Abstract:
A surface maintenance apparatus is described, having a sweeping system positioned near the front or leading edge of the apparatus. The sweeping system includes a plurality of brushes and a removable hopper for collecting debris. The sweeping system is capable of being raised off the surface being maintained when the sweeping system encounters an obstacle or irregularity on the surface. The brushes are pivotally mounted to the surface maintenance apparatus to allow the brushes to be rotated away from each other, providing access to the removable hopper from the front end of the surface maintenance apparatus.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/294,298, filed on May 29, 2001, the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirely by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to surface maintenance or conditioning machines, and particularly those machines employing one or more surface maintenance or conditioning appliances or tools that perform one or more tasks including, among others, scrubbing, sweeping, and polishing or burnishing. More specifically, the present invention is particularly directed to a sweeper system for such surface conditioning machines. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Surface maintenance machines that perform a single surface maintenance or surface conditioning task are well known. Surface maintenance machines are generally directed to applications such as floor surfaces, or simply floors. The term floor, as used herein, refers to any support surface, such as, among others, floors, pavements, road surfaces, ship decks, and the like. 
     Commonly, floor or surface maintenance machines are constructed having a single surface conditioning appliance or system so as to only sweep, others to scrub, while still others only to polish or burnish. It is possible to construct a single surface maintenance machine to perform one or more of the aforementioned surface maintenance tasks. 
     One example of a multi-task floor conditioning machine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,204,280, entitled, “Floor Cleaning &amp; Waxing Machine,” issued to Campbell, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for any and all purposes. Another is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,002, entitled, “Floor Cleaning Machine,” in name of inventors Waldhauser, et al., the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for any and all purposes. Disclosed therein is a forward sweeper assembly followed by a scrubber assembly that is followed by a squeegee assembly. 
     Yet, another example of a multi-task floor conditioning machine is disclosed in a PCT application having publication number WO 00/74549, published Dec. 14, 2000, entitled “Floor Cleaning Machine,” in name of inventors Thomas, et al., the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for any and all purposes. The machine disclosed therein performs the task of sweeping, scrubbing, and burnishing, and includes a squeegee assembly in combination with a vacuum system for removing cleaning solution from a floor subsequent to a cleaning and scrubbing operation. 
     As illustrated in WO 00/74549, thereshown is a single unitary walk-behind machine that is transportable across a floor. Successively attached to the machine, from front to back, are independent floor maintenance systems. At the forward section of the machine is a sweeping system. At the rearward section of the machine, near the machine steering control, is a burnishing system. In between the sweeping system and the burnishing system is a scrubbing system including forward scrubbing brushes coupled to a cleaning solution dispensing system and rearward following squeegees coupled to a liquid vacuum system for recovering expended cleaning solution. 
     Burnishing systems generally include a scheme for controlling the degree of burnishing applied to a floor surface depending upon the type of floor surface intended to be burnished. Burnishing systems well known in the art commonly include a driver assembly which includes a working appliance or tool such as a pad or brush affixed to a driver that is rotatably driven by a driver motor. The driver assembly of the burnishing systems of the prior art have been selectively raised and lowered by an actuator so as to achieve an intended force or pressure against a floor surface intended to be polished or burnished. 
     Scrubbing systems are analogous to burnishing systems, and are also well known in the art. Scrubbing systems commonly include a driver assembly including rotatable scrubber in the form of a brush, pad, or the like, and a scheme for controlling the degree of scrubbing applied to a floor surface depending upon the type of floor surface intended to be scrubbed. Too much scrubbing of course may deleteriously affect the floor surface requiring further maintenance. The scrubber driver assemblies for scrubbing systems, like burnishing systems, are well known in the art and commonly include one or more rotatable brushes driven by a driver motor affixed to a scrubber head. Scrubber heads of the prior art have been selectively raised and lowered by an actuator coupled to the driver so as to achieve an intended force or pressure of the brush against a floor surface intended to be scrubbed. Examples of the latter are taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,757,566; 4,769,271; 5,481,776; 5,615,437; 5,943,724; and 6,163,915, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety for any and all purposes. 
     Sweeper systems are also analogous to burnishing systems. Sweeper systems commonly include a rotatable sweeper system brush driven by a driver motor. Like burnishing and scrubbing systems, the sweeper system brush may be lowered and raised relative to a floor, which may more or less affect the floor surface. 
