GB2311719A - Cleaning apparatus for a roller applicator - Google Patents

Abstract

A cleaning apparatus comprises a chamber 21, mounting means 32 for rotatably supporting a roller (100 figure 2), a cleaning fluid inlet 23, leading to manifold (25 figure 2) adjacent a sidewall of the chamber from apertures 30 in which manifold the cleaning fluid issues in a plurality of jets so as to strike the roller in a non-radial direction and both clean and impart a rotation to the absorbent member 102 of the roller, the cleaning fluid exiting through the base 12. The manifold may be elongate and tubular with a line of apertures 30 directing parallel jets and it may also have an axis parallel both with the axis of rotation of the roller and with the axis of the chamber, which may also be tubular. A flexible tube may connect the inlet to a domestic water supply tap. The mounting means may comprise a clip clipping the handle 103 of the roller. A removable lid may be provided on the upper end of the chamber.

Description

CLEANING APPARATUS FOR A ROLLER APPLICATOR The present invention relates to cleaning apparatus for a roller applicator, particularly but not exclusively for a roller applicator for applying paint, otherwise known as a paint roller.

Paint rollers are known to be useful for coating large expanses with paint. A typical paint roller comprises a metallic handle having a roller axially rotatably mounted thereon. The roller may comprise sponge or fabric material.

After use, a quantity of paint will generally be retained on and in the roller, and to prevent the paint from congealing or drying on the roller, the roller must be cleaned if it is not to be thrown away.

One method of cleaning a roller is to wash it under a running tap or in a sink of water, optionally with a detergent. For oil-based paints, a suitable solvent may also be employed. Such a method is very time consuming and inefficient.

Accordingly, a device has been proposed which allows a roller to be attached to an electric drill. The electric drill imparts rotation to the roller, and by placing the roller in contact with a stream of water, the roller can be cleaned. That device is disadvantageous because it relies on an electrical power source which may not always be available on site; furthermore the use of mains voltage electrical power source near water is a safety hazard.

According to the present invention there is provided a cleaning apparatus comprising a cleaning chamber, mounting means adapted to receive a roller, and defining an axis of rotation within the chamber, an inlet to the chamber adapted to receive cleaning fluid, said inlet being connected to spray means arranged to direct fluid into the chamber, the spray means being spaced from the axis of rotation and orientated such that, in use, the fluid imparts a turning moment on the roller.

Since cleaning fluid is directed in such a manner to cause the object to rotate, no electrical power source is required.

Preferably, the chamber is imperforate and includes an outlet to permit cleaning fluid to drain from the cleaning chamber. Such an arrangement is especially useful where water is the cleaning fluid.

The spray means may comprise an elongate manifold parallel with the axis of rotation and having a plurality of apertures, each aperture being adapted to direct a jet of cleaning fluid towards the axis of rotation but offset to one side thereof.

The plurality of apertures is preferably arranged in a straight line extending longitudinally of the manifold.

The plurality of apertures may be arranged to direct parallel jets of fluid.

A flexible pipe may be provided on the inlet for connection to a source such as a domestic water supply. The flexible pipe may include connection means for connection of the pipe to a domestic water supply tap.

In the preferred embodiment the chamber is substantially tubular. The axis of rotation is preferably parallel with the longitudinal axis of the chamber. The chamber is preferably an upright open tube having a relatively heavy base to ensure stability. In the preferred embodiment the manifold is a cylindrical tube. The manifold is preferably adjacent the sidewall of the housing.

The mounting means may comprise means within the chamber to support the roller, but in the preferred embodiment the mounting means comprises an external clip or recess adapted to retain the usual rod like handle of a paint roller. In this way the roller need not be disassembled from the handle prior to cleaning in the apparatus.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cleaning apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the cleaning apparatus of claim 1 in use in combination with a paint roller; and Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the combination of Figure 2 in the direction of the arrows III - III.

With reference to the drawings, a cleaning apparatus 10 uses water from a domestic supply as the cleaning fluid.

The apparatus comprises a square base 12 having an upper surface 14 and a lower surface 15. The upper surface 14 is cambered slightly to allow excess water impinging thereon to flow away. A rubber foot 16 extends from the lower surface 15 at each corner of the base 12. A circular groove 17 of rectangular section is centrally located in the upper surface 14.

A cylindrical tube 18 comprises an upper end 19 and a lower end 20. The lower end 20 is retained in the circular groove 17 for example by an interference fit or adhesive; the tube 18 extends orthogonally from the base 12. The upper end 19 is open and comprises a reinforcing rim of thickness greater than the thickness of the sidewall of the tube 18. The tube 18 defines a cleaning chamber 21.

A blind cylindrical socket 22 of substantially smaller diameter than the circular groove 17 extends within the base 12 from the upper surface 14 towards the lower surface 15, within and adjacent with the circular groove 17. The socket is offset as illustrated. A supply bore 23 extends transversely from a sidewall of the socket 22 through the base and terminates in a fitting 24 suitable for connection with a flexible supply pipe (not shown).

