Rotary treatment article, floor treatment machine and method for treatment of a floor

Abstract

A treatment article ( 1 ) for rotational surface treatment of an object, such as an object of e.g. stone, wood, linoleum, concrete, terrazzo and the like, includes a pad ( 2 ) having major surfaces ( 3, 4 ) facing away from each other and a plurality of flaps ( 6 ) connected to one ( 3 ) of the major surfaces of the pad. The flaps cover the pad and overlap each other in the circumferential direction of the pad ( 2 ). Also, the flaps ( 6 ) are each attached to a support layer ( 5 ) interposed between the pad ( 2 ) and the flaps ( 6 ).

1 . Treatment article ( 1 ) for rotational surface treatment of an object, such as an object of e.g. stone, wood, linoleum, concrete, terrazzo and the like, comprising a pad ( 2 ) having major surfaces ( 3 ,  4 ) facing away from each other and a plurality of flaps ( 6 ) on one ( 3 ) of said major surfaces of the pad, which flaps at least partly cover the pad, a rotation axis ( 20 ) being defined perpendicular with respect to the major surfaces ( 3 ,  4 ), characterized in that the flaps ( 6 ) overlap each other at least in the circumferential direction of the pad ( 2 ) and are each attached to a support layer ( 5 ) interposed between the pad ( 2 ) and the flaps ( 6 ). 
     
     
         2 . Treatment article ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein each flap ( 6 ) at one end ( 8 ) is positioned underneath a preceding flap ( 6 ′) and at the opposite end ( 9 ) is positioned above a following flap ( 6 ″), when seen in circumferential direction (roof tile fashion). 
     
     
         3 . Treatment article ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein each flap ( 6 ) has a treatment surface facing ( 15 ) away from the pad ( 2 ). 
     
     
         4 . Treatment article ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein flaps ( 6 ) are arranged according to a series ( 7 ) which is at least partly circular and concentric with respect to the rotation axis ( 20 ), and/or wherein flaps ( 6 ) are arranged according to series ( 7 ′) comprising groups ( 22 ) of flaps which are spiral shaped with respect to the rotation axis ( 20 ). 
     
     
         5 . Treatment article ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein flaps ( 6 ) are arranged according to an intermittent series ( 7 ″,  7 ′″) comprising groups ( 21 ) of flaps which are formed according to a part of a circle concentric with respect to the rotation axis ( 19 ), which are equidistant to the rotation axis and which are at a distance from each other in circumferential direction. 
     
     
         6 . Treatment article ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the major surface ( 3 ) of the pad ( 2 ) onto which the flaps ( 6 ) are connected, has a central portion ( 11 ) which is free from flaps ( 6 ). 
     
     
         7 . Treatment article ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the flaps ( 6 ) comprise abrasive particles, such as particles of diamond, cubic boron nitride, aluminium oxide, silicon carbide, zirconium or any other abrasive substance or polishing compound. 
     
     
         8 . Treatment article ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the pad ( 2 ) comprises a lofty material, e.g. a nonwoven three dimensional web of fibers which are bonded to one another at points of mutual contact, and/or wherein the pad is of an expanded PVC material 
     
     
         9 . Treatment article ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the support layer ( 5 ) comprises a textile layer ( 16 ), a resin layer ( 17 ) and a thin glue layer ( 23 ) and wherein the textile layer ( 16 ) is adhered to the resin layer ( 17 ) through said thin glue layer ( 23 ). 
     
     
         10 . Treatment article ( 1 ) according to  claim 9 , wherein the support layer ( 5 ) is at least partly covered with a glue layer ( 10 ), one edge ( 8 ) of each flap ( 6 ) being embedded in said glue layer ( 10 ) and being adhered to the textile layer ( 16 ) of the support layer ( 5 ) by said glue layer ( 10 ). 
     
     
         11 . Treatment article according to  claim 1 , wherein the support layer ( 5 ) is adhered to the pad ( 2 ) through a thin glue layer ( 24 ). 
     
     
         12 . Treatment article according to  claim 1 , wherein the tensile stiffness of the support layer ( 5 ) is higher than the tensile stiffness of the pad ( 2 ). 
     
     
         13 . Floor treatment machine ( 13 ) comprising a frame, at least one rotary drive head ( 12 ), drive means for driving the rotary drive head in rotation about the axis thereof, handling means ( 14 ) for controlling and steering the machine over a floor ( 15 ) to be treated as well as a treatment article ( 1 ) according to  claim 1  for rotational surface treatment of an object, such as an object of e.g. stone, wood, linoleum and the like, comprising a pad ( 2 ) having major surfaces ( 3 ,  4 ) facing away from each other and a plurality of flaps ( 6 ) on one of said major surfaces of the pad ( 2 ) and which at least partly cover the pad, characterized in that the flaps ( 6 ) overlap each other in the circumferential direction of the pad ( 2 ) and are each attached to a support layer ( 5 ) interposed between the pad ( 2 ) and the pate members ( 6 ) and in that the other major surface ( 4 ) of the pad ( 6 ) is supported against the rotary drive head ( 12 ). 
     
     
         14 . Method for operating the floor treatment device ( 13 ) according to  claim 13 , wherein treatment article ( 1 ) is in contact with a floor and said treatment article with the associated rotary drive head ( 12 ) are rotated at a rotational speed of at least 175 rpm, preferably at least 800 rpm. 
     
     
         15 . Method according to  claim 14 , wherein the rotational speed is in the range of 175-2000 rpm. 
     
     
         16 . Treatment article ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein each flap ( 6 ) has a treatment surface facing ( 15 ) away from the pad ( 2 ).