Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L13/00—Implements for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
  • A47L13/10—Scrubbing; Scouring; Cleaning; Polishing
  • A47L13/20—Mops
  • A47L13/24—Frames for mops; Mop heads
  • A47L13/254—Plate frames
  • A47L13/256—Plate frames for mops made of cloth
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L13/00—Implements for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
  • A47L13/10—Scrubbing; Scouring; Cleaning; Polishing
  • A47L13/42—Details
  • A47L13/44—Securing scouring-cloths to the brush or like body of the implement

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a flat mop, in particular a disposable flat mop, and the use of the flat mop for cleanroom cleaning.
• the WO 2009095736 This concerns a flat mop that is covered with microfibers on one front side and has grooves on said front side that are free of microfibers.
• the grooves are intended to serve as a dirt-collecting area, while the microfibers represent the active areas that are in contact with the floor.
• the DE 10 2012 012 4002 This concerns a flat wiper cover for cleanrooms, which has a base body without attached threads. The absence of threads makes it particularly suitable for cleanrooms, as fewer particles are released.
• the base body consists of a flat textile material, which can be a knitted, woven, or nonwoven fabric.
• the DE 20 2007 011 580 U1 This describes a mop with a top layer made of durable synthetic fibers and a microfiber plush wiping surface.
• the wiping surfaces feature freely movable lamellae along the edges on the underside of the flat mop.
• the DE 10 2012 012 402 This describes a flat mop cover for cleanrooms, where the textile material can be knitted, woven, or nonwoven.
• the flat mop cover has a pivoting cleaning lip.
• the cleaning surface does not have a base fabric with attached threads.
• the DE 101 34 948 This also describes a mop system for cleanrooms, where the mop exhibits improved absorption of chemicals, water, and oils. It utilizes loops made of yarn cords constructed from ultra-fine continuous polyester yarn or nylon.
• the top layer can be made of a PU-coated raschel cloth or a PVC (polyvinyl chloride) coated mesh cloth.
• a particular challenge in the development of flat mop systems for cleanrooms is achieving the required level of cleanliness combined with a controlled supply of disinfectant and/or cleaning fluids for optimal moistening. If the flat mop is not sufficiently saturated or moistened, a continuous film of liquid often fails to form on the surface being cleaned. Complete disinfection or cleaning does not occur. Conversely, if too much liquid is introduced into the mop during saturation, there is a risk that dirt particles will not be absorbed by the fiber structure of the cleaning surface or will be trapped within it. Furthermore, the cleaning layer must not only capture all microparticles and prevent their release, but also ensure that all dirt particles are removed from the surface being cleaned, absorbed by the cleaning layer, and not released again.
• the present invention was therefore based on the objective of overcoming the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art and providing a flat mop that, in addition to reliably and controllably moistening surfaces, particularly in cleanrooms, also consistently ensures high cleaning power. Furthermore, it is an objective to provide a flat mop that can also be used with conventional flat mop holders and moistening systems.
• a flat mop in particular a disposable flat mop, was found to have a top layer and an opposing cleaning layer, which has a first edge and an opposing second edge, wherein the cleaning layer has or is a woven, knitted or crocheted layer, with a front and a back, containing or consisting of microfiber material and fiber material that is not microfiber material (non-microfiber material), and wherein the top layer has or is a bonded nonwoven material, in particular comprising or consisting of polyester fibers, wherein the front and optionally the back of the cleaning layer have alternating, in particular substantially having parallel, first and second strip-shaped areas extending from or spaced apart from the first edge towards the second edge or to the second edge, wherein the first areas of the cleaning layer predominantly, in particular essentially exclusively, contain or consist of woven, knitted or crocheted microfiber material on the front and especially also on the back, and wherein the second areas of the cleaning layer predominantly, in particular essentially exclusively, contain or consist of woven, knitted or crochete
• Microfibers as defined in the invention are typically very fine fibers with a fineness of less than or equal to 1.5 denier. Microfibers with a fineness of less than or equal to 1.0 denier, preferably less than or equal to 1 dtex, and particularly in the range of 0.3 dtex to 0.8 dtex, are particularly suitable for the purposes of the present invention.
• Microfiber materials and in particular continuous microfibers, are advantageously characterized by their durability and dimensional stability.
• Microfibers like synthetic fibers, typically release far fewer particles than conventional natural fibers.
• Microfibers generally comprise ultrafine fibers that penetrate even very small surface irregularities more effectively and can capture very small particles, for example, in the micrometer range.
• the microfiber materials mentioned in this application generally absorb very little water, are generally relatively break-resistant, and preferably exhibit high dimensional stability as well as good chemical and thermal resistance.
