Apparatus adapted for the removal of foreign matter

Abstract

An apparatus adapted for the removal of foreign matter from the exterior of windows of a building can include a cleaning unit and a positioning unit. The cleaning unit can extend a depth between a front side confronting the work surface and a back side opposite the front side. The cleaning unit can include a cleaning agency. The positioning unit can be engaged with the cleaning unit to move the cleaning unit among a plurality of different positions relative to the building.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus adapted for the removal of foreign matter from the exterior of windows of a building and comprising:
 a cleaning unit extending a depth between a front side confronting the work surface and a back side opposite said front side, said cleaning unit including a cleaning agency; and   a positioning unit engaged with said cleaning unit to move said cleaning unit among a plurality of different positions relative to the building.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said positioning unit further comprises:
 a first drive sheave configured for mounting proximate to a top of the building; 
 a first motor disposed to selectively drive said first drive sheave in rotation; 
 a first idler sheave configured for mounting proximate to a bottom of the building below said first drive sheave; 
 a second drive sheave configured for mounting proximate to the bottom of the building laterally spaced from said first idler sheave; 
 a second motor disposed to selectively drive said second drive sheave in rotation; 
 a second idler sheave configured for mounting proximate to the top of the building above said second drive sheave and laterally spaced from said first drive sheave; 
 a first flexible, elongate member extending between said first drive sheave and said first idler sheave, said cleaning unit at least partially suspended from said first flexible, elongate member; and 
 a second flexible, elongate member extending between said second drive sheave and said second idler sheave, said cleaning unit at least partially suspended from said second flexible, elongate member. 
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said positioning unit further comprises:
 a first sensor disposed to sense movement of said first idler sheave and emit a first signal in response to the sensed movement; and 
 a processor disposed to receive said first signal and control said second motor in response to said first signal. 
 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said positioning unit further comprises:
 a second sensor disposed to sense movement of said second idler sheave and emit a second signal in response to the sensed movement, wherein said processor is further defined as disposed to receive said second signal and control said first motor in response to said second signal. 
 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said positioning unit further comprises:
 a first carriage configured for mounting proximate to a top of the building and extending a first width between a first right carriage side and a first left carriage side; 
 a second carriage configured for mounting proximate to a bottom of the building and extending a second width between a second right carriage side and a second left carriage side; 
 a first flexible, elongate member extending in a first loop between said first carriage and said second carriage at said first right carriage side and said second right carriage side, said cleaning unit at least partially suspended from said first flexible, elongate member, and a first lateral side of said cleaning unit moved vertically by rotation of said first loop; 
 a second flexible, elongate member extending in a second loop between said first carriage and said second carriage at said first left carriage side and said second left carriage side, said cleaning unit at least partially suspended from said second flexible, elongate member, and a second lateral side of said cleaning unit opposite said first lateral side moved vertically by rotation of said second loop; and 
 wherein each of said first carriage and said second carriage includes a moving arrangement for rotating only one of said first loop and said second loop and a guiding arrangement for guiding rotation of the other of said first loop and said second loop. 
 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein each of said first carriage and said second carriage includes a shifting arrangement for shifting said respective carriage laterally across the building. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said positioning unit further comprises:
 at least one flexible, elongate member wherein said cleaning unit is at least partially suspended from said at least one flexible, elongate member; and 
 at least one tensioning unit mounted on said cleaning unit and configured to inhibit slack in said at least one flexible, elongate member. 
 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a conduit configured to deliver fluid to said cleaning unit, wherein said tensioning unit includes a cylinder in fluid communication with said conduit. 
 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein:
 said at least one flexible, elongate member is further defined as first and second flexible, elongate members disposed on opposite sides of the cleaning unit; and 
 said at least one tensioning unit is further defined as first and second tensioning units disposed on opposite sides of the cleaning unit, both of said first and second tensioning units receiving fluid from said conduit. 
 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said at least one tensioning unit further comprises:
 a rod wherein said at least one flexible, elongate member extends through said rod. 
 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said at least one tensioning unit is configured to wind said at least one flexible, elongate member about said rod to inhibit slack in said at least one flexible, elongate member. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least one extendible cylinder mounted on said cleaning unit, said cleaning agency mounted on said at least one cylinder, wherein said cleaning agency is urged toward the work surface by extension of said at least one cylinder and drawn away from the work surface by retraction of said at least one cylinder. 
 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said positioning unit further comprises:
 at least one flexible, elongate member wherein said cleaning unit at least partially suspended from said at least one flexible, elongate member and wherein said at least one flexible elongate member is urged away from the work surface by extension of said at least one cylinder. 
 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said at least one flexible elongate member is further defined as including a plurality of said flexible elongate members and all of said flexible elongate members are urged away from the work surface by extension of said at least one cylinder. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a conduit configured to deliver fluid to said cleaning unit; and 
 at least one cylinder engaged with said cleaning agency and extendable to urge said cleaning agency toward the work surface, said at least one cylinder in fluid communication with said conduit. 
 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said at least one cylinder is further defined as a plurality of cylinders including first and second cylinders positioned on a same lateral side of said cleaning unit. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein said at least one cylinder is further defined as a plurality of cylinders including first and second cylinders positioned on opposite lateral sides of said cleaning unit. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a moving device operably disposed between said cleaning unit and said cleaning agency whereby a distance separating said cleaning unit and said cleaning agency in a vertically-extending plane transverse to both of said front side and said back side is variable. 
 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein said moving device further comprises:
 at least one extendible cylinder mounted on said cleaning unit, said cleaning agency mounted on said at least one cylinder, wherein said distance increases during extension of said at least one cylinder and decreases during retraction of said at least one cylinder. 
 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein extension of said at least one cylinder occurs along only a horizontal axis in said vertically-extending plane. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 said cleaning unit further comprises at least one truck; 
 said positioning unit further comprises at least one elongate member, wherein said at least one truck is mountable on said at least one elongate member; and 
 a said apparatus further comprises a camera mountable on said at least one truck.