DK2640248T3

DK2640248T3 - Floor cleaning apparatus with rotating dirt recording

Info

Publication number: DK2640248T3
Application number: DK10781654.8T
Authority: DK
Inventors: Frank Nonnenmann; Bernhard Maurer; Michael Oesterle
Original assignee: Kaercher Gmbh & Co Kg Alfred
Priority date: 2010-11-15
Filing date: 2010-11-15
Publication date: 2016-09-12
Also published as: WO2012065621A1; EP2640248A1; CN103200852A; EP2640248B1; CN103200852B

Description

The invention relates to a floor cleaning apparatus, comprising a storage container for cleaning liquid to be applied to a floor surface to be cleaned, a cleaning device for detaching dirt from the floor surface, a dirt pick-up device for suctioning detached dirt and cleaning liquid under the action of a suction unit, and a dirty liquid container for accommodating the suctioned dirt and the suctioned cleaning liquid, the dirt pick-up device being held on the floor cleaning apparatus so as to be pivotable about at least one pivot axis by means of at least one joint with a first joint member and a second joint member interacting with the first joint member, the first joint member being a joint shell, and the second joint member being a joint head mounted in the joint shell.

Such floor cleaning apparatuses, also known under the designations "scrubbing-suction machine" and "scrubbing machine", are described, for example, in US 4,492,002, in DE 197 29 307 Cl and in EP 1 913 859 Al. The floor surface to be cleaned can be acted upon by the cleaning liquid, in particular, water, in order to increase the cleaning effect exerted by the cleaning device on the floor surface. The mixture of detached dirt and cleaning liquid can be suctioned off by the dirt pick-up device, also referred to as "suction foot" under the action of the suction unit of the floor cleaning apparatus and transferred to the dirty liquid container. The dirt pick-up device is held on the remaining floor cleaning apparatus so as to be pivotable about at least one pivot axis in order to lower it onto and lift it off the floor surface and in order to be able to level out unevenesses of the floor surface to be cleaned.

Generic floor cleaning apparatuses are described in DE 1 503 758 and in US 5,465,456. US 3,065,490, US 5,454,138 and US 3,376,597 describe further floor cleaning apparatuses with pivotable dirt pick-up devices.

The object of the present invention is to provide a floor cleaning apparatus of the kind mentioned at the outset, the dirt pick-up device of which is held so as to be pivotable on the floor cleaning apparatus in a manner which is simple and reliable from the manufacturing point of view.

This object is accomplished in a generic floor cleaning apparatus in accordance with the invention by the features of the characterizing clause of claim 1.

The above configuration of the floor cleaning apparatus in accordance with the invention enables surface-to-surface abutment of the first joint member and the second joint member, namely the joint shell and the joint head, on each other. Forces effective between the dirt pick-up device and the remaining floor cleaning apparatus can in this way be diverted via the surface of the at least one joint. As a result, the load per surface of the joint members is relatively low. This makes it possible, for example, for the joint members to be of less solid construction than in the floor cleaning apparatuses known from the prior art, and even for the screw, rivet and/or welded connections made of metal parts used therein for movably mounting the dirt pick-up device on the floor cleaning apparatus to be dispensed with. The use of alternative manufacturing materials, in particular, plastic, for producing the joint head and/or the joint shell in a cost-effective plastic forming process is also conceivable. This also makes it possible, for example, for the joint head and/or the joint shell to be shaped such that these can be connected to each other in a snapping or locking manner and/or can be secured to each other by plug connections by means of, for example, securing members also formed from plastic, which are provided for this purpose.

In addition, particularly good guidance of the dirt pick-up device during the pivoting can be achieved by the surface-to-surface bearing of the joint shell and the joint head on each other. The risk of the dirt pick-up device tilting relative to the floor cleaning apparatus is thereby reduced, which facilitates the handling of the floor cleaning apparatus.

Owing to the relatively large area of interaction between the joint head and the joint shell, the at least one joint also undergoes only relatively little wear even in the event of entry of dirt. This results in a long service life of the at least one joint and, as a result, in a reliable movable mounting of the dirt pickup device on the floor cleaning apparatus.

Position and/or orientation details such as, for example, "upper side", "underside", "horizontal", "vertical" or the like refer hereinbelow to an operating position of the floor cleaning apparatus in which the floor cleaning apparatus is positioned on a horizontal floor surface.

