WO2023152021A1

WO2023152021A1 - Floor cleaning device with a dirty fluid tank

Info

Publication number: WO2023152021A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/052541
Authority: WO
Inventors: Justin Henry; Tobias Fink
Original assignee: Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG
Priority date: 2022-02-08
Filing date: 2023-02-02
Publication date: 2023-08-17
Also published as: DE102022102937A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a floor cleaning device comprising a floor head (12), at least one cleaning roller (28) which is arranged on the floor head (12) and rotates about an axis of rotation (94), driven by a drive motor (90), during operation of the floor cleaning device, at least one wiper element (178) for wiping dirty fluid off the at least one cleaning roller (28), and a dirty fluid tank (38) with a tank casing (286) and a tank cover (288), wherein the tank cover (288) sits on the tank casing (286) such that it can be opened, and wherein the dirty fluid tank (38) is removeably arranged on the floor head (12), characterised in that a channel (322) with an inlet opening (340) and an outlet opening (342) is arranged on the tank cover (288), wherein the inlet opening (340) functions to couple in dirty fluid and wherein the outlet opening (342) feeds into the tank casing (286).

Description

Floor cleaning device with dirt fluid tank

The invention relates to a floor cleaning device, comprising a floor head, at least one cleaning roller, which is arranged on the floor head and, when the floor cleaning device is in operation, is driven by a drive motor and rotates about an axis of rotation, at least one stripping element for stripping dirt fluid from the at least one cleaning roller, and a dirt fluid - Tank with a tank shell and a tank cap, wherein the tank cap is openably fitted to the tank shell, and wherein the waste fluid tank is detachably arranged on the bottom head.

US 2008/0289142 A1 discloses a cleaning device with a motor-driven endless absorber belt.

WO 2019/029821 A1 discloses a surface cleaning machine with a cover device for a dirty fluid tank device.

WO 2021/043429 A1 discloses a floor cleaning machine with hair pick-up and a method for operating a floor cleaning machine.

WO 2020/207557 A1 discloses a surface cleaning machine with a tank device for dirty fluid, with a probe device being provided for determining how full the tank device is for dirty fluid.

EP 1 850 725 B1 discloses an autonomous surface cleaning robot for wet and dry cleaning.

WO 2022/022640 A1 discloses a cleaning device with a floor tool body and with a wiping module and a vacuum cleaner module, which can be fixed interchangeably with the floor tool body. Floor cleaning devices are, for example, in EP 3 750 464 A1

EP 3 884 834 A1, US 2021/018620 A1 or KR 2012 06900U.

WO 2018/162092 A1 discloses a floor cleaning device with which an autonomous cleaning of a floor surface can be carried out.

Floor cleaning devices are also disclosed, for example, in EP 2 574 264 B1, US Pat. No. 8,855,941 B1, DE 102 42 257 B4 and US Pat. No. 10,149,589 B2.

DE 20 2015 101 302 U1 discloses a cleaning device in the form of a vacuum cleaner.

From WO 2016/058901 A1, WO 2016/058856 A1, WO 2017/063663 A1,

Surface cleaning machines are known from WO 2016/058879 A1 and WO 2016/058956 A1. A surface cleaning machine is also known from WO 2016/058907 A1.

From US 4,875,246 a portable floor cleaning device is known which has a roller driven by an electric motor.

DE 20 2009 013 434 U1 discloses a device for wet floor cleaning with a brush which can be rotated about an axis of rotation.

A cleaning machine is known from CN 201 197 698 Y.

A device for cleaning floors or other hard surfaces is known from US Pat. No. 6,026,529.

A surface cleaning machine with rotating brushes is known from WO 2010/041185 A1. A cleaning head for a floor cleaning machine is known from US Pat. No. 7,665,174 B2.

From US 4,173,054 a floor cleaner is known which comprises a handle, a main body, a roller mechanism with a roller with a cleaning belt, a scraper and a dirt fluid receiver.

A surface cleaning machine with a cleaning roller and a drive unit for driving the cleaning roller is known from WO 2013/106762 A2. A dirt tray is provided into which the cleaning roller sweeps dirt as it rotates. The dirt tray can be opened.

US Pat. No. 7,921,497 B2 discloses a floor scrubbing device which is operated manually and has a drive roller which is coupled to a scrubbing roller.

Another floor cleaning machine is known from WO 2015/086083 A1.

A hard floor cleaning device is known from US Pat. No. 3,789,449.

DE 103 57 637 A1 discloses a self-propelled sweeping device with a sweeping brush and an associated dirt collection space.

DE 10 2007 054 500 A1 discloses a household floor cleaning device with a wiping roller.

A floor cleaning device with a housing, a hose arrangement and a cleaning head is known from US 2006/0272120 A1. DE 10 2017 120 723 A1 discloses a cleaning machine station for a cleaning machine, the cleaning machine station having a receiving chamber for a cleaning head of the cleaning machine.

WO 2005/087075 A1 discloses a floor cleaning machine with a handle which is arranged pivotably on a base.

CN 107007215 A discloses a floor cleaning robot.

DE 20 2018 104 772 U1 discloses a dirty water collecting mechanism and dirty water detection mechanism and a cleaning device.

Cleaning machines are also known from AU 2017101723 A4, der

CN 206687671 U, DE 20 2016 105 300 Ul, US 9,622,637 Bl, CN 205359367 U, US 2017/0119225 Al, CN 205181250 U, CN 205181251 U, CN 20518125 6 U, DE 20 2016 105 299 U, WO 2017/059602 A1, WO 2017/059600 A1, WO 2017/059601 A1, WO 2017/059603 A1 or DE 20 2016 105 301 A1.

The object of the invention is to provide a floor cleaning device of the type mentioned at the outset, in which the dirty fluid tank is provided with an effective slosh protection or leakage protection.

This object is achieved according to the invention with the floor cleaning device mentioned at the outset in that a channel with an inlet opening and an outlet opening is arranged on the tank cover, the inlet opening serving to couple in dirty fluid and the outlet opening opening into the tank shell.

When the floor cleaning device is in operation, the tank cover, in particular, is arranged above the tank shell in relation to the direction of gravity (towards the floor to be cleaned). By arranging the channel for introduction of dirty fluid from the at least one cleaning roller into the dirty fluid tank on the tank cover at the gravitationally highest point, with a high intake volume, dirty fluid is effectively prevented from leaking onto the dirty fluid tank when the floor head changes position, such as when the tank is removed or during transport.

Furthermore, the dirty fluid tank can be emptied or cleaned in a simple manner due to the arrangement of the channel on the tank cover. A large access area to the tank tray is provided.

The arrangement of the channel on the tank cap in turn results in a high capacity for the tank shell.

It is particularly advantageous if the channel is closed in a fluid-tight manner outside of the inlet opening and the outlet opening. As a result, dirty fluid is coupled into the dirty fluid tank in a defined manner. This can only get into the tank shell via the inlet orifice. Furthermore, when the tank cap is closed, dirty fluid can only leave the dirty fluid tank via the outlet opening of the channel and the inlet opening of the channel. This minimizes the "fluid interfaces" for dirty fluid to leak out of the dirty fluid tank.

It is favorable if the channel is arranged in a central area of the tank cap in relation to a width direction of the tank cap, in particular with at least one of the following:

- the width direction extends between opposite lateral sides of the tank cap; when the dirt fluid tank is arranged on the floor head, the width direction is at least approximately parallel to the axis of rotation; - When the dirty fluid tank is arranged on the floor head, the width direction is transverse and in particular perpendicular to a main direction of travel of the floor head on a floor to be cleaned.

In this way, effective slosh protection or leakage protection can also be achieved with regard to an inclination of the at least one dirty fluid tank while at the same time having a relatively high capacity for dirty fluid.

It is particularly advantageous if the inlet opening and the outlet opening are offset relative to one another in relation to a width direction. This means that, based on each tilting axis of the dirty fluid tank, the inlet opening and the inlet opening are at different heights in relation to the direction of gravity. This provides effective leakage protection.

In an advantageous embodiment, the channel is at an acute angle to a width direction of the tank cap, wherein in the width direction the inlet port is closer to a first lateral side of the tank cap than to an opposite second lateral side, and the outlet port is closer to the second lateral side lies than to the first lateral side. This results in effective leakage protection. In relation to all tilting axes of the dirty fluid tank, the inlet opening and the outlet opening are at different gravitational heights.

It is favorable if a first opening normal of the inlet opening and a second opening normal of the outlet opening are transverse and in particular perpendicular to one another, in particular with at least one of the following: the first opening normal is oriented parallel or at an acute angle of less than 45° to a bottom of the tank shell; the second opening normal is oriented transversely and in particular perpendicularly to a base of the tank shell;

- The first muzzle normal and/or the second muzzle normal are oriented transversely and in particular perpendicular to the axis of rotation;

- The first muzzle normal is oriented parallel or at an acute angle of less than 45° to a main direction of travel of the bottom head;

- The channel has a longitudinal extension axis between the inlet opening and the outlet opening, and the first opening normal is at an obtuse angle to the longitudinal extension axis;

- The channel has a longitudinal extension axis between the inlet opening and the outlet opening, and the second opening normal is transverse and in particular perpendicular to the longitudinal extension axis;

- The second orifice normal is oriented transversely and in particular perpendicularly to an installation plane of the floor cleaning device.

This results in effective leakage protection. Dirty fluid can be optimally coupled into the dirty fluid tank.

In an advantageous embodiment, the duct has a duct base which is inclined at an acute angle from the inlet opening to the outlet opening in relation to an installation plane of the base head. This results in a gravitationally driven support of the flow of dirty fluid from the inlet opening to the outlet opening during operation of the floor cleaning device when dirty fluid detached from the at least one cleaning roller is coupled into the dirty fluid tank via the channel. In an advantageous embodiment, a wall is arranged on a channel floor in the area of the inlet opening and a channel basin is formed on the channel in the area of the inlet opening. In this way, an effective coupling can be achieved, for example, to a stripping element which strips dirty fluid from the at least one cleaning roller. The wall and the design of the channel basin prevent, in particular, a backflow of dirty fluid. To a certain extent, the tank shell is provided with an "intermediate" receiving space for dirty fluid at the channel. Furthermore, contamination on the head of the floor is effectively prevented by the design of the channel basin.

It is favorable if a peripheral seal for fluid-tight sealing between the tank shell and the tank cap is arranged on the edge of the tank cap and/or on the tank shell. As a result, when the tank cap is placed on the tank shell, the only effective fluid connection between the exterior space outside the dirty fluid tank and the interior space of the tank shell is the channel. The corresponding arrangement and design of the channel in turn results in optimized protection against sloshing or leakage.

In a constructively favorable embodiment, at least two spaced posts are arranged on the tank shell and in particular on a base of the tank shell, via which the dirty fluid tank can be fixed with respect to the base head and in particular can be fixed hanging. As a result, the dirty fluid tank can be fixed in a removable manner in relation to the floor head. In this case, it can be fixed directly to the floor head, in particular hanging, or for example to another tank such as a cleaning liquid tank. This then also makes it possible to remove and insert a tank combination of cleaning liquid tank and dirty fluid tank as a whole (with the two tanks) from the floor head, in which case the dirty fluid tank can then be removed individually from the cleaning liquid tank or from the floor head is. It is favorable if at least one of the following is provided:

- The tank cap has a respective post associated through recess for plunging through the respective post;

- A peripheral seal sits on the tank shell and/or the respective post for fluid-tight sealing between the tank cap and the respective immersed post;

- A fastening element for holding the dirty fluid tank with respect to the floor head and in particular for hanging holding is provided on a respective post, in particular on the front side;

- A fastening element of the post is designed as a sliding guide and a sliding introduction into a corresponding counter-element is provided, with in particular a sliding direction being transverse to an axis of rotation of the at least one cleaning roller;

- The dirty fluid tank is held hanging directly on the floor head or hanging on a cleaning liquid tank, the cleaning liquid tank being fixed to the floor head and, in particular, being able to be fixed in a removable manner.

