BE1030044B1 - vacuum robot - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a robotic vacuum cleaner (1) for cleaning and caring for floor surfaces (2), with a mobile housing (3) and a fan arranged in the housing (3) for generating a negative pressure for picking up dust by means of an air flow, with a separating system ( 4) for cleaning dust from the air taken in and with a dust collection container (5) for collecting separated dust, an extendable carrying handle (6) being arranged on the housing (3).

Description

Description

vacuum robot

The invention relates to a robotic vacuum cleaner for cleaning and caring for floor surfaces, having a mobile housing and a fan arranged in the housing for generating a negative pressure for picking up dust by means of an air flow, with a

Separation system for cleaning the air taken in from dust and with a

Dust collection container for collecting separated dust.

Robot vacuums are used in private households and businesses to clean surfaces such as textile floor coverings and smooth floors. A floor nozzle of the vacuum robot is moved independently on a floor surface to pick up dust.

Robot vacuums are known from the prior art, which

Housing have fold-out carrying handle. These vacuum robots have the disadvantage that the center of gravity of the vacuum robot must be coordinated with the joint of the fold-out carrying handle. Since this center of gravity could change depending on the filling level of the ı5 dust collector, the position of the dust collector is for

Adjustment of the center of gravity to the joint of the fold-out carrying handle is very limited. The hinged, fold-out carrying handles on the top of the

cases also have the disadvantage that the broad side of the case can be stretched when carrying the

Vacuum cleaner regularly collides with the thigh of the user carrying it. Just as unergonomic are formed in the housing

Recessed grips, which should be gripped in order to carry the vacuum robot. Either these recessed grips are so small that only the fingertips of the user carrying them are accommodated in the recessed grip, or the recessed grips take up a great deal of space.

The invention therefore faces the problem of specifying an improved vacuum robot.

In particular, a convenient way should be created to move the housing of the

Carry the vacuum robot up or down the stairs easily and safely when changing living levels.

According to the invention, this problem is solved by a vacuum cleaner with the features of

Patent claim 1 solved. Because an extendable carrying handle is arranged on the housing, a convenient and space-saving solution can be created with which the housing of the vacuum robot can be carried easily and safely over the stairs when changing living levels in a multi-storey household. The carrying handle, which can be pulled out of the housing, enables a secure grip of the

vacuum robot when being carried by the user. The carrying handle can be accommodated in the housing of the vacuum robot to save space. To carry it, the carrying handle can simply be pulled out of the housing so that it can be comfortably gripped, making it easier to carry the vacuum cleaner up stairs between several people

Living levels facilitated.

The floor surface can be covered by a textile floor covering such as a carpet or carpet

Carpet or through a hard floor such. B. a wooden parquet, laminate or a

PVC flooring to be formed.

The vacuum robot has a fan for generating a negative pressure through which the

Dust and dirt from the floor nozzle guided over a floor surface to be cleaned

takes up floor space. For this purpose, the floor nozzle is moved over the floor surface in the direction of travel of the vacuum robot. As a result, the floor nozzle slides over the one to be cleaned

floor space. The underside of the floor nozzle glides over the carpet, particularly with long-pile carpets, while the underside of smooth floors floats at a distance over these ı5 floor surfaces. So that the cleaning and care of the floor covering can be carried out as effectively as possible, the suction mouth of the floor nozzle is elongated and runs essentially transversely to the direction of travel. Elongated means in this

Connection that the preferably substantially rectangular suction mouth has a greater length transverse to the direction of travel than width in the direction of travel. The suction mouth is preferably between 12 and 25 cm long transversely to the direction of travel.

Advantageous refinements and developments of the invention result from the dependent claims. It should be pointed out that the features listed individually in the claims can also be combined with one another in any technologically meaningful manner and thus show further refinements of the invention.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the carrying handle is arranged in a retracted basic position in a recessed grip of the housing and is moved out of the recessed grip of the housing in an extended carrying position. In the retracted basic position, the carrying handle can be removed while the vacuum cleaner is in operation

vacuum robot when cleaning and maintaining the floor surfaces safely and space-saving in the

recessed grip can be stored. After pulling the carrying handle out of the recessed grip, the carrying handle can be easily grasped with the hand in the carrying position, so that manual movement of the vacuum robot between two living levels, for example, is significantly easier.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention is that on the carrying handle at least one

Spring element is arranged, which is designed to counter the spring force of the

spring element in the carrying position to automatically move the carrying handle pulled out back into the basic position by means of spring force. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the handle is formed by a spring element. In this case, a spring element is encased in a handle made of fabric, leather and/or plastic for improved handling and arranged in the recessed grip. The carrying handle can easily be moved back to the basic position using the spring element. Thus, the carrying handle is automatically protected in the recessed grip of the housing, provided that it is not used to carry the

vacuum robot is required. The carrying handle simply slides out after carrying

Carrying position by means of the spring force caused by the spring element back to the basic position in the recessed grip. Several spring elements can also be provided, which are set up to jointly move the carrying handle, which is pulled out against the spring force of the spring elements in the carrying position, back into the basic position by means of spring force.

A preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the housing of the vacuum robot has a greater width on the floor than the height of the floor, with the

Carrying handle is arranged on a broad side of the housing. With the arrangement of

Carrying handle on the broad side of the housing makes it easier to remove the robot vacuum from the

wear by the user, because the greater width of the housing can

Thighs are guided, while the lower height of the housing prevents the vacuum robot from hitting the thighs of the user carrying it when being carried manually. For this purpose, the carrying handle advantageously runs along the broad side around the housing of the vacuum robot.

The development of the invention is particularly advantageous in that the carrying handle is set up to be pulled out of the housing in width and the vacuum robot is set up to be carried by the carrying handle with the broad side facing up. By the handle is pulled translationally in width from the housing, the

Vacuum robots are easily detected on the handle to tilt the housing of the vacuum robot in a carrying position in which the broad side is facing up. As a result, the larger width of the housing can be guided along the thigh, while the lower height of the housing allows the vacuum robot to be carried close to the body, without the vacuum robot having the broad side against the thigh of the wearer

user or the carrying user proposes. In addition, the carrying handle is so am

Vacuum robot arranged that when the user reaches under the handle from below, the

Bottom of the vacuum robot with the dirt-covered suction mouth from the body of the

User is turned away. This is the case when the user holds the vacuum robot in the ergonomic carrying position of the arm, in which the palms of the hands to the

The user's thighs are aligned.

Another advantage is the embodiment of the invention that the dust collector is a

Has suction for receiving separated dust, wherein the

Intake opening can be closed via a two-part closure flap. The suction opening can be closed to save space using the two-part closure flap, so that no separated dust escapes from the vacuum robot when you carry it

dust collector outlet. The division of the closure flap allows for smaller ones

To use flap parts, so that the pivoting range of the flap parts can be smaller than with a continuous closure flap. With the closure of the suction opening via the closure flap, no separated dust falls when carrying the vacuum robot

Via the floor nozzle from the vacuum robot.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the closure flap has a horizontally pivotable upper flap part on an upper edge of the suction opening and a horizontally pivotable lower flap part on a lower edge of the suction opening. The horizontally pivoting upper part of the flap and the horizontally pivoting ı5 lower part of the flap jointly close the suction opening of the dust collection container, so that no separated dust falls out of the dust collection container via the floor nozzle when the vacuum robot is being carried. The upper part of the flap folds in front of the upper edge

intake opening, while the lower part of the flap folds from the lower edge in front of the intake opening. This allows the intake opening to be closed easily and to save space.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that

Flap shell is set up to, from the negative pressure of the fan in a

Open position, in which the suction opening is open, to be shifted, with the

Flap shell is set up to automatically go into a closed position when the fan is deactivated and to close the suction opening. With the

When the suction function is switched off, the top part of the flap simply falls from the top edge in front of the

intake opening and preferably closes it in half. The other half of the suction opening is closed by the lower part of the flap as soon as the vacuum robot is lifted by the handle. As a result, the lower part of the flap falls onto the upper part of the flap and the

Intake opening is closed by both flap parts of the closure flap. The two flap parts are advantageously set up by gravity in the

To fall closed position to close the suction port together.

A preferred embodiment of the invention provides that a parting line between the

Flap upper part and the flap lower part is provided, which is angled to a

perpendicular between the upper edge and the lower edge of the intake opening. The angled parting line causes the lower part of the flap to be attached to the closed one

Flap top can support. This creates a particularly tight seal

Intake opening through the two pivotable by gravity in the closed position

valve parts reached. The angled parting line on the flap shell forms a to

Pivoting range of the lower part of the flap open chamfer, so that the lower part of the flap rests against this chamfer when pivoting into the closed position after the upper part of the flap has already been pivoted in front of the suction opening by deactivating the blower.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention is that the lower edge of the suction opening

Having a projection into the dust collector, the projection being designed to retain dust that has been picked up in the dust collector when the robotic vacuum cleaner is tilted from a driving position into a carrying position by lifting the carrying handle. The

