CN116327052A

CN116327052A - Floor cleaning machine with at least one support element

Info

Publication number: CN116327052A
Application number: CN202211656075.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 托比亚斯·恩特莱因; 马可·梅森巴赫尔; 安德烈亚斯·米勒
Original assignee: Alfred Kaercher SE and Co KG
Current assignee: Alfred Kaercher SE and Co KG
Priority date: 2021-12-23
Filing date: 2022-12-22
Publication date: 2023-06-27
Also published as: DE102021134612A1; EP4201283A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a floor cleaning machine with at least one support element, comprising a cleaning head (12), a grip lever device (36) connected to the cleaning head, at least one cleaning roller unit (18) arranged on the cleaning head, and a dirty fluid tank device (32) arranged in a removable manner on a base (30) of the cleaning head, on which at least one support element (120) is arranged, which support element is spaced apart from the at least one cleaning roller unit, wherein, in a cleaning operation, the cleaning head (12) is supported on a floor (16) to be cleaned via the at least one cleaning roller unit (18) and the at least one support element (120), and the dirty fluid tank device (32) has a through recess (152) associated with the at least one support element (120), the at least one support element (120) being guided through the recess when the dirty fluid tank device (32) is arranged on the cleaning head (12).

Description

Floor cleaning machine with at least one support element

Technical Field

The invention relates to a floor cleaning machine comprising a cleaning head, a grip device connected to the cleaning head, at least one cleaning roller unit arranged on the cleaning head, and a dirty fluid tank device arranged in a removable manner on the base of the cleaning head.

Background

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

Surface cleaners are known from WO 2016/058901 A1, WO 2016/058856 A1, WO 2017/063663A1, WO 2016/058879 A1, WO 2016/058956 A1. A surface cleaning machine is likewise known from WO 2016/058907A 1.

A portable floor cleaning apparatus is known from US 4,875,246, which has rollers driven by an electric motor.

DE 20 2009 013 434 U1 describes a device for wet cleaning floors with a brush which can be rotated about a rotational axis

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

From US 6,026,529 an apparatus for cleaning floors or other hard surfaces is known.

A surface cleaning machine with a rotating brush is described by WO 2010/04185 A1.

A cleaning head for a floor cleaning machine is known from US 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 scraping and dirty fluid reservoir.

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 housing is provided into which the cleaning roller sweeps dirt during rotation. The dirt housing may be opened.

From US 7,921,497 B2 a floor scrubber is known which can be operated manually and comprises a driving roller coupled to a scrubbing roller.

Further floor cleaning machines are known from WO 2015/086083 A1.

A hard floor cleaner is known from US 3,789,449.

DE 103,57,637a 1 describes a self-propelled floor sweeper with a cleaning brush and an associated dirt collection chamber.

A household floor cleaner with a wiping roller is known from DE 10 2007 054 500 A1.

A floor cleaner with a housing, a hose assembly and a cleaning head is known from US 2006/0272120 A1.

A cleaning machine station for a cleaning machine is known from DE 10 2017 120 723 A1, wherein the cleaning machine station has a receiving chamber for a cleaning head of the cleaning machine.

A floor cleaning machine with a handle is known from WO 2005/087075 A1, which is arranged in a pivotable manner on a base.

CN 107007215A discloses a floor cleaning robot.

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

Cleaning machines are also known from AU 2017101723 A4, CN 206687671U, DE 20 2016 105300u1, US 9,622,637 B1, CN 205359367U, US 2017/019225 A1, CN205181250U, CN 205181251 U,CN 205181256 U,DE 20 2016 105 299U,WO 2017/059602 A1,WO 2017/059600 A1,WO 2017/059601 A1, wo2017/059603A1 or DE 20 2016 105 301 U1.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a floor cleaning machine of the type mentioned at the outset, which has an optimized cleaning effect.

According to the invention, in the floor cleaning machine described at the outset, this object is achieved in that at least one support element is arranged on the base of the cleaning head, which is spaced apart from the at least one cleaning roller unit, wherein, in the cleaning operation, the cleaning head is supported on the floor to be cleaned via the at least one cleaning roller unit and the at least one support element, and the dirty fluid tank arrangement has a through recess associated with the at least one support element, through which the at least one support element is guided when the dirty fluid tank arrangement is mounted on the cleaning head.

In the cleaning operation, the cleaning head is supported on the floor via the at least one cleaning roller unit and the at least one support element together with the weight of the grip device. The dirty fluid tank arrangement can thereby be held in a simple manner on the base and in particular floatingly on the base.

The dirty fluid tank arrangement can provide a large receiving volume despite the presence of the at least one support element by means of the through recess on the dirty fluid tank arrangement associated with the at least one support element.

Advantageously, a placement surface for the cleaning head is provided via the at least one cleaning roller unit and the at least one support element, the placement surface having at least one of the following features:

the placement surface is a flat surface;

-the rotation axis of the at least one scrub roller unit is parallel to the placement surface;

the grip device is hinged to the cleaning head in a manner swingable about a swing axis, and the swing axis is parallel to the placement surface;

the removal direction for removing the dirty fluid tank arrangement from the cleaning head and the insertion direction for inserting the dirty fluid tank arrangement on the cleaning head are both transverse and in particular perpendicular to the placement surface;

-the dirty fluid tank means is removable from the cleaning head in a direction downwards towards the rest face;

the base is spaced apart from the placement surface in the height direction.

This results in an optimized operability. By means of a removal direction transverse to the placement surface, the dirty fluid tank arrangement can be removed from or placed on the base in a simple manner. In particular, the locking of the dirty fluid tank arrangement to the base can be released or established in a simple manner. Furthermore, the dirty fluid tank arrangement can be moved in a structurally simple manner and is held, in particular floating, on the base. In particular provided with a suspension support.

Advantageously, the at least one support element comprises a roller or a slider. The cleaning head can thereby be guided by the user over the floor to be cleaned via the grip device in a simple manner.

In one embodiment, the at least one support element comprises a strut connected to the base and extending away from the base into the space in which the dirty fluid tank arrangement is located. The space between the base and the placement surface can be bridged to some extent by the support posts.

In particular provided with at least one of the following features:

-the roller or slide is mounted on the support;

when the dirty fluid tank is fastened to the base, the support is positioned in the associated through recess of the dirty fluid tank.

This provides a dirty fluid tank arrangement having a large receiving volume. In particular, the through recess is open on both the upper side of the dirty fluid tank arrangement and the lower side of the dirty fluid tank arrangement, wherein the upper side faces the base when the dirty fluid tank arrangement is secured to the base, and wherein the lower side faces away from the upper side. In this way, the dirty fluid tank arrangement can be secured to and released from the base in a simple manner. At least one support element securely arranged on the cleaning head (securely arranged on the base) may be provided to define the placement surface.

It may be provided that the through recess is delimited by a wall of the dirty fluid tank arrangement between the upper side and the lower side, wherein the wall is closed or the through recess is open to one side of the dirty fluid tank arrangement. The dirty fluid tank is configured to be fluid-tight with respect to the through recess. Thus, a minimized "volume loss" of the dirty fluid tank arrangement is obtained based on the through recesses.

The wall is oriented transversely and in particular perpendicularly to the upper and/or lower side of the dirty fluid tank arrangement. The structural effort for arranging the at least one support element and the through recess is thereby minimized. In an advantageous embodiment, the at least one cleaning roller unit is arranged on a roller receptacle on a shaft having a first shaft part, an intermediate part and a second shaft part, wherein the intermediate part is located between the first shaft part and the second shaft part and the first roller part of the at least one cleaning roller unit is arranged on the first shaft part and the second roller part of the at least one cleaning roller unit is arranged on the second shaft part and an intermediate drive is provided which acts on the intermediate part. Thereby, the cleaning roller unit can be led all the way to the lateral edge of the cleaning head. This in turn allows for cleaning near the edges. In principle, during cleaning, a strip is left on the floor to be cleaned at the middle part. Cleaning on the strip may also be performed by driving over offset.

It is particularly advantageous if the at least one support element is arranged in alignment with the intermediate portion with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cleaning head. In cleaning the floor, the support element is guided over the uncleaned strip. Thereby, the at least one support element is not guided in the cleaned area.

It is particularly advantageous if a tread tongue is arranged on the dirty fluid tank arrangement, and when the dirty fluid tank arrangement is secured to the cleaning head, the at least one support element is arranged in alignment with the tread tongue about the longitudinal axis of the cleaning head. The dirty fluid tank arrangement can be released from the base in a simple manner by stepping on the tongue, in particular by a corresponding force applied by the user's foot. Tilting moments and the like can be avoided by arranging in alignment with the at least one support element.

Advantageously, exactly one support element is provided. Thereby, the structural effort is kept low. In particular, the reduction in volume is minimized due to the at least one support element and the associated through recess for the dirty fluid tank arrangement.

When the at least one support element is arranged centrally between the first lateral side and the second lateral side of the cleaning head, tilting moments and the like are avoided.

By means of this solution, a floor cleaning machine can be achieved in which the grip device is supported via its weight on at least one cleaning roller unit. As a result, a high, in particular maximum, pressing pressure is achieved on the floor surface to be cleaned, due to the self weight of the grip device for the cleaning head.

The correspondingly high pressing pressure results in an improved cleaning result. Improved dirt release from the floor surface to be cleaned.

Furthermore, a corresponding design of the pivot joint can be realized in a simple manner, so that in each position of the pivot joint, in particular the cleaning head on which the dirty fluid tank device is arranged in a removable manner, is in the same position relative to the floor surface to be cleaned. This also improves the cleaning result.

More particularly advantageously, the pivot joint is designed as a track joint (orbitalgellenk) with a track guide of the grip lever device on the cleaning head. In this way, coaxiality between the pivot axis and the rotation axis of the pivot joint can be achieved in a simple manner. In particular, it is thereby achieved that, when the cleaning head with the at least one cleaning roller unit is placed on the floor surface to be cleaned, the cleaning roller unit rotates on the floor surface as a result of the oscillation, when the lever device is pivoted relative to the cleaning head.

In a structurally advantageous embodiment, the pivot joint has a track guide which is mounted on the cleaning head in a rotationally fixed manner and which has a circular track section, the center of which is located on the pivot axis, and an engagement device which is mounted on the lever device in a rotationally fixed manner and which is supported on the track guide. In a simple manner, a track joint can thus be formed, wherein the pivot axis coincides with the rotational axis of the at least one scrub roller unit. Furthermore, a large support area for the mating device on the track guide is obtained. A mechanically stable pivot joint with a correspondingly long service life can be achieved in this way.

Advantageously, at least one cleaning roller unit is arranged in the region of the front end of the cleaning head and has the following features:

-the circular track section is arranged behind the at least one cleaning roller with a partial area with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cleaning head;

the circular track section is arranged with a partial area on the at least one cleaning roller unit with respect to the height axis of the cleaning head.

By this arrangement, the circular track section encloses the at least one cleaning roller unit to a certain extent from both sides. In this way, a pivot joint, in particular a track joint, whose pivot axis coincides with the rotational axis of the at least one scrub roller unit can be realized in a simple manner.

Advantageously, the engagement means are supported on the trajectory guidance means via at least three support points. A mechanically stable swing joint structure is thus obtained.

Advantageously, the pivot joint is arranged centrally between a first lateral side and a spaced-apart second lateral side of the cleaning head. A symmetrical construction is thus obtained and tilting moments and the like are avoided.

More particularly advantageously, the at least one cleaning roller unit also moves together when the lever arrangement is pivoted about the pivot axis. Thus, when the cleaning head is conventionally supported on the floor to be cleaned via at least one cleaning roller unit, the cleaning roller unit rolls over the floor to be cleaned. The movement is superimposed here with a rotational movement of the at least one cleaning roller unit about the rotational axis.

It is particularly advantageous if a tread tongue is assigned to the cleaning head in the region of its rear end, wherein the rear end faces away from the front end and at least one cleaning roller unit is arranged in the region of the front end. Via the tread tongue, the user can act with his foot on the cleaning head and in particular the dirty fluid tank arrangement. In particular, an improved separation of the dirty fluid tank arrangement from the cleaning head is thereby achieved. The user does not have to hold the dirty fluid tank apparatus by himself, for example, to remove it from the cleaning head or to connect the cleaning head to the dirty fluid tank apparatus.

In an advantageous embodiment, the tread tongue is arranged in alignment with the swivel joint about the longitudinal axis of the cleaning head and in particular is arranged centrally between the first lateral side and the second lateral side of the cleaning head. Hereby, for example, a tilting moment can be placed.

Advantageously, at least one of the following features is provided:

the tread tongue extends beyond the rear end of the housing or base of the cleaning head;

the tread tongue is arranged on a dirty fluid tank device which is arranged in a removable manner on the cleaning head;

the tread tab has upturned lateral edge walls.

Since the extension extends beyond the rear end, the user can start from his user side and can apply his foot to the tread tongue in a simple manner. He can then stand on the tread tongue and at the same time act on the grip device, for example.

When the pedal tongue is placed on the dirty fluid tank apparatus, the dirty fluid tank apparatus can be released in a simple manner by acting on the pedal tongue. The dirty fluid tank means may be secured to the floor to some extent by the force of the user on the tread tongue (when the cleaning head is standing on the floor together with the dirty fluid tank means) and the dirty fluid tank means may be released from the cleaning head by lifting the cleaning head.

By stepping on the upturned lateral edge wall on the tongue, slipping of the user's foot is avoided. Sharp edges and the like can also be avoided.

It is particularly advantageous if a free space is formed on the cleaning head, in which the grip device can move when pivoting about the pivot axis, and in particular the pedal tongue is arranged at or in the continuation of the free space. This results in a large range of oscillation of the grip device on the cleaning head. In particular, a small pivot angle is thereby obtained, at which the grip device approaches the floor to be cleaned. This gives better descending performance in furniture and the like.

In one embodiment, a drive motor is provided for the cleaning roller unit, which drive motor is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the grip device with respect to its swingable ability about the swing axis. A structurally simple embodiment is thus obtained. As the grip device pivots, the drive motor is also pivoted together. A drive train with a drive motor and a cleaning roller unit (on the roller receptacle) can thereby be realized, wherein no sliding coupling or the like is required.

For the same reason, it is advantageous if a transmission is provided for transmitting the torque from the drive motor to the at least one cleaning roller unit, wherein the transmission is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the grip device in view of its swingablability about the pivot axis. Thereby, the entire drive train, which is formed by the drive motor and the transmission, can be pivoted relative to the cleaning head via the pivoting of the grip device on the cleaning head, and no additional coupling is required.