Due to the recesses in the tank cover, the dirty fluid tank can be fixed relative to the floor head with respect to its tank shell. This results in stable mounting on the floor head.

Due to the peripheral seal, the channel is provided as the only possibility for fluid to enter and exit from the dirty fluid tank. A fastening element on a respective post and in particular a fastening element on the end face can be used to achieve simple fixing and releasability with respect to the floor head. By designing it as a sliding guide, it is easy to attach and detach the attachment with respect to the floor head.

A hanging fixation results, in particular, in a simple fixability and easy detachability of the fixation with respect to the floor head.

In one exemplary embodiment, a locking device for locking the fixation of the dirty fluid tank directly on the floor head or on a cleaning fluid tank is arranged on the dirty fluid tank and in particular on the tank cover. This results in a structurally simple construction. By arranging the locking device on a tank cap, a large holding volume for dirty fluid can be provided on the tank shell.

It is favorable if at least one of the following is provided:

- The locking device comprises an unlocking button and at least one pawl, wherein the unlocking button acts on the at least one pawl;

- The unlocking button and/or the at least one pawl are arranged above and in particular directly above the channel in relation to a vertical axis;

- The tank cap and / or a cleaning fluid tank, on which the dirty fluid tank is held, has a recess for access to the unlocking button by an operator.

The corresponding locking device can be designed in a manner that is simple in terms of design and production technology. Access can be enabled in a simple manner through the recess, in which case the unlocking button in particular does not protrude beyond an outer contour of the floor head.

In one embodiment, at least one opening is arranged on the tank cap, which is closed by an openable tab. As a result, for example, the dirty fluid tank can be emptied without having to remove the tank cover as a whole from the tank shell.

In an advantageous embodiment, a liquid level sensor device is arranged on the dirty fluid tank. It can then be reported to a control device of the floor cleaning device that a specific fill level has been reached, which requires emptying the dirty fluid tank. A corresponding warning can thus be given to an operator. As a result, the ease of use is increased, in particular during a cleaning operation of the floor cleaning device. Before dirty fluid is returned due to overfilling of the dirty fluid tank, an operator is informed accordingly that the dirty fluid tank should be emptied. It is also possible that, if there is a corresponding message from the liquid level sensor device, a control device of the floor cleaning device switches off the floor cleaning device itself in order to prevent dirty fluid from spilling out or "dirty fluid contamination" on the floor cleaning device or a floor to be cleaned to prevent.

It is favorable if at least one of the following is provided: the liquid level sensor device is arranged and/or designed in such a way that reaching a specific liquid level in the dirty fluid tank can be detected, with the specific level being related in particular to an underside of the channel in the tank cap; the liquid level sensor device is designed and/or arranged in such a way that it can be used to detect the presence or absence of the dirty fluid tank at the bottom head.

This results in a simple design and when a maximum liquid level in the dirty fluid tank has been reached is reported in good time. If the specific level is related to an underside of the channel of the tank cap, then with a high degree of filling there is an optimized protection against sloshing or leakage protection for dirty fluid from the dirty fluid tank.

For example, an electrode of a liquid level sensor is used as an electrical contact in order to be able to detect the presence/absence of the dirty fluid tank with respect to the bottom head. In one embodiment, a detection device for the bottom head has a first mating contact element which is spaced apart from a second mating contact element. On the dirty fluid tank, for example, the corresponding contact element, which is electrically connected to an electrode, and in particular formed by such an electrode, is designed with such dimensions that it electrically connects the mating contact elements to one another when the dirty fluid tank is fixed with respect to the floor head is. The absence/presence of the dirty fluid tank can then be detected in a simple manner.

In one embodiment, the tank cap or tank shell has a raised edge on an outside, in particular with at least one of the following: a release button is arranged behind the raised edge and does not protrude to an outside; the raised edge serves as a stop element when inserting the dirty fluid tank on the floor head and/or on a cleaning fluid tank.

The raised edge results in a seamless outer contour, in which case the raised edge itself can be used as a stop element, in particular to define an insertion position of the dirty fluid tank on the floor head.

Furthermore, it is favorable if at least one of the following is provided:

- Exactly one channel with the inlet orifice and the outlet orifice is arranged on the tank cap;

- the channel on the tank cap has a length of at least 1 cm between the inlet port and the outlet port;

- an acute angle at which the channel is arranged to a width direction is in the range between 15° and 75° and in particular in the range greater than or equal to 30° and in particular in the range less than or equal to 60°;

- The tank cap is arranged detachably on the tank shell.

By providing exactly one channel with the inlet port and the outlet port, the "fluid interface" of the dirty fluid tank to the environment is minimized. This results in effective leakage protection.

If the duct on the tank cap has the specific minimum length, the result is an optimized ability to couple dirty fluid into the dirty fluid tank with effective leakage protection. The selected acute angle, which is approximately 45° in particular, results in effective leakage protection with optimized coupling capability.

In principle, it is sufficient for the tank cover to be able to be opened with respect to the tank shell if it is pivotably arranged on the tank shell, for example. In one embodiment, the tank cap is removable. This makes it easy to clean the dirty fluid tank, for example.

In one embodiment, a channel device with an inlet orifice and an outlet orifice is arranged on the at least one scraping element, the inlet orifice facing the at least one cleaning roller and the outlet orifice being coupled to the inlet orifice of the channel in the tank cap. This results in a relatively short transport path for dirty fluid from the at least one cleaning roller into the channel on the dirty fluid tank.

It is favorable if the outlet opening of the duct device is positioned above a duct basin of the duct of the tank cap in relation to a vertical axis. A channel basin is formed on the channel, which has a receiving space which is delimited by a channel basin wall.

This effectively prevents dirty fluid from flowing back out of the channel. An optimized coupling of the outlet opening of the channel device to the inlet opening of the channel results.

For the reasons mentioned, it is then also favorable if the outlet opening of the channel device of the at least one stripping element is assigned a drip edge, which is positioned in particular over a channel basin of the channel of the tank cap.

In this way, the "scattering" of dirty fluid on the floor cleaning device can be kept low. This in turn keeps its contamination by dirty fluid low. A floor cleaning device according to the invention can be designed as a self-propelled and self-steering floor cleaning device, in particular with a driving body which forms the floor head. A cleaning robot and in particular a wiping robot can thus be provided which can be implemented with compact dimensions. This, in turn, results in effective accessibility of corner areas of a room to be cleaned and, for example, good underdriveability.

In particular, a travel drive for the floor cleaning device and a navigation device for the floor cleaning device are then arranged on the driving body in order to achieve a compact structure.

In an alternative embodiment, a rod device is arranged on the floor head, which is used for guiding the floor cleaning device by an operator, and the floor cleaning device can then be operated by a standing operator. The standing operator, who stands up on the floor to be cleaned, in particular behind the floor head, can then guide the floor cleaning device over the floor to be cleaned by means of the rod device.

It is favorable if a cleaning liquid tank and an application device for moistening a floor to be cleaned and/or for moistening the at least one cleaning roller with cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid tank are provided. This allows wet cleaning of a floor to be cleaned to be carried out.

In one embodiment, the cleaning liquid tank and the dirty fluid tank form a tank combination, in particular with at least one of the following: the tank combination can be fixed as a whole to the floor head and can be removed from the floor head; when the tank combination is fixed to the floor head, the dirt fluid tank can be removed or inserted individually from the floor head with the cleaning liquid tank fixed thereto.

This results in a compact structure with simple operability.

The following description of preferred embodiments serves to explain the invention in more detail in conjunction with the drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a floor cleaning device with a floor head and a tank device arranged thereon;

Figure 2 is a bottom view of the floor cleaning device according to

1 in the direction A according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a further view of the floor cleaning device according to FIG

FIG. 1 with the cassette or holding device for a cleaning roller removed;

FIG. 4 shows the floor cleaning device according to FIG. 1 with the dirt fluid tank removed;

FIG. 5 shows the floor cleaning device according to claim 1 with a removed tank combination of cleaning liquid tank and dirty fluid tank;

FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of the floor cleaning device according to FIG

FIG. 5 with the tank combination removed in the direction B according to FIG. 5; FIG. 7 shows the same view as FIG. 6 with the cleaning roller removed;

FIG. 8 shows the floor cleaning device according to claim 1 with the holding device or cassette removed, with the dirt fluid tank removed and with the cleaning fluid tank removed;

FIG. 9 shows a bottom view of the floor cleaning device according to FIG

FIG. 8 in the direction C according to FIG. 8 (with the holding device or cassette removed and the tanks removed);

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a holder/cassette when removed from the floor cleaning apparatus, the holder/cassette holding a cleaning roller;

Figure 11 is the same view as Figure 10 with removed

cleaning roller;

FIG. 12 shows a bottom view of the holding device/cassette according to FIG

FIG. 11 in the direction E according to FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a holding device or cassette in a view similar to FIG. 11 without a stripping element;

FIG. 14 shows a view similar to FIG. 11 of a further exemplary embodiment of a holding device/cassette with the stripping element removed; FIG. 15 shows an exemplary embodiment of a stripping element which is arranged on the holding device/cassette according to FIG. 10;

FIG. 16 shows a further view of the holding device/cassette according to FIG. 10 with the stripping element removed;

FIG. 17 shows a sectional view of the holding device/cassette (with the cleaning roller fixed) in the plane D according to FIG. 10;

FIG. 18 shows a sectional view of the floor cleaning device in the region of a rear end with the cleaning roller;

FIG. 19 shows the holding device/cassette according to FIG. 10 with a different pivoted position of a stripping element;

FIG. 20 shows a view similar to that of FIG. 19 in an intermediate state during the removal of the cleaning roller from the holder/cassette;

FIG. 21 shows a partial representation of the area X according to FIG. 18;

FIG. 22 shows a plan view of the holding device/cassette according to FIG. 10 with the cleaning roller held thereon in the direction Y according to FIG. 10;

FIG. 23 shows a further view of the stripping element according to FIG

15 in the direction F according to Figure 15;

FIG. 24 shows a side view of the stripping element according to FIG

15; FIG. 25 shows a view of the stripping element according to FIG. 15 in the direction E according to FIG. 15;

FIG. 26 shows a view of the stripping element according to FIG. 15 in the direction H according to FIG. 15;

FIG. 27 shows a perspective illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a dirty fluid tank with a tank shell and a tank cover;

FIG. 28 is a view similar to FIG. 27, with the tank cap lifted off the tank shell;

FIG. 29 the tank cap according to FIG. 7, '

FIG. 30 shows the tank cap according to FIG. 29 in a view in the direction K according to FIG. 29;

FIG. 31 shows a side sectional view of the dirty fluid tank according to FIG.

FIG. 32 shows a sectional view along a vertical axis of the dirty fluid tank according to FIG.

FIGS. 33 to 35 show different views of the dirty fluid tank according to FIG. 27, with a fluid level being drawn in schematically;

FIGS. 36(a), (b) the dirty fluid tank according to FIG. 27 at different inclinations, with a liquid level being drawn in schematically; FIGS. 37(a), (b) the dirty fluid tank according to FIG. 27 with different inclinations, with a liquid level being drawn in schematically;

Figure 38 shows schematically the water distribution in the dirty fluid

Tank according to FIG. 27 when the floor cleaning device or the dirty fluid tank is upside down; and

FIG. 39 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a floor cleaning device according to the invention.

An embodiment of a floor cleaning device according to the invention is a self-propelled and self-steering floor cleaning device (FIGS. 1 to 9). This floor cleaning device 10 includes a floor head 12 which includes a self-propelled and self-steering driving body 14 . In a cleaning operation, the floor cleaning device 10 is placed with its driving body 14 on a floor 16 to be cleaned (see, for example, FIG. 18).

