GB2463971A

GB2463971A - Worm drive mechanism for a mop dehydrator

Info

Publication number: GB2463971A
Application number: GB0915304A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Pei-Yuan Lee
Original assignee: ROCK TONE ENTPR CO Ltd; Rock Tone Enterprise Co Ltd
Current assignee: ROCK TONE ENTPR CO Ltd; Rock Tone Enterprise Co Ltd
Priority date: 2008-10-01
Filing date: 2009-09-03
Publication date: 2010-04-07
Anticipated expiration: 2029-09-03
Also published as: CA2679162A1; GB0915304D0; FR2936405B3; CA2679162C; GB2463971B; AU2009100870A4; FR2936405A3; DE202009012156U1

Abstract

Worm drive mechanism, for a mop dehydrator, comprises a housing 20, a base 10, a rotation barrel 21 rotatably mounted in the housing 20 and a driven member, e.g. driven gear 12, mounted between the base 10 and the housing 20. The driven gear 12 is fixed to a propeller shaft 121 which rotates the barrel 21 and is meshed with and rotated by a drive member, e.g. drive gear 11. A worm 111 rotates the drive gear 111 and is rotated by an actuating member 13 having worm hole 131 and a pedal 15 pivotally mounted on the base 10. An elastic member, e.g. spring 14, presses the actuating member 13 to move it relative to the worm 111. In use a mop is placed in the barrel 21 and a user presses the pedal 15 which via worm 111 and worm hole 131 rotates the drive gear 11 which rotates the driven gear 11 and propeller shaft 121. The worm 111 may be replaced with a drive gear portion (e.g. see fig 20) and a rack.

Description

DRIVE MECHANISM FOR DEHYDRATOR

The present invention relates to a drive mechanism and, more particularly, to a drive mechanism for a dehydrator.

A conventional dehydrator disclosed in the Taiwanese Patent Publication No. M33 8634 is used for spinning and drying a mop. The above-mentioned conventional dehydrator comprises a drive unit including a rack mounted in a groove of an arrangement. The rack has a protruding post.

The rack is limited by a guide roller and a guide track. The rack co-operates with a push unit to drive a first gear, a second gear and a third gear. However, the drive unit has a complicated construction, thereby increasing the costs of fabrication.

According to the primary objective of the present invention, the drive member has a diameter greater than that of the driven member so that the drive member has a larger transmission power to drive the driven member efficiently so as to rotate the rotation barrel and to dry the mop head easily and quickly.

According to another objective of the present invention, the drive member has a diameter greater than that of the driven member so that the user can operate the pedal easily and conveniently so as to drive the drive member in an energy-saving manner.

According to a further objective of the present invention, the drive mechanism has a greatly simplified construction, thereby decreasing the cost of fabrication.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a partially perspective view of a drive mechanism for a dehydrator in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the drive mechanism as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front cross-sectional view of the drive mechanism as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a front cross-sectional view of the drive mechanism as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a schematic operational view of the drive mechanism for a dehydrator as shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a schematic operational view of the drive mechanism for a dehydrator as shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a partially perspective view of a drive mechanism for a dehydrator in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the drive mechanism as shown in Fig. 7.

* Fig. 9 is a front cross-sectional view of the drive mechanism as shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a schematic operational view of the drive mechanism for a dehydrator as shown in Fig.. 9.

Fig. 11 is a partially front cross-sectional view of the drive mechanism in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 12 is a partially exploded perspective view of a drive mechanism for a dehydrator in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 13 is a partially exploded perspective view of the drive mechanism in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 14 is a partially perspective view of a drive mechanism for a dehydrator in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the drive mechanism as shown in Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a front cross-sectional view of the drive mechanism as shown in Fig. 14.

Fig. 17 is an exploded perspective view of a drive mechanism for a dehydrator in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 18 is a partially perspective view of a drive mechanism for a dehydrator in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 19 is another perspective view of the drive mechanism as shown in Fig. 17.

Fig. 20 is a front cross-sectional view of the drive mechanism as showninFig. 17.

Fig. 21 is a schematic operational view of the drive mechanism for a dehydrator as shown in Fig. 20.

Fig. 22 is a front view of the drive mechanism in accordance with *S.. . : another preferred embodiment of the present invention. * **.

Fig. 23 is a schematic operational view of the drive mechanism for a S... * a S...

dehydrator as shown in Fig. 22.

