Wetting device for flat mops

A wetting device for flat mops includes a mechanical elevator that contains a contact structure, brackets, and plastic slide bars. The brackets lift the transfer plate away from the lower end of the wetting device if the contact structure is pressed towards the lower end. Each bracket is connected to at least one plastic side bar. The plastic slide bars move apart from each other when the transfer plate lifts away from the lower end. The transfer plate lies upon the plastic slide bars during movement of the plastic slide bars apart from each other. Each plastic slide bar has a length that is at least five times larger than its maximum width and is detachable from its corresponding bracket. The contact structure is a flat metal framework of connected struts. Also disclosed is a cleaning trolley with the wetting device.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

This disclosure relates to a wetting device for moisturizing flat mops with a liquid, e.g., an aqueous cleansing liquid. It also relates to a cleaning trolley with said wetting device.

Description of the Related Art

Flat mops are known to have heads that are attachable to textile material covers for cleaning floors, e.g., rectangular microfiber covers. Said textile material covers usually comprise pockets for attachment to the mop head. Such mopping devices for cleaning of floors are widely known and used in professional and non-professional environments.

Wetting devices may be used to transfer a controlled amount of liquid upon a flat mop head with a textile material cover.

EP 2 106 730 A1 discloses a device for wetting a surface, consisting of a transfer member which can be arranged in a container filled with liquid, and means for moving the transfer member out of the container to the surface for wetting. The transfer member can be plate-like and have means for dosing liquid, while the moving means can be adapted to hold the transfer member horizontal during its movement. The moving means can comprise a pressing part which can be operated by the surface for wetting and which can be moved in opposite direction to the transfer member. The moving means can comprise for this purpose a number of arms which are mounted movably in a frame and which are connected on one side to the pressing part and on the other to the transfer member.

EP 2 832 279 B1 discloses a cleaning unit for cleaning clean rooms, comprising at least one first container, designed and arranged to accommodate at least one receiving element, designed and adapted to receive a liquid, and further comprising at least one second container, designed and set up, to receive a cleaning fluid, wherein the at least one second container comprises a transfer device, wherein the transfer device can be transferred from a first position to a second position, so that in the second position a certain amount of cleaning liquid on the transfer unit is available.

One of the problems associated with wetting devices known in prior art is that in clean rooms there still is some particle emission that should be avoided. Also the control of the exact amount of liquid needs to be improved when wetting flat mops.

Another problem associated with wetting devices is that they are no as easy to decontaminate as one might desire.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The wetting device for moisturizing flat mops with a liquid of the various embodiments may produce less particles, which makes said embodiments particularly suitable for use in clean rooms. The wetting device for moisturizing flat mops with a liquid of the various embodiments may enable a cleaner to transfer a precisely defined amount of liquid to a flat mop head, e.g., a flat mop head having a microfiber textile cover. The various embodiments may enable an efficient decontamination of the wetting device.

In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure the wetting device for flat mops comprises an upper end, a lower end, a transfer plate for liquid and a mechanical elevator, wherein the mechanical elevator contains a contact structure, brackets and plastic slide bars, wherein the brackets lift the transfer plate away from the lower end, if the contact structure is pressed towards the lower end and each bracket is connected to at least one plastic slide bar, wherein the plastic slide bars move apart from each other when the transfer plate lifts away from the lower end and wherein the transfer plate lies upon said plastic slide bars during said movement of the slide bars apart from each other.

According to a preferred example of the present disclosure the plastic slide bars are clip holders, each having two clamping thighs that clamp the corresponding bracket.

According to another preferred example of the present disclosure the plastic slide bars comprise or are made from polyacetals, polyethersulfones, polysulfones, polyether ketones, polyketones, polybutylene terephthalate or polytetrafluoroethylene. Rather suitable polymer materials include polyacetals such as polyoxymethylene.

According to some further embodiments the plastic slide bars have a length that is at least five times as large as the maximum width and/or each plastic side bar is detachable.

According to a further embodiment the plastic slide bars each have at least one rounded edge over which the transfer plate glides when the brackets lift the transfer plate away from the lower end.

In some embodiments two opposing central connection plates are pivotably connected to with their upper arms to two opposing lateral brackets and the opposing lower arms of the connection plates are mounted in opposing curved slits of an enclosure, wherein the brackets are also pivotably connected to said enclosure. The slits should be curved to compensate the movements of both brackets.