A travel drive is arranged on the travel body 14 (not shown in the drawings). This drives wheels 18 on. In one embodiment, a first wheel 18a and a second wheel 18b are provided.

The wheels 18 are driven to rotate about a wheel axle 19 by the traction drive.

A support roller 20 which has an axis of rotation 21 is also arranged on the traveling body 14 . The support roller 20 can be pivoted about a (steering) axis 22 which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation 21 .

In one embodiment, support roller 20 is a passive caster which is not powered (and in particular is not powered to rotate about pivot axis 21 and pivot about axis 22). A change of direction of the floor cleaning device 10 on the floor head 12 is effected by appropriate activation of the wheels 18a and 18b by a control device which is arranged on the driving body 14, with these being rotatable at different speeds in particular for a change of direction.

In principle, it can also be provided that the support roller 20 is an active steering roller for directional control of the ground device 10.

The floor cleaning device 10 has a main direction of travel 24 . This main direction of travel 24 is the direction of travel of the floor cleaning device 10 when the support roller 20 is aligned in such a way that its axis of rotation 21 is parallel to the wheel axis 19 .

The floor head 12 has a set-up level 26 above the traveling body 14 (compare FIG. 18). The installation level 26 is defined by the wheels 18 and the support roller 20 . A cleaning roller 28 is located on the installation level 26.

A navigation device 30 is arranged on the driving body 14 . The navigation device 30 is a sensor device and includes at least one sensor element. The navigation device is connected in a signal-effective manner to the control device for controlling the driving operation of the floor cleaning device 10 . The navigation device includes, for example, one or more optical sensors, one or more radar sensors, one or more IR sensors and/or one or more ultrasonic sensors.

The driving body 14 has a front end 32 and a rear end 34 in relation to the main direction of travel 24 . In the area of the rear end 34, a tank combination 36 consisting of a dirty fluid tank 38 and a cleaning fluid tank 40 is arranged on the driving body 14 in a detachable manner. This is explained in more detail below. Dirty fluid is understood to mean a fluid that can flow in principle. It can be composed of dirt particles or it can be a mixture of dirt particles and a liquid (particularly water, possibly with the addition of a tenside cleaning agent).

The driving body 14 has an underside 42 and an upper side 44 opposite the underside. The wheels 18 and the support roller 20 are arranged on the underside 42 . At least a partial area of the navigation device 30 is arranged on the upper side 44 .

The driving body 14 has a wall 46 between the underside 42 and the upper side 44 .

An impact body 48 (bumper) is arranged on the wall 46 in the area of the front end 32, with which collisions of the floor cleaning device 10 with obstacles can be detected tactilely. The impact body 48 is or comprises one or more tactile sensor elements which are connected to the control device in a signal-effective manner.

A center 50 is assigned to the bottom head 12 (FIG. 1). The center 50 is a geometric centroid of the bottom head 12 (with tanks 38, 40). A height direction (axial direction) 52 perpendicular to the installation plane 26 can be assigned to this center 50 and then a circumferential direction accordingly. The impact body 48 extends on the wall 46 in the circumferential direction, in particular over an angular range of at least 120° and preferably at least 150°.

On the underside 42 of the driving body, cliff sensors 54 are arranged, which are connected to the control device in a signal-effective manner. These cliff sensors 54 are used to prevent the floor cleaning device 10 from falling, for example when reaching a staircase, by correspondingly detecting "cliffs". The floor cleaning device 10 has an in particular rechargeable battery device, which is arranged on the driving body 14 . For example, a corresponding battery compartment 56 (compare FIG. 2) is provided, which is accessible from the underside 42 and is closed by a cover 58 .

Additional elements such as a sensor 60 for carpet detection, a WiFi module, etc. can be arranged on the driving body.

Charging contacts 62 are also arranged on the driving body in order to be able to charge the battery device at a charging station.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, charging contacts 62 are arranged on the underside 42 .

The bottom head 12 has an outer contour 64 in the form of a circle on the upper side 44 in a plan view from above in the height direction 52 . A distance in the radial direction perpendicular to the vertical direction 52 from the center 50 to an upper edge of the wall 46 is at least approximately the same (corresponding to the radius of the circle).

It is also fundamentally possible for the outer contour 64 to have an approximately circular shape, in which case the distance to the outer contour from the center 50 then deviates by at most 15% from a corresponding mean value.

The outer contour of the driving body 14 (the bottom head 12 without the tank combination 36) is in the form of a circular section with a first chord 66. The first chord 66 is oriented transversely and in particular perpendicular to the main direction of travel 24.

In one embodiment, it is oriented at least approximately parallel to wheel axle 19 . Relative to the front end 32, the first chord 66 lies beyond the center 50. It lies at the rear end 34. Between the first chord 66 and the front end 32 lies the center 50.

The tank combination 36 also has the shape of a second circular section with a second chord 68 as an outer contour in the top view of the upper side 44 in the vertical direction 52.

The first circular segment of the outer contour 64 of the driving body 14 and the second circular segment of the outer contour of the tank combination 36 complement each other to form the circular outer contour of the base head 12.

When the tank combination 36 is seated on the traveling body 14, the second chord 68 is parallel to the first chord 66 and directly adjacent thereto.

A receiving shaft 70 for the cleaning roller 28 is arranged or formed on the driving body 14 . The receiving shaft 70 is seated on the traveling body 14 in the region of the rear end 34. The receiving shaft 70 has a longitudinal direction 72 which is transverse and in particular perpendicular to the main direction of travel 24 (compare FIG. 9). The direction of longitudinal extension 72 is also at least approximately parallel to the wheel axle 19.

In one embodiment, the direction of longitudinal extent 72 is parallel to the first chord 66.

The receiving shaft is open to the underside 42 of the driving body 14, which is a bottom side (which faces the installation level 26), so that a cleaning roller 28 held in the receiving shaft 70 can act on the floor 16 to be cleaned.

The receiving shaft 70 is closed by a cover wall 74 (compare FIG. 9) towards the upper side 44 and thus facing away from the lower side 42 . Between the cover wall 74 and the underside 42 the traveling body has a wall 76 which delimits the receiving shaft 70 towards an interior space of the traveling body 14 . The travel drive, the control device, etc., for example, are arranged in the interior of the travel body 14 .

In the region of the rear end 34 there is a wall 78 on the cover wall 74 which is at a distance from the wall 76 . The wall 78 is spaced from the wall 76 also a boundary wall for the receiving shaft 70. The wall 78 is spaced from the underside 42, i.e. it does not protrude to the underside (bottom side) 42. The receiving shaft 70 is thus above a Opening 80 to rear end 34 open.

The ride body 14 has a first lateral side 82 and an opposite lateral side 84 . The lateral sides 82, 84 are related to the main direction of travel 24.

In the plan view in the height direction 52 from above onto the floor body 12, the front end 32 is followed in a clockwise direction by the second lateral side 84, then the rear end 34 on the driving body 14 and then the first lateral side 82.

A side wall 86 is seated on the driving body 14 on the first lateral side 82. This side wall 86 delimits the receiving shaft 70 toward the first lateral side 82. The side wall 86 extends transversely to the first chord 66.

The side wall 86 follows the circular outer contour 64.

The receiving shaft 70 has an opening 88 opposite the side wall 86 on the second lateral side 84 . A drive motor 90 for the cleaning roller 28 is located on the side wall 86.

The drive motor 90 is supplied with electrical energy by the battery device in the battery compartment 56 .

In principle, it is also possible for the drive motor 90 to be seated behind the wall 76, for example. A torque transmission device is then arranged on the side wall 86 .

A drive shaft 92 , which can be rotated about an axis of rotation 94 , is assigned to the drive motor 90 .

The drive shaft 92 protrudes into the receiving shaft 70. When the floor cleaning device 10 is in operation, it is connected to the cleaning roller 28 in a rotationally fixed manner. A rotational movement of the cleaning roller 28 about an axis of rotation which coincides with the axis of rotation 94 is driven by the drive shaft 92 .

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the drive shaft 92 is connected directly to the drive motor 90, ie it is an output shaft of the drive motor 90 or is connected coaxially to such an output shaft.

The drive shaft 92 is rotatably mounted. In the exemplary embodiment shown, it is mounted directly on the drive motor 90 . It forms a first rotary bearing 96 for the rotary mounting of the cleaning roller 28 during rotation about the axis of rotation 94.

The axis of rotation 94 is transverse and in particular perpendicular to the main direction of travel 24.

The axis of rotation 94 is parallel to the installation plane 26. The axis of rotation is transverse and in particular perpendicular to the vertical direction 52 (which is a normal axis to the installation plane 26).

Furthermore, the axis of rotation 94 in particular lies parallel to the wheel axis 90. Furthermore, it lies in particular parallel to the first chord 66.

The direction of longitudinal extension 72 of the receiving shaft 70 is parallel to the axis of rotation 94.

The floor cleaning device 10 comprises a cassette 98 (e.g. FIGS. 3, 8, 10 to 14, 16, 17). The cassette 98 is used to hold the cleaning roller 28 in the receiving shaft 70 when the floor cleaning device 10 is in operation, and to hold the cleaning roller 28 when it is inserted on the driving body 14 and when it is being removed from the driving body 14.

A cassette is understood to be an inherently rigid or stable structure which is to a certain extent a receiving container for the cleaning roller 28 (but does not have to be closed) and can be handled as an independent unit.

The cassette 98 includes a lid 100. The lid 100 serves to close the opening 88 of the receiving shaft 70 when the cassette 98 is inserted. When the cassette 98 is inserted on the driving body 14, the cover 100 lies opposite the side wall 86.

The cover 100 is adapted in its geometric course to the outer contour 64 of the driving body 14 and is in particular designed to be correspondingly curved in order to follow the circular contour.

A locking device 102 is provided for fixing the cover 100 to the traveling body 14 and thus for locking the cassette 98 to the traveling body 14 . This includes, for example, an unlocking button 104, which is arranged on the driving body 14 and acts on a pawl. In one exemplary embodiment, a counter-element 106 for the pawl is arranged on the cover 100, the counter-element 106 having an opening into which the pawl can be immersed. By actuating the unlocking button 104, it is possible to ensure that the particularly spring-supported pawl emerges from the counter-element 106 and the corresponding locking of the cover 100 with the driving body 14 is released.

A second rotary bearing 108 for the rotation of the cleaning roller 28 about the axis of rotation 94 is seated on the cover (see, for example, FIGS. 11 and 17).

In one embodiment, the second pivot bearing 108 is designed as a ball bearing.

The cleaning roller 28 can be fixed in a rotationally fixed manner on the second pivot bearing 108 .

If the cassette 98 is properly fixed to the driving body 14, then the cleaning roller 28 is rotatably mounted opposite on the first pivot bearing 96 and the second pivot bearing 108. The cleaning roller 28 is correspondingly supported on its opposite end faces. The cleaning roller 28 is held between the first pivot bearing 96 and the second pivot bearing 108 on both sides. The cleaning roller 28 is held in the receiving shaft 70 so to speak hanging between the first pivot bearing 96 and the second pivot bearing 108 and is thereby supported at their respective end regions. In this way, cleaning rollers 28 with a greater length (in a longitudinal direction parallel to the axis of rotation 94) can also be used, or larger torsional moments can also be absorbed. Wobbling of the cleaning roller 28 is prevented. The cassette 98 includes a support structure 110 which is seated on the cover 100 and ensures the appropriate stability or rigidity of the cassette 98 .

The second rotary bearing 108 is positioned on the cover 100 at a distance from this support structure 110 .

In one embodiment, the support structure 110 is or includes a wall 112 which is fixed to the cover 100 .