For this reason, it is also advantageous if a roller holder is provided, on which at least one cleaning roller unit is arranged, wherein the roller holder is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the grip device in view of the swingable properties of the grip device. The entire drive train, which is formed by the drive means, the transmission means and the drive motor, is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the grip means and can pivot with the grip means. The direct effect of the weight of the grip lever arrangement, including the drive motor and the transmission, on the cleaning roller unit is thereby obtained for providing a high, in particular maximum, pressing pressure of the cleaning roller unit on the floor to be cleaned.

In one embodiment, at least one cleaning roller unit is arranged on a roller receptacle on a shaft having a first shaft part, an intermediate part and a second shaft part, wherein the intermediate part is located between the first shaft part and the second shaft part and the first roller part of the at least one cleaning roller unit is arranged on the first shaft part and the second roller part of the at least one cleaning roller unit is arranged on the second shaft part and an intermediate drive is provided which acts on the intermediate part and the intermediate part is arranged in alignment with the swing joint with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cleaning head. By means of the intermediate drive, the first roller portion and the second roller portion can be led all the way to the lateral ends of the cleaning head. Thereby enabling near-edge cleaning. Tilting moments and the like can be avoided by the aligned arrangement of the pivot joint with the intermediate part.

In one embodiment, it is provided that the grip device has a first part and a second part, wherein the first part is articulated to the cleaning head and the second part is rotatable relative to the first part about a rotation axis, wherein the rotation axis is oriented, in particular, transversely and in particular perpendicularly to the pivot axis of the pivot joint. Thereby an easy handling possibility is obtained. The additional rotatability makes it easier for the user to perform the cleaning process in corners or the like. Due to the rotatability about the axis of rotation, the user can position the cleaning head in different ways relative to himself. The axis of rotation is for example parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first part or for example parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second part.

More particularly advantageously, a locking device is provided, by means of which the rotatability about the axis of rotation can be locked, which has in particular at least one of the following features:

in a lockable parking position of the lever arrangement relative to the cleaning head, the locking arrangement is active and in particular in a locked position;

-releasing the rotatability by the locking means beyond the stationary parking position;

-when the parking position is reached, the locking device automatically enters into the locking position;

When the parking position is released, the locking device is automatically moved out of its locking position.

In particular, this can be achieved in an automated manner, with the rotatability being blocked in the parking position. Thus a "stable" parking position is obtained. It is also advantageous if the locking position is automatically reached when entering the parking position and the unlocking position is automatically reached when leaving the parking position. The parking position that can be parked is a rest position for the floor cleaning machine, in particular when not in operation. Beyond this rest position, rotatability can be achieved in order to achieve a wide range of cleaning possibilities.

In one embodiment, the locking device comprises a movable slide supported by a spring, which slide is mounted in a movable manner on the first part and in the locked position brings about a form fit with the second part, which has in particular at least one of the following features:

the slider has a projection which is supported on the cleaning head in the locking position and which holds the slider in the locking position or brings it into the locking position;

-the slider has overload protection;

the slider has at least a first part and a second part, wherein the second part acts on the second part of the grip device, and wherein the second part is arranged in a spring-loaded manner on the first part in a movable manner.

The movable slide makes it possible to implement the locking device in a simple manner. The spring support makes it possible in a simple manner to achieve an automatic reaching of the locking position for the parking position. In particular, the spring support is such that, beyond the parking position, the slide remains in a position in which no form-locking with the second part is present. When the parking position is reached, a form-locking is achieved, in particular by correspondingly supporting the slide on the cleaning head such that the slide is moved against the force of the spring means.

In a structurally advantageous embodiment, the slider is embodied as a projection, wherein the cleaning head can be acted upon by the projection, in particular in the docked position, in order to push the slider into a form-locking engagement with the second part of the grip device or to hold it there.

It is more particularly advantageous to provide the locking device with overload protection. The risk of damage to the floor cleaning machine under high force loading, in particular in the parking position, is thereby reduced or prevented. The avoidance possibility is increased in order to reduce the risk of damage.

In particular, the slide is constructed in multiple pieces so that in the parking position, when the slide as a whole cannot be moved, parts of the slide can be moved relative to each other in order to provide overload protection and reduce the risk of damage. The spring support of the first part by the second part achieves in particular that, in addition to an overload situation, the slide can be moved as a whole from the first part and the second part in order to achieve the locking position or to release the locking position. In the locked position, the slide itself can be retracted due to the multi-piece construction in the event of high force loads.

In one embodiment, the grip device has a first region having a first longitudinal axis and a second region having a second longitudinal axis, wherein the first and second longitudinal axes are oriented at an obtuse angle to each other, wherein in particular the obtuse angle is between 120 ° and 170 °. This results in an optimized articulation of the grip device on the cleaning head, in particular in the case of a track joint. A high range of oscillation angles is obtained.

In particular, at least one of the following features is provided:

-the second area is arranged on the first area;

-the first region is or comprises a distal region of the grip device;

the grip device is hinged to the cleaning head via a first region;

-a fitting device of a swing joint is arranged on the first region;

-a drive motor for at least one scrub roller unit is arranged on the first zone;

-the first region has a housing;

-a battery holder arranged on the first area;

-a tank device for cleaning liquid, in particular removable, is arranged on the first area;

by means of the above features, a corresponding structurally simple structure is obtained.

For the same reason, it is advantageous to provide at least one of the following features:

The second region is or comprises the proximal region of the grip device;

-a handle is arranged on the second area;

-a tank device, in particular movable, for a cleaning liquid is arranged on the second region;

-a battery holder is arranged on the second area;

-an operating panel is arranged on the second area or at a handle arranged on the second area;

the second region has a straight extension on the second longitudinal axis.

The ease of operation of the floor cleaning machine is thereby also obtained.

More particularly advantageously, the grip device has a free range of angles of oscillation relative to the cleaning head via the pivot joint, which range of angles of oscillation has an angle of oscillation between the longitudinal axis of the grip device and the contact surface of the cleaning head on the floor to be cleaned, wherein the angle of oscillation lies in a range between a lower limit and an upper limit, which in particular has at least one of the following features:

-a lower limit of 0 ° or greater than 0 °;

the lower limit is less than 50 °, in particular less than 40 °, in particular less than 30 °, preferably less than 20 °;

-an upper limit of between 80 ° and 120 °, in particular about 90 °;

at the upper limit, the grip device has a parking position which can be parked with respect to the cleaning head.

A correspondingly high angle of oscillation is obtained. By means of a smaller lower limit, a better travelling under furniture, for example, is obtained. By means of the stationarily parking position, a stable posture of the grip arrangement relative to the cleaning head and an overall stable posture of the floor cleaning machine can be achieved for parking or for example also for a cleaning process of the at least one cleaning roller unit.

Advantageously, locking means are provided which lock the grip means with the cleaning head at an upper limit such that the swingable nature of the grip means with respect to the cleaning head is blocked. The grip device can thereby be locked with the cleaning head. A storage location for the floor cleaning machine is obtained. In this way, an automatic cleaning process of at least one cleaning roller unit or of other parts of the floor cleaning machine can also be carried out in a simple manner at the respective floor station. Preventing the grip from "falling down".

Advantageously, when the grip device is at an upper limit and locked with the cleaning head, and when the cleaning head is conventionally placed on the floor to be cleaned, further pivoting of the grip device causes the cleaning head to pivot towards the floor to be cleaned without further user intervention as the angle of oscillation increases. In this way, the dirty fluid tank device can be released from the cleaning head in a simple manner, in particular if the dirty fluid tank device is provided with a pedal tongue. The user does not have to grasp the dirty fluid tank arrangement, in particular, for a corresponding removal process of the dirty fluid tank arrangement. Furthermore, the user can stabilize the dirty fluid tank arrangement in a simple manner on the floor surface to be cleaned (by applying a corresponding force, in particular by stepping on the tread tongue). This in turn minimizes movement of the dirty fluid tank assembly when disengaged from the cleaning head and minimizes sloshing of liquid in the dirty fluid tank assembly.

In one embodiment, the locking device comprises at least one spring-loaded pin and an associated countersunk opening for the pin, wherein (i) the at least one pin is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the grip lever device and the associated countersunk opening is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the cleaning head, or (ii) the at least one pin is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the cleaning head and the associated countersunk opening is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the grip lever device. The locking device can be realized in a structurally simple manner by means of the pin-countersink opening. The lock can be established in a simple manner by the user and can also be cancelled. In particular, the establishment of the locking can be achieved automatically by reaching a certain swing positioning (in particular an upper limit). Furthermore, the locking position (blocking position) can be released in a simple manner by applying a force to the grip device.

Advantageously, at least one of the following features is provided:

-a first inclined plane is assigned to the immersion opening outside the immersion opening, which first inclined plane guides the assigned pin into the immersion opening when the pivot angle increases, wherein the first inclined plane causes the pin to move against the force of the spring load;

-at least one pin has a first abutment surface matching the first inclined plane;

the immersion opening is delimited by a wall which has a second inclined plane and via which the associated pin is moved out of the immersion opening with a reduced pivot angle, wherein the second inclined plane causes the pin to move against the force of the spring loading;

at least one pin has a second abutment surface matching a second inclined plane.

In particular, the pin is movably arranged and spring-loaded. The guide of the first inclined plane enables the positioning of the pin against the action of the spring force, which pin can be sunk into the immersion opening. Once the countersunk opening is reached, the pin is pressed into the countersunk opening by spring loading. The locking process can be performed exclusively via a pivoting movement on the lever device and can thus be performed automatically. By pivoting, in particular toward the upper end of the pivoting angle range, a corresponding blocking position can be achieved directly as the pin is lowered into the recess.

The result is that the corresponding blocking position is easily achieved automatically by the first abutment surface matching the first inclined plane.

The second inclined plane allows the corresponding force necessary for guiding the pin out of the immersion opening to be adjusted. In particular, the force may be applied by applying a torque to the grip device. An automatic unblocking position can thereby be achieved. The user then only needs to pivot the grip device towards the cleaning head without further intervention being performed to release the lock.

The amount of force required to reach the blocking position (the pin is countersunk into the countersunk opening) or the unblocking position (the pin is withdrawn from the countersunk opening) can also be adjusted in a simple manner by the first and second inclined planes. In particular, such a specification determines that the force required to unblock the position is set to be greater than the force required to reach the blocking position.

Advantageously, a removable dirty fluid tank arrangement is arranged on the cleaning head, having at least one of the following features:

-a tread tongue arranged on the dirty fluid tank arrangement;

-at least one scraping element is arranged on the cleaning head, which scraping element acts on the at least one cleaning roller unit and serves to scrape dirty fluid off the at least one cleaning roller unit;

-at least one scraping element is immersed in the active material of at least one scrub roller unit;

The dirty fluid is transferred directly from the at least one cleaning roller unit into the dirty fluid tank arrangement without the need to operate the suction arrangement.

Thanks to the pedal tongue arranged on the dirty fluid tank unit, the dirty fluid tank device can be released from the cleaning head in a simple manner. In addition, the risk of the floor cleaning machine tipping over during parking is reduced.

The at least one scraping element can be used to disengage the dirty fluid in a simple manner and to couple the dirty fluid into the dirty fluid tank arrangement, in particular without suction.

It is furthermore advantageous if at least one of the following features is provided:

the grip device is configured for a standing user standing on the floor to be cleaned, wherein the cleaning head is placed on the floor to be cleaned via the placement surface and the floor cleaning machine is guided on the floor to be cleaned via the grip device;

-at least one scrub roller unit is motor driven by a drive motor;

the cleaning head has a housing in which at least one cleaning roller unit is arranged at least partially;

at least one cleaning roller unit is located with its outer end on a first lateral side and a second lateral side of the cleaning head, respectively.

This gives easy handling and optimum cleaning results, especially on hard floors. A standing user may perform the cleaning process. Resulting in cleanability to the near edge of the ground surface.

It is furthermore advantageous to provide at least one of the following features:

-at least one scraping element for at least one cleaning roller unit is arranged (i) on the cleaning head;

-arranging (ii) at least one comb element on the cleaning head, the comb element acting on the at least one cleaning roller unit;

to the cleaning head, (iii) at least one cleaning element is assigned, which delivers cleaning material to the at least one cleaning roller unit, wherein the at least one cleaning element is arranged in particular on the dirty fluid tank device,

wherein any one of the elements (i), (ii), (iii) of the at least one scrub roller unit or any combination of these elements has the same positioning independent of the swinging positioning of the grip device with respect to the scrub head.

This can be achieved in particular by spring loading of the at least one scraping element and the at least one comb element. With regard to the cleaning element, it can be realized in a simple manner when the cleaning element is arranged on the dirty fluid tank arrangement and the dirty fluid tank arrangement is movably, in particular floatingly, arranged on the cleaning head.

An optimized cleaning result is obtained. The cleaning result is thereby not deteriorated even when the diameter of the at least one cleaning roller unit varies, for example due to wear or manufacturing tolerances.

Advantageously, the cleaning head has a contact surface for the floor to be cleaned, which is in particular a flat surface, and which is associated with a horizontal plane parallel to the contact surface, and in the normal operation of the floor cleaning machine the horizontal plane of the cleaning head is always in the same position relative to the contact surface, independently of the pivoting position of the grip device relative to the cleaning head.

This always gives good and identical cleaning results, independently of the pivoting positioning of the grip device.

It is furthermore advantageous to set at least one of the following modes of operation:

-a dry cleaning mode of operation, in which no cleaning liquid is applied to the floor surface to be cleaned or to the at least one cleaning roller unit;

-a wet wiping operation mode, in which cleaning liquid is loaded to the floor surface to be cleaned and/or to the at least one cleaning roller unit;

a sweeping operation and a wet wiping operation mode, in which coarse dirt is fed to the at least one cleaning roller unit, in particular via the sweeping element, and is fed to the dirty fluid tank arrangement via the at least one cleaning roller unit, and dirty fluid is scraped off the at least one cleaning roller unit via the at least one scraping element, and is fed from there into the dirty fluid tank arrangement.

An optimized cleaning result can be achieved. In particular, the possibility of a dry cleaning mode of operation, a wet wiping mode of operation and a combination of cleaning mode of operation and wet wiping mode of operation is achieved on one device and can be adjusted accordingly by the user. Matching of the respective operation modes may be performed by replacing at least one cleaning roller unit, if necessary.

