CN115607062A

CN115607062A - Surface cleaning machine

Info

Publication number: CN115607062A
Application number: CN202110787642.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 卞庄
Original assignee: Suzhou EUP Electric Co Ltd
Current assignee: Suzhou EUP Electric Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-07-13
Filing date: 2021-07-13
Publication date: 2023-01-17

Abstract

The invention relates to a surface cleaning machine comprising a surface cleaning head adapted to be moved over a surface to be cleaned and having a cleaning liquid dispenser, a cleaning member and a suction nozzle; a support rotatably mounted to the surface cleaning head between an upright position and an inclined operating position, the support having a first handle arranged thereon for gripping by a user, a portable cleaning unit removably mounted on the support, the portable cleaning unit comprising a solution tank, a dirty solution tank, a suction motor and a second handle for carrying the portable cleaning unit by a user; an interlock mechanism having a locked position and an unlocked position; the portable cleaning unit is secured to the support when in the locked position; in the unlocked position, the portable cleaning unit is removable from the support, the support being separately rotatable relative to the surface cleaning head without carrying the portable cleaning unit; and a flexible connecting tube assembly for maintaining fluid and electrical communication between the support portion and the portable cleaning unit.

Description

Surface cleaning machine

Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of cleaning equipment, in particular to a surface cleaning machine.

Background

Surface cleaning machines, in particular upright surface cleaning machines, clean and soil pick-up a floor surface to be cleaned by using a cleaning base with a brush roller. In operation of such machines, cleaning liquid is applied to the surface to be cleaned by the rotating brush roller, and the brush roller, during rotation, is also simultaneously able to pick up dirt and debris from the floor to be cleaned, together with the suction force of the suction device, and to be present in a dirt tank on the upright body.

The advantages are evident when the machine of the above type is used for cleaning on normal ground; and if low surfaces, such as special areas of a table bottom, a sofa bottom and the like, are encountered, the special areas cannot be continuously cleaned by the machine because of the limitation of the backward rotation angle of the machine body (because when the machine body is overturned by an overlarge angle, dirty liquid in the dirty liquid tank flows back into the suction device to damage the suction device). In order to ensure that these special areas can be cleaned normally, operators need to prepare different cleaning tools for cleaning, which greatly reduces the cleaning efficiency of the cleaning equipment; also, changing the current cleaning tool back and forth is quite cumbersome for the operator.

Disclosure of Invention

In order to solve the problem that the cleaning area of the surface cleaning machine is limited because the machine body cannot rotate in a large angle range at will in the surface cleaning machine, the invention aims to provide an improved surface cleaning machine which can expand the cleaning area of the surface cleaning machine, greatly improve the cleaning efficiency of an operator and improve the user experience.

In order to achieve the above purpose, the invention provides the following technical scheme: a surface cleaning machine comprising:

a surface cleaning head adapted to be moved over a surface to be cleaned and having a cleaning liquid dispenser, a cleaning member and a suction nozzle;

a support pivotally mounted to the surface cleaning head between an upright position and an inclined operating position, the support having a first handle arranged thereon for gripping by a user,

a portable cleaning unit removably mounted on the support portion, the portable cleaning unit including a solution tank storing a cleaning solution, a dirty liquid tank for receiving and housing dirty liquid, a suction motor, and a second handle for a user to carry the portable cleaning unit;

an interlock mechanism having a locked position and an unlocked position; said portable cleaning unit being secured to said support when in said locked position; in the unlocked position, the portable cleaning unit is removable from the support, the support being independently rotatable relative to the surface cleaning head without carrying the portable cleaning unit; and

a flexible connecting tube assembly for maintaining fluid and electrical communication between said support portion and said portable cleaning unit.

In the above aspect, preferably, the flexible connecting pipe assembly includes a first flexible pipe forming at least a part of a dirty liquid recovery path between the suction nozzle and the dirty liquid tank, a second flexible pipe forming at least a part of a cleaning liquid discharge path between the suction nozzle and the dirty liquid tank, and an electrically conductive wire constituting at least a part of an electrical connection path between the surface cleaning head and the portable cleaning unit. More preferably, the second flexible tube is fitted to an inner wall surface or an outer wall surface of the first flexible tube. Or further preferably, the first flexible pipe and the second flexible pipe are both non-telescopic pipes. It is still further preferred that both the second flexible tube and the electrically conductive wire are disposed outside the first flexible tube.

In the above technical solution, preferably, the interlocking mechanism is a mechanical lock component or a magnetic component.

