DE102021205100A1 - Segmented cleaning roller for a suction device - Google Patents

Abstract

A cleaning roller (102) for a suction device is described. The cleaning roller (102) comprises a plurality of segments (202), each with at least one cleaning element (203), the segments (202) being arranged next to one another along an axis of rotation of the cleaning roller (102). The segments (202) are designed to be driven in different rotary movements around the axis of rotation.

Description

The invention relates to a segmented cleaning roller for a suction device, such as. B. for a vacuum cleaner or for a cleaning or vacuum robot.

A suction device typically has a suction mouth, via which impurities, in particular dust particles, are sucked up from a floor to be cleaned by means of an air flow. The air flow can be effected by a fan placed behind an air filter. The dirt is conveyed from the suction mouth into a collection container by the air flow.

The suction device can have a rotating brush roller (generally a cleaning roller) which is designed to loosen dirt from the floor to be cleaned, to sweep coarse dirt and/or to open carpet fibers. The present document deals with the technical task of providing a cleaning roller for a suction device, through which the cleaning performance of the suction device can be further improved.

The object is solved by the subject matter of the independent patent claim. Advantageous embodiments are defined in particular in the dependent patent claims, described in the following description or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

According to one aspect of the invention, a cleaning roller (in particular a brush roller) for a suction device (in particular for a vacuum robot) is described. The cleaning roller has an axis of rotation. The cleaning roller can z. B. along the axis of rotation by 5 cm or more, or by 10 cm or more or by 15 cm or more. The cleaning roller can have a diameter (radial to the axis of rotation) of 2 cm or more or 3 cm or more, in particular between 3 and 6 cm.

The cleaning roller comprises a number of segments, each with at least one cleaning element. Exemplary cleaning elements are bristles, a wiping element, a scraping element, etc. The individual segments can be ring-shaped. A segment can e.g. B. have a width along the axis of rotation between 0.5 cm and 2 cm. Furthermore, a segment can have the diameter of the cleaning roller.

The segments are arranged side by side along the axis of rotation of the cleaning roller. The cleaning roller may have 2 or more, or 3 or more, or 10 or more, or 20 or more separate segments arranged side by side along the axis of rotation. The segments can at least partially have differently designed cleaning elements.

For example, the cleaning roller can comprise a first subgroup of first segments and a second subgroup of second segments. The first segments can have a first type of cleaning elements and the second segments can have a second type of cleaning elements (where the first type and the second type can be different). The cleaning quality of a cleaning roller can be increased by providing different types of cleaning elements on a cleaning roller.

The cleaning roller can be constructed in such a way that a first segment is alternately arranged next to a second segment along the axis of rotation. First segments and second segments can thus be arranged alternately along the axis of rotation in order to achieve an increased cleaning quality along the cleaning roller.

The segments are designed to be driven in different rotary movements about the axis of rotation. The different rotational movements can each include a different rotational speed around the axis of rotation and/or a different direction of rotation around the axis of rotation. For example, the first segments (of the first subgroup) can be designed to be driven in each case to a different rotational movement about the axis of rotation than the second segments (of the second subgroup).

A cleaning roller for a suction device is thus described which has a plurality of separately rotatably mounted segments which can be driven in different rotary movements. In this way, the cleaning quality of a suction device can be increased in a space-efficient manner.

The cleaning roller typically comprises at least one drive shaft which is driven by an actuator, e.g. B. by an electric motor can be driven. The segments of the cleaning roller can be designed to be driven by the at least one drive shaft to perform different rotary movements about the axis of rotation. In particular, the different segments can be designed such that the different segments through a single (common) drive shaft can be driven to different rotary movements. Alternatively, the different segments can be designed in such a way that the different segments can be driven to perform different rotary movements by different drive shafts. By installing one or more drive shafts, the different rotary movements of the segments can be brought about in a particularly reliable manner.

The cleaning roller and/or a first segment can comprise a first planetary gear, via which the first segment is coupled to a drive shaft of the cleaning roller, so that the first segment is driven by operation of the drive shaft to perform a first rotational movement about the axis of rotation. Furthermore, the cleaning roller and/or a second segment can comprise a second planetary gear, via which the second segment is coupled to the (same) drive shaft, so that the second segment is driven to perform a second rotational movement about the axis of rotation by operating the drive shaft. The one or more first segments and the one or more second segments can thus each be coupled to a common drive shaft via one or more first planetary gears or via one or more second planetary gears. A particularly efficient cleaning roller with different segments can thus be provided.

The first planetary gear and the second planetary gear can have different transmission ratios, so that the first rotational movement and the second rotational movement have different rotational speeds. Alternatively or additionally, the first planetary gear and the second planetary gear can have a different number of planetary stages, so that the first rotary movement and the second rotary movement have different directions of rotation. Through the use of differently constructed planetary gears, different rotational movements of the segments can thus be brought about in a particularly efficient manner.