The floor cleaning apparatus comprises at least one securing member for securing the joint head in the joint shell. The at least one securing member can adopt a securing position in which the joint head is secured against release from the joint shell. By transferring the at least one securing member to a release position, this securing can be undone and the joint head removed from the joint shell, in order to release the dirt pick-up device from the remaining floor cleaning apparatus.

It is advantageous for the at least one securing member to comprise or form at least one stop element, effective against a direction of insertion of the joint head into the joint shell, for the joint head. The stop element can receive a holding force required for holding the joint head in the joint shell and thereby secure the joint head in the joint shell. In addition to the stop element, the at least one securing member forms an abutment element for the joint head when it is arranged in the joint shell. The joint head can thereby adopt a defined position relative to the joint shell and, for example, be guided by the abutment element during the pivoting.

It is expedient for the joint shell to be a half-shell as this allows forces occurring between the dirt pick-up device and the floor cleaning apparatus to be diverted via as large a surface as possible. In addition, guidance of the joint head relative to the joint shell over as large an angular range as possible can be achieved by means of the half-shell.

The joint head is preferably insertable from below into the joint shell, for which purpose the joint shell can have on its side facing the floor surface an insertion opening for the joint head. In practice, it is found that connecting the dirt pickup device to the remaining floor cleaning apparatus is thereby facilitated. In this way, it is also easier to remove any dirt which has entered the joint shell. In particular, dirt which has entered the joint shell can also fall out of the joint shell again by itself through the insertion opening. The wear of the at least one joint can thereby be kept low.

The joint shell is preferably only open in the direction towards the floor surface, and so apart from the aforementioned insertion opening it has no further opening. The entry of dirt and, as a result, the wear of the at least one joint can thereby be kept even lower.

It is advantageous for the at least one joint to be a ball-and-socket joint. In this case, the first joint member, namely the joint shell, is an, in particular, hemispherical shell for receiving the second joint member, namely a joint head, at least a section of which is spherical. The use of the ball-and-socket joint makes it possible to mount the dirt pick-up device on the floor cleaning apparatus so as to be pivotable about three pivot axes extending in pairs perpendicularly to each other. The dirt pick-up device may, for example, be pivotable about a first, vertical pivot axis, which is useful especially during cornering of the floor cleaning apparatus. Pivoting about a second, horizontal pivot axis aligned perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the floor cleaning apparatus is also possible. The dirt pick-up device can therefore pivot in order to level out floor unevenesses extending in the longitudinal direction of the floor cleaning apparatus. The possibility of pivoting the dirt pick-up device about the second horizontal axis also allows the dirt pick-up device to be lifted off the floor surface when not in use and to be lowered onto the floor surface for use. Pivoting about a third, horizontal pivot axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the floor cleaning apparatus is also possible. Floor unevenesses extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the floor cleaning apparatus can thereby be leveled out by means of the dirt pick-up device. A constructionally simple configuration of the floor cleaning apparatus can be achieved by the dirt pick-up device being movably held on the floor cleaning apparatus by means of only one joint, in particular, by means of the aforementioned ball-and-socket joint.

It is advantageous for the floor cleaning apparatus to comprise a chassis on which one of the joint members is formed in one piece. The chassis, a carrying device of the floor cleaning apparatus, may, for example, serve to mount the cleaning device, an undercarriage, the suction unit, the storage container and/or the dirty liquid container. The chassis also serves to mount the dirt pick-up device, with the joint member arranged on the floor cleaning apparatus, in a narrower sense, being formed in one piece with the chassis. This enables a constructionally particularly simple configuration of the joint member. In addition, components can be saved because the joint member is not manufactured separately from the chassis and fixed to it by means of connecting elements. For one-piece formation of the joint member with the chassis, which, in a particularly preferred manner, can in its entirety be of one-piece construction, the chassis is, for example, made of a plastic material.

It is expedient for the dirt pick-up device to comprise the joint head and for the remaining floor cleaning apparatus to comprise the joint shell. This proves advantageous in practice, in particular, with one-piece formation of the joint shell with the chassis.

In a different embodiment of the floor cleaning apparatus in accordance with the invention, it may be provided that the dirt pick-up device comprises the joint shell and the remaining floor cleaning apparatus comprises the joint head.