Drawings

The following description of the preferred embodiments is provided in connection with the accompanying drawings to illustrate the invention in detail.

Wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a side view of an embodiment of a surface cleaning machine standing on a floor to be cleaned (floor cleaning machine);

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the floor cleaning machine according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a partial schematic view of a cleaning head of the floor cleaning machine according to FIG. 1 in a sectional view;

FIG. 4 shows a partial perspective view of an embodiment of a floor cleaning machine according to the invention in the region of the cleaning head;

figure 5 shows a further perspective view of the cleaning head according to figure 4;

FIG. 6 shows the cleaning head according to FIG. 4 with the dirty fluid tank arrangement removed;

figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the cleaning head according to figure 4;

FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view along line 8-8 according to FIG. 7;

Fig. 9 shows the same view as fig. 5, showing a locking or detent for the dirty fluid tank arrangement and the cleaning head and for the grip arrangement and the cleaning head;

FIG. 10 shows a side cross-sectional view according to FIG. 9 in the region of the locking location for the grip device with the cleaning head, with the cleaning head out of the locked position;

FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of the locking portion of the dirty fluid tank apparatus and the cleaning head according to FIG. 9, wherein the dirty fluid tank apparatus is secured to the cleaning head;

FIG. 12 shows the same view as FIG. 10, with the grip device locked with the cleaning head;

FIG. 13 shows the same view as FIG. 11 with the dirty fluid tank apparatus removed (unlocked position);

FIG. 14 shows a variation of an embodiment of a pin with a tapered tip;

figure 15 shows a view of the cleaning head in a locked position for enabling rotation of the grip device relative to the cleaning head with the shield removed;

FIG. 16 shows an enlarged view of the locking device according to FIG. 15;

figure 17 shows the same view as figure 15 in a locked position in which the grip device is rotatable relative to the cleaning head;

fig. 18 shows an enlarged view of the locking device in the position according to fig. 17;

Figure 19 shows an embodiment of a floor cleaning machine according to the invention with a different position of the grip device relative to the cleaning head, wherein:

in fig. 19 (a) a specific swing position (working position) of the grip device relative to the cleaning head is shown;

in fig. 19 (b), the resting position of the grip device relative to the cleaning head is shown;

in fig. 19 (c) the movement for releasing the dirty fluid tank arrangement from the cleaning head is shown;

in fig. 19 (d) the cleaning head is shown lifted from the dirty fluid tank apparatus for removal thereof;

in fig. 19 (e) it is schematically shown that the cleaning head is placed on the dirty fluid tank arrangement for securing the dirty fluid tank arrangement;

FIG. 20 shows a cross-sectional view of the cleaning head in the region of the cleaning roller unit;

fig. 21 shows a sectional view of the cleaning roller unit in the region a according to fig. 25;

fig. 22 shows a sectional view similar to fig. 21 in the region B according to fig. 25;

FIG. 23 shows a sectional view of the floor cleaning machine according to FIG. 4 in a partial view, wherein the swing positioning of the grip device is lower than in FIG. 4;

figure 24 shows a bottom view of the cleaning head in the floor cleaning machine according to figure 4;

fig. 25 (a) schematically illustrates the trend of an embodiment of a cambered scraping member on a cleaning roll unit having a first and a second roll portion;

Fig. 25 (b) schematically shows the course of an embodiment of a curved scraping element on one roller section;

fig. 26 schematically shows the course of a further embodiment of a cambered wiping element on a cleaning roll unit or on one roll section with a first and a second roll section;

fig. 27 schematically shows the course of a further embodiment of a cambered wiping element on a cleaning roll unit or on one roll section with a first and a second roll section

FIG. 28 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a scraping element and a comb according to FIG. 20;

fig. 29 shows the combination of fig. 28 in the X direction according to fig. 28; and

fig. 30 shows a bottom view of the combination according to fig. 28 in the Y-direction of fig. 28.

Detailed Description

An embodiment of a surface cleaner according to the present invention is a floor cleaning machine 10. The basic structure of the floor cleaning machine 10 and its basic operation are described in connection with fig. 1-3.

Hard floors can be cleaned in particular by means of the floor cleaning machine 10.

The floor cleaning machine 10 includes a cleaning head 12. In an embodiment of the floor cleaning machine, the cleaning head 12 is a floor head.

For the conventional cleaning mode of operation, the cleaning head 12 is placed with the placement surface 14 on the floor surface 16 to be cleaned.

The placement surface 14 is in particular a flat surface. On the cleaning head 12 is arranged a (at least one) cleaning roller unit 18. In the embodiment shown, exactly one cleaning roller unit 18 is provided.

The scrub roller unit 18 can include a one-piece scrub roller or a multi-piece scrub roller as will be described in more detail below.

The cleaning head 12 has a front end 20 and a rear end 22 facing away from the front end, with a longitudinal axis 24 of the cleaning head 12 extending between the front end 20 and the rear end 22.

The cleaning head 12 has a first lateral side 26 and an opposite second lateral side 28. The direction of spacing between the first lateral side 26 and the second lateral side 28 is transverse, and in particular perpendicular, to the longitudinal axis 24.

The cleaning roller unit 18 is arranged in the region of the front end 20 of the cleaning head 12. In normal operation of the floor cleaning machine 10, a user stands on the floor 16 to be cleaned behind the rear end 22 of the cleaning head 12.

The placement surface 14 is defined via a cleaning roller unit 18 and at least one placement element (not shown in fig. 1 to 3). The cleaning head 12 and thus the floor cleaning machine 10 are supported via a cleaning roller unit 18 and at least one placement element on the floor 16 to be cleaned.

The cleaning head 12 has a base 30. The base 30 is the base of the cleaning head 12.

A removable dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 is provided on the cleaner head 12. The dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 contains dirty fluid. Dirty fluid is understood here to mean a fluid which can flow and which can be wet or dry. For example, the dirty fluid may comprise a cleaning liquid with dirt particles or only dust particles, for example.

In principle, the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 may comprise a plurality of separate parts which can be individually secured to the base 30 and removed therefrom.

In a preferred embodiment, the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 comprises a unit having one or more separate chambers for dirty fluid.

A tread tab 34 is provided on the dirty fluid tank unit 32, the tread tab projecting rearwardly. The tread tab is used to facilitate the removability of the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 from the cleaning head 12, as will be described in more detail below.

A grip device 36 is pivotally connected to the cleaning head 12 via a pivot joint. The grip device 36 is configured here so that a standing user can hold the floor cleaning machine 10 and guide it over the floor 16 to be cleaned.

A handle 38 is disposed at the proximal end of the grip device 36. In the illustrated embodiment, the handle 38 is configured as a closed arcuate grip. Other embodiments are possible, such as arcuate handles configured to be non-closed, and the like.

In particular, it is provided that actuating elements, such as on/off and further actuating elements, for example for control, are arranged on the handle 38 or on the lever arrangement 36 in the vicinity of the handle 38.

At the distal end, the grip device 36 is hinged to the base 30 via a swing joint.

The pivot axis 40 (fig. 2) of the pivot joint of the handle arrangement 36, which is articulated to the cleaning head 12, is parallel to the support surface 14. The pivot axis 40 is transverse and in particular perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 24.

The grip device 36 has a (second) longitudinal axis 42 along which the grip device 36 extends up to the handle 38. The swing axis 40 is transverse, and in particular perpendicular, to the second longitudinal axis 42 of the grip device 36.

It may be provided that the grip device 36 has a further swingable behavior with respect to the movability of the cleaning head 12, wherein the respective axis of rotation 41 is oriented transversely to the swivel axis 40. Such rotatability is indicated in fig. 1 by an arrow having reference numeral 44. The corresponding axis of rotation 41 of the rotatability 44 is, for example, parallel or coaxial with the first longitudinal axis 80 of the grip device 36 (see below). It is particularly contemplated that such rotatability 44 is formed by a corresponding configuration of the grip device 36 having a first portion 278 and a second portion 280 that is rotatable relative to the first portion 278. This will be explained in more detail below, particularly in connection with fig. 15 to 18.

The floor cleaning machine 10 comprises a drive motor (not shown in fig. 1 to 3) by means of which the cleaning roller unit 18 is driven rotatably about the axis of rotation 46. The scrub roller unit 18 has a single axis of rotation 46 even when the scrub roller unit comprises a multiple-piece scrub roller. The axis of rotation 46 is parallel to the placement surface 14 and is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 24. Which is parallel to the oscillation axis 40.

In one embodiment, which will be described in more detail below, the swingable swing axis 40 and the rotation axis 46 of the grip device 36 on the cleaning head 12 are coaxial with each other.

The drive motor is arranged on the cleaning head 12, or on the grip device 36, or on a transition region between the grip device 36 and the cleaning head 12. The drive motor acts on the scrub roller unit 18 and provides a corresponding torque for the rotational drive of the scrub roller unit.

The floor cleaning machine 10 may be mains powered or may be battery powered.

In one embodiment, a battery holder 48 is provided which houses one or more batteries and in particular a rechargeable battery. The battery can be arranged securely on the floor cleaning machine 10 or can be removed therefrom.

In the illustrated embodiment according to fig. 1 to 3, the battery holder 48 is arranged on the grip device 36. In principle, however, an arrangement on the cleaning head 12 is also possible.

The floor cleaning machine 10 is particularly configured for wet cleaning of hard floors. A tank arrangement 50 for cleaning liquid is provided. The cleaning liquid is in particular fresh water, optionally with detergent additives. The cleaning roller unit 18 may be wetted directly via cleaning liquid from the tank arrangement 50 and/or the floor 16 to be cleaned may be wetted. This allows improved dirt removal and corresponding dirty fluid to be received by the cleaning roller unit 18 and fed to the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32.

In the illustrated embodiment, the canister device 50 is disposed on the grip device 36. Corresponding transport means for the cleaning liquid are provided, which lead from the tank means 50 to the cleaning head 12, so that the cleaning roller unit 18 and/or the floor 16 to be cleaned can be wetted with cleaning liquid accordingly.

The basic functional structure of the cleaner head 12 is shown in fig. 3 and the basic mode of operation is described in connection with fig. 3. In the cleaning mode of operation, the cleaning head 12 is placed with its placement surface 14 on the floor surface 16 to be cleaned (at least one further placement element is not shown in fig. 3). The cleaning roller unit 18 acts on the floor surface to be cleaned and rotates in a rotational direction 52.

A dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 is mounted on the base 30 of the cleaner head 12.

An access device 54 is arranged on the cleaning head 12, which has an access opening 56. The access opening 56 is in fluid-operative connection with the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 or is itself an access opening on the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32. As the cleaning roller unit 18 rotates, it rotates past the access opening 56.

The dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 has a bottom 58. In normal operation of the floor cleaning machine 10, the bottom 58 is oriented toward the floor 16 to be cleaned. A wall 60 facing the cleaning roller unit 18 is arranged on the bottom 58, which wall opens out into the opening 56. The walls 60 match the cylindrical shape of the corresponding scrub roller of the scrub roller unit 18.

The cleaning head 12 has a cleaning element 62 for conveying coarse dirt to the cleaning roller unit 18. This coarse soil is indicated by double arrow 64 in fig. 3. Coarse dirt supplied to the cleaning roller unit 18 via the cleaning element 62 can be carried by the cleaning roller unit 18 and thrown into the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 via the inlet opening 56.

The cleaning element 62 is disposed on the base 30 or, as shown in fig. 3, on the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32.

In operation of the floor cleaning machine 10, the cleaning roller unit 18 is wetted with cleaning liquid via the delivery device 66 for cleaning liquid. This wetting is indicated in fig. 3 by the wavy arrow with reference numeral 68.

The wetting is in this case located downstream of the inlet opening 56 with respect to the direction of rotation 52. The area of the cleaning roller unit 18 lying on the floor surface 16 to be cleaned then passes first by the inlet opening 56 and then by the corresponding area with the wetting 68 when rotating in the direction of rotation 52.

There is provided (at least one) scraping element 70 arranged on the base 30 and positioned between the access opening 56 and the area of the wetting 68.

In particular, the scraping element 70 is movably positioned on the base 30. In the embodiment shown, the scraping element 70 is arranged on a holder 72, which is hinged in a swingable manner to the base 30. The retainer 72 is spring loaded (not shown in fig. 3). The spring loading presses the scraping element 70 against the scrub roller unit 18.

The cleaning roller unit 18 has a facing surface with respect to its cleaning roller, which is arranged on a corresponding facing holder. For example, the facing is a textile material. However, it can in principle also be a brush lining.

The scraping element 70 is arranged such that it is in contact with the facing surface and preferably immersed in the facing surface. The spring loading of the movable holder 72 ensures a pressing or pressing in, respectively.

The scraping element 70 forms an access wall of the access device 54 for the access opening 56. In particular, the scraping element 70 separates the area of the wetting 68 from the access opening 56.

The scraping element 70 acts on the cleaning roller unit 18 and the facing surface in such a way that dirty fluid is released from the respective cleaning roller (and in particular from the wet dirty fluid) and is conveyed via the inlet opening 56 into the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32.

This is indicated in fig. 3 by the arrow with reference numeral 74.

Such dirty fluid 74, which is detached by the scraping element 70, may also contain coarse dirt particles which are not directly conveyed into the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 via the inlet opening 56.

The floor cleaning machine 10 having the construction according to fig. 3 has a cleaning function by means of which coarse dirt (and also dry coarse dirt) can be cleaned from the floor 16 to be cleaned. The floor cleaning machine has a wiping function by means of which the floor 16 to be cleaned can be wetted via the wetting 68 and wet dirty fluid can be accommodated and can be detached via the scraping element 70 and conveyed into the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32.

The floor cleaning machine also has a combined operating mode in which coarse dirt can be simultaneously (as indicated in fig. 3) accommodated from the floor 16 to be cleaned and a wet wiping process is carried out via the cleaning roller unit 18.

The cleaning roller unit 18 is positioned in particular in a replaceable manner on the cleaning head 12. Thereby, for example, the cleaning roller unit 18 or the cleaning roller can clean itself in a simple manner. Thereby making it possible to match specific cleaning processes. For example, when the cleaning roller of the cleaning roller unit 18 has a textile facing surface, such as a microfiber facing surface, both wet cleaning and swipe cleaning can be performed. However, it is also possible, for example, to use a cleaning roller with a brush lining as the cleaning roller in order to carry out a pure cleaning process. (in particular, during a pure sweeping process, the wetting of the cleaning roller unit 18 or the floor 16 to be cleaned is switched off).

