The present invention relates to a portable grouting-cleaning machine for clad walls.

Grouting , then removing the grout residues from tile-clad masonry walls of any type, comprising bricks, battens or stone blocks, is known to be a slow and laborious operation wh ich is generally carried out manually. In practice, after applying the tiles to a wall , the grout is inserted into the tile gaps then , after th is has beg un to harden , the grout q uantity wh ich has entered the gaps is rendered un iform , and the excess quantity is removed together with the residues which inevitably remain on the tiles.

Th is operation is generally carried out manually using a sponge or other tools and has proved slow, laborious and uncomfortable, both because of the position which the operator has to assume and because of the need to frequently immerse the sponge in water to remove the grout and to always maintain the sponge in optimum working conditions.

Grouting machines for floor tiles are also known ; these comprise a motorized structure provided with wheels for its movement along the floor, and use a movable sponge band stretched between deviation rollers supported by sa id structu re . Du ring its movement the band is passed th roug h a tray containing water wh ich , as the band passes th roug h , regenerates it by removing the grout residues and restores it to a condition to operate via a cntinuously renewed portion along the gaps in the surface of the floor to be grouted.

One of these known floor tile grouting machines is described in DE 19607368. It comprises a structure slidingly movable on wheels and supporting a container for a clean ing l iqu id at one end . A band of spongy material is provided which absorbs the cleaning liquid and slides about a deviation roller positioned at the other end of the structu re, such as to form a portion in contact with the floor. The band also extends thorug h a short d istance vertical ly such as to also operate on that lower strip of the vertical wal l generally accommodating the skirting board.

Other examples of floor grouting and cleaning machines are known from US 4,781 ,556 and DE 3616398.

Although these known machines enable a previously manual operation to be mechanized, they have not proved usable for grouting the cladding of a vertical wall , as their d imensions and weight do not enable an operator to support them in the raised state.

The invention confronts the problem of mechan izing grouting and clean ing operations on a tiled cladd ing of a vertical wal l , virtual ly of any height.

Th is and other objects wh ich wil l be apparent from the ensu ing description are attained, according to the invention, by a portable grouting- cleaning machine for clad vertical walls as described in claim 1 .

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is further clarified hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the portable g routing-clean ing machine according to the invention,

Figure 2 shows it in the same perspective view as Figure 1 but in the exploded state,

Figure 3 is a side view thereof with certain parts missing, Figure 4 is a partial perspective view of one of the two structures which form its frame,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the portable grouting-cleaning machine of the present invention , shown being used to clean a clad vertical wall,

Figure 6 shows it being used to clean a clad horizontal bench, and

Figure 7 is a modified embodiment of the portable grouting-cleaning machine of the invention shown in the same view as Figure 1 .

As can be seen from the fig u res , th e portabl e g routi ng-cleaning machine of the invention comprises a frame consisting of two structures 2, 4 separable from each other to enable, in the manner apparent hereinafter, the installation and replacement of an endless sponge band 6 for grouting and cleaning the cladding of a wall .

Given the necessary l ightness wh ich a portable device must have, advantageously both the frame structures 2 and 4 are made of at least partly hollow alum in ium . These are of overall rectangular shape, with a central passage opening for housing a container 8 contain ing wash water for the sponge 6, possibly with an added detergent and/or degreasing liquid.

The structures 2 and 4 are connected together by bolts positioned in proximity to the four vertices of the structure and also acting as support and rotation pins for four rollers 1 0, 12, 14 of horizontal axis. Of these, two rollers 10 are disposed lowerly and are idle, as is that upper roller 12 which when the machine is in operation is closest to the cladding to be grouted and cleaned, whereas the fourth roller 14 is coupled via a speed reducer 1 6 to an electric motor 18, preferably of low voltage, mounted on the structure 2. The two structu res 2 and 4 are also fixed together by a fifth bolt supporting a fifth roller 20 which is interposed between the upper roller 12 and the underlying lower roller 1 0, but could also be replaced by a presser slide block.

Pairs of flat elements 22 for guid ing the moving sponge band 6, as described hereinafter, are also appl ied to the said connection bolts for the structures 2 and 4, at the ends of the rollers 10, 12, 14 and 20.

Each of the two structures 2, 4 also supports a pair of first rollers 24 of vertical axis, wh ich together define a vertical plane on wh ich the mach ine rests against the vertical wall to be grouted and cleaned.

The mach ine of the invention also comprises a pair of cyl ind rical handgrips 26 of vertical axis, each appl ied to one of the two structures 2, 4 and provided upperly with a pushbutton 28 connected to the pushbutton of the other handgrip for operator safety reasons, such that the motor 1 6 can be powered only if both the handgrips 26 are gripped and the two pushbuttons 28 are operated simultaneously.

The two handgrips 26 are internally hollow both for weight reasons and to enable electric cables to pass through their interior to connect the two pushbuttons 28 to the electric motor 1 8 and to an external power supply, to which the machine is connected by a cable 30.

The machine of the invention also uses a water container 8, as stated. It consists of a vertically extending upperly open plastic container insertable laterally through an opening provided in the structure 4 and lockable in the correct position by a pair of instantly fitted straps 32. The mach ine frame also comprises a th ird structure 34, insertable vertically between the two structures 2, 4 when connected together, and well visible in Figure 2.

This structure 34 essentially consists of an essentially vertical small frame supporting a lower deviation roller 36, an upper squeezer roller 38 and a positioner roller 40.

