Apparatus and method for a cleaning device

• Main Authors: Robert Matthew Stringer, Burak Karadag
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 12.06.2024
• Subjects: CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS, ORSURGICAL ARTICLES; COFFEE MILLS; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION, OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; FURNITURE; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS, OR SURGICALARTICLES; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS INGENERAL; PLASMA TECHNIQUE; PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OFNEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMICBEAMS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL

An apparatus 100 for treating a cleaning member for cleaning a surface 110, the apparatus 100 comprising: a first electrode 140 provided at least partially within the cleaning member; and a power source 150 electrically connected to the first electrode 140 for generating an electric field at the first electrode 140 for generating a plasma 160 at the cleaning member. Preferably the cleaning member comprises a cylindrical roller having a roller body 120 and a cover material 130 around the body, wherein the cover material 130 may be a sponge or microfibre material. The cover material 130 may further comprise a plurality of nanoparticles and/or microparticles (290, fig. 8) to electrically interact with the first electrode 140 e.g. ferroelectric, piezoelectric, metallic or dielectric particles. There may be a second electrode (210, fig. 5) provided concentrically with the first electrode 140 within the cleaning member. There is also a cleaning device comprising the cleaning member and the apparatus, as well as a cleaning system comprising the cleaning device and a docking station (360, fig. 10) adapted to receive the cleaning device.