According to some further embodiments the contact structure is a flat metal framework of connected struts. In these embodiments the struts may have a thickness that equals at least 20% of the width of the struts. Also the struts may form adjacent triangular structures.

In some embodiments the wetting device comprises an enclosure with a first lateral side, a second lateral side and a bottom side, wherein the mechanical elevator is connected to the first and second lateral side. In some of these embodiments the mechanical elevator may be detachably connected to the first and second lateral side by fastening means. Also in some of these embodiments the first and second lateral sides each may comprise a rectangular frame with an internal plate that has two arms connected to the upper side of the rectangular frame and one arm connected to the lower side of the rectangular frame, wherein the lower side of the rectangular frame is connected to the bottom side of the enclosure. The enclosure may be a monobloc piece of metal.

According to a preferred example the transfer plate has a plate bottom and two opposing end sections with raised edges and at least one opening for liquid between said end sections. The two opposing end sections may be enclosed by raised edges in three directions. The at least one opening for liquid between said end sections may limit the raised edges and may be partially formed in the plate bottom and/or may have a length that is at least 25% of the total length of the plate.

In some embodiments the mechanical elevator comprises at least one removable plastic fluid displacer. Said removable plastic fluid displacer may comprise recesses for receiving the brackets.

Also the wetting device may be made from metal apart from the plastic slide bars and/or plastic fluid displacer.

Another example in accordance with the present disclosure is a wetting device, comprising an upper end, a lower end, a transfer plate for liquid and a mechanical elevator, wherein the mechanical elevator contains a contact structure and lifts the transfer plate away from the lower end, if the contact structure is pressed towards the lower end, wherein the transfer plate has two opposing end sections with raised edges and at least one opening for liquid between said end sections.

Another example in accordance with the present disclosure is a wetting device, comprising an upper end, a lower end, a transfer plate for liquid and a mechanical elevator, wherein the mechanical elevator contains a contact structure and lifts the transfer plate away from the lower end, if the contact structure is pressed towards the lower end, wherein the mechanical elevator comprises at least one removable plastic fluid displacer.

The present disclosure also relates to a cleaning trolley with one of the above described wetting devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to a wetting device for flat mops with an upper end and an opposing lower end, comprising a transfer plate for liquid as well as a mechanical elevator, wherein the mechanical elevator contains a contact structure, brackets and plastic slide bars, wherein the brackets lift the transfer plate away from the lower end, if the contact structure is pressed towards the lower end and each bracket is connected to at least one plastic slide bar, wherein the plastic slide bars move apart from each other when the transfer plate lifts away from the lower end and wherein the transfer plate lies upon said plastic slide bars during said movement of the slide bars apart from each other. In some embodiments the wetting device comprises exactly two plastic slide bars.

The plastic slide bars release less particles than the brackets, which is important for clean rooms. In some embodiments the brackets comprise metal or are made out of metal. Before the application of plastic slide bars the release of particles by metal was thought to be lower than the release of particles by a plastic. However, it seems that the direct connection of metals may result in an increased particle release. With a plastic slide bar the transfer plate contacts a softer material and releases less particles, in particular if the transfer plate is made of metal. It was also found that the amount of liquid transferred may be more precise using plastic slide bars, which may be due to a decrease of tugs or jerks in view of improved gliding properties and/or less danger of interlocking.

A mechanical elevator is to be understood as a mechanical mechanism for lifting liquid. When the contact structure is pressed downwards, the force exerted upon the contact structure is transmitted as mechanical power and used to lift the transfer plate that contains liquid.

In some embodiments the mechanical elevator may be disposed within a container, in particular within an enclosure that is disposed within the container. It may also instead be sold without a container and be disposed in a suitable container when in use. Also it is in some embodiments possible that the wetting device comprises a container with a container bottom. Usually the container bottom would be at or next to the lower end of the wetting device. However, also without a container a wetting device may be provided that is suitable for use within container, wherein said container is not part of the wetting device. It is also not necessary (but possible) to attach the wetting device to the container.