In the above technical solution, preferably, the flexible connecting pipe assembly has a first connecting end portion and a second connecting end portion, the first connecting end portion of the flexible connecting pipe assembly is coupled with the portable cleaning unit, and the second connecting end portion of the flexible connecting pipe assembly is coupled with the supporting portion. Further preferably, the first connecting end portion is configured to be detachable from the portable cleaning unit. Or further preferably, the second connection end portion is configured to be detachable from the support portion. It is also further preferred that the surface cleaning machine includes a plurality of cleaning head attachments, each of the cleaning head attachments being coupleable to the second connection end.

In the above technical solution, preferably, the first connection end and the second connection end are interchangeable connection ends of the same specification.

In the above technical solution, preferably, the portable cleaning unit has a battery pack.

In the above technical solution, preferably, the support portion includes an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion is rotatably connected to the surface cleaning head, and the upper portion is configured to rotate forward around a horizontal axis relative to the upper portion, so that the upper portion and the lower portion can form an included angle of 90-135 °.

In the above technical solution, preferably, the second handle is located at a top of the portable cleaning unit.

In the above technical solution, preferably, the support portion includes a handle bar with an adjustable height, and the first handle is disposed on the handle bar.

Compared with the prior art, the invention has the following beneficial effects: according to the scheme, the suction motor, the solution tank and the sewage tank form the removable portable cleaning unit, so that a user can select to remove the portable cleaning unit containing the sewage tank from the supporting part when the supporting part is turned backwards at a large angle, and various defects caused by the fact that the sewage tank is turned backwards at a large angle along with the supporting part are avoided; therefore, the surface cleaning machine can enlarge the application range and improve the cleaning efficiency of users.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a first perspective view of a first surface cleaning machine provided in the present application;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a first surface cleaning machine according to the present application;

FIG. 3 is a schematic, disassembled view of a first surface cleaning head provided herein;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary schematic view of a first surface cleaning head provided herein taken along a front and rear central axis;

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a first flexible joint tube assembly as provided herein;

FIG. 6 is a second perspective view of a first surface cleaning machine provided herein;

FIG. 7 is a third perspective view of the first surface cleaning machine of the present application, with the portable cleaning unit removed from the support;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a first portable cleaning unit provided herein with a cleaning attachment attached;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a first portable cleaning unit with another cleaning attachment provided herein;

FIG. 10 is a first schematic view of a second surface cleaning machine provided herein;

FIG. 11 is a second schematic view of a second surface cleaning machine provided herein;

FIG. 12 is a third schematic view of a second surface cleaning machine provided herein with the portable cleaning unit removed from the support;

FIG. 13 is a fourth schematic view of the second surface cleaning machine provided in the present application with the portable cleaning unit removed from the support, the support alone rotated rearward relative to the surface cleaning head to a position generally parallel to the floor;

FIG. 14 is a fifth schematic view of a second surface cleaning machine provided herein with the portable cleaning unit removed from the support, the support alone rotated rearward relative to the surface cleaning head to a position generally parallel to the floor, and the upper portion of the support flipped forward relative to the lower portion;

FIG. 15 is a first schematic view of a third surface cleaning machine provided herein;

figure 16 is a second schematic view of a third surface cleaning machine provided in the present application with the portable cleaning unit removed from the support and the support alone rotated rearwardly relative to the surface cleaning head to a position generally parallel to the floor.

FIG. 17 is a third schematic view of a third surface cleaning machine provided in accordance with the present application, wherein the handle bar of the support portion is reduced in height relative to FIG. 16.

Detailed Description

To explain technical contents, structural features, achieved objects and effects of the invention in detail, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application, and it is apparent that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, and not all embodiments. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a detailed description of various exemplary embodiments or implementations of the invention. However, various exemplary embodiments may be practiced without these specific details or with one or more equivalent arrangements. Moreover, the various exemplary embodiments may be different, but are not necessarily exclusive. For example, the particular shapes, configurations and characteristics of the exemplary embodiments may be used or implemented in another exemplary embodiment without departing from the inventive concept.

Further, spatially relative terms such as "under 8230; \8230;," 'under 8230; \8230;, \8230, under', "\8230, below", "under \8230; \8230, above", "on", "at 8230; \8230, above", "higher", "side" (e.g., as in "side wall"), etc., are used herein to describe the relationship of one element to another (other) element as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use, operation, and/or manufacture in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term "at 8230 \8230; below" may include both an orientation of above and below.

