FLOOR MAINTENANCE DISC CLEANING APPARATUS AND METHOD

Abstract: A cleaning machine comprising: (i) a top loading tank (10); (ii) a rotatable agitator assembly (12) incorporating one or more agitators (13a, b), said agitator assembly being mountable over the tank such that the agitator(s) extend downwards into the tank said rotatable agitator assembly being rotatable about a spindle (11); (iii) a turning means (15) with which to rotate the agitator assembly.

Description: FLOOR MAINTENANCE DISC CLEANING APPARATUS AND METHOD Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cleaning device for cleaning a variety of objects. It is particularly applicable, but in no way limited, to cleaning floor maintenance pads used in conjunction with mechanical floor cleaners. Background to the Invention Most walking surfaces in public areas require some sort of daily preservations. The floor areas of most buildings are maintained either by in-house personnel or by professional cleaning companies. Typically, these parties employ some sort of commercially manufactured floor scrubber, cleaner or polisher. These machines operate by rotating a pad or set of pads across the area of the floor to be stripped, cleaned, waxed and/or buffed. Generally, these machines operate in conjunction with a variety of stripping, cleaning and waxing solvents. The physical construction of these pads differ somewhat depending upon their intended use. The maintenance pads used for floor stripping and cleaning, for example, function by collecting soil within the mesh network of the pads as they are moved across the floor. The pads used with most commercial floor scrubbers, cleaners and polishers are disc-shaped. They are generally in the order of 2cm to 5cm thick and have a circular hole through which they are mounted for use. The pad material, comprised of a mesh network, is prepared in sheet form, with individual floor pads stamped out therefrom. Because of this uniform stamping, most pads have a circular hole of about a 9cm diameter through the centre. The outer diameters of these pads vary in size depending upon their intended use and the brand of commercial machine involved. Once a floor pad becomes sufficiently saturated with soil, it is removed and either discarded or set aside for later cleaning, with a new pad inserted in its place. Although these pads are readily available and sold in bulk quantities, the increased cost of said pads necessitates more than one use per pad. Because of its mesh network construction, a floor pad can be reused if it is properly cleaned. A majority of the soil contained within the mesh network can be dislodged by pressure hosing the pad with water. However, this operation can only be performed satisfactorily out of doors and creates a large amount of mess. Where the pads have to be scrubbed by hand to rid them of collected debris this is also a messy operation. Any brushing action which is vigorous enough to dislodge soil tends to spray dirty water over the cleaning technician. None of these operations can be easily performed with a cleaning solution. Machines for cleaning a plurality of floor maintenance pads are known and one such device is described in US4597126 (Beech). However, such machines suffer from a number of disadvantages because they are both expensive and cumbersome. To operate efficiently they need to be filled with pads, typically 15 or more. This means that dirty pads must be stored in some numbers prior to cleaning. As well as this space requirement, such machines also require an electrical power supply, which is not always available where cleaners keep their equipment. It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome or minimise some or all of the above problems. Summary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided a cleaning machine comprising:- (i) a top loading tank; (ii) a rotatable agitator assembly incorporating one or more agitators, said agitator assembly being mountable over the tank such that the agitator(s) extend downwards into the tank said rotatable agitator assembly being rotatable about a spindle; (iii) a turning means with which to rotate the agitator assembly. This arrangement allows one or more items to be cleaned to be placed one on top of each other in the tank, which is filled with cleaning solution such that the cleaning solution covers the uppermost item to be cleaned, and the agitator assembly is placed on top and simply rotated by hand. The agitators clean the uppermost face of the uppermost item in the tank. The items to be cleaned are then repositioned such that each face of each item is cleaned in turn. Preferably the tank incorporates a central spindle adapted to accommodate both the rotatable agitator assembly and the item(s) to be cleaned. This arrangement makes it particularly easy to load the machine and to rotate the agitator assembly. Preferably the rotatable agitator assembly incorporates a roller, said roller being adapted to contact, during the cleaning operation, the uppermost item to be cleaned such that the bottom(s) of the agitator(s) are positioned in a predetermined configuration with respect to the object being cleaned. The roller is preferably placed substantially below the turning means. This arrangement avoids the operator having to judge accurately the optimum downward force to apply to the agitator assembly whilst turning it. In one embodiment the agitator(s) are mounted on a rotatable lid which substantially covers the tank. In a particularly preferred