Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
DEBRI S COLLECTING MECHANI SM
Technical Field
The present invention relates to surface main-
tenance equipment, and more particularly -to machines which
simultaneously sweep and scrub a floor surface.
Back~round of The Invention
Numerous maintenance machines are available which
either sweep or scrub a floor surface or which simultanously
sweep and scrub a surface in one operatioll. As used herein,
the terms "surface", "floor surface" "maintained surface"
and the like will be used to designate or represent those
surfaces which require maintenance, such as the floors of
buildings (e.g. warehouses~, as well as the surfaces of out-
door facilities (e.g. streets, sidewalks, and parking lots).
These floor maintenance machines may be either riding units
or walk-behind units. Typically, a maintenance machine has
a body supported on wheels which are propelled along the
floor surface by a motor. A variet~ of cylindrical brushes
may be employed as well as disc brushes. It is to be
recognized that cylindrical brushes, rotating about a hori-
zontal axis, have the a~ility to lift or impart vertical
motion to the debris ~hereby assisting the debris into the
hopper. Disc brushes on the other hand rotate on a vertical
axis with little vertical motion. Disc brushes are very
effective for scrubb~ng purposes but do not tend to sweep or
load debris as e~fectively as cylindrical brushes.
Generally, a sweeping machine will include a hopper into
which debris is swept by the brushes and subsequently dumped
when desired. A scrubbing machine will include a solution
tank and mechanism for applying the solution to the floor
surface.
Despite the extensiYeness of the prior art, cer-
tain problems continue with the ~arious types of maintenance
~achines. For example, if a scrubbing machine is used to
scrub a floor surface, for ob~ious reasons a sweeping
machine shou:Ld be used on the surface prior to the scrubbing
~2--
of -the surface. This, however, entails additional labor and
time which often proves a signiicant expense. Scrubbing
machines generally use squeegees to pick up the scrubbing
solu-tion. Often times -there occurs undesirable squeegee
streaking or fouling when debris which was not swept up is
cau~ht along or under the bot-tom edge of the squeegee.
After the sweeping operation, additional debris may accum-
mulate on the floor by various means and cause squeegee
streaklng during the scrubbing action. Agaln, added time
and expense result when the machine is not as efficient
as it m1ght be. Another problem with some machines, espe-
cially combination sweeping-scrubbing machines, is the ina-
bility of the operator to visually check the operating
elements, i e. the brushes, to ensure that they are properly
positioned and not jammed or othen~ise malfunctioni~g
Illustrative of prior art maintenance machines are: the
sweeplng machine described in U.S. Pa-t. No. 3,837,157 (Van
Der Lely) lssued Septe~ber 24, 1974; a floor scrubber
lllustrated ln U.S. Pat. No. 3,701,177 (Meyer, et al.)
20 issued October 31, 1972; and a combination scrubbing and
sweeping apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,041,567
(Burgoon) issued August 16, 1977 and U.S. Pat~ No.
4,009,500 (Ashton) issued March 1, 1977.
Summary of the Invention
In the present invention, the above-mentioned
problems are addressed and advantageous results have been
achieved. In accordance with the present invention, there
is provided a floor surface cleaning unit or maintenance
machine which, according to one aspect, may be used to
simultaneously sweep and scrub floor surfaces, the machine
according to this aspect comprising movable body means (for
example, supported on a plurality of wheels) including a
forward end, disc tool means, which may be at least two
substantially side-by-side disc brushes carried by the body
means, the brushes including a forwardmost brush positioned
slightly ahead of a rearwardmost brush and rotating in -the
o~
- 3 -
same rotational direc-tion as de-termined by -the forward edge
of the forwardmos-t brush with the rearwardmost brush
sweeping generally towards the forwardmost brush. A housing
a-t-taches to the forward end, the housing comprising a
rearwardly opening hopper for con-taining debris swept
therein by -the brushes. Also included is means for
receiving debris, the receiving means being moun-ted
intermediate the hopper and the brushes adjacent -the
rearward opening for receiving debris swep-t forwardly by -the
brushes. A power source drives the unit and a tank for
containing scrubbing solution may be included as well as
means for applying the solu-tion to a surface to be scrubbed.