In particular, it is provided that the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 is arranged in a floating manner relative to the base 30, in particular with the cleaning element 62 fastened thereto, in order to be able to position the cleaning element 62 in the same position relative to the cleaning roller unit 18, for example, independently of the facing length of the cleaning roller unit 18.

The basic mode of operation of the floor cleaning machine 10 described in connection with fig. 3 is also possible for cleaning heads 12 without a grip device 36, and in particular for self-propelled and self-rotating cleaning machines ("cleaning robots"). In such self-propelled and self-steering floor cleaning machines, the battery holder 48 and the tank arrangement 50 for the cleaning liquid are arranged in particular within the cleaning head 12 itself.

In the floor cleaning machine 10, dirty fluid is transferred via the scrub roller unit 18 into the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 without a suction unit. The dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 may be removed from the cleaner head 12 for emptying.

In principle, it is also possible to suck away the dirty fluid located in the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32. For this purpose, for example, a corresponding suction unit device and an associated further dirty fluid tank are arranged on the lever device 36.

Further aspects or advantageous embodiments of the floor cleaning machine 10 will be described below in connection with fig. 4 to 21.

In one embodiment, the grip device 36 has a first region 76 and a second region 78. The first region 76 is arranged at an angle relative to the second region 78. The first region 76 is a distal region, while the handle 38 is disposed on the second region 78 and is thus a proximal region.

In particular, an operating panel having a plurality of operating elements is arranged on the handle 38 or on the second region 78.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 1 and 2, the tank arrangement 50 for the cleaning liquid is arranged on the second region 78.

In particular, the operating panel comprises a switch via which it is possible to switch whether the cleaning roller unit 18 and/or the floor 16 to be cleaned is wetted by means of cleaning liquid from the tank 50 for cleaning liquid. This enables the dry cleaning operation mode or the wet wiping operation mode to be performed according to the user selection.

The first region 76 extends along a first longitudinal axis 80 (see also fig. 1), and the second region 78 extends along the second longitudinal axis 42. The first and

second regions

76, 78 are at an obtuse angle 82 (fig. 1) to each other, the obtuse angle being between 120 ° and 170 °.

In a specific embodiment, the obtuse angle 82 is about 145 °.

The first region 76 and the second region 78 are coherently connected to each other.

The handle means 36 is articulated via the first region 76 to the cleaning head 12 and in this case to the base plate 30 by means of a pivot joint 84. As described above, the pivot axis 40 of the pivot joint 84 coincides with the rotational axis 46 of the cleaning roller unit 18 when rotated.

The pivot joint 84 is configured as a track joint. It comprises a track guide 86 which is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the cleaning head 12 and in this case on the base 30. The track guide 86 includes a circular track section 88. The center of the circular track section 88 is located on the oscillation axis 40/rotation axis 46.

Coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to the first region 76 is a mating device 90 which is supported on the track guide 86.

The engagement means 90 is slidingly guided on the circular track section 88 of the track guiding means 86; the engagement means 90 presents a track-type guidance on the circular track section 88 of the track-guiding means 86.

At least three support points for guiding the mating device 90 are provided on the track guide 86.

A circular track section 88 is arranged behind the cleaning roller unit 18 with respect to a partial region of the longitudinal axis 24 of the cleaning head 12. With respect to a height axis 92 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 24 and perpendicular to the placement surface 14, the circular track section 88 has a partial area arranged above the cleaning roller unit 18.

The circular path section 88 is, for example, at least approximately formed as a quarter-circle section which encloses the cleaning roller unit 18 to some extent.

The pivot joint is positioned centrally on the base 30 between the first lateral side 26 and the second lateral side 28. It is arranged especially symmetrically on the cleaning head 12. The pivot joint is located on a central plane 94 (see fig. 2), which is located centrally between the first lateral side 26 and the second lateral side 28 and is oriented perpendicularly to the rotation axis 46 or the pivot axis 40.

The central plane 94 is also oriented perpendicular to the placement surface 14.

A drive motor 98, in particular an electric motor, is provided, which is used to drive the cleaning roller unit 18 in a rotational movement about the rotational axis 46 in the rotational direction 52. The drive motor is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the grip device 36, so that, during the pivoting movement of the grip device 36, the drive motor also pivots about the pivot axis 40.

In principle, it is possible here for the drive motor 98 to be positioned in the cleaning head 12, but nevertheless to have the pivotability described above.

In one embodiment (see fig. 4-6), the drive motor 98 is positioned on the grip device 36, and in this case, in particular, on the first region 76.

In particular, the first region 76 of the grip device 36 has a housing 100 that houses the drive motor 98.

In a variant of one embodiment, the battery holder 48' is arranged on the first region 76 or at the transition between the first region 76 and the second region 78. (in the embodiment shown in fig. 1 and 2, the battery holder 48 is disposed on the second region 78).

A free space 102 (see fig. 5) is formed in the cleaning head 12 and in this case in the base 30, which is located centrally between the first lateral side 26 and the second lateral side 28 and in this case in the center plane 94. The free space 102 forms a pivot space in which the grip device 36 can be moved, wherein then, in particular, the first region 76 can be moved in the free space 102.

The free space 102 is open to the rear end 22.

A housing 100 with a drive motor 98 can move in a free space 102.

A large range of angles of oscillation is obtained via the free space 102 in which the grip device 36 can pivot about the oscillation axis 40 relative to the base 30.

The floor cleaning machine 10 has a transmission 104 (fig. 7) which is used to transmit torque from the drive motor 98, which is located spaced apart from the cleaning roller unit 18, to the cleaning roller unit 18. In one embodiment, the transmission 104 also includes a reduction gear that is used to reduce the rotational speed such that the rotational speed of the scrub roller unit 18 when rotated about the rotational axis 46 is less than the drive rotational speed of the drive motor 98.

The transmission 104 includes, for example, a belt drive and a speed reduction drive.

The scrub roller unit 18 is or includes a roller receiving portion 106. The roller housing 106 in turn includes a shaft 108 that is in torque operative connection with the transmission 104. The shaft 108 rotates about the rotational axis 46 under corresponding drive of the drive motor 98.

In one embodiment, the shaft 108 (see FIG. 6) includes a first shaft portion 110, a second shaft portion 112, and an intermediate portion 114 that connects the first shaft portion 110 and the second shaft portion 112. Shaft 108 utilizes first shaft portion 110, second shaft portion 112, and intermediate portion 114 to form a shaft having a single axis of rotation (i.e., axis of rotation 46).

The intermediate portion 114 is centrally located between the first lateral side 26 and the second lateral side 28 and here lies on the central plane 94.

The first shaft portion 110 houses a first roller portion 116 of the scrub roller unit 18 and the second shaft portion 112 houses a second roller portion 118. The first roller portion 116 and the second roller portion 118 are separate units, but rotate about the same axis of rotation 46 when they are positioned on the shaft 108.

The first roller portion 116, which is disposed on the first shaft portion 110, extends up to or almost up to the first lateral side 26. The second roller portion 118, which is arranged on the second shaft portion 112, extends up to or almost up to the second lateral side 28. This results in no or minimal roller-free spacing between the cleaning roller unit 18 and the respective lateral sides 26, 28. Thereby enabling near edge cleaning.

The intermediate portion 114 of the shaft 108 is roller-free. At which torque is effectively coupled to the transmission 104. There is an intermediate drive to the scrub roller unit 18.

The first roller portion 116 and the second roller portion 118 are each fitted from the outer sleeve onto the associated

shaft portion

110 or 112 and are respectively locked with the associated

shaft portion

110 or 112 in order to obtain a rotationally fixed connection.

With respect to the longitudinal axis 24, the intermediate portion 114 of the shaft 108, and thus the roller receptacle 106, is aligned with the pivot joint 84. They lie on the central plane 94 and are in particular each formed mirror-symmetrically with respect to the central plane 94.

As described above, the cleaning head 12 includes the (at least one) support element 120. In particular, exactly one support element 120 is provided (fig. 7, 19 (d), 23, 24). The support member 120 is positioned spaced apart from the scrub roller unit 18 and defines the placement surface 14 with the scrub roller unit. The support element 120 is here mounted on the base 30. So that the cleaner head 12 with the cleaner roller unit 18 and the support member 120 can be placed on the floor surface 16 even when the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 is removed. The support member 120 includes a post 122 upon which a roller or slider 124 is positioned. A roller or slider 124 is used to support the floor 16 to be cleaned. When the floor cleaning machine 10 is guided, the rollers or slides 124 are guided over the floor 16 to be cleaned, wherein, for example, a skid is provided.

The base 30 has an underside 126 facing the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32. The support leg 122 extends transversely, in particular perpendicularly, from this underside 126 in the direction of the support surface 14.

In particular, it is provided that the support element 120 is oriented in alignment with the intermediate portion 114 of the shaft 108 about the longitudinal axis 24.

In particular, the support element 120 is located on the central plane 94.

When a plurality of support elements are provided, these are in particular arranged in a string, which string lies on the central plane 94.

In one embodiment, no roller area is disposed on the intermediate portion 114 of the shaft 108, and during cleaning, an intermediate strip is left unloaded on the floor 16 to be cleaned at the intermediate portion 114. By arranging the support element 120 in alignment relative to the middle part, the support element 120 is moved over the unloaded area of the floor surface 16.

The dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 is matched in its shape and its size to the base 30. The dirty fluid tank apparatus has a bottom 58 with a wall 16 and an access opening 56. The dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 has an underside 127 and an upper side 128. When the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 is secured to the base 30, the upper side 128 of the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 faces the bottom 126 of the base 30. An underside 127 of the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 is located on the bottom 58 and faces away from the upper side 128.

Between the lower side 127 and the upper side 128 there is a wall 60 and a further wall 130, which closes the inner space of the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 for containing dirty fluid.

The wall 60 of the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32, which is provided with the access opening 56, has a recess 132 (see fig. 6) which mates with the intermediate portion 114 of the shaft 108. When the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 is positioned on the base 30, the intermediate portion 114 is positioned at least partially in a freely rotatable manner within the cutout 132 of the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32.

The access opening 56 of the access device 54 comprises, inter alia, a first opening portion 134 and a second opening portion 136.

The first opening portion 134 is associated with the first roller portion 116 and the second opening portion 136 is associated with the second roller portion 118.

It may be provided that the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 includes a first chamber 138 and a second chamber 140. The first opening portion 134 is formed on the first chamber 138, and the second opening portion 136 is formed on the second chamber 140. The dirty fluid is directly coupled into the first chamber 138 via the first opening portion 134 and the dirty fluid is directly coupled into the second chamber 140 via the second opening portion 136.

The two

chambers

138 and 140 may be separated from one another in a fluid-tight manner or may be effectively fluidically connected to one another, so that the dirty fluid may be distributed uniformly in the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32.

The dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 has a cover 142 at least partially constituting the upper side 128. The cover 142 is spaced from the bottom 58.

The cover 142 is removable when the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 is removed from the cleaning head 12 so that the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 may be emptied.

The tread tab 34 is disposed on a wall 130 of the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32. The tread tab is arranged such that it is spaced from the placement surface 14 when the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 is secured to the base 30.

When the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 is secured to the cleaner head 12, the tread tab 34 is arranged in alignment with the free space 102. The tread tab is a continuation of the free space 102 away from the rear end 22. The pedal tongue is arranged here such that it does not interfere with a corresponding pivot space of the grip device 36 in the free space 102.

The tread tongue 34 is located on a central plane 94 and is arranged and configured in particular mirror-symmetrically with respect to this central plane.

In one embodiment, tread tab 34 includes a plate member 144 having an upturned rim wall 146 (see FIG. 5). The edge wall 146 is formed here in a rounded manner.

Tread tab 34 has a width (in a direction parallel to swing axis 40 or rotational axis 46) that is at least as wide as the typical dimensions of a foot on which the shoe is worn.

The user may place his foot on the tread tab 34 and then lift the cleaner head 12 with a corresponding force applied to release the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 from the base 30. This will be explained in more detail below.

Upturned rounded edge walls 146 of tread tab 34 prevent the user's foot from slipping sideways. Sharp edges on plate 144 are avoided.

In one embodiment, spaced ribs or grooves are disposed on plate 144 that prevent the user's foot from slipping.

The tread tongue 34 is arranged in alignment in a continuation of the free space 102. The tread tab is oriented in alignment with the swing joint 84 about the longitudinal axis 24 of the cleaning head 12 and is also oriented in alignment with the intermediate portion 114 of the shaft 108.

The dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 has a removal direction 148 (fig. 6) directed away from the base 30. The removal direction 148 is directed away from the underside 126 of the base 30 toward the placement surface 14.

The dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 may be removed from the cleaning head 12 in such a way that it may be released and thus removed, for example, by lifting the cleaning head 12 and pressing the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 in the removal direction 148 (e.g. against the tread tongue 34) or by pulling the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 away from the base 30 in the removal direction 148.

Alternatively, it is possible in an advantageous manner, if the cleaning head 12 with the fixed dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 is placed on the floor surface 16 to be cleaned, for the user to fix the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 on the floor surface 16 to be cleaned by placing his feet on the tread tongues 34 and applying a corresponding force, and to release the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 from the base plate 30 by lifting the cleaning head 12 upwards, and to leave this on the floor surface. This approach, as will be described in more detail below, has the advantage of keeping the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 at least approximately fixed in orientation and thereby largely avoiding sloshing of dirty fluid and particularly liquid in the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32.

A space 150 is defined in the cleaning head 12 by the underside 126 of the base 30 in which the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 is positioned when secured to the base 30. The support element 120 is also located in this space.

A through recess 152 (fig. 7, 19 (d), and 24) is formed in the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 so as to match the support member 120. The through recess 152 is open at the upper side 128 and the lower side 127. Laterally, the through recess 152 is closed, so that it is sealed off in a fluid-tight manner.

When the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 is mounted on the base 30, the support member 120 is inserted through the through recess 152 so that the cleaner head 12 can be supported on the floor surface 16 to be cleaned via the support member 120.

The through recess 152 is dimensioned as follows: so that the support member 120 may be threaded therethrough and, correspondingly, removed when the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 is removed from the base 30. In the illustrated embodiment, the through recess 152 is closed on all sides.

In principle, it is also possible for the through recess 152 to be open at the rear end 22.

