SHOE SCRUBBER AND METHOD OF SCRUBBING SHOES

Abstract

A shoe scrubber has a machine frame forming a trough extending in a longitudinal direction, a platform supported in the frame, extending longitudinally above the trough, and subdivided into two longitudinally extending paths, a respective pair of elongated longitudinally extending rollers having radially extending cleaning elements in the trough under each of the paths with the elements projecting upward through the platform, and means for rotating the rollers and thereby scrubbing dirt from soles of shoes on the platform in the paths.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a shoe scrubber. More particularly this invention concerns such an apparatus that cleans the sole area of a shoe or boot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A known shoe scrubber has a machine frame forming a trough=, a platform above the trough, and rotatable cleaning rollers that extend in a longitudinal direction of the machine frame in the trough such that cleaning elements on cores of the cleaning rollers, particularly bristles, pass through the platform. The platform has two cleaning paths extending side by side longitudinally.

[0003] The cleaning rollers pass through an upper surface of the platform, enabling the sole of a shoe on the platform to be cleaned from below. Bristles that are flexible are usually provided as cleaning elements so that the shoe soles are brushed.

[0004] Usually, cleaning is performed with a cleaning and/or disinfecting liquid with which the cleaning rollers are wetted. For example, the cleaning rollers in the trough can dip into a liquid bath and/or be sprayed with the cleaning and/or disinfecting liquid.

[0005] In the context of the invention, "cleaning" is understood as the at least partial removal of dirt from shoes and particularly shoe soles. The same applies to disinfection, in which at least a portion of microorganisms, bacteria, and other contaminants are removed or neutralized.

[0006] Shoe scrubbers of this generic type are known, for example, from DE 101 13 136, US 2010/0115717, and DE 10 2016 108 439.

[0007] In areas with high hygienic requirements, such as food-related businesses, pharmaceutical production plants, slaughterhouses, butcher shops, commercial kitchens, or the like, the cleaning of shoes is of particular importance in order to prevent contamination of the work areas by the employees. The cleaning of the shoes is usually carried out in transitional areas like locks that can be provided both at the entrance into and exit from a production area as well as between different production subareas.

[0008] In the shoe scrubber of this generic type, the platform has two cleaning portions that extend side by side longitudinally in order to clean both of a user's shoes while the user is walking in the lengthwise direction of the shoe scrubber. In this connection, the shoe scrubber can also be provided at its entrance and/or exit with turnstiles in order to control access and the dwell time on the shoe scrubber. For example, a locked or lockable turnstile at the exit of the shoe scrubber ensures that a minimum time for the cleaning of shoes and, in particular, of shoe soles is observed.

[0009] The shoe scrubber can also be combined in the context of the invention with other facilities such as a hand cleaning and/or disinfection, a dryer for the cleaned shoes, or the like. Such subsystems are described, for example, in above-described document DE 10 2016 108 439 and in DE 10 2013 104 562.

[0010] According to DE 101 13 136, various cleaning devices can also be one after the other and thus combined.

[0011] In the known shoe scrubbers, a cleaning roller that extends longitudinally of the machine frame is provided in every cleaning path with cleaning elements, particularly bristles, for the purpose of cleaning a shoe sole. The cleaning elements project far beyond the platform, particularly in the middle of the two cleaning paths, and are thus able to clean the instep area of a sole in a particularly reliable and efficient manner.

[0012] Starting from the known prior art, it is the object of the present invention to provide to improve shoe cleaning and, in particular, cleaning of the edge of a sole.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0013] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved shoe scrubber and method of scrubbing shoes.

[0014] Another object is the provision of such an improved shoe scrubber and method of scrubbing shoes that overcomes the above-given disadvantages, in particular that provides exceptional cleaning while being of simple construction and easy to service.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] A shoe scrubber has according to the invention a machine frame forming a trough extending in a longitudinal direction, a platform supported in the frame, extending longitudinally above the trough, and subdivided into two longitudinally extending paths, a respective pair of elongated longitudinally extending rollers having radially extending cleaning elements in the trough under each of the paths with the elements projecting upward through the platform, and means for rotating the rollers and thereby scrubbing dirt from soles of shoes on the platform in the paths.