In practice, it proves expedient for the at least one securing member to be formed separately from the joint head and/or from the joint shell. This allows the at least one joint and the at least one securing member to be configured as simply as possible from a constructional point of view. A constructionally particularly simple configuration is enabled by the at least one securing member being of one-piece construction, especially made of a plastic material.

The at least one securing member preferably comprises two stop elements spaced from each other and arranged on opposite sides of the joint head. By means of the two stop elements, the at least one securing member can engage around the joint head and thereby reliably secure it against release from the joint shell. Between the two stop elements, the joint head is preferably arranged in a play-free, but nevertheless movable manner relative to the at least one securing member. In this way, the securing member can contribute to guidance of the pivoting of the dirt pick-up device relative to the floor cleaning apparatus.

In practice, it proves expedient for the at least one securing member to comprise a joining section joining the stop elements to each other. This contributes to reinforcement of the at least one securing member. In this further development of the floor cleaning apparatus, the securing member may, for example, be in the form of a U-shaped bracket, the legs of which each form a stop element and, in particular, abutment element for the joint head.

It is advantageous for the at least one securing member to comprise or form an abutment element for an edge of the joint shell. This allows the at least one securing member, in the securing position, to be placed at the edge of the insertion opening of the joint shell. The at least one securing member thereby adopts a defined position relative to the joint shell. This proves advantageous in practice for reliable securing of the joint head in the joint shell.

It is expedient for the at least one securing member to have associated therewith a securing member receptacle, which is connected to the joint shell and into which the at least one securing member is insertable in order to secure the joint head in the joint shell. A holding force exerted by the joint head on the at least one securing member can be diverted to the securing member receptacle. The securing member receptacle is preferably rigidly connected to the joint shell and via the chassis, in particular, in one piece, thereto. If the at least one securing member is insertable in a positively locking manner in the securing member receptacle, it can adopt a particularly well defined position relative thereto.

The dirt pick-up device can be attached to the remaining floor cleaning apparatus and released from it in an easy-to-handle way if the at least one securing member can be inserted into the securing member receptacle without a tool and/or removed from the securing member receptacle without a tool.

For example, the at least one securing member can be plugged into the securing member receptacle.

The at least one securing member is preferably of rotationally fixed construction in relation to the joint shell. When the dirt pick-up device is pivoted relative to the floor cleaning apparatus, the joint shell and the at least one securing member do not execute a movement relative to each other and so rubbing of these two components against each other and their wear can be reduced.

It is expedient for the dirt pick-up device to comprise a holder with a first holding part comprising one of the joint members and a second holding part for holding a suction bar, which is inclinable relative to the first holding part. The dirt pick-up device comprises one of the joint members, for example, the joint head, which is arranged on the first holding part. The second holding part is inclinable relative to the first holding part, in particular, about an axis aligned horizontally and transversely to a longitudinal direction of the floor cleaning apparatus. By inclining the second holding part relative to the first holding part, the set-down angle of the suction bar, by way of which the mixture of dirt and cleaning liquid can be suctioned off the floor surface, can be varied relative to the floor surface. This allows the suction characteristics of the dirt pick-up device to be flexibly adapted to different floor structures.

Optionally, in a floor cleaning apparatus of the kind mentioned at the outset, in order to obtain the same advantage, it may be provided that the dirt pick-up device comprises a holder with a first holding part comprising one of the joint members and a second holding part for mounting a suction bar, which is inclinable relative to the first holding part.

The second holding part is preferably mounted on the first holding part so as to be tiltable about a tilting axis, for example, about the aforementioned horizontal axis aligned perpendicularly to a longitudinal direction of the floor cleaning apparatus. By tilting the holding parts relative to each other, the inclination of the suction bar can be varied in a constructionally simple way.

Is it advantageous for the joint member to be formed in one piece with the first holding part as this makes a constructionally simple configuration of the holder possible. For example, the first holding part and the joint member are made in one piece of a plastic material. The second holding part can also be made of a plastic material.

In a different embodiment of the floor cleaning apparatus in accordance with the invention comprising a dirt pick-up device with a holder which does not have two holding parts movable relative to each other, it may be provided that the joint member of the dirt pick-up device is manufactured in one piece with the holder, in particular, from a plastic material.

