Patent Application
20180140151
The present invention relates generally to methods and systems for cleaning smooth surfaces, and surfaces having protruding elements such as window frames and more specifically to methods and cleaning head having two wipers and a sponge.
There is a need for cleaning large surfaces, such as windows of buildings or solar panels. Today most cleaning operations are preformed manually, by human workers.
The cleaning head apparatus as suggested by the present invention is intended for continuously cleaning surfaces such as windows, floors or solar panels in horizontal or vertical orientation. Known in the art are cleaning heads using brushes wet or dry sponges.
The cleaning head is designed to be connected to a carrier unit that moves the cleaning head apparatus along a surface.
The present invention provides a cleaning apparatus head for cleaning surfaces, said cleaning apparatus comprised of:
According to some embodiments of the present invention, the electronic controller is programmed for controlling the movable arms, such that when the cleaning head is moved in the left direction, the wiper located on the right side of the sponge element is moved forward, towards the surface, and the wiper located on the left side is removed backwards, away from the surface. In a complementary manner, when the cleaning head is moved in the right direction, the wiper located on the left side of the sponge element is moved forward, towards the surface, and the wiper located on the right side is removed backwards, away from the surface.
According to some embodiments of the present invention the cleaning head is mounted on a moving platform, which is mounted on a track, located on a transporter moving along the cleaning surface, wherein the cleaning head can move forward and backward from the cleaning surface.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, the cleaning head is moving on a platform which has at least one engine for moving the track.
According to some embodiments of the present invention, the cleaning head further comprises a wetting element for wetting the sponge.
The present invention provides a wiping apparatus for cleaning surfaces, said apparatus being movable along the surface to be cleaned by a moving mechanism operatively connected thereto, said wiping apparatus comprising:
The invention will now be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments with reference to the following illustrative figures so that it may be more fully understood.
With specific reference now to the figures in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.
In the drawings:
In the detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that these are specific embodiments and that the present invention may be practiced also in different ways that embody the characterizing features of the invention as described and claimed herein.
a. The present invention provides a wiping apparatus for cleaning surfaces, said apparatus being movable along the surface to be cleaned by a moving mechanism operatively connected thereto, said wiping apparatus comprising:
b. an applicator/sponge for applying cleaning material onto the surface to be cleaned;
c. at least two wipers; each wiper located at a different side of said applicator/sponge such that said applicator is positioned between said wipers;
d. at least one shifting mechanism operatively associated with said wipers, said shifting mechanism being configured for moving one wiper away from the surface, at each given wiping movement of the apparatus, while the other wiper is maintained in contact with the surface being cleaned, depending on direction of the wiping movement of said wiping apparatus.
e. The cleaning head further comprises a wetting element on the sponge and a suction device for removing the dirt and water-detergent from wipers.
The cleaning head may further include a wetting element 7 on the top of the sponge 2 and a suction element 9, e.g. for removing fluid and dirt which has accumulated at the lower edge of the wipers.
The cleaning head may further include:
a wetting element (as seen in
A suction element (as seen in
According to some embodiments, more than one cleaning head is installed and operates on the same carrier.
The present invention provides a cleaning apparatus head for cleaning surface. The cleaning apparatus is comprised of: a main body for holding the cleaning head parts, at least two wipers movable along a horizontal or vertical axis forward and backwards towards the surface, a sponge element located at the front of the main body, in between the two wipers, at least two movable arms (such as pistons or arms operated by engine) for pushing and pulling the wipers.
The pistons' movement is controlled, such that when the cleaning head is moving to the left, the wiper located on the right side of the sponge element is moved forwards toward the surface and the left wipers moves backwards from the surface, and when the cleaning head is moving to the right, the wiper located at the left side of the sponge element is moved forwards toward the surface and the right wiper moves backward. At each state of the cleaning only one wiper is located at the front of the cleaning head in contact with the surface.
The references cited herein teach many principles that are applicable to the present invention. Therefore the full contents of these publications are incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for teachings of additional or alternative details, features and/or technical background.
It should be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details set forth in the description contained herein or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various modifications and changes can be applied to the embodiments of the invention as hereinbefore described without departing from its scope, defined in and by the appended.
