Patent ID: 6402212
Filing Date: 2002-06-11
Classification: A47L,B03C,E01H

Abstract:
A magnetic sweeper adapted to be rolled over a surface to pick up magnetic metal objects scattered thereon, said magnetic sweeper comprising:a mounting frame having left and right side walls spaced apart from each other in an axial direction; a rotating shaft defining an axis and having left and right ends that are disposed to be respectively journalled in and to extend outboard to said left and right side walls; a cylindrical body mounted to be rotated with said rotating shaft and having an outer circumferential wall which surrounds said rotating shaft and which defines a rotating path when said cylindrical body is rotated with said rotating shaft; a plurality of magnetically attracting members disposed in said outer circumferential wall and angularly displaced from one another and around said rotating shaft so as to form uppermost and lowermost magnetic linear limits on said rotating path, said uppermost and lowermost magnetic linear limits being diametrically spaced from each other relative to said axis; a guiding member made of a nonmagnetic material and including left and right lateral edges opposite to each other in the axial direction and secured respectively to said left and right side walls, and a major wall interposed between said left and right lateral edges, and extending in a transverse direction relative to the axial direction to define leading and tailing ends and an intermediate portion interposed therebetween, said major wall being configured to have a profile such that said leading and tailing ends are respectively spaced outwardly and non-equidistantly from said uppermost and lowermost magnetic linear limits, and such that the magnetic metal objects captured by means of magnetic force at said lowermost magnetic linear limit and adhered to said tailing end slide over said intermediate portion by rotation of said cylindrical body and fall down by virtue of their own weight once the magnetic metal objects proceed beyond said uppermost magnetic linear limit where the magnetic force is weaker than gravity; a collecting member disposed downstream of and below said uppermost magnetic linear limit to receive the magnetic metal objects that drop thereinto; a mounting axle disposed on said mounting frame, extending in the axial direction, and spaced apart from said rotating shaft; a wheel member rotatably mounted on said mounting axle and adapted to roll over the surface; and a coupling member disposed to transmit rolling movement of said wheel member to one of said left and right ends of said rotating shaft so as to rotate said cylindrical body.