The wall 112 has the shape of a cylindrical shell. It extends in a longitudinal direction 114. When the cassette 98 is held on the traveling body 14 and the cleaning roller 28 is in turn held thereon, the longitudinal direction 114 of the cassette 98 is parallel to the axis of rotation 94. It is also parallel to the longitudinal direction of the receiving shaft 70.

The wall 112 is designed such that, when the cassette 98 is held on the traveling body 14, it covers the wall 76 of the traveling body and at least partially the cover wall 74 on the traveling body 14 (compare FIGS. 7 and 9). The wall 112 forms a cover and thus a protective wall from the cleaning roller 28 to the driving body 14 . It is thereby largely avoided contamination of the driving body 14 in operation of the floor cleaning device 10; the wall 112 keeps dirt from the corresponding walls 74, 76 of the traveling body 14.

A guide device 116 is arranged on the receiving shaft 70 for holding and positioning the cassette 98 in a defined manner in the receiving shaft 70 (compare FIG. 9). The cassette 94 has a counter-guiding device 118 (compare FIG. 16) adapted thereto. In one exemplary embodiment, the guide device 116 on the receiving shaft includes a plurality of grooves 120 which extend in the longitudinal direction 72 and essentially extend over the entire length of the receiving shaft 70 . They are formed on the wall 76.

In particular, the grooves are spaced apart from one another in the height direction 52 .

The counter-guiding device 118 on the cassette 98 comprises strips 122 which are adapted to a respective groove 120 and which extend in the longitudinal direction 114 . The strips 122 are arranged on the wall 112 and are arranged on a side that faces away from a receiving space for the cleaning roller 28 .

In particular, a sliding guide is provided.

The cassette 98 can be inserted or removed from the receiving shaft 70 in an insertion/removal direction 124 (direction and opposite direction).

This direction of insertion/removal 124 is parallel to the direction of longitudinal extent 114 of the cassette 98 and the direction of longitudinal extent 72 of the receiving shaft 70 when aligned accordingly. In particular, this direction of insertion/removal 124 is parallel to the axis of rotation 94.

The direction of insertion/removal 124 is transverse and, in particular, perpendicular to the main direction of travel 24.

A holding device 126 for the cleaning roller 28 is arranged on the cassette 98 . The holding device 126 is designed so that it pre-positions the cleaning roller 28 when inserting the cassette 98 on the Driving body 14 holds and then ensures automatic coupling of the drive shaft 92 to the cleaning roller 28 when the cartridge 98 is inserted in the corresponding insertion direction 124 and the cover 100 is locked to the driving body 14. It also ensures that the cleaning roller 28 is automatically removed when the cassette is removed, which means that the operator intervention is the removal of the cassette 98 and, in particular, the operator does not have to touch the cleaning roller 28 .

Furthermore, the holding device 126 ensures that the cleaning roller 28 is positioned appropriately on the cassette 98 and in particular held on the first pivot bearing 96 (the drive shaft 92) and the second pivot bearing 108 during cleaning operation.

The holding device 126 has a first holding element 128 and a second holding element 130 . The first holding element 128 is formed by the second pivot bearing 108 .

The second holding element 130 is arranged on the wall 112 at a distance from the first holding element 128 in the direction of longitudinal extent 114 .

The second holding element 130 has a ring element 132 with an opening 134 . An axis of the opening 134 is aligned parallel to the direction of longitudinal extent 114 of the cassette 98 .

The cleaning roller 28 comprises a carrier 136 on which a cleaning medium 138 is arranged (compare, for example, FIG. 17). The carrier 136 is an annular cylinder with openings 140 at least at the front ends. It is also possible that there is a continuous opening.

The cleaning medium 138 is an embellishment which is fixed to the carrier 136 . In the embodiment as a wet mopping device, the cleaning medium 138 is, in particular, a textile trimming such as a microfiber trimming, which sits on the carrier 136 . It is also possible for the cleaning medium 138 to be formed by bristles, in particular if the floor cleaning device 10 is designed as a sweeping device.

It is also possible, for example, for the cleaning medium 138 to include both bristles and textile trimming areas.

The first holding element 128 (the first pivot bearing 96) has a first immersion element 142 . The cleaning roller 28 is held on the first pivot bearing 96 (the first holding element 128) in a rotationally fixed manner about the axis of rotation 94 via the first immersion element 142. The first immersion element 142 dips into the carrier 136 at the corresponding opening 140 .

A non-rotatable coupling is provided by appropriate design of the first immersion element 142 and the carrier 136 at the corresponding opening 140 .

A support element 144 is provided, which is used to hold the cleaning roller 28 on the second holding element 130 (see, for example, FIG. 17).

The support member 144 includes a first portion 146 and a second portion 148 .

The second part 148 of the support element 144 is provided for connection to the cleaning roller 28 and thereby to the carrier 136 . When connected, the second part 148 of the support member 144 is immersed in the corresponding opening 140 (which is opposite the opening 140 which is closest to the lid 100 when the cleaning roller 28 is fixed). A non-rotatable connection of the second part 148 is provided by corresponding immersion in the opening 140 of the carrier 136 . In principle, it is possible for the second part 148 of the support element 144 to be firmly (non-detachably) connected to the cleaning roller 28 .

In an advantageous embodiment, the second part 148 of the support element 144 can be detached from the cleaning roller 28. This means that the cleaning roller 28 can be manufactured more simply and cost-effectively. Furthermore, the cleaning roller 28 can be cleaned more easily, since in particular it consists essentially only of the carrier 136 and the cleaning medium 138 . It can then be cleaned in a washing machine, for example.

A second immersion element 150 is arranged on the first part 146 . The second immersion element 150 is used for immersion in the opening 134 of the second holding element 130. If the support element 144 is fixed to the cleaning roller 28 with the second part 148, then the cleaning roller 28 can be moved on one side over the first holding element by immersing the first immersion element Hold 142 in the associated opening 140. On the other side, the cleaning roller 28 can be held on the second holding element 130 by the second immersion element 150 of the supporting element 144 (with the supporting element 144 being held on the cleaning roller 28) being immersed in the opening 134 (see, for example, Figure 10).

The first part 146 is slidably mounted on the support element 144 with respect to the second part 148 and in particular is slidably mounted directly on the second part 148 .

In one embodiment, the second part 148 is cup-shaped with an interior space 152. The first part 146 is positioned in the interior space 152 and is movably supported in the process. A direction of displacement 154 (see Figure 17) is parallel to the direction of longitudinal extension 114 of the cassette 98 or the axis of rotation 94. The first part 146 is supported on the second part 148 via a spring device 156 . The spring device 156 comprises at least one spring. A spring force of the spring device 156 acts in such a way that it tends to push the first part 146 away from the second part 148 , specifically towards the second holding element 130 when the cleaning roller 28 is seated on the holding device 126 .

If the first part 146 is to be pressed towards the other end of the cleaning roller 28 when the support element 144 is seated on the cleaning roller 28, the spring force of the spring device 156 must be overcome.

In order to hold the cleaning roller 28 on the holding device 126 of the cassette 98, the cleaning roller 28 is placed on the first immersion element 142 at the corresponding opening 140. The cassette 98 is removed from the traveling body 14 .

The support element 144 is then inserted into the carrier 136 in the corresponding opening 140 or has already been inserted beforehand.

The second immersion element 150 on the first part 146 then protrudes beyond an end face of the cleaning roller 28 .

The cleaning roller 28 is then moved from the position shown in FIG. 20 in the direction of the second holding element 130. An operator pushes the first part 126 in the displacement direction 154 in the direction of the cover 100. When the support element 144 has then reached the ring element 132, the operator can correspondingly release the first part 146 and, with the appropriate alignment, the second immersion element 150 then dips into the Opening 134 a. The spring force of the spring device 156 pushes the first part 146 with the second immersion element 150 away from the cover 100 and ensures that the second immersion element 150 is immersed in the opening 134. The cleaning roller 28 is then held on the cassette 98 at two stops (on the first holding element 128 and the second holding element 130).

The cassette 98 can then be slid into the receiving slot 70 .

The drive shaft 92 protrudes into the receiving shaft 70.

If the cassette 98 with the cleaning roller 28 held on the holding device 126 is pushed into the receiving shaft 70 towards the drive shaft 92, then the drive shaft 92 comes into contact with the support element 144 when the cassette 98 is in the appropriate position. The first part 146 has a receptacle 158 for the drive shaft 92 . The drive shaft 92 can be connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the receptacle 158 . When the cassette 98 is pushed into the receiving shaft 70 up to a stop, until the cover 100 is locked to the driving body 14 at the locking device 102, the drive shaft 92 is then coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to the cleaning roller 28 via the support element 144.

The support element 144 with the first part 146 is designed in coordination with the drive shaft 92 in such a way that the drive shaft acts on the first part 146 in this final positioning and moves it towards the cover 100 in the displacement direction 154 . As a result, the second immersion element 150 is immersed out of the opening 134 . The drive shaft 92, when the cassette 98 is displaced into the receiving shaft 70 and then comes into contact with the support element 144, ensures that the first part 146 is displaced in the displacement direction 154 away, i.e. in a direction opposite to the insertion direction of the cassette 98 into the receiving shaft 70.

As a result, the second immersion element 150 is removed from the second holding element 130 and there is no longer any contact. In the operation of Floor cleaning device 10, the cleaning roller 28 is then mounted at two points, namely on the drive shaft 92 (the first pivot bearing 96) and on the first holding element 128 (the second pivot bearing 108).

The second holding element 130 no longer has any effect here.

The second holding element 130 is an intermediate element when inserting and removing the cassette 98 on and from the traveling body 14.

When the cassette 98 is removed from the traveling body 14, the locking device 102 is first released and the cassette 98 is then removed from the receiving shaft 70 in the corresponding removal direction 124. As a result, the drive shaft 92 is then to a certain extent exchanged from the support element 144 by “removing” the cleaning roller 28 . The spring device 156 then ensures that the second immersion element 150 dips back into the second holding element 130 . When the cassette 98 is removed, the cleaning roller 28 is held on the holding device 126 with the first holding element 128 and the second holding element 130 .

When the cassette 98 is inserted, the cleaning roller 28 is held on the holding device 126 . The guide device 116 and the counter-guide device 118 automatically align the drive shaft 92 with a corresponding coupling. Appropriate form-fitting elements are provided in order to obtain the non-rotatable connection. An operator can achieve the appropriate orientation by rotating the cleaning roller 28 through a small angle on the holding device 126 in order to effect this non-rotatable coupling. The coupling of the support element 144 to the second holding element 130 is automatically canceled by the drive shaft when the cleaning roller 28 reaches an operating position on the driving body 14 . When the cassette 98 is removed, this coupling of the support element 144 to the second holding element 130 is established in an automatic manner. When removing the cassette 98 , an operator does not have to touch the (dirty) cleaning roller 28 , but rather he can simply remove the cassette 98 as a container or box for the cleaning roller 28 .

During operation of the floor cleaning machine 10 , the drive shaft 92 is torque-effectively coupled to the support element 144 in order to enable the cleaning roller 28 to be driven in rotation about the axis of rotation 94 . The cleaning roller 28 is decoupled from the second holding element 130 . The cleaning roller 28 is rotatably coupled to the first support member 128 during operation.

A cooperating form-fitting device 160 (see, for example, FIGS. 9 to 11) is arranged on the cassette 98 and on the driving body 14 . This ensures an additional coupling between the cassette 98 and the driving body 14 when the cassette 98 is held on the driving body 14, in particular with regard to torsional stresses.

In one exemplary embodiment, the positive-locking device 160 comprises a receiving element 162 of an immersion opening 164. In one exemplary embodiment, the receiving element 162 is arranged on the second holding element 130 and in particular on the ring element 132. The immersion opening 164 has an opening direction which is parallel to the longitudinal extension direction 114 .

