Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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~ack~round o~ the Invent _
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to cleaning machines and more
particularly relates to machines for cleaning rugs, mats, and
~ like objects having lar~e surface areas, but being substant:ially
S f ~ flat and of a flexible nature and the term "~g" or "mat" is con-
sidered herein to include the other, unless otherwi~e noted.
The present invention relates to cleaning machines and more
particularly relates to machines for cleaning rugs, mats, and like
objects having large surface areas, but being substantially flat
and of a flexible nature.
Even more particularly, the present invention relates to a
rug or mat cleaning machine which utilizes a plurality of
successive rollers having differential surface speeds thereby
creating tucks or creases in the rug to expose the embedded dirt
for easy removal by brushes which also form the alternating rollers.
2. General Background and Prior Art
In the cleaning of rugs and mats, such as commercial type
mats which are seen in use at the entrance area to large office
buildings, in elevators and the like, there is generally provided
a washing vessel to which the rugs are added where they can be
cleansed much in the manner as a conventional washing machine operate-.
However, mats which have a fiber-like surface càn easily
trap dirt particles deep within even though their overall thickness
may be relatively small. The dirt and like particles which are
so embedded are difficult to remove. Some prior art devices have
attempted to solve the problem of removing dirt and like matter
from rugs or mats or similar items which become by the nature of
their use quite dirty.
Background of the Invention
l. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to cleaning macnln~ 1110
more particularly relates to machines for cleaning ruys, mats,
and like objects having large surface areas, but being substan-
tially flat and of a flexible nature and the term "ing" or
"mat" is considered herein to include the other,~unless
otherwise noted.
The present invention relates to cleaning machines and more
particularly relates to machines for cleaning rugs, mats, and
like objects having large surface areas, but being substantially
flat and of a flexible nature.
Even more particularly, the present invention relates to
a rug or mat cleaning machine which utilizes a plurality of
successive rollers having differential surface speeds
thereby creating tucks or creases in the rug to expose the
l~ embedded dirt for easy removal by brushes which also form
the alternating rollers.
2. General Background and Prior Art
In the cleaning of rugs and mats, such as commercial type
mats which are seen in use at the entrance area to large ofEice
buildings, in elevators and the like, there is senerally
provided a washing vessel to which the rugs are added
where they can be cleansed much in the manner as a conventional
washing machine operates.
However, mats which have a fiber-like surface can easily
trap dirt particles deep within even though their overall
thickness may be relatively small. The dirt and like particles
which are so embedded are difficult to remove. Some prior art
devices have attempted to solve the problem of removing dirt
and like matter from rugs or mats or similar items which become
by the nature of their use quite dirty.
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The followinq table provides a ].istin~ of some priol art
devices which have been patented:
- Prior Art Patents -
Patentee(s)U.S. Pat. Numbers Issue Date
H. W. Strassoefer821,764 May 29, 1906
S. Chase, IV2,067,752 August 18, 1Cl34
B. R. Andrews 2,276,605 ~ March 17, 1942
C. Mendelson 2,283,011 May 12, 1942
Rodman I. Gregg 3,747,375 July 24, 1973
Rodman I. Gregg 3,864,079 February 4, 1975
11 '71~'~(i 7
3. General Discussion of the Present Invention
The present invention solves the prior art problems and
short comings in a simple and inexpen9ive manner. The present
invention provides a cleaning apparatus which is comprised oi
a plurality of rollers which convey the rug or mat to be
cleaned through a cycle which first beats the mat, then washes
the mat and thereafter rinses it, and then squeezes the mat
to remove extraneous water. In the preferred embodiment there
is provided a plurality of feed rollers which grip the mat and
convey it at a slower velocity throughout its trip through the
machine. Alternating between these feed rollers is a plurality
of brush rollers which have a surface velocity substantially
higher than the surface velocity of the feed rollers. Thus,
a slipping effect is produced between the surface of the brush
rollers and ~he conveying rollers. This slipping effect urges
the rug into a tuck or creased position when the rug passes
from a brush roller to a feed roller. This differential speed
and urging effect creates a crease or bunching up of the rug,
the crease or bunching up of the rug, preferably occuring in
the mat which contains the dirt retaining fiber. Thus, the
fiber is flexed to expose the dirt therewithin. At the time
the crease exposes the dirt, the crease and dirt are being
beaten and cleansed by the roller brushes which are proximate-
ly located thereto and in the washing water. This combination
provides an improved cleaning effect which effectively and
efficiently cleanses the dirty mats.
