Cleaner and bowling maintenance machine using the same

• US 5,761,762 A
• Filed: 12/04/1995
• Issued: 06/09/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eishin Technology Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Eishin Technology Company Limited
• Inventors: Kubo, Chikanari
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US08/566,723
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 15/320, 15/401, 15/321, 15/322
• US Class Current: 15/320
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/30 by suction
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4005 Arrangements of batteries or cells; Electric power supply arrangements
• 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 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/11 Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A63D 5/10 Apparatus for cleaning balls, pins, or alleys

Abstract

A cleaner has a power source, a vacuum generator, a waste liquid tank and a wiper-nozzle unit. Liquids and/or contaminants may be removed by slidably moving a wiper on a flat surface to collect a mass of liquid and inserting a small-sized nozzle into the collected liquid to suck it through the nozzle when the interior of the cleaner is drawn into vacuum. Since the small-sized nozzle is located adjacent the wiper, less air will be sucked in by the cleaner when the collected liquid is sucked in by the nozzle. Therefore, the cleaner can be driven by a reduced power and also reduced in size and weight.

Claims

1. A cleaner for removing a liquid from a flat surface, comprising a power source, a vacuum generator, a waste liquid tank and a wiper-nozzle unit comprising a rubber plate-like wiper means having a lower edge for wiping liquid from the flat surface and inlet nozzle port means for sucking liquid from the flat surface, said inlet nozzle port means being located adjacent one side of the wiper means, passage means connecting the vacuum generator, the waste liquid tank and the inlet nozzle port means whereby liquid is sucked through the inlet nozzle port means into the waste liquid tank, said inlet nozzle port means being spaced away from but adjacent said flat surface and the lower edge of the wiper means being positioned against the flat surface from which the liquid is to be removed, wherein the inlet nozzle port means for sucking the liquid from the flat surface comprises a plurality of linearly arrayed inlets located within 1 to 4 mm of the flat surface from which the liquid is to be removed, and said wiper means is inclined relative to the flat surface, and wherein the angle included between the flat surface and the other side of the wiper means remote from said inlet nozzle port means is acute.

2. A cleaner for removing a liquid from a flat surface, comprising a power source, a vacuum generator, a waste liquid tank and a wiper-nozzle unit comprising a rubber plate-like wiper means having a lower edge for wiping liquid from the flat surface and inlet nozzle means for sucking liquid from the flat surface, said inlet nozzle means being located adjacent one side of the wiper means, passage means connecting the vacuum generator, the waste liquid tank and the inlet nozzle means whereby liquid is sucked through the inlet nozzle means into the waste liquid tank, said inlet nozzle means being spaced away from but adjacent said flat surface and the lower edge of the wiper means being positioned against the flat surface from which the liquid is to be removed,

the cleaner further comprising a hand grip and wherein said wiper means is in the form of a plate-like member, said inlet nozzle means being in the form of a nozzle plate on the bottom of which a plurality of inlet nozzle ports are open and arranged along said wiper means, said inlet nozzle ports being connected to a single connection passage within said nozzle plate, said connection passage being then connected to said waste liquid tank.

3. A bowling lane maintenance machine comprising, as means for removing the cleaning liquid from a bowling lane, a cleaner for removing a liquid from a flat surface, said cleaner comprising a power source, a vacuum generator, a waste liquid tank and a wiper-nozzle unit comprising a rubber plate-like wiper having an edge and inlet nozzle means located adjacent one side of the wiper, passage means connecting the vacuum generator, the waste liquid tank, and the inlet nozzle means whereby liquid is sucked through the inlet nozzle means into the waste liquid tank, said inlet nozzle means being spaced away from but adjacent said flat surface and the edge of the wiper when said inlet wiper-nozzle unit is located upon the flat surface from which the liquid is to be removed by said bowling lane maintenance machine, said wiper being in the form of a plate-like member, said inlet nozzle means being in the form of a nozzle plate on the bottom of which a plurality of inlet nozzle ports are open and arranged along the edge of said wiper, said inlet nozzle ports being connected to a single connection passage within said nozzle plate, said connection passage being then connected to said waste liquid tank, said inlet nozzle ports being located adjacent the flat surface from which the liquid is to be removed by the edge of said wiper, said wiper being inclined relative to the flat surface.