An immersion element 166 adapted to the immersion opening 164 is seated on the side wall 96 (compare FIG. 9). The immersion element 166 is designed as an immersion pin. When the cassette 98 is fixed to the traveling body 14 (with the lid 100 locked), the immersion member 166 is immersed in the immersion opening 164 . A positive fit is established in all directions transverse to the direction of longitudinal extension 114 . As a result, torsional loads can be dissipated on the traveling body 14 . A distribution device 168 for cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid tank 40 is arranged on the cassette 98 and thereby on the wall 112 (compare FIG. 16). The distribution device 168 comprises one or more distribution channels 170 with a channel wall 172. The channel wall 172 protrudes beyond the wall 112 on an outside of the wall 112, the outside of the wall 112 facing away from the cleaning roller 28.

The distribution channel 170 includes openings 174 in the wall 112 which are continuous from the rear side of the wall 112 (which faces away from the cleaning roller 28) to a front side of the wall 112 (which faces the cleaning roller 28). Cleaning fluid can be applied to the cleaning roller 28 via these openings 174 .

The openings 174 are arranged above the cleaning roller 28 in relation to the height direction 152, so that the cleaning medium 138 (the lining of the cleaning roller 28) can be correspondingly wetted with cleaning liquid (compare FIG. 18).

In particular, the cleaning roller 28 can be charged with cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid tank 40 via the distributor device 168 and the openings 174 , driven by gravity.

A connection 176 is arranged on the cassette 98 and is in fluid communication with the distributor device 168 . The connection 176 is a connection of the cassette 98 for a fluid connection with the cleaning liquid tank 40.

The connection 176 is in cooperation with the driving body 14 and the

Dirty fluid tank 38 designed so that a fluid connection between see the cleaning liquid tank and the distribution device 168 is automatically established when the cassette 98 is properly fixed to the driving body 14 (with locking on the lid 100).

In particular, the cleaning liquid tank 40 is assigned a valve device (which is preferably positioned outside the cassette 98), which releases cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid tank 40 only when the floor cleaning device 10 is in cleaning operation.

The cassette 98 does not contain any electronic components and the like or any components that require a power supply.

A stripping element 178 is held on the cassette 98 . In particular, the stripping element 178 can be removed from the cassette 98. In FIGS. 23 to 26, an exemplary embodiment of a removed stripping element 178 is shown.

In the exemplary embodiment of the floor cleaning device, exactly one cleaning roller 28 is provided. In particular, exactly one stripping element 178 is assigned to this one cleaning roller 28 .

The scraping element 178 is used to scrape dirty fluid from the cleaning roller 28 (from the lining of the cleaning roller 28) and to conduct dirty fluid via a corresponding guide device 180 to the dirty fluid tank 38.

An exemplary embodiment of a stripping element 178 is designed in one piece. It comprises a body 182. A channel device 184 is integrated into the body. In one embodiment, the channel means 184 includes a channel 186 having an input port 188 and an output port 190. With the stripper element 178 properly positioned on the cartridge 98 and the cartridge 98 retained on the carriage 14, the input port 188 faces the cleaning roller 28 and the output port 190 corresponds to an inlet port of the dirty fluid tank 38, as will be described in more detail below.

The stripping element 178 is movably held on the cassette 98 . In one exemplary embodiment, the stripping element 178 is held on the cassette 98 about a pivot axis 192 (see, for example, Figures 11, 16 or 19).

The pivot axis 192 is parallel to the direction of longitudinal extent 114 of the cassette 98 or parallel to the axis of rotation 94.

When the cassette 98 is held on the traveling body 14, the pivot axis 192 is transverse and in particular perpendicular to the main direction of travel 24.

In one embodiment, a first stub shaft 194 and a second stub shaft 196 are arranged on the cassette 98 and thereby on the wall 112 on an outside facing away from the cleaning roller 28 , spaced apart in the longitudinal direction 114 .

A first hook element 198a and a second hook element 198b are seated on the body 182 of the stripping element 178, assigned to the first stub shaft 194 (compare, for example, FIG. 10).

A pivot bearing is realized via the first hook element 198a and the first stub shaft 194 and the second hook element 198b and the second stub shaft 196, which enables the stripping element 178 to pivot as a whole about the pivot axis 192. The hook elements 198a, 198b are open so that the stripping element 178 can also be removed from the cassette 98 by pulling on the stripping element 178 in a direction transverse to the pivot axis 192 .

In an alternative embodiment, the stub shafts are seated on the stripper element 178 and the associated hook elements are seated on the cassette 98. A wiping strip 200 is seated on the wiping element 178 . This wiped off dirty fluid can then be discharged via the channel device 184 through the inlet opening 188 into the channel 186 via the outlet opening 190 to the dirty fluid tank 38 .

Provision is made for the wiping strip 200 to bear against the cleaning medium 138 (the trimming) and in particular to protrude into the corresponding textile material. This achieves an improved scraping effect. Due to the movable arrangement of the wiping element 178, the wiping strip 200 can be correspondingly pressed into the covering. In this way, an effective cleaning effect can be achieved in particular even when the cleaning roller 28 is worn. Furthermore, tolerances, for example during production, can be compensated.

The body 182 of the scraper element 178 has an underside 202 which faces the cleaning roller 28 . The wiping strip 200 protrudes beyond this underside 202 .

The stripping element 178 has an upper side 204 which faces away from the cleaning roller 28 . A support area 206 (compare FIG. 24) for a spring device 208 is formed on the upper side 204 . The spring device 208 (see, for example, FIG. 9) is fixed to the traveling body 14 and acts on the stripping element 178 when the cassette 98 is fixed to the traveling body 14 with the stripping element 178 . In one exemplary embodiment, the spring device 208 comprises a plurality of springs, on each of which a support element 210 is seated (FIG. 9).

In one embodiment, the spring device 208 or the springs are arranged with the respective support element 210 on a front area of the wall 78 (FIG. 9). The support element 210 is a contact element for the support area 206 of the stripping element 178.

When the stripping element 178 is seated on the traveling body 14 , the respective supporting element 210 is pressed against the supporting area 206 by the spring device 208 . This in turn pushes the wiping element 178 shut against the cleaning roller 28 due to its pivotability about the pivot axis 192 and in particular then the wiping strip 200 is pressed into the (particularly textile) covering of the cleaning roller 28 (compare, for example, FIG. 20).

The spring device 208 is firmly connected to the driving body 14 and is supported loosely on the support area 206 of the stripping element 178 .

In one embodiment, the support elements 210 have an inclined surface 212 (FIG. 9), which faces the opening 88 of the receiving shaft 70 .

The inclined surface 212 of the respective support element 210 serves as an insertion aid when inserting the cassette 98 into the receiving shaft 70 in order to establish contact between the respective support element 210 and the support area 206 on the stripping element 178 .

The support area 206 on the upper side 204 of the stripping element 178 is at a distance from the pivot axis 192 (compare also FIG. 15).

The channel 106 with the inlet orifice 188 and the outlet orifice 190 is funnel-shaped at least in relation to a width direction 214 . The width direction 214 (compare Figure 16) is parallel to the longitudinal direction 114 of the cassette 98 or parallel to the axis of rotation 94 of the cleaning roller 28 (when the stripping element 178 is held on the cassette 98). The entrance orifice 188 has a maximum first width 216 in the width direction 214 (see, for example, Figure 23).

The outlet mouth 190 has a maximum second width 218 in the width direction 214 (compare FIG. 25). The first width 216 is larger and in particular very much larger than the second width 218. The first width 218 is in particular at least three times larger than the second width 218.

In one exemplary embodiment, the stripping element 178 is formed at least approximately mirror-symmetrically to a central plane 220 (mirror plane) (compare, for example, FIG. 25). The channel 186, the inlet orifice 188 and the outlet orifice 190 are mirror-symmetrical to this center plane 220. At least in the width direction, the channel 186 tapers uniformly (mirror-symmetrical to the center plane 220) from the inlet orifice 188 to the outlet orifice 190.

The exit port 190 has a triangular shape 222 (see, for example, Figure 25). A triangular tip 224 of this triangular shape 222 lies on the center plane 222 and points (when the stripping element 178 is held on the cassette 98 and the cassette 98 is held on the traveling body 14) in the direction of the installation plane 26.

A drip edge 226 is assigned to the outlet opening 190 . This drip edge 226 is achieved in particular by a corresponding edge formation at the tip of the triangle 224 .

The wiping strip 200 forms a delimitation of the inlet opening 188 towards the installation level 26 (compare FIG. 21). In one exemplary embodiment, the wiping strip 200 forms a boundary wall of the inlet opening 188 downwards (towards the installation plane 26). In one embodiment, the squeegee 200 is V-shaped to a first approximation.

It comprises a first area 228 and a second area 230 (FIG. 23). The first portion 228 and the second portion 230 are at an obtuse angle 232 to one another. The first area 228 and the second area 230 each lie at an acute angle to the width direction 214.

In particular, the first area 228 and the second area 230 each have a straight extension.

In one embodiment, the first area 228 and the second area 230 intersect at a fork point 231. In the case of a purely V-shaped design, the fork point 231 lies on the first area 228 and the second area 230 and thus on the wiper strip 200.

In an alternative embodiment, which is described below, the fork point 231 is a purely geometric point or an imaginary point which does not lie on the squeegee 200 .

Due to the symmetrical design of the stripping element 178, the first area 228 and the second area 230 are in the same absolute value acute angle 234 to the width direction 214. However, the corresponding angles are opposite in sign.

In one embodiment, the squeegee 200 includes a third portion 236 (Figure 23) which is intermediate and connected to the first portion 228 and the second portion 230, respectively. A continuous wiping strip 200 without gaps is formed.

The third area 236 is in particular straight. In one embodiment, it is oriented parallel to width direction 214 . It has a shorter length than the first area 228 or the second area 230 .

The corresponding funnel-shaped channel configuration 186 can thus be implemented.

The third area 236 is spaced from the fork point 231. The squeegee 200 does not have a "strict" V-shape, but there is a cross connection between the arms of the "V" (the first area 228 and the second area 230) via the third region 236, which is just spaced from the fork point 231.

When the stripping element 178 is fixed to the traveling body 14 (via the cassette 98), the third area 236 is closer to the installation plane 26 than the first area 228 and the second area 230.

An impact surface 238 is arranged on the stripping element 178 within the channel 186 . This is formed or positioned on a duct cover 240 which is opposite a duct floor 242 .

The impact surface 238 forms a deflection surface for "flying" dirt particles in order to deflect them in the direction of the outlet opening 190 .

In one embodiment, the channel floor 242 is inclined at an acute angle 244 relative to the deployment plane 26 (when the scraper element 178 is properly positioned with respect to the traveling body 14 via the cassette 98). See, for example, FIG. 22 or 21. This supports the outflow of dirty fluid through the channel 186 to the dirty fluid tank 38, driven by gravity.

In one exemplary embodiment, a hair comb device 246 is arranged on the stripping element 178 and projects beyond the underside 204 . The hair comb device 246 comprises a plurality of pins which are used to pick up hair and in particular to detach it from the bristles of the cleaning roller 28 .

In one exemplary embodiment, the hair comb device 246 comprises at least one row of pins 248 (in the exemplary embodiment shown, two rows of pins are provided), with the arrangement of the row following the course of the wiper strip 200 .

The hair comb device 246 is arranged starting from the squeegee 200 down; it is closer to the installation level 26 than the scraper strip 200.

In particular, the hair comb device 246 is connected downstream of the squeegee 200 with respect to a direction of rotation 250 of the cleaning roller 28 during operation of the floor cleaning device 10 (compare FIG. 18).