When the transfer plate is close to the lower end during use it usually is at least partially submerged in liquid. A container may be partially filled with said liquid to a level that ensures that the transfer plate is submerged in der lower position at the bottom of the container. When the transfer plate is lifted as described above it will also lift beyond the liquid level of the container and retain a specific amount of liquid that is lifted together with the transfer plate. When a textile material cover contacts said liquid it will take up some or most of the liquid. It was found that a contact structure with openings allows a more uniform wetting of the textile material cover. The contact structure may be system of interconnected struts with such openings in between, in particular wherein the maximum width of said struts is multiple times thinner than the maximum diameter of said openings.

In some embodiments the plastic slide bars are detachably connected to the brackets. It was found to be advantageous if the plastic slide bars are detachable from the corresponding brackets. The wetting device may be made in some embodiments mainly from metal, wherein the metal parts are autoclavable. Thoroughness of decontamination with an autoclave may be improved if the plastic slide bars can be removed. The detachable plastic slide bar may be rigid.

In some embodiments the plastic slide bars may be detachable clip holders, each clip holder having two clamping thighs that clamp the corresponding bracket. The clip holders each may have a first clamping thigh and a second clamping thigh, which are connected at a clip elbow. Although various methods for detachably connecting the plastic slide bar to the bracket are possible in principle, e.g., using metal or plastic screws, it was found that clip holders result in less particle emission than screws or bolts. With clip s the force is spread more widely than with screws and it may be that this is at least partially the cause for less particle emission due to less intermittent stress.

In a preferred example the plastic slide bars are made from a thermoplastic material, e.g., polyoxymethylene. Thermoplastics such as polyacetals were found to be especially robust having excellent gliding properties. Among polyacetals polyoxymethylene was found to be particularly suitable. This material helps to decrease particle abrasion and thus particle emission during use, i.e., sliding operation, very well compared to other plastic materials. Said materials are also particularly suitable for detachable plastic slide bars, e.g., the above described clip holders.

In another example the plastic slide bars may be made from or comprise an elastomer with viscoelasticity. Said elastomer may be a silicone rubber, a fluoroelastomer, polyether block amides, ethylene-vinyl acetate, polybutadiene, styrene/acrylates copolymers and such. Silicone rubbers were found to be particularly suitable. The elastomer may be a saturated rubber that cannot be cured by sulfur vulcanization in some embodiments or an unsaturated rubber that can be cured by sulfur vulcanization. The saturated rubber was found to be preferable for some embodiments. Said materials are particularly suitable for plastic slide bars comprising a tunnel and non-detachable plastic slide bars. An embodiment of a plastic slide bar comprising a tunnel may be a plastic slide hose. Thermoplastic elastomers were found to be particularly suitable. Each plastic slide bar having a tunnel may be flexible when the brackets are not inserted, e.g., a flexible silicone hose (they are essentially rigid, once the brackets are inserted).

Each plastic slide bar may have a length that is at least five times as large as the maximum width. In this case said plastic slide bars extend below a significant portion of the transfer plate. This distributes the force evenly, resulting in even less particle emission.

In some embodiments the plastic clip holder may have at least one rounded edge over and/or around which the transfer plate glides when the brackets lift the transfer plate away from the lower end. In some embodiments the clip elbow may have at least one rounded edge over and/or around which the transfer plate glides when the brackets lift the transfer plate away from the lower end.

In some embodiments two opposing central connection plates are pivotably connected to with their upper arms to two opposing lateral brackets and the opposing lower arms of the connection plates are mounted in opposing curved slits of an enclosure, wherein the brackets are also pivotably connected to said enclosure. It should be noted that also other connections are possible to achieve a lifting of a transfer plate. However, this lever system was found to be particularly efficient in terms of cost and reliability.

Each connection plates may in some embodiments be essentially T-shaped. The brackets may also be essentially U-shaped. It is to be understood that the shapes that are described as “essentially T-shaped” or “essentially U-shaped” relate to the general arrangement of arms. A T-shape implies that tow arms on one end are opposed by one arm on the other end. A Y-shaped arm is essentially also a T-shape as the angles are not decisive. A U-shaped arm has two arms pointing in one direction that are connected by a connecting section. Said connecting section may be curved, but a U-shaped arm may also have a flat connection section (comparable to a rectangle with one missing side). Each brackets may also be U-shaped in some embodiments.