As stated, the structure 34 is insertable vertically between the two cou pl ed structu res 2 and 4 , be ing g u id ed i n th is in sertion by m utua l ly cooperating abutment elements 44, 46. When the structure has been inserted into its working seat, the lower deviation rol ler 36 is positioned with in the container 8, the sq ueezer rol ler 34 is positioned in proxim ity to the non- motorized upper deviation roller 1 2, and the positioner rol ler 40 rests on a shoulder 42 provided on the structure 4.

The structure 34 is maintained in its correct operating position by the engagement of a pin 48, provided in the structure itself, in an elastic coupling element 50 fixed to the structure 2.

The two structures 2, 4 are also provided with feet 52 for resting the machine on the ground during operational pauses.

To arrange the mach ine for operation , when con necti ng the two structures 2, 4 the sponge band 6, wh ich advantageously consists of a ring with a cloth base and a synthetic sponge coupled to it, is firstly positioned to pass externally about the five rollers 1 0, 1 2, 14 and 20. The container 8 is then inserted horizontally through the opening provided in the structure 4 until it can be locked in its seat by the straps 32. F inal ly the structu re 34 is inserted vertically between the two thus coupled together structures 2, 4, such that its lower roller 36 drags the upper portion of the sponge band 6 to form a loop inside the container 8, with the squeezing roller 38 pressing the band against the non-motorized upper roller 1 2, and the roller of the structure 34 compelling it to remain in this condition by its cooperation with the shoulder 42 of the structure 4.

The arrangement of the sponge band 6 in this configuration ready for operation is illustrated in Figure 3 and shows a vertical portion of the band 6 bounded by the non-motorized upper roller 1 2 and the underlying deviation rol ler 1 0 and also defined by the rol ler 20 interposed therebetween, and sl ightly projecting from the plane of tangency of the four first support rollers 24.

When in this state, the operator grips the two machine handgrips 26, and rests the machine against the wall (see Figure 5), on which the grout has been previously applied along the tile gaps. By simultaneously operating the two pushbuttons 28 the electric motor 1 8 is powered so that via the reducer 16 it operates the motorized roller 14, which then drives the sponge band 6.

During movement the band 6 is maintained in its seat by the gu ide elements 22, and with its straight vertical portion maintained pressed against the wal l it d istributes the g rout with in the gaps wh ile at the same time removing the excess quantity by dragging it with itself. When, in proceeding along its path , that belt portion wh ich had come into contact with the wall enters the container 8 which has been filled with water, the grout is removed from its surface and the hence regenerated band is squeezed between the two rollers 12 and 38 to again present itself as the straight portion in a condition suitable to continue its function, while the squeezed-out water falls into the container 8. Moreover, to prevent grout residues removed from the surface under treatment from being able to splash against the operator, and to prevent accidental contact between the operator's fingers and the moving belt 6, the mach ine is advantageously provided with a protection screen 54 for the vertical rear portion of the machine.

In a different embodiment (not represented in the drawings) the power- supply pushbutton is fixed on the frame and in particular it is situated next to or behind the straight vertical sponge band portion and is automatically driven when the machine is pressed with said portion against the wall to be treated.

From the aforegoing it is apparent that the portable machine according to the invention is extremely advantageous in that it enables the operations i nvolved i n g routing and cl ean ing a cl add i ng to be mecha n ized , th ese operations in the past having had to be carried out manually with inevitable operational slowness, operational non-un iform ity and operator fatigue . I n contrast, the mechan ization of th is operation has enabled the work to be carried out rapidly, with regularity, without fatigue and under cond itions of considerable safety.

The portable machine according to the invention is extremely portable in that its dimensions, weight and structure enable the machine to be easily lifted, transported and supported.

Moreover the portable machine of the invention enables the operator to use the handgrips both for its lifting and for its guiding along the wall to be treated.

In a mod ified embod iment of the portable grouting mach ine of the invention, the sponge band 6 provides at the base of the machine a horizontal portion 56 to be rested against a horizontal surface to be treated, for example the surface of a window sill .

Four second rollers 58 of horizontal axis are positioned to the sides of the horizontal portion 56 of the sponge band, to cooperate with the horizontal surface to be treated . In particular, the second rollers 58 define overall a horizontal plane for resting the machine against the horizontal surface to be treated.

I n th i s e m bod i m e n t th e re i s fo resee n a seco n d power-supply pushbutton (not represented in the drawings) fixed on the frame and automatically driven when the machine is laid with its straight horizontal sponge band portion onto the horizontal surface to be treated.

Th is push button can be situated next to or on top of said straight horizontal sponge band portion.

In this machine the feet 52 are provided with removable extensions 60 such that when these are inserted into the respective feet 52 they define a plane positioned at a lower level than the lower surface of the horizontal portion 56, whereas when these are removed the feet 52 define a plane positioned at a level slightly higher than the plane defined by said second rollers 58, wh ich in its turn is positioned at a sl ightly h igher level than the lower surface of said horizontal portion 56.

Other systems can evidently be provided to adjust the length of the feet 52 and hence the height of the plane defined by their lower ends.

Hence, when the extensions 60 are inserted into the respective feet 52, the machine, intended to operate on a vertical wall , can be rested on the floor during operational pauses, whereas when the extensions are removed the machine is ready to operate on a horizontal surface raised from the floor, such as a window sill or a bench (see Figure 6).

Hence independently of the type of surface concerned, the machine of the invention can carry out both the grouting of the surface during the grouting stage, and its clean ing , which is particularly effective if a detergent and/or degreasing liquid is added to the water in the container 8.