DE102020213579B4 - cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

Cleaning device (1) for treating surfaces (2), in particular textiles, with a blower (3) and a suction mouth (4) connected thereto, with a detection device (5) for detecting a direction of movement (6) of the suction mouth (4) and with a valve device (7) connected to it in a communicating manner, via which a negative pressure in the suction mouth (4) can be influenced depending on the direction of movement (6), characterized in that a plasma source (8) arranged in the suction mouth (4) is provided, via which the plasma the surface (2) to be treated can be discharged, wherein a control device (12) is provided which is communicatively connected to the plasma source (8), the detection device (5), the blower (3) and the valve device (7) and is designed in such a way that that it only activates the plasma source (8) if the valve device (7) is open and air (13) is sucked in exclusively from the environment and not via the suction mouth (4) and/or provided the blower (3) is switched off.

Description

The present invention relates to a cleaning device for treating surfaces, in particular textiles, with a blower and a suction mouth connected thereto, according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to an operating method of such a cleaning device.

From the DE 196 02 723 A1 a generic cleaning device with a blower and a suction mouth and a detection device for detecting a direction of movement of the suction mouth is known. Here, the current direction of movement of the suction mouth (floor nozzle) is recorded and depending on this direction of movement, the applied negative pressure is varied. During a forward movement, additional amounts of secondary air are selectively guided into the area of the suction mouth, preferably through bypass openings, and thus contribute to the cleaning effect.

From the DE 10 2014 003 692 B3 a cleaning device with a housing with a base plate is also known, which can be guided at a distance over a floor covering to be cleaned. At least one electrode is accommodated in the base plate, to which an electrical voltage can be applied, so that an electrical discharge can form between the electrode and the floor covering to be cleaned. By emitting plasma, the floor covering can be refreshed in terms of odors and treated with an antibacterial agent at the same time.

From the EP 1 604 602 A1 a suction head of a vacuum cleaner is known, comprising a housing with a suction mouth through which dust can be sucked in, a brush which is rotatably mounted in the suction mouth and has a plurality of bristles, and a brush drive device. A first suction channel with an entrance is positioned corresponding to a dust movement direction when the brush rotates in a forward direction, while a second suction channel with an entrance is positioned corresponding to a dust movement direction when the brush rotates in a reverse direction. Both inputs are arranged in such a way that they are spaced apart from an open section of the suction mouth. In this way, in particular, an improved cleaning function should be able to be provided.

In order to optimize a cleaning process, plasma sources are increasingly being used, via which plasma can be emitted onto a surface to be cleaned or treated. In addition to the three physical states, plasma is referred to as the fourth physical state. If a sufficient amount of energy is supplied to a gas or gas mixture, for example in the form of electrical energy, some atoms of the gas are ionized, i.e. electrons are removed from the atomic shell and move as free parts, leaving a positively charged atom behind. When a gas consists of a sufficiently high proportion of free ions and electrons, it is called a plasma. So-called cold plasma, which can be used in a targeted manner to eliminate odors and certain hydrocarbons, is also used in cleaning devices.

A cold plasma produces particularly reactive particles, such as various oxygen or nitrogen species, which have a sufficiently long lifetime to damage organic compounds if indirectly exposed. These particles include atomic oxygen, superoxide radicals, ozone, hydroxyl radicals, nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, which have a destructive effect on a wide variety of odor molecules as well as cell components and are therefore able to damage the cell walls of bacteria, germs, viruses or fungi, for example damage and thereby kill these microorganisms. By impacting the cell walls or odor molecules, which usually consist of carbon compounds, these become negatively charged by the electrons present in the plasma, which leads to electrostatic repulsion and thus to mechanical stresses which, if the tensile strength is exceeded, can lead to the destruction of the cell walls or resulting in odor molecules. The plasma can be generated, for example, by means of a high frequency.

A disadvantage of a cleaning device with a plasma source, however, is that ozone is produced if atmospheric oxygen enters uncontrolled, which can not only result in irritation of the respiratory tract, but can also lead to discoloration or discoloration of a surface if it is exposed to it for a longer period of time.

Such cleaning devices with a plasma source can not only be used to treat smooth surfaces made of glass, wood or metal, for example, but also any type of textile, for example with natural fibers or synthetic fibers, but also leather, feathers, ceramics, cotton, silk, linen, felt, nylon, etc

The present invention deals with the problem of providing an improved or at least an alternative embodiment for a cleaning device of the generic type ben, by means of which in particular an improved cleaning result, a comfortable use and / or a longer service life of the cleaning device can be achieved.

