EP1799091B1 - Device for drying or wetting a mop - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for drying and/or wetting a mop with a removable container for receiving a liquid. The device has a receiver for the container with a collecting base which is located underneath the container when the container is disposed in the receiver, and the device has liquid conveying devices for removing or feeding the liquid. The collecting base extends underneath the liquid conveying devices. The liquid conveying devices have a motor for driving a pump for wetting the mop with liquid from the container and for driving a drying device for removing liquid from the mop. The drying device and the motor are fixedly connected to the device and the pump is arranged in the container. The pump is operatively connected to the motor via a separable coupling in a driving manner.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for moistening and / or dehumidifying a wet mop with a container for receiving a liquid.

By the DE10065369 a device for moistening and dehumidifying a wet mop with an absorbent mop cover is known, wherein the device comprises a nozzle for wetting the mop cover and a roller assembly for pressing the mop cover. The device comprises as a base a bucket-shaped container for receiving the cleaning liquid on which rest all components of the device.

Furthermore, by the WO 97/49327 a device for rinsing the mop cover of a wet mop known, wherein the device is arranged on top of a container for the rinsing liquid. Furthermore, the device can also have a drain for the liquid.

Both of the aforementioned devices have the disadvantage that for emptying the container, a disassembly of the device is required, wherein liquid from the device can drip onto the ground. A drain for emptying the container, however, disadvantageously requires an increased effort.

The present invention has for its object to provide a device for moistening and / or dehumidifying a wet mop, in which the container can be easily filled and emptied without liquid from the device can drip onto the floor.

This is achieved by a device having the features of claims 1, 2 or 3 according to the invention. The subclaims each define preferred and advantageous embodiments of the present invention.

According to the invention, the container for receiving the liquid is removably accommodated in a receptacle in the device, wherein the receptacle has a collecting tray, which is located under the container when arranged in the device container.

Due to the removable container, the liquid can be much easier fed or emptied, since only the container alone has to be moved without the rest of the device. Since the use of even little liquid is sufficient in such devices, a very good handling can be achieved in such a case by the removable container.

All means for removing liquid from the container or for supplying liquid into the container necessarily open into the container, wherein the liquid can usually drip unintentionally only at these points, so that arranged under the container collecting tray with the container removed, the dripping Can absorb fluid and has only a very small footprint, since the collecting tray does not need to protrude beyond the base of the container.

The collecting tray is preferably designed so that it can absorb at least the amount of liquid that drips on the collecting tray in a conventional use. It can be taken into account how often on average the container is taken out before the use is completed and the device is cleaned. In this case, the collecting tray may have a recess in which the liquid collects, which drips onto the collecting tray. Furthermore, the collecting tray extends at least over the points where liquid drips down when the container is removed.

The collecting floor can serve as a storage area for the container. However, it is also possible, the receptacle and the container in such a way that the container can be pushed into sliding surfaces and pulled out, wherein the sliding surfaces can also be part of the collecting tray. If the sliding surfaces are part of the collecting tray, it can preferably be provided that the liquid does not get onto the sliding surfaces when it drips onto the collecting tray, so that the container can not be wetted with liquid from the outside. The use of sliding surfaces has the fundamental advantage that the collecting tray is not scratched and also in the region of the sliding contacts between the device and the container special materials with reduced Used friction coefficient and so the insertion and withdrawal of the container can be facilitated.

The device may comprise a moistening device for moistening a wet wiper, which removes liquid from the container for this purpose. For this purpose, at least a part of the moistening device must necessarily open into the container in order to be able to suck in liquid from there. Similarly, in a dehumidifier, which removes liquid from the wet mop and directs it into the container, a portion may protrude into the container. In order not to hinder the removal of the container, it can be provided that the parts projecting into the container, a moistening device or a dehumidifying device can be moved out of the container at least so far in one direction that the container can be removed. In this case, only the parts projecting into the container or the entire moistening or dehumidifying device can be moved. The movable part of the moistening or dehumidifying device can be displaceably or rotatably connected to the device.

Advantageously, the space in the container can thus also be used for receiving at least part of a moistening device or dehumidifying device, so that the dimensions of the device can be reduced.

