Floor and bounded surface sweeper machine

• US 4,716,621 A
• Filed: 07/16/1986
• Issued: 01/05/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dulevo SPA
• Original Assignee: Dulevo SPA
• Inventors: Zoni, Sergio
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, Chris K.
• Application Number:
  US06/886,269
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 15/83, 15/340, 15/349, 15/84, 15/79 R, 15/79 A, 15/352
• US Class Current: 15/349
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/24 Floor-sweeping machines, motor-driven
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4013 Contaminants collecting devices, i.e. hoppers, tanks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4025 Means for emptying
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4058 for adjusting the height of the tool
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/047 Collecting apparatus characterised by the hopper or by means for unloading the hopper

Abstract

The invention relates to a sweeper machine for floors and bounded surfaces, e.g. the floors of workshops and warehouses, courtyards, having engaged with the machine frame, a removable container for collecting the swept trash supported by pivotally-mounted guides engaged by swivel members extending in a crosswise direction to the machine'"'"'s longitudinal axis and cooperating to define a small frame intervening sealingly between a suction assembly in the frame and a suction mouth of the container, and with snap-action hook-up elements provided between the frame and the pivotally-mounted guides and spring members projecting from the frame and acting by spring contact on the container.

Claims

1. A floor and bounded surface sweeper machine, of the type which comprises at least one supporting frame (1), wheels (2,3) supporting said frame (1), a cylindrical brush (7) parallel to a surface (8) to be swept clean and being supported on said frame at a position across the longitudinal axis of the machine, and a storage container (9) for the swept trash engaged releasably with said frame (1) and having a loading mouth (9a) adjacent said cylindrical brush (7), characterized in that it comprises, for engaging said container (9) with said frame (1), pivotally mounted guides (14) located in a central portion of said frame (1) and extending in a transverse direction to a longitudinal axis of the machine, swivel members (18) engaging pivotally said guides (14) with said frame (1) and defining a pivot axis connecting and transverse to said guides (14) and parallel to said longitudinal axis, hook-up elements (19-22) provided between said frame (1) and said guides (14) set apart from said swivel members (18) and adapted to hold said guides (14) at a raised position close against said frame (1), and spring members (23) projecting from said frame (1) and acting by spring bias on said container (9) in a substantially parallel direction to said guides (14) when said container has at least a major portion inserted on said guides (14) and said guides (14) are at least close to the raised position.

2. A sweeper machine according to claim 1, further characterized in that said spring members (23) are embodied by at least one spring element secured with one end to said frame (1) and provided with a terminating portion (24) converging toward said guides (14) when said guides (14) are in the raised position.

3. A sweeper machine according to claim 1, further characterized in that said hook-up elements (19-22) are embodied by a snap-actin mechanism comprising a retainer dog (22) attached to said frame (1), a hook-on element (21) engageable with said retainer dog (22), a resilient blade (19) supporting said hook-on element (21) and rigidly attached to said guides (14), and a release handle (20) connected to said resilient blade (19).

4. A sweeper machine according to claim 1, further characterized in that said hook-up elements are embodied by a link engaged with said guides (14) and a second class lever extending between a pin connecting said lever to said frame (1) and a free handgrip, said lever being engaged pivotally at a middle position with said link.

5. A sweeper machine according to claim 1, further characterized in that said guides (14) are two parallel channels having facing grooves for slidingly and oppositely supporting portions of said container (9) and having on one side closed ends (14a) and on the opposite side open ends (14b), said swivel members (18) defining a pivot axis adjacent said closed ends (14a), and said spring members (23) and said hook-up elements (19-22) being adjacent said open ends (14b).

6. A sweeper machine according to claim 1, further characterized in that said guides (14) embody opposed parallel portions of a small frame (13) adapted to support said container (9) in a suspended position, said frame 913) comprising in addition to said guides (14) at least one first member (15) and a second member (16) set apart and rigidly connected between said guides (14), said first member (15) being connected with said swivel members (18) and said second member (16) being engaged with said hook-up elements (19-22).

7. A sweeper machine according to claim 6, further characterized in that said small frame (13) comprises sealing gaskets (25) at its upper peripheral edge, said guides (14) fashioned as channels having grooves facing said container (9) and closed in the opposite direction, said first member (15) arranged to close one end of said grooves and said second member (16) overlapping said guides (14) and engageable by abutment on an extension (9c) of said container (9) extending in height on that side of container (9) which is remote from the side contacting said first member (15).

8. A sweeper machine according to claim 1, further characterized in that said container (9) comprises brackets having surfaces (17) for insertion slidingly onto said guides (14), a big handle (12) on container (9) for its insertion and withdrawal into and from said guides (14), an extension (9c) across said brackets and extending in height adjacently said big handle (12), and ground rest wheels (11) for resting the container (9) onto the ground surface.