Fig. 1-2 illustrate a surface cleaning machine 100 provided in accordance with the present invention, the surface cleaning machine 100 being capable of moving across a surface to be cleaned and performing a cleaning operation. Surface cleaning machine 100 includes a surface cleaning head 1, a support 2 located above surface cleaning head 1, a portable cleaning unit 3, and a flexible connecting tube assembly 4.

As shown in fig. 3-4, the surface cleaning head 1 is adapted to be moved over a surface to be cleaned. It comprises a housing 11 made up of a number of individual parts, the front part of the housing 11 being provided with a brush roll 12, a suction nozzle 13 and a cleaning liquid distributor 14. In operation of the surface cleaning head 1, cleaning liquid is continuously dispensed through the cleaning liquid dispenser 14 to the brush roll 12, the brush roll 12 brushes the surface to be cleaned, and debris and dirt on the surface to be cleaned will be lifted by the suction nozzle 13 or by the combined action of the suction nozzle 13 and the brush roll 12. The brush roller in the surface cleaning head can be a brush roller with the rotating speed of hundreds of revolutions per minute or a brush roller with the rotating speed of thousands of revolutions, and the brush roller can be used for cleaning the ground by using cleaning liquid.

Continuing with fig. 2, the lower portion 21 of the support 2 is rotatably mounted to the surface cleaning head 1 between an upright position (which is typically stored or parked) and a reclined operating position. The upper part of the support part 2 is provided with a handle 22 for the user to hold. A number of control keys 23 are provided on the handle 22 for controlling the operation of the surface cleaning machine 100. The control keys may also be provided elsewhere on the surface cleaning machine 100, such as on the portable cleaning unit 3. The support 2 is provided with a forwardly projecting support 24 adjacent the lower portion 21. The support part 2 is further provided with a connector 25 which forms two paths of fluid communication and electrical communication with the surface cleaning head 1 for cleaning solution and dirty solution.

As shown in fig. 1-2, a portable cleaning unit 3, which is removably mounted to the support 2, and during mounting to the support 2, the bottom of the portable cleaning unit 3 is supported on a support stand 24. The portable cleaning unit 3 comprises a housing 31, a solution tank 33 for storing cleaning solution, a dirty solution tank 34 for receiving and storing dirty solution, a suction motor 35, a battery pack ((not shown in the figure) and a connection port 36. The top of the housing 31 is provided with a handle 32 for a user to carry the portable cleaning unit. In a preferred embodiment, the solution tank 33 and the dirty solution tank 34 are detachably mounted on the housing 31, and locking mechanisms (not shown in the figure) for the user to operate are arranged between the solution tank 33 and the housing 31 and between the dirty solution tank 34 and the housing 31, and the locking mechanisms can be mechanical locking assemblies, magnetic locking assemblies or both arranged.

An interlock mechanism 5 is also provided between the portable cleaning unit 3 and the support 2, the interlock mechanism 5 having a locked position and an unlocked position; when the interlock mechanism 5 is in the locked position, the portable cleaning unit 3 is fixed to the support 2; when the interlock mechanism 5 is in the unlocked position, the portable cleaning unit 3 is removable from the support 2.

As shown in fig. 2 and 5, a flexible connection pipe assembly 4 for keeping the support part 2 and the portable cleaning unit 3 in fluid and electrical communication. The flexible connection tube assembly 4 includes a flexible tube 41 for forming part of a dirty liquid recovery path from the surface cleaning head 1 to the portable cleaning unit 3, a flexible tube 42 for forming part of a cleaning liquid output path from the portable cleaning unit 3 to the surface cleaning head 1, and an electrically conductive wire 43 for forming part of an electrical connection path from the surface cleaning head 1 to the portable cleaning unit 3. The dirty liquid recovery path is a dirty liquid flow path connecting the suction nozzle 13 to the dirty liquid tank 34, the cleaning liquid discharge path is a cleaning liquid flow path connecting the solution tank 33 to the cleaning liquid dispenser 14, and the electrical connection path is an electrical transmission path electrically connecting the battery pack, the suction motor, the driving device for driving the brush roller to rotate, and necessary pump elements located in the cleaning liquid discharge path, and the like. In this example, the flexible tube 42 and the conductive wire 43 are located outside the flexible tube 41, which can be beneficial to ensure that the flexible tube 42 and the conductive wire 43 are not contaminated by the contamination liquid. In other embodiments, the two flexible tubes are also arranged in an inner and outer sleeve. In addition, the flexible tube 41 in this example is constituted by a non-retractable flexible hose; the flexible pipe 41 employs an inflexible pipe capable of avoiding a change in the length of the dirty liquid recovery path, thereby enabling stable transfer of dirty liquid from the dirty liquid recovery path into the dirty liquid tank 34 under the suction force of the suction motor 35. Of course, the flexible tube 41 can be made of flexible hose as long as the suction force of the suction motor 35 is ensured. When the flexible tube 41 is formed of a non-stretchable flexible hose, the flexible tube 42 is also formed of a non-stretchable flexible hose, and the conductive wire 43 is formed of a non-stretchable conductive wire.