• the average fineness of the fibers of the non-microfiber material is always higher than the average fineness of the microfiber fibers used in the flat mop according to the invention.
• the absolute fineness of the fibers of the non-microfiber material is also always higher than the absolute fineness of the microfiber fibers used in the flat mop according to the invention.
• Flat mops according to the invention also solve the problem underlying the invention particularly advantageously if the first areas of the cleaning layer on the front and back predominantly, and in particular essentially exclusively, contain or consist of woven, knitted, or crocheted microfiber material, and if the second areas of the cleaning layer predominantly, and in particular essentially exclusively, contain or consist of woven, knitted, or crocheted non-microfiber material on the front and predominantly, and in particular essentially exclusively, woven, knitted, or crocheted microfiber material on the back.
• These embodiments achieve a particularly good and, in particular, more uniform liquid distribution.
• the second strip-shaped areas due to their greater hardness and stiffness compared to the first strip-shaped areas, are particularly suitable for loosening adhering dirt particles. These second strip-shaped areas thus perform a brush-like function.
• the shape or geometry of the strip-shaped first and second areas can be selected within a wide range.
• the first and second strip-shaped areas are in the form of longitudinal strips extending from or spaced apart from the first edge towards the second edge or to the second edge, preferably from the first to the opposite second edge.
• the first and/or second areas assume a substantially rectangular basic shape. If the flat mop according to the invention has a substantially rectangular basic shape, the first and second edges regularly form the narrow sides of this basic shape.
• the strip-shaped areas preferably extend in the form of longitudinal strips substantially parallel to the longitudinal sides of the substantially rectangular basic shape.
• the average width of the first and/or second strip-shaped areas is typically in the range of 0.3 cm to 4 cm, preferably in the range of 0.5 cm to 3 cm, and most preferably in the range of 0.75 cm to 1.5 cm. If the first and/or second areas are in the form of longitudinal stripes, their width represents the distance between the opposing longitudinal stripes.
• the first and second strip-shaped areas are particularly preferably an integral part of a woven, knitted, or crocheted fabric.
• the first and second strip-shaped areas are directly adjacent to each other or merge into one another.
• the cleaning layer is located on the side of the flat mop that comes into contact with the surface to be cleaned during the cleaning process.
• This side is also called the front of the flat mop.
• the cleaning surface has an irregular surface structure or three-dimensionality, unlike, for example, the smooth surface of a stretched cleaning cloth.
• the cleaning layer is therefore part of, or forms, the front.
• the cleaning layer itself can be further subdivided into a front and a back surface or sections. In the generic use, the cleaning layer comes into contact with the surface to be cleaned on the front side.
• the cleaning layer on the other hand, is located on the back side. facing the cover sheet or the intermediate layer.
• the top layer is located on the side of the flat mop opposite the front. This side is also called the back of the flat mop.
• the top layer is therefore a component of, or forms, the back.
• the top layer comprises, or is formed from, a bonded nonwoven fabric.
• the bonding of fiber materials is known to those skilled in the art and can be carried out, for example, by water jet treatment.
• polyester fibers are used for the nonwoven material of the top layer.
• the nonwoven material of the top layer can also comprise or consist of polyolefin fibers, in particular polypropylene fibers.
• fiber blends can also be used for the nonwoven material of the top layer, for example, containing or consisting of polyester and polypropylene fibers.
• the top layer is very abrasion-resistant and highly resistant to gamma radiation. Very strong and rigid systems can also be obtained when using polyester fibers for the bonded nonwoven of the top layer.
• the top layer is typically provided on the reverse side with two pockets, spaced apart from each other, so that a flat mop holder can engage in these pockets.
• the flat mop according to the invention is usually rectangular in shape.
• the two pockets may be positioned opposite each other on the narrow sides.
• Such flat mops according to the invention solve the problem underlying the invention particularly well, in which the fibers of the non-microfiber material have a greater stiffness or hardness than the fibers of the microfiber material.
• Particularly suitable fibers for the microfiber material are selected from the group consisting of polyamide microfibers, polyolefin microfibers, and polyester microfibers, or any mixture thereof.
• polyolefin microfibers polypropylene microfibers are particularly preferred.
• polyester microfibers polyethylene terephthalate microfibers are preferred.
• split conjugated microfibers in particular polyamide/polyester microfibers, can also be used for the cleaning layer.
• conjugated microfibers those with a polyester fiber content of 60 to 90 wt.%, especially 65 to 85 wt.%, and a polyamide fiber content of 10 to 40 wt.%, especially 15 to 35 wt.%, are particularly suitable.