Preferably, the maintenance machine also includes conduit
means positioned near the forward edge of the forwardmost
disc brush, including an inlet por-tion having a generally
downwardly and rearwardly sloping surface for directing
debris into said hopper. Preferably, the debris receiving
means further includes a generally elongated, flexible
member sloping downwardly and rearwardly to a line adjacent
said floor surface, the flexible member serving to permi-t
debris to pass therebeneath to the brushes as the machine
moves over -the floor surface and serving as a ramp for the
debris swep-t forwardly by the brushes toward the hopper
adjacent the brush forward edges. At leas-t one debris blade
member supported with respect to the housing may be included
such -that the blade member is disposed forwardly of -the
flexible member and positioned at an angle oblique -to the
generally forward direction of travel of the machine whereby
the blade member serves -to move debris toward the center of
the path being swep-t.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention,
the disc tool means may comprise disc brush means disposed
at the forward end of -the machine for sweeping a-t least one
pathway. In accordance with this aspec-t, a frame is
2~3
~,
posi-tioned forwardly of the disc brush means and constructed
and arranged for removable securemen-t of -the debris hopper
therein.
In accordance with another aspect of -the invention,
there is provided an improved floor surface cleaning unit,
including a body supported on a plurality of wheels, the
improvement comprising (i) a frame moun-ted on the cleaning
unit; (ii) a debris hopper removably secured within the
frame; (iii) a leading disc brush and a trailing disc brush,
each of -the brushes adapted for operable connection to -the
cleaning unit and the trailing brush constructed and
arranged -to ro-tate -the forward edge of the brush in a
direction generally toward the leading brush, the leading
brush being constructed and arranged to rota-te in -the same
direction as -the trailing brush; (iv) a debris condui-t
mounted -to the hopper adjacent to and in front of the
leading disc brush; (v) at least one debris blade mounted to
the frame principally beneath the hopper and apart from the
brushes at an angle oblique to the normal direction of
forward travel of the cleaning unit; and (vi) a flexible
ramp secured to the hopper adjacent -the debris conduit,
intermediate the brushes and the blade, the ramp directing
debris into the hopper allowing debris to pass there-through
to the brushes.
Brief Description of the Drawings
In the drawings:
FIGURE I is a perspective view of a floor
maintenance machine employing the forwardly positioned
debris hopper of -the present invention.
FIGURE II is a top plan view of a portion of the
present invention as viewed with the hopper removed.
FIGURE III is a cross-sectional view of the present
invention as seen along lines III-III in FIGURE I.
FIGURE IV is a cross-sectional view of -the present
32~3
invention as seen along lines IV-IV in FIC,URE III.
FIGURE V i.S a perspective view of a por-tion of the
present invention as viewed from the floor surface near -the
disc brushes of the machine.
FIGURE VI is a top plan view of a portion of a
floor maintenance machine illustrating a second er~odiment
of the present invention.
E'IGURE VII is a schematic top plan view of a third
embodiment of the present invention.
FIGURE VIII shows a portion of a disc brush
including auxiliary bristles.
~etailed Description of the
Rresent Invention
The present invention relates to surface main-
tenance machines which simultaneously sweep and scrub a
surface in one operation. The maintenance machine lO may be
of a general design as shown in FIGURE I. It should be
understood however that the present invention is equally
applicable to a riding unit as well as the walk-behind unit
of FIGURE I.
The surface maintenance or cleaning unit lO, of
the present invention includes a body ll supported on the
floor surface by a plurality of wheels 12 which allow move-
ment of the machine or unit 10 across the floor surface.