According to the invention, this problem is solved by the subject matter of independent claim 1 . Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

The present invention is based on the general idea of constructing a cleaning device both as a vacuum cleaner and as a plasma cleaner and thereby reliably and automatically separating the different cleaning processes, namely suction and treatment of a surface to be cleaned or refreshed with plasma using appropriate devices. The cleaning device according to the invention for treating a surface, in particular for treating textiles or carpets, has a blower with a suction mouth connected thereto, namely a vacuum cleaner. Also provided are a detection device that is able to detect a direction of movement of the suction mouth and a valve device connected to it in a communicating manner, via which a negative pressure in the suction mouth can be controlled as a function of the direction of movement. In concrete terms, this means that the valve device is opened, for example, when the suction mouth moves in the opposite direction and is closed when the suction mouth moves in the opposite direction. When the valve device is closed, air is preferably sucked in exclusively or at least predominantly via the suction mouth, while when the valve device is open, air can also or only be sucked in from the environment and not via the suction mouth. According to the invention, a plasma source arranged in the suction mouth is now provided, via which plasma can be applied to the surface to be treated, wherein a control device is provided which is communicatively connected to the plasma source, the detection device, the blower and the valve device, which in turn is designed in such a way that it Plasma source only activated when the valve device is open and at the same time air is sucked in exclusively from the environment and not via the suction mouth. Additionally or alternatively, the control device can only activate the plasma source if the fan is switched off. Both embodiments contribute to the cleaning device sucking off the surface when the suction mouth is moved, for example, and when the suction mouth is moved forward, i.e. retracted, the surface is exposed to plasma and thereby destroys both odor molecules and cell walls of microorganisms and thereby disinfects the surface and odors are neutralized at the same time. The cleaning device according to the invention has the additional advantage that air is sucked in via the suction mouth only when the plasma source is switched off, as a result of which undesired ozone production due to ozone formed from atmospheric oxygen can be avoided. By avoiding or at least reducing ozone that is not used for cleaning, it is also possible to prevent it from being discharged into the ambient air via the suction mouth and the blower, thereby at least reducing the risk of irritation of the respiratory tract. An increased ozone concentration also results in increased wear of the plasma source, so that the only alternative operation of the cleaning device as a suction device or as a plasma device means that an undesirably high exposure of the plasma device to ozone and thus increased wear of the same can be reliably avoided .

In an advantageous development of the solution according to the invention, the valve device has a flap valve. By means of such a flap valve, a valve that is not only inexpensive but also highly functional can be created, which reliably prevents air being sucked in through the suction mouth when the plasma source is switched on at the same time.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the solution according to the invention, the detection device has a microcontroller. Of course, it is also conceivable for the detection device to have an optical sensor or the like, so that the direction of movement of the suction mouth can be detected electronically. In a simple embodiment, it is also conceivable for an impeller to be arranged on the underside of the suction mouth, which activates or deactivates the plasma source and opens or closes the valve device depending on the direction of rotation. Even this non-exhaustive list gives an idea of the many different options available for the recording device.

The plasma source expediently has a plateau surface with an electrode for generating plasma, which can also be at least partially surrounded by suction openings. The electrode can, for example, have an elongated shape and run transversely to the usual direction of movement of the suction mouth. The electrode is surrounded by a ceramic substrate. During the suction operation of the cleaning device according to the invention, the suction openings at least partially surrounding the plateau area can be used to achieve a uniform, flat suction of the surface to be treated or cleaned.

The cleaning device can expediently have a rotating brush in the area of the suction mouth. By means of such a rotating brush, for example, a smooth surface can not only be vacuumed off, but can also be brushed, as a result of which, for example, easily adhering dirt can be mechanically loosened and thus sucked in more easily. The brush can, of course, also act in the manner of a thread lifter, as a result of which hair and/or fluff, for example, can be combed out of a carpet and, in particular, carpet loops can be straightened up. Such a thread lifter can, of course, alternatively to the rotating brush, also be designed in the form of corresponding stationary bristles.

A filter device, in particular an electrostatic precipitator or an activated carbon filter, is expediently provided for filtering out ozone. If, for example, the cleaning device according to the invention is implemented in such a way that the plasma source is only activated when the fan is switched off, the fan can continue to run afterward to suck in air via the suction mouth and thus provide atmospheric oxygen, whereby ozone is produced by means of the plasma will be produced. This ozone can be filtered out by means of the filter device provided according to the invention, as a result of which the risk of irritation of the airways can at least be reduced.

The present invention is also based on the general idea of specifying an operating method for a cleaning device described in the previous paragraphs, in which the control device only activates the plasma source if the valve device is open and air is sucked in exclusively from the environment and not via the suction mouth and/or or if the blower is switched off. By means of the operating method according to the invention it is thus possible to prevent an increased ozone concentration, as a result of which not only the service life of the plasma source is extended, but also any irritation of the airways that may occur can also be prevented. In addition, with the operating method according to the invention, an alternating suction or plasma treatment of the surfaces to be refreshed or cleaned can be achieved with a back and forth movement of a suction mouth of the cleaning device. This means that the surface to be treated can not only be vacuumed off, but at the same time odors can be neutralized and the surface can be treated with an antibacterial agent.