In addition pressure belts preferably are included locat-
ed above the cleaning brushes to enhance the cleaning action,
and, the over-all operation of the machine. The preferred
embodiment also includes a special beater roller with project-
ing axial ridges for initially~beating out dust and lint.
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Brief Description of the Drawlng9
For a urther understanding o the nature and objects
of the present invention, reference should be had to the
following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which like parts are given like
reference numerals and wherein:
Figure l is a perspective view of the preferred
embodiment of the present invention with part of the near
wall thereof partially cut away to show some of the internal
components;
Figure 2 is a side, close-up of one of the roller brush
sections of the embodiment in Figure l;
Figure 3 is a side schematic view of the rotating ele-
ments and sections of the embodiment of Figure l; while
Figures ~ and 5 are likewise side schematic views of
seclected ones of the roller elements and sections of the
embodiment of Figure 1, showing the two different drive systems
for the rotating elements; and
Figures 6 and 7 are front and rear views, respectively,
of the embodiment of Figure l.
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Detailed Descriptio~ of the Preferred Embodiment
Figures 1-~ show the preferred embodiment of the
apparatus 10 of the present invention- In Fi~ e~ l ~ 3 t~ere
can be seen an overall frame 12 whlch provides a liquid
containing wash and scrubbin~ section 14 an~ a rinse section 16.
A conveyan,ce section is designated generally by the
numeral 20. Conveyance section 20 is comprised generally
of a plurality of rollers 31-46. With reference to Figures 1 ~3,
the rollers 31-41 are driven, while rollers 42-46 are idler-
' tyPe rollers having no direct driven power.
The rollers 31-46 shown in Figures 1 & 3 are cooperatively
arranged to convey a rug 50 through the path shown in Figure 1.
It should be noted in Figure 1 that a rug will follow a path which
produces a tuck designated by the numeral 52 at the points shown5
in the drawing. The tuck (note Fig. 2) so produced flexes the
rug 50 to expose the nap fibers more fully to the cleansing action
of the brush rollers 33,~ 35, 37, and 39. The tuck is produced
by the differing speeds of the rollers which will be more fully
discussed hereinafter.
Rug 50 begins its trip through the cleaning apparatus
10 of the present invention where it is sandwiched between
rollers 31, 46. The indication of rotary travel of rollers
31, 46 is seen in the drawings, with only roller 31 being
driven, roller 46 being an idler-type roller which is in
surface connection with roller 31 and thus rotates therewith.
The surface to surface contact of rollers 3L, 46 also produces
a non~slip driving means which will urge rug 50 forward at a
substantially constant linear speed as is desireable. The
speed of rollers 31, 46 will be preset and will urge rug 50
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forward at a desired speed which can be varied depending on
the type of mat 50 being cleaned, the dirt or like undesireable
matter content, and like conditions.
A second set o~ rollers forming a dry beating section 13
for removing lint and dust is comprised of a beater 32 and a
brush roller 33. Both beater 32 and brush 33 have a substantially
higher surface speed at their peripheries than rollers 31, q6.
However, they are not in face to face contact with one another,
but are independently directly driven. Note in Figures 1 & 3,
the direction of rotation of rollers 32, 33 as is indicated by
the curved arrows. Roller 32 is equipped with a plurality of
axial, projecting ridges or arms 60 ( note Fig. 1) which
sequentially hit or abut the upper surface of rug 50, thereby
beating out or agitating loose dirt or like undesireable
particles contained within the fiber of rug 50. The combination
of this beater 32 with brush 33 acts to remove initially
particles of dirt from rug 50 while it is still dry. Note that
brush roller 33 is provided with a brushing surface which
removes the dirt material from the surface of rug 50, which
removal is substantially enhanced by the operation of beater
32.
After leaving rollers 32, 33, rug 50 enters wash section
14. Wash section 14 can be filled with any desireable cleaning
solution, such as water with a suitable commercial detergent
or like cleaner. If desired, the liquid within wash section 14
can be heated to enhance its cleaning properties. However,
it is noted that the mechanical cleaning action of the appara~
tus 10 is so effective that heated water is seldom needed, and
hence the present invention serves to conserve energy.
Within wash section 14 there is a first set of conveying
rollers 34 r 45. Rollers 34, 45 are in close proximity to one
anot}ler with roller 34 being driven while roller 45 is no~
independently drive, but rotates in surface to surface contact
v with roller 34. Roller 45 is thus of an idler nature. However,
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the close surface to surface abutment of rollers 34, 45 produces
a non-slip situation which positively conveyq rug 50 forw~rcl.