*5*S** * . *:*. Fig. 24 is a front view of the drive mechanism in accordance with * . another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 25 is a schematic operational view of the drive mechanism for a dehydrator as shown in Fig. 24.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1-6, a drive mechanism for a dehydrator in accordance with the preferred embodiment of * the present invention comprises a housing 20, a base 10 located under the housing 20, a rotation barrel 21 rotatably mounted in the housing 20 to receive an article, such as a mop head and the like, a driven member 12 rotatably mounted between the base 10 and the housing 20, a propeller shaft 121 having a first end secured on and rotated by the driven member 12 and a second end extending through the housing 20 and secured to the rotation barrel 21 to rotate the rotation barrel 21, a drive member 11 rotatably mounted between the base and the housing 20 and engaging the driven member 12 to rotate the driven member 12, a worm 111 secured on the drive member 11 to rotate the drive member 11, an actuating member 13 movably mounted on the worm 111 and having an inner portion provided with a worm hole 131 meshing with the worm 111 to rotate the worm 111 by axially moving the actuating member 13 relative to the worm 111, a pedal 15 pivotally mounted on the base 10 and connected with the actuating member 13 to move the actuating member 13 relative to the worm 111 axially, and an elastic member 14 mounted on the worm 111 and pressing the actuating member 13 to move the actuating member 13 relative to the worm 111.

The drive member 11 is a gear, and the driven member 12 is a gear.

The drive member 11 has a diameter greater than that ofthe driven member 12.

The propeller shaft 121 is co-axial with the driven member 12, and the worm 111 is co-axial with the drive member 11. The propeller shaft 121 is located between the housing 20 and the base 10. The worm 111 is located between the housing 20 and the base 10. The elastic member 14 is biased between the actuating member 13 and the housing 20 to move the actuating member 13 toward the drive member 11. The actuating member 13 has two opposite sides each provided with a protruding pivot rod 132. The pedal 15 has an end portion provided with a pivot portion 151 pivotally connected with the actuating member 13 to move the actuating member 13 outwardly relative to the drive member 11. The pivot portion 151 of the pedal 15 has a substantially U-shaped profile and has an opening to receive the actuating member 13. The pivot portion 151 of the pedal 15 has two opposite sides each provided with an elongate pivot slot 152 pivotally mounted on the respective pivot rod 132 of the actuating member 13.

The drive mechanism further comprises a pivot seat 16 mounted on the base 10, and the pedal 15 is pivotally mounted on the pivot seat 16 by a pivot pin 162. The pivot seat 16 consists of two upright support plates spaced from each other. The pivot seat 16 has two opposite sides each provided with a through hole 161 to allow passage of the pivot pin 162. The pedal 15 is sandwiched between the two support plates of the pivot seat 16 and has a mediate portion provided with a pivot hole 153 pivotally mounted on the pivot pin 162.

In operation, referring to Figs. 3-6 with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, when the pedal 15 is stepped downward as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the pivot portion 151 of the pedal 15 is moved upward to move the actuating member 13 * upward relative to the worm 111 and to compress the elastic member 14. At this time, the worm hole 131 of the actuating member 13 meshes with the worm 111 so that when the actuating member 13 is moved upward relative to the worm 111, the worm 111 is driven and rotated by the worm hole 131 of the actuating member 13 to rotate the drive member 11 which rotates the driven member 12 which rotates the propeller shaft 121 which drives the rotation barrel 21 to rotate in the housing 20. On the contrary, when the stepping force applied on the pedal 15 is removed, the actuating member 13 is driven by the restoring force of the elastic member 14 to move downward relative to the worm 111 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. At this time, the worm hole 131 of the actuating member 13 meshes with the worm 111 so that when the actuating member 13 is moved downward relative to the worm 111, the worm 111 is driven by the worm hole 131 of the actuating member 13 to rotate in the opposite direction and to rotate the drive member 11 which rotates the driven member 12 which rotates the propeller shaft 121 which drives and rotates the rotation barrel 21 in the opposite direction. The above-mentioned procedures are repeated successively so that the rotation barrel 21 is rotated reciprocally to spin the mop head rightward and leftward so as to dry the mop head.

Accordingly, the drive member 11 has a diameter greater than that of * 20 the driven member 12 so that the drive member 11 has a larger transmission power to drive the driven member 12 efficiently so as to rotate the rotation barrel 21 and to dry the mop head easily and quickly. In addition, the drive member 11 has a diameter greater than that of the driven member 12 so that the user can operate the pedal 15 easily and conveniently so as to drive the drive member 11 in an energy-saving maimer. Further, the drive mechanism has a greatly simplified construction, thereby decreasing the cost of fabrication.

