Abstract:
A mobile machine for removing dry particulate matter from a mop, cloth or duster by agitation. A drum with flexible, resilient fingers rotates and agitates the mop, cloth or duster to loosen the particulate matter. An electric fan sucks ambient air and the particulate matter to a chamber wherein it is wetted by a liquid mist introduced by spray nozzles. The mist combines with the particulate matter to form larger particulates. The particulate matter and larger particulates are passed through a filter to remove the particulate matter and larger particulates, which drop onto a removable tray.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
     The applicant filed a patent application on Mar. 30, 2001 in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, which was assigned Ser. No. 09/823,020. That patent application was abandoned. 
     STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
     This invention was developed entirely with private funds and there was no federal assistance. 
     REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
     This section is not applicable to this patent application. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     Brooms, brushes, mops and the like pick up particulate matter such as dust, dirt, lint and hair from a floor. After a while, the brooms, brushes, mops and the like do not effectively pick up the particulate matter. It is necessary to remove the particulate matter from the brooms, brushes, mops and the like. It is desirable to have an apparatus and method for cleaning the brooms, brushes, mops, and the like of the particulate matter. This invention is directed to the removal of the particulate matter from the brooms, brushes, mops, and the like at the place of activity. The apparatus is portable and can be moved from location to location so as to be available for removing particulate matter from brooms, brushes, mops, and the like. 
     2. Description of the Related Art, Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.99 
     Kramer, U.S. Pat. No. 2,197,869, teaches of a mop cleaning device or deduster for cleaning or removing the dust and dirt from dry mops, dusters, and the like. 
     Ulrich, U.S. Pat. No. 3,015,121, relates to a vacuum type of cleaner for brooms, brushes, mops, and the like. 
     Clarke, U.S. Pat. No. 1,253,939, discloses an invention relating to pneumatics and more especially to fluid tanks for removing dust from the air collected on the nozzle of a vacuum cleaner. Clarke is more directly related to a vacuum cleaner than to a device for cleaning a mop or a broom or a duster. 
     Hildreth, U.S. Pat. No. 1,381,553, is directed to a cleaning machine to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient machine for cleaning garments, cloths, pieces of fabric, and the like. Hildreth uses two rotary brushes. One of the brushes is employed to remove dust from the article and the other is to remove sports or stains from the article. 
     Leaycraft, U.S. Pat. No. 279,572, is directed to a vacuum apparatus that can be used for cleaning rugs, floors, upholstery, and the like. Leaycraft teaches of a pneumatic system that operates by suction, whereby the dirt and dust can be conveniently removed from any place desired, such as floors of stores and buildings, without causing the dust to rise, as is the case where brooms are used, or with the sweepers now ordinarily in use. 
     Cudy, U.S. Pat. No. 2,625,704, provides a mop cleaner for dry mops and dusters that is clean and sanitary in operation. This mop cleaner effectively shakes a mop clean, and employs a removable container for receiving dirt, dust and lint shaken from the mop and which also includes means for settling dirt, dust and lint into the removable container. 
     Jones, U.S. Pat. No. 2,642,600, is directed to providing a readily portable housing with means therein for loosening dirt from a standard floor dust mop in an efficient manner and discharging the dirt from the housing through a suitable outlet. 
     Hayter, U.S. Pat. No. 2,849,746, provides a cleaning machine having means that will clean a mop, or similar article, with only the necessary amount of fabric agitation or beating and which will also cause an air blast to pass through the fabric concurrently to insure a thorough cleaning job. 
     Mills, U.S. Pat. No. 3,411,175, provides an improved industrial dust-mop apparatus that comprises an enclosure or console. The enclosure is provided with an adjustable dust mop receiving channel that has a pair of counter-rotating brushes moving downwardly at the bite zone formed between. 
     Walter, U.S. Pat. No. 1,014,027, is directed to a pneumatic carpet-sweeper and not to an apparatus for cleaning dust cloths and dust mops. 