The wiping strip 200 is arranged on the cassette 94 so that it can pivot about the pivot axis 192 so that it can be moved in order to allow a defined immersion of the wiping strip 200 into an edging of the cleaning roller 28 when acted upon by the spring device 208 even in the event of wear, manufacturing play, etc.

Due to the pivotability of the stripping element 178, it can also be pivoted away from the cleaning roller 28 (compare FIG. 19) when the cassette 98 has been removed from the driving body 14, in order to enable easier insertion or removal of the cleaning roller 28 on the holding device 126 .

As mentioned above, it can also be provided that the

Stripping element 178 can be removed from the cassette 98 as a whole. A sweeping device 252 for coarse dirt is arranged on the cassette 98 (see, for example, FIGS. 11 to 14). This sweeping device 252 is arranged on the support structure 110 and is arranged in particular on the wall 112 .

In one embodiment, sweeper 252 is integrally formed on wall 112 .

The sweeping device 252 serves to provide coarse dirt to the cleaning roller 28 or to load it with coarse dirt particles to a certain extent.

Sweeper 252 has a sweeping edge 254 which is a lower edge of wall 112 . This sweeping edge 254 is at a distance from the installation plane 26 (FIG. 18). It faces the cleaning roller 28 and is at a small distance from it or rests against it (FIG. 18).

The sweeping device 252 comprises spaced teeth 256 which are designed like shovels and protrude with a lower area over the sweeping edge 254 . A corresponding underside 258 of these teeth is closer to the installation plane 26 than the sweeping edge 254.

Due to the distance between the sweeping edge 254 and the installation level 26 (and thus also from the floor 16 to be cleaned), coarse dirt particles can pass under the sweeping edge 254 to the cleaning roller 28 (compare FIG. 18).

The teeth 256 with their reduced distance from the installation plane 26 compared to the sweeping edge 254 ensure that such coarser dirt particles can be picked up by the floor cleaning device 10 during its operation. Dirt particles are thrown against the teeth 256 by the cleaning roller 28 during its rotating operation. In a way, you can are pinched between the cleaning roller 28 and the corresponding teeth 256 and are thereby entrained due to the rotation of the cleaning roller 28 and conveyed to the entry port 188 .

The teeth 256 are formed like a plough, each with a guide surface 260.

This guide surface 260 is designed in such a way that dirt particles are deflected in an upward direction. They are shaped to prevent them from being pushed along.

It is provided that a distance 262 between adjacent teeth 256 is greater than a distance 264 between the sweeping edge 254 and the installation plane 26.

In one exemplary embodiment, the tooth 266 which is closest to the first holding element 128 is designed as a "half tooth" due to the corresponding marginal position (compare FIG. 11).

Basically, the sweeping device 252 can be formed by a plastic soft component or hard component. In one embodiment, sweeper 252 is releasably retained on cartridge 98 . In principle, the teeth 256 can also be removed individually.

For example, it is possible for the teeth 256 to be made of a different material than the material of the sweeping edge 254.

It is also possible, for example, for the teeth 256 and/or the sweeping edge 254 to be resiliently mounted. The teeth 256 can be spring-mounted individually or as a rack.

In one embodiment, the sweeping device 252 includes one or more spacers that lie on the installation plane 26 . Further exemplary embodiments of sweeping devices 252' and 252'' are shown in FIGS. 14, 15. In the embodiment according to FIG.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 14 and also FIG. 13, other tooth shapes are shown.

Half a tooth corresponding to the tooth 266 can also be assigned adjacent to the second holding element 130 (as an end region) (compare FIG. 12).

In particular, the direction of rotation 250 of the cleaning roller 28 on the floor 16 to be cleaned is towards the sweeping device 252 (compare FIG. 18). If the floor cleaning device 10 is a self-steering and self-propelled floor cleaning device, then it basically has the main direction of travel 24, but other directions of travel and also, for example, directions in contrast to the main direction of travel 24 are possible. If the floor cleaning device 10 drives in the main direction of travel 24, then in the direction of rotation 250 to the floor, the direction of rotation is parallel to the main direction of travel. In other directions of travel and in particular opposite to the main direction of travel 24, however, the rotation is opposite to the direction of travel.

The design of the sweeping device 252 described allows coarse dirt to be effectively picked up even with such directions of travel, in particular with the direction of rotation 250 on the floor 16 being counter to the direction of travel, and specifically in just one pass.

The cleaning roller 28 is to a certain extent positioned between the squeegee 200 and the sweeping device 252 (compare FIG. 18). During operation of the floor cleaning device 10, a specific area or sector 268 is moistened with cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid tank 40 and via the distributor device 168 with the openings 174. Due to the direction of rotation 250, this area or sector 268 rotates further to the inlet opening 188 of the scraper strip 200. There, dirt fluid is scraped off at the area or sector 268 via the scraper strip 200, which is then transported away via the channel 186. This particular area 280 then rotates further toward the floor 16 to be cleaned, impacting the floor and loosening dirt. It then rotates further towards the sweeping device 252 in the direction of rotation 250 . Coarse dirt that has been carried along is "clamped" at the teeth 256 and carried away via the cleaning roller 28 .

The designated area or sector 268 then reenters the humidification area.

The area or sector 268 which then rotates towards the squeegee 200 rotates towards the squeegee 200 from above, as it were. When the floor cleaning device 10 is in operation, the wiping element with the wiping strip 200 and the inlet opening 188 is positioned above a central axis 270 (compare FIG. 18) of the cleaning roller 28 in relation to the vertical axis 152 . Dirty fluid is conveyed from the cleaning roller 28 (separated by the wiping strip 200 from the corresponding fitting) according to the throw-over principle due to the arrangement of the wiping strip 200 and the inlet opening 188 in relation to the height direction 52 above the central axis 270.

In the tank combination 36, the cleaning fluid tank 40 is positioned above the dirty fluid tank 38, i.e. the dirty fluid tank 38 is closer to the installation level 26 than the cleaning fluid tank 40.

A receptacle 272 is formed on the traveling body 14 above the wall 78 (see, for example, FIG. 5). The cleaning liquid tank 40 has a tab 274 which is intended to be immersed in the receptacle 272 .

In principle, the tab 274 can be arranged on a corresponding container, or the tab 274 is designed in such a way that, in principle, it can also hold cleaning liquid.

A sliding guide 276 is arranged on the receptacle 272 and thus on the traveling body 14 and corresponding counter-elements 278 are arranged on the bracket 274 .

A locking device 278 is provided, by means of which the tab 274 can be locked in the receptacle 272 with the traveling body 14 .

The cleaning liquid tank 40 has a top 280 . If the cleaning liquid tank 40 is used on the floor head 12 , this upper side 280 is aligned with an upper side of the floor head 12 .

Accordingly, the tab 274 is recessed towards the top 280 in the direction toward the deployment plane 26 to achieve this flush alignment.

In one exemplary embodiment, an opening 282 is arranged on the tab 274 and a closure element 284 is assigned to it. The opening 282 can be closed via the closure element 284 . The cleaning liquid tank 40 can be filled with cleaning liquid (pure water or pure water with surfactant additive) via the opening 282 .

The cleaning liquid tank 40 has a connection which is adapted to the connection 176 on the cassette 98 . As mentioned above, a valve is assigned in particular to the cleaning liquid tank 40 in order to provide cleaning liquid only when the distributor device 168 is in operation.

The dirty fluid tank 38 (Figures 27 to 38) comprises a tank shell 286 and a tank cap 288. The tank cap 288 sits on the tank shell 286 when the dirty fluid tank 38 is closed. The tank cap 288 can be removed from the tank shell 286.

The tank shell 286 has a tank bottom 290 and a peripheral wall 292 protruding from the tank bottom 290. Between the wall 292 and the tank bottom 290 a receiving space 294 for dirty fluid is formed.

The wall 292 has a first region 296 which is straight and lies parallel to the second chord 68 or on which the second chord 68 lies. It has a second area 298 which ensures that the receiving space 294 is closed all the way round. This second area 298 is circular in order to achieve the circular outer contour 64 .

A receptacle 300 for a roller 302 (FIG. 2) is formed on the tank bottom 290 .

The roller 302 is located on the installation plane 26. The roller 302 is aligned with the support roller 20, in particular in relation to the main direction of travel 24. The roller 302 is also a support roller, which, however, in particular is not pivotable. It can be rotated about an axis parallel to the wheel axle 19 .

A first post 304 and a second post 306 are arranged at a distance from one another on the tank bottom. These posts 304 and 306 project upwardly from the tank bottom 290 .

In the tank cap 288, the posts 304, 306 are each associated with continuous recesses 308a, 308b formed, with a plunging of the corresponding post 304 or 306 is enabled when the tank cap

288 is placed on the tank shell 286 (compare, for example, FIG. 27).

A sealing device 310 is provided, which is arranged circumferentially on the respective post 304, 306 and/or the recess 308a, 308b and ensures a fluid seal between the respective post 304, 306 and the recess 308a, 308b when the tank cap 288 is on the tank shell 286 is put on.

A fastening element 312 is arranged on each of the first post 304 and the second post 306, which is pushed through the corresponding recess 308a, 308b when the tank cover 288 is fixed to the tank shell.

The fastening elements 312 are used to fix the dirty fluid tank 38 to the cleaning fluid tank 40, which has counter-elements for the fastening elements 312 accordingly.

In particular, a hanging fixation of the dirty fluid tank 38 on the cleaning fluid tank 40 is provided.

A sliding guide is implemented via the fastening elements 312 . The dirty fluid tank 38 can be inserted into or removed from the cleaning fluid tank 40 in a sliding direction 314 (FIG. 4). The sliding direction 314 is oriented parallel to the main direction of travel 24 and is oriented in particular transversely (and preferably perpendicularly) to the axis of rotation 94 .

The sliding direction 314 is also oriented transversely and in particular perpendicularly to the insertion/removal direction 124 for the cassette 98 .

A locking device 316 is also provided, via which the dirty fluid tank 38 is connected to the cleaning fluid tank 40 when it is fixed can be locked via the fastening elements 312 and can be locked in particular with respect to the sliding direction 314 .

The locking device 316 includes (at least) one pawl 318 which is coupled to an unlocking button 320 .

The unlocking button 320 is arranged in particular in the center of the tank cap 288 . Furthermore, it is arranged in particular above a channel 322, via which dirty fluid can be coupled from the at least one cleaning roller 28 via the channel 386 of the stripping element 178 into the receiving space 294 of the dirty fluid tank 38.

The removal button 320 and the pawl 318 are arranged above and in particular directly above the channel 322 in relation to the vertical direction 52 (when the dirty fluid tank 38 is seated on the floor head 12 ).

The tank shell 286 has a raised edge 324 which follows the course of the second region 298 of the wall 292 and is formed in particular by the wall 292 .

The raised edge 324 is designed in such a way that it protrudes beyond an uppermost point of the tank cap 288 when it is on the tank shell 286 and, in particular, protrudes beyond the unlocking button 320 .

The raised edge 324 forms a stop element when the dirty fluid tank 38 is inserted into the cleaning fluid tank 40 in the sliding direction 314 (compare, for example, FIG. 4).

For this purpose, a corresponding counter-element 326 is arranged on the cleaning liquid tank 40, which is set back in particular on an outside. When the tank combination 36 is fixed to the floor head 12, the dirty fluid tank 38 is fixed to the cleaning fluid tank 40 then there is a continuous and in particular edge-free transition on the corresponding wall both between the cleaning liquid tank 40 and the dirty fluid tank 38 and between the tank combination 36 and the floor head 12.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, a recess 328 is arranged or formed on the cleaning liquid tank 40, which is assigned to the unlocking button 320 and is positioned such that an operator can access the unlocking button 320 through the recess 328 (cf. FIG. 1).

