (9), facing the wiper cover (4), particularly for buttressing the support (3) during the squeezing procedure.

17. The squeezing device according to Claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the pressing element (9) is removably attached to the buttress.

18. The squeezing device according to any one of Claims 9 to 14 and according to any one of Claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the clamping shaft (11) and the support shaft (14) delimit an opening (15) of the squeezing device (7) for receiving the support (3) having the wiper cover (4).

19. The squeezing device according to any one of Claims 8 to 14 and according to any one of Claims 15 to 18, characterized in that the pressing element (9) extends between the clamping device (10) and the buttress, which is at a distance therefrom, and particularly sags in the non-clamped state to receive the support (3) having the wiper cover (4).

20. The squeezing device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the squeezing device (7) has attachment means for preferably form-fitting attachment, which is preferably detachable, particularly on an assigned container (19) for cleaning liquid.

21. The use of a squeezing device (7) for mechanical squeezing of a wiper device (1) having a support (3), which is preferably mounted to a handle (2) in an articulated way, and a wiper cover (4) assigned to the support (3), wherein, preferably, the support (3) with wiper cover (4) forms two alternately usable wiper surfaces (5), which are active in cleaning, and the support (3) is implemented as three-dimensional or prism-shaped, the squeezing device (7) having a pressing element (9), which may be pressed against the wiper cover (4) to squeeze the wiper cover (4), characterized in that the squeezing device (7) is implemented according to any one of the preceding claims and the wiper cover (4) is squeezed out on both wiper surfaces (5) simultaneously using the pressing element (9) of the squeezing device (7).

22. The use according to Claim 21, characterized in that the support (3) with the wiper cover (4) forms two wiper surfaces (5), which run at an angle to one another and/or are at a distance from one another in the usage state.

23. The use according to Claim 22, characterized in that the angle between the wiper surfaces (5) is at least 40°, preferably at least 50°, further preferably essentially 60° to 70°.

24. The use according to Claim 22 or 23, characterized in that the angle between the wiper surfaces (5) is at most 90°, preferably at most 80°.

25. The use according to any one of Claims 21 to 24, characterized in that the wiper surfaces (5) are each implemented without a recess and/or at least essentially even.

26. The use according to any one of Claims 21 through 25, characterized in that the support (3) has two flat sides for supporting the wiper cover (4), which are at an angle to one another and are preferably even.

27. The use according to any one of Claims 21 to 26, characterized in that a liquid-permeable, particularly a netted pressing element (9) is used.