The first planetary gear and the second planetary gear can each have a sun gear. The sun gears of the first planetary gear and the second planetary gear can be arranged on the (common) drive shaft in order to bring about a particularly reliable drive of the different segments. Alternatively, the sun gears can be designed in such a way that adjacent sun gears along the axis of rotation can be plugged into one another to form the drive shaft (which can then also be referred to as a sun shaft). The common drive shaft can thus be formed directly by the sun gears of the planetary gears of the individual segments in a particularly efficient manner.

The segments can each have a ring gear with internal teeth facing the drive shaft. The individual segments can thus each be designed as a ring, with the ring having teeth on the inside facing the axis of rotation. The one or more drive shafts, in particular the common drive shaft for the segments, can be designed to engage in the internal toothing of the ring gears of the segments via gear wheels in order to drive the segments. In this way, the individual segments of the cleaning roller can be driven particularly efficiently and reliably.

As already explained above, the cleaning roller can comprise a first drive shaft, which is designed to drive the first segment (or all first segments of the first subgroup) to rotate about the axis of rotation. Furthermore, the cleaning roller can comprise a second drive shaft, which is designed to drive the second segment (or all second segments of the second subgroup) to perform a second rotational movement about the axis of rotation. The first rotational movement and the second rotational movement can differ with regard to the rotational speed and/or with regard to the direction of rotation. The first and the second drive shaft can be driven by different actuators (e.g. electric motors). By using separate drive shafts for the different subgroups of segments, the different rotary movements of the segments can be effected in a particularly flexible manner.

One or more of the one or more drive shafts of the cleaning roller can be arranged at a distance from the axis of rotation of the cleaning roller and/or eccentrically. In this way (in particular when using multiple drive shafts) an efficient drive of the one or more drive shafts can be brought about (e.g. via one or more toothed belts).

The cleaning roller can have a spacer ring between two directly adjacent segments, in particular a non-rotatable spacer ring. The spacer ring can be designed as part of a bearing for each of the directly adjacent segments, on which the directly adjacent segments are rotatably mounted. In this way, a reliable rotary movement of the individual segments can be made possible. Alternatively or additionally, the Spacer ring can be designed as a spacer between the directly adjacent segments, in particular to avoid a collision or snagging of the adjacent segments.

The cleaning roller can have a hollow axle, in particular a non-rotatable hollow axle, on which the segments are arranged in a rotatably mounted manner. By providing a hollow axle as a carrier for the individual segments, the stability of the cleaning roller can be increased, which in turn increases the cleaning effect of the cleaning roller.

The cleaning roller can have at least one drive shaft, which is enclosed by the hollow axle. The drive shaft can be coupled to a gear wheel for driving at least one segment of the cleaning roller. The gear can z. B. can be arranged on the drive shaft. The hollow axle may have a recess for the gear, and the gear may be configured to act on the internal teeth of the segment through the recess to efficiently and reliably drive the segment.

According to a further aspect, a suction device is described which is set up to suck up impurities from a floor to be cleaned through a suction mouth by means of an air flow. The suction device can comprise a cleaning roller described in this document, which is designed to sweep dirt from the floor to be cleaned to the suction mouth. A suction device with a particularly high cleaning quality can thus be provided.

The suction device can include a control module that is set up to determine floor information relating to the floor to be cleaned. The ground information can e.g. B. be determined on the basis of the sensor data of a sensor of the suction device. The ground information can e.g. B. indicate whether the floor is a carpet or a hard floor. The control module can also be set up to individually adapt the rotational movement performed by the different segments of the cleaning roller as a function of the ground information. The segments can at least partially have different rotational movements that depend on the ground information. In this way, the cleaning quality of the suction device can be further increased.

It should be noted that any aspect of the cleaning roller and/or the suction device described in this document can be combined with one another in many different ways. In particular, the features of the patent claims can be combined with one another in many different ways.

• 1a einen beispielhaften Saugroboter als Beispiel für eine Saugvorrichtung in einer perspektivischen Ansicht;
• 1b die Unterseite eines beispielhaften Saugroboters;
• 2a bis 2f unterschiedliche Ansichten einer beispielhaften Bürstenwalze mit einer Vielzahl von Bürstensegmenten;
• 3a bis 3g einen beispielhaften Aufbau einer Bürstenwalze mit mehreren Antriebswellen;
• 4a bis 4i einen beispielhaften Aufbau einer Bürstenwalze mit einer einzigen Antriebswelle.

The invention is described in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the attached drawings. show:

• 1a an exemplary robot vacuum as an example of a suction device in a perspective view;
• 1b the underside of an example vacuum robot;
• 2a until 2f different views of an exemplary brush roller with a plurality of brush segments;
• 3a until 3g an exemplary structure of a brush roller with multiple drive shafts;
• 4a until 4i an exemplary structure of a brush roller with a single drive shaft.