It is expedient for the dirt pick-up device to comprise an adjusting device with at least one actuator actuatable by an operator for inclining the first holding part and the second holding part relative to each other. The adjusting device can be actuated by the at least one actuator so that the operator can incline the holding parts relative to each other and adapt the dirt pick-up device to the structure of the floor. This facilitates the handling of the floor cleaning apparatus for the operator. A compact construction of the dirt pick-up device can be achieved by the adjusting device being arranged between the joint member and the suction bar, which may be arranged, in each case, at one end of opposite ends of the dirt pick-up device.

In practice, it proves reliable for the functioning of the adjusting device if the at least one actuator is movably mounted on one of the holding parts and comprises a compulsory guide for at least one guide member of the other one of the holding parts. Accordingly, the at least one actuator is, for example, movably mounted on the first holding part, and the second holding part has at least one guide member engaging the compulsory guide formed by the actuator. In dependence upon a movement of the at least one actuator relative to the first holding part, owing to the compulsory guide, a movement of the second holding part relative to the first holding part can be brought about, in particular, a change in the inclination of the holding parts relative to each other. The at least one guide member is, for example, a pin of the second holding part, which engages the compulsory guide and is arranged at a distance from the aforementioned tilting axis and on a side of the tilting axis located opposite the suction bar. A movement of the at least one guide member in a direction including an angle with a connecting line of the guide member with the tilting axis then brings about a seesaw movement of the second holding part relative to the first holding part. A reliable functioning of the adjusting device can be achieved in practice by the compulsory guide being a slot guide.

In an advantageous way, the at least one actuator is actuatable without a tool. This facilitates the handling of the floor cleaning apparatus for an operator.

It is advantageous for the at least one actuator to be a rotary grip or comprise a rotary grip. The rotary grip is expediently actuatable by the operator without a tool and, for example, rotatably mounted on the first holding part. There can be arranged at the circumference of the rotary grip a compulsory guide, configured, for example, as slot guide, in which a guide member of the second holding part can engage. When the rotary grip is turned relative to the first holding part, the guide member executes a movement relative to the first holding part, which is transmitted to the suction bar for adjustment of the inclination of the suction bar.

The adjusting device preferably comprises locking elements for locking the at least one actuator in a plurality of positions relative to the holder, which correspond to different angles of inclination of the holding parts relative to each other. This enables reliable functioning of the adjusting device and facilitates its operation for a user. By means of the locking elements, for example, latching elements engaging one another on the at least one actuator and on the holder, the actuator can be releasably locked relative to the holder. This enables undesired adjustment of the inclination of the holding parts relative to each other to be avoided.

It is expedient for the dirt pick-up device to comprise a display device for displaying the relative position of the first holding part and the second holding part relative to each other. From the position of the holding parts relative to each other, an operator can easily derive the set-down angle of the suction bar on the floor surface, which facilitates the handling of the floor cleaning apparatus for the operator.

The following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention will serve in conjunction with the drawings to explain the invention in greater detail. There are shown in:

Figure 1: a side view of a floor cleaning apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2: a rearview of the floor cleaning apparatus from Figure 1;

Figure 3: a partially sectional view along line 3-3 in Figure 4, illustrating a dirt pick-up device of the floor cleaning apparatus from Figure 1 and its mounting on the floor cleaning apparatus;

Figure 4: a sectional view along line 4-4 in Figure 3; and

Figure 5: a perspective partial view of the dirt pick-up device of the floor cleaning apparatus from Figure 1 in an exploded illustration.

Figures 1 and 2 show in a side and rear view, respectively, a preferred embodiment of a floor cleaning apparatus in accordance with the invention, which is configured as scrubbing-suction machine 10. The scrubbing-suction machine 10 is a so-called "walk-behind" machine which an operator steers over a floor surface 16 to be cleaned using an operating unit 14 arranged on a rear side 12.

Position and/or orientation details such as "upper side", "underside", "horizontal", "vertical" or the like refer, in this case, to an operating position of the scrubbing-suction machine 10 in which the scrubbing-suction machine 10 is positioned on a horizontally aligned floor surface 16.

For cleaning the floor surface 16, the scrubbing-suction machine 10 comprises a cleaning device 20 arranged at its front side 18, which has two brush rollers, not shown in the drawings, for detaching dirt from the floor surface 16, for which purpose the cleaning device 20 has first to be lowered onto the floor surface 16 in relation to the configuration shown in the drawings.