• microfiber material for the cleaning layer makes it particularly efficient to prevent the contamination of cleanrooms by fiber residues or so-called lint.
• polyester fibers for the fibers of the non-fiber material.
• Polyethylene terephthalate fibers are especially preferred in this regard.
• Suitable flat mops according to the invention generally have a rectangular base shape, with the first and second edges arranged opposite each other.
• the first and/or second edge generally has a straight course.
• Such flat mops according to the invention have proven particularly advantageous when the first and/or second strip-shaped areas extend essentially at right angles to the first and/or second edge.
• the top layer To provide a flat mop that can be used and deployed independently of the cleaning or humidification unit, it has proven advantageous for the top layer to be permeable to disinfectant and/or cleaning fluids on both sides. It can also be designed so that the cleaning layer can be saturated or wetted with the disinfectant and/or cleaning fluids passing through the top layer.
• An aqueous alcoholic system e.g., containing 70% isopropanol and 30% water by volume, is particularly suitable as a disinfectant for cleanroom cleaning and the cleaning of sterile rooms.
• the flat mop according to the invention can generally be used with all common cleaning systems.
• These pockets can be formed by folding over one or more edge sections of the flat mop, so that the material of the top sheet rests against itself in the area of the pocket(s). It is also possible for the folded-over edge sections to be connected, in particular sewn, along their circumferential edges to form the pocket.
• the flat mop according to the invention further comprises at least one intermediate layer made of an unconsolidated nonwoven material or a foam material, arranged between the cleaning layer and the top layer. If an unbonded nonwoven material is used for the at least one intermediate layer, needle-punched nonwovens are preferably used.
• the unbonded nonwoven material is preferably based on staple fibers, in particular those with an average length in the range of 20 mm to 80 mm, preferably in the range of 30 mm to 70 mm, and most preferably in the range of 40 mm to 60 mm.
• both the intermediate layer and the top layer are made of nonwoven material, wherein the intermediate layer preferably comprises unbonded nonwoven material and the top layer comprises or is formed from bonded nonwoven material.
• Unbonded nonwoven material within the meaning of the present invention includes material that is directly obtained during nonwoven production, including needle-punched nonwovens. Needle-punched nonwovens are generally unbonded nonwoven material that has been needle-punched.
• Suitable nonwoven materials include, in particular, those made from man-made fibers, e.g., from natural polymers such as viscose nonwovens, from man-made fibers made from synthetic polymers, or from man-made fibers made from minerals.
• Suitable man-made fibers made from synthetic polymers include, in addition to polyester nonwovens, polyolefin nonwovens such as polypropylene and polyethylene nonwovens, polyamide nonwovens, and aramid fiber nonwovens.
• Suitable man-made fibers made from minerals include, for example, glass fiber nonwovens and carbon fiber nonwovens.
• Polyethylene terephthalate fibers are preferably used for the interlayer nonwoven material, although these do not typically have to be in the form of microfibers. However, polyester microfibers, such as polyethylene terephthalate microfibers, can also be used for the interlayer nonwoven material.
• the cleaning layer is a circularly knitted terry cloth made of microfiber and non-microfiber materials.
• a pile or loop structure with a particularly pronounced cleaning effect is obtained on the front side.
• the terry cloth is preferably produced using a circular knitting machine. Suitable circular knitting machines are known to those skilled in the art.
• the manufacturing process is adjusted to achieve a loop pile height of no more than 4 mm, and particularly no more than 3 mm. Maintaining the aforementioned pile height has also proven advantageous for cleaning layers produced by other methods.
• the microfiber material of the cleaning layer preferably has a mean fineness of less than or equal to 1 dtex, particularly in the range of 0.3 dtex to 0.8 dtex.
• the fiber material of the intermediate layer preferably has a mean fineness in the range of 0.5 dtex to 4 dtex, particularly in the range of 1 dtex to 3 dtex, and most preferably in the range of 1.5 dtex to 2.5 dtex.
• the non-microfibers used in the flat mops according to the invention regularly have a significantly greater hardness or stiffness than the microfibers.
• the fibers of the non-microfiber material of the cleaning layer can have a mean fineness in the range above 15 denier, particularly above 20 denier, and preferably above 25 denier, and most preferably in the range of 25 denier to 50 denier.
• the unit 1 denier 1 g/9000 m.
• 10 dtex 9 denier.
• the determination of the fineness or the average fineness is based on ISO 1144 and DIN 60905 Part 1.
• the cleaning layer of the flat mops according to the invention preferably has a basis weight of at least 150 g/ m2 or in the range of 150 g/ m2 to 400 g/ m2 , preferably at least 200 g/ m2 or in the range of 200 g/ m2 to 350 g/ m2 , and particularly preferably at least 225 g/ m2 or in the range of 225 g/ m2 to 300 g/ m2 .