As explained at the outset, the present document deals with the provision of a brush roller (generally a cleaning roller) for a suction device, through which the cleaning quality of the suction device can be further increased. In this context shows 1a the underside 122 of a vacuum robot 100 as an example of a suction device. When the robotic vacuum cleaner 100 is in suction mode, the underside 122 faces the floor to be cleaned or the surface to be cleaned of a cleaning area, for example a room. The underside 122 of the robot vacuum 100 typically has one or more drive units 101 (with one or more drive wheels) by which the robot vacuum 100 can be moved in order to clean different areas of a floor. Furthermore, the robotic vacuum cleaner 100 can have one or more guide and/or support elements 104 (e.g. non-driven wheels), which enable the robotic vacuum cleaner 100 to move stably over the floor to be cleaned. In addition, a robot vacuum 100 typically includes one or more cleaning units 106 that are set up to clean the floor under the robot vacuum 100 . The one or more cleaning units 106 can be shielded by one or more barrel-shaped shields 103 in the direction of movement 120 of the vacuum robot 100 . Larger objects lying on the floor can be pushed aside by the one or more shields 103 in order to prevent larger objects from getting into a cleaning unit 106 and damaging and/or clogging the cleaning unit 106 .

A cleaning unit 106 has a cleaning roller 102 which is designed to rotate about an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation typically being arranged parallel to the underside 122 of the robotic vacuum cleaner 100 . The cleaning roller 102 can be used to mechanically loosen dust and/or dirt on the floor to be cleaned from the floor so that the dust and/or dirt can be sucked into the suction mouth 107 of the cleaning unit 106 with increased reliability.

A user interface can be arranged on the upper side 121 of the robotic vacuum cleaner 100, which allows a user of the robotic vacuum cleaner 100 to make control inputs. In addition, the robot vacuum 100 can include an impact sensor 105 on a side wall 123 (e.g. on a side wall 123 in the front area of the robot vacuum 100), which is set up to record sensor data that indicate whether the robot vacuum 100 is hitting an obstacle in the direction of movement 120 encountered. The triggering of the impact sensor 105 by an obstacle can cause the robotic vacuum cleaner 100 to rotate about its vertical or vertical axis, which is perpendicular to the floor, and thereby change the direction of movement 120 in order to avoid the obstacle.

Furthermore, a vacuum robot 100 typically has one or more environment sensors 110 that are set up to capture environment or sensor data relating to the environment of the vacuum robot 100 (see FIG 1b ). The one or more environmental sensors 110 can include: one or more image cameras, one or more ultrasonic sensors, one or more tactile and/or optical distance sensors, one or more acoustic sensors, one or more temperature sensors, etc. A control module 130 of the vacuum robot 100 can be set up be to determine digital map information in relation to the cleaning area to be cleaned on the basis of the environmental data and, if necessary, to store it on a memory unit 111 of the vacuum robot 100. The robotic vacuum cleaner 100 can use the digital map information to orientate itself within the cleaning area (e.g. within a room) and/or to define a driving route for cleaning the cleaning area.

The brush roller 102 in the 1a and 1b The suction device 100 shown typically only rotates in a single direction of rotation, which results in the carpet fibers of a carpet to be cleaned being opened in only one direction, so that the cleaning result of the suction device 100 differs from the direction of movement 120 of the suction device 100 relative to the orientation of the carpet fibers depends. Furthermore, the brush roller 102 typically has a single fixed rotational speed, which typically does not allow it to be used with different cleaning tasks that are present at the same time, such as e.g. B. the "fiber opening" of carpet fibers (for which a relatively high rotation speed is typically advantageous) or the "sweeping" of loose dirt (for which a relatively low rotation speed is typically advantageous) to achieve an optimized cleaning result.

In the present document, a brush roller 102 is described which is designed to move different groups of bristles on the brush roller 102 (simultaneously) with different directions of rotation and/or different rotational speeds. In this way, the cleaning quality of a suction device 100 can be increased for different (simultaneously present) cleaning tasks. A brush roller 102 with bristles is discussed specifically below. It should be noted that the aspects described in this document are generally applicable to a cleaning roller with cleaning elements.

In the 2a until 2f An exemplary brush roller 102 is shown, which has a multiplicity of ring-shaped brush segments 202 each having one or more bristles 203 . The individual brush segments 202 are arranged next to one another along a longitudinal axis (ie the axis of rotation) of the brush roller 102 . The individual brush segments 202 can each be driven individually for a rotational movement about the longitudinal axis. The direction of rotation and/or the rotational speed of at least some of the brush segments 202 can differ from one another. A brush segment 202 is also generally referred to as a segment in this document.

In the in the 2a until 2f In the example shown, the brush roller 102 has a hollow axle 201 which extends along the longitudinal axis of the brush roller 102 . The individual brush segments 202 are rotatably mounted on the hollow axle 201 so that the individual brush segments 202 can rotate around the hollow axle 201 . One or more drive shafts 211, 212, which are designed to drive the individual brush segments 202, can be arranged in the hollow axle 201. The in the 2a until 2f The brush roller 102 shown has a first drive shaft 211, which is designed to drive a first subgroup of brush segments 202, and a second drive shaft 212, which is designed to drive a second subgroup of brush segments 202. The individual brush segments 202 can be arranged along the longitudinal axis, e.g. B. alternately assigned to the two subgroups, so that the first subgroup all odd brush segments 202 and the second subset includes all straight brush segments 202 (if the brush segments 202 are numbered incrementally along the longitudinal axis).