The machine or unit may have a steering mechanism 13 for
control by the operator of the direction of travel of the
unit lO. Within the body ll is a power source 15 (e.g. a
propelling motor) for driving the unit lO. A tank 16 for
containing scrubbing solution and mechanism 17 for applying
the solution to the maintained surface may also be found
within the body of the machine. These aspects are conven-
tional and thus are not specifically illustrated in the
drawings nor further described except as their structure
relates directly to the operation of the present invention.
The maintenance machine lO of FIGURE I has an end
portion designated by the numeral 18 as the fron-t portion of
)3.
the machine. Disc tools, for example brushes are positioned
beneath the front portion 18 of the machine. In the pre-
ferred embodimen-t the disc brushes may include a pair oE
overlapping, free-floating brushes arranged in a substan
tially side-by-side arrangement. A first or right hand
brush 20a, as viewed from the operator's position (FIGURE
II), is disposed slightly ahead of the second or left hand
brush 20b for reasons to be explained hereinafter in the
operation of the invention. Throughout this discussion -the
right-hand brush 20a will be referred to as the leading or
forwardmos-t brush and the left-hand brush 20b as the
trailing or rearwardmost brush. The disc brushes 20a, 20b
may be of a standard design known to those skilled in the
art. Alternatively the disc brush, such as 20a, may have an
auxiliary set of bristles 20c as shown in FIGURE VIII around
the brush periphery to assist in lifting de~ris. Abrasive
cleaning or buffing pads may also be used. It should be
understood, however, that the left-hand brush could be posi-
tioned as the leading brush with appropriate changes being
made in the front portion of the machine for this alternate
brush arrangement.
For reasons which will become clear hereinafter,
the brushes are constructed and arranged on the unit so that
in operation they will rotate in the same ro-tational direc-
ti~n. This direction will be determined by the position o~the leading brush 20a. For example, if the leading brush is
the right-hand brush as in the preferred embodiment, the
rotational direction of the trailing brush 20b will be with
the forewardmost edge moving towards the leading brush and
hence a clockwise rotation (FIGURE II). The leadin~ brush
20a would then rotate in a clockwise direction also.
In addition to the foregoing brush arrangement, the
present invention further includes a housing or frame 21
which is attached to the front end portion 18 of the
machine 10 directly in front of the disc brushes 20a,20b
(FIGURES I, III and IV). In the preferred embodiment
~2~2~3
a frame struc-ture 21 is used and includes a generally C-
shape configuration constructed of structural material, e.g.
angle iron members, with the flange portion of the member
facing inwardly and generally towards the front end portion
18 of the machine. The horizontal leg portion 22 of the
frame serves as a support for a removable debris hopper.
Portion 22 may be supported by roller 25a.
The C-shape configuration of the frame in the pre-
ferred embodiment includes a lef-t-hand side extension 23a, a
right-hand side e~tension 23b, and a forwardmost side 23c.
The forwardmost side 23c is connected at either of its ends
to a respective side extension 23a,23b by obliquely arranged
portions 23d shorter ln length (FIGURE II). Bo-th of the
lef-t and right-hand side extensions 23a,23b are designed to
be of sufficient length such that when each is secured to
the machine body 11, the extension will provide adequate
support for the remainder the frame and -the hopper carried
therein. Also, one or more swivel casters 25a may be pro-
vided under the frame which will carry the majority of the
frame weight in order to correct any balancing problems
which might occur on downward grades. The correct height
for any windrow flaps used in the invention may be set by
the individual casters. The frame may be secured to the
machine by any suitable mechanism such as welding, bolting,
etc. As can be seen in FIGURES II and III, the frame
structure 21 does not cause any significant or noticeable
change in the overall width of the maintenance machine 10.
The dimensions and configuration of the frame will of course
be determined by the size of the machine and the desired
capacity of the debris hopper.
