Washing and/or cleaning brush and cleaning unit for washing and/or cleaning machines comprising at least said brush

Abstract

A washing/cleaning brush comprises a main body and an operative portion connected to the main body; the brush further comprises a power take-off means directly connected thereto and apt for transmitting mechanical power thereto so as to set it moving with respect to a cleaning and/or washing unit on which it can be mounted. The main body is configured as a pad driver apt for receiving a felt cleaning pad, the power take-off means being afforded in or connected to the pad driver or to the felt cleaning pad.

1 . A washing and/or cleaning brush for cleaning machines for cleaning areas such as floor surfaces and the like, comprising:
 a main body ( 2 ) that can be connected to a constraining point ( 12 ) on a cleaning unit ( 10 );   an operative portion ( 3 ) connected to the main body ( 2 ) and apt for performing cleaning and/or washing procedures on an area to be cleaned; said area to be cleaned can be travelled over by the cleaning and/or washing unit ( 10 ); and   a power take-off means ( 4 ) afforded directly and integrally in the main body ( 2 ) and apt for transmitting mechanical power to the brush ( 1 ) so as to set it moving with respect to the constraining point ( 12 ) on the cleaning and/or washing unit ( 10 ),   
       characterized in that the main body ( 2 ) is configured as a pad driver apt for receiving a felt cleaning pad, the power take-off means ( 4 ) being afforded in or connected to the pad driver or to the felt cleaning pad. 
     
     
         2 . The brush according to  claim 1 , wherein the main body ( 2 ) has the form of a solid of rotation of a cylindrical shape, the constraining point ( 12 ) being constituted by a localized anchoring point at the central axis of symmetry of said solid of rotation, the operative portion ( 3 ) comprising a multiplicity of active elements that project perpendicularly from the solid of rotation with respect to the central axis of symmetry and comprising a multiplicity of flexible thread-like and ribbon-like elements apt for impacting the area to be cleaned in a state of operation and/or corresponding to the movements of the brush ( 1 ) with respect to the constraining point ( 12 ). 
     
     
         3 . The brush according to  claim 1 , wherein the power take-off means ( 4 ) comprises a multiplicity of meshing teeth positioned about the perimeter of the main body ( 2 ) and preferably positioned at an ordinate that is offset with respect to the central axis of symmetry, with respect to an ordinate in which the flexible thread-like and/or ribbon-like elements lie. 
     
     
         4 . A cleaning and/or washing unit ( 10 ) that can be used in cleaning and/or washing machines, comprising:
 a supporting structure ( 11 ) defining one or more constraining points ( 12 ), each being suitable for receiving a brush ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 ; and   a motor ( 13 ) connected to at least one brush ( 1 ) mounted in the supporting structure ( 11 ) at a constraining point ( 12 ), the connection between the brush ( 1 ) and motor ( 13 ) being at least partially implemented by means of the power take-off means ( 4 ) afforded on the main body ( 2 ) of the brush ( 1 ).   
     
     
         5 . The unit according to  claim 4 , wherein there is also present a gear motor kinematically interposed between the motor ( 13 ) and the power take-off means ( 4 ) of at least one brush ( 1 ). 
     
     
         6 . The unit according to  claim 4 , wherein there are present two or more brushes ( 1 ) that counter-rotate with respect to each other and are interconnected by means of the respective power take-off means ( 4 ), which are mutually and directly meshed, the gear motor being connected to just one of the brushes ( 1 ) that counter-rotate with respect to each other. 
     
     
         7 . The unit according to  claim 4 , wherein there is present a means for orienting and/or moving the entire cleaning and/or washing unit ( 10 ) with respect to a machine. 
     
     
         8 . The unit according to  claim 4 , wherein there is also present a means for dispensing water and/or detergents and/or disinfectants apt for impacting the surface to be washed in a state of operation.