Each connection plate may comprise a slidable plate pin that is mounted within the curved slit. Said slidable plate pin may be a screw that is detachably fastened to the connection plate, e.g., using a threaded mounting fixture of the connection plate. Additionally the connection plate may have a slit, in particular a straight slit, for the bracket pin of one of the brackets and a circular hole for a bracket pin of the other bracket. It may be that one bracket is connected by two pivotable and slidable bracket pins to the connection plate, whereas the other brocket is connected by two bracket pins that are only pivotable and not slidable.

Each connection plate may comprise a slit, in particular a straight slit, wherein a bracket pin is mounted.

The contact structure may be a flat metal framework of connected struts. In principle a plate is also possible on which the transfer plate is held. However, with struts it was found that less material is needed and the transfer plate is still mounted.

In some embodiments said struts may have a thickness that equals at least 20% of the width of the struts. In some of said embodiments said struts may have a thickness that equals at least 30% of the width of the struts. This results in a seemingly fragile framework of struts that was found to be very robust. The length of said struts usually may be several times larger than the thickness and width. In some embodiments the length is at least five times or even at least ten times larger than the width and/or the thickness of each strut.

Also the struts may form adjacent triangular structures. Triangular structures were found to be particularly robust. Said triangular structures may comprise triangular openings. For example the struts may formed a rectangle with diagonal struts connection the edges. Also in some embodiments the rectangle may have additional protruding triangular structures beyond said rectangle resulting in a wider contact area.

In some embodiments the wetting device comprises an enclosure with a first lateral side, a second lateral side and a bottom side, wherein the mechanical elevator is connected to the first and second lateral sides. Although it is possible to provide mechanical elevators without such enclosures, it was found that they are more robust with them. Mechanical elevators without such enclosures might be secured to the container itself.

The mechanical elevator may be detachably connected to the first and second lateral side by fastening means. Said fastening means may be bolts, screws, clamps, clip holders and other mechanical fastening means. Most suited were screws. It was found that decontamination with an autoclave is significantly improved if the mechanical elevator can be removed. In some embodiments the mechanical elevator itself can be disassembled for an even better decontamination. The mechanical elevator may have several monobloc pieces, such as the above described connection plates and brackets that are detachably connected by mechanical fastening means as described above.

In some embodiments the first and second lateral sides each may comprise a rectangular frame with an internal plate that has two arms connected to the upper side of the rectangular frame and one arm connected to the lower side of the rectangular frame, wherein the lower side of the rectangular frame is connected to the bottom side of the enclosure. In some embodiments said internal plate comprises a curved slot in which the above described connection plate is slidably mounted. Also the brackets may be pivotably connected to said internal plate, e.g., to the two arms connected to the upper side.

In some embodiments said enclosure may be a monobloc piece of metal. This results in a particularly robust design. The enclosure may have been formed from a single plate by cutting and bending or punching and bending.

In some embodiments the lower end of the wetting device may be formed by the bottom side of the enclosure and the upper end of the wetting device may be formed by the top endings of the first lateral side and/or second lateral side. The bottom side may also comprise feet, wherein said feet are suited to stand on a container bottom.

In some embodiments the transfer plate may have a plate bottom and two opposing end sections with raised edges for retaining liquid and at least one opening for liquid between said end sections. Said two opposing end sections may in some embodiments be enclosed by raised edges in three directions. In some embodiments each raised edge may have three segments, i.e., two lateral segment and one end segment connecting the lateral segments. The at least one opening for liquid may be arranged between lateral segments of raised edges of opposing end sections. Said opening for liquid between said end sections may limit the raised edges and may partially be formed in the plate bottom and/or may have a length that is at least 25% of the total length of the plate. The transfer plate has the function of transferring a predefined amount of liquid. The amount of liquid is largely predefined by the geometry of the plate. If a lot of liquid shall be transferred, circumferential raised edges may be used, e.g., like with a bowl. If little liquid shall be transferred, opening for liquid may be implemented, e.g., like with a net that holds no liquid. Thus transfer plates with openings for little liquid are known and bowls for transfer of larger amounts liquid are also known. Surprisingly a combination of raised edges for retaining liquid with at least one opening for releasing liquid results in an improved transfer plate. It was found that said transfer plate can compensate some negative influences. Ideally the transfer plate is lifted absolutely horizontally, i.e., there is no incline at all. However, due to the applied force, vibrations or a slight inclination of the ground the wetting device is placed on, there may be a deviation from such a horizontal orientation. With the transfer plate as described above the amount of liquid is still largely predefined by the geometry of the plate even with some slight deviation from a horizontal orientation. Thus the described design is more reliable than other solutions. This may be at least partly because liquid needs more time to drain off from the plate and cannot drain off at the ends.