In a preferred embodiment, the through recess 152 has the shape of a (hollow) cylinder.

When the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 is mounted on the base 30, the through recess 152 is arranged in alignment with the intermediate portion 114 of the shaft 108, the swing joint 84 and the tread tab 34 about the longitudinal axis 24, depending on the aligned orientation of the support element 120.

The dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 is suspended from the base 30. For this purpose, a plurality of holders 154 (see fig. 11 and 13) are provided, which are arranged on the base 30 and project from the underside 126 thereof in the direction of the placement surface 14.

In one embodiment, a first retainer and a spaced apart second retainer are provided. These holders are all constructed as described below and are particularly identical in construction. Preferably, the first and second holders are arranged mirror symmetrically with respect to the central plane 94 with the free space 102 therebetween.

In fig. 9, a first location 156 where the first holder is positioned is indicated, and a second location 158 where the second holder is positioned is indicated. As mentioned, these locations are fastening locations of the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 to the base 30.

The retainer 154 is configured to hold a dome or mushroom head.

Which cooperate with respective receptacles 160 of the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32.

When the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 is held on the base 30, the holder 154 is immersed in the associated receptacle 160 (fig. 11).

The holder 154 and the associated receptacle 160 form a holder-receptacle combination 162, which is designed as a snap-lock connection. The corresponding holding or locking position is shown in fig. 11.

The holder 154 includes a first element 164 that corresponds to a second element 166 of the receptacle 160 on the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32.

The first element 164 has a receiving area 168 for the second element 166. The receiving area 168 is formed, for example, in the shape of a cylinder.

The receiving area 168 of the first member 164 is bounded by a flange 170. The flange 170 has a diameter (in a direction transverse to the height axis 92) that is greater than a corresponding diameter of the receiving area 168.

In one embodiment, flange 170 is disposed on first member 164 as an annular region. It has a first surface area 172 facing the receiving area 168. Coupled to the first surface region 172 is a second surface region 174 which faces away from the receiving region 168.

The flange 170 is conically configured on the first surface region 172 facing away from the receiving region 168. It is also conically formed on the second surface region 174 and has a slope toward the receiving region 168.

Because the first surface region 172 forms an angled plane, as will be explained in more detail below, the angled plane necessitates the application of force to release the second element 166 from the first member 164. Since the second surface area 174 also forms an inclined plane, the inclined plane makes it necessary to apply a force in order to connect the second member 166 and the first member 164.

Thus, a certain force (by the user) is required in order to remove the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 from the base 30. In addition, some force is required by the user to place the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 on the bed 30. The force is determined here by the taper angle of the first surface region 172 and the taper angle of the second surface region 174.

In one embodiment, the taper angle of the first surface region 172 is greater than the taper angle of the second surface region 174 (see fig. 11). There, the first taper angle of the first surface region 172 is identified by reference numeral 176. The second taper angle of the second surface region 174 is labeled 178. The second taper angle 178 is less than the first taper angle 176, which means that the force required to unclamp and remove the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 from the base 30 is greater than the force required to insert (secure) the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 to the base 30.

The second element 166 on the receptacle 160 of the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 is configured as an expansion element having at least two and preferably at least three tongues which are movable transversely to the height axis 92 (to increase the distance).

The second element 166 is pushed onto the holder 154 as an expansion element.

When the receptacle 160 is positioned on the associated holder 154, the second element 166 expands to increase the distance between the tongues, with a corresponding force applied, as a result of the second element being driven over the second surface area 174, until the receptacle area 168 is reached. In particular, the tongues of the expansion elements 166 are resiliently arranged and spring back. The flange 170 acts as a stop that prevents the dirty fluid tank assembly 32 from falling off the base 30.

A snap-lock connection is established via the holder-receptacle combination 162.

To release the snap-lock connection, the user applies a force to the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 and moves the second element (the expansion element) past the flange 170 and thereby past the first surface region 172. For this purpose, a corresponding force is required to expand the second element 166 (expansion element) in order to correspondingly enlarge the cross section, so that the flange 170 can be driven over by the second element 166.

The corresponding intermediate state after the drive is shown in fig. 13. There, the latching connection is released. The expansion element 166 (second element 166) has driven past the flange 170 and is located outside the receiving area 168.

In the position of the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 relative to the base 30 shown in fig. 13, the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 falls from the base 30 when the base 30 is lifted parallel to the height direction 92.

However, in the blocking position according to fig. 11, a latching connection is established and the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 is fixed to the base 30.

The receptacle 160 on the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 is open at the upper side 128 in order to just enable sinking of the respective holder 154. The receptacle has a hollow truncated cone-shaped widening 180 towards the upper side 128. The widening 180 forms an insertion aid and a centering aid for the holder 154 in the associated receptacle 160, the holder 154 being configured in the manner of a pin.

When the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 is held on the base 30 via the holder-receiver-combination 162 (at the locations 156, 158), the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 is movably supported (in a direction parallel/opposite to the height axis 92) and is thereby floatingly supported. The weight of the floor cleaning machine 10 is supported on the floor 16 to be cleaned via the cleaning roller unit 18 and the support element 120. The dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 has no support function in this respect. The dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 is supported in a movable manner (floatingly) transversely to, and in particular perpendicularly to, the placement surface 14.

For example, when the roller diameter of the scrub roller unit 18 changes (due to manufacturing tolerances or wear), the scrub member 62 is still in an optimal position relative to the floor 16 to be cleaned.

By means of the pivot joint 84, the grip device 36 has a pivot angle range with respect to the cleaning head 12, which is pivotable, which falls between a lower limit and an upper limit.

The pivot angle 182 (see fig. 19 (a)) is in particular quantified here as the angle between the second longitudinal axis 42 of the grip device 36 and a plane 184 parallel to the placement surface 14.

The minimum swing angle 182, i.e., the lower limit, is 0 ° or greater than 0 °. In particular, this lower limit is less than 50 °, and preferably less than 40 °, and particularly preferably less than 30 °.

The lower limit is given by the abutment of the grip device 36 against the underside of the delimited free space 102 (see fig. 9).

Since the pivot joint 84 is designed as a track joint and because of the free space 102, the lower limit can be approximately 0 °, and in particular can be less than 10 °, preferably less than 5 °.

The lower limit of the swing angle 182 is smaller, the overall height of the floor cleaning machine 10 (the height of the cleaning head 12 and the grip device 36) on the height axis 92 perpendicular to the placement surface 14 is smaller. Conversely, the smaller the overall height, the greater the ability to travel under, for example, furniture by the floor cleaning machine 10. For example, when the lower limit of the swing angle 182 is very small, then the substantially down-height is determined by the height of the cleaning head 12 on the height axis 92, which includes the corresponding height of the swing angle 182.

Further, the swing angle range has an upper limit (fig. 19 (b)).

The upper limit of the pivot angle 182 is defined as the latching position (fig. 19). In particular, the upper limit is between 80 ° and 120 ° of the oscillation angle 182. In a preferred embodiment, the upper limit is about 90 ° (fig. 19 (b)).

The upper limit is that a parking position is provided for the grip device 36, which has a latching position with respect to the cleaning head 12, wherein the swingable movement with respect to the cleaning head 12 is blocked in such a way that an increased force is required in order to be able to again achieve the swingable movement of the grip device 36 about the pivot axis 40 at the pivot joint 84.

The holder-receiver-combination 162 has been described with respect to the holder 154 fixedly attached to the base 30 and the receiver 160 disposed on the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32. The holder 154 is formed in a rod shape, and the accommodating portion 160 is an opening. The kinematic reversal is also possible, in which case the rod-shaped element is arranged on the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 and the corresponding receptacle in the form of an opening is arranged on the base 30.

A locking device 186 (fig. 10, 12) is provided for establishing a parking position 185 (fig. 19 (b)).

The locking means 186 comprise one and in particular at least two and preferably exactly two (fig. 10, 12). The pin-countersunk opening combination 188 is arranged in the region of the pivot joint 84.

In fig. 9, a first part 190 and a second part 192 are shown, in which the pin-countersink-opening combination 188 is positioned, respectively. The first portion 190 and the second portion 192 are mirror symmetric about the central plane 94.

The pin-recess opening-combination 188 each comprises a recess 194 which is arranged on the cleaning head 12 in a rotationally fixed manner relative to the track guide 86 and in this case in particular on the base 30.

A pin 196 is provided as a counter element for the corresponding countersunk opening 194, which pin is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the grip device 36 and together with it can pivot about the pivot axis 40 relative to the cleaning head 12.

The pin 196 is mounted on the guide 198 and is linearly movable along a movement axis 200. The axis of movement 200 is movable with the swingable movement of the grip device 36 relative to the cleaning head 12. It is oriented transversely to the periphery of the circular track section 88.

The pin 196 is spring-loaded via a spring device 202, wherein the spring force of the spring device 202 is directed to press the pin 196 in the direction of the circumference of the circular track section 88. The spring force of the spring means 202 acts on the cleaning head 12.

The pin 196 has a flange 204 (fig. 10) that is arranged in an annular configuration. The guide 198 has an annular stop 206 for the flange 204. By abutment of the flange 204 against the stop 206, a linearly movable stop for the pin 196 is formed on the guide 198 (fig. 10). The initial position of the pin 196 is as follows: so that the spring device 202 presses the pin 196 against the circumference of the circular track section 88 until the flange 204 abuts against the stop 206 (fig. 10). This initial position exists when the pin 196 is not submerged into the submerged opening 194. When the park position 185 of the grip device 36 and the cleaning head 12 is not reached, i.e. when the upper limit of the pivot angle 182 is not reached, the initial position is again present. See fig. 10, wherein the pin 196 does not sink into the countersunk opening 194.

In this initial position of the pin 196 outside the countersunk opening 194, a free swingable movement of the grip device 36 about the swivel axis 40 relative to the cleaning head 12 is ensured.

Respective countersunk openings 194 are formed in stop element 208. Stop member 208 includes countersunk opening 194 as a recess or aperture. A first angled surface 210 is disposed or formed on stop element 208 beyond countersunk opening 194. The inclined plane rises from the circular track section 88. The inclined plane is located at the end of the circular track section 88 and increases the distance from the pivot axis 40 on the first inclined plane 210.

The first inclined plane 210 serves to guide the pin 196 into the countersunk opening 194, with a corresponding force moving the pin 196 away from the stop 206 against the spring force of the spring device 202. The force must be applied by the user.

The pin 196 has a first abutment surface 212 formed at an end of the pin 196 on the end side. The first abutment surface 212 is matched to the first inclined plane 210. When the pin 196 is inserted into the countersunk opening 194, the first contact surface 212 is guided along the first inclined plane 210 in contact with the first inclined plane 210.

The countersink 194 formed in the stop element 208 has a wall configured as a second inclined plane 214.

Starting from the lower limit, with an increase in the pivot angle 182, the pin 196 will be guided along the circumferential track section 88 and then pass through the first inclined plane 210 into the countersunk opening 194.

The second inclined plane 214 serves to guide the pin 196 out of the countersunk opening 194 as the pivot angle 182 decreases from the upper limit.

The pin 196 has a second abutment surface 216 that mates with the second angled planar surface 214.

In order to guide the pin 196 out of the immersion opening 194, the second contact surface 216 is guided along the second inclined plane 214 (with the reduction of the pivot angle 182) against the second inclined plane 214. For this purpose, the spring force of the spring means 202 must be overcome.

In one embodiment, the first angled plane 210 has a smaller angle than the second angled plane 214. The force required to unlock the pin 196 by guiding it out of the countersunk opening 194 is thus greater than the force required to guide the pin 196 into the countersunk opening 194 via the second inclined plane 214 and establish the lock and thereby reach the parking position 185.

An alternative embodiment of the pin 196' (fig. 14) has a conically configured abutment surface 197 at the tip. In a further alternative embodiment, the pin is spherically formed at the tip (indicated with dashed lines in fig. 14). The pin 196 or the pin 196' is made of a metal material, in particular.

When the pin 196 is guided beyond the stop element 208 on the corresponding circular path section 88, a tip 218, which is preferably located between the first contact surface 212 and the second contact surface 216, contacts the circular path section 88.

The above embodiment describes that the corresponding pin 196 of the pin-countersink opening combination 188 is guided on the circular track section 88 as is the mating device 90.

It is also possible to provide a circular track section 88 separate from this circular track section 88 for the mating device 90, but still concentric with the swivel axis 40.

When the locked position according to fig. 12 is reached, the user can unlock and guide the corresponding pin 196 out of the countersunk opening 194 by applying a torque to the grip device 26 in the direction of the floor surface 16 to be cleaned, which is conventionally placed by the floor cleaning machine 10 via the cleaning head 12, with a correspondingly high force. Free oscillation can then be achieved up to a lower limit.

To achieve the docked position 185 with locking by the pin 196 being countersunk into the countersunk opening 194, the user pivots the grip device 36 about the pivot axis 40 toward the docked position 185 until the docked position 185 is achieved by the pin 196 being keyed into the associated countersunk opening 194. The intermediate position immediately before the locked position is shown in fig. 10.

In fig. 19 (a) to (e) different swing positions of the grip device 36 relative to the cleaning head 12 are shown.

Fig. 19 (a) shows the "on" swing position. The swing angle 182 is between a lower limit and an upper limit. The floor 16 to be cleaned may be treated via the floor cleaning machine 10 in order to perform a cleaning process. The user matches the swing angle 182 according to his height. The swing angle 182 is reduced when traveling under furniture or the like.

The user guides the cleaning head 12 over the floor 16 to be cleaned via the grip device 36 which adjusts the swing angle 182. The scrub roller unit 18 rotates about an axis of rotation 46. The cleaning head 12 and thus the floor cleaning machine 10 is propelled due to the direction of rotation 52.

The grip device 36 is directly connected to the roller receptacle 106 and thus to the cleaning roller unit 18. The cleaning roller unit 18 is pivoted therewith on a pivoting movement of the grip device 36 about the pivot axis 40. When the cleaning roller unit is supported on the floor surface 16 to be cleaned, the cleaning roller unit thereby rolls over the floor surface 16. This movement is superimposed with the rotation of the cleaning roller unit 18 about the axis of rotation 46 and has no negative effect on the cleaning result or the like. Due to the rotation of the scrub roller unit 18, the angular range that the scrub roller unit 18 passes through in the same unit of time is much larger than during the swinging motion.