The individual ring-shaped brush segments 202 can each have a ring gear with teeth towards the hollow axis 201, in which a gear wheel 205 on a drive shaft 211, 212 can engage in order to drive the respective brush segment 202. For this purpose, the hollow axle 201 can have openings or recesses 206 through which the gears 205 on the one or more drive shafts 211, 212 can act on the teeth of the ring gears of the individual brush segments 202.

The in the 2a until 2f The brush roller 102 shown makes it possible for the brush segments 202 of the first subgroup to be operated at a different rotational speed and/or with a different direction of rotation than the brush segments 202 of the second subgroup. For this purpose, the first drive shaft 211 can be operated at a different rotational speed and/or with a different direction of rotation than the second drive shaft 212. The different rotational speeds and/or directions of rotation can, with the same transmission ratios in each case, result in different rotational speeds and/or directions of rotation of the two subgroups of Brush segments 202 lead. By using different transmission ratios between the first drive shaft 211 and the first subgroup on the one hand and the second drive shaft 212 and the second subgroup on the other hand, it can be brought about that different rotational speeds and/or or directions of rotation of the two subgroups of brush segments 202 are effected.

A multi-part brush roller 102 is thus described, on which several groups of bristles are arranged, which can be driven independently of one another. Various tufts of bristles 203 are thus arranged on a single brush roller 102, which can at least partially have different directions of rotation and/or rotational speeds. The brush roller 102 can be designed as a hollow axle 201 on which a plurality of rings (i.e. brush segments 202) which are mounted so as to rotate are arranged next to one another. Bristles 203 specified for an intended task are inserted into these brush segments 202 in each case. One or more drive shafts 211, 212 are guided within the hollow axle 201, with different drive shafts 211, 212 each driving a separate subgroup of brush segments 202. A subgroup of tufts of bristles 203 can thus be driven in a targeted manner with the desired speed and/or direction of rotation.

A brush roller 102 designed in this way enables different cleaning tasks to be carried out simultaneously in the space for a single brush roller, such as: opening carpet fibers in different directions by rotating the ring groups in different directions; carpet brushing and dirt sweeping by different rotational speeds of groups of rings with harder and softer bristles 203; the loosening of dirt and sweeping through different rotation speeds of ring groups with different surfaces (fluffy surface or bristles); and/or the different activation of brush roller 102 by control module 130 of suction device 100, depending on whether suction device 100 is driving on carpet (opening the carpet fibers with different directions of rotation) or on hard floors (sweeping in with the same directions of rotation).

The ring-shaped brush segments 202 can be driven by the one or more drive shafts 211, 212 via gear wheels 205. The brush segments 202 each have a ring gear with internal teeth. Spur gears 205 are seated on the one or more drive shafts 211, 212, each of which extends through recesses 206 in the hollow axle 201 to the internal toothing of the brush segments 202.

The brush roller 102 can have more than two drive shafts 211, 212 for more than two subgroups of brush segments 202. In this way, the number of functions that can be realized simultaneously by the brush roller 102 can be further increased.

With the brush roller 102 described, the functions of two brush rollers 102 (with different directions of rotation) can be integrated into a single brush roller 102, as a result of which the space requirement can be reduced. The use of the brush roller 102 described means that the cleaning result of a suction device 100 is independent of the fiber direction of a carpet to be cleaned and/or independent of the direction of movement 120 of the suction device 100 . The brush roller 102 described can bring about increased processing of the floor to be cleaned, as a result of which the cleaning result is improved. The brush roller 102 described makes it possible to integrate several functions in a single brush roller 102: fast or slow brushing out of a carpet with harder bristles 203; fast or slow sweeping with soft bristles 203; simultaneous sweeping towards the suction mouth 107 and brushing a carpet forward; Etc.

3a until 3g illustrate an exemplary assembly of a segmented brush roller 102. Also show the 3a until 3g a drive motor 311, 312 for a drive shaft 211, 212 of the brush roller 102, wherein the drive motor 311, 312 can be coupled to the respective drive shaft 211, 212 via a toothed belt 321, 322. The one or more drive shafts 211, 212 can be attached to the suction device 100 via brackets 301, 302 and/or bearings.

3b shows the empty hollow axle 201 with the recesses 206 for the gears 205 of the one or more drive shafts 211, 212. The hollow axle 201 can be attached to a bracket 301 at one end. A spacer ring 303 can then be pushed onto the hollow axle 201 . The spacer ring 303 can form one side of a bearing for the rotatable mounting of an annular brush segment 202 . Furthermore, the spacer ring 303 can be designed to space directly adjacent brush segments 202 apart from one another in order to ensure that the directly adjacent brush segments 202 can rotate about the hollow axis 201 independently of one another. For this purpose, a spacer ring 303 can have a separator 304 as a partition between two adjacent brush segments 202 . Furthermore, a spacer ring 303 can have a guide ring 305 onto which the directly adjacent brush segment 202 can slide.