The protrusion on the lower edge of the intake opening prevents fine dust from falling onto the flap parts of the closing flap.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention result from the following description and from the drawings. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown purely schematically in the following drawings and are described in more detail below. Corresponding objects or elements are provided with the same reference symbols in all figures. It shows

FIG. 1 Robotic vacuum cleaner according to the invention in the basic position and carrying position,

Figure 2 housing with dust collector,

Figure 3 back of recessed grip,

Figure 4 detailed view of spring element,

Figure 5 further detailed view of spring element,

Figure 6 Detailed view of attachment of carrying handle,

Figure 7 further detailed view of attachment of carrying handle,

figure 8 carrying handle,

Figure 9 Detailed view of the closure flap,

Figure 10 further detailed view of the closure flap,

Figure 11 further detailed view of the closure flap,

Figure 12 sectional view through the closure flap,

Figure 13 sectional view through dust collection container,

Figure 14 further sectional view through dust collection container,

Figure 15 storage areas of the flap parts and

FIG. 16 further sectional view through the closure flap.

A vacuum robot according to the invention, denoted by reference numeral 1 in the figures, is shown purely schematically. The representation according to FIG. 1 shows two robotic vacuum cleaners 1 for

Cleaning and care of floor surfaces 2 each with a mobile housing 3. In the

Housing 3 is a fan, not shown, for generating a negative pressure

Collection of dust arranged by means of an air flow. Also arranged in the housing 3 is a separating system 4 (FIGS. 13, 14) for cleaning dust from the air taken in, and a dust collection container 5 (FIGS. 13, 14) for receiving the separated dust. An extendable carrying handle 6 is advantageously arranged on the housing 3 . This carrying handle 6 provides a convenient and space-saving solution with which the housing 3 of the vacuum robot 1 can be easily and safely carried 100 over the steps when changing living levels in a multi-storey household. While the vacuum robot 1 on the left side of Figure 1 on the

Floor surface 2 for cleaning and care in a basic position or driving position of the

Vacuum robot 1 is shown, the right vacuum robot 1 is in a carrying position. In this wearing position, the vacuum robot 1 is held by the user 18 or the user 18 on the

Carrying handle 6 has been gripped and lifted from the bottom surface 2. In this representation ı5 it can also be seen that the carrying handle 6 is in a retracted basic position of the

Carrying handle 6 is arranged in a recessed grip 7 (FIG. 2) of the housing 3 and is moved out of the recessed grip 7 (FIG. 2) of the housing 3 in an extended carrying position of the carrying handle 6 . The recessed grip 7 (Fig. 2) is used to ensure that the user 18 or the

User 18 can easily reach under the carrying handle 6. For this purpose, the recessed grip 7 (Fig. 2) preferably extends along the housing 3 to the floor surface 2. In the retracted basic position of the carrying handle 6 shown on the left, this does not interfere with the cleaning and care of the floor surfaces 2 and 2 during the suction operation of the vacuum robot 1 stored safely and in a space-saving manner in the recessed grip 7 (Fig. 2). The housing 3 of the robotic vacuum cleaner 1 has a greater width B on the bottom surface 2 than the height H from the bottom surface 2 , as is indicated on the robotic vacuum cleaner 1 on the left. The carrying handle 6 is in turn arranged on a broad side 9 of the housing 3 . As a result, the greater width B of the housing 3 can be guided along the thigh 19, while the lower height H of the housing 3 allows the vacuum robot 1 to be carried close to the body without the vacuum robot having to

Broad side 9 against the thigh 19 of the carrying user 18 or the carrying

User 18 beats. The carrying handle 6 advantageously runs along the broad side 9 around the housing 3 of the vacuum robot 1, as can also be seen in FIG. With that he can

Robotic vacuum cleaner 1, as shown on the right-hand side of FIG. 1, can be carried very easily on the handle 6 with the broad side 9 facing up. In addition, the carrying handle 6 is designed to be easily pulled out of the housing 3 in width B.

FIG. 2 shows a detail of the housing 3 of the robotic vacuum cleaner 1 according to FIG. 1 with a dust collection container 5 indicated. It can be seen that the separated dust escapes from the suction opening 10 of the dust collection container 5 without further measures if the vacuum robot 1 is held on the pull-out carrying handle 6 with the broad side 9 of the

Housing 3 is carried up. In order to solve this problem, further measures are explained in more detail below.

First, however, the recessed grip 7 of the housing, shown from the rear in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the carrying handle 6 has slotted eyelets 20 which are displaceably mounted on the housing 3 and which allow the carrying handle 6 to be pulled out of the basic position into the carrying position. For this purpose, the slotted eyelets 20 engage through recesses 21 on the side of the recessed grip 7 in the housing 3 and are there on the

Inside 22 stored. Also formed on the inside 22 of the housing 3 are pull-out stops 23 projecting perpendicularly inward. At this excerpt stops 23 are

Slotted eyelets 20 of the carrying handle 6 slidably mounted.