The grip device 36 is directly connected to the scrub roller unit 18 and acts directly on the scrub roller unit 18 by its weight. The weight of the grip device 36 presses the scrub roller unit 18 with the

roller portions

116, 118 against the floor 16 to be cleaned. The grip device 36 provides a squeezing pressure of the scrub roller unit 18 to the floor 16 to be cleaned via its own weight. Thereby improving the cleaning effect; the mechanical influence of the cleaning roller unit 18 on the floor 16 to be cleaned is improved. The soil release capacity of the floor cleaning machine 10 is improved.

By the construction of the described pivot joint 84 as a track pivot joint, a large pivot range between a lower limit and an upper limit is achieved.

To park the floor cleaning machine 10, the user increases the swing angle 182 until the park position 185 (fig. 19 (b)) is reached and locks the grip device 36 with the cleaning head 12 via the locking device 186. In the park position 185, the grip device 36 does not "fall" by itself (due to its own weight) and reduces the swing angle 182 toward the lower limit.

In the parking position 185, the floor cleaning machine 10 is, for example, parked for storage. In particular, it is also provided that in the parking position 185, an automatic cleaning process is carried out on the cleaning roller unit 18 and possibly further parts of the cleaning head 12 via a corresponding cleaning station or parking station (not shown in the figures). For example, it is also possible to charge the battery means at the respective ground station, to replenish the tank 50 for the cleaning liquid. The dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 may also be emptied at the ground station, if necessary.

Based on the park position 185, the possibility is also obtained of easily removing the dirty fluid tank unit 32 from the cleaning head 12 (fig. 19 (c), (d)).

When the cleaning head 12 is placed conventionally on the floor 16 to be cleaned, a force is applied to the tread tongue 34 via the user, in particular via the foot, in the direction of the floor 16. This force is indicated in fig. 19 by reference numeral 220. The user then applies a torque to the grip device 36 that exceeds the upper limit and further seeks to increase the swing angle 182. The torque is applied as follows: so that to some extent the grip device 36 should pivot towards the floor 16 but away from the rear end 22 of the cleaner head 12 towards the front end 20.

This torque application occurs in the docked position 185 in which the grip device 36 is locked with the base 30 by the locking device. The pivot angle 182 can also be increased slightly if necessary by play at the play-sink opening-combination 188. When this play has been fully utilized, the cleaning head 12, which is still supported on the floor surface 16, in particular via the cleaning roller unit 18, will now be rotated relative to the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32. So that the base 30 is raised relative to the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32.

Thereby causing the retainer 154 to be removed from the corresponding receptacle 160. The locked position is released and the cleaner head 12 can then be removed from the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 (see figure 19 (d)).

In this case, the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 remains on the floor surface 16 by the intervention of the user on the tread tongue 34. The user secures the dirty fluid tank rotor 32 to the floor 16 via force 220.

Thus, upon removal of the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 from the cleaner head 12, movement of the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 is minimized and sloshing of liquid dirty fluid in the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 is largely prevented.

The removal of the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 from the cleaner head 12 has been described above in connection with torque application, and in particular pivoting, of the cleaner head 12 to the floor surface 16.

It is also possible in principle to remove the cleaning head 12 from the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 by pulling upwards, wherein the user secures the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 to the floor 16 by applying a force to the tread tab 34.

In fig. 19 (d) the situation which occurs after the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 has been released from the cleaner head 12, either by swing lifting or by pulling directly upwards. The cleaning head 12 in the grip device 36 is eventually removed from the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32.

In fig. 19 (e) is shown the case where the cleaning head 12 is replaced on the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 again, i.e. the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 is secured to the cleaning head 12. To this end, a dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 is placed on the floor 16. If necessary, the user secures the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 to the floor 16 by applying force to the tread tab 34.

The cleaning head 12 is then placed on the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 from above, i.e. the respective holder 154 is lowered into the associated receptacle 60 on the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 until the locking is achieved (and the respective second element 166 is then located in the associated receptacle region 168 of the first element 164).

The placement of the cleaning head 12 is preferably performed while the grip device 36 is in the docked position 185 with respect to the cleaning head 12, i.e., the grip device 36 is locked to the cleaning head 12 by the locking device 186.

Because of the respective configurations of the first and

second surface regions

172, 174, removal of the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 (fig. 19 (c) and (d)) from the cleaner head 12 preferably requires more force than securing it (fig. 19 (e)).

In principle, the user can perform the task of removing the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 from the cleaning head 12 and placing the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 in the cleaning head 12 without the user having to grasp the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 for this purpose. In particular, the user may perform a corresponding procedure by grasping and holding the grip device 36. Nor does the user need to bend down or kneel for this purpose.

The scraping element 70 is movably arranged on the cleaning head 12 and the base 30 via a holder 72. An embodiment of the retainer 72 is shown in fig. 28-30. The retainer 72 has a base 222. The base 222 has a rear end 224 and a front end 226. The base 222 is wider toward the front end 226 than the rear end 224; the base 222 has a first region 228 and a second region 230, wherein the first region 228 has a rear end 224 located thereon and the second region 230 has a front end 226 located thereon.

The holder 72 is held in a swingable manner on the base 30 of the cleaning head 2 via the first region 228. The second region 230 carries the scraping elements 70 and the comb elements 232.

Disposed on the first region 228 is a shaft stake 234 which extends laterally outwardly. In this case, opposing shaft studs 234 are provided, which are aligned. The swing axis 23 is defined by a shaft stake 234. When the holder 72 is fixed to the base 30, the swing axis 236 is parallel to the swing axis 40 or to the rotation axis 46. Which is parallel to the placement surface 14.

In one embodiment, it is provided that there is a through scraping element 70 for the cleaning roller unit 18, which scraping element acts on the first roller section 116 and the second roller section 118 (fig. 25 (a)). In particular, no recess or similar structure is provided for the intermediate portion 114. The scraping element 70 extends continuously between a first end 238 and an opposite second end 240.

In one embodiment, the scraping elements 70 are arranged or configured as ribs on the second region 230. In particular, the rib is integrally connected to the second region 230, that is to say to the holder 72.

Comb element 232 is also disposed on holder 72. The comb element acts on the cleaning roller unit 18 and serves to contain hair; comb element 232 is a hair comb.

The comb element 232 includes at least one string 242 and in particular a plurality of pins 244 of the string 242. Adjacent pins 244 are spaced apart from one another. The pins sink into the facing 246 of the scrub roller unit 18 (see, e.g., fig. 20) to "filter" hair from the scrub roller unit 18 to some extent.

The length 248 of the pin 244 sunk into the facing 246 is shown in fig. 20.

It is also provided that the scraping element 70 is immersed in the facing 246.

With respect to the direction of rotation 52 (see fig. 3), the comb element 232 is arranged downstream of the scraping element 70. The area of the scrub roller unit 18 that rotates in the direction of rotation 52 from the floor 16 first passes over the scraping element 70 and then over the comb element 232. A spatially optimized arrangement is thus obtained.

The comb elements 232 (strings 242) are disposed on the second region 230 (see fig. 30) between the front end 226 and the scraping elements 70.

In the embodiment according to fig. 28 to 30, the comb element 232 has a shorter transverse length than the scraper element 70, i.e. the distance between the outer ends of the comb element 232 is smaller than the distance between the end-side ends 238 and 240 of the scraper element 70 (fig. 30).

The holder 72 is held on the base 30 in a swingable manner. The retainer is spring loaded to press the scraping elements 70 and comb elements 232 into the facing 246. Corresponding spring means are provided, which are arranged on corresponding pivot bearings 250, for example in the region of the shaft stub 234. This is indicated in fig. 20 by reference numeral 252.

Alternatively or additionally, it is possible, for example, for the respective coil springs of the spring arrangement to be supported on the base 30 and on the second region of the holder 72 in order to press them against the cleaning roller unit 18.

As described above, the scraping elements 70 are arranged as ribs 254 on the second region 30. The rib 254 has a first flank 256 facing the access opening 56. It has an opposite second flank 258 facing away from the access opening 56 (fig. 20). The second side wings 258 face the comb element 232. An edge 260 is present between the first side wing 256 and the second side wing 258. Contact line 262 (fig. 25) is formed by edge 260. The contact line corresponds to the edge course and can be described by a mathematical curve.

The rib 254 of the scraping element 70 is provided with a triangular shape in cross section via a first side wing 256 and a second side wing 258 (see fig. 20). The contact line 262 has a limited width.

The contact line 262 is located in the facing surface 246 (see fig. 20), or at least rests against the facing surface 246. Via the contact line 262, it is achieved that the scraping element 70 contacts or sinks into the facing 246.

The scraping element 70 is configured as a guide element for dirty fluid on the cleaning roller unit 18. In one embodiment (fig. 25 (a)), the structure is as follows: so that dirty fluid is detached from the cleaning roller unit 18 (from the facing surface 246) via the scraping element 70 and is also guided in a defined manner to the intermediate region 264. The intermediate region 264 is located at the scrub roller unit 18 and the scraping element 70. Starting from the intermediate region 264, dirty fluid (for the most part) is coupled into the access opening 56. The intermediate region 264 is located on the central plane 94.

The scraping element 70 is configured arcuately. Contact wire 262 has a first length L between first end 238 and second end 240 ₁ (arc length).

A distance D between the first end-side end 238 and the second end-side end 240, wherein the distance D has a distance direction parallel to the pivot axis 236 or to the pivot axis 40 or to the rotation axis 46, which is smaller than the length L ₁ 。

In one embodiment, the scrub roller unit 18 (as a combination of the first scrub roller 116 and the second scrub roller 118 with a gap therebetween) has a second length L in a direction of the gap (i.e., parallel to the axis of rotation 46) ₂ (see FIG. 4), the second length is less than length L ₁ 。

The curvature of the scraping element 70 at the contact line 262 may be two-dimensional or may be three-dimensional, in which case the mathematical curve describing the course of the contact line 262 and being an arching curve may be a planar curve (two-dimensional curvature) or may be a space curve (three-dimensional curvature).

In particular, the corresponding curve that mathematically describes the course of the contact line 262 mathematically has a first curvature (in the sense of a differential geometric curvature), or has a first curvature and a second curvature.

In particular, the first curvature is negative, that is to say the corresponding mathematical curve describing the course of the contact line 262 is concave, or the first curvature and the second curvature are respectively negative, and the corresponding curve is a concave curve.

A drain area is formed by the access device 54 for dirty fluid from the scrub roller unit 18 into the dirty fluid tank device 32. The contact line 262 is concave in shape toward the discharge region, i.e., toward the inlet opening 56. The concave configuration is located at the first side wing 256.

On the second flank 258, i.e. facing away from the discharge region (opening 56), there is a convex formation. The corresponding concave regions 266 and convex regions 268 are shown in fig. 25.

In one embodiment, the contact wire 262 has the shape of a circular arc segment. The corresponding mathematical curve describing the course of the contact line 262 has a constant curvature. In particular, a constant first curvature may be provided and a constant second curvature may exist if the contact line 262 can be described in terms of a space curve.

In particular, it is provided that the radius of curvature R is located at 2L ₂ And 6L ₂ Between (2L) ₂ <R<6L ₂ )。

The scraping element 70 has an apex 270 on the contact line 262, which in one embodiment (see fig. 25 (a)) is disposed on the central plane 94. The course of the mathematical curve describing the course of the contact line 262 can be described in cylindrical coordinates. It is contemplated that the contact line 262 may be projected onto a (imaginary) cylinder 272 having a cylinder axis 274 (fig. 25 (a)). The contact line 262 is formed mirror-symmetrically with respect to the apex 270 or the center plane 94 (fig. 25 (a)). The polar angle f varies along the curved course. There is a maximum polar angle f at the vertex 270 (according to point B of fig. 25 (a)) _s And from the vertex 270, polar angle f _s Decreasing. The polar angle here decreases in the same manner toward the end-side ends 238, 240 and in particular steadily decreases. In particular, there is also a monotonic decrease.

It is also possible here for the distance between the curve and the cylinder axis 274 to decrease.

A cross-section through the cleaner head 12 at point a according to fig. 25 is shown in fig. 21, and a cross-section at point B (i.e. at the apex 270) is shown in fig. 22.

There is an angle between the first side wing 256 and a plane 276 parallel to the placement surface 14. According to fig. 21, at point a, the angle is α. According to fig. 22, at the vertex 270, the angle is β, where β is greater than α. At point B, the scraping element 70 penetrates a smaller distance into the facing surface 246 than at point a (see fig. 17 and 16). This is caused by the corresponding curvature at the contact line 262.

In particular, it is provided that the access opening 56 has a third length L along the scraping element 70 ₃ The length is smaller than the first length L ₁ . By the guiding function of the scraping element 70, dirty fluid is also transported at the cleaning roller unit 18 into the discharge area (into the inlet opening 56). A smaller access opening 56 is then sufficient, thereby again reducing the contaminated area on the floor cleaning machine 10.

On the surface of the cleaning roller unit 18 and also in the region of the penetration of the scraping element 70, a guide region for dirty fluid is obtained on the cleaning roller unit 18 due to the curvature of the scraping element 70, via which guide region the dirty fluid on the cleaning roller unit 18 is guided by means of the scraping element 70 to the intermediate region 264. As a result, the discharge area can be formed smaller with respect to the distance direction parallel to the rotational axis 46, i.e. the inlet opening 56 can be of length L ₃ Configured smaller than for example in the case of straight scraping elements 70. Thereby, a smaller transfer area for delivering dirty fluid to the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 can be achieved. This simplifies dirty fluid discharge and reduces contamination of the apparatus.

In addition, foam that may be present on the scrub roller unit 18 is directed by the scraping elements 70 toward the middle zone 264. Thereby reducing or at least greatly reducing the amount of foam that escapes from the end-side ends of the scrub roller unit 18.

In the embodiment according to fig. 25 (a), a wiping element 70 is depicted which is assigned to a cleaning roller unit 18 having a first roller section 116 and a second roller section 118, and in which the apex 270 is arranged on a central plane.

Fig. 25 (b) shows an alternative embodiment, in which the scraping element is configured without a penetration. Each

roller section

116 or 118 is associated with its own scraping element, wherein these scraping elements are arranged in particular on a single holder (holder 72).

The contact line 262' for the example case of the first roller portion 116 is shown in fig. 25 (b).

The first roller portion has a length L ₂ *。

The length L ₂ * Between the respective end-side ends of the first roller portion 116 (or the second roller portion 118).

