Floor cleaning machine

Abstract

A floor cleaning machine with a rotating brush and a rotating drum is disclosed. The floor cleaning machine also includes a stripping device adapted to lift from the rotating drum a water film containing dirt picked up from the floor. The soiled water film can be transferred to a wastewater container.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A stripping device for a floor cleaning machine of a type which includes at least one rotating brush, a rotating drum having a width and adapted to receive a soiled water film containing dirt picked up by the at least one rotating brush, and a wastewater container, said stripping device comprising: 
 a strip having a length substantially identical to the width of the drum;    a rigid strip holder extending essentially over the length of the strip; and    at least one spring for urging the strip holder towards an outer surface of the drum, thereby enabling the strip to lift the soiled water film from the drum for transfer to the wastewater container.    
     
     
         2 . The stripping device of  claim 1 , wherein the strip holder is pivotally supported and has a portion for receiving the strip, said spring pivoting the portion of the strip holder that carries the strip towards the drum surface.  
     
     
         3 . The stripping device of  claim 2 , and further comprising 
 a pivot shaft, said strip holder being secured in fixed rotative engagement to the pivot shaft, wherein the pivot shaft projects beyond opposite end faces of the strip holder and is supported in side members of the floor cleaning machine, and    a lever that is secured to one end of the pivot shaft projecting beyond a respective one of the side members, with the at least one spring acting on the lever.    
     
     
         4 . The stripping device of  claim 3 , wherein the spring is a compression spring having two ends, with one end of the compression spring being supported on said side member and the other end of the compression spring being supported on the lever.  
     
     
         5 . The stripping device of  claim 4 , and further comprising a hollow-cylindrical housing adapted to receive the compression spring, and a piston projecting into the housing and pivotally supported on the lever, said housing being closed on one end and swingably supported in said side member for pivoting about a plane parallel to the side member, wherein the closed end of the housing supports the one end of the compression spring and the piston supports the other end of the compression spring.  
     
     
         6 . The stripping device of  claim 3 , wherein the spring is a tension spring having two ends, with one end of the tension spring secured to said side member and the other end of the tension spring secured to the lever.  
     
     
         7 . A stripping device for a floor cleaning machine which includes at least one rotating cleaning brush, a rotating drum having a width and adapted to receive a soiled water film which contains dirt picked up by the cleaning brush, and a wastewater container, said stripping device comprising a rotating stripping brush extending essentially over the width of the drum and having bristles with free bristle ends which bear upon an outer surface of the drum for lifting the soiled water film from the drum and transferring the soiled water film to the wastewater container.  
     
     
         8 . The stripping device of  claim 7 , wherein the rotating cleaning brush is a cylindrical brush.  
     
     
         9 . The stripping device of  claim 7 , wherein the rotating stripping brush is a cylindrical brush.