Modular floor cleaning machine

• US 5,933,900 A
• Filed: 05/28/1997
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xiao Chun Wang
• Original Assignee: Xiao Chun Wang
• Inventors: Wang, Xiao Chun
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich, Mark
• Application Number:
  US08/864,957
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 15/4, 15/50.3, 15/51, 15/52.1, 15/99
• US Class Current: 15/50.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/03 characterised by having provisions for supplying cleaning or polishing agents A47L11/065, A47L11/085, A47L11/125, A47L11/145, A47L11/161, A47L11/1625, A47L11/185, A47L11/201 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/29 Floor-scrubbing machines characterised by means for taking-up dirty liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/40 Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4047 Wound-up or endless cleaning belts
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4052 Movement of the tools or the like perpendicular to the cleaning surface
• 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 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/26 Other cleaning devices with liquid supply arrangements such arrangements on floor-polishing machines A47L11/00, on scrapers A47L13/03, on mops A47L13/22; cloths, pads, or the like containing cleaning agents A47L13/17, A47L13/19
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/29 having movable or detachable polishing or shining cloths

Abstract

Apparatus for cleaning a floor surface includes a chassis having a frame, an elevator mechanism, and a plurality of ground-contacting wheels; a tank supported by the chassis for holding a quantity of cleaning liquid; a sweeper module removably connectable to the chassis; and a carpet belt member. A plurality of laterally oriented rollers are supported by the chassis for supporting the carpet belt member in a closed path, including a cleaning roller for submerging a portion of the carpet belt within the tank, first and second wringer rollers, first and second press rollers, an adjustment roller for tensioning the carpet roller, an idler roller, and a drive roller. An insert member is supported by the chassis, the cleaning roller and the press roller being supported by the insert member. A main handle pivotally mounted to the insert member manipulates the apparatus on the floor surface. A roller drive rotatably couples the drive roller to at least one of the wheels for regulating a rate of advancement of the carpet belt during longitudinal movement of the apparatus. A platen member supported proximate the bottom extremity of the chassis between the idler and drive rollers for pressing the carpet belt against the floor surface in the at least one operating position of the elevator mechanism. Also disclosed is a method for cleaning a floor surface.

Claims

1. Apparatus for cleaning a floor surface, comprising:

(a) a chassis having a frame and a plurality of ground-contacting wheels, at least some of the wheels being connected to the frame by an elevator mechanism having a plurality of operating positions for rollably supporting the frame at a corresponding plurality of distances above the floor surface;

(b) a tank supported by the chassis for holding a quantity of cleaning liquid;

(c) a carpet belt member, opposite ends of the belt member being connected for forming a closed loop of approximately uniform width;

(d) a plurality of laterally oriented rollers rotatably supported by the chassis for supporting the carpet belt member in a closed path, a portion of the closed path producing frictional contact between the belt member and the floor surface in at least one of the operating positions of the elevator mechanism, the belt member being lifted clear of the floor surface in an uppermost of the operating positions, the rollers including;

(i) a cleaning roller for submerging a portion of the carpet belt within the tank;

(ii) a wringer roller located vertically above the cleaning roller for directing the carpet belt out of the tank;

(iii) a press roller biasingly located proximate the wringer roller opposite the carpet belt for squeezing liquid from the belt; and

(iv) an idler roller located proximate a bottom extremity of the chassis, the idler roller being located for defining a forward extremity of the closed path, the rollers further including a drive roller, the drive roller being located proximate the bottom extremity of the chassis and for defining a rearward extremity of the closed path;

(e) a main handle supported relative to the chassis for manipulating the apparatus on the floor surface; and