     Riley, U.S. Pat. No. 1,914,295, teaches of a dust mop cleaning machine having means for loosening the dust and dirt from the articles being cleaned. Riley describes a novel means for picking up the dust and dirt and carrying it to a place of deposit. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is directed to a portable cleaning apparatus for cleaning a dry mop, cleaning cloth and/or a duster that carries particulate matter, such as dust, dirt, lint and/or hair, to name a few. The dry mop and the cleaning cloth and/or the duster can be cleaned of the particulate matter and used again. In order to remove the particulate matter from the dry mop or the cleaning cloth or the duster, the invention includes a number of resilient, radial fingers that amount to a brush. These radial fingers are rotated and contact the dry mop or the cleaning cloth or the duster to knock loose the particulate matter. The particulate matter is carried by air to the interior of a housing. In the interior of the housing small drops of water are sprayed onto the particulate matter. Then the air and the wet particulate matter are passed through at least one filter so as to remove the wet particulate matter and to allow the moisture and air to escape from the housing. The filter with the wet particulate matter can be discarded or can be cleaned and used again. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings, it is seen that: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of the method for separating particulate matter from a dust mop or cleaning cloth or duster; 
         FIG. 2  is a first side elevational view of the apparatus for removing the particulate matter from the dry mop of the cleaning cloth or duster; 
         FIG. 3  is a first end elevational view of said apparatus; 
         FIG. 4  is a second, opposite end elevational view of said apparatus; 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of said apparatus; 
         FIG. 6  is a first side elevational view of said apparatus illustrating some of the components of said apparatus; 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the spray nozzle arrangement of said apparatus; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the apparatus awaiting the introduction of a mop (depicted in phantom outline). 
     
    
    
     Similar numerals designate similar component parts of the invention throughout the several views. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In  FIG. 1  there is illustrated, in a block diagram, the method steps involved for cleaning particulate matter from a dry mop or a cleaning cloth. Reference numeral  20  refers to an agitator and separator for removing particulate matter such as dust, dirt, line and hair from a dry mop, cleaning cloth or a duster. With the particulate matter removed, the particulate matter is moved by the flow of air under the decreased air pressure  22 . The particulate matter in the flow of air is introduced to a liquid mist or fine spray of liquid. Liquid mist or fine spray settles on the particles in step  24 . Then the combination of the liquid mist and particulate matter flows to a collector for the combination of these particles and liquid at step  26 . The combination of the mist and the particulate matter of step  26  flow to an exit separator such as a filter for removing the combination of the particulate matter and the mist and also for removing the particulate matter at step  28 . Again, a filter may be used for removing the particulate matter at step  28  so as to produce clean air at the exit of the apparatus. 
     In summary, the invention includes an agitator and separator for separating the particulate matter from the dry mop or cleaning cloth. Due to the decreased air pressure, the particulate matter flows from the agitator and separator and into the apparatus. A liquid mist is applied at  24  to the particulate matter. The combination of the particulate matter and the liquid mist goes to a collector. Then the combination of the air and particulate matter and mist pass through a filter so as to remove the particulate matter such as dust, dirt, hair and lint. The air and the mist can flow through the filter and out into the atmosphere. 