In an advantageous embodiment, the device comprises a motor having a humidifier and a dehumidifier, wherein the humidifier comprises a pump which draws liquid within the container and leads to a spray nozzle for moistening the dampener, and the dehumidifier disposed above the container and firmly connected to the device. The pump is advantageously arranged at least partially in the container and slidably and / or rotatably connected to the device. The motor is connected to the pump and the dehumidifier via a shaft or other means of transmitting power. Depending on whether the motor is fixedly or movably connected to the device, either the connection to the pump or to the dehumidifying device must permit a relative movement between the motor and the pump or the dehumidifier.

In an advantageous embodiment, the pump is complete and the motor at least partially disposed in the container, the motor is fixedly connected to the pump and the motor and the pump are jointly movable with respect to the device and preferably tiltable. The power is passed from the motor via a worm to a worm wheel of the dehumidifier, which is fixedly connected to the device. The motor and the pump are rotatable together about the axis of the worm wheel, so that the pump with the motor are movable in one direction out of the container. In this case, the motor may be arranged between the pump and the dehumidifier, so that the pump is located near the container bottom.

In an alternative embodiment, the motor is fixedly disposed with respect to the device so that the connection between the motor and the pump must allow relative movement.

The container preferably has a handle on which it can be pulled out of the device and / or carried. Furthermore, the container may have a spout for pouring out the liquid.

The container may also be secured in the device by means of a lock against inadvertent removal from the device. In addition, the device may have a sensor which checks whether the container is in the device in the space provided, wherein a control device of the device is arranged so that the moistening or dehumidifying device can only be put into operation when the container is correctly in place.

If parts of the humidifying or dehumidifying device have to be moved beforehand to remove the container, a locking mechanism can be provided which retains the container in the device until the parts to be moved have been brought into a position which makes it possible to remove the container , Furthermore, the movement of these moving parts of the loading or dehumidifying can be combined with the removal movement of the container. For this purpose, it can be provided that, when the parts of the loading or dehumidifying device move, the container is already moved a little way. Likewise, it can be provided that, during a movement of the container, the parts of the loading or dehumidifying device to be moved are moved.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zum Befeuchten und Entfeuchten eines Feuchtwischers, und

Fig. 2

die in Figur 1 dargestellte Vorrichtung ohne Feuchtwischer mit heraus genommenem Behälter.

Fig. 3 bis 5

Abwandlungen des Ausführungsbeispiels gemäß Fig. 1 und 2.

An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically in the drawings and will be described in more detail below. Show:

Fig. 1

a schematic side view of a device according to the invention for moistening and dehumidifying a wet mop, and

Fig. 2

in the FIG. 1 illustrated device without wet mop with taken out container.

Fig. 3 to 5

Modifications of the embodiment according to Fig. 1 and 2 ,

In the FIG. 1 illustrated device 4 is used for humidifying and dehumidifying a wet mop 1, the bottom of a handle 17 has a flat holder 2, at the bottom of a mop cover 3 is attached. The mop cover 3 consists of an absorbent material for receiving a liquid 6, which is located in a container 5 in the device 4.

For cleaning of particular floor surfaces of the mop cover 3 is moistened with the liquid 6 and thus wiped the surface to be cleaned. Thereafter, the mop cover 3 of the wet mop 1 can be flushed out by means of the device 4 in order to remove the dirt received, wherein a defined moisture of the mop cover 3 is adjusted by partial squeezing.

The device 4 has for this purpose a humidifying device comprising a pump 8 and a liquid line 12. The pump 8 is disposed within the container 5 at a small distance to the bottom thereof. The pump 8 is connected on the outlet side with the liquid line 12, which leads upwards and ends in a vertically upwardly directed spray nozzle 16 which extends through a preferably horizontally oriented intermediate bottom 15 therethrough. The intermediate bottom 15 is disposed above the container 5 and an integral part of the device. 4

Above the pump 8, a motor 7 for driving the pump 8 is arranged. The motor 7 further drives a dehumidifier 100, which is mounted above the intermediate floor 15. The dehumidifier 100 comprises two superimposed Rollers 10 which are rotatable about a horizontal axis and of which the lower of the motor 7 is drivable in the direction of rotation. The upper roller 10 is made in two parts and has two coaxially aligned and axially spaced-apart part rollers, so that the handle 17 of the wet mop 1 can be passed between the two sub-rollers. The holder 2 together with the mop cover 3 is passed between the upper and lower rollers 10. The distance between the upper roller 10 and the lower roller 10 is dimensioned so that the mop cover 3 is compressed during passage of the wet mop 1 and so dehumidified to a certain residual moisture.