The region of the base 12 between the groove 17 and the periphery of the socket 22 is cut through to provide fluid communication between the cleaning chamber 21 and the lower surface 15 of the base 12 for drainage.

A cylindrical tubular manifold 25 has a sidewall 26, a closed end 27 and an open end 28. The open end 28 is sealingly fitted in the socket 22 for fluid communication between the supply bore 23 and the manifold 25.

Accordingly, the manifold 25 is parallel with and adjacent to the tube 18, and within the cleaning chamber 21.

The manifold 25 includes a plurality of radially extending through apertures 30. The apertures 30 are arranged in a row extending along the axial direction spaced along the length of the manifold 25. The plane defined by the apertures and the longitudinal axis of the manifold 25 defines a predetermined acute angle with the plane defined by the longitudinal axis of the tube 18 and that of the manifold 25.

An elongate arm 32 extends radially outwardly and downwardly of the upper end of the tube 20. The arm 32 comprises an upwardly directed U-shaped channel 33 defined longitudinally therein. The U-shaped channel 33 contains resilient clips (not shown) for retaining an elongate member therein.

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the way in which the above described apparatus may be used with a conventional paint roller.

Such a paint roller 100 comprises a cylindrical absorbent member 102 and a handle 103. The absorbent member 102 is journalled on the handle about its longitudinal axis.

The absorbent member 102 typically comprises sponge material. The handle 103, which is only partially illustrated in the figures, is of metal and includes a first length aligned axially within the absorbent member, a right angle bend followed by a shorter length radially of the absorbent member, and a diagonal portion extending from the shorter length back towards a gripping portion. As shown in Figure 2, the absorbent member 102 is inserted through the upper end 19 of the tube 18 into the cleaning chamber 21.

The diagonal portion of the handle 103 is clipped within the U-shaped channel 33. Accordingly, the handle 103 is retained with the tube 19.

In use, water is supplied under pressure through the supply bore 23 into the manifold 25, and escapes therefrom through the apertures 30. Jets of water formed thereby are parallel and continue in a direction which defines an acute angle with the radial direction between the axis of the tube 18 and the manifold 25. Accordingly, the jets impinge against the absorbent member 102 in a non-radial direction, so that the force of impact is tangential and thus causes the absorbent member 102 to rotate in the direction of arrow A in Figure 2.

The action of the jets on the rotating absorbent member 102 cause the absorbent member to be cleaned of any paint which is present therein. The water runs off the absorbent member 102, and carries the paint away draining out through the base 12.

A paint roller can thus be cleaned efficiently without the need for external power supplies. The source of energy for rotation of the roller is the force of the jets of water ejected from the manifold 25.

The apparatus 10 may be placed in a domestic sink and can be left unattended for the period of time required for the cleaning operation to be completed.

Alternatively, the apparatus 10 may be laid laterally in a sink.

A removable lid could be provided on the open, upper end of the tube as illustrated to ensure that any spray, which might be produced by the cleaning process, would not escape from the upper end of the chamber.

It will be appreciated that the above embodiment is described by way of example only, and that alternative embodiments could be provided which would fall within the scope of the claims. For example, alternative means for holding the roller within the cleaning chamber could be provided.

Claims (14)

CLAIMS:

1. A cleaning apparatus comprising a cleaning chamber, mounting means adapted to receive a roller, and defining an axis of rotation, an inlet to the chamber adapted to receive cleaning fluid, and connected to spray means arranged to direct fluid into the chamber, the spray means being spaced from the axis of rotation and orientated such that, in use, the fluid imparts a turning moment on the roller.

2. A cleaning apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the housing is imperforate and includes an outlet to permit cleaning fluid to drain from the cleaning chamber.

3. A cleaning apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the spray means comprises an elongate manifold parallel with the axis of rotation and having a plurality of apertures, each aperture being adapted to direct a jet of cleaning fluid towards the axis of rotation but offset to one side thereof.

4. A cleaning apparatus according to Claim 3 wherein the plurality of apertures is arranged in a straight line extending longitudinally of the manifold.

5. A cleaning apparatus according to Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein the plurality of apertures is arranged to direct parallel jets.

6. A cleaning apparatus according to any one of Claims 3 to 5 wherein the manifold is tubular.

7. A cleaning apparatus according to any one of Claims 3 to 6 wherein the manifold is adjacent a sidewall of the housing.

8. A cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein a flexible tube is provided on the inlet for connection to a source.

9. A cleaning apparatus according to Claim 8 wherein the flexible tube includes connection means for connection of the tube to a domestic water supply tap.

10. A cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the chamber is substantially tubular.

11. A cleaning apparatus according to Claim 8 wherein the axis of rotation is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the chamber.

12. A cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the mounting means comprises a clip.

13. A cleaning apparatus according to Claim 12 wherein the clip is adapted to clip around a handle of the roller, in use.

14. A cleaning apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.