Floor mopping machine

• US 5,555,587 A
• Filed: 07/20/1995
• Issued: 09/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Scott Fetzer Company (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: The Scott Fetzer Company (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Guha, Dwipendra N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): SOOHOO, TONY GLEN
• Application Number:
  US08/504,432
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 15/97.1, 15/98, 15/49.1, 15/50.1, 15/119.1, 15/103.5, 15/320, 401/13
• US Class Current: 15/98
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/29 Floor-scrubbing machines characterised by means for taking-up dirty liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4016 specially adapted for collecting fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4036 Parts or details of the surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4038 Disk shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4069 Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4072 Arrangement of castors or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4075 Handles; levers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4091 Storing or parking devices, arrangements therefor; Means allowing transport of the machine when it is not being used

Abstract

A floor mopping machine for automatic mopping of the floor is disclosed comprising a movable housing and a rotatable mopping member including a plurality of spongy mop pieces capable of soaking liquid and releasing the same when pressed. The spongy mop pieces are provided in a manner such that during a rotation of the mopping member, the mop pieces are pressed on the floor and/or wall-wall and wall-floor corners. The machine further includes a rotating member for rotating the mopping means; a receptacle for storing and dispensing aqueous cleaning medium to the spongy mop pieces; a pressing member for pressing the spongy mop members to release the liquid held by the said members, and a collector for collecting the liquid released by the spongy mop pieces.

Claims

1. A floor mopping machine for automatic mopping of a surface to be cleaned comprising:

a movable housing;

a rotatable mopping member connected to said housing, said rotatable mopping member including a plurality of spongy mop pieces capable of soaking liquid and releasing the same when pressed, wherein during rotation of the mopping member, said spongy mop pieces are pressed on the surfaces to be cleaned, wherein said mopping member further comprises;

a plurality of arms having ends rotatable about an axis, wherein said mop pieces are placeably held to the arms at their ends away from the axis of rotation;

a guiding member provided in said housing for guiding the arms carrying the mop pieces back and forth between mopping and pressing positions;

said mopping machine also comprising;

a rotating member connected to said mopping member for rotating the mopping member;

a storing receptacle provided in said housing including an aqueous cleaning medium and dispensing the same to said spongy mop pieces;

a pressing member connected to said housing for pressing the spongy mop pieces to release the liquid held by the said pieces; and

a collector connected to said housing for collecting the liquid released by the spongy mop pieces.

2. The floor mopping machine of claim 1 wherein the housing is mounted on wheels so as to be movable.

3. The floor mopping machine of claim 1 wherein the guiding means comprises cam tracks and rollers provided with the arms, said tracks being configured such that the ends of the arms carrying the mop members press against the floor at the mopping position and progressively lifted to a higher plane to the pressing position for release of the liquid collected at the mopping position.

4. The floor mopping machine of claim 1 wherein the cleaning medium is stored in a storage tank, including a dispenser to supply said cleaning liquid to the mop members.

5. The floor mopping machine of claim 1 comprising a handle for controlling the movement of the machine.

6. The floor mopping machine of claim 1 wherein the cleaning medium is water and further includes an additive selected from the group consisting of:

perfume, disinfectants, liquid soap and cleaning fluid.

7. A floor mopping machine of claim 1 wherein the rotating member for rotating the mopping member comprises an electrically operated motor.