Cleaning machine

Abstract

A cleaning machine may include: a drive shaft; a rotation transmitting mechanism configured to transmit rotation of the drive shaft; a brush attaching member configured to rotate about a rotation axis; a clutch mechanism coupling the rotation transmitting mechanism with the brush attaching member; a brush attached to the brush attaching member; and a brush moving mechanism configured to move the brush attaching member between an adjacent position adjacent to a working plane and a distant position distanced from the working plane. The clutch mechanism may be configured to transmit the rotation from the rotation transmitting mechanism to the brush attaching member when the brush attaching member is at the adjacent position and cut off transmission of the rotation from the rotation transmitting mechanism to the brush attaching member when the brush attaching member is at the distant position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cleaning machine comprising:
 a drive shaft;   a rotation transmitting mechanism configured to transmit rotation of the drive shaft;   a brush attaching member configured to rotate about a rotation axis;   a clutch mechanism coupling the rotation transmitting mechanism with the brush attaching member;   a brush attached to the brush attaching member; and   a brush moving mechanism configured to move the brush attaching member between an adjacent position adjacent to a working plane and a distant position distanced from the working plane,   wherein   the clutch mechanism is configured to transmit the rotation from the rotation transmitting mechanism to the brush attaching member when the brush attaching member is at the adjacent position and cut off transmission of the rotation from the rotation transmitting mechanism to the brush attaching member when the brush attaching member is at the distant position.   
     
     
         2 . The cleaning machine according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the rotation transmitting mechanism comprises a brush rotating member configured to rotate with the rotation of the drive shaft, and   the clutch mechanism comprises:
 a clutch claw disposed on one of the brush rotating member and the brush attaching member; and 
 a clutch rib disposed on other of the brush rotating member and the brush attaching member. 
   
     
     
         3 . The cleaning machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the brush is detachably attached to the brush attaching member. 
     
     
         4 . The cleaning machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a brush operation member coupled to the brush moving mechanism and configured to receive an operation related to a movement of the brush from a user. 
     
     
         5 . The cleaning machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the brush operation member is disposed closer to the user than the brush attaching member is when viewed from the user. 
     
     
         6 . The cleaning machine according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the brush operation member comprises:
 a supporting member; and 
 an operation lever supported by the supporting member and configured to pivot between an adjacent operation position and a distant operation position, wherein the brush attaching member moves to the adjacent position when the operation lever pivots to the adjacent operation position, and the brush attaching member moves to the distant position when the operation lever pivots to the distant operation position. 
   
     
     
         7 . The cleaning machine according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the operation lever comprises an engagement portion,   the supporting member comprises an engageable portion configured to engage with the engagement portion, and   the engagement portion engages with the engageable portion when the operation lever is at the distant operation position.   
     
     
         8 . The cleaning machine according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the operation lever further comprises:
 a lever body; and 
 a switching member movably held by the lever body and including the engagement portion, and 
   the engagement portion is disengaged from the engageable portion when the user operates the switching member.   
     
     
         9 . The cleaning machine according to  claim 6 , wherein the brush operation member further comprises an adjustment member configured to restrict a movable range of the operation lever. 
     
     
         10 . The cleaning machine according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the brush operation member further comprises a holding member supported by the supporting member,   the adjustment member comprises:
 a head portion configured to be pinched by the user; and 
 a shaft portion fixed to the head portion and configured to be screwed to the holding member, 
   a stopper configured to abut the shaft portion of the adjustment member is disposed on the operation lever, and   when the user rotates the head portion, the shaft portion moves with respect to the supporting member such that a position where the stopper abuts the shaft portion varies.   
     
     
         11 . The cleaning machine according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the brush attaching member moves to the adjacent position when the user tilts the operation lever, and   the brush attaching member moves to the distant position when the user raises the operation lever.   
     
     
         12 . The cleaning machine according to  claim 4 , further comprising a brush operation cable coupling the brush operation member with the brush moving mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . The cleaning machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the brush moving mechanism comprises a movable shaft coupled to the brush operation cable and supporting the brush attaching member such that the brush attaching member is rotatable. 
     
     
         14 . The cleaning machine according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the brush moving mechanism further comprises:
 a shaft cable coupled to the movable shaft; and 
 a cable connector connecting the brush operation cable to the shaft cable. 
   
     
     
         15 . The cleaning machine according to  claim 14 , wherein the brush moving mechanism further comprises a guide pulley configured to guide the shaft cable. 
     
     
         16 . The cleaning machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the brush moving mechanism is configured to move the brush attaching member between the adjacent position and the distant position without changing a posture of the brush attaching member with respect to the working plane. 
     
     
         17 . The cleaning machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a wheel; and   a chassis supported by the wheel.   
     
     
         18 . The cleaning machine according to  claim 17 , further comprising a handle extending rearward and upward from the chassis and configured to be gripped by the user. 
     
     
         19 . The cleaning machine according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the brush is detachably attached to the brush attaching member,   the cleaning machine further comprises a brush operation member coupled to the brush moving mechanism and configured to receive an operation related to a movement of the brush from a user,   the brush operation member is disposed closer to the user than the brush attaching member is when viewed from the user,   the brush operation member comprises:
 a supporting member; and 
 an operation lever supported by the supporting member and configured to pivot between an adjacent operation position and a distant operation position, wherein the brush attaching member moves to the adjacent position when the operation lever pivots to the adjacent operation position, and the brush attaching member moves to the distant position when the operation lever pivots to the distant operation position, 
   the operation lever comprises an engagement portion,   the supporting member comprises an engageable portion configured to engage with the engagement portion,   the engagement portion engages with the engageable portion when the operation lever is at the distant operation position,   the operation lever further comprises:
 a lever body; and 
 a switching member movably held by the lever body and including the engagement portion, 
   the engagement portion is disengaged from the engageable portion when the user operates the switching member,   the brush operation member further comprises an adjustment member configured to restrict a movable range of the operation lever,   the brush operation member further comprises a holding member supported by the supporting member,   the adjustment member comprises:
 a head portion configured to be pinched by the user; and 
 a shaft portion fixed to the head portion and configured to be screwed to the holding member, 
   a stopper configured to abut the shaft portion of the adjustment member is disposed on the operation lever,   when the user rotates the head portion, the shaft portion moves with respect to the supporting member such that a position where the stopper abuts the shaft portion varies,   the brush attaching member moves to the adjacent position when the user tilts the operation lever,   the brush attaching member moves to the distant position when the user raises the operation lever,   the cleaning machine further comprises a brush operation cable coupling the brush operation member with the brush moving mechanism,   the brush moving mechanism comprises a movable shaft coupled to the brush operation cable and supporting the brush attaching member such that the brush attaching member is rotatable,   the brush moving mechanism further comprises:
 a shaft cable coupled to the movable shaft; and 
 a cable connector connecting the brush operation cable with the shaft cable, 
   the brush moving mechanism further comprises a guide pulley configured to guide the shaft cable,   the brush moving mechanism is configured to move the brush attaching member between the adjacent position and the distant position without changing a posture of the brush attaching member with respect to the working plane, and   the cleaning machine further comprises:
 a wheel; 
 a chassis supported by the wheel; and 
 a handle extending rearward and upward from the chassis and configured to be gripped by the user.