When the tank combination 36 is fixed to the floor head 12, the tank combination 36 can be removed as a whole, ie as a combination of dirty fluid tank 38 and cleaning fluid tank 40, by appropriate access to the locking device 278 (see FIG. 5).

In principle, however, the dirty fluid tank 38 can also be removed individually from the floor head 12 and the cleaning fluid tank 40 by correspondingly accessing the unlocking button 320, with the cleaning fluid tank 40 remaining on the floor head 12 (see FIG. 4).

The removal or insertion of the cassette 98 at the base head 12 is independent of the "status" of the tank combination 36 or the individual tanks 38 and 40 with respect to the base head 12. The cassette 98 can be removed or inserted when the tank combination 36 is fixed to the bottom head 12, or is detached from it. The cassette 98 can be inserted into or removed from the floorhead 12 when the dirty fluid tank 38 is held relative to the floorhead 12 or not.

A circumferential sealing device 330 is provided between the tank cap 288 and the tank shell 286 . This sealing device 330 is arranged on the tank shell 286 and/or the tank cover 288 . At the in It is arranged on the tank cap 288 in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG.

An abutment 332 for the tank cap 288 is positioned on the tank shell 286 and provides support downwards, ie towards the tank bottom 290 .

In the embodiment shown, the tank cap 288 is detachable and removable as a whole from the tank shell 286 .

An opening 334 with a closure 336 is arranged on the tank cap 288 . The opening 334 can be closed via the closure 336 .

When the closure 336 is open, the dirty fluid tank 38 can be emptied of dirty fluid via the opening 334 .

For example, the tank cover 288 is removed from the tank shell 286 for more thorough cleaning of the dirty fluid tank 38 .

The opening 334 is positioned between, for example, the recess 308b and an outer side 338 of the tank cap 288 and in particular spaced apart from the channel 322 and spaced apart from the pawl 318 or the unlocking button 320 .

The passage 322 on the tank cap 288 has an inlet port 340 and an outlet port 342 . Channel 322 is closed except for inlet port 340 and outlet port 342 . The inlet opening 340 is used for coupling to the stripping element 178 with its outlet opening 190. The outlet opening 342 of the channel 322 is used for coupling dirty fluid into the tank shell 286 and thereby into the receiving space 294 of the tank shell 286. The duct 322 has a duct wall 344 with a duct base 346 and an opposite duct cover 348 .

The channel 322 is positioned at a central portion 350 of the tank cap 288 relative to opposite lateral sides 352a, 352b. The tank cover 288 has a width direction 354 between these opposite lateral sides 352a, 352b, with the dirty fluid tank 38 being fixed to the floor head 12, this width direction 354 being parallel to the axis of rotation 94. It is also transverse and in particular perpendicular to the main direction of travel 24. It is also parallel to the first chord 66 and the second chord 68.

The inlet opening 340 and the outlet opening 342 are offset from one another in relation to the width direction 354 , that is to say they are at a distance in the width direction 354 .

The channel 322 has a direction of longitudinal extent 356 in relation to a central axis (FIG. 30). In relation to this direction of longitudinal extension 356, the channel 322 lies at an acute angle 358 to the direction of width 354 (compare FIG. 30). With respect to the width direction 340, the inlet port 340 is closer to the lateral side 352b than the outlet port 342. The outlet port 342 is closer to the lateral side 352a than the inlet port 340.

The acute angle 358 ranges between 15° and 75°. In particular, the acute angle 358 is greater than or equal to 30°. Furthermore, it is provided in particular that the acute angle 358 is less than or equal to 60°. In a specific embodiment, the acute angle 358 is approximately 45°.

The inlet mouth 340 has a first mouth normal 360 . The outlet opening 342 has a second opening normal 362 . When dirty fluid flows into the channel 322 at the inlet opening 340, a main flow direction 364 is at least approximately parallel to the first opening normal 360.

When dirty fluid flows out of the outlet opening 342 in the channel 322 into the receiving space 294, the corresponding main flow direction 366 (Figure 30) is at least approximately parallel to the second opening normal 362.

The first orifice normal 360 and the second orifice normal 362 are geometric variables of the inlet orifice 340 and the outlet orifice 342.

The first opening normal 360 and the second opening normal 362 are oriented transversely and, for example, perpendicular to one another. The outlet opening 342 faces the tank bottom 290 and is correspondingly oriented with its second opening normal 362 transversely and in particular perpendicularly to the tank bottom 290 .

First opening normal 360 is oriented at least approximately parallel to tank bottom 290 . It can also be oriented at a small, acute angle, in particular less than 45°, to the tank bottom 290 .

The first opening normal 360 and the second opening normal 362 are each oriented transversely and in particular perpendicularly to the axis of rotation 94 when the dirty fluid tank 38 is held on the floor head 12 . They are then correspondingly also oriented transversely and in particular perpendicularly to the first chord 66 or the second side 68 .

In particular, the first opening normal 360 is at an obtuse angle 368 (compare FIG. 30) to the direction of longitudinal extent 356 of the channel 322. The obtuse angle is, for example, of the order of 135°. The second opening normal 362 is transverse and approximately perpendicular to the direction of longitudinal extension 356 of the channel 320.

In one embodiment, the channel floor 346 is inclined at an acute angle 370 to the installation plane 26 . The acute angle 370 is smaller, for example on the order of 10° or 20°. In particular, an angle of the second opening normal 362 to the direction of longitudinal extent 356 differs from the 90° angle by the amount of the acute angle 370.

The inclination of the channel bottom 346 at the acute angle 370 relative to the installation plane 26 towards the outlet opening 342 supports the transport of dirty fluid from the inlet opening 340 to the outlet opening 352 gravitationally.

The channel 322 is arranged such that dirt fluid is directed laterally in the widthwise direction 354 due to the acute angle 358 . Because of the acute angle 370 in the channel 322, debris fluid is also directed downward.

In the area of the inlet opening 340 , the channel has a wall 372 on its channel floor 346 , which wall is located in front of the inlet opening 340 . As a result, a channel basin 374 is formed in the area of the inlet opening 340 .

In the area of the channel basin 374 , the stripping element 178 is connected with its outlet opening 190 to the dirty fluid tank 38 and thereby to the tank cover 288 . The drip edge 226 lies above the channel basin 374. The wall 372 prevents dirty fluid from being able to flow in the direction of the cleaning roller 28 (see FIG. 21). A liquid level sensor device 376 is arranged on the dirty fluid tank 38 . This includes one or more and in particular two liquid level sensors 378. These are arranged in particular on the tank cover 288 (compare FIG. 30).

They are arranged and designed in such a way that they can detect when a specific liquid level has been reached. Specifically, this particular liquid level is aligned with an underside of channel 322 at a corresponding outside of channel bottom 346 (see Figure 30).

The liquid level sensors 378 are particularly located in the area of the lateral side 352a when the shutter 336 is located near the lateral side 352b.

In one embodiment, the liquid level sensor device 376 also forms a presence sensor, which can be used by the control device of the floor cleaning device 10 to detect whether the dirty fluid tank 38 is used on the floor head 12 or not.

For this purpose, for example, a liquid level sensor is assigned a first contact 379a, which is positioned in particular on the upper side of the tank cover 288 (FIG. 29). This first contact 379a is in particular in direct electrically effective contact with a corresponding electrode of the associated liquid level sensor 378 and also forms a connection for the liquid level measurement.

A second contact 379b is also provided on the top of the tank cap 288. FIG. This is electrically connected to the first contact 379a. In particular, an electrical contact strip is arranged on the tank cover 288 with the first contact 379a and 379b. The first contact 379a and the second contact 379b are assigned electrically separate counter-contacts to the bottom head 12 . These are arranged, for example, on the cleaning liquid tank 40 and then correspondingly connected in an electrically conductive manner to the control device, or they can be arranged bypassing the cleaning liquid tank 40 in such a way that there is an electrical connection to the control device.

If the dirty fluid tank 38 is not fixed with respect to the bottom head 12, then the corresponding mating contacts are not electrically connected to each other. When the dirty fluid tank 40 is seated on the bottom head 12, a current or, in particular, a short-circuit current can flow via the contacts 379a, 379b. This can in turn be detected and the presence of the dirty fluid tank 38 on the floor head 12 can thereby be detected with the aid of the liquid level sensor device 376 .

As can be seen from FIG. 32, the inlet opening 340 has a boundary line 380 transverse to the width direction 354. A closest corresponding boundary line 382 of the outlet port 342, which boundary line 382 is also perpendicular to the width direction 354, is spaced from the boundary line 380. In the width direction 354, the inlet port 340 and the outlet port 342 are offset from one another.

In the figures 33 to 35 different views of the dirty fluid tank 38 with liquid filling 384 are indicated. Dirty fluid can be filled to below the channel base 346 or to the bottom of the liquid level sensors 378 . Due to the channel 322 with its oblique arrangement, a sufficiently high storage volume for the receiving space 294 is achieved in all positions of the tank. This is explained below with reference to FIGS. 36 to 38.

FIG. 32 shows a coordinate system with X and Y axes and a Z axis perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. In Fig. 36(a), a state is shown in which the dirty fluid tank 38 is not aligned parallel to the Y-direction with respect to the width direction 154. Fluid 384 is concentrated on one side. There is also a high intake volume here, since due to the oblique arrangement of the channel in relation to the direction of longitudinal extent 356 it cannot run out because, in particular, the outlet opening 342 is not reached.

In an opposite position as shown in FIG. 36(b), since the outlet port 342 is offset from the inlet port 340 in the width direction 354, leakage is also effectively prevented.

A liquid volume 384 is indicated in FIGS. 37(a) and (b) when there is an inclination of the X-axis according to FIG. 32 to the installation plane 26 . Here, too, you get good leakage protection for the reasons mentioned.

In FIG. 38, a liquid level 384 is indicated on the underside of the tank cover 288, which is at its maximum. The channel bottom 346 is then reached and the liquid level sensors 378 respond accordingly and a warning message is generated.

In the possible positions of the liquid tank 38, despite a sufficiently high capacity, the escape of dirty fluid from the channel 322 "backward" is effectively prevented due to the corresponding position of the channel 322.

The floor cleaning device 10 has been described as a self-propelled and self-steering floor cleaning device 10 .

Aspects of the invention, in particular with regard to the cassette 98, the design of the dirty fluid tank 38 with the channel 322 on the tank cover 288 and the design of the stripping element 178 can also be used alone or in combination with a hand-held floor cleaning device 386 (Figure 39). be used. This includes a base head 388 to which a rod device 390 is articulated. The rod device 390 serves to guide the floor head 388 over a floor to be cleaned, with an operator standing on the floor and carrying out the guidance over the rod device 390 while standing.

The bottom head 388 is provided with a cassette corresponding to the cassette 98. FIG.

Alternatively or additionally, it is provided with a dirty fluid tank corresponding to the dirty fluid tank 38 with the channel 322 .

A stripping element corresponding to stripping element 178 may be provided.

Basically, a travel drive of the floor head 288 can be provided, or a drive movement of the floor head 388 takes place via the cleaning roller 28 during its rotation about the axis of rotation 94.

Exemplary embodiments were described in connection with the figures, in which a single cassette 98 is provided, which holds a single cleaning roller 28 .

It is also possible that a cassette corresponding to the cassette 98 holds a plurality of cleaning rollers and, for example, two cleaning rollers.

It is also possible for a plurality of cassettes corresponding to the cassette 98 to be provided on a corresponding floor head of the floor cleaning device, with a corresponding cassette 98 then holding one or more cleaning rollers. In the case of a plurality of cassettes, the cassettes can be directly adjacent, or the cassettes can be spaced apart, with a dirty fluid tank being located in particular between spaced-apart cassettes. Furthermore, the floor cleaning device has been described in connection with the drawings with a cleaning roller which has a wet wiping function. In principle, it is also possible for a cleaning roller to be arranged on a cassette, for example, which only has a sweeping function and, in particular, has bristles. The floor cleaning device can then basically be designed as a pure sweeping device and a cleaning liquid tank is not necessary. It is also possible for the floor cleaning device to have its own cleaning roller with a sweeping function and a cleaning roller with a wet wiping function.