     As illustrated in the multi-task surface conditioning machine disclosed in the aforementioned publication WO 00/74549, a sweeper system is strategically located at the forward section of the machine prior to the scrubbing and burnishing systems located in the mid section, and aft section of the surface conditioning machine, respectively. This is so since it is desirable to remove any surface debris prior to a scrubbing operation. Since the sweeping system is positioned at the front of the machine, this necessitates a debris collection container or the like to be located at a position following the selected sweeper mechanism, i.e., a brush system or the like. 
     Locating a sweeper system at the forward section of a surface conditioning machine necessitates the consideration of surface obstacles and surface irregularities. This is so since such surface obstacles and surface irregularities may damage the sweeper system. 
     Locating a sweeper system at the forward section of a surface conditioning machine further necessitates consideration of machine maintenance and ease of use for emptying a debris collection container. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a sweeper system located at the forward section of a surface conditioning machine. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a sweeper system located at the forward section of a multi-task surface conditioning machine. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a sweeper system that is minimally affected by surface obstacles and surface irregularities. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a sweeper system that provides ease of use and access to a debris collection container. 
     In accordance with the present invention, a pair of independent rotatable brushes are located at the forward section of a surface conditioning machine. A front removable hopper is centrally positioned in relation to the pair of independent rotatable brushes. The sweeping system, including the brushes and hopper, is coupled to a 4-point suspension system operative for momentarily raising the combination of sweeper brushes and hopper when the hopper forcibly comes in contact with a surface obstacle or irregularity. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a multi-task surface maintenance machine of the prior art illustrating a front sweeper system followed by a scrubber system, followed by a burnishing system and as illustrated in WO 00/74549. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the prior art sweeper system illustrated in WO 00/74549. 
         FIG. 3  is a wire design drawing illustrating a top plan view of the sweeper system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a wire design drawing illustrating a side view of the sweeper system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a wire design illustrating a side plan view of the sweeper suspension system in the transport condition. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a debris hopper. 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the sweeper system of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective illustration of the sweeper system of  FIG. 3   
         FIG. 9  is a front elevational view of the sweeper system of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Illustrated in  FIG. 1  is a walk behind surface conditioning machine  10  known in the art and as disclosed in WO 00/74549. A burnishing assembly generally indicated by numeral  16 , scrubbing assembly  14 , and sweeping assembly  12  are separately controlled and suspended from a frame  18  by way of independent suspension systems, not shown. Sweeping system  12  includes a pair of disk brushes  13  for sweeping debris into a rearward hopper  17 . Each brush  13  is secured to a frame portion  54  and is independently powered by a drive motor  15 .  FIG. 2  more particularly illustrates sweeper system  12  including hopper  17 . Hopper  17  is attached to frame  54  by way of pins  50  and retainers  52 . 
     Illustrated in  FIGS. 3-6  are various perspectives, views, and drawings of one embodiment of the sweeper and hopper system in accordance with the present invention. An embodiment of the present invention may be utilized with a walk behind surface conditioning machine, such as disclosed in WO 00/74549, to replace the sweeping system  12  therein disclosed. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , an improved sweeper and hopper system is indicated as numeral  100 . Generally, sweeper and hopper system  100  includes a pair of rotatable brushes  125  and a hopper  600  for receiving debris from brushes  125 . Brushes  125  are driven by suitable drive means, including electric and/or hydraulic motors. In the illustrated embodiment, brushes  125  are driven by electric motors  115 . As described in more detail herein, brushes  125  are connected to the machine by a selective coupling device to allow access and removal of hopper  600  at a forward machine portion. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , sweeper and hopper system  100  includes a movable carriage for supporting hopper  600  and brushes  125 . Sweeper and hopper system  100  is movably coupled to machine by a suspension system including links  61 ,  62 , and  64  which define a four-point, three bar linkage. The suspension system permits sweeper and hopper system to follow undulations in the floor surface and respond to other surface irregularities by temporarily lifting sweeper and hopper system  100  away from the ground surface.  