[0016] Even though known shoe scrubbers are well established in practice, the present invention is based on the discovery that the cleaning result is still in need of improvement precisely in the edge region of the soles, because it is there according to the prior art that the projecting length of the cleaning elements beyond the platform is reduced due to the rotation about axes of the cleaning rollers. In order to avoid this drawback, according to the invention, starting from a standard shoe scrubber, two sole-cleaning rollers are provided in each of the two cleaning paths. The two juxtaposed sole-cleaning rollers make reliable cleaning possible over a greater width, so that precisely the edges of a shoe sole can be cleaned from below in an especially reliable manner.

[0017] A provision is preferably made that the sole-cleaning rollers of each pair are set up, particularly coupled mechanically by gearing, so as to counterrotate, that is rotate oppositely to each other in the respective cleaning path, it being possible for each cleaning path to be provided with a separate drive motor that then drives the two respective sole-cleaning rollers.

[0018] If a shoe is guided centrally over the two sole-cleaning rollers in each of the two cleaning paths, the side edges of the sole in particular are brushed very intensely, enabling dirt there to be reliably removed. Such an especially reliable and intensive cleaning is essentially impossible with only one sole-cleaning roller for each of the two cleaning paths. When there is only one sole-cleaning roller for each cleaning path in which the shoe is centrally arranged, the largest projecting length of the cleaning elements, particularly the bristles, occurs centrally above the axis of rotation of the sole-cleaning roller.

[0019] In principle, it lies within the scope of the invention for all of the at least four sole-cleaning rollers to be driven by a common drive motor. It is especially preferred, however, for a respective drive motor to be provided for each cleaning path. Alternatively, a separate drive motor can also be present for each sole-cleaning roller, in which case however the expenditure for equipment is comparatively high.

[0020] If at least the two sole-cleaning rollers that are associated with each cleaning path are driven by a common drive motor, the transmission of rotation to the two sole-cleaning rollers is expediently performed by gearing, particularly by gear wheels.

[0021] In the context of the invention, the two associated sole-cleaning rollers are extend longitudinally parallel to one another in each cleaning path and preferably are also substantially identical. In particular, the sole-cleaning rollers can preferably have the same diameter, which is determined by the outer ends of the cleaning elements, particularly bristles.

[0022] The cleaning elements are expediently on a core of the sole-cleaning roller, which can be made of plastic, particularly PVC. Even if the two sole-cleaning rollers have substantially the same configuration for each cleaning path, the cleaning elements, particularly bristles, are preferably offset from one another longitudinally, so that they can rotate undisturbed in opposite directions.

[0023] For example, if the platform is formed as a grating, then individual, particularly annular, arrays of cleaning elements, particularly bristles, can alternately pass through openings or windows of the platform grating. Corresponding openings or windows can be defined by crossbars, for example, that also support the shoes. In the context of such an embodiment, the alternating cleaning elements of the two sole-cleaning rollers of a cleaning path are then separated by the crossbars.

[0024] According to another independent idea of the invention, for each cleaning path, side-cleaning rollers each having two additional cleaning elements, particularly bristles, are mounted above the platform and so as to form a cleaning lane for a shoe with a horizontal gap between them. With the side-cleaning rollers, the outer side edge of the sole and an upper portion immediately above the sole is to be cleaned and/or disinfected. Compared to known cleaning rollers for cleaning and/or disinfecting bootlegs, the side-cleaning rollers for cleaning the side edge of the sole and an upper portion immediately above the sole are comparatively small and comparatively low. Advantageously, generic shoe scrubbers can also be improved by the side-cleaning rollers described.

[0025] The side-cleaning rollers preferably rotate downward toward the platform at the respective edge of the cleaning lane, so that the outer edge of the sole can be cleaned well from above and dirt transported downward toward the trough.

[0026] In a conventional shoe, particularly a work shoe, the sole projects laterally past the upper. In particular, the upper can be sewn or glued to the sole on a horizontal, flange-shaped circumferential section. Dirt can accumulate precisely in this angled portion that cannot be easily removed. In the framework of a development of the invention, this portion can be cleaned in an especially reliable manner as well by virtue of the side-cleaning rollers acting from above on this area.

[0027] A provision is preferably made that, in each of the two cleaning paths, the pair of sole-cleaning rollers and the two respective side-cleaning rollers are driven by a common drive motor. It is thus possible, for example, for the two side-cleaning rollers to be connected to gearing that is preferably formed from gear wheels.

