Floor sweeper

• US 8,214,960 B1
• Filed: 08/12/2009
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diversey Taski Incorporated
• Original Assignee: NSS Enterprises Inc.
• Inventors: Rupp, Mark N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Karls, Shay
• Application Number:
  US12/462,994
• Time in Patent Office: 1,063 Days
• Field of Search: 15/411, 15/791, 15/792, 15/80, 15/491
• US Class Current: 15/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/24 Floor-sweeping machines, motor-driven
• 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 11/4013 Contaminants collecting devices, i.e. hoppers, tanks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4069 Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools

Abstract

A floor sweeper is disclosed having a removable debris compartment. The compartment has a front portion that is at least partially open. A pair of counter-rotating brushes are located forward of the debris compartment for delivering debris directly through the front portion into the debris compartment. A cover that strips debris from the brushes and that also directs stripped debris extends over the brushes. The cover has an air spoiler forward of the brushes. A strip for blocking debris is located opposite of the cover and is located substantially entirely the length of and between the brushes.

Claims

1. A floor sweeper, comprising:

a removable debris compartment having a front portion at least partially open;

a pair of counter-rotating brushes forward of said debris compartment for delivering debris directly through said front portion into said debris compartment;

a cover for stripping debris from said brushes and for directing debris into said compartment extends at least over said brushes, said cover having an air spoiler forward of said brushes; and

a stationary debris blocking strip located opposite said cover and substantially entirely the length of and between said brushes, said strip having an upper portion secured between said brushes and a lower portion extending downwardly below an outer diameter of said brushes, wherein at least one permanent gap separates said debris blocking strip from said brushes.

2. The sweeper of claim 1, further comprising a motor located rearward said debris compartment.

3. The sweeper of claim 2, wherein said motor is connected to said counter-rotating brushes via a single continuous belt extending over a tension wheel, a first brush driven wheel and a second brush driven wheel, said first and second brush driven wheels being aligned with one another on ends of said brushes.

4. The sweeper of claim 1, wherein a forward brush of said pair rotates in a counterclockwise direction and a rear brush of said pair, located directly in front of said debris compartment, rotates in a clockwise direction.

5. The sweeper of claim 4, wherein said air spoiler has one portion that extends into a gap between said cover and a floor surface and another portion that extends tangentially toward said forward brush from said one portion.

6. The sweeper of claim 5, wherein said air spoiler is integrally formed with said cover.

7. The sweeper of claim 6, wherein said air spoiler reduces a high pressure region forward of said forward brush.

8. The sweeper of claim 1, wherein said cover is located 0.01 to 0.1 inches from an outer diameter of said forward brush.

9. The sweeper of claim 1, wherein said debris blocking strip has an upper portion secured between said pair of brushes and a lower portion adjacent a floor surface, said strip extends substantially perpendicularly to said floor surface.

10. The sweeper of claim 1, wherein the front portion of the debris compartment extends substantially the length of said pair of brushes.

11. A floor sweeper, comprising:

a forward brush rotating in a counterclockwise direction;

a rear brush, located directly behind said forward brush, and rotating in a clockwise direction;

a single continuous belt simultaneously rotating both of said brushes;

a cover extending over said brushes and said belt;

a high pressure reducing air spoiler extending from said cover in front of said forward brush; and

a downwardly extending, stationary debris blocking strip located between said brushes, wherein permanent gaps separate said strip from said brushes.