Cleaning of surfaces

• US 6,804,856 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2002
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Duplex Cleaning Machines (UK) Limited
• Original Assignee: Duplex Cleaning Machines (UK) Limited
• Inventors: Udall, Alan Leslie
• Primary Examiner(s): Gulakowski, Randy
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAUDHRY, SAEED T
• Application Number:
  US10/239,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20030041880A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 153/20, 153/22, 153/44, 153/02, 139/6, 139/9, 139/30
• US Class Current: 15/302
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/302 having rotary tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/34 Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4036 Parts or details of the surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4077 Skirts or splash guards
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/408 Means for supplying cleaning or surface treating agents
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 1/20 Cleaning of moving articles, e.g. of moving webs or of objects on a conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 1/32 using rotary cleaning members
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 2230/01 Cleaning with steam
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 45/18 comprising brushes
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 45/24 comprising plural diverse cleaning devices

Abstract

Apparatus for cleaning a surface, comprising brush means including a body (16) which carries bristles (17) engageable with the surface; means for effecting movement of the bristles relative to the surface, to provide an agitating cleaning action thereon; said bristle-carrying body further being provided with steam delivery means (20, 21) for applying steam to said surface in a region thereof engaged by said bristles. The apparatus may be for cleaning a conveyor belt (10), with the brush in the form of a drum (16) rotatable about an axis (18) parallel to the conveyor belt with the steam passing through the drum and emerging through peripheral apertures (21), the brush being disposed within a hood (15) with an extraction system for loosened dirt and water.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cleaning a surface comprising:

a brush having a hollow body with bristles carried on an external surface of a peripheral wall thereof, said brush being disposed within and covered by a hood which is arranged to approach the surface which is to be cleaned;

a motor for effecting movement of the bristles relative to the surface, to provide an agitating cleaning action thereon; and

a conduit in fluid communication with an interior of said hollow body to provide steam to said interior;

wherein said hollow body includes a plurality of apertures formed in said peripheral wall for applying steam to said surface in a region thereof engaged by said bristles.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising an extraction mechanism for removing matter from the surface being cleaned.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said extraction mechanism has at least one intake at one or more boundaries of the hood.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 comprising at least one further cleaning device associated with said at least one intake.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said hood comprises at least one intake at one or more boundaries of the hood.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 comprising at least one cleaning device at said at least one intake.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a frame for supporting the apparatus in relation to a conveyor belt.

9. An apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising a support for the apparatus to be supported at an appropriate height above a surface to be cleaned and enabling the apparatus to be moved relative to said surface.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said support comprises a chassis enabling the apparatus to be moved over a floor surface.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said support comprises a frame for supporting the apparatus in relation to a conveyor belt.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said frame provides for movement of the apparatus in a direction transversely of the conveyor belt.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 comprising a remotely-positioned steam generator, and source of suction for said extractor.

14. A conveyor system comprising a conveyor belt and apparatus according to claim 11 arranged for cleaning the conveyor belt.

8. An apparatus for cleaning a surface, comprising:

a brush having a hollow body with an external peripheral wall and a plurality of bristles extending outwardly from said peripheral wall, said peripheral wall including a plurality of apertures permitting steam to emerge from the interior of the hollow body in the vicinity of said bristles;

a motor for effecting movement of the brush so that said bristles brush the surface to be cleaned;

a conduit iii fluid communication with an interior of said hollow body to provide steam to said interior;

a hood within which said brush is disposed, said hood having boundaries which extend to approach the surface to be cleaned; and

an extractor for matter from the surface to be cleaned, said extractor having at least one intake at at least one of said boundaries of the hood.

15. An apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising at least one additional cleaning device at said at least one intake.

16. An apparatus for cleaning a surface, comprising:

a brush having a hollow body in the form of a cylinder having a longitudinal axis and an external peripheral wall extending about said longitudinal axis, and a plurality of bristles extending outwardly from said peripheral wall, said peripheral wall including a plurality of apertures permitting steam to emerge from the interior of the hollow body in the vicinity of said bristles,

a motor for effecting rotation of the brush about said longitudinal axis so that said bristles brush a surface to be cleaned extending substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis;

a conduit in fluid communication with an interior of said hollow body to provide steam to said interior;

a hood within which said brush is disposed, said hood having boundaries which extend to approach the surface to be cleaned; and

an extractor for matter from the surface to be cleaned, said extractor having at least one intake at at least one of said boundaries of the hood.