As in 3c shown, a brush segment 202 can be applied to the hollow axle 201 in addition to a spacer ring 303 . In this case, the brush segment 202 can have an annular sliding body 306 which slides on the spacer rings 303 arranged on both sides in order to enable reliable rotation of the brush segment 202 . Spacer rings 303 and brush segments 202 can then be applied alternately to the vertical axle 201, as exemplified in 3d shown. In 3d the internal toothing on the individual ring gears 307 of the brush segments 202 is also shown.

After all brush segments 202 have been applied, the second holder 302 of the brush roller 102 can be attached (see FIG 3e ). Furthermore, the one or more drive shafts 211, 212 (together) can be pushed into the hollow axle 201. When the one or more drive shafts 211, 212 are correctly positioned in the longitudinal direction, the drive shafts 211, 212 can be moved towards the inner wall of the hollow axle 201 so that the gears 205 of the individual drive shafts 211, 212 can be pushed through the corresponding recesses 206 of the hollow axle 201 are guided, and act on the internal teeth of the ring gears 307 of the individual brush segments 202 (see 3f ). The drive shafts 211, 212 can then be mounted in the mounts 301, 302 and connected to the drive motors 311, 312 (see 3g ).

A separate drive shaft 211, 212 can thus be provided for each subgroup of brush segments 202 on the multi-segment brush roller 102. The in the 3a until 3g The brush roller 102 described has two subgroups and thus also two shafts 211, 212. The individual brush segments 202 can be mounted on spacer rings 303, which in turn are arranged on a hollow axle 201. The precise positioning and fixing of the individual spacer rings 303 on the hollow axle 201 can be effected by relatively small indentations on the outside of the hollow axle 201 . The individual spacer rings 303 can be assembled by thermal expansion of the spacer rings 303 before the spacer rings 303 are applied. Alternatively or in addition, the individual spacer rings 303 can be designed to “snap” into the notches like securing rings. The one or more drive shafts 211, 212 each have gear wheels 205, which drive the internal teeth of the individual brush segments 202 through openings 206 in the hollow axle 201.

The spacer rings 303 can perform the function of separating the brush segments 202 from one another. Furthermore, the spacer rings 303 can enable a sliding bearing of the brush segments 202 on the hollow axle 201 . The spacer rings 303 are arranged between two adjacent brush segments 202 for this purpose.

Furthermore, spacer rings 303 can be arranged between the respective outermost brush segments 202 and the final holders 301, 302.

At the beginning of the assembly of a brush roller 102, the hollow axle 201 can be fixed on the output-side bracket 301. A first spacer ring 303 can then be pushed onto the hollow axle 201 . A first brush segment 202 can then be placed on the first spacer ring 303 . This is followed by the alternating installation of spacer rings 303 and brush segments 202 on the hollow axle 201. After the last brush segment 202 has been placed, the brush roller 102 is closed off with a spacer ring 303 and the motor-side bracket 302, both of which are placed on the hollow axle 201. It follows the insertion of the two Drive shafts 211, 212 into the hollow axle 201. The two drive shafts 211, 212 are inserted into the hollow axle 201 "interleaved". When both drive shafts 211, 212 are inserted completely into the hollow axle 201, they can be fixed to the brackets 301, 302 by means of ball bearings. On the drive side, toothed belt wheels can be attached and provided with toothed belts 321, 322, which are then driven by motors 311, 312. Finally, a ball bearing can be placed on each of the drive shafts 211, 212, which are each inserted into a bearing holder.

In the 4a until 4i the structure of a brush roller 102 with a single drive shaft 211 is described. The drive shaft 211 can be driven with a single motor 311 . The individual brush segments 202 can each be designed as planetary gears, each with a ring gear 307, a sun gear 401 and planetary gears 402. The planetary gears 402 are mounted on webs 407 of a planetary mount 403. The different subgroups of brush segments 202 can have sun gears 401 and/or planetary gears 402 of different sizes. The resulting different transmission ratios between the respective sun gear 401 and the respective ring gear 307 result in different rotational speeds for the ring gears 307 of the different brush segments 202.

The brush segments 202 of the different subgroups can thus be connected to the common drive shaft 211 via differently designed planetary gears, so that different rotational movements, in particular different rotational speeds, can be effected. The planetary gears for the different subgroups can optionally also have a different number of planetary stages with planetary gears 402 . For example, the first subgroup can have planetary gears with an odd number of planetary stages (e.g. with one planetary stage) and the second subgroup can have planetary gears with an even number of planetary stages (e.g. with zero or two planetary stages). It can thus be brought about that the brush segments 202 have different directions of rotation in the different subgroups.