In some embodiments the mechanical elevator comprises at least one removable fluid displacer. The fluid displacer may be made of plastic or metal. The fluid displacer may be a single monobloc piece or have several parts. With a fluid displacer it was found that less fluid is needed. In some embodiments the fluid displacer displaces at least 50% of the liquid that would be in the container until the level at which the fluid displacer is fully covered, when the fluid displacer is made use of.

Said removable plastic fluid displacer may comprise recesses for receiving the brackets. This allows the brackets to lower further and results even less liquid to be needed.

The recesses may have an inclined wall for receiving the brackets when they are inserted into the recesses. Said incline may be between 20 and 80° compared to the orientation of the transfer plate, for example 30 to 50°. This construction of recesses displaces most liquid while allowing the brackets to be lowered further as described above. The brackets usually are not lowered vertically, but pivot into said recess.

The removable plastic fluid displacer may be made from a thermoplastic material. Suitable thermoplastic materials include polyacetals, polyethersulfones, polysulfones, polyether ketones, polyketones, polybutylene terephthalate or polytetrafluoroethylene. Rather suitable polymer materials include polyacetals such as polyoxymethylene.

Said removable plastic fluid displacer may be attached to the enclosure, e.g., the bottom side of said enclosure. In some suitable embodiments the plastic fluid displacer is made of two or more parts, each of which is attached to the enclosure. The recesses may be formed between said parts.

In some embodiments the bottom side of said enclosure has at least one opening for the fluid displacer. Said at least one opening (in case of several openings the openings) may constitute a large section of the total bottom side. The bottom side may be a frame for the fluid displacer. In some embodiments the at least one opening is essentially rectangular. The at least one opening has two potential advantages. It may provide more space for the fluid displacer and thus less water is needed (in the area of the opening fluid is displaced in this case). Also said at least one opening may help in securing the fluid displacer, e.g., as a plug-in system wherein the fluid displacer clicks into the at least opening.

In some embodiments the bottom side has a number of openings for an equal number of parts of a multipart fluid displacer. Each part of the fluid displacer may fit into the an corresponding opening.

The removable plastic fluid displacer may be autoclavable.

In some embodiments the wetting device is apart from the plastic slide bars and/or plastic fluid displacer made from metal, i.e., the wetting device is made completely from metal with the exception of the plastic slide bars and/or the plastic fluid displacer (if there is a plastic fluid displacer implemented).

The present disclosure also relates to a wetting device with an upper end and a lower end, comprising a transfer plate for liquid as well as a mechanical elevator, wherein the mechanical elevator contains a contact structure and lifts the transfer plate away from the lower end, if the contact structure is pressed towards the lower end, wherein the transfer plate has two opposing end sections with raised edges and at least one opening for liquid between said end sections. The advantages of such a transfer plate have already been discussed.

The present disclosure also relates to a wetting device with an upper end and a lower end, comprising a transfer plate for liquid as well as a mechanical elevator, wherein the mechanical elevator contains a contact structure and lifts the transfer plate away from the lower end, if the contact structure is pressed towards the lower end, wherein the mechanical elevator comprises at least one removable plastic fluid displacer. The advantages of such a fluid displacer have already been discussed.

The present disclosure also relates to a cleaning trolley comprising the wetting device as described above.

FIG. 1shows an embodiment of a wetting device1for flat mops with an upper end34and a lower end35. The wetting device1ofFIG. 1with an upper end34and a lower end35has a transfer plate4for liquid as well as a mechanical elevator5, wherein the mechanical elevator5contains a contact structure6and brackets7a,7b. The brackets7a,7bofFIG. 1are in a lowered position and may be lifted into a lifted position as shown inFIG. 2, when the contact structure6is pressed downwards.FIG. 1depicts connection plates12a,12b. The connection plates12a,12beach may have upper arms13a,13band lower arms13cthat are mounted in opposing curved slits14a,14bwith movable plate pins28. The mechanical elevator5may comprise at least one removable plastic fluid displacer30. Said connection plates12a,12bmay be connected to an enclosure15with an internal plate20a,20bcomprising said curved slits14a,14b.

