Rotary gear mechanical cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A cleaning apparatus is capable of cleaning by using a drive force of rolling wheels without using an additional power supply. The cleaning apparatus includes a body provided with main rolling wheels. A rotary brush for cleaning is rotatably installed to the body in such a way that the outer circumferential surface of the brush is in contact with a surface to be cleaned. A dust collecting container is mounted to the body in such a way that a mouth of the dust collecting container is near to both the rotary brush and the floor. A power transmission unit transmits the drive force of the main rolling wheels to a shaft of the rotary brush.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A cleaning apparatus, comprising: 
 a body provided with main rolling wheels;    a rotary brush which cleans, rotatably installed to the body so that an outer circumferential surface of the brush is in contact with a floor to be cleaned;    a dust collecting container mounted to the body so that a mouth of the dust collecting container is near to both the rotary brush and the floor; and    power transmission unit, transmitting a drive force of the main rolling wheels to a shaft of the rotary brush.    
     
     
         2 . The cleaning apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said power transmission unit comprises a plurality of gears engaging with each other so that an axle of the main rolling wheels is connected to the shaft of the rotary brush.  
     
     
         3 . The cleaning apparatus as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said gears are arranged to form an acceleration gear train such that a rotating speed of one of the gears mounted on the shaft of the rotary brush is higher than a rotating speed of another one of the gears mounted on the axle of the main rolling wheels.  
     
     
         4 . The cleaning apparatus as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said gears comprise: 
 a drive gear mounted on the axle of the main rolling wheels to be rotated with the main rolling wheels;    a driven gear mounted on the shaft of the rotary brush; and    at least one intermediate gear coupling the drive gear to the driven gear.    
     
     
         5 . The cleaning apparatus as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein a shaft of the intermediate gear is movable in a rotating direction of the drive gear within a predetermined range to control power transmitted from the drive gear to the driven gear according to the rotating direction of the drive gear.  
     
     
         6 . The cleaning apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said power transmission unit comprises: 
 a drive sprocket mounted on the axle of the main rolling wheels;    a driven sprocket mounted on the shaft of the rotary brush, said driven sprocket being smaller in diameter than the drive sprocket; and    an endless chain wrapped around the drive sprocket and the driven sprocket, transmitting power between the drive and driven sprockets.    
     
     
         7 . The cleaning apparatus as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein either said drive sprocket or driven sprocket is provided with a one-way clutch to control power transmitted from the drive sprocket to the driven sprocket according to a rotating direction of the drive sprocket.  
     
     
         8 . The cleaning apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said power transmission unit comprises: 
 a drive pulley mounted on the axle of the main rolling wheels;    a driven pulley mounted on the shaft of the rotary brush, said driven pulley being smaller in diameter than the drive pulley; and    an endless belt wrapped around the drive pulley and the driven pulley, transmitting power between the drive and driven pulleys.    
     
     
         9 . The cleaning apparatus as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein either of said drive pulley or driven pulley is provided with a one-way clutch to control power transmitted from the drive pulley to the driven pulley according to a rotating direction of the drive pulley.  
     
     
         10 . The cleaning apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said body comprises a cover covering an upper portion of the rotary brush.  
     
     
         11 . The cleaning apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said main rolling wheels are respectively rotatably installed to both sides of the body at symmetrical positions, and at least one sub-wheel is installed at a predetermined position spaced apart from the main rolling wheels to stably support the body.  
     
     
         12 . The cleaning apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , further including a handle having a predetermined length and positioned on the body to allow a user to manipulate the body.  
     
     
         13 . The cleaning apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said dust collecting container is detachably mounted in the body in the form of a drawer.  
     
     
         14 . A cleaning device comprising: 
 a rotary brush which cleans, rotatably installed to a housing with main wheels in such a way that an outer circumferential surface of the brush is in contact with a floor to be cleaned;    a dust collecting container mounted to the housing in such a way that a mouth of the dust collecting container is proximate to both the rotary brush and the floor; and    a multiple gear unit which transmits a drive force of the main wheels to a shaft of the rotary brush to rotate the rotary brush when the main wheels move forward and which disengages from the shaft of the rotary brush to cease rotation of the rotary brush when the main wheels move backward.    
     
     
         15 . The cleaning device as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the multiple gear unit comprises a plurality of gears engaging with each other so that an axle of the main wheels is connected to the shaft of the rotary brush.  
     
     
         16 . The cleaning device as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein one of the gears mounted on the shaft of the rotary brush provides a higher rotating speed than a rotating speed of another one of the gears mounted on the axle of the main wheels.  
     
     
         17 . The cleaning device as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein said plurality of gears comprises: 
 a drive gear mounted on the axle of the main wheels;    a driven gear mounted on the shaft of the rotary brush; and    at least one intermediate gear coupling the drive gear to the driven gear.    
     
     
         18 . The cleaning device as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the multiple gear unit includes a plurality of gears, wherein a driven gear is mounted on the shaft of the rotary brush via a one-way clutch, an intermediate gear is located on a shaft that moves along shaft guide slots on each side of the housing in correspondence with moving the main wheels forward and backward, and a drive gear is mounted on an axle of the main wheels.