The respective edge element has an edge profile 262', which is symmetrical. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the respective scraping element associated with the first roller portion 116 (or the second roller portion 118) is rounded, wherein the radius of curvature R is in particular between 2L ₂ * To 6L ₂ * Between (2L) ₂ *<R*<6L ₂ *)。

In particular, a removal of dirty fluid from the

respective roller section

116 or 118 is thereby achieved.

With respect to the cleaning roller unit 18, the combination of scraping elements has a "double hump shape", wherein in combination, the respective scraping elements may be spaced apart or may also be continuous.

It is also possible in principle, as indicated in fig. 26 and 27, for the respective curvature of the scraping element 70 to run asymmetrically and without an apex or without an apex at the center plane. For this purpose, in particular, dirty fluid can be guided out to one side 310 (fig. 26) or one side 312 (fig. 27).

It is in principle possible here, as indicated in fig. 26 and 27, for the wiping element 70 to run in relation to the cleaning roller unit 18 as a whole with a combination of a first roller section 116 and a second roller section 118, or in relation to only one

roller section

116 or 118.

With respect to the cleaning roller unit 18 having the first roller section 116 and the second roller section 118, the course according to fig. 26 or 27 is asymmetrical. For example, when the trend according to fig. 26 is directed to the first roller portion 116 and the trend according to fig. 27 is directed to the second roller portion 118, then the overall trend is symmetrical with respect to the cleaning roller unit 18 having the first roller portion 116 and the second roller portion 118. In this embodiment, in particular, an outward export occurs.

The reverse situation can also be provided, i.e. the export is done inwards and the rolling of the

roller portions

116 and 118 is interchanged.

In principle, embodiments using such curved scraping elements are also possible when the cleaning roller unit has only one roller section.

The construction of the curved scraping element 70 has been described in connection with the floor cleaning machine 10. The arch construction solution can also be used for other types of floor cleaning machines, such as self-propelled and self-steering cleaning machines (cleaning robots).

The floor cleaning machine 10 according to the present invention operates as follows:

for the cleaning mode of operation, the cleaning head 12 is placed on the floor 16 to be cleaned. The user guides the cleaning head 12 over the floor 16 to be cleaned via the grip device 36. After switching on, the cleaning roller unit 18 rotates about the rotational axis 46, wherein the drive takes place via a drive motor 98.

In the wiping mode of operation (wet cleaning mode of operation), cleaning liquid is fed from the tank 50 for cleaning liquid, in particular to the cleaning roller unit 18.

Thereby, the floor 16 to be cleaned is wetted for better loosening of dirt. Dirt is carried along and transported via the cleaning roller unit 18 towards the scraping element 70. At this point, the liquid, particularly with dirt particles, is released from the scrub roller unit 18 and is fed into the dirt liquid filling device 32.

Due to the guiding element function of the scraping element 70, dirty fluid discharge is facilitated based on the respective curvature.

Coarse dirt can also be accommodated. The cleaning element 62 ensures that coarse dirt is fed to the cleaning roller unit 18, which conveys the coarse dirt directly into the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 and/or releases it via the scraping element 70.

Hair is detached from the scrub roller unit 18 via the comb elements 232.

In principle, a purely sweeping mode of operation without wetting with cleaning liquid is also possible. In particular, the user can then adjust on the operating panel that no wetting should take place.

In particular, the scrub roller unit 18 is used for a wet cleaning mode of operation in which the facing 246 is a textile material. The scrub roller unit 18 can also be used in a sweeping process.

It is also possible to replace the cleaning roller unit 18, for example for a sweeping process, and to use a cleaning roller unit in which the facing is a brush.

Pure dry cleaning or wet cleaning can be performed by the floor cleaning machine 10 as desired.

The grip device 36 is supported on the cleaning roller unit 18 by means of the track joint 84 and a corresponding pressing pressure is applied to the floor surface 16 to be cleaned. Thereby enhancing the mechanical action of the scrub roller unit 18 on the floor 16 to be cleaned and improving the dirt removal and soil containing capabilities of the floor cleaning machine 10.

As a result of the construction of the pivot joint 84 described above, the cleaning roller unit 18 is subjected to the greatest pressing pressure on the floor cleaning machine 10 itself via the grip device 36.

The dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 remains in the same position relative to the floor 16 to be cleaned. Thereby also allowing the cleaning element 62 to remain in the same position relative to the floor surface 16. This results in improved coarse soil containment and overall improved cleaning.

An easy handling is obtained with respect to the swingable ability of the grip device 36 on the cleaning head 12. The descending performance of furniture and the like is better.

Thanks to the provision of the tread tab 34 and by means of the parking position 185, the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 can be removed from the cleaning head 12 in a simple manner or the cleaning head 12 can be placed on the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 in a simple manner. In particular, the user does not have to grasp the dirty fluid tank apparatus 32 with his or her hand in order to remove or insert the dirty fluid tank apparatus.

By the construction of the pivot joint 84 as a track joint, it is ensured that in each pivot position of the lever arrangement 36 relative to the cleaning head 12 about the pivot axis 40 within a pivot angle range, the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 still always occupies the same position relative to the floor surface 16 and remains parallel to the floor surface 16.

In the parking position 185, a locking is achieved and the floor cleaning machine 10 is in a stable position, i.e., the grip device 36 is locked and the floor cleaning machine 10 "does not fall over on its own".

By means of the at least one support element 120 being arranged on the foot 30 (instead of on the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32), an optimal support of the weight of the cleaning head 12 and the dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 on the floor 16 to be cleaned is caused. A dirty fluid tank arrangement 32 having a relatively large volume of dirty fluid may be achieved.

In one embodiment (fig. 15 to 18), a rotatability about a rotational axis 41 is provided on the lever arrangement 36, in particular with respect to the handle 38.

To this end, the grip device 36 includes a first portion 278 and a second portion 280, wherein the second portion 280 is rotatable relative to the first portion 278 about the rotational axis 41.

In one embodiment, the first portion 278 coincides with the first region 76 of the grip device 36 and the second portion 280 coincides with the second region 78 of the grip device.

In one embodiment, the axis of rotation 41 is coaxial with the first longitudinal axis 80. In principle, however, it is also possible for the axis of rotation 41 to be parallel, for example, to the second longitudinal axis 42. An embodiment is described hereinafter in which the axis of rotation 41 is parallel to the first longitudinal axis 80.

In particular, the drive motor 98 and the transmission 104 do not rotate together when rotating about the rotational axis 41. They are all disposed on the first portion 278.

A locking device 282 (fig. 15 to 18) is provided which, on the one hand, releases the rotatability of the second part 280 relative to the first part 278 (second region 78 relative to the first region 76) outside of the locking position 284 (fig. 15, 16), whereas in the locking position 284 the rotatability of the second part 280 of the grip device 36 relative to the first part 278 of the grip device 36 about the rotation axis 41 is blocked (fig. 17, 18).

In the illustrations according to fig. 15 to 18, the shield 386 (see fig. 4) is removed for illustrating the manner in which the locking device 284 functions.

The locking means 284 comprises a slide 288 movably and in particular linearly movably arranged on the first portion 278 (on the first region 76). The axis of movement 289 is here in particular parallel to the axis of rotation 41.

The slide 288 has a projection 290 (see, e.g., fig. 16) in the first end region. Via the projection 290, the slide 288 can be supported on the cleaning head 12 and there on the corresponding mating surface 292. Outside of the parking position 185, the projection 290 is here spaced apart from the mating face 292. When the park position 185 is reached, the projection 290 acts on the mating surface 292 and this causes movement of the slide 288 in the direction of movement 289. The slide 288 is spring-supported and is supported on the first portion 278 here via a spring means 294. The spring means is arranged and designed such that it presses the slide 288 with the protrusions 290 towards the cleaning head 12. In order to move the slide 288 in the opposite direction (away from the cleaner head 12), the spring force of the spring means 294 must be overcome. When the park position 185 is reached, there is such a overcoming of the spring force of the spring device 294. By supporting the projection 290 on the mating surface 292, the slide 288 is moved generally in the direction of the second portion 280.

On the end opposite to the end where the projection 290 is located, the slide 288 has a countersunk element 296. In the parking position 185, the immersion element 296 may be immersed in a corresponding immersion opening 298 of the second portion 280. As a result, a form-locking is achieved with respect to the rotatability about the rotation axis 41, and the second part 280 (the second region 78) of the grip device 36 is prevented from rotating about the rotation axis 41 relative to the first part 278 (the first region 76).

When the grip device 36 is brought into the park position 185, the slide 288 is pushed as a whole in the direction of the second part 280 and the immersion element 296 is immersed into the immersion opening 298 (with the second part 280 correspondingly oriented with respect to the first part 278) and in the corresponding locking position 284 the rotatability of the second part 280 with respect to the first part 278 about the rotational axis 41 is blocked.

Beyond the parking position 185, the spring device 294 acts on the slide 288 in such a way that it is moved or held there in the direction of the cleaning head 12. The immersion element 296 is then removed from the immersion opening 298, and the second part 280 can be rotated about the rotational axis 41 relative to the first part 278 outside the locking position 284.

The locking device 284 has an overload protection 300. The overload protection 300 is mainly used to prevent damage when torsion about the rotation axis 41 occurs in the parking position 185.

In one embodiment, the slide 288 is formed in two pieces (at least) of a first portion 302 and a second portion 304. The projection 290 is located on the first portion 302. The immersion element 296 is disposed on the second portion 304.

The second part 304 is slidably supported on the first part 302, wherein there is a support via spring means 306.

In particular, the spring means 306 is "stiff" compared to the spring means 294 and in particular is considerably stiffer than the spring means 294.

In the "normal state", the spring force of the spring means 306 acts in such a way that it pushes the second part 304 away from the first part 302 until the stop 308 of the second part 304 reaches the first part 302 (see for example fig. 16). In this state, the slide 288 moves as a whole made up of the first portion 302 and the second portion 304 in the moving direction 289. Thus, the slide 288 having the first portion 302 and the second portion 304 is enabled to reach the locking position 284 in the park position 185 and to be located outside the locking position 284 outside the park position 185 and to enable rotatability of the second portion 280 relative to the first portion 278 about the rotational axis 41.

In the locking position 284, the slide 288 does not clear, or at most does clear, a certain play with respect to the direction of movement 289. The blocking of movement to the cleaning head 12 is caused by the projection 290. Blocking movement to second portion 280 is accomplished by submerged element 296 being submerged into submerged opening 298.

When a large force, and in particular a corresponding torque, is applied to the second portion 280 relative to the first portion 278, the slide 288 does not entirely clear in the direction of movement 289. However, since the slide 288 is constructed in multiple pieces, the second part 304 can move relative to the first part 302 against the spring force of the spring means 306 and can move away from the stop 308. Thereby, in particular, the immersion element 296 can be moved out of the immersion opening 298. The risk of damage is thereby reduced, since avoidance can be achieved.

List of reference numerals

10. Floor cleaning machine

12. Cleaning head

14. Placement surface

16. Floor to be cleaned

18. Cleaning roller unit

20. Front end

22. Rear end

24. Longitudinal axis

26. A first lateral side

28. Second lateral side

30. Base seat

32. Dirty fluid tank arrangement

34. Pedal tongue piece

36. Holding rod device

38. Handle

40. Swing axis

41. Axis of rotation

42. Second longitudinal axis

44. Rotatability of

46. Axis of rotation

48. 48' battery holder

50. Tank device for cleaning liquid

52. Direction of rotation

54. Access device

56. Access opening

58. Bottom part

60. Wall of container

62. Cleaning element

64. Coarse dirt

66. Conveying device

68. Wetting part

70. Scraping element

72. Retainer

74. Dirty fluid

76. First region

78. Second region

80. First longitudinal axis

82. Obtuse angle

84. Swing joint

86. Track guiding device

88. Circular track section

90. Fitting device

92. Height axis

94. Center plane

98. Driving motor

100. Shell body

102. Free space

104. Transmission device

106. Roller housing

108. Shaft

110. A first shaft part

112. Second shaft portion

114. Middle part

116. A first roller part

118. A second roller part

120. Support element

122. Support post

124. Roller and slide block

126 Underside (of base)

127 Underside (of dirty fluid tank arrangement)

128. Upper side of

130. Wall of container

132. Notch

134. A first opening portion

136. A second opening portion

138. First chamber

140. A second chamber

142. Cover for a container

144. Plate member

146. Edge wall

148. Direction of removal

150. Space of

152. Through recess

154. Retainer

156. First part

158. Second part

160. Housing part

162. Holder-receptacle-assembly

164. First element

166. Second element

168. Accommodation region

170. Flange

172. First surface area

174. Second surface area

176. First cone angle

178. Second taper angle

180. Widening part

182. Swing angle

184. Underside of the lower part

185. Parking location

186. Locking device

188. Pin-countersunk opening combination

190. First part

192. Second part

194. Sink opening

196 196' pin

197. Surface for sticking

198. Guide part

200. Axis of movement

202. Spring device

204. Flange

206. Stop block

208. Stop element

210. A first inclined plane

212. First abutting surface

214. Second inclined plane

216. Second abutting surface

218. Tip end

220. Force of force

222. Base seat

224. Rear end

226. Front end

228. First region

230. Second region

232. Comb element

234. Shaft pile

236. Swing axis

238. End of the first end side

240. End of the second end side

242. Row of rows

244. Stitch(s)

246. Lining surface

248. Length of

250. Swing bearing

252. Spring device

254. Rib part

256. First side wing

258. Second side wing

260. Edge of edge

262. 262' contact line

264. Intermediate region

266. Concave region

268. Convex region

270. Vertex point

272. Column body

274. Cylinder axis

276. Plane surface

278. First part

280. Second part

282. Locking device

284. Locking position

286. Protective cover

288. Sliding block

289. Direction of movement

290. Protrusions

292. Mating surface

294. Spring device

296. Sinking element

298. Sink opening

300. Overload protection

302. First part

304. Second part

306. Spring device

308. Stop block

310. Side of the vehicle

312. Side of the vehicle

L ₁ First length

L ₂ 、L ₂ * Second length

L ₃ Third length

D spacing

Claims

1. Floor cleaning machine comprising a cleaning head (12), a grip device (36) connected to the cleaning head (12), at least one cleaning roller unit (18) arranged on the cleaning head (12), and a dirty fluid tank device (32) arranged in a removable manner on a base (30) of the cleaning head (12), characterized in that at least one support element (120) is arranged on the base (30) of the cleaning head (12), which support element is spaced apart from the at least one cleaning roller unit (18), wherein, in a cleaning operation, the cleaning head (12) is supported on the floor (16) to be cleaned via the at least one cleaning roller unit (18) and the at least one support element (120), and the dirty fluid tank device (32) has a through recess (152) associated with the at least one support element (120), which support element (120) is guided through when the dirty fluid tank device (32) is arranged on the cleaning head (12).