(f) a roller drive for rotatably coupling the drive roller to at least one of the ground-contacting wheels for regulating a rate of advancement of the carpet belt during longitudinal movement of the apparatus when the elevator mechanism is in the at least one operating position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a platen member supported proximate the bottom extremity of the chassis between the idler and drive rollers for pressing the carpet belt against the floor surface in the at least one operating position of the elevator mechanism.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein a bottom surface of the tank forms at least a portion of the platen member.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein the closed path of the carpet belt slopes upwardly and rearwardly from the idler roller, an outside contour of the chassis correspondingly sloping and enclosing the sloping path portion in proximity thereto for permitting cleaning access under a low overhanging obstruction.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wringer roller is a first wringer roller and the press roller is a first press roller, the rollers further including a second wringer roller located longitudinally opposite the cleaning roller from the first wringer roller, and a second press roller biasingly located proximate thereto, whereby the combination of the first and second wringer and press rollers is operative for squeezing liquid from the carpet belt on opposite sides of the cleaning roller.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rollers further include an adjustment roller biasingly located for tensioning the carpet belt member.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an insert member removably supported by the chassis, the cleaning roller and the press roller being supported by the insert member, whereby the carpet belt is released from the closed path upon removal of the insert member.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the main handle is pivotally mounted to the insert member for movement between longitudinal and lateral orientations.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the main handle comprises a T-shaped handle member having a column portion and an arm portion, the column portion being rotatably connected on a column axis thereof for permitting horizontal orientation of the arm portion in the longitudinal and lateral orientations of the handle.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least some wheels connected to the elevator mechanism are pivotable elevator caster wheels for facilitating lateral and turning movements as well as longitudinal movements of the apparatus when the elevator mechanism is in the uppermost operating position.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the elevator mechanism includes a pair of four-bar linkage mechanisms on opposite sides of the chassis, each of the four-bar mechanisms including a main bar and a pair of connector bars pivotally connected between the main bar and a frame of the chassis, the elevator caster wheels being mounted to each of the main bars.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elevator mechanism has at least three operating positions, including first and second lowered positions in which the carpet belt contacts the floor surface.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sweeper module connectable to the chassis and having a housing, a pair of side wheels rotatably coupled to the housing, a brush assembly rotatably supported within the housing and rotatably coupled to at least one of the side wheels for brushing the floor surface when the elevator mechanism is in the at least one operating position, and a tray member removably supported within the housing for collecting particles brushed from the floor surface.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the sweeper module is removably connected to the chassis, the sweeper module further comprising a sweeper caster for rollably supporting the housing in combination with the side wheels when the sweeper module is removed from the chassis.

15. Apparatus for cleaning a floor surface, comprising:

(a) a chassis having frame and a plurality of ground-contacting wheels, at least some of the wheels being pivotable elevator caster wheels and being connected to the frame by an elevator mechanism having a plurality of operating positions for rollably supporting the frame at a corresponding plurality of distances above the floor surface for facilitating lateral and turning movements as well as longitudinal movements of the apparatus when the elevator mechanism is in the uppermost operating position, the elevator mechanism including a pair of four-bar linkage mechanisms on opposite sides of the chassis, each of the four-bar mechanisms including a main bar and a pair of connector bars pivotally connected between the main bar and the frame of the chassis, the elevator caster wheels being mounted to each of the main bars;

(b) a tank supported by the chassis for holding a quantity of cleaning liquid;

(c) a sweeper module removably connectable to the chassis and having a housing, a pair of side wheels rotatably coupled to the housing, a brush assembly rotatably supported within the housing and rotatably coupled to at least one of the side wheels for brushing the floor surface when the elevator mechanism is in the at least one operating position, and a tray member removably supported within the housing for collecting particles brushed from the floor surface

(d) a carpet belt member, opposite ends of the belt member being connected for forming a closed loop of approximately, uniform width, the elevator mechanism having at least three operating positions, including first and second lowered positions in which the carpet belt contacts the floor surface;

(e) a plurality of laterally oriented rollers rotatably supported by the chassis for supporting the carpet belt member in a closed path, a portion of the closed path producing frictional contact between the belt member and the floor surface-in at least one of the operating positions of the elevator mechanism, the belt member being lifted clear of the floor surface in an uppermost of the operating positions, the rollers including;

(i) a cleaning roller for submerging a portion of the carpet belt within the tank;

(ii) a first wringer roller located vertically above the cleaning roller for directing the carpet belt out of the tank;

(iii) a second wringer roller located longitudinally opposite the cleaning roller from the first wringer roller;

(iv) a first press roller biasingly located proximate the first wringer roller opposite the carpet belt for squeezing liquid from the belt;

(v) a second press roller biasingly located proximate the second wringer roller, whereby the combination of the first and second wringer and press rollers is operative for squeezing liquid from the carpet belt on opposite sides of the cleaning roller;

(vi) an adjustment roller biasingly located for tensioning the carpet belt member;

(vii) an idler roller located proximate a bottom extremity of the chassis, the idler roller being located for defining a forward extremity of the closed path; and

(viii) a drive roller located proximate the bottom extremity of the chassis and for defining a rearward extremity of the closed path;

(f) an insert member removably supported by the chassis, the cleaning roller and the press rollers being supported by the insert member, whereby the carpet belt is released from the closed path upon removal of the insert member;

(g) a main handle supported relative to the chassis for manipulating the apparatus on the floor surface, the main handle being pivotally mounted to the insert member for movement between longitudinal and lateral orientations; and

(h) a roller drive for rotatably coupling the drive roller to at least one of the ground-contacting wheels for regulating a rate of advancement of the carpet belt during longitudinal movement of the apparatus when the elevator mechanism is in the at least one operating position; and

(i) a platen member supported proximate the bottom extremity of the chassis between the idler and drive rollers fro pressing the carpet belt against the floor surface in the at least one operating position of the elevator mechanism.