• the at least one intermediate layer in a suitable embodiment, can have a basis weight in the range of 50 g/ m2 to 200 g/ m2 , preferably in the range of 75 g/ m2 to 175 g/ m2 , and particularly preferably in the range of 90 g/ m2 to 150 g/ m2 , also called the first intermediate layer material.
• the intermediate layer can have a basis weight of at least 150 g/ m2 or in the range of 150 g/ m2 to 400 g/ m2 , preferably at least 200 g/ m2 or in the range of 200 g/ m2 to 350 g/ m2 , and particularly preferably at least 225 g/ m2 or in the range of 225 g/ m2 to 300 g/ m2 , also referred to as the second intermediate layer material.
• two or more intermediate layers are used with the flat mop according to the invention, for example, one layer of the aforementioned first intermediate layer material and two intermediate layers of the aforementioned second intermediate layer material. Such intermediate layers enable a very high area coverage rate of the flat mop according to the invention.
• the cover layer in a suitable configuration, is based on a spunbond nonwoven material. For many applications, a single layer of the cover layer has proven sufficient.
• Spunbond nonwovens are well known to those skilled in the art. They are generally produced from fibers spun from polymer melts passing through nozzles and drawn using cold air and/or mechanical means. These fibers are then usually formed directly into a spunbond nonwoven, or, after consolidation, form this spunbond nonwoven fabric. Spunbond nonwovens are generally derived from continuous fibers. Particularly suitable spunbond nonwovens are consolidated spunbond nonwovens, for example, waterjet-bonded spunbond nonwovens. These may also have been calendered.
• the cleaning layer, the top layer, and optionally the intermediate layer are connected to each other along their circumferential edges, in particular by sewing. This results in particularly lint-resistant or lint-free flat mops according to the invention.
• the front layer, the back layer, and optionally the intermediate layer are connected to each other along their circumferential edges using an overlock sewing process.
• An overlock sewing machine can be used to sew the edge of one or more fabrics. Very clean edges can be achieved with the overlock sewing process. Fabrics or meshes laid over both sides of the edge can also be attached to the layer material to be sewn using the overlock process.
• the overlock process achieves a very reliable and tight edge finish, ensuring that the intermediate layer material sandwiched between the cleaning layer and the top layer does not escape.
• the sewing of the edges of the cleaning and cover layers, as well as any intermediate layer(s), in particular by means of an overlock process can be used to employ a colored sewing thread in order to achieve product identification or coding in this way.
• the cleaning layer, the cover layer, and, if applicable, the intermediate layer are joined via an essentially identical basic shape, so that when they are placed one on top of the other, they overlap.
• the dimensions of the intermediate layer are slightly smaller than those of the front and back layers, so that when the three layers are sewn together, the intermediate layer is completely enclosed by the overlapping and sewn edge strips of the front and back layers and preferably also connected to them, in particular sewn.
• the cleaning layer has an average thickness of at least 0.5 mm or in the range of 0.5 mm to 5.0 mm, preferably at least 1.0 mm or in the range of 1.0 mm to 4.5 mm, and particularly preferably at least 1.5 mm or in the range of 0.5 mm to 5.0 mm.
• its average thickness is advantageously in the range of 0.5 mm to 10 mm, preferably in the range of 1.0 mm to 8 mm, and particularly preferably in the range of 2.0 to 5 mm.
• the cleaning layer and the cover layer, and, if present, also the intermediate layer, are advantageously connected to one another not only along the overlapping edges but also between, in particular, the longitudinal edges, preferably via one or a plurality of spaced-apart seams.
• the cleaning side of the cleaning system it has proven advantageous for the cleaning side of the cleaning system to have at least two, and in particular at least three or four, first and second strip-shaped areas that alternate with one another.
• the alternating strip-shaped areas (n + 1) consist of first strip-shaped areas and n second strip-shaped areas, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 2. In particular, n is equal to 2, 3, 4, or 5.
• At least one second strip-shaped area in particular at least two or all second strip-shaped areas, is enclosed on both sides by a first strip-shaped area in the alternating sequence of first and second strip-shaped areas, or is adjacent on both sides, or is bounded by a first strip-shaped area.
• the flat mops according to the invention can be used for cleaning cleanrooms or sterile cleanrooms. Multiple uses are also possible in principle.
• the flat mop can be used in a first, unused state for cleaning cleanrooms and subsequently, in a washed and/or decontaminated second state, for cleaning rooms that are not cleanrooms. In the latter case, it could then be referred to as a reusable flat mop.