     A frame  30  comprises two laterally spaced-apart, lower longitudinal beams  32  and two longitudinally spaced-apart, lower lateral beams  34  that connect opposite first and second ends of the two lower longitudinal beams. This provides support for the components of the apparatus. Attached to each of the four junctions of the lower longitudinal beams  32  with the lower lateral beams  34  is an upright support  36 —so that there are four upright supports  36  in all. Two laterally spaced-apart upright members  70  are disposed intermediate the upright supports  36  and have lower ends attached to the lower longitudinal beams  32 . A support shelf  72  connects with the two upright members  70  and also with the upright members  36 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , it is seen that, on each of the opposite sides of the apparatus, there are laterally spaced-apart upper beams  38 ,  42  that connect upper ends of the upright supports  36  to upper ends of the upright members  70 . Near the first end of the apparatus, a first lateral upper beam  44  has opposite ends attached to upper ends of the adjacent upright supports  36 . At the second end of the apparatus, a second lateral upper beam  46  has opposite ends attached to upper ends of the adjacent upright supports  36 . This provides rigidity and strength to the frame  30 . At the four corners of the frame  30 , and underneath the frame, are four spaced-apart, caster wheels  52  to facilitate wheeled motion of the apparatus from location to location. As may be seen in  FIG. 5 , longitudinally spaced-apart, lateral supports  54 ,  56  have opposite ends attached to the upper beams  42 . On the lateral support  54  there is a bearing  58 , and on the lateral support  56  there is another bearing  58 . The two bearings  58  are aligned for receiving a drum shaft  60 . Mounted on the shaft  60  is a drum  62 . On the exterior of the drum  62  there are a plurality of flexible, resilient bristles  64 . An electric motor  74  is mounted on the support shelf  72 . The electric motor has an output shaft  76  upon which is mounted a pulley  78 . A belt  80  runs around the pulley  78  and also around a pulley  66  mounted to the shaft  60  for rotating the drum  62 . A drum housing  92  substantially surrounds the drum  62  to confine the particulate matter to the interior of the apparatus, but has an access opening at the top to permit a dry mop, cleaning cloth and the like to contact the fibers  64 . The electric motor  74  by means of the pulley  66  and the drive belt  80 , causes the drum  62  with its flexible, resilient fibers  64  to rotate and to dislodge the particulate matter from any dry mop, cleaning cloth, and the like that is placed adjacent to the rotating fibers  64 . In the bottom of the drum housing  92  is an outlet passageway  94  to allow the particulate matter to move down through a top opening of a shroud  108  that is disposed below the passageway  94 . Within the shroud  108  and below the outlet passageway  94  is an electric fan  100  that has fan blades  102  mounted to an upstanding fan blade shaft  104  for rotation about a vertical axis. The shroud  108  also has an open passageway  112  that faces toward the first end of the apparatus and through which it discharges air and particulates into a substantially closed chamber  118  to which it is attached and by which it is supported; see  FIG. 6 . The chamber  118  has a floor  116  supported on beams  32  and  34 . Exiting gas from the apparatus containing particulate matter passes through a filter  120  that is mounted within the chamber  118 , thereby removing the particulate matter from the gas. The exit gas is mainly air and some fine water mist. In  FIG. 8 , it is seen that there is a first side panel  122 ; an upper portion of this panel has an air vent  124  that communicates with a fan compartment  106  that houses the fan motor below the shroud  108  to cool the fan motor. On the opposite side of the apparatus there is a second side panel  126  and a first end panel  130  covers the first end of the apparatus; see  FIG. 2 . In the first end panel  130  there is an exit opening  132  to allow air to escape from the apparatus. From the foregoing it is seen that a chamber  118  is defined by side panel  126 , floor  116 , end panel  128 , side panel  122 , exit end panel  130 , first end panel  132 , and support shelf  72 . 
     A removable water tank  140  with a filler cap  144  rests in a cradle disposed at the first end of the apparatus and has a liquid outlet. Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 7 , a water line  146  conducts water from the liquid outlet of the tank  140  to a water pump  142  that is mounted to the top of the chamber  118  near the first end of the apparatus. A water pipe  148  has a first end connected to the outlet of the water pump  142  and an opposite, second end connected to a tee-pipe  150 . A water pipe  152  is connected to a first outlet of the tee  150  and also with a first spray nozzle  154 . Further, a second outlet of the tee  150  is connected to a water pipe  156  that in turn connects to a tee  159 . A water line  160  is connected to a first outlet of the tee  158  and also with a second spray nozzle  162 . Further, the tee  158  is connected to a water pipe  164  that in turn is connected to a third spray nozzle  166 . 