Referring to Figs. 7-10, the elastic member 14 is biased between the actuating member 13 a and the base 10 to move the actuating member 13 a outwardly relative to the base 10. The base 10 has a surface provided with a fixing hole 101 to fix a lower end of the propeller shaft 121. The actuating member 13a abuts a bottom of the pedal 15a and has two bent resting portion 132a abutting two opposite sides of the pedal 15a. The pedal l5ahas a mediate portion provided with an elongate guide slot 1 56a to allow passage of the worm 111. The drive mechanism further comprises a pivot seat 16a mounted on the base 10, and the pedal 15a has an end portion provided with a pivot portion 151 a pivotally mounted on the pivot seat 1 6a by a pivot pin 1 62a. The pivot seat 1 6a has an upper end provided with a transverse through hole 161 a to allow passage of the pivot pin 162a. The pivot seat 16a has a side provided with two reinforcing plates 163a each abutting a top of the base 10. The pivot portion 151a of the pedal 15a has a substantially U-shaped profile and has an opening 1 55a to receive the pivot seat 16a and to allow passage of the propeller shaft 121. The pivot portion 151a of the pedal 15a has two pivot holes 154a pivotally mounted on the pivot pin 1 62a.

Referring to Fig. 11, the drive mechanism further comprises two 0-rings 122 mounted on the propeller shaft 121 and abutting top and bottom faces of the driven member 12, and at least one waterproof gasket 124 surrounding the driven member 12. The driven member 12 is provided with two retaining grooves 123 to receive the two 0-rings 122.

Referring to Fig. 12, the pivot seat 16a has a top provided with an upright fixing bore 160a to fix the propeller shaft 121.

Referring to Fig. 13, the housing 20 has a bottom provided with a plurality of support posts 221 for mounting a plurality of suckers 22.

io Referring to Figs. 14-16, the drive member 31 is a bevel gear, and the driven member 32 is a bevel gear. The drive mechanism further comprises two driven blocks 343 driven by the pedal 35 and connected with the actuating member 34 to move the actuating member 34 relative to the worm 311 axially, two restoring members 330 biased between the base 30 and the two driven blocks 343 respectively, a pivot seat 36 mounted on the base 30 to support the pedal 35, a support seat 301 mounted on the base 30 and having an end provided with an upright support portion 3011 to support the worm 311, and a support bracket 302 mounted on the base 30 to support the worm 311.

The worm 311 is located between and supported by the support portion 3011 of the support seat 301 and the support bracket 302. The propeller shaft 321 has a lower end rotatably mounted on the support bracket 302. The elastic member 33 is biased between the drive member 31 and the actuating * member 34. The pedal 35 has a first end provided with a pivot portion 351 pivotally mounted on the pivot seat 36 and a second end provided with two push portions 352 abutting the driven blocks 343. The support seat 301 has two opposite sides each provided with a guide rail 3012. Each of the driven blocks 343 is slidably mounted on the support seat 301 and has a side provided with a guide channel 3432 slidably mounted on the respective guide rail 3012 of the support seat 301. Each of the driven blocks 343 has a top provided with a fixing recess 3431. The actuating member 34 has two opposite sides each provided with a bent fixing portion 342 fixed in the fixing recess 3431 of the io respective driven block 343.

In operation, when the pedal 35 is stepped downward, the push portions 352 of the pedal 35 are pressed to drive the driven blocks 343 which drive the actuating member 34 to move relative to the worm 311 so as to rotate the worm 311.

Referring to Fig. 17, the two driven blocks 343a are connected by a bottom plate 3434a so that the two driven blocks 343a and the bottom plate 3434a form a substantially U-shaped profile. The support seat 301a has a bottom provided with a slideway 3014a. The slideway 3014a of the support seat 3Ola has a surface provided with two opposite limit ribs 3013a. The bottom plate 3434a is slidable in the slideway 3014a of the support seat 301a and is limited between the two limit ribs 3013a of the support seat 301a.