The rollers 10 are driven so that the holder 2 is pulled with the mop cover 3 in the plane of the drawing in a drive direction from left to right. In this case, the mop cover 3 passes before the pressing between the rollers 10, the spray nozzle 16 of the liquid line 12, which is arranged to the left of the rollers, i. is arranged in the direction of movement 18 in front of the rollers 10. The motor 7 is driven by a control device, not shown, which is connected to a switch 14 which detects the presence of the holder 2 in guides 13 in the drive direction in front of the rollers 10. In the drive direction behind the rollers 10 guides 13 are also arranged for the holder 2.

As soon as the switch 14 responds, the motor 7 is actuated by the control device, whereupon the pump 8 sucks liquid 6 out of the container 5 and conveys it upwards through the liquid line 12. At the same time, the rollers 10 rotate and move the holder 2 in the drive direction as soon as the rollers 10 have detected the holder 2. Since the holder 2 is guided with the mop cover 3 in front of the rollers 10 via the spray nozzle 16, dirt in the mop cover 3 is flushed out with the liquid 6 before excess liquid 6 is squeezed between the rollers 10. The pressed-out by the rollers 10 liquid 6 flows down to the intermediate bottom 15 and is passed on this by suitable inclination of the intermediate bottom 15 to a filter 19 through which the liquid 6 flows down into the container 5 back.

The device 4 further comprises a receptacle 9 for the container 5, wherein the receptacle 9 is bounded above by the underside of the intermediate bottom 15. The receptacle 9 is open to the left ( Fig. 1 and 2 ), so that the container 5 from the receptacle 9 can be taken from the left. Down the receptacle 9 is limited by a collecting tray 11 which is formed trough-shaped and serves as a support for the container 5.

In order to take the container 5 out of the receptacle 9 out, the motor 7, the pump 8 and the liquid line 12 as a pivotable unit are rotatably connected to the device 4 together. The pivotable unit can be rotated about a pivot axis 21, which coincides with the axis of rotation 20 of the lower roller 10. The connection between the motor 7 and the lower driven roller 10 via a worm wheel which sits on the axis of the lower roller 10 and is in engagement with a worm sitting on a vertical shaft of the motor 7. In this way, the pivotable unit can be rotated without the active connection between the motor 7 and the rollers 10 must be solved. When the unit is pivoted with the motor 7, the lower roller 10 is rotated about the pivot angle.

The motor 7 is lockable with respect to pivoting about the pivot axis 21 by means of a lock against the device 4, so that during operation of the motor 7, the force can be transmitted to the worm without the pivoting unit is pivoted due to the rotation of the motor 7 , This lock is further connected to the control device, so that the motor 7 can only be operated when the pivotable unit is locked.

The container 5 is lockable by means of a further lock 26 in the receptacle 9, wherein the lock 26 of the container 5 may be coupled to the lock of the pivotable unit, so that only one actuator must be actuated to both the container 5 and the pivotable Unit to lock or unlock.

In FIG. 2 the device 4 is shown with removed container 5. In this case, the pivotable unit of motor 7, 8 pump and liquid line 12 is unlocked and pivoted so far up that the container 5 can be pulled out of the receptacle 9 under the pivotal unit. In this case, the pivotable unit can also be locked in the upwardly pivoted position to remove the container 5 easier.

In the in FIG. 2 In the illustrated position, the controller prevents operation of the motor 7 to prevent uncontrolled movement of the pivotable unit. The removed container 5 can be brought to a drain for filling to a liquid connection, such as a faucet, or for draining the liquid.

Due to the removable container 5, the liquid 6 can be exchanged much easier, so that during a cleaning operation, the liquid 6 are changed frequently and thus the cleaning result can be improved, since on average a less polluted liquid 6 is used.

The container 5 is preferably made of a transparent or translucent material, so that the cleaning liquid level 32 and possibly also the degree of contamination of the cleaning liquid can be observed.