embodiment the rotatable lid does not cover substantially the whole of the top of the tank but leaves a clear area to allow visual inspection of the tank contents. Preferably one or more agitators are rotatably mounted with respect to the rotatable agitator assembly. Where the agitators themselves are rotatable, preferably the rotatable agitator assembly further comprises a gearing arrangement, adapted to engage with gear teeth on the spindle, such that one or more of the agitators rotate about their own axis as the agitator assembly rotates around the tank. Preferably the agitators are formed from protrusions on the underside of a rotatable lid. In a particularly preferred embodiment the protrusions can take the form of one or more annular rings. Alternatively the protrusions can take the form of a series of tines or undulations attached to or integral with the underside of the rotatable lid. In a further alternative, the agitators take the form of brushes. Preferably the brushes are mounted on a rotatable lid which substantially covers the tank. In a particularly preferred arrangement the rotatable agitator assembly incorporates three brushes, each extending radially outward from the centre of the assembly. Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:- Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic exploded view of a cleaning machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view according to a first embodiment showing a tank, a circular floor cleaning pad to be cleaned and a rotatable agitator assembly including three brushes (not shown); Figure 3 is a side elevation of the items shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 illustrates a plan view of the tank and rotatable agitator member of the embodiment shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 illustrates a possible gearing arrangement for rotatable cleaning agitators; Figure 7 illustrates in cross-section a clip on lip arrangement for the tank. Description of the Preferred Embodiments Embodiments of the present invention are now described below by way of example only. These examples represent the best ways of putting the invention into practice that are currently known to the applicant although they are not the only ways in which this could be achieved. Referring to Figure 1 , which illustrates a first embodiment of the present invention, this shows a tank 10 which incorporates a central spindle 1 1. The spindle has two functions. Firstly, it is designed to accommodate the item or items to be cleaned and secondly it allows a rotatable agitator assembly or rota 12 to be placed over the tank. The rota incorporates at least one agitator or in this embodiment a brush element or brush 13. In this example two brushes are shown, 13A and 13B. These extend radially outwardly form the centre of the rotatable agitator assembly. The rotatable agitator assembly incorporates at its centre a collar or spindle mount 14 adapted to fit over the spindle in the tank. The rotatable agitator assembly may also include two other important features; a turning means which in this case is a handle 15 with which to rotate it and a roller 16 located such that it engages the item(s) to be cleaned. In this case the item is a floor-cleaning pad 17. Before describing the operation of this new cleaning machine, these various components will now be described in more detail. The tank 10 can be formed in any suitable size or shape provided it is liquid tight and can accommodate in some way the rotatable agitator assembly. It is advantageous to provide a drain plug (not shown) to allow the tank to be emptied without physically tipping it out. The drain plug typically has provision for connecting a hose such that liquid can be directed to drain or to a storage tank. An alternative to a drain plug is a spout formed in the edge of the tank such that liquid can be tipped out of the tank in a controlled fashion. The term "spindle" in this description is also intended to have a broad meaning. Its main purpose is to allow the rotatable agitator assembly to rotate over the top of the item to be cleaned. Thus any functional equivalent or structure which facilitates this comes within the definition of "spindle" herein. It could, for example, be a depression in the centre of the tank which accommodates a similarly shaped downward protrusion on the rotatable agitator assembly. The term "roller" is intended to encompass any feature which supports the rotatable agitator assembly above the item to be cleaned whilst still allowing it to rotate. A conventional roller, a wheel or wheels, ball, caster or skid will all serve this purpose. It is not necessary that the roller must be able to physically rotate but this may be an advantage. The term "turning means" has a broad meaning in this context and as well as including a simple handle is intended to encompass any mechanical arrangement which, in operation, results in a rotation of the agitator assembly. The agitators associated with the rotatable agitator assembly can take any suitable form, depending on what item is being cleaned. They need not contain individual bristles as with a conventional brush but could be a series of plastic or metal tines, or undulations in the underneath surface of the rotatable agitator assembly. They can also be replaceable elements such as when they wear, or a different cleaning job has to be done, they can be replaced. Or, alternatively, they could be formed integrally with the rotatable agitator assembly. Further