Scrubber-Dryer for Floors

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Italian Application No. 202024000002656 filed Jun. 24, 2024, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by this reference in its entirety.

The present invention relates to a scrubber-dryer for floors.

Nowadays, scrubber-dryers for floors are used increasingly often. These are, in fact, devices capable of washing and sucking away water residues in a single pass, in such a manner as to obtain a cleaning activity that is rapid and effective. In large buildings such as, for example, commercial concerns, hotels or gyms, the use of scrubber-dryers is extremely convenient because it means public places can be available for use in rapid order, without the need to wait for the floor to dry after washing, so allowing activities to proceed as normal.

Conventional modern scrubber-dryers have various dimensions and technical characteristics. More specifically, a first type of scrubber-dryer, of large dimensions, is motorized, is generally driven by an operator riding on board the scrubber-dryer and is used to sanitize very large areas that necessitate deep cleaning in rapid times. Smaller scrubber-dryers on the other hand are driven by an operator walking behind on the floor and are found to be very practical and versatile, as they can be used both for cleaning in environments that contain many furnishings, where it is necessary to reach cramped and hidden spaces, and for finishing, in rooms that have already been treated with a larger scrubber-dryer.

Generally, each scrubber-dryer is provided with one or more rotating rollers and/or brushes or with an oscillating plate, and with one or more tanks, for example two tanks, one containing clean water and detergent and the other containing the dirty water remaining after washing.

Generally, the vacuuming action is provided by means of a rear vacuuming port/floor wiper, capable of removing the residual water and any small debris present on the floor.

The expression “rear vacuuming port/floor wiper” means that the vacuum port/floor wiper is associated with the scrubber-dryer in a portion thereof that is designed to come into contact substantially last of all with a predetermined area of the floor to be cleaned, along the advancement direction of the scrubber-dryer in the configuration for use.

Such conventional scrubber-dryers for floors are not devoid of drawbacks, however.

They have, in fact, a configuration such that, in the advancement direction of the machine, the roller goes before the vacuuming port/floor wiper: when the machine advances and encounters an obstacle, for example a wall or a table under which the area of floor to be cleaned is located, the roller cleans but, since the scrubber-dryer cannot advance any further, the vacuuming port is unable to vacuum up the water used for washing and the residual debris, because it is located further back from the area cleaned. This means that a region proximate to/at obstacles will remain wet and it is necessary to wait for a certain time for it to dry, and also that small debris and dust will remain on the floor; in fact, it is generally not possible to turn the scrubber-dryer around and make it advance in the opposite direction, owing to lack of space and of maneuverability.

The drawbacks given above have been solved by providing scrubber-dryers for floors equipped with two vacuuming ports, a first port located in front and a second port located behind with respect to the means used for the washing action (or the rollers, brushes or oscillating plates), so as to be able to wash and vacuum in both directions of travel.

The term “in front” means that the first vacuuming port is associated with the scrubber-dryer in a portion thereof that is designed to come into contact substantially first of all with a predetermined area of the floor to be cleaned, along the advancement direction of the scrubber-dryer in the configuration for use.

The term “behind” means that the second vacuuming port is associated with the scrubber-dryer in a portion thereof that is opposite from the portion with which the first vacuuming port is associated, with respect to the means used for the washing action.

However, this solution too has a number of aspects that show room for improvement.

In fact, a double vacuuming action uses motors that require a rather large amount of power overall, which leads to a limited range of the scrubber-dryer if the scrubber-dryer is battery-powered, as is generally the case: the scrubber-dryer can be, in fact, both mains-powered and battery-powered, but the latter solution is usually preferred as it avoids the hindrance of the power cable and the problem of limited mobility for the operator.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a scrubber-dryer for floors that is capable of improving the known art in one or more of the above mentioned aspects.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a scrubber-dryer for floors that makes it possible to clean the floor and to vacuum up the water used for washing even proximate to/at obstacles that impede the advancement of the scrubber-dryer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a scrubber-dryer for floors that makes it possible to obtain superior cleaning with respect to similar, conventional scrubber-dryers, which are not capable of vacuuming up dust and debris close to such obstacles.

A further object of the invention is to provide a scrubber-dryer for floors that ensures a cleaning in both directions of travel, so making it possible to reduce energy consumption with respect to similar, conventional scrubber-dryers for floors.

Another object of the invention is to provide a scrubber-dryer for floors that is easier to handle with respect to similar, conventional scrubber-dryers.

A further object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the background art in a manner that is alternative to any existing solutions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a scrubber-dryer for floors that is highly reliable, easy to implement and low cost.

This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a scrubber-dryer for floors, comprising a body shell with wheels and maneuvering means, said body shell comprising internally vacuuming means and cleaning means, at least one floor wiper being associated with said body shell,

With reference to the figures, the scrubber-dryer for floors is generally designated by the reference numeraland comprises a body shellwith wheelsand maneuvering means.