Reference List

floor cleaning device

floorhead

Driving body Floor to be cleaned

Wheels a wheel b wheel

wheel axle

support roller

axis of rotation

axis

main direction of travel

installation level

cleaning roller

navigation device

front end

rear end

tank combination

dirt fluid tank

cleaning fluid tank

bottom

top

wall

shock body

center

height direction

cliff sensor

battery compartment

Lid

sensor Charging contact outer contour first chord second chord receiving shaft longitudinal extension cover wall wall wall opening first lateral side second lateral side side wall opening

Drive motor Drive shaft Rotation axis First pivot bearing Cassette cover

Locking device Unlocking button Counter-element Second pivot bearing Supporting structure Wall Longitudinal extension Guide device Counter-guide device Grooves Strip

Direction of insertion/removal of holding device First holding element

Second holding element

ring element

opening

carrier

cleaning medium (trimming)

opening

First immersion element

support element

First part

Second part

Second immersion element

inner space

shift direction

spring device

Recording

positive locking device

receiving element

immersion opening

immersion element

distribution device

distribution channel

canal wall

opening

Connection

scraper element

control device

Body

channel setup

channel

entrance mouth

exit mouth

pivot axis First stub shaft Second stub shafta First hook elementb Second hook element Scraper strip Bottom Top Support area Spring device Support element Sloping surface Width direction First width Second width Center plane Triangular shape Triangular tip Drip edge First area Second area Fork point Obtuse angle Acute angle Third area Impact surface Channel cover Channel floor Acute angle

Hair Comb Pin

Direction of rotation sweeping device ' sweeping device Sweeping device sweeping edge teeth

bottom

guide surface

Distance

Tooth

Area

central axis

Recording

tab

sliding guide

Locking device top

Opening of the closure element of the tank shell

Tank cap Tank bottom Wall Accommodating space First area Second area

Recording

role

First post Second post a recess b recess seal

Fastening element sliding device locking device

pawl

unlock button

channel

raised edge

counter element

recess

sealing device

Attachment

opening

closure

outside

inlet mouth

outlet mouth

canal wall

channel bottom

duct ceiling

Mid-section a Lateral side b Lateral side

latitude direction

direction of longitudinal extent

acute angle

First muzzle standards

Second muzzle normal

main flow direction

obtuse angle

acute angle

wall

canal basin

liquid level sensor device

liquid level sensor a First electrical contactb Second electrical contact Boundary line Boundary line Fluid Floor cleaning device Floor head Bar device

Claims

Claims Floor cleaning device, comprising a floor head (12; 388), at least one cleaning roller (28) which is arranged on the floor head (12; 388) and rotates about an axis of rotation (94) driven by a drive motor (90) during operation of the floor cleaning device, at least one scraping element (178) for scraping dirty fluid from the at least one cleaning roller (28), and a dirty fluid tank (38) with a tank shell (286) and a tank cover (288), the tank cover (288) being openable on the tank shell (286) is seated, and wherein the dirty fluid tank (38) is arranged detachably on the bottom head (12; 388), characterized in that on the tank cover (288) there is a channel (322) with an inlet opening (340) and an outlet opening (342) is arranged, wherein the inlet port (340) is used for coupling dirty fluid and wherein the outlet port (342) opens into the tank shell (286). Floor cleaning device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the channel (322) outside the inlet opening (340) and the outlet opening (342) is closed in a fluid-tight manner. Floor cleaning device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the channel (322) is arranged in a central region (350) of the tank cover (288) in relation to a width direction (354) of the tank cover (288), in particular with at least one of the following:

- the width direction (354) extends between opposite lateral sides (352a, 352b) of the tank lid (288); when the dirty fluid tank (38) is arranged on the floor head (12; 388), the width direction (354) is at least approximately parallel to the axis of rotation (94); - When the dirty fluid tank (38) is arranged on the floor head (12; 388), the width direction (354) is transverse and in particular perpendicular to a main travel direction (24) of the floor head (12; 388) on a floor (16) to be cleaned. Floor-cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inlet opening (340) and the outlet opening (342) are arranged offset relative to one another in relation to a width direction (354). Floor cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the channel (322) is at an acute angle (358) to a width direction (354) of the tank cover (288), the inlet opening (340) being closer to the width direction (354). a first lateral side (352a) of the tank cap (288) than an opposite second lateral side (352b), and wherein the outlet port (342) is closer to the second lateral side (352b) than to the first lateral side (352a) . Floor cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a first opening normal (360) of the inlet opening (340) and a second opening normal (362) of the outlet opening (342) are transverse and in particular perpendicular to one another, in particular with at least one of the following:

- The first orifice normal (360) is oriented parallel or at an acute angle of less than 45° to a bottom (290) of the tank shell (286);

- The second orifice normal (362) is oriented transversely and in particular perpendicularly to a bottom (290) of the tank shell (286); - The first opening normal (360) and/or the second opening normal (362) are oriented transversely and in particular perpendicularly to the axis of rotation (94);

- The first muzzle normal (360) is oriented parallel or at an acute angle of less than 45° to a main travel direction (24) of the bottom head (12);

- The channel (322) has a longitudinal extension axis (356) between the inlet opening (340) and the outlet opening (342), and the first opening normal (360) lies at an obtuse angle (368) to the longitudinal extension axis (356);

- The channel (322) has a longitudinal extension axis (356) between the inlet opening (340) and the outlet opening (342), and the second opening normal (362) is transverse and in particular perpendicular to the longitudinal extension axis (356);

- The second opening normal (362) is oriented transversely and in particular perpendicularly to an installation plane (26) of the floor cleaning device. Floor cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the channel (322) has a channel base (346) which extends from the inlet opening (340) to the outlet opening (342) in relation to an installation level (26) of the floor head (12). inclined at an acute angle (37°). Floor cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the area of the inlet opening (340) a wall (372) is arranged on a channel bottom (346) and on the channel (322) in the area of the inlet opening (340) a channel basin (374) is formed. Floor cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a circumferential seal (330) for fluid-tight sealing between the tank shell (286) and the tank lid (288) is arranged on the edge of the tank lid (288) and/or on the tank shell (286). . Floor cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two spaced-apart posts (304, 306) are arranged on the tank shell (286) and in particular on a bottom (290) of the tank shell (286), via which the dirty fluid tank (38 ) with respect to the floor head (12) can be fixed and in particular can be fixed hanging. Floor cleaning device according to claim 10, characterized by at least one of the following:

- The tank cap (288) has in each case a post (304; 306) associated with a continuous recess (308a; 308b) for plunging through the respective post (304; 306);

- On the tank shell (286) and/or the respective post (304; 306) sits a circumferential seal (310) for fluid-tight sealing between the tank cover (288) and the respective immersed post (304; 306);

- On a respective post (304; 306), a fastening element (312) for holding the dirty fluid tank (38) with respect to the floor head (12) and in particular for hanging is provided, in particular on the front side; - A fastening element (312) of the post is designed as a sliding guide and a sliding introduction into a corresponding counter-element is provided, with in particular a sliding direction (314) being transverse to an axis of rotation (94) of the at least one cleaning roller (28);

- The dirty fluid tank (38) is held hanging directly on the floor head (12; 388) or hanging on a cleaning liquid tank (40), the cleaning liquid tank (40) being fixed to the floor head (12) and in particular removable is fixable. Floor cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a locking device (316) for locking the fixing of the dirty fluid tank (38) directly to the floor head (12) is provided on the dirty fluid tank (38) and in particular on the tank cover (288). or is arranged on a cleaning liquid tank (40). Floor cleaning device according to claim 12, characterized by at least one of the following:

- The locking device (316) comprises an unlocking button (320) and at least one pawl (318), wherein the unlocking button (320) acts on the at least one pawl (318);

- The unlocking button (320) and/or the at least one pawl (318) are arranged above and in particular directly above the channel (322) in relation to a vertical axis;

- The tank cover (288) and/or a cleaning fluid tank (40) on which the dirty fluid tank (38) is held has a recess (328) for access to the unlocking button (320) by an operator. Floor-cleaning appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one opening (334) is arranged on the tank cover (288) and is closed by an openable tab (336). Floor cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a liquid level sensor device (376) is arranged on the dirt fluid tank (38). Floor cleaning device according to Claim 15, characterized in that the liquid level sensor device (376) has one or more liquid level sensors (378) which are fixed to the tank cover (288). Floor cleaning device according to Claim 15 or 16, characterized by at least one of the following: the liquid level sensor device (376) is arranged and/or designed in such a way that reaching a specific liquid level in the dirty fluid tank (38) can be detected, with the specific Level is related to a bottom of the channel (322) in the tank cap (288); the liquid level sensor device (376) is arranged and/or designed in such a way that it can be used to detect the presence/absence of the dirty fluid tank (38) on the bottom head (12). Floor cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tank cover (288) or the tank shell (286) has a raised edge (324) on an outside, in particular with at least one of the following:

- an unlocking button (320) is arranged behind the raised edge (324) and does not protrude to an outside;

- The raised edge (324) serves as a stop element when inserting the dirty fluid tank (38) on the floor head (12) and/or on a cleaning fluid tank (40). Floor cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one of the following:

- Exactly one channel (322) with the inlet opening (340) and the outlet opening (342) is arranged on the tank cover (288);

- the channel (322) on the tank cap (288) has a length of at least 1 cm between the inlet port (340) and the outlet port (342);

- an acute angle (358), at which the channel (322) is arranged in relation to a width direction (354), is in the range between 15° and 75° and in particular in the range greater than or equal to 30° and in particular in the range less than or equal to 60 °;

- The tank cap (288) is arranged detachably on the tank shell (286). Floor cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a channel device (184) with an inlet opening (188) and an outlet opening (190) is arranged on the at least one stripping element (178), the inlet opening (188) of the at least one cleaning roller ( 28) and the outlet port (190) is coupled to the inlet port (340) of the channel (322) in the tank cap (288). Floor cleaning device according to Claim 20, characterized in that the outlet opening (190) of the channel device (184) is positioned above a channel basin (374) of the channel (322) of the tank cover (288) in relation to a height axis. Floor cleaning device according to Claim 20 or 21, characterized in that the outlet opening (190) of the channel device (184) of the at least one scraping element (178) is assigned a drip edge (226), which in particular is above a channel basin (374) of the channel (322) of the Tank cap (288) is positioned. Floor cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a design as a self-propelled and self-steering floor cleaning device (10), in particular with a driving body (14) which forms the floor head (12). Floor cleaning device according to Claim 23, characterized in that a travel drive for the floor cleaning device (10) and a navigation device (30) for the floor cleaning device (10) are arranged on the driving body (14). Floor cleaning device according to one of Claims 1 to 22, characterized in that a rod device (390) is arranged on the floor head (388), which is used for guiding the floor cleaning device (10) by an operator, and that the floor cleaning device can be operated by a standing operator . Floor cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a cleaning liquid tank (40) and an application device for moistening a floor (16) to be cleaned and/or for moistening the at least one cleaning roller (28) with cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid tank (40) . Floor cleaning device according to Claim 26, characterized in that the cleaning liquid tank (40) and the dirty fluid tank (38) form a tank combination (36), in particular with at least one of the following:

- The tank combination (36) can be fixed as a whole to the base head (12) and can be removed from the base head (12);

- When the tank combination (36) is fixed to the floor head (12), the dirty fluid tank (38) can be removed or inserted individually from the floor head (12) with the cleaning liquid tank (40) fixed thereto.