The webs 407 of the planetary mount 403, on which the planetary gears 402 are arranged, can be fixed in a mount 413 by means of pins. The individual planet gears 402 therefore do not rotate about the longitudinal axis of the brush roller 102 and thus serve as a drive for the ring gear 307. The sun gears 401 of the individual planetary gears can be designed in such a way that the sun gears 401 can be plugged into one another and in this way form a sun shaft. For this purpose, the individual sun gears 401 can have a nub 405 on one side and a complementary depression 404 on the opposite side, which can be plugged into one another.

Consequently, all of the sun gears 401 rotate at the rotational speed of the motor (or gear) shaft of the drive motor 311. The webs 407 of the individual planetary gears 402 are fixed. The individual ring gears 307 rotate at the rotational speeds resulting from the different transmission ratios. If necessary, an additional shaft can be provided in the middle of the individual sun gears 401, which provides additional stability.

The webs 407 and/or the planet holder 403 can be constructed in such a way that the respective diameters of the planet gears 402 are taken into account and all webs 407 can be plugged into one another by means of pins. Alternatively, it is possible to thread the webs 407 onto several axes (for corresponding planet wheels 402 of the brush segments 202 arranged next to one another) in order to increase the overall stability of the brush roller 102 (compared to a brush roller 102 with pins plugged into one another).

The sun gears 401 can be coupled together by positive connections (via respective nubs 405 and indentations 404) to form a sun shaft. The sun shaft can be driven via a motor 311 which is positively connected to the first sun wheel 401 by means of an adapter 432 .

The in the 4a until 4i The brush roller 102 described has no supporting hollow axle 201. The structure formed by the brush segments 202 with the planetary gears is self-supporting. The sun shaft is supported on one side by the motor 311 and on the other side by a ball bearing 411 (although the first sun gear 401 may be attached to the ball bearing 411 via an adapter 412). The ring gears 307 of the individual brush segments 202 support one another by means of spacer rings 303 lying between them, which in each case allow sliding friction of the individual ring gears 307 . A spacer ring 303 is arranged in each case between two ring gears 307 . The outermost spacer rings 303 are supported by brackets 301,302. Alternatively or additionally, the spacer rings 303 can be supported on the webs 407 or the planetary mounts 403 or be integrated into them. Thus, the number of parts can be reduced and the rigidity of the ring gear structure can be increased. Furthermore, the distance between the spacer rings 303 in reliable be defined casually, which enables a particularly reliable operation of the brush roller 102.

As in 4c shown, the ball bearing 411 for the sun shaft can be fastened in the output-side bracket 301 for the assembly of the brush roller 102 . To connect the sun shaft to the ball bearing 411, an adapter 412 can be inserted into the ball bearing 411. The first spacer ring 303 can then be placed on the holder 301 .

In a subsequent step, the first sun gear 401 can be plugged into the previously mounted adapter 412. Furthermore, the first planet wheels 402 can be placed on their respective web 407 of the planet holder 403 . The planetary mount 403 provided with the planetary gears 402 can then be fixed to the output-side mount 301 ( 4d and 4e ). The ring gear 307 of the first brush segment 202 can then be pushed onto the planetary gears 402 and the spacer ring 303 in order to complete the first brush segment 202 ( 4f ).

Further brush segments 202 can then be gradually attached. For this purpose, a further sun wheel 401 is plugged onto the last sun wheel 401 in each case. The planet gears 402 set on another planet holder 403 can be attached. Furthermore, another spacer ring 303 and another ring gear 307 can be placed on the previous ring gear 307 ( 4g ).

As soon as all brush segments 202 have been attached, the brush roller 102 can be completed with the motor-side bracket 302, which is placed on the last planetary bracket 403 and the last spacer ring 303. In this case, the mount 302 can have pins 431 in order to fix the last planetary mount 403 in place. Furthermore, the motor 311 can be flanged to the assembled assembly. A shaft adapter 432 can be used here, which transmits the torque of the motor 311 to the last segment 401 of the sun shaft.

A brush roller 102 is thus described which has individual brush segments 202 which can be operated at different rotational speeds and/or rotational directions. Operation in different directions of rotation can, among other things, ensure that cables are no longer pulled from the brush roller 102 into the suction mouth 107, since at least a subgroup of brush segments 202 performs a “sweeping away movement”.

The use of brush segments 202 that can be plugged into each other to gradually (segment by segment) build up a brush roller 102 allows the length of the brush roller 102 to be defined in an efficient and flexible manner by the number of brush segments 202 used. Brush rollers 102 for different suction devices 100 can thus be provided in a flexible manner.

The planetary gears of the individual brush segments 202 can be adjusted in a flexible manner. If necessary, each individual brush segment 202 can have a different planetary gear (with a different transmission ratio). A flexible adjustment of the movement (in particular the rotational speed and/or the direction of rotation) of the individual brush segments 202 of a brush roller 102 can thus be made possible. A brush roller 102 with a particularly high cleaning quality and/or with a particularly low noise level can thus be provided.