[0028] In order to enable the complete and reliable cleaning of the sole edges and of the transitional region between the sole and upper, a provision can be made that, on their outer periphery formed by the cleaning elements, the side-cleaning rollers intersect with the outer periphery of the respective adjacent sole-cleaning roller. This makes double cleaning by the sole-cleaning roller and the side-cleaning roller there possible.

[0029] According to a development of the invention, the overlap can also be utilized in order to drive the side-cleaning rollers. The side-cleaning rollers are then not connected to a conventional gear mechanism together with the sole-cleaning rollers. Instead, the cleaning elements of the sole-cleaning roller and the associated side-cleaning roller engage with one another at the intersection, so that a direct transfer of rotation occurs by the teeth of the cleaning elements (similarly to toothed wheels). This results in the advantage of an especially simple embodiment in which the side-cleaning rollers need only be at the appropriate position and no further mechanical connection is necessary.

[0030] A cleaning and/or disinfecting liquid can also be transferred by the overlapping and contacting the cleaning elements.

[0031] It should also be noted that the shoe scrubber is to be as easy to clean as possible for maintenance purposes. For example, the sole-cleaning rollers and/or the side-cleaning rollers can be accommodated in simple bearing shells and slide bearings, in which case a positive connection to gearing or drive motor can be used in the form for example of a kind of drive pin.

[0032] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in order to effectively clean particularly the outer edges of a sole and the transition region between the sole and upper, the side-cleaning rollers are such that the distance from the respective axis of rotation to the platform surface is between 15 mm and 50 mm, particularly between 20 mm and 35 mm. Additionally or alternatively, the diameter of the side-cleaning rollers can be between 30 mm and 100 mm, particularly between 50 mm and 80 mm.

[0033] The length of the two cleaning paths running side by side longitudinally and thus also the length of the sole-cleaning rollers there must be of at least sufficient length that conventional shoes are completely cleaned over their entire length. The cleaning paths can then be designed to be relatively short in the context of the invention, especially if users are halted by a turnstile, a display element, or other measures so that they remain on the platform. Preferably, however, a provision is made that the user walks through the cleaning paths, in which case the length of the cleaning paths longitudinally and thus the length of the sole-cleaning rollers is preferably between 90 cm and 250 cm.

[0034] The invention also relates to a shoe-cleaning method with the above-described shoe scrubber, where the respective sole-cleaning rollers are preferably driven so as to rotate in opposite directions in the two cleaning paths, the cleaning elements of the sole-cleaning rollers are wetted in the trough particularly through spraying with and/or by immersion in a cleaning and/or disinfecting liquid, and a shoe is guided longitudinally over each cleaning path, so that a sole of the shoes is cleaned and/or disinfected by the sole-cleaning rollers.

[0035] The sole-cleaning rollers are typically driven at 40 to 120 revolutions per minute, particularly at 60 to 95 revolutions per minute. It should be borne in mind here that, as the rotational speed increases, so does the cleaning efficiency, but the cleaning and/or disinfecting liquid can be sprayed out in an undesirable manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0036] The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

[0037] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe scrubber according to the invention with two cleaning paths that extend next to one another longitudinally;

[0038] FIG. 2A is a side view of one of the cleaning paths as seen longitudinally;

[0039] FIG. 2B is an enlarged cut-out of FIG. 2A; and

[0040] FIG. 3 shows the shoe scrubber according to FIG. 1 in a partially disassembled state.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0041] As seen in FIG. 1 a shoe scrubber according to the invention has a machine frame 2 forming a trough 1 and a grating 3 forming a platform above the trough 1. The platform grating 3 comprises crossbars 4, side bars 5, and a central bar 6 that in this embodiment separates the platform into two cleaning paths 7a and 7b that extend next to one another in a horizontal and longitudinal direction 1. Each of these two cleaning paths 7a and 7b is provided for the purpose of receiving and cleaning and/or disinfecting a respective shoe 8 of a user traversing the cleaning apparatus.

[0042] For the sake of clarity, optional components and attachments of the shoe scrubber are not shown in FIG. 1. According to the embodiments that are known from the prior art, side railings and guide elements, turnstiles at the entrance and exit, downstream dryers, devices for hand disinfection, or the like can be for example be provided.

[0043] Rotatable sole-cleaning rollers 9 provided in the trough 1 have cleaning elements 11 in the form of radially extending bristles on a core rod 10 journaled in the frame 2.