This is unlike the contact of rug 50 with th~ previous rollerY
32, 33 which are at a higher rate of speed at their peripheries
; than the surface of rug 50. Thus, rollers 32, 33 bruch against
and slip past the surface of rug 50 since its speed
through the apparatus 10 is controlled by rollers 31, 46 and
rollers 34, 45.
In a like manner, brush roller 35 slips past and abuts
~0 against rug 50 as it is at a higher rate of speed and at its
peripherythan the linear speed of rug 50 as it travels through
the apparatus 10. A tuck 52 is produced when the rug travels
between brush roller 35 and conveying rollers 36, 44. This
tuck is produced by the differing peripheral speeds of rollers
36, 44 which is substantially slower than the peripheral
speed of brush 35. The high speed of roller 35 tends to urge
rug 50 forward and crowd it about the periphery of drive roller
36 thereby creating a tuck 52 in rug 50. This tuck exposes
the fibers of the rug 50 thereby enhancing the removal of
~0 dirt therefrom.
Similar to the operation of rollers 31, 46 and rollers
34, 45, rollers 36, 44are conveying rollers which abut one
another in a surface to surface arrangement and thereby
control the forward linear speed of rug 50, it being substantially
~5 equal to the peripheral speed of rollers 36, 44. In the
preferred embodiment, roller 36 is driven, and roller 44 abuts
roller 36 in a surface to surface engagement therewith, acting
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as an idler.
In the preferred embodiment, brush roll~r 37 acts in
combination with conveying roll~r 38, 43 as was th~ case
with the previous brush roller 35 and the previou~ conveying
rollers 36, 44. This second set of brush rollers in
combination with conveying rollers moving at a slower speed
produces a second tuck 52 as can be seen from an inspection
of Figures 1 & 3. This tuck produces a second point where the
fibers of rug 50 are flared open and exposed to enhance
the removal of dirt as is desireable. In a like manner,
conveying rollers 38, 43 are in a surface to surface engage-
ment so that rug 50 will be conveyed therethrough in a
positive non-slip manner. As was the case with the previous
brush rollers, brush roller 37 rotates at a higher rate of
speed and has a higher peripheral speed than the speed of
rug 50 as it moves through the apparatus 10. A final
tuck 52 is provided in the rinse section 16. In that section
there can be seen brush roller 39 which is rotated at a
substantially higher rate of speed than feed roller 40, 41,
and 42. Rollers 41, 42 are in a face to face,surface to
surface abutting relationship, with the roller 41 being
driven and roller 42 being an idler type roller. Roller 42 ,
which forms a wringer section 15, can be of a substantial weight
to press against and abut roller 41 with some force so as to
squeeze rug 50 therebetween and remove excess water therefrom.
The roller 42 includes an outer foam rubber layer 42' of for
example half inch in thickness to provide a better friction
surface.
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As illustrated in Figure 1, a series of upper inter-
dititating belts 47 are provided between the rollers 40-43,
43-44 and 44-45 which press down on the rug 50 against the
lower brushes (note direction arrow 48 in Fig. 2), which
further enhance the cleaning action of the machine 10. It is
further noted that if a rug or mat 50 would get hung up, the
upper belts 47 would cause it to merely be run back over the
krushes again.
It is noted that exemplary dimensions for the machine 10
and its elements are shown in Figures 3 and 4-6 with Fig 3-7
drawn to scale. Exemplary rotational speeds for the roller
elements are approximately twenty-three or twenty-four rpm for
the restraining rollers 31, 34, 36, 38, 40 and 41; approximate-
ly three hundred and eighty rpm for the brushes 33, 35, 37 and
39; and approximateIy seven hundred rpm for the beater brush
32, it being noted that the four beater elements 60 of beater
brush would all hit the rug 50 within a~out an inch or less of
travel of the-rug.
As best illustrated in Figure 3, the wall 16 a is lower
than wall 16 b of the rinse section 16 which receives a flow of
liquid into it, and when the flow of fluid into it creates an
overflow, the overflow provides a source of additional wash
water into the wash section 14 which is maintained at a lower
fluid level (note phantom lines "W.L." indicating the relative
levels). Appropriate drains and fluid inlet lines (generally
not illustrated) are included for the wash and rinse sections
14, 16.
Because many varying and different embodiments may be
within the scope of the inventive concept herein taught, and
because many modifications may be made in the embodiments
herein detailed in accordance with the descriptive
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1~784(j7
requiremnts of the law, it is to be understood that the details
herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a
limiting sense.
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