A debris hopper 24 (FIGURES I and IV) for con-
taining the debris swep-t up by the disc brushes 20a,20b is
designed so that it is adjustable and fits snugly within the
frame structure 21. If desired, the hopper may be securely
mounted to the frame by bolts or screws, or o-ther suitable
mechanisms. It is impor-tant however that the hopper 24 be
--8--
removably secured within -the frame 21 so that -the operator
of -the machine may conveniently dump the hopper of its con
tents when~ever necessary.
From FIGURE V the overall design of the hopper in
the prefer:red embodiment may be best understood. The hopper
includes a base or floor 24a upon which the collected debris
rests within the hopper. A rearward portion of the base 24a
is cutaway and is left as an opening for reasons to become
apparent hereinafter. Extending upwardly fro~ and along
the perimeter of the base 24a are left and right-hand sides
24b,24c as well as a front side 24d. The positional rela~
tionship of the sides to each other follow that of the C-
shape configuration of the frame 21. This is to insure a
close and secure fitting of the hopper 24 within the frame
21. A top portion or cover 46 rests upon or if desired may
be secured along and to the uppermost edges of each of -the
hopper sides 24b,24c and 24d.
The back or rearward side of the hopper positloned
close to the machine front end portion 18 is substantially
open. A r~arward opening 25 in the backside is defined by
right and left-hand rear end portions 26,27 respectively
which extend inward~y towards each other.
As can be seen in FIGURE III the end portions 26,27
extend inward towards each other from respective right and
left-hand sides 24c,24b of the hopper 24. The end portions
26,27 are designed to limit the width of the hopperls rear-
ward opening 25 to retain debris in the hopper 24. In addi-
tion a debris pick-off point is provided by the free inside
edge 26a of end portion 26 to direct debris into the
hopper 24.
In the preferred embodiment the right side end por-
tion 26 is a straight member portion, see FIGURE III. The
end portion 26 is spaced apart a sufficient distance from
the brush so as to not obstruct the rotation of the brush
tip. The free inside edge 26a of the end portion 26 may be
terminated at a point substantially directly across from the
forwardmost edge 29 of the leading brush 20a. The left side
~2:gL8~:~3
end portion 27 is substantially rectangular in shape and
extends inwardly at a righ-t angle with respect -to the hopper
left-hand side 24b. The end por-tion 27 may extend inwardly
a short distance for structural s-trength (FIGURE III).
The rearward opening 25 of the hopper ( FIGURES
III and V) faces the disc brushes 20a,20b. Secured to the
base 24a along its cutaway portion and along the opening 25
is a debris receiving mechanism which assists in the upward
movement of the swept debris into the hopper. The debris
receiving mechanism includes in the preferred embodiment a
three-sided conduit or channel-like arrangement 28 mounted
close to the forwardmost edge 29 of the leading brush 20a
( FIGURES I I I and IV). A first side or right-hand side is a
generally vertical member 28a which is mounted to a bottom
most edge of the hopper right side end portion 26. A second
side or left-hand side of the conduit is a flat, generally
triangular shaped member 28b which is secured to the cutaway
portion of the hopper base 24a. Connecting the two sides
28a,28b is a central side or surface 31 which extends ~rom
its securement to the hopper 24a, downwardly towards the
disc brushes 20a,20b to a location closely adjacent the
floor surface. This surface portion 31 is designed to slope
at an angle which will catch debris thrown substantially
sideways and slightly forward by the leading brush 20a and
serve as a ramp for directing the debris into the hopper
24.