[0044] FIG. 1 shows that the cleaning elements/bristles 11 extend through and up past the upper surface of the platform grating 3 so that the lower surface of the sole 12 of the shoe 8 on the grating 3 can be effectively cleaned.

[0045] According to the invention, a pair of these sole-cleaning rollers 9 that can be rotated in opposite directions are provided for each cleaning path 7a and 7b, extending parallel to each other longitudinally about respective rotation axes.

[0046] In particular, each pair of sole-cleaning rollers 9 of each cleaning path 7a and 7b can be connected to a respective drive motor 14 via respective gears 13 in the illustrated embodiment.

[0047] Given the rotation of the two sole-cleaning rollers 9 of each cleaning path 7a and 7b in opposite directions, in order to avoid excessive friction between the cleaning elements/bristles 11 of the two sole-cleaning rollers 9, these bristles 11 of the cleaning patha 7a and 7b are offset from one another in the longitudinal direction 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the crossbars 4 of the platform grating 3 in the two cleaning paths 7a and 7b form individual slots windows spaced longitudinally and extending horizontally perpendicular to the direction. The cleaning elements 11 of one of the two sole-cleaning rollers 9 extend through every other such slot, and the intervening slots are traversed by the elements 11 of the other of the two sole-cleaning rollers 9 of the same pair, so that the arrays of elements 11 of the two rollers 9 alternate and in no way interfere with each other.

[0048] The fact that the sole 12 is cleaned in the context of the invention by two sole-cleaning rollers 9 in each cleaning path 7a and 7b makes especially reliable and effective cleaning and/or disinfection possible.

[0049] According to another aspect of the invention, two additional side-cleaning rollers 16 having cleaning elements 11' in the form of bristles and are mounted above the platform forming the two cleaning paths 7a and 7b, with a cleaning lane being formed in each cleaning path 7a and 7b by two of the sole-cleaning rollers 9 and two of the side-cleaning rollers 16. The side-cleaning rollers 16 rotate so that their bristles 11' are moving downward, i.e. toward the platform, so as to sweep dirt from the shoe 8 down into the trough 1. In addition, a transitional region of the sole 12 to an upper 17 of the shoe 8 can be scribbed particularly effectively and reliably from above, even if there is an angled portion.

[0050] It can also be seen particularly from FIGS. 2A and 2B that the orbit of the bristles 11' of the side-cleaning rollers 16 overlap the orbit of the bristles 11 of the respective adjacent sole-cleaning roller 9. This ensures that, in effect, the sole-cleaning rollers 9 each drive a respective one of the side-cleaning rollers 16 by angular engagement of the bristles 11 and 11'. To this end of course the spacing of the arrays of bristles 11' on the side-cleaning rollers 16 are spaced identically to the arrays of bristles 11 on the respective rollers 9. It also proves advantageous that cleaning and/or disinfecting liquid can also be transferred from the sole-cleaning rollers 9 to the side-cleaning rollers 16 through direct contact of the cleaning elements 11 and 11'. This cleaning/disinfecting liquid fills the trough 1 to a level indicated at L in FIG. 2A so that the tips of the bristles 11 dip into it as the rollers 9 rotate.

[0051] According to an alternative embodiment, however, it is also possible to connect the side-cleaning rollers 16 to the gearing 13 by additional gears or the like. Such a variant is advantageous particularly with regard to the torques to be transmitted.

[0052] In the context of the invention, the side-cleaning rollers 16 are provided for the effective cleaning of the side edge of the sole 12 and of the immediately adjoining lower portion of the upper 17. The shoe scrubber can thus also be used and is intended for conventional mid-height footwear. On the other hand, if even the high uppers of a boot are to be cleaned, a separate cleaning step is usually provided for this purpose within the scope of the invention.

[0053] Accordingly, the rotation axes of the side-cleaning rollers 16 are at a relatively small spacing above the platform of typically between 15 mm and 50 mm, particularly between 20 mm and 35 mm. The diameter of the side-cleaning rollers 16 can, for example, be between 30 mm and 100 mm, particularly between 50 mm and 80 mm.

[0054] The length of the sole-cleaning rollers 9 and side-cleaning rollers 16 is usually between 90 cm and 250 cm, with the shoes 8 being cleaned according to the embodiment when a user steps along the platform formed by the platform grating 3.

[0055] The preferred directions of rotation of the two sole-cleaning rollers 9 and of the two side-cleaning rollers 16 are indicated by arrows in FIG. 2A.