A cleaning roller 102 for a suction device 100 is thus described, which is subdivided into different segments 202 with (different types of) cleaning elements and/or bristles 203 . The different segments 202 can be driven at different rotational speeds and/or rotational directions. If necessary, at least two drive shafts 211, 212 can be used to drive the different segments 202.

The use of a cleaning roller 102 with differently rotating segments 202 makes it possible to open carpet fibers independently of their preferred direction. Furthermore, increased dust pick-up can be brought about. Furthermore, different hardnesses, directions of rotation and/or speeds of rotation of the bristles 203 can be used in order to stimulate carpet fibers differently. In addition, cleaning times can be shortened since a movement of the bristles 203 (partly) counter to the direction of movement 120 of the suction device 100 can take place.

The cleaning roller 102 has at least two segments and/or sections 202 which rotate about a common axis of the roller 102. The segments 202 can have different rotational speeds or speeds and/or directions of rotation. The different operation of the segments 202 leads, in particular when driving over a carpet, to the carpet fibers being expanded differently, so that the suction air flow of a suction device 100 increasingly picks up dust particles that have been deposited can take. Accumulations of dirt on hard floors can also be effectively removed in this way.

The individual segments 202 can be mounted on a hollow axle 201 . The non-rotating hollow axle 201 can reliably prevent deflection of the cleaning roller 102, as a result of which a particularly effective transmission of force from the cleaning elements 203 to the floor can be brought about.

An eccentrically mounted drive shaft 211, 212 of the cleaning roller 102 can be used to transmit a rotational movement to the respective segments 202. The off-center mounting of a drive shaft 211, 212 makes it possible to drive means 311, 312, z. B. an electric motor with efficient mechanical coupling means 321, 322 to the respective drive shaft 211, 212 to connect. As a result, different rotational speeds and/or different directions of rotation of the individual segments 202 can be achieved in a particularly efficient and reliable manner.

The power transmission from a drive shaft 211, 212 to the segments 202 can be carried out by means of positive and/or non-positive elements, e.g. B. with an external and a corresponding internal gear 205, 307 done. As a result, the individual segments 202 can be mounted on the hollow axle 201 by simply sliding them on.

A seal (not shown) can be arranged between the individual segments 202 . A seal prevents dust from entering the movable elements of the roller 102. The seal can be constructed in the manner of a non-contact tongue and groove connection. Also touching seals such. B. rubbing sealing rings, possible.

The individual segments 202 of the cleaning roller 102 can be equipped at least in part with different care products or cleaning elements 203 . For example, the individual segments 202 can be equipped with different materials. These are in particular fibrous bristles, also with different rigidities, such as. B. natural fibers or nylon. Furthermore, wiping elements in the form of profiles are possible, similar to a motor vehicle windshield wiper, which are particularly advantageous for wet cleaning. Flat conditions are also possible, e.g. B. Microfiber fabrics.

The cleaning materials can have a different radial distance from the axis of rotation of the cleaning roller 102 . As a result, their properties can be used effectively on the surface to be cleaned. Furthermore, different colors and/or shapes can highlight the individual segments 202 for a user and clarify different functions.

In one example, the segments 202 of a drive shaft 211, 212 have the same cleaning properties. Thus, the number of types of different segments 202 can be reduced.

In the figures, the hollow axle 201 and the segments 202 are shown in one piece. If necessary, the hollow axle 201 can be made in several parts, e.g. B. from two half-shells. In this way, the assembly of the hollow axle 201 around the one or more drive shafts 211, 212 can be simplified. The two assembled half-shells of the hollow axle 201 can, for. B. be held by a bearing element, not shown, on the sides. Correspondingly, the segments 202 can be assembled with the cleaning elements 203 from one-piece or two-piece half-shells, so that the segments 202 can be arranged around the hollow axis 201 in a particularly efficient manner.

The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown. In particular, it should be noted that the description and the figures are only intended to illustrate the principle of the proposed suction device 100 and/or the cleaning roller 102 described.

reference list

100

suction device

101

drive units

102

cleaning roller (brush roller)

103

shields

104

support element/s

105

shock sensor

106

cleaning units

107

suction mouth

110

suction device

111

storage unit

120

direction of movement

121

top

122

bottom

123

Side wall

130

control module

201

hollow axle

202

first / second segment / segments (brush segment)

203

cleaning element (bristle)

205

gear

206

recess (hollow axle)

211,212

drive shaft

301, 302

bracket, bearing

303

spacer ring

304

separator

305

guide ring

306

(annular) sliding body

307

Ring gear with internal teeth (internal gear)

311,312

drive motor

321, 322

timing belt

401

sun gear

402

planet wheel

403

planet mount

404

nub

405

indentation

407

web

411

ball-bearing

412

adapter

413

mount (mount ring)

421

deepening

422

bridge / pin

431

mount (mount ring)