FIG. 2shows again the embodiment ofFIG. 1.FIG. 2differs in that the brackets7a,7bofFIG. 1are in a raised position and consequently also the transfer plate4is lifted. The mechanical elevator5of the wetting device1with an upper end34and a lower end35may lift the transfer plate4with its raised edges23a,23binto the position ofFIG. 2. The contact structure6has been pressed downwards do achieve this configuration. It is thus lower than inFIG. 1. This configuration usually is only maintained as long as a force is applied to the contact structure6. If the force is removed from contact structure6gravitation would move the mechanism into the configuration ofFIG. 1.FIG. 2also shows the connection plates12a,12bwhich have been lowered. The slidable plate pin28in the slit14bis moved downwards together with the connection plates12a,12bthat may be attached to the contact structure6. The two opposing connection plates12a,12bmay be pivotably connected with their upper arms to two opposing lateral brackets7a,7band the opposing lower arms13a,13bof the connection plates may be mounted in opposing curved slits14a,14bof an enclosure15, wherein the brackets may be also pivotably connected to said enclosure15. InFIG. 2also one the plastic slide bars8aand a fluid displacer30is depicted and will be discussed in detail in connection withFIGS. 3 and 5.

FIG. 3shows an embodiment of a plastic slide bar8a. The plastic slide bar8amay be a detachable clip holder, having two clamping thighs9,10that clamp the corresponding bracket (not shown inFIG. 3). The plastic slide bar8amay have a length L1that is at least five times as large as the maximum width W. The plastic slide bar8amay have at least one rounded edge11over which the transfer plate4glides when the brackets7a,7blift the transfer plate4away from the lower end35. The second plastic slide bar8bmay be built as a mirror image or identically (not shown inFIG. 3).

FIG. 4shows an embodiment of a transfer plate4. Said transfer plate4may have a plate bottom27and two opposing end sections25a,25bwith raised edges23a,23band at least one opening24a,24bfor liquid between said end sections25a,25b. Said two opposing end sections25a,25bmay be enclosed by said raised edges23a,23bin three directions. The at least one opening24a,24bfor liquid between said end sections25a,25bmay limit the raised edges23a,23band may be partially formed in the plate bottom27and/or may have a length L2that is at least 25% of the total length of the plate L3. Stoppers26a,26b,26c,26dcan be implemented to ensure that the transfer plate4is secured.

FIG. 5shows an embodiment of a removable plastic fluid displacer. Said removable plastic fluid displacer may comprise recesses33a,33bfor receiving the brackets not shown inFIG. 4. Said recesses33a,33bmay have inclined walls32for receiving the brackets when they are inserted into the recesses. The fluid displacer may have several parts31a,31b,31c, wherein the recesses33a,33bare also defined by the distances between said parts.

FIG. 6shows a top down view of an embodiment of a wetting device1with the brackets7a,7bin a raised position. The transfer plate4has been detached to show the mechanism better. The brackets7a,7bhave a U-shape and each bracket7a,7bis connected to at least one plastic slide bar8a,8b. The opposing brackets7a,7bare connected by connection plates12a,12bof the mechanical elevator5. Said brackets are also pivotably connected to the enclosure15. In this embodiments the bottom side18of said enclosure has at openings37a,37b,37cfor the fluid displacer. The fluid displacer is not shown to enable a view upon said openings.

FIG. 7shows a schematic side on view of an embodiment of the wetting device1with an upper end34and a lower end35with the mechanical elevator5in a lowered configuration. InFIG. 7a central connection plates12bis pivotably connected with its upper arms13a,13bto two opposing lateral brackets7a,7band the opposing lower arm13cof the connection plate is mounted in a curved slit14bof the enclosure15, wherein the brackets are also pivotably connected at pivot points19a,19bto said enclosure15. The enclosure15comprises a rectangular frame with an internal plate20bthat has two arms21a,21bconnected to the upper side22aof the rectangular frame and one arm21cconnected to the lower side22bof the rectangular frame, wherein the lower side22aof the rectangular frame is connected to the bottom side of the enclosure15. The slit14bfor mounting the T-shaped plate12bis part of the arm21c.