types of agitator as illustrated in a second embodiment are shown in Figures 4 and 5. This illustrates a tank 30 with a central spindle 31. A pad 37 fits over the spindle 31 and rests on the bottom of the tank. The pad is prevented from rotating by gripping means 38 in the bottom of the tank. These gripping means can take a wide variety of forms. They could, for example, be individual tines formed in the bottom of the tank. They could take the form of gripping pads, as illustrated in Figure 4, set into the bottom of the tank. They simply need to be able to engage with the pad material in some way to prevent it rotating. Hooked, barbed or angled tines are beneficial, where the hooks or angled ends of the tines point in a direction opposite to the direction in which the pad would tend to rotate. In this embodiment the agitators are formed from annular rings 33 projecting down from the underside of the rotatable agitator assembly. These rings can be of various sizes and shapes and need not be of substantially circular cross-section as illustrated in Figure 5. These annular rings have proved particularly effective at lifting soil off the pad. This is probably due to eddy currents being set up within the rings as they move across the surface of the pad. These currents are set up as a result of pressure differentials between the inside and outside of the ring and across the ring itself. As explained above, the profile of these rings can vary considerably. A circular profile has the advantage of cost because the rings can be formed by cutting lengths off a piece of pipe. However, oblong, rectangular, square or irregular shaped annuli would also work. Their optimum size, number and location can be determined by experiment. It is advantageous to make the rotatable lid with positions for additional rings as necessary. Basically, the rings are spaced and positioned such that every part of the pad falls within the swept area. Preferably there is some overlap so that the area of the pad is swept by two rings or parts of two rings. The rings may be secured to the underside of the lid by adhesive or welding or may be formed as an integral part of the lid. The rings may be of different sizes. 50mm diameter and 66mm diameter rings have proved a good combination and a depth of 18mm has proved optimum. In an alternative embodiment some or all of the agitators can take the form of rotatable cogs as shown in Figure 6. These cogs are mounted onto the underside of the lid and rotate about their own central axes. The central spindle has teeth formed around its outside edge and these teeth are so sized and shaped that they engage with the cog nearest the centre of the lid. The teeth on the central spindle could be formed by placing a fixed cogwheel over the spindle or could be an integral part of the spindle itself. As the agitator assembly is turned around with the handle the cogwheels on the agitator assembly each rotate, usually counter-rotatory to its neighbours. It will be appreciated that the cogs are relatively large and the movement of the large teeth over the surface of the pad dislodges any dirt. This action can be augmented by having the underside of the cogs hollow and thus creating eddy currents as with the annular rings. As a further alternative to rings or brushes a series of undulating ribs formed on the underside of the agitator assembly could be used (not shown). These would function in a similar way to the leading edges of the rings. It will therefore be appreciated that the term 'agitator' in this description has a very broad meaning and is intended to encompass any physical feature capable of dislodging dirt from a surface as the agitator assembly passes over that surface. It is preferable that the tank has an inwardly facing lip 42 to encourage any liquid in the tank to fall back into the tank in the event that it splashes up against the sides. However, this can cause complications when moulding the tank. To simplify the moulding process the tank wall 41 is preferably angled outwards slightly. However, an inward depending lip would prevent the tank from being released from the mould. To avoid this problem the lip 42 can be formed from a separate moulding which is clipped over the rim of the tank wall. This moulding can be a light fit or can be held in place by adhesive or some form of weld. Turning now to the operation of this cleaning machine. One or more items to be cleaned are placed in the tank over the central spindle. Any suitable cleaning solution is added to cover the uppermost item. The rota is placed over the top of the tank and rotated several times by hand. This dislodges the soil from the uppermost face of the uppermost item, which is then turned over and the other face cleaned. This operation is repeated until all the items have been cleaned. It will be appreciated that, within reason, any number of items can be placed in the tank one on top of the other and that while the uppermost item is being cleaned the other items are simply in soak. As the items are removed, one by one after cleaning, the rotatable agitator assembly simply descends further into the tank. The roller keeps the rotatable agitator assembly in the correct configuration in relation to the uppermost item to be cleaned. Figure 2 illustrates an interesting alternative arrangement. The rota 22 in this embodiment consists of three brush arms 23A, 23B, 23C extending radially and equally spaced away from a central collar. The space between each brush arm is just that, a