The control device expediently switches off the plasma source if the detection device does not detect any movement of the suction mouth for a predefined period of time. This is intended to avoid excessive exposure of the surface to ozone, which could possibly lead to discoloration or discoloration of the surface to be treated in the medium or long term.

In an advantageous development of the operating method according to the invention, ozone is filtered out of the air sucked in via the suction mouth via a filter device, for example an electrostatic precipitator or an activated carbon filter. As a result, ozone pollution in the vicinity of the cleaning device can be reduced and the risk of irritation of the respiratory tract can thereby be reduced.

Further important features and advantages of the invention result from the dependent claims, from the drawings and from the associated description of the figures with reference to the drawings.

It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and those still to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, with the same reference numbers referring to identical or similar or functionally identical components.

• 1 eine Schnittdarstellung durch eine erfindungsgemäße Reinigungsvorrichtung zum Behandeln von Oberflächen bei geschlossener Ventileinrichtung und deaktivierter Plasmaquelle,
• 2 eine Darstellung wie in 1, jedoch bei geöffneter Ventileinrichtung und aktivierter Plasmaquelle,
• 3 eine Ansicht von unten auf einen Teil der erfindungsgemäßen Reinigungsvorrichtung.

They show, in each case schematically,

• 1 a sectional view through a cleaning device according to the invention for treating surfaces with the valve device closed and the plasma source deactivated,
• 2 a representation as in 1 , but with the valve device open and the plasma source activated,
• 3 a view from below of part of the cleaning device according to the invention.

According to the 1 until 3 , A cleaning device 1 according to the invention for treating surfaces 2, in particular for treating textiles or carpets, has a blower 3 and a suction mouth 4 connected thereto. A detection device 5 for detecting a direction of movement 6 of the suction mouth 4 is also provided. invention Accordingly, a plasma source 8 is now provided in the suction mouth 4, via which plasma, in particular cold plasma, can be applied to the surface 2 to be treated. Such a cold plasma, also known as low-pressure plasma, contains particularly reactive particles, such as various oxygen or nitrogen species, which have a sufficiently long lifetime to damage organic compounds in the event of indirect exposure. Such particles can be, for example, atomic oxygen, superoxide radicals, ozone, hydroxyl radicals, nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. These particles show a destructive effect on a wide variety of odor components or odor molecules, as well as cell components and cell walls. If, for example, odor molecules, which usually consist of carbon compounds, but also the cell walls of bacteria, germs, viruses, fungi or other comparable microorganisms are directly exposed to the plasma, they become negatively charged due to the bombardment with the electrons present in the plasma. Due to the electrostatic repulsion, this leads to mechanical stresses that can even exceed the tensile strength and destroy the odor molecules or the cell wall. Not only can mechanical tension destroy the cell walls due to the charge, but also the disruption of the charge balance of the odor molecules by various other electrostatic interactions and electrolysis, for example by changing the permeability of the cell walls. The mechanism for inactivating microorganisms also results from the very high-energy ions. Particularly cold plasma is particularly well suited for inactivating odors on textile fabrics or common household surfaces or the like. Cold plasma is also understood to mean a plasma in which a temperature that describes the distribution of the kinetic energy of the electrons in the plasma, which is also referred to as the electron temperature, is not identical and in particular is much higher than a temperature that describes the distribution of the kinetic energy of ions, in particular atomic ions or molecular ions, described in the plasma, which is also referred to as the ion temperature.

The direction of movement 6 is in the 1 and 2 only shown in one direction, it being clear, of course, that the detection device 5 can detect different directions of movement 6 and can use this to control the valve device 7 or the plasma source 8 .

The plasma source 8 has a plateau area 9 (cf. in particular 3 ) with at least one electrode 10, according to the 3 an elongated electrode 10, for generating plasma. The plateau surface 9 can be at least partially surrounded by intake openings 11 .

The cleaning device 1 according to the invention also has a control device 12 which is communicatively connected to the plasma source 8, the detection device 5, the blower 3 and the valve device 7 and which is designed in such a way that it only activates the plasma source 8 if the valve device 7 is open (see. 2 ) and as a result air 13 is sucked in exclusively from the environment and not via the suction mouth 4 and/or if the blower 3 is switched off.

A cleaning device 1 designed in this way offers the great advantage that the plasma generated by the plasma source 8 and the electrode 10 and applied to the surface 2 to be treated is not contaminated by oxygen sucked in via the suction mouth 4, which at least reduces the generation of ozone . This is because such a high ozone content can not only cause discoloration or discoloration of the surface 2 to be treated, but can also lead to irritation of the respiratory tract, as a result of which an unintentional generation of ozone must be avoided at all costs. Too high an ozone content also increases the wear on the plasma source 8 and thereby reduces its service life, so that the cleaning device 1 according to the invention can effectively help to gently clean or treat the surfaces 2 to be treated, reduce the wear on the plasma source 8 and reduce the reduce the risk of respiratory irritation.