The body shellcomprises internally vacuuming meansand cleaning means, and at least one floor wiperis associated with the body shell.

According to the invention, the cleaning meansare interposed between the vacuuming meansand a floor wiper, which is arranged at the front and on a plane at right angles to the advancement direction of the scrubber-dryerin the configuration for use.

The term “in front” means that the floor wiper is associated with the scrubber-dryer in a portion thereof that is designed to come into contact substantially first of all with the predetermined area of the floor to be cleaned, along the advancement direction of the scrubber-dryer in the configuration for use.

Advantageously, the cleaning meanscomprise at least one cleaning rollerwhich extends longitudinally along a first axissubstantially parallel to the floor and at right angles to the advancement direction of the scrubber-dryerin the configuration for use.

More specifically and as can be seen in the above figures, the embodiment to which the present description refers has a roller, which is arranged at a front portionof the body shelland is adapted to rotate about the first axis.

The term “front portion” refers to a portion located at the front of the scrubber-dryer.

The rollercomprises a cylindrical body, which is centrally hollow and is provided with a plurality of bristlesradially distributed about it, which are preferably made of polyamide, polypropylene, microfiber and/or of abrasive material.

Conveniently, furthermore, the scrubber-dryercomprises two first supports, of which only one is visible in the figures and is indicated with the reference numeral; the other first support, not shown, is mirror-symmetrical with respect to the first support.

These first supports are necessary for fixing the rollerto the body shelland each one has:

The first supportcomprises, at a radial portion of the first element, which has a partially circular profile, a fairing, adapted to act as a locking element for the floor wiper, as will be better described below.

Conveniently, the vacuuming meanscomprise at least one vacuuming port, which comprises a rigid second supportwhich extends longitudinally along a second axissubstantially parallel to the first axis; the porthas an elongated hollow shape structure.

The portcomprises a first accessory floor wiperand a second accessory floor wiper, which are mounted on the second supporton opposite faces thereof.

The first accessory floor wiperis mounted on the face of the second supportdirected toward the roller, has a flat extension and a plurality of semi-circular holes at the lower edge, i.e. the edge in contact with the floor (not visible in the figures). The function of these holes is to allow the residual water in the area cleaned by the roller to pass through to the port, so that it can be vacuumed up.

The second accessory floor wiperis mounted on the face of the second supportopposite to the face directed toward the roller, has a flat extension and:

Advantageously, the first channelsextend in a portion of the second accessory floor wiperdirected toward the floor and along a direction substantially at right angles to it.

In this manner, when the machine advances in the normal condition for use, the portvacuums up the residual water that passes through the semi-circular holes of the first accessory floor wiper, and the innermost side of the second accessory floor wipermakes a seal with the floor, preventing the dirty water or debris and dust from being left behind. When the machine moves in the opposite direction of travel, the second accessory floor wiperflexes, allowing the passage of water and small debris, so that it can be vacuumed up by the port.

Furthermore, the portis arranged at a rearward endof the front portionwith respect to the advancement direction of the scrubber-dryer in the configuration for use.

Advantageously, the floor wiperextends longitudinally along athird axissubstantially parallel to the first axisand to the second axisand is arranged at a forward endof the front portionwith respect to the advancement direction of the scrubber-dryerin the configuration for use; this forward endis opposite from the rearward endwith respect to the front portion.

The floor wipercomprises, at an upper portionthereof, a rigid element, H-shaped for its detachable association with the body shell, which is co-molded with a soft element, preferably made of rubber.

Both the rigid elementand the soft elementextend longitudinally along the third axis; the soft element, in particular, has a flat surface on a rear sideand a roundnesson the front side, to act as a bumper.

The term “front side” refers to the side of the floor wiperfacing and toward the advancement direction of the scrubber-dryerin the configuration for use.

The term “rear side” means a side of the floor wiperopposite from the front sidewith respect to the advancement direction of the scrubber-dryerin the configuration for use.

The latter has, in fact, at the forward end, a first seatwhich reproduces in negative form the geometric shape of the rigid element, so that it can be inserted, by sliding, and along its longitudinal direction of extension, into such first seatand in this manner it can be fixed to the body shell.

The floor wiperis kept in position by each one of the fairingsof the first supports, which act as a side supporting abutment for it.

Removal of the first support, which is also detachably fixed to the body shell, therefore allows both the extraction of the floor wiperfrom the respective first seat, and also the removal of the roller, for their cleaning and/or replacement.

Advantageously, the floor wiper further comprises a lower portioncontiguous to the upper portionand designed to come into contact with the floor.

The lower portionhas a plurality of second channelsat the front side, which are defined by a plurality of grooves that extend longitudinally along an axis substantially at right angles to the floor; the lower portionhas a surface that is smooth and substantially sharp-edged at the rear side