As shown in fig. 1 and 6, in the surface cleaning machine 100, the support 2 is rotatable relative to the surface cleaning head 1 between an upright position (fig. 1 position) and an inclined working position (fig. 6 position). Furthermore, the relationship of the support 2 and the surface cleaning head 1 satisfies: the support 2 is rotatable relative to the surface cleaning head 1 whether or not the portable cleaning unit 3 is supported on the support 2; i.e. the portable cleaning unit 3 is supported on the support 2, the portable cleaning unit 3 and the support 2 can be rotated simultaneously relative to the surface cleaning head 1; after the portable cleaning unit 3 is removed from the support 2, the support 2 may be rotated independently relative to the surface cleaning head 1.

With the portable cleaning unit 3 removed from the support 2, the portable cleaning unit 3 can still be in fluid and electrical communication with the support 2 and the surface cleaning head 1 through the flexible connecting tube assembly 4, i.e., the dirty liquid recovery path and the cleaning liquid output path are always fluidly open and the electrical connection path is always electrically conductive, as shown in fig. 7. The flexible connecting tube assembly 4 is such that fluid and electrical communication of the support part 2 with the portable cleaning unit 3 is not affected when the support part 2 is rotated independently relative to the surface cleaning head 1. Such portable cleaning unit 3, support 2 and flexible connecting tube assembly 4

After the portable cleaning unit 3 is removed from the support part 2, the dirty liquid tank 34 on the portable cleaning unit 3 is separated from the support part 2, the user can rotate the support part 2 backwards at will at this moment, even rotate to the position close to the ground to be cleaned, the user can be facilitated to stretch the surface cleaning head 1 into a low position (if the bottom of a sofa or the lower part of a short table) for cleaning, and because the dirty liquid tank 34 is separated from the support part 2, the backward rotation of the support part 2 can not cause the dirty liquid in the dirty liquid tank 34 to flow back into the suction motor 34, and the use safety of the suction motor 34 is ensured. The portable cleaning unit 3 can be placed directly on the floor to be cleaned, or can be carried by the user holding the handle 32 with the other hand.

Continuing to be shown in FIG. 5, flexible connecting tube assembly 4 has a first connecting end 401 and a second connecting end 402 that are remote from each other. The first connection end 401 of the flexible connection tube assembly 4 is coupled with the connection port 36 on the portable cleaning unit 3 and allows the first connection end 401 to be folded, deformed, etc. with respect to the portable cleaning unit 3. The second connection end portion 402 of the flexible connection pipe assembly 4 is coupled with the connection port 25 of the support portion 2 and allows the second connection end portion 402 to be folded, deformed, etc. with respect to the support portion 2. In this example, the first connection end 401 is also configured to be separable from the connection port 36 of the portable cleaning unit 3, and the second connection end 402 is also configured to be separable from the connection port 25 of the support portion 2.

The flexible connection pipe assembly 4 is configured as described above, which satisfies an aspect that the user detaches the flexible connection pipe assembly 4 for cleaning, which is very necessary in a wet type cleaning apparatus. In order to facilitate the user to disassemble and assemble the flexible connection pipe assembly 4, the first connection end portion 401 and the second connection end portion 402 can be provided as interchangeable connection end portions with the same specification, so that the user can be prevented from making mistakes in assembling the flexible connection pipe assembly 4.

As shown in fig. 8, when the second connection end 402 is detached from the connection port 25 of the support part 2, a cleaning head attachment 6 is coupled at the second connection end 402. In this connection, it enables cleaning of non-floor-like cleaning surfaces such as table tops, window panes and the like.

As shown in fig. 9, when the first connection end 401 is detached from the connection port 36 of the portable cleaning unit 3, a cleaning head attachment 7 with a narrow suction port can be coupled at the first connection end 401 for cleaning. In this connection solution it is possible to clean narrow areas that are located further away from the portable cleaning unit 3.

Another embodiment of a surface cleaning machine 200 is shown in fig. 10-14. In the surface cleaning machine 200, the support 20 is rotatable relative to the surface cleaning head 10 between an upright position (fig. 10 position) and an inclined working position (fig. 11 position). The support 70 is rotatable relative to the surface cleaning head 10 whether or not the portable cleaning unit 30 is supported on the support 20.