In the receptacle 9 of the container 5, a moisture-absorbing device 22, such as a sponge cloth, nonwoven or the like, be arranged so that when the container 5 is removed from the pivoted pump 8 or the spray nozzle 16 or the rollers 10 dripping down cleaning liquid can be absorbed.

According to Fig. 3 is a variation of the in Fig. 1 and 2 shown embodiment shown. Below, therefore, only the differences will be discussed, wherein like reference numerals designate like objects. In this modification, the pump 8, the liquid line 12 and the spray nozzle 16 remains in the container 5. The pump is detachably connected via a coupling 23 to the motor 7. The clutch is located outside of the container 5 in the device 4. The motor 7 is operatively connected to the lower roller 10 and drives it. The clutch 23 is engaged when the container 5 is positioned in the receptacle 9. The coupling 23 is released when the container 5 is removed from the receptacle 9. The clutch 23 may be formed as a frictional or positive coupling. If the coupling 23 is designed as a positive coupling, it is preferably equipped with centering devices to facilitate the engagement. Particularly advantageously, the coupling 23 is designed as a hook-and-loop fastener. If the clutch 23 is formed as a frictional clutch, so can the clutch engagement be accomplished by a spring which presses the coupling parts of the clutch 23 together with the container 5 inserted.

In the modification according to Fig. 3 the filter 19 and the intermediate bottom 15 in the container 5 is removably arranged. The container 5 has a movable handle 24 and arranged at the rear, lower end of the container 5 recessed grip 25. With the handle 24 and the recessed grip 25, the container 5 can be easily removed from the device 4 and used and the container 5 can be easily emptied in the removed state.

The spray nozzle 16 disposed in container 5 is preferably formed as a series of spray nozzles 16 and may be connected to the supply line 12 via a quick release snap, snap or pivot connection to easily clean the spray nozzle 16 or the array of spray nozzles 16 as needed can.

The container 5 can be locked via a lock 26 and an undercut 27 with the receptacle 9. A sensor 28 detects the proper presence of the container 5 in the receptacle 9. Only when container 5 is properly in the receptacle 9, the device 4 is ready. Accordingly, the sensor 28 also indirectly checks whether the coupling 23 is in engagement.

Since the container 5 is provided with a preferably pivotable handle 24 and the container 5 with the receptacle 9 via the latch 26 and undercut 27 with the device 4 is connectable, the entire device 4 can be transported by means of the handle 24.

The container 5 has in the bottom of the container 5 via a closure 30 tightly closable opening 29, so that also via the opening 29, the cleaning liquid can be emptied. The closure 30 of the opening 29 can be opened and / or closed from outside the container 5 or from above the cleaning liquid level 32. This can be accomplished via a pull cord 31. The drawstring 31 is connected at one end to the closure 30 and is accessible at the other end from above the cleaning liquid level 32. Alternatively to pull cord 31 can a lever mechanism for opening / closing or closing the opening 29 may be provided.

The container may have a partition wall 33 to separate contaminated cleaning fluid from clean cleaning fluid.

In a modification after Fig. 1 and 2 or Fig. 3 may be provided instead of a container 5 two containers 5, one of which is provided specifically for dirty cleaning liquid and the other container for fresh cleaning liquid.

For secure positioning of the container 5 in the receptacle 9, the container 5 is provided on its underside with rubber feet 34.

According to Fig. 4 shows a further modification to the embodiments described above, in which the motor 7 is integrated in the container 5 and connected directly to the pump 8. To be able to remove the container, an electrical coupling 37 is provided between the device 4 and the container 5. To drive the rollers 10, an additional motor 35 may be provided or arranged in the container 5 motor 7 is operatively connected via a separable gear train with the roller 10.

According to Fig. 5 a further modification to the above-described embodiments is shown, in which the pump 8 is arranged outside of the container 5 in the device 4, wherein the arranged in the container 5 liquid line 12 and the spray nozzle 16 is detachably connected via a hydraulic coupling 38 to the pump so that the container is easily removable.