Also included in the debris receiving mechanism is
a ~enerally elongated flexible member or ramp 32 (FIGU~ES
III, IV and V). One end 33 of -the flexible member 32 is
positioned so as to be in contact with the debris conduit
left-hand side 28b. The ramp 32 extends substantially along
the full width of the hopper rearward opening 25 and is also
secured to the hopper base 24a along the cutaway edge por-
tion. This positioning places the member 32 direc-tly in
front of the greater portion of the pair of disc brushes
20a,20b (~IGURE III). In the preferred en~odiment the
~2~3~3
--10--
flexible ramp 32 is provided with spaced apart slit portions
34 which serve t~ facilitate the debris traveling beneath
the ramp 32 for sweeping by the disc brushes 20a,20b. Of
course, o-ther modifications in the flexible ramp member 32
are possible for allowing debris to pass there-through. The
ramp 32 is positioned close to -the floor surface in order to
provide a sealed area for the sweeping operation, thus any
means for allowin~ debris to pass through the ramp must be
designed to function without significantly diminishing the
sealing performance of the flexible member or ramp 32. The
flexible ramp 32 may be made of any suitable material such
as rubber and may be secured to the hopper by standard
securement mechanism such as bolts and nuts, rivets, et~.
It has been found advantageous to secure the ramp
32 to the hopper opening 25 such that the bottom edge 35 of
the ramp 32 is adjacent to the floor surface and the ramp 32
is positioned at an acute upward angle 36 forward of the
bottom edge with respect to the horizontal plane of the
floor sur~ace. Preferably the angle of placement is less
than forty-five degrees, and generally the smallest prac-
tical angle ~f about thirty degrees has been found to be the
most efficient. The angle positioning of the ramp is chosen
to allow sufficient clearance for debris to pass thereunder,
but at a minimum slope which will permit debris to rise
upwardly along it into the hopper opening. The angled ramp
ef~ectively serves as a ramp fo~ catching and directing
swept-up debris into the hopper as will be explained
hereinafter.
Directly forward of the debris receiving mechanism
and beneath the hopper may be positioned a pair of blades
37,38 mounted to opposite sides of the frame structure 21
(FI~URE II). The blade 37 forward o~ the leading brush 20a
is generally of a greater length than the blade 38 forward
of the trailing brush 20b. Each blade 37,38 is arranged at
an angle oblique to the generally forward direction of
travel of the machine. An effective angle, as designated by
the numeral 39 in FIGURE II, is about thirty degrees.
However, other angles may prove satisfactory, with steeper
angles being the most effective.
Each blade 37,38 is mounted in a manner which
allows it to direct or push debris to a central area of
the machine's path of movement. In this way, the blade acts
as a windrow device for accomplishing full machine wid-th
sweeping without additional passings of the machine over the
same surface area. To assist in accomplishing the full
width sweeping, each blade 37,38 includes a flexible end
portion 41,42, respectively, which extends outwardly beyond
the sides ~3a,23b, respectively, of the frame structure 21.
The flexible end portions 41,4~ allow the machine to sweep
close to walls and/or immovable objects while still
achieving a full width sweep of the area. A pair of side
rollers 43a and 43b serve to guide the scrubber along ver-
tical surfaces, e.g. walls, to protect the machine and wall
from damage.
Further, the debris hopper 24 may be provided with
an access area or opening 45 which allows the operator a
visual inspection of the interior of the hopper as well as
observation of the operation of the disc brushes. The
operator is thus able -to determine if any blocking of the
receiving mechanism is occurring and if the disc brushes are
rotating properly. The opening may be larye enough to allow
the operator to manually insert objects into the hopper.
The access opening may also serve to allow the operator -to
grasp the hopper and remove it from the frame structure for
dumping. A preferred embodiment would be an opening 45 with
downward flanges 47 to reduce the chances of debris bouncing
out of the hopper. The flanges would also add strength to
the opening for the purpose of lifting -the hopper. A hinged
door with a handle or a ~lexible slit 1ap are optional add-
ons. The door may be transparent to permit visual obser-
vation of th~ contents.
-12-
Various modifications may be made without
departing from the broader scope of the present inven-tion.