Furthermore, the scrubbing-suction machine 10 comprises a storage container 22 for a cleaning liquid, in particular, water, which can be supplied to the cleaning device 20 for acting on the floor surface 16, in order to increase the cleaning effect. Above the storage container 22, the scrubbing-suction machine 10 comprises a dirty liquid container 24 for receiving the mixture of detached dirt and cleaning liquid, which can be suctioned off the floor surface 16 by means of a dirt pick-up device 28 arranged at the underside 26 and at the rear side 12 of the scrubbing-suction machine 10.

For this purpose, the dirt pick-up device 28 comprises a suction bar 30 known per se, shown only in Figures 1 to 3, with a socket-shaped connection element 32 to which a suction hose, not shown in the drawings, can be connected. Via this suction hose, the suction bar 30 can be acted upon in the known manner with negative pressure by means of a suction unit of the scrubbing-suction machine 10, also not shown, so that the mixture of dirt and cleaning liquid can be transferred to the dirty liquid container 24.

For mounting the dirt pick-up device 28, the scrubbing-suction machine 10 comprises a chassis 34 which, in this case, is made in one piece from a plastic material in a manner which is simple from a manufacturing point of view and cost-effective. The chassis 34 serves to mount the cleaning device 20, an undercarriage 36 of the scrubbing-suction machine 10, and, as mentioned above, the dirt pick-up device 28. Furthermore, the chassis 34 carries the containers 22 and 24 and the aforementioned suction unit.

The dirt pick-up device 28, as will be clear, in particular, from Figures 3 to 5, comprises a holder 38 for the suction bar 30. The holder 38 has two holding parts 40 and 42, each made in one piece, for example, from a plastic material. The suction bar 30 is connected to the second holding part 42 by means of connecting elements, known per se, in the form of wing nuts 44 and 46 (Figure 2). The two holding parts 40 and 42 are mounted on each other so as to be tiltable about a horizontally extending tilting axis 48 defined on the second holding part 42. This will be discussed in greater detail hereinbelow.

On its side facing the chassis 34, the substantially plate-shaped holding part 40 comprises an upwardly protruding joint member 50 which, for movable mounting of the dirt pick-up device 28 on the remaining scrubbing-suction machine 10, can interact with a joint member 52 formed on the chassis 34.

The joint member 50 is a joint head 54, especially of spherical shape, formed on the one-piece holding part 40. The joint head 54 has almost the contour of a full sphere, but in order to save material for manufacturing reasons, is made up of a large number of spherical discs extending parallel to one another and intersecting one another at right angles. Starting from the joint head 54, a neck section 56 is formed on the holding part 40 and is narrowed relative thereto.

The joint member 52 interacting with the joint head 54 is formed on the one-piece chassis 34 in the form of a joint shell 58. The joint shell 58 is a hemispherical shell with an insertion opening 60 for the joint head 54. The insertion opening 60 faces the floor surface 16, and it defines a horizontal plane aligned parallel thereto. A circular edge 62, so to speak, at the "equator" of the joint shell 58, encloses the insertion opening 60 (Figure 3).

The joint head 54 and the joint shell 58 together form a joint 64 configured as ball-and-socket joint for movable mounting of the dirt pick-up device 28 on the remaining scrubbing-suction machine 10. The joint 64 is the only joint for the movable mounting of the dirt pick-up device 28, which enables pivoting thereof about three pivot axes 66, 68 and 70 extending in pairs perpendicularly to each other relative to the scrubbing-suction machine 10.

The pivot axis 66 is a vertical pivot axis, the pivot axis 68 is a first horizontal pivot axis aligned perpendicularly to a longitudinal direction of the scrubbing-suction machine 10, and the pivot axis 70 is a second horizontal pivot axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the scrubbing-suction machine 10. A particularly versatilely movable mounting of the dirt pick-up device 28 on the scrubbing-suction machine 10 is therefore enabled by the only one joint 64, and this with constructionally particularly simple configuration of the joint 64. This is especially achieved by the one-piece manufacture of the joint head 54 with the holding part 40 and of the joint shell 58 with the chassis 34.

Pivoting of the dirt pick-up device 28 about the pivot axis 68 can take place, for example, when operation of the scrubbing-suction machine 10 is started and stopped, with the dirt pick-up device 28 being lowered onto or lifted off the floor surface 16. To lift the dirt pick-up device 28, the scrubbing-suction machine 10 has a pull element 72, known per se, in the form of a bow 74 fixed to the second holding part 42, which an operator can act upon at the rear side 12 with a pulling force directed away from the floor surface 16. Decreasing pull on the bow 74 enables lowering of the dirt pick-up device 28 about the pivot axis 68 onto the floor surface 16.

