Cleaning of surfaces

• US 20030041880A1
• Filed: 09/17/2002
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Duplex Cleaning Machines (UK) Limited
• Original Assignee: Duplex Cleaning Machines (UK) Limited
• Inventors: Udall, Alan Leslie
• Granted Patent: US 6,804,856 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/9
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/302 having rotary tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/34 Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4036 Parts or details of the surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4077 Skirts or splash guards
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/408 Means for supplying cleaning or surface treating agents
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 1/20 Cleaning of moving articles, e.g. of moving webs or of objects on a conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 1/32 using rotary cleaning members
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 1/34 rotating about an axis parallel to the surface
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 2230/01 Cleaning with steam
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 45/18 comprising brushes
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 45/24 comprising plural diverse cleaning devices

Abstract

Apparatus for cleaning a surface, comprising brush means including a body (16) which carries bristles (17) engageable with the surface; means for effecting movement of the bristles relative to the surface, to provide an agitating cleaning action thereon; said bristle-carrying body further being provided with steam delivery means (20, 21) for applying steam to said surface in a region thereof engaged by said bristles. The apparatus may be for cleaning a conveyor belt (10), with the brush in the form of a drum (16) rotatable about an axis (18) parallel to the conveyor belt with the steam passing through the drum and emerging through peripheral apertures (21), the brush being disposed within a hood (15) with an extraction system for loosened dirt and water.

Claims

1. Apparatus for cleaning a surface, comprising brush means including a body (16) which carries bristles (17) engageable with the surface;

means for effecting movement (19) of the bristles relative to the surface, to provide an agitating cleaning action thereon;

said bristle-carrying body further being provided with steam delivery means (20, 21) for applying steam to said surface in a region thereof engaged by said bristles.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said bristle-carrying body (26) is a hollow body and said steam delivery means (20, 21) provides for steam to be passed therethrough and to emerge therefrom in the vicinity of said bristles (17).

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said bristle-carrying body (16) is in the form of a hollow cylinder with bristles carried on the external surface of a peripheral wall thereof, supported for rotation and drivable about its longitudinal axis (18) so that the bristles are operable on a surface lying substantially parallel to said axis.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein steam is supplied to the interior of said bristle-carrying body (10) and emerges through passages afforded by apertures in the peripheral wall thereof.

5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said brush means is disposed within and covered by a hood (15) which is arranged to approach the surface which is to be cleaned.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising extraction means (29) for removing matter from the surface being cleaned.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said extraction means has at least one intake (25, 26) at one or more boundaries of the hood.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 comprising a further cleaning device or devices (31, 32) associated with said intake or one or more thereof.

9. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a support means (12) providing for the apparatus to be supported at an appropriate height above a surface to be cleaned and enabling the apparatus to be moved relative to said surface.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein support means comprises a chassis structure enabling the apparatus to be moved over a floor surface.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said support means comprises a frame (12) for supporting the apparatus in relation to a conveyor belt (10).

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said frame (12) provides for movement of the apparatus in a direction transversely of the conveyor belt (10).

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 comprising a remotely-positioned steam generator and source of suction for an extraction system, and flexible connections to the apparatus.

14. A conveyor system including a conveyor belt and apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 13 arranged for cleaning the conveyor belt.

16. A method according to claim 14 wherein said bristles are carried by a hollow body and said steam is delivered through said hollow body and emerges therefrom in the vicinity of said bristles.

15. A method of cleaning a surface, comprising engaging said surface by bristles of a brush means and effecting movement of said bristles relative to the surface, wherein steam is delivered to said surface where it is engaged by said bristles.

17. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. A method of cleaning a surface substantially as hereinbefore described.