For example, one may desire to place the left-hand brush in
the forwardmost position wi-th the right-hand brush as the
trailing brush. The rotational direction of travel for this
par-ticular embodiment would then be counterclockwise. The
right hand or trailing brush would be driven so as to ro-ta-te
towards the left-hand or leading brush and therefore in a
counterclockwise direction, wi-th the left-hand brush
rotating counterclockwise as well. The present invention is
not limited by the determination of which brush is the
leading brush. It is desirable in the present invention
that one brush be positioned slightly ahead of the other
brush and that the brushes rotate in the same rotational
direction. Various modifications may be made. For example
a plurality of brushes or other types of cleaning tools may
be used. Also, the present invention is not limited to a
unit having two brushes or tools. For example, the present
invention may have only a single brush or may have more than
two brushes, e.g. three brushes.
If desired, liquid drain openings (not shown~ may
be provided in portions of the debris hopper to allow quan-
tities o~ scrubbing solution which are swept up with the
deb:ris to be drained from the hopper. This may be desirable
~or obvious reasons not the least of which would be to dimi-
nish the chances that the opera-tor will spill accumulate~
solution on the clean floor surface when the hopper is being
emptied. Additionally, a vacuum hose or other type of
mechanism may be mounted in the debris hopper to remove the
scrubbing solution.
A second embodiment of the present invention is
shown in FIGURE VI. In this embodiment a squeegee 80 is
located at ~he rearward end of the maintenance machine 81.
The rotating disc brushes 82 and 83 are mounted directly in
front of the rearward squeegee 80, ra-ther than at the front
end of the ~achine as in the first embodimen-t. As can be
seen in FIGI~E VI a pair of brushes is employed with the
~2~8Z~3
-13-
right hand brush 82 placed slightly ahead oE, but substan-
tially side-by-side, the left-hand brush ~3. As in the pre
ferred embodiment the leading brush 82, i.e. the rlgh-t-hand
brush, determines the direction of rotation ~or the two
brushes. The trailing brush 83, i.e. the left-hand brush,
thus sweeps in a direction generally towards the forward
edge of the leading brush or clockwise in this particular
arrangement. Of course, as a matter o~ design choice, the
le~t-hand brush could be selected as the leading brush, and
then the direction of rotation for the pair of brushes would
be countercloc~wise.
In the embodiment shown in FIGURE VI, the hopper 84
is positioned beneath the body of the machine at a location
directly ahead of, yet adjacent to, the forwardmost edge of
the leading brush 82. As a practical matter, the hopper 84
is constructed so that it may be slid into position and thus
suspended beneath the machine body and secured in that posi-
tion relative to the disc brushes 82, 83, by appropriate
securing means. In all other respects the hopper and debris
receiving means are substantially identical to the hopper
and means disclosed and described in the foregoing
discussion of the preferred embodiment. Except, of course,
no access opening need be provided in the top or cover for
obvious reasons.
A third embodiment o~ the invention is illustrated
s~hematically in FIGURE VI~. In this embodiment a plurality
of disc brushes are used. The brushes are arranged in a V-
formation with a forwardmost pair of brushes 120 and 121,
spaced apart from each other but substantiall~ side-by-side
forming the opening of the V-shape. Along either side o~
the V-shape arrangement at least one more brush 120a and
121a respectively is secured slightly behind and to the
inner side of the forwardmost brush located directly ahead.
In this embodiment one additional brush 120b is show~, cen-
tered between and slightly rearwardly of brushes 120a and
121a. The ~rushes each rotate in a direction which will
cause debris to be swept ~orwardly by the brushes towards
-14-
the hopper mounted, as in the preferred embodiment, direc-tly
in fron-t of the forwardmost brushes. In the schematic
illustration it can be better appreciated that the forward~
most brushes rotate in opposite directions, with the right
hand brush rotating in a clockwise direction and the lef-t-
hand brush rotating in a counterclockwise direction. The
~rushes mounted directly behind each of the forwardmost
brushes rotate in the same direction as the respective for-
wardmost brush ahead of it. The center brush 120b may be
rotated in either direction. The hopper 12'L in this third
embodiment and the debris receiving mechanism 128 are
substantially identicai to -that described in the foregoing
discussion of the preferred e~odiment, however, the debris
receiving mechanism 128 has a ramp member 132 with a pair of
end chutes 133 and 134.