Furthermore, the pivoting about the pivot axis 68 makes it possible to level out unevenesses of the floor surface 16 in the longitudinal direction of the scrubbing-suction machine 10.

The pivoting of the dirt pick-up device 28 relative to the scrubbing-suction machine 10 about the vertical pivot axis 66 is advantageous during cornering of the scrubbing-suction machine 10 in order that the mixture of dirt and cleaning liquid left behind by the cleaning device 20 can also be reliably suctioned off the floor surface 16.

The pivoting of the dirt pick-up device 28 relative to the scrubbing-suction machine 10 about the horizontal pivot axis 70 makes it possible to level out unevenesses of the floor surface 16 extending transversely to a longitudinal direction of the scrubbing-suction machine 10.

The formation of the joint 64 as joint comprised of joint head 54 and joint shell 58, furthermore, enables forces occurring between the chassis 34 and the dirt pick-up device 28 to be diverted via surfaces. The force occurring per surface unit is therefore relatively low in the area of the joint 64. This makes it possible to manufacture the joint 64 from component parts which are of less solid construction than is the case in joints for movably mounting dirt pick-up devices in floor cleaning apparatuses known from the prior art. In particular, owing to the use of the one-piece formation of the two joint members 50 and 52 with the chassis 34 and the holding part 40, respectively, screw, welded and rivet connections can be dispensed with. All in all, a configuration of the articulated mounting of the dirt pick-up device 28, which is simple from a manufacturing point of view, but owing to the spherical joint 64 can nevertheless be used in a very flexible way, is thereby obtained.

Since the joint shell 58 is only open in the direction of the floor surface 16, on the one hand, the amount of dirt entering the joint shell 58 is low, and, on the other hand, dirt can be removed from the joint shell 58 more easily. This has the advantage that the joint 64 is only subjected to low wear.

The configuration of the joint shell 58 as half-shell enables guidance of the joint head 54 over a large angular range during the pivoting of the dirt pick-up device 28.

For securing the joint head 54 in the joint shell 58, the dirt pick-up device 28 comprises a single securing member 76, in particular, made of one piece, for example, of a plastic material. The securing member 76 is configured in the form of a substantially U-shaped bracket 78 with two webs 80 and 82 spaced relative to each other, which are joined to each other at one of their ends by a joining section 84.

At their free ends, the webs 80 and 82 extend parallel to each other and are separated from each other by a space 86 through which the neck section 56 on the joint head 54 can be guided. Further in the direction of the joining section 84, the webs 80 and 82 form approximately half rings and thereby enclose a circular opening 88 with a diameter which is smaller than the diameter of the joint head 54. In this way, the webs 80 and 82 form on the upper side, in each case, a stop element as well as an abutment element 90, 92 for the joint head 54, which is effective against a direction of insertion of the joint head 54 into the joint shell 58. The edge of the opening 88 formed on the upper side by the webs 80 and 82, furthermore, forms an abutment element 94 for the edge 62 of the joint shell 58.

If only the webs 80, 82 and the joining section 84 are taken into consideration, the bracket 78 is plate-shaped. From the plane defined in this way, two securing members against rotation 96 and 98 protrude in the vertical direction from the joining section 84.

In order to fix the bracket 78 on the chassis 34, there is formed thereon adjacent to the edge 62 a securing member receptacle 100 (Figure 4). The securing member receptacle 100 comprises two through-openings 104 and 106 formed in the chassis 34 and separated from each other by a web 102. With their free ends, the webs 80 and 82 can be inserted into the through-openings 104 and 106, respectively, in a positively locking manner, so that the chassis 34 forms a counter stop for the bracket 78 in order to divert the holding force for the joint head 54 acting on the bracket 78.

To connect the dirt pick-up device 28 to the remaining scrubbing-suction machine 10, the following steps can be taken:

First, the neck section 56 can be inserted through the space 86 between the webs 80, 82 into the opening 88, so that the webs 80 and 82 engage around the joint head 54 on sides opposite each other. In an easy-to-handle way, the operator can then insert the joint head 54 into the joint shell 58, and the bracket 78 into the securing member receptacle 100 without a tool. Here the holder 38 is preferably aligned at an incline to the floor surface 16 so that the operator can grip the bracket 78 behind the joint head 54 at the joining section 84.