Referring to Figs. 18-2 1, the drive mechanism further 40 comprises a housing 48, a base 41 located under the housing 48, a rotation barrel 45 rotatably mounted in the housing 48 to receive an article, such as a mop head and the like, a propeller shaft 441 rotatably mounted on the base 41 and secured to the rotation barrel 45 to rotate the rotation barrel 45, a first bevel gear 44 secured on the propeller shaft 441 to rotate the propeller shaft 441, a driven gear 43 rotatably mounted on the base 41 and having a side provided with a second bevel gear 431 meshing with the first bevel gear 44 to rotate the first bevel gear 44, and an actuating member 42 pivotally mounted on the base 41 and having a first end provided with a drive gear portion 421 meshing with the driven gear 43 to rotate the driven gear 43 and a second end provided with a pedal 422 to rotate the drive gear portion 421. The base 41 has an inner portion provided with a receiving space 411 to receive the actuating member 42. The pedal 422 of the actuating member 42 protrudes outwardly from the receiving space 411 of the base 41. The drive gear portion 421 of the actuating member 42 has a substantially semi-circular shape and has a diameter greater than that of the driven gear 43.

In operation, referring to Figs. 20 and 21 with reference to Figs. 18 and 19, when the pedal 422 of the actuating member 42 is stepped downward, the drive gear portion 421 of the actuating member 42 is rotated to rotate the driven gear 43 which rotates the second bevel gear 431 which rotates the first bevel gear 44 which rotates the propeller shaft 441 which drives the rotation barrel 45 to rotate in the housing 48.

Referring to Figs. 22 and 23, the drive mechanism further 40 further comprises a restoring spring 46 biased between the drive gear portion 421 of the actuating member 42 and a bottom of the base 41 to drive and rotate the drive gear portion 421 of the actuating member 42 in the opposite direction and to elevate the pedal 422 of the actuating member 42. Thus, when the pedal 422 of the actuating member 42 is stepped downward, the restoring spring 46 is extended by the drive gear portion 421 of the actuating member 42 so as to store a restoring force.

Referring to Figs. 24 and 25, the drive mechanism further 40 further comprises a toothed rack 47 movably mounted on the bottom of the base 41 and meshing with the drive gear portion 421 of the actuating member 42. The restoring spring 46 is biased between the drive gear portion 421 of the actuating member 42 and the toothed rack 47. Thus, when the pedal 422 of the actuating member 42 is stepped downward, the toothed rack 47 is moved toward the driven gear 43, and the restoring spring 46 is extended by the toothed rack 47 so as to store a restoring force.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A drive mechanism, comprising: a housing (20); a base (10) located under the housing; a rotation barrel (21) rotatably mounted in the housing; a driven member (12) rotatably mounted between the base and the housing; a propeller shaft (121) having a first end secured on and rotated by the driven member and a second end extending through the housing and secured to the rotation barrel to rotate the rotation barrel; a drive member (11) rotatably mounted between the base and the housing and engaging the driven member to rotate the driven member; a worm (111) secured on the drive member to rotate the drive member; an actuating member (13) movably mounted on the worm and having an inner portion provided with a worm hole (131) meshing with the worm to rotate the worm by axially moving the actuating member relative to the worm; a pedal (15) pivotally mounted on the base and connected with the actuating member to move the actuating member relative to the worm axially; an elastic member (14) mounted on the worm and pressing the actuating member to move the actuating member relative to the worm.