If one considers the valve device 7 further, one can see that it has a flap valve 14, with a flap of the flap valve 14 according to FIG 1 in its closed position and according to the 2 shown in its open position. In the case shown, the valve device 7 is arranged in a channel 15 of the suction mouth 4, via which this can be connected to the blower 3 of the cleaning device 1.

With the cleaning device 1 according to the invention, a multi-stage cleaning of the surface 2 is thus possible, so that, for example, when the suction mouth 4 moves over the surface 2 to be treated in the direction of movement 6, it is sucked off and thereby cleaned, while when the suction mouth 4 is retracted in the opposite direction Direction of movement 6 the valve device 7 is open and as a result air 13 is no longer sucked in via the suction mouth 4 but from the environment via the valve device 7 . In this, according to the 2 shown State, the plasma source 8 is activated and applies plasma to the surface 2 to be treated, which neutralizes it in particular with regard to odors and is antimicrobially or antibacterially treated, whereby a completely new, multi-stage cleaning concept can be implemented.

Furthermore, the cleaning device 1 according to the invention can have a filter device 16 (cf. 2 ) In particular, have an electrostatic precipitator or an activated carbon filter for filtering out ozone. This makes it possible to convert the ozone molecule made up of three oxygen atoms and, in particular, to at least reduce its irritating effect on the respiratory tract.

In principle, the control device 12 can also be designed in such a way that it switches off the plasma source 8 if the detection device 5 does not detect any movement of the suction mouth 4 for a predefined period of time while the valve device 7 is open and the plasma source 8 is activated at the same time. In this way, it can be reliably prevented that if the suction mouth 4 does not move, the surface 2 to be treated is subjected to too much plasma and that discoloration or discoloration can therefore occur there under certain circumstances.

The present invention also relates to an operating method for such a cleaning device 1, in which the control device 12 only activates the plasma source 8 so that plasma is generated and ejected if the valve device 7 is open and air 13 comes exclusively from the environment and not via the suction mouth sucks in. Additionally or alternatively, the control device 12 can only activate the plasma source 8 exclusively if the blower 3 is switched off. Both embodiments enable a multi-stage cleaning process that reliably prevents excessive ozone generation and unnecessary application of plasma to the upper length 2 to be treated. In this way, in particular, the risk of irritation of the respiratory tract can be reduced and the service life of the plasma source 8 can be extended.

Reference List

1

cleaning device

2

surface

3

fan

4

suction mouth

5

detection device

6

direction of movement

7

valve device

8th

plasma source

9

plateau area

10

electrode

11

intake port

12

control device

13

Air

14

flap valve

15

channel

16

filter device

Claims (10)

Cleaning device (1) for treating surfaces (2), in particular textiles, with a blower (3) and a suction mouth (4) connected thereto, with a detection device (5) for detecting a direction of movement (6) of the suction mouth (4) and with a valve device (7) connected to it in a communicating manner, via which a negative pressure in the suction mouth (4) can be influenced depending on the direction of movement (6), characterized in that a plasma source (8) arranged in the suction mouth (4) is provided, via which the plasma the surface (2) to be treated can be discharged, wherein a control device (12) which is communicatively connected to the plasma source (8), the detection device (5), the blower (3) and the valve device (7) is provided and is designed in such a way that that it only activates the plasma source (8) if the valve device (7) is open and air (13) is sucked in exclusively from the environment and not via the suction mouth (4) and/or provided the blower (3) is switched off. cleaning device claim 1 , characterized in that the valve device (7) has a flap valve (14). Cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detection device (5) has a microcontroller. Cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plasma source (8) has a plateau surface (9) with at least one electrode (10). cleaning device claim 4 , characterized in that the plateau surface (9) is at least partially surrounded by suction openings (11). Cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a filter device (16), in particular an electrostatic precipitator or an activated carbon filter, is provided for filtering out ozone. Cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (12) is designed such that it switches off the plasma source (8) if the detection device (5) does not detect any movement of the suction mouth (4) for a predefined period of time. Operating method of a cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the control device (12) only activates the plasma source (8) if the valve device (7) is open and air (13) comes exclusively from the environment and not via the suction mouth (4) is sucked in and/or if the blower (3) is switched off. operating procedures claim 8 , characterized in that the control device (12) switches off the plasma source (8) if the detection device (5) detects no movement of the suction mouth (4) for a predefined period of time. operating procedures claim 8 or 9 , characterized in that a filter device (16), in particular an electrostatic precipitator or an activated charcoal filter, filters out ozone from the air (13) sucked in via the suction mouth (4).

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