Operation of the Invention
Referring again to FIGURES I through V for
illustrative purposes, in the operation of the maintenance
machine 10, scrubbing solution is dispensed from the tank
16 to the rotating disc brushes 20a, 20b. As the solution
reaches the floor surface it will be used by the rapidly
rotating brushes 20a, 20b to scrub the floor surface. It is
highly desirable to have all possible debris on the floor
surface removed. Typically, combination sweepers and scrub-
bers have employed vacuums to assist in removing the-debris
to a container generally positioned in the body and behind
the brushes. For various reasons, such arrangements have
proven less than satisfactory in their efficiency for
removing debris which if left on the floor surface can cause
squeegee s-treaking and plugging of the vacuum system.
The present invention affords a unique solution to
such prior art problems by the placemen-t of the debris
hopper 24 ahead of the sweeping brushes 20a, 20b. The uni-
que debris receiving mechanism along with the debris guiding
blades 37,38 function to achieve virtually complete removal
of debris swept up by the brushes. This is accomplished in
the followin~ manner.
As the machine 10 is moved along the floor surface
the blades 37, 38 ca-tch the debris. The continued movement
of the machine causes the debris to move inwardl~ along the
respective blade to a central portion of the path being
swept. When the debris finally arrives at the open central
portion, the flexible ramp 32 then passes over the accumu-
lated debris. The debris next contacts the rotating brushes
20a and/or 20b which typically rotate from approximately 160
rpm (revolutions per minute) up to 400 rpm or higher, with a
common brush tip speed beiny 1340 fpm (feet per minute~.
Any debris which is con-tacted by the rotating
trailing brush 20b is thrown either forwardly to the sloping
ramp 32 where it is guided into the hopper opening 25 or it
may be thrown from brush 20b to the leading brush 20a which
then gives the debris additional momentum to be thrown more
easily into the debris hopper through -the conduit 28 (FIGURE
III). The action of the leading brush 20a upon the debris
may be likened to a catapult-like assis-t to the movement of
the debris into the hopper. This catapult-like increase in
momentum will occur even if the leading brush is ~he left
hand brush.
Debris which does not first contact the trailing
brush 20b, instead passes directly to the leading brush 2~a.
The leading brush 20a is closer to the debris hopper 24 and
the conduit means 28 and thus -the debris is less likely to
escape entry into the hopper. The condult 28 positioned
directly in front of the forward edge 29 of the rotating
leading brush ~Oa will catch debris which gets thrown
sideways and prevent it from merely hitting a closed portion
of the hopper and falling back to the floor surface where it
must again be swept. It is to be recognized that the em~odi-
ments shown in Figures VI and VII operate in a manner simi-
lar to the embodiment of Figures I-V.
With an almost complete removal of debris by the
present inven-tion, the subsequent scrubbing action of the
brushes is also made more efficient. As a natural result
-16-
there is far less squeegee streaking and the appearance of
the scrubbed surface is greatly enhanced. Also, when satis-
factory sweeping is accomplished by the same machine as is
the scrubbing operation, both operations may be completed in
a sin~le pass of the machine over any given surface area. A
significant savin~s in time and labor may then be realized.
With the proper relationship of the leading brush
to the conduit as well as the relative slope of the flexible
ramp to the floor surface, the present invention proves
reliable for collectin~ and containing debris. It is
constructed from low cos-t components and easily adjusted and
readily removed from the machine. Fast, safe visual inspec-
tion and emptying of the hopper area is possible and con
venience to the operator of the machine is greatly
increased.
Of course, it will be appreciated by those skilled
in the art that various modifications may be made in the
invention as disclosed without departing from the broader
scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims
which follow hereinafter. For example the present invention
has been described in an embodiment wherein the disc tool is
a disc brush. Howeverl the tool may be a scarifying tool or
polishin~ pad.