432

adapter

Claims (15)

Cleaning roller (102) for a suction device (100); whereby - The cleaning roller (102) comprises a plurality of segments (202) each having at least one cleaning element (203); - the segments (202) are arranged next to one another along an axis of rotation of the cleaning roller (102); and - The segments (202) are designed to be driven to each different rotary movements about the axis of rotation. Cleaning roller (102) according to claim 1 wherein the segments (202) are adapted - to be driven at different rotational speeds about the axis of rotation, respectively; and/or - to be driven in different directions of rotation around the axis of rotation. Cleaning roller (102) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein - the cleaning roller (102) comprises a first subset of first segments (202) and a second subset of second segments (202); and - The first segments (202) are designed to be driven in each case to a different rotational movement about the axis of rotation than the second segments (202). Cleaning roller (102) according to claim 3 , The cleaning roller (102) being constructed in such a way that a first segment (202) is alternately arranged next to a second segment (202) along the axis of rotation. Cleaning roller (102) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein - The cleaning roller (102) comprises at least one drive shaft (211, 212); and - The segments (202) are designed to be driven by the at least one drive shaft (211, 212) to each have different rotational movements about the axis of rotation. Cleaning roller (102) according to claim 5 , wherein - the cleaning roller (102) comprises a first segment (202) with a first planetary gear, via which the first segment (202) is coupled to the drive shaft (211, 212), so that the first segment (202) by operation of the drive shaft (211, 212) is driven in a first rotational movement about the axis of rotation; - the cleaning roller (102) comprises a second segment (202) with a second planetary gear, via which the second segment (202) is coupled to the drive shaft (211, 212), so that the second segment (202) can be rotated by operation of the drive shaft (211 , 212) is driven for a second rotational movement about the axis of rotation; and - the first planetary gear and the second planetary gear -have different transmission ratios, so that the first rotary motion and the second rotary motion have different rotational speeds; and/or have a different number of planetary stages, so that the first rotational movement and the second rotational movement have different directions of rotation. Cleaning roller (102) according to claim 6 , wherein - the first planetary gear and the second planetary gear each have a sun wheel (401); and - The sun gears (401) of the first planetary gear and of the second planetary gear are arranged on the drive shaft (211, 212); or - the sun gears (401) are designed in such a way that adjacent sun gears (401) along the axis of rotation can be plugged into one another in order to form the drive shaft (211, 212). Cleaning roller (102) according to any one of Claims 5 until 7 , wherein - the segments (202) each have a ring gear (307) with internal teeth facing the drive shaft (211, 212); and - the drive shaft (211, 212) is designed to engage in the internal toothing of the ring gears (307) of the segments (202) via gears (205, 401, 402) in order to drive the segments (202). Cleaning roller (102) according to any one of Claims 5 until 8th , wherein - the cleaning roller (102) comprises a first segment (202) and a second segment (202); - The cleaning roller (102) comprises a first drive shaft (211) which is designed to drive the first segment (202) to a first rotational movement about the axis of rotation; - The cleaning roller (102) comprises a second drive shaft (212) which is designed to drive the second segment (202) to a second rotational movement about the axis of rotation; and - the first rotational movement and the second rotational movement differ with regard to a rotational speed and/or with regard to a rotational direction. Cleaning roller (102) according to any one of Claims 5 until 9 , wherein one or more of the drive shafts (211, 212) are arranged at a distance from the axis of rotation of the cleaning roller (102) and/or eccentrically. Cleaning roller (102) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning roller (102) between two directly adjacent segments (202) each have a spacer ring (303), in particular a non-rotatable spacer ring (303), which - Is designed as part of a respective bearing for the directly adjacent segments (202), on which the directly adjacent segments (202) are rotatably mounted; and or - Is designed as a spacer between the directly adjacent segments (202). Cleaning roller (102) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning roller (102) has a hollow axle (201), in particular a non-rotatable hollow axle (201), on which the segments (202) are each arranged rotatably. Cleaning roller (102) according to claim 12 , wherein - the cleaning roller (102) has at least one drive shaft (211, 212) which is surrounded by the hollow axle (201); - The drive shaft (211, 212) is coupled to a gear wheel (205) for driving at least one segment (202) of the cleaning roller (102); - The hollow axle (201) has a recess (206) for the gear wheel (205); and - the gear (205) acts through the recess (206) on an internal toothing of the segment (202) in order to drive the segment (202). Suction device (100) which is set up to suck up impurities from a floor to be cleaned through a suction mouth (107) by means of an air flow; wherein the suction device (100) comprises a cleaning roller (102) according to any one of the preceding claims, which is adapted to sweep impurities from the floor to be cleaned to the suction mouth (107). Suction device (100) according to Claim 14 , wherein the suction device (100) comprises a control module (130) which is set up - to determine floor information in relation to the floor to be cleaned; and - adapting the rotational movement carried out by the different segments (202) of the cleaning roller (102) individually as a function of the ground information.

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