Figures 4 and 5 show an embodiment in which two spring elements 8 are arranged on the handle 6, which are adapted to the against the spring force of

Spring elements 8 in the carrying position pulled-out carrying handle 6 together automatically by means of spring force to move back to the basic position.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show detailed views of the fastenings of the carrying handle 6 of a further embodiment. Here, the spring element arranged on the carrying handle 6 is formed by a spring steel sheet in the carrying handle 6 itself. This spring element is preferably encapsulated as an insert with elastic plastic. The insert is advantageously set up to automatically move the carrying handle 6, which is pulled out against the spring force in the carrying position, back into the basic position by means of spring force.

FIG. 8 shows the carrying handle 8 again in an individual view. Here are the ones

Ends of the carrying handle 6 arranged slotted eyelets 20 to recognize, with which the

Carrying handle 3 is attached to the housing 3 (Fig. 3).

In order to solve the problem that separated dust comes out of the suction port 10 of the

Dust collection container 5 exits is provided at the suction port 10 a

Closing flap 11 to be arranged. This closure flap 11 is in Figure 9 in one

Detail view shown. In the robot vacuum cleaner 1 described, the suction opening 10 can preferably be closed via a two-part closure flap 11 . About this two-part

Closing flap 11 allows the intake opening 10 to be closed in a space-saving manner, as will be explained in more detail below. With the closure of the intake port 10 occurs when

Carrying the vacuum robot 1 no separated dust from the dust collection container 5 from. The multi-part closure flap 11 has a horizontally pivotable

Flap upper part 12 on an upper edge 13 of the suction opening 10 and a horizontally pivotable lower flap part 14 on a lower edge 15 of the suction opening 10 .

In FIG. 9, both flap parts 12, 14 of the closure flap 11 are shown pivoted open, so that the suction opening 10 is exposed. In suction mode, dust can get over the

Suction opening 10 are included in the collection container 5.

FIG. 10 shows the flap top part 12 of the closure flap 11 closed. In this shown closed position, the horizontally aligned upper flap part 12 is at a

Deactivation of the fan automatically over to close the suction port 10 partially. On the other hand, the upper flap part 12 is also automatically displaced by the negative pressure of the blower into an open position in which the suction opening 10 is open.

The other half of the suction opening 10, as can be seen in FIG

Lower flap part 14 is closed as soon as the robotic vacuum cleaner 1 is lifted by the carrying handle 6, as can be seen on the right-hand side of FIG. The horizontally aligned falls

Lower flap part 14 on the upper flap part 12 and the suction opening 10 is of both

Flap parts 12, 14 of the closure flap 11 closed together. The two

Flap parts 12, 14 advantageously simply fall into the position shown by gravity

closed position.

FIG. 12 shows a sectional view through the closure flap 11, the flap parts 12, 14 closing the suction opening 10 together, as can be seen in FIG. The

The lower edge 15 of the suction opening 10 has a projection 17 into the dust collection container 5 . This projection 17 serves the recorded dust in the

hold back the dust collection container 5 when the robotic vacuum cleaner 1 moves out of a driving position or

Basic position by lifting the handle 6 (Fig. 1) is inclined into a carrying position. In the sectional view according to FIG. 12 it can be seen that a parting plane 16 is formed between the upper flap part 12 and the lower flap part 14 of the closure flap 11 .

This parting plane 16 runs at an angle to a perpendicular L between the upper edge 13 and the lower edge 15 of the suction opening 10. The angled parting plane 16 means that the lower part 14 of the flap can be supported on the upper part 12 of the closed flap. In this way, a particularly tight closure of the intake opening 10 is achieved by the two-part closure flap 11 . At the flap shell 12 forms the angled

Parting plane 16 has a chamfer open to the pivoting area of the lower flap part 14, so that the lower flap part 14 can rest against this chamfer when it is pivoted into the closed position, after the upper flap part 12 has already been damaged by the deactivation of the

fan was pivoted in front of the suction opening 10, as can also be seen in FIG.

FIG. 13 shows a sectional view through the dust collection container 5

Closing flap 11 emerges. In the basic position of the vacuum robot 1 on the floor surface 2 and when the fan is deactivated, the flap top part 12 of the closure flap 11 falls automatically in front of the suction opening 10 of the dust collection container 5. The two-part

Closure flap 11 allows smaller flap parts 12, 14 to be used, so that the

Pivoting range of the flap parts 12, 14 can be smaller than with a continuous

closure flap. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the separating system 4 is not removed from the closure flap 11, in particular not from the suction operation, in this way

Flap upper part 12 covered, so that the dust can be effectively separated.