[0056] FIG. 3 shows the shoe scrubber, the platform grating 3 with the side-cleaning rollers 16 fastened thereto being folded up. Here, too, there is the advantage that the side-cleaning rollers are driven by the sole-cleaning rollers 9 via the cleaning elements 11, 11', so that no elaborate mechanical decoupling is necessary for folding-up the platform grating 3.

[0057] It is also apparent from FIG. 3 that the shoe scrubber is also especially easy to maintain and clean. The sole-cleaning rollers 9 in the trough are thus inserted at the end and against an intermediate support 18 into suitable bearing shells or journals such as shown at 19, it being possible for the connection to the gear mechanism 13 to be achieved by a form-fitting pin-type connection, for example for example a hex end on the roller shaft fitting into a hex socket on a shaft of the gear box 13. In the context of such an embodiment, the sole-cleaning rollers 9 can be very easily removed, cleaned, and optionally replaced after lifting the platform grating 3.

Claims

1. A shoe scrubber comprising: a machine frame forming a trough extending in a longitudinal direction; a platform supported in the frame, extending longitudinally above the trough, and subdivided into two longitudinally extending paths; a respective pair of elongated longitudinally extending rollers having radially extending cleaning elements in the trough under each of the paths with the elements projecting upward through the platform; and means for rotating the rollers and thereby scrubbing dirt from soles of shoes on the platform in the paths.

2. The shoe scrubber defined in claim 1, wherein the drive means includes gearing for counterrotating the rollers of each pair

3. The shoe scrubber defined in claim 1 wherein the rollers each have axially spaced arrays of the cleaning elements and the platform is a grating having windows through which the arrays extend.

4. The shoe scrubber defined in claim 3, wherein the cleaning elements of one of the rollers of each pair of rollers extend through every other window of the grating, and the cleaning elements of the other of the rollers of.

5. The shoe scrubber defined in claim 3, wherein the elements are bristles extending radially outward from rotation axes of the respective rollers.

6. The shoe scrubber defined in claim 1, further comprising: a respective pair of longitudinally extending side-cleaning rollers carried on the frame flaning ea.

7. The shoe scrubber defined in claim 7, wherein the cleaning elements of the side-cleaning rollers mesh and with the cleaning elements of the respective sole-cleaing roller such that rotation of the sole-cleaning rollers rotates the side cleaning rollers.

8. The shoe scrubber defined in claim 7, further comprising: drive means for rotating the side-cleaning roller.

9. The shoe scrubber defined in claim 6 wherein the side-cleaning rollers are each relatively positioned such that the distance from the respective axis of rotation to the platform surface is between 15 mm and 50 mm.

10. The shoe scrubber defined in claim 6, wherein the side-cleaning rollers have diameters between 30 mm and 100 mm.

11. The shoe scrubber defined in claim 1, wherein the platform is formed by a grating.

12. The shoe scrubber defined in claim 1, wherein the sole-cleaning rollers have a longitudinal length of between 90 cm and 250 cm.

13. A shoe-cleaning method using a shoe scrubber having: a machine frame forming a trough extending in a longitudinal direction; a platform supported in the frame, extending longitudinally above the trough, and subdivided into two longitudinally extending paths; and a respective pair of elongated longitudinally extending rollers having radially extending cleaning elements in the trough under each of the paths with the elements projecting upward through the platform, the method comprising: moving a respective shoe along each of the paths with a sole of each shoe on the grate; rotationally driving the sole-cleaning rollers such that they engage and scrub the sole of the shoe on the grate in the respective path; wetting the cleaning elements of the sole-cleaning rollers with a liquid in the trough such that the liquid is applied by each sole-cleaning roller to the sole of the shoe in the respective path.

14. The method defined in claim 13, further comprising the steps of: providing two side-cleaning rollers above the grate flanking each of the paths; and rotating the side cleaning rollers such that cleaning elements thereof engage and clean sides of the shoes in the paths.

15. The method defined in claim 14, wherein the side-cleaning rollers are rotated by meshing the cleaning elements of the side-cleaning rollers with the cleaning elements of the underlying sole-cleaning rollers such that rotation of the sole-cleaning rollers is transmitted from the sole-cleaning rollers to the cleaning elements of the side-cleaning elements.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein a side edge of the sole (12) and an upper portion above the sole (12) are cleaned and/or disinfected with side-cleaning rollers (16).