FIG. 8shows a schematic side on view of an embodiment of the wetting device1with an upper end34and a lower end35with the mechanical elevator5in a raised configuration. It is the same embodiment asFIG. 7, but a different configuration. The brackets7a,7bare raised and contain plastic slide bars8a,8b. In contrast toFIG. 7the slidable plate pin28holding the connection plate12bmoved downwards together with said connection plate12b. The slidable plate pin28is secured in the curved slit14bof the enclosure15.

FIG. 9shows a perspective view of an embodiment of wetting device1without a transfer plate with the brackets7a,7bin a lowered position. Said brackets contain plastic slide bars8a,8b. The mechanical elevator5contains a contact structure6and brackets7a,7b. Said brackets7a,7bare pivotable about fastening means19a,19b,19c,19d, which also connect the first and second lateral side16,17of the enclosure15. Said enclosure15with said first lateral side16and said second lateral side17also has a bottom side18, wherein the mechanical elevator5is connected to the first and second lateral side16,17. This embodiment contains no removable plastic fluid displacer. Connection plates12a,12bare connected to internal plates20a,20bof the enclosure15by slidable plate pins28within curved slits of the enclosure (cf.,FIGS. 1, 2, 6, 7). The brackets7a,7bare pivotably connected to the connection plates12a,12bby connecting bracket pins19eand19f. On the opposite side similar connecting bracket pins19gand19hare not visible from this perspective (cf.,FIG. 12).

FIG. 10shows a perspective view of the embodiment ofFIG. 9within a container2with the brackets in a lowered position. The mechanical elevator5and the enclosure15within the container2have already been discussed in connection withFIG. 9. The container2has a container bottom3.

FIG. 11shows an embodiment of a cleaning trolley40with an embodiment of a wetting device1. The wetting device1comprises a contact structure6with a container2with a container bottom3. Other details of the wetting device1can be derived from previous figures. Said wetting device1is part of the cleaning trolley. Said cleaning trolley40also has another container45for clean textile covers for flat mops. The cleaning trolley40has a handle41with a traverse bar42, to which a discharge system46for flat mop covers is attached by a fastening means43, e.g., a screw. Below said discharge system46is a frame44for holding bags. An embodiment of flat mop51with a flat mop head50and without a textile cover is depicted as well.

FIG. 12shows in a) a schematic display of the brackets7a,7bwith plastic slide bars8a,8bin a lowered position. Said brackets7a,7bmay be pivotably fixed to the enclosure by fastening means19a,19b. The connection plate12bmay be mounted in a curved slit14bof the enclosure the position of the slit14bis indicated, wherein the slidable plate pin28is in a high position. The brackets7a,7bmay be pivotably connected to the connection plate12bby two connecting bracket pins19gand19hand one of said connecting bracket pins19gis mounted slidable in a straight slit19gof the connection plate12b. On the other side no such slit is necessary for connecting bracket pin19hin this embodiment of a mechanism. The slit14bmay be curved in such a way that it follows the pivotal movement of the bracket7b, but not the opposing bracket7a. A curved slit29compensates the pivotal movement of bracket7a. In b) an intermediate position is shown, wherein the brackets7a,7bare lifted to some degree, but not fully. In c) the final position is shown, in which the brackets7a,7bare lifted completely. The slidable plate pin28in slit14balso serves as a stopper for this movement.

FIG. 13shows another embodiment of plastic slide bar8a. This plastic slide bar may be made of an elastomer. The plastic slide bar may comprise a tunnel36that surrounds the corresponding bracket (not shown inFIG. 13). The plastic slide bar may have a length L1that is at least five times as large as the maximum width W. The plastic slide bar may have at least one rounded edge11over which the transfer plate4glides when the brackets7a,7blift the transfer plate4away from the lower end35. The second plastic slide bar8bmay be built as a mirror image or identically (not shown inFIG. 13).

The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, the claims and the drawings can be essential, both individually and in any combination, to implement the invention in its various embodiments.