     The three spray nozzles  154 ,  162 , and  166  are in the chamber  118 . These spray nozzles are so positioned that they can spray a fine mist of water  180  or other liquid on the particulate matter  178  being moved by the air from the fan  100  and the fan blades  102 . The fine mist of water  180  adheres to the particulate matter  178  so as to form a combination  182  of particulate matter and water of a size larger than the particulate matter  178  by itself. This makes it possible to more completely remove the particulate matter from the flow of air. The particulate matter  178  becomes heavy and settles to the bottom of a removable tray  190  that is housed within a lower portion of the chamber  118 . An electrical plug inlet  200  is mounted to the first side panel  122  and is wired to the electric motor  74 , water pump  142  and electric fan motor  106 . 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic illustration of a dry mop  172  being introduced to the apparatus and to the flexible, resilient fibers  64  of the drum  62 . The symbolic mop  172  denotes a dry mop, a cloth or a duster. The mop  172  or the like can be introduced to the top access opening of the housing  92  of the apparatus and the flexible, resilient fibers  64  on the drum  62  will agitate the mop or cloth or duster so as to separate particulate matter from the cloth or mop or duster. Outside of the drum  62  and also outside of the apparatus  20  the air is at ambient atmospheric pressure P- 1 . The electric motor  106  rotates the fan blade shaft  104  and the fan blades  102 . The air pressure P- 2  at the fan blades  102  is less than the ambient atmospheric pressure P- 1 —that is, there is a differential air pressure between P- 1  and P- 2 . As a result, the atmospheric pressure P- 1  forces the particulate matter  178  toward the fan blades  102 . Then the fan blades force the air and particulate matter through the open passageway  112  and into the chamber  118 . The air pressure of P- 3  in the chamber  118  is greater than the air pressure P- 2  of the fan blades. However, the fan blades  102  force the air into the chamber  118  so as to increase the air pressure to that of P- 3 . There is a filter means  120 . The pressure P- 4  outside of the apparatus  20  is atmospheric pressure or substantially atmospheric pressure. The pressure P- 1  and P- 4  are substantially the same as they are substantially atmospheric pressure. Since the gaseous pressure P- 3  is greater than the gaseous pressure P- 4  the flow of particulate matter  178  and of the combination  182  with gas is to the filter  120 ; that is there is a differential air pressure between P- 3  and P- 4 . Most of the particulate matter  178  is removed by the spray nozzles  154 ,  162 , and  166  to form the combination  182 . To ensure greater removal of the particulate matter there is a mist or spray from the spray nozzle  154 ,  162 , and  166 . The fine spray of water  180  lands on the particulate matter  178  making the combination  182  heavier and making it possible to more completely remove particulate matter. An exit filter  202 , which may be a solid filter, removes the smallest particulate matter  182 . 
     In use, the apparatus is switched on and the mop  172  with particulate matter  178  attached is introduced to the rotating drum  62  through the access opening at the top of the housing  92 . The flexible, resilient fibers  64  on the rotating drum  62  agitate the mop  172  and the particulate matter  178  so as to dislodge the particulate matter from the mop  172 . The descending air from the drum  62  carries the particulate matter  178  through the shroud  108  to the chamber  118 . In the chamber  118  a fine mist of water  180  is introduced and combines with some of the particulate matter  178  to form a combination  182  of the particulate matter  178  and the water  180 . To repeat, the pressure P- 3  is greater than the pressure P- 4 , which is ambient atmospheric pressure. The combination of the particulate matter  178  and water mist  180  is directed to the filter  120 . The particulate matter  178  does not pass through the filter  120 . The combination  182  of the mist and particulate matter  178  is filtered out the air stream by the filter  120 . The air and water mist  180  pass through the filter  120 . When the filter  120  is saturated or near saturated with particulate matter  178  the filter  120  can be removed and cleaned or discarded. In this manner the particulate matter  178  can be collected in one area or one place so as not to be distributed over a wide area. In particular, at the bottom of the chamber  118  there is a water tray that collects particulate matter  178 , water mist  180  and the combination  182  of the particulate matter and the water mist. The material collected by the tray or container  190  can be discarded. The exit filter  202  may also be discarded and replaced after being used. 
     From the foregoing description it will be clear that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Thus, the presently disclosed embodiment is to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, and not limited to the foregoing description. In the appended claims, the term “mop” will be understood generically to refer to any broom, mop, cloth, brush, duster or other article used for cleaning purposes, regardless of where or how they are used; and, the term “liquid” will be understood to refer to water as well as to any cleaning fluid or other liquid known to persons of ordinary skill in the cleaning arts as efficacious for the removal of particulate matter from a mop, cloth, brush, duster or other article used for cleaning purposes, provided that said liquid is capable of being spray misted onto particulate matter to form a combination  182  of particulate matter and liquid mist.