FIG. 4  illustrates sweeper and hopper system  100  in an operational orientation wherein brushes  125  are engaging the ground surface.  FIG. 5  illustrates sweeper and hopper system  100  in a transport orientation wherein brushes  125  and hopper  600  are lifted away from the ground surface. Additional aspects of the suspension system illustrated in the drawings are disclosed in Applicant&#39;s U.S. patent application filed on May 21, 2002, entitled “Suspension Device for Floor Maintenance Appliance” Ser. No. 10/153,408. The entire disclosure of the application being incorporated by reference herein. Referring particularly to  FIG. 3 , rotatable brushes  125 R and  125 L are coupled to carriage  120  through movable arms  110 . Arms  110 L and  110 R are pivotally mounted at one end to carriage  120 . The other ends of arms  110 L and  110 R provide mounting members for attaching rotatable brushes  125 L and  125 R driven by independent drive motors  115 L and  115 R respectively.  FIG. 3  further illustrates (in phantom lines) the range of motion of movable arms  110  and brushes  125 . Arms  110  are selectively movable to gain access to hopper  600 , as during a hopper emptying procedure. Brush arms  110  are additionally coupled to carriage  120  by way of springs  40 R and  40 L. As shown in  FIG. 3 , brush arms  110  are configured so that arms  110  may be swung out from operational position A to displaced position B thereby permitting convenient insertion and removal of the hopper  600 . Springs  40  are aligned relative to arm  110  pivot point  114  so that in position A, springs  40  bias arms  110  inwardly, while in position b, springs  40  bias arms  110  outwardly. Arms  110 L and  110 R stop at locked positions B 1  and B 2  upon protrusions  111 L and  111 R engaging stops  135 L and  135 R respectively. The stop and protrusion combination prevent arms  110 L and  110 R from over rotating. Movable arms  110 L and  110 R selectively couple brushes  125 L and  125 R to carriage  120 . Alternative selective coupling devices would be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant arts. 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate a hopper support member  122  secured to carriage  120  for supporting hopper  600  at one end. The other end of hopper  600  is secured to frame member  120  by way of a spring loaded pin arrangement  700  by way of a mating pin  710  secured to hopper  600  as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 .  FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of a hopper  600  with flexible lip  610 . The debris in the hopper pan  600  can be discarded through opening  611 . It should be noted that the hopper lip  610  may be integrated with the hopper  600 , but is preferably a more flexible or resilient material that may be easily and inexpensively replaced. A hopper handle  712  is provided for ease of hopper  600  manipulation as during removal and emptying procedures. 
     Hopper  600  is easily accessed by rotating the  125 L and  125 R brushes away from each other to gain access to the hopper  600  for emptying and re-insertion. Selectively movable brushes  125  permit hopper  600  to be quickly removed, emptied and reinserted into proper orientation without accessory tools. 
       FIG. 7  provides a top plan view of the rotatable brushes  125 R and  125 L coupled to carriage  120  through movable arms  110 . Arms  110 L and  110 R are pivotally mounted at one end to carriage  120 . The other ends of arms  110 L and  110 R provide mounting members for attaching rotatable brushes  125 L and  125 R. Independent drive motors  115 L and  115 R are connected near the distal end of the arms  110 L and  110 R.  FIG. 7  shows brush arms  110  that arms  110  swung out from an operational position thereby permitting convenient insertion and removal of the hopper  600 . 
       FIG. 8  provides a perspective view of the rotatable brushes  125 R and  125 L coupled to carriage  120  through movable arms  110 . Arms  110 L and  110 R are pivotally mounted at one end to carriage  120 . The other ends of arms  110 L and  110 R provide mounting members for attaching rotatable brushes  125 L and  125 R. Independent drive motors  115 L and  115 R are connected near the distal end of the arms  110 L and  110 R.  FIG. 8  shows brush arms  110  that arms  110  swung out from an operational position thereby permitting convenient insertion and removal of the hopper  600 . 
       FIG. 9  provides an elevational view of the rotatable brushes  125 R and  125 L coupled to carriage  120  through movable arms  110 .  FIG. 9  shows brush arms  110  that arms  110  returned into an operational position thereby blocking removal of the hopper  600 .  FIG. 9  illustrates drive motors  115 L and  115 R in different positions relative to the machine centerline as compared to the drive motor positions in  FIG. 7 . 
     It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the fall scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.