2. The floor cleaning machine according to claim 1, characterized in that a placement surface (14) for the cleaning head (12) is provided via the at least one cleaning roller unit (18) and the at least one support element (120), which placement surface has at least one of the following features:

-the placement surface (14) is a flat surface;

-the rotation axis (46) of the at least one scrub roller unit (18) is parallel to the placement surface (14);

-the grip device (36) is hinged to the cleaning head (12) in a swingable manner about a swing axis (40), and the swing axis (40) is parallel to the rest surface (14);

-a removal direction (148) for removing the dirty fluid tank arrangement (32) from the cleaning head (12) and an insertion direction for inserting the dirty fluid tank arrangement (32) on the cleaning head (12) both transversely and in particular perpendicularly to the placement surface (14);

-the dirty fluid tank arrangement (32) is removable from the cleaning head (12) downwardly towards the placement face (14);

-said seat (30) is spaced apart from said resting surface (14) in the height direction.

3. The floor cleaning machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one support element (120) comprises a roller (124) or a slider.

4. The floor cleaning machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one support element (120) comprises a pillar (122) which is connected to the base (30) and extends away from the base (30) into a space (150) in which the dirty fluid tank arrangement (32) is located.

5. The floor cleaning machine of claim 4, characterized by at least one of the following features:

-a roller (124) or a slider is arranged on the support (122);

-the support (122) is positioned in an associated through recess (152) of the dirty fluid tank arrangement (32) when the dirty fluid tank arrangement (32) is fixed to the base (30).

6. The floor cleaning machine according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the through recess (152) is open at both an upper side (128) of the dirty fluid tank arrangement (32) and a lower side (127) of the dirty fluid tank arrangement (32), wherein the upper side (128) faces the base (30) when the dirty fluid tank arrangement (32) is fixed to the base (30), and wherein the lower side (127) faces away from the upper side (128).

7. The floor cleaning machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the through recess (152) is delimited by a wall (130) of the dirty fluid tank arrangement (32) between the upper side (128) and the lower side (127), wherein the wall (130) is closed or the through recess (152) is open to one side of the dirty fluid tank arrangement (32).

8. Floor cleaning machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the wall (130) is oriented transversely and in particular perpendicularly to the upper side (128) and/or the lower side (127) of the dirty fluid tank arrangement (32).

9. The floor cleaning machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one cleaning roller unit (18) is arranged on a roller receptacle (106) of a shaft (108) having a first shaft portion (110), an intermediate portion (114) and a second shaft portion (112), wherein the intermediate portion (114) is located between the first shaft portion (110) and the second shaft portion (112), and a first roller portion (116) of the at least one cleaning roller unit (18) is arranged on the first shaft portion (110), and a second roller portion (118) of the at least one cleaning roller unit (18) is arranged on the second shaft portion (112), and an intermediate drive is provided, which acts on the intermediate portion (114).

10. The floor cleaning machine according to claim 9, characterized in that the at least one support element (120) is arranged in alignment with the intermediate portion (114) with respect to a longitudinal axis (24) of the cleaning head (12).

11. Floor cleaning machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a tread tongue (34) is arranged on the dirty fluid tank arrangement (32), the at least one support element (120) being arranged in alignment with the tread tongue pair (34) with respect to the longitudinal axis (24) of the cleaning head (12) when the dirty fluid tank arrangement (32) is fixed on the cleaning head (12).

12. Floor cleaning machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that exactly one support element (120) is provided.

13. The floor cleaning machine according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one support element (120) is arranged centrally between a first lateral side (26) and a second lateral side (28) of the cleaning head (12).

14. The floor cleaning machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dirty fluid tank arrangement (32) is movably and in particular floatingly held on the bottom (30).

15. A floor cleaning machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by a locking device by means of which the dirty fluid tank means (32) is releasably connected to the base (30).

16. The floor cleaning machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the grip lever device (36) is held on the cleaning head (12) in a swingable manner via a swing joint (84), wherein in particular the swing axis (40) of the swing joint (84) coincides with the rotation axis (46) of the at least one cleaning roller unit (18).

17. The floor cleaning machine according to claim 16, characterized in that the pivot joint (84) is configured as a track joint having a track guide of the grip device (36) on the cleaning head (12).

18. The floor cleaning machine according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the swivel joint (84) has a track guide (86) which is arranged on the cleaning head (12) in a rotationally fixed manner and which has a circular track section (88) which has a center on the swivel axis (40), and in that the swivel joint (84) has a counter-device (90) which is arranged on the grip lever device (36) in a rotationally fixed manner and which is supported on the track guide (86).

19. The floor cleaning machine according to claim 18, characterized in that the at least one cleaning roller unit (18) is arranged in the region of the front end (20) of the cleaning head (12) and has the following features:

-the circular track section (88) is arranged behind the at least one cleaning roller (18) with respect to a longitudinal axis (24) of the cleaning head (12);

-the circular track section (88) is arranged above the at least one cleaning roller unit (18) with respect to a height axis (92) of the cleaning head (12).

20. Floor cleaning machine according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the engagement means (90) are supported on the trajectory guidance means (86) via at least three support points.

21. The floor cleaning machine according to any one of claims 16 to 20, characterized in that the swing joint (84) is arranged centrally between a first lateral side (26) and a spaced apart second lateral side (28) of the cleaning head (12).

22. The floor cleaning machine according to any one of claims 16 to 21, characterized in that the cleaning head (12) is assigned a tread tongue (34) in the region of a rear end (22) of the cleaning head (12), wherein the rear end (22) faces away from the front end (20) and the at least one cleaning roller unit (18) is arranged in the region of the front end (20).

23. The floor cleaning machine according to claim 22, characterized in that the tread tongue (34) is arranged in alignment with the swing joint (84) with respect to a longitudinal axis (24) of the cleaning head (12) and in particular centrally between a first lateral side (26) and a second lateral side (28) of the cleaning head (12).

24. A floor cleaning machine according to claim 22 or 23 characterized by at least one of the following features:

-the tread tongue (34) extends beyond the rear end of the housing (100) of the cleaning head (12);

-said tread tongue (34) being arranged on a dirty fluid tank device (32) removably arranged on said cleaning head (12);

-said tread tongue (34) has an upturned transverse edge wall (146).

25. The floor cleaning machine according to any one of claims 16 to 24, characterized in that a free space (102) is formed on the cleaning head (12), in which the grip device (36) is movable when pivoting about the swivel axis (40), and in particular a tread tongue (34) is arranged at the free space (102) or in a continuation of the free space (102).

26. A floor cleaning machine according to any one of claims 16 to 25, characterized by a drive motor (98) for the cleaning roller unit (18), which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner with the grip device (36) in view of the swingable properties of the grip device (36) about the swing axis (40).

27. The floor cleaning machine according to any one of claims 16 to 26, characterized by a transmission (104) for transmitting torque from a drive motor (98) to the at least one cleaning roller unit (18), wherein the transmission (104) is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the grip device (36) in view of the swingable ability of the grip device (36) about the swing axis (40).

28. The floor cleaning machine according to any one of claims 16 to 27, characterized by a roller receptacle (106) on which the at least one cleaning roller unit (18) is arranged, wherein the roller receptacle (106) is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the grip device (36) in view of the swingable properties of the grip device (36).

29. The floor cleaning machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the grip device (36) comprises a first region (76) with a first longitudinal axis (80) and a second region (78) with a second longitudinal axis (42), wherein the first longitudinal axis (80) and the second longitudinal axis (42) are oriented at an obtuse angle (82) to each other, wherein in particular the obtuse angle (82) is in the range between 120 ° and 170 °.

30. The floor cleaning machine of claim 29, characterized by at least one of the following features:

-the second region (78) is arranged on the first region (76);

-the first region (76) is a distal region of the grip device (36) or comprises a distal region of the grip device (36);

-the grip device (36) is hinged to the cleaning head (12) via the first region (76);

-a mating device (90) of the swing joint (84) is arranged on the first region (76);

-arranging a drive motor (98) for the at least one cleaning roller unit (18) on the first region (76);

-the first region (76) has a housing (100);

-a battery holder is arranged on the first area (76);

-a particularly removable tank device for cleaning liquid is arranged on the first zone (76).

31. A floor cleaning machine according to claim 29 or 30 having at least one of the following features:

-the second region (78) is a proximal region of the grip device (36) or comprises a proximal region of the grip device (36);

-a handle (38) is arranged on the second region (78);

-arranging on said second zone (78) a tank (50), in particular removable, for a cleaning liquid;

-a battery holder (48) is arranged on the second region (78);

-an operating panel is arranged on the second area (78) or at a handle (38) arranged on the second area (78);

-the second region (78) has a straight extension along a second longitudinal axis (42).

32. The floor cleaning machine according to any one of claims 16 to 31, characterized in that the grip device (36) has a free range of angles of oscillation relative to the cleaning head (12) via the swivel joint (84), which range of angles of oscillation has an angle of oscillation (182) between a longitudinal axis (42) of the grip device (36) and a placement surface (14) of the cleaning head (12) on the floor (16) to be cleaned, wherein the angle of oscillation (182) is in a range between a lower limit and an upper limit, in particular having at least one of the following characteristics:

-said lower limit is 0 ° or greater than 0 °;

-said lower limit is less than 50 °, in particular less than 40 °, in particular less than 30 °;

-said upper limit is comprised between 80 ° and 120 °, in particular about 90 °;

-at the upper limit, the grip device (36) has a stationarily positioned (185) with respect to the cleaning head (12).

33. The floor cleaning machine according to claim 32, characterized by a locking device (186) which locks the grip device (36) with the cleaning head (12) at the upper limit such that the swingable nature of the grip device (36) with respect to the cleaning head (12) is blocked.

34. A floor cleaning machine according to claim 33, characterized in that when the grip device is at the upper limit and locked with the cleaning head (12), and when the cleaning head (12) is conventionally placed on the floor (16) to be cleaned, further pivoting of the grip device (36) causes the cleaning head (12) to pivot towards the floor (16) to be cleaned without further intervention by the user when the swing angle (182) is increased.

35. The floor cleaning machine according to claim 33 or 34, characterized in that the locking device (186) comprises at least one spring-loaded pin (196, 196 ') and an associated countersunk opening (194) for the pin (196, 196'), wherein (i) the at least one pin (196, 196 ') is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the grip device (36) and the associated countersunk opening (194) is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the cleaning head (12), or (ii) the at least one pin (196, 196') is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the cleaning head (12) and the associated countersunk opening (194) is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the grip device (36).

36. The floor cleaning machine of claim 35, characterized by at least one of the following features:

-outside the immersion opening (194), the immersion opening (194) is assigned a first inclined plane (210) which guides the associated pin (196, 196 ') into the immersion opening (194) when the pivot angle (182) increases, wherein the first inclined plane (210) causes the pin (196, 196') to move against the spring-loaded force;

-the at least one pin (196, 196') has a first abutment surface (212) matching the first inclined plane (210);

-the immersion opening (194) is delimited by a wall which has a second inclined plane (214) and via which the associated pin (196, 196 ') is moved out of the immersion opening (194) when the pivot angle (182) is reduced, wherein the second inclined plane (214) causes the pin (196, 196') to move against the force of a spring load;

-said at least one pin (196, 196') has a second abutment surface (216) matching said second inclined plane (214).

37. Floor cleaning machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one of the following features:

-a tread tongue (34) is arranged on the dirty fluid tank device (32);

-at least one scraping element (70) is arranged on the cleaning head (12), which scraping element acts on the at least one cleaning roller unit (18) and serves to scrape dirty fluid from the at least one cleaning roller unit (18);

-the at least one scraping element (70) is immersed in the active material of the at least one cleaning roller unit (18);

-the dirty fluid is transferred directly from the at least one cleaning roller unit (18) into the dirty fluid tank means (32) without running suction means.

38. Floor cleaning machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one of the following features:

-the grip device (36) is configured for a standing user standing on the floor (16) to be cleaned, wherein the cleaning head (12) is placed on the floor (16) to be cleaned via the placement surface (14) and the floor cleaning machine is guided on the floor (16) to be cleaned via the grip device (36);

-the at least one scrub roller unit (18) is motorized by a drive motor (98);

-the cleaning head (12) has a housing (100) in which the at least one cleaning roller unit (18) is at least partially arranged;

-the at least one cleaning roller unit (18) is located with its outer ends at a first lateral side (26) and a second lateral side (28) of the cleaning head (12), respectively.

39. Floor cleaning machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one of the following features:

-arranging (i) at least one scraping element (70) for the at least one cleaning roller unit (18) on the cleaning head (12);

-arranging (ii) at least one comb element (232) on the cleaning head (12), the comb element acting on the at least one cleaning roller unit (18);

the cleaning head (12) is assigned (iii) at least one cleaning element (62) which delivers cleaning objects to the at least one cleaning roller unit (18), wherein the at least one cleaning element (62) is arranged in particular on the dirty fluid tank arrangement (32),

wherein any one of the elements (i), (ii), (iii) of the at least one cleaning roller unit (18) or any combination of these elements (70, 232, 62) has the same positioning irrespective of the oscillating positioning of the grip device (36) relative to the cleaning head (12).

40. A floor cleaning machine according to any one of the preceding claims characterized by at least one of the following modes of operation:

-a dry cleaning mode of operation in which no cleaning liquid is applied to the floor (16) to be cleaned or to the at least one cleaning roller unit (18);

-a wet wiping operation mode, in which cleaning liquid is loaded to the floor (16) to be cleaned and/or to the at least one cleaning roller unit (18);

-a sweeping operation and a wet wiping operation mode, wherein coarse dirt is fed to the at least one cleaning roller unit (18), in particular via a sweeping element (62), and is conveyed via the at least one cleaning roller unit (18) into a dirty fluid tank arrangement (32), and dirty fluid is scraped off the at least one cleaning roller unit (18) via at least one scraping element (70) and is conveyed therefrom into the dirty fluid tank arrangement (32).