FIG. 14 shows the dust collection container 5 in the carrying position of the vacuum robot 1 (FIG. 1). Here falls the lower flap part 14 when lifting the vacuum robot 1 (Fig. 1) on the carrying handle 6 by gravity on the upper flap part 12 and the suction opening 10 is of both

Flap parts 12, 14 of the closure flap 11 closed together.

FIG. 15 shows the bearing areas 24 of the flap parts 12, 14, which can already be seen from FIGS. 9 to 11, in a side view. The flap parts 12, 14 are in the

Dust collector 5 stored in slots, so that even with strong

Dirt remain easily pivoted.

FIG. 16 shows a further sectional view through a flap part 12, 14 of the closure flap 11. Here it can be seen that the edge areas 25 of the flap parts 12, 14 are thinned to ensure a secure closing of the even with heavy soiling

Closure flap 11 to allow. The edge regions 25 of the flap parts 12, 14 have an oblique outer geometry compared to the intake port 10, so that at a

Blockage, for example, by fine dust between the outer geometry 25 and the

Intake opening 10 of the dust collector 5 already sets a larger gap image after a small opening angle and the closure flap 11 opens more easily as a result.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment. Further

Modifications are possible without departing from the basic idea.

List of reference symbols: 1 robotic vacuum cleaner 2 floor surfaces 3 housing 4 separation system 5 dust collection container

6 carrying handle 7 recessed grip 8 spring element 9 broad side

Intake opening 11 closure flap 12 flap top 13 top edge 14 flap bottom 10 15 bottom edge 16 parting line 17 projection 18 user 19 thigh

Slotted eyelets 21 Recesses 22 Inside 23 Pull-out stops 24 Storage area 20 25 Edge area

B width

H height

L plumb lines

Claims (10)

patent claims 1. Robotic vacuum cleaner (1) for cleaning and maintaining floor surfaces (2) with a mobile housing (3) and a fan arranged in the housing (3) for generating a negative pressure for picking up dust by means of an air flow, with a separating system (4) for cleaning dust from the air taken in and having a dust collection container (5) for collecting separated dust, characterized in that an extendable carrying handle (6) is arranged on the housing (3). 2. Robotic vacuum cleaner (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrying handle (6) is arranged in a retracted basic position in a recessed grip (7) of the housing (3) and in an extended carrying position out of the recessed grip (7) of the housing ( 3) moved out. 3. Robotic vacuum cleaner (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one spring element (8) is arranged on the carrying handle (6), which is set up to hold the carrying handle (6) pulled out against the spring force of the spring element (8) in the carrying position. to be automatically moved back to the basic position by means of spring force. 4. Robotic vacuum cleaner (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (3) of the robotic vacuum cleaner (1) on the bottom surface (2) has a greater width (B) than height (H) from the bottom surface (2). , wherein the carrying handle (6) is arranged on a broad side (9) of the housing (3). 5. robotic vacuum cleaner (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the carrying handle (6) is adapted to be pulled out of the housing (3) in width (B) and the robotic vacuum cleaner (1) is adapted to be used with the Broad side (9) to be worn up on the handle (6). 6. Robotic vacuum cleaner (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dust collection container (5) has a suction opening (10) for receiving separated dust, the suction opening (10) being closable via a two-part closure flap (11). 7. Robotic vacuum cleaner (1) according to Claim 8, characterized in that the closure flap (11) has a horizontally pivotable upper flap part (12) on an upper edge (13) of the suction opening (10) and a horizontally pivotable lower flap part (14) on a lower edge (15 ) of the intake opening (10). 8. Robotic vacuum cleaner (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the upper flap part (12) is set up to be displaced by the negative pressure of the blower into an open position in which the suction opening (10) is open, the upper flap part ( 12) is set up to automatically switch to a closed position and to close the suction opening (10) when the fan is deactivated. 9. Robotic vacuum cleaner (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that a parting plane (16) is provided between the upper flap part (12) and the lower flap part (14), which is angled to a vertical (L) between the upper edge (13) and the lower edge (15) of the suction opening (10). 10. Robotic vacuum cleaner (1) according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the lower edge (15) of the suction opening (10) has a projection (17) into the dust collection container (5), the projection (17) being designed for this purpose , retained dust in the dust collection container (5) when the robotic vacuum cleaner (1) is tilted from a driving position to a carrying position.