The positively locking fit of the webs 80, 82 in the through-openings 104 and 106, respectively, already enables the stop elements 90, 92 to lie against the joint head 54, and the abutment element 94 against the edge 62 of the insertion opening. The holding part 40 and the joint head 54 thereby adopt a particularly well defined position relative to the chassis 34. The joining section 84 is arranged between the underside of the chassis 34 and the upper side of the holding part 40 at the section thereof adjacent to the joint head 54 (Figure 3).

The securing members against rotation 96 and 98 engage around a section adjacent to the edge 62 of the joint shell 58 at its side facing the rear side 12 on the left and right. In addition to the webs 80 and 82 engaging the through-openings 104 and 106, respectively, in a positively locking manner, securing of the bracket 78 against rotation relative to the chassis 34 can thereby be achieved. Therefore, when the dirt pick-up device 28 is pivoted relative to the chassis 34, the bracket 78 remains stationary relative thereto and so wear between the bracket 78 and the chassis 34 can be avoided. During the pivoting, the joint head 54 can also be guided by the abutment elements 90 and 92 lying against it.

The above-described mounting of the joint head 54 by means of the bracket 78, which can be performed by the operator without a tool and therefore in a user-friendly manner, is essentially adequate for mounting the dirt pick-up device 28. In order to reduce the load on the securing member receptacle 100, it may be additionally provided that the joining section 84 is also fixed to the chassis 34 by means of a mechanical connecting element, for example, in the form of a screw 108. For this purpose, the chassis 34 has a connecting element of corresponding construction, in particular, a screw boss 110.

As mentioned above, the holding parts 40 and 42 are tiltable relative to each other about the tilting axis 48. The tilting axis 48 is defined by the bow 74 which is attached to the second holding part 42 for raising and lowering the dirt pick-up device 28 and engages at the sides in bearing recesses 112 and 114 formed on the second holding part 42 (Figure 5). The bearing recesses 112 and 114 can enter depressions 116 and 118, respectively, formed on the first holding part 40, and be fixed therein by means of a fixing part 120 of the dirt pick-up device 28. The fixing part 120 is substantially plate-shaped and comprises two hook-shaped fixing members 122 and 124 engaging over the walls of the bearing recesses 112 and 114. The fixing part 120 is connected to the first holding part 40 on the underside, for example, using a connecting element in the form of a screw 126.

In order to tilt the holding parts 40 and 42 relative to each other, the dirt pickup device 28 comprises an integrated adjusting device 128. The adjusting device 128 has an actuator 130 in the form of a rotary grip 132 actuatable by the user without a tool. The rotary grip 132 is mounted on the first holding part 40 in a cylindrical receptacle 134 constructed for this purpose for rotation about a vertical axis of rotation 136, and it is supported at the underside on the fixing part 120. A ring collar 138 encloses the receptacle 134 at the upper side, and protruding from the ring collar 138 in the circumferential direction of the axis of rotation 136 in the direction of the fixing part 120 are a large number of locking members in the form of latching projections 140 (Figure 5). The latching projections 140 can interact with locking members, also in the form of latching projections 142, which are formed on a shoulder 144 of the rotary grip 132. In this way, the rotary grip 132 is releasably lockable in a large number of angular positions relative to the holding part 40, and an adjustment can be carried out by the operator, as mentioned above, without a tool, against the resistance of the interlocking latching projections 140, 142. A compulsory guide 146 in the form of a slot guide 148 is arranged at the outer circumference of the rotary grip 132. The slot guide 148 comprises two control slots extending in the shape of spirals over the outer circumference of the rotary grip 132. Only one control slot is shown in the drawings.

Guide members for interacting with the slot guide 148 are arranged on the second holding part 42. Only one guide member 150 is shown in the drawings (Figure 5). The guide member 150 and the guide member that is not shown are bearing pins which protrude from a lever arm 152 and 154, respectively, of the holding part 42 at the ends in the direction of the rotary grip 132 and engage the slot guide 148, with the lever arms 152 and 154 engaging around the rotary grip at the sides. The guide member 150 and the guide member that is not shown are spaced relative to the tilting axis 48, more particularly, on the side of the tilting axis 48 opposite the suction bar 30. In this way, the second holding part 42 performs the function of a seesaw.

The tilting of the holding parts 40 and 42 relative to each other serves to change the inclination of the