void. It has surprisingly been discovered that because the brushing action takes place well below the surface of the cleaning solution, there is substantially no splashing. Thus, it is not necessary to have a solid top to contain any liquid splashes which saves considerably on materials and thus on cost. It also means that the operator can see exactly how the cleaning process is proceeding. It is therefore feasible to make the rotatable agitator assemblies as a relatively cheap, disposable item rather than having replacement brush elements. Movement, especially rotational movement, of the pads or other items being cleaned within the tank is not generally a problem. However, the bottom of the tank can be formed with a rough surface to increase friction if necessary. For example, a series of spiked protrusions can be formed in all or part of the bottom surface of the tank which achieves the desired result. It will be appreciated that this cleaning apparatus can be used to clean a wide variety of items. It is not restricted to cleaning floor maintenance pads but could, for example, be used to clean other circular items such as tyres. The components described above can be constructed from any suitable material as specified by a materials expert. Typically, the items will be constructed from plastics material or from metal or from a combination of both. It will be appreciated therefore that when used to clean floor maintenance pads, this pad renovator fills a gap in the janitorial supply market. The apparatus is in two main sections; a circular bowl or tank in which floor cleaning pads of various sizes can be soaked and a rotatable top section equipped with agitators or bristles, roller and a handle. The rotatable top section has a central collar to locate it over and around a central spindle formed as part of the bowl moulding. The bowl is deep enough to accommodate several pads and at a little over 450cm in diameter will accommodate all popular pad sizes in the United Kingdom. The rotatable top section has three arms furnished with integral bristles along their length on the underside. A turning handle for manual operation is on the upper side of one of the rota arms. The rota moulding includes two lugs on the under side to accommodate a snap-on roller. The roller component regulates the brush pressure that is applied by the operator thus allowing for the smooth operation of the mechanism once a cleaning solution has been introduced. Where rings are used as agitators a roller is not required. The provision of lugs for a longer snap-on roller is also possible. Heavily soiled stripping pads generally have dirt caked on inside the fabric of the pad and these can be renovated with the use of a wire brush type of roller. Thus a pipe cleaner shaped cylindrical roller with wire bristles would be capable of sinking into the fabric of the pad and rejuvenating it.

Claims: Claims 1. A cleaning machine comprising:- (i) a top loading tank; (ii) a rotatable agitator assembly incorporating one or more agitators, said agitator assembly being mountable over the tank such that the agitator(s) extend downwards into the tank said rotatable agitator assembly being rotatable about a spindle; (iii) a turning means with which to rotate the agitator assembly. 2. A cleaning machine as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the tank incorporates a central spindle adapted to accommodate both the rotatable agitator assembly and the item(s) to be cleaned. 3. A cleaning machine as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the rotatable agitator assembly incorporates a roller, said roller being adapted to contact, during the cleaning operation, the uppermost item to be cleaned such that the bottom(s) of the agitator(s) are positioned in a pre-determined configuration with respect to the item being cleaned. 4. A cleaning machine as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the agitator(s) are mounted on a rotatable lid which substantially covers the tank. 5. A cleaning machine as claimed in any preceding claim wherein one or more agitators are rotatably mounted with respect to the rotatable agitator assembly. 6. A cleaning machine as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the rotatable agitator assembly further comprises a gearing arrangement, adapted to engage with gear teeth on the spindle, such that one or more of the agitators rotate about their own axis as the agitator assembly rotates around the tank. 7. A cleaning machine as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the agitators are formed from protrusions on the underside of a rotatable lid. 8. A cleaning machine as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the protrusions take the form of one or more annular rings. 9. A cleaning machine as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the protrusions take the form of a series of tines or undulations attached to or integral with the underside of the rotatable lid. 10. A cleaning machine as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the agitators take the form of brushes. 11. A cleaning machine substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any combination of the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: THORN JEREMY RICHARD, WOOLFORD PETER MARK, THORN, JEREMY, RICHARD, WOOLFORD, PETER, MARK
Applicants: THORN JEREMY RICHARD, WOOLFORD PETER MARK, THORN, JEREMY, RICHARD, WOOLFORD, PETER, MARK
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B08B1
IPC codes: B08B1