*
2. The drive mechanism of claim 1, wherein the drive member has a diameter greater than that of the driven member.
3. The drive mechanism of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism further comprises a pivot seat (16) mounted on the base; the pedal has an end portion provided with a pivot portion (151) pivotally connected with the actuating member to move the actuating member outwardly relative to the drive member; the pedal is pivotally mounted on the pivot seat by a pivot pin (162); io the pivot seat has two opposite sides each provided with a through hole (161) to allow passage of the pivot pin; the pedal has a mediate portion provided with a pivot hole (153) pivotally mounted on the pivot pin.
4. The drive mechanism of claim 1, wherein the actuating member abuts a bottom of the pedal and has two bent resting portion (132a) abutting two opposite sides of the pedal; the drive mechanism further comprises a pivot seat mounted on the base; the pedal has an end portion provided with a pivot portion pivotally mounted on the pivot seat by a pivot pin; the pivot seat has an upper end provided with a transverse through hole (161a) to allow passage of the pivot pin; * the pivot portion of the pedal has two pivot holes (154a) pivotally mounted on the pivot pin.
5. The drive mechanism of claim 1, further comprising: two driven blocks (343) driven by the pedal and connected with the actuating member to move the actuating member relative to the worm axially; a pivot seat (36) mounted on the base to support the pedal; a support seat (301) mounted on the base and having an end provided with an upright support portion (3011) to support the worm; a support bracket (302) mounted on the base to support the worm; two restoring members (330) biased between the base and the two driven blocks respectively; the pedal has a first end provided with a pivot portion (351) pivotally mounted on the pivot seat and a second end provided with two push portions (352) abutting the driven blocks.
6. The drive mechanism of claim 5, wherein the two driven blocks are connected by a bottom plate (3434a) so that the two driven blocks and the bottom plate form a substantially U-shaped profile.
7. A drive mechanism, comprising: a housing (48); a.base (41) located under the housing; a rotation barrel (45) rotatably mounted in the housing; * a propeller shaft (441) rotatably mounted on the base and secured to the rotation barrel to rotate the rotation barrel; a first bevel gear (44) secured on the propeller shaft to rotate the propeller shaft; a driven gear (43) rotatably mounted on the base and having a side provided with a second bevel gear (431) meshing with the first bevel gear to rotate the first bevel gear; an actuating member (42) pivotally mounted on the base and having a first end provided with a drive gear portion (421) meshing with the driven gear to rotate the driven gear and a second end provided with a pedal (422) to rotate the drive gear portion.
8. The drive mechanism of claim 7, wherein the drive gear portion of the actuating member has a substantially semi-circular shape and has a diameter greater than that of the driven gear.
9. The drive mechanism of claim 7, wherein the base has an inner portion provided with a receiving space to receive the actuating member; the pedal of the actuating member protrudes outwardly from the receiving space of the base.
10. The drive mechanism of claim 7, wherein the drive mechanism further comprises: * a restoring spring (46) biased between the drive gear portion of the actuating member and a bottom of the base to drive and rotate the drive gear portion of the actuating member in the opposite direction and to elevate the pedal of the actuating member.
11. The drive mechanism of claim 10, wherein the drive mechanism further comprises: a toothed rack (47) movably mounted on the bottom of the base and meshing with the drive gear portion of the actuating member; the restoring spring is biased between the drive gear portion of the actuating member and the toothed rack.
12. The drive mechanism of claim 1, further comprising: two 0-rings mounted on the propeller shaft and abutting top and bottom faces of the driven member; at least one waterproof gasket surrounding the driven member; wherein the driven member is provided with two retaining grooves to receive the two 0-rings.
13. The drive mechanism of claim 4, wherein the pivot seat has a top provided with an upright fixing bore to fix the propeller shaft.
14. The drive mechanism of claim 1, wherein the housing has a bottom provided with a plurality of support posts for mounting a plurality of suckers.
15. The drive mechanism of claim 3, wherein the drive member is a gear; the driven member is a gear; the actuating member has two opposite sides each provided with a protruding pivot rod; S the pivot portion of the pedal has a substantiallY U-shaped profile and has two opposite sides each provided with an elongate pivot slot pivotally mounted on the respective pivot rod of the actuating member; the propeller shaft is co-axial with the driven member; the worm is co-axial with the drive member; the propeller shaft is located between the housing and the base; the worm is located between the housing and the base; the elastic member is biased between the actuating member and the housing to move the actuating member toward the drive member.
16. The drive mechanism of claim 4, wherein the drive member is a gear; the driven member is a gear; the elastic member is biased between the actuating member and the base to move the actuating member outwardly relative to the base; the pedal has a mediate portion provided with an elongate guide slot to allow passage of the worm; * the pivot portion of the pedal has a substantially U-shaped profile and has an opening to receive the pivot seat and to allow passage of the propeller shaft.
17. The drive mechanism of claim 5, wherein the support seat has two opposite sides each provided with a guide rail; each of the driven blocks is slidably mounted on the support seat and has a side provided with a guide channel slidably mounted on the respective guide rail of the support seat; each of the driven blocks has a top provided with a fixing recess; the actuating member has two opposite sides each provided with a bent fixing portion fixed in the fixing recess the respective driven block.
18. The drive mechanism of claim 5, wherein the drive member is a bevel gear; the driven member is a bevel gear; the worm is located between and supported by the support portion of the support seat and the support bracket; the propeller shaft has a lower end rotatably mounted on the support bracket; the elastic member is biased between the drive member and the actuating member.
19. The drive mechanism of claim 6, wherein the support seat has a bottom provided with a slideway; the slideway of the support seat has a surface provided with two opposite limit ribs; the bottom plate is slidable in the slideway of the support seat and is limited between the two limit ribs of the support seat.
20. The drive mechanism of claim 4, wherein the base has a surface provided with a fixing hole to fix a lower end of the propeller shaft; the pivot seat has a side provided with two reinforcing plates each abutting a top of the base.
21. A drive mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanyinj, drawin6s.