Claims (11)

1. Device (4) for moisture removal and/or moistening of a moisture wiper (1), with a removable container (5) for reception of a liquid (6), which device (4) has a receptacle (9) for the container (5) with a collecting base (11) disposed below the container (5) when the container (5) is arranged in the receptacle (9), and which device (4) has liquid-conducting equipment (8, 15) for removal or for feed of the liquid (6), wherein the collecting base (11) extends under the liquid-conducting equipment (8, 15), characterised in that the liquid-conducting equipment (8, 15) comprises a motor (7) for drive of a pump (8) for moistening the moisture wiper (1) with liquid (6) from the container (5) and for drive of moisture removal equipment (100) for removal of liquid (6) from the moisture wiper (1), wherein the moisture removal equipment (100) and the motor (8) are fixedly connected with the device (4) and the pump (8) is arranged in the container and the pump (8) is operatively connected in terms of drive with the motor (7) by way of a separable coupling (23).

2. Device (4) for moisture removal and/or moistening of a moisture wiper (1), with a removable container (5) for reception of a liquid (6), which device (4) has a receptacle (9) for the container (5) with a collecting base (11) disposed below the container (5) when the container (5) is arranged in the receptacle (9), and which device (4) has liquid-conducting equipment (8, 15) for removal or for feed of the liquid (6), wherein the collecting base (11) extends under the liquid-conducting equipment (8, 15), characterised in that the liquid-conducting equipment (8, 15) comprises a motor (7) for drive of a pump (8) for moistening the moisture wiper (1) with liquid (6) from the container (5) and for drive of moisture removal equipment (100) for removal of liquid (6) from the moisture wiper (1), wherein the moisture removal equipment (100) is fixedly connected with the device (4) and the pump (8) together with the motor (7) is arranged in the container (5) and the motor (7) is connected with the device (4) by way of a separable electrical coupling (37).

3. Device (4) for moisture removal and/or moistening of a moisture wiper (1), with a removable container (5) for reception of a liquid (6), which device (4) has a receptacle (9) for the container (5) with a collecting base (11) disposed below the container (5) when the container (5) is arranged in the receptacle (9), and which device (4) has liquid-conducting equipment (8, 15) for removal or for feed of the liquid (6), wherein the collecting base (11) extends under the liquid-conducting equipment (8, 15), characterised in that the liquid-conducting equipment (8, 15) comprises a motor (7) for drive of a pump (8) for moistening the moisture wiper (1) with liquid (6) from the container (5) and for drive of moisture removal equipment (100) for removal of liquid (6) from the moisture wiper (1), wherein the moisture removal equipment (100), the pump (8) and the motor (7) are fixedly connected with the device (4) and a liquid duct (12) for moistening the moisture wiper (1) is fixedly arranged in the container (5) and the pump (8) is connected with the container (5) and the liquid duct (12), which is disposed in the container (5), by way of a separable hydraulic coupling (38).

4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connecting base (11) extends completely over the entire plan area of the container (5).

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the collecting base (11) is constructed to be dish-shaped for reception of a specific quantity of the liquid (6) and/or that the collecting base has exchangeable, moisture-receiving equipment (22), preferably in the form of a sponge cloth or a non-woven material.

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the liquid-conducting equipment (8) has an inlet for suction of liquid (6) and extends at least in part in the container (5) when the container (5) is disposed within the receptacle (9), wherein at least the part of the liquid-conducting equipment (8) extending in the container (5) is movable in a direction, which leads out of the container (5), into a rest setting in which the container (5) is removable from the receptacle (9).

7. Device according to claim 6, characterised in that the liquid-conducting equipment comprises a pump (8) which can be raised or rotated into the rest setting.

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the liquid-conducting equipment (8, 15) comprises a motor (7) for drive of a pump (8) for moistening the moisture wiper (1) with liquid (6) from the container (5) and for drive of moisture removal equipment (100) for removal of liquid (6) from the moister wiper (1), wherein the moisture removal equipment (100) is fixedly connected with the device (4) and the pump (8) is connected with the device (4) to be movable in a direction out of the container (5).

10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the coupling (23) or the electrical coupling (37) or the hydraulic coupling (38) is separable by the removal of the container (5) from the receptacle (9) and is connectible by insertion of the container (5) into the receptacle (9).

11. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the device (4) comprises a sensor (28) for recognising the setting of the container (5) within the receptacle (9) and is so arranged that the device (4) is operable only when the container (5) is arranged in the receptacle (9).

12. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the device (4) comprises locking equipment (26) for locking the container (5) in the receptacle (9).

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