• the flat mop according to the invention is preferably used as a disposable flat mop.
• a cleanroom is understood to be a room in which the number and size of particles in the ambient air are controlled.
• Cleanrooms are classified into nine classes (ISO 1-9) according to DIN EN ISO 14644-1, with each class specifying limit values for particle size and number. For example, a A flat mop, suitable for an ISO class 1 cleanroom, emits virtually no particles larger than or equal to 100 nm.
• a cleaning device comprising an actuating element, in particular a handle, and, connected or connectable to the actuating element, a flat mop holder and a flat mop according to the invention.
• the present invention is based on the surprising finding that cost-effective cleaning systems well-suited for cleanroom cleaning can be obtained using multi-layered flat mops according to the invention.
• the invention provides an economically and ecologically advantageous approach to flat mops, which can be used particularly as disposable flat mops for cleanroom cleaning.
• the flat mops according to the invention perform at least as well as conventional reusable flat mop systems for cleanroom cleaning.
• a particular advantage associated with the use of the flat mops according to the invention is the very high cleaning performance achieved. In particular, even residues firmly adhering to the surface to be cleaned can not only be removed with the flat mop according to the invention, but also immediately absorbed by the microfibers. For example, the flat mop according to the invention easily removes dried-on cleaning agent residues remaining on the surface.
• the combination of alternating strip-shaped areas of microfiber and non-microfiber material contributes to the advantageous performance of the flat mop according to the invention.
• particles in the micrometer range can be picked up and retained very efficiently with the flat mops according to the invention.
• the smooth handling of the flat mop according to the invention is perceived as particularly positive by the user.
• the "sticking" to the surface being cleaned, which is otherwise observed with flat mops with a continuous cleaning layer of microfiber material, is no longer present.
• the flat mop according to the invention can achieve a lower contamination with bacterial cultures due to an accelerated drying process.
• FIG. 1 The illustration of a flat mop 1 according to the invention is taken from the front side; that is, the front view of the cleaning layer 2, as used for cleaning surfaces, is shown.
• the cleaning layer 2 has a rectangular base shape with the first and second edges 4 and 6, respectively, forming the narrow sides of the rectangular base shape.
• the cleaning layer 2 has alternating first and second strip-shaped areas 8 and 10 on its front side.
• these first and second strip-shaped areas 8, 10 are longitudinal strips and extend from the first edge 4 to the opposite second edge 6. They run essentially parallel to each other and parallel to the opposite edges 12, 14 of the longitudinal sides of the rectangular base shape of the flat mop 1 according to the invention.
• first strip-shaped areas 8 border the edges 12 and 14 of the longitudinal sides of the rectangular base shape. Accordingly, the flat mop according to the invention shown in the illustration has five first strip-shaped areas 8 and four second strip-shaped areas 10 on its front.
• the first strip-shaped areas 8 are made of circular-knit terry cloth made of microfiber material, while the second strip-shaped areas 10 are made predominantly or exclusively of non-microfiber material in the form of circular-knit terry cloth.
• the first and second strip-shaped areas 8, 10 are preferably an integral part of a single terry cloth fabric obtained by circular knitting.
• the cleaning layer 2 is sewn to the other layers (top layer and intermediate layer, not shown) in the preferred embodiment shown using an overlock stitch.
• the color of the sewing thread 16 can indicate to the user, for example, for which specific cleaning purposes the flat mop is suitable.
• Figure 2 shows the flat mop 1 according to the invention from the side of the top layer 32.
• the grip pockets 20 and 22 on the narrow sides of the flat mop 1 are formed by simply folding over the layer system consisting of a cleaning layer, an intermediate layer, and a top layer, which is sewn together at the edges.
• the top layers face each other and form the grip openings 24 and 26, respectively.
• the first strip-shaped areas 8 are continued in the form of strips 30 and the second strip-shaped areas 10 as strips 28 in the area of these grip pockets 20 and 22.
• the grip pockets are formed by sewing the adjacent edge sections of the long sides 12 and 14 together.
• the cover layer 32, the cleaning layer, and, if applicable, the intermediate layer can also be joined to one another by spaced-apart seams. These preferably extend from the first edge 4 to the second edge 6, or, if the end areas are folded in to form access pockets, also in these folded areas.

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• Cleaning Implements For Floors, Carpets, Furniture, Walls, And The Like (AREA)

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• 2015
  • 2015-04-29 EP EP15165806.9A patent/EP3087895B2/de active Active
  • 2015-04-29 ES ES15165806T patent/ES2706189T3/es active Active
  • 2015-04-29 DK DK15165806.9T patent/DK3087895T4/da active

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