As shown in fig. 12-13, when portable cleaning unit 30 is removed from support 20, the independently rotating support 20 can be rotated to a position close to the floor, which operation can facilitate a user reaching surface cleaning head 10 to a location where it is inconvenient to move when carrying portable cleaning unit 30 on support 20.

As shown in fig. 13-14, support 20 includes an upper portion 201 and a lower portion 202, the lower portion 202 being pivotally connected to surface cleaning head 10, the upper portion 201 being configured to rotate forward relative to the upper portion 201 about a horizontal axis X1 to enable the upper portion 201 and the lower portion 202 to form an included angle α of 90-135 °, and a handle 222 being disposed at an upper portion of the upper portion 201. This arrangement can facilitate the user in bringing the surface cleaning head 10 to a low position without bending over.

A further embodiment of a surface cleaning machine 300 is shown in fig. 15-17. In the surface cleaning machine 300, the support 70 is rotatable relative to the surface cleaning head 60 between an upright position (fig. 15 position) and an inclined operating position (fig. 16 position). The support 70 can perform this rotation regardless of whether the portable cleaning unit 80 is supported on the support 70.

As shown in fig. 16, when the portable cleaning unit 80 is removed from the support 70, the separately rotatable support 70 can be rotated to a position close to the floor, which can facilitate the user reaching the surface cleaning head 60 where it would be inconvenient to move the portable cleaning unit 80 when carried by the support 70.

As shown in fig. 15 to 17, in this embodiment, the support portion 70 includes a handle bar 701 at an upper portion and a lower portion 702 having a slide groove 7021, and the knob 722 is provided at the upper portion of the handle bar 701. The lower portion 702 is pivotally connected to the surface cleaning head 10 and the handle bar 701 can be slid into and out of the slide slot 7021 relative to the lower portion 702, which makes the handle bar 701 a height adjustable handle bar. This arrangement enables the user to easily adjust the height of the entire support 70 as desired to bring the surface cleaning head 60 to a target position.

The foregoing shows and describes the general principles, essential features, and advantages of the invention. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, which are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, but various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims, the description and the equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A surface cleaning machine, comprising:

an interlock mechanism having a locked position and an unlocked position; said portable cleaning unit being secured to said support when in said locked position; in the unlocked position, the portable cleaning unit is removable from the support portion, the support portion being independently rotatable relative to the surface cleaning head without carrying the portable cleaning unit; and

2. The surface cleaning machine of claim 1 wherein the flexible linkage assembly includes a first flexible tube forming at least a portion of a dirty liquid recovery path between the suction nozzle and the dirty liquid tank, a second flexible tube forming at least a portion of a cleaning liquid outlet path between the suction nozzle and the dirty liquid tank, and an electrically conductive wire forming at least a portion of an electrical connection path between the surface cleaning head and the portable cleaning unit.

3. The surface cleaning machine of claim 2 wherein the second flexible tube and the conductive wire are both disposed outside of the first flexible tube.

4. A surface cleaning machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first and second flexible tubes are each non-telescoping tubes.

5. A surface cleaning machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interlocking mechanism is a mechanical lock assembly or a magnetically attractive assembly.

6. The surface cleaning machine of claim 1 wherein the flexible linkage assembly has a first linkage end and a second linkage end, the first linkage end of the flexible linkage assembly being coupled to the portable cleaning unit and the second linkage end of the flexible linkage assembly being coupled to the support portion.

7. The surface cleaning machine of claim 6 wherein the first connection end is configured to be detachable from the portable cleaning unit.

8. The surface cleaning machine of claim 6 wherein the second connecting end is configured to be separable from the support.

9. The surface cleaning machine of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of cleaning head attachments, each of said cleaning head attachments being couplable to said second connection end.

10. The surface cleaning machine of claim 1 wherein the first connection end and the second connection end are interchangeable connection ends of the same size.

11. The surface cleaning machine of claim 1 wherein the portable cleaning unit has a battery pack.

12. The surface cleaning machine of claim 1 wherein the support includes an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion being pivotally connected to the surface cleaning head, the upper portion being configured to rotate forward about a horizontal axis relative to the upper portion to allow the upper and lower portions to form an angle of 90-135 °.

13. The surface cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the second handle is located at a top portion of the portable cleaning unit.

14. A surface cleaning machine as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the support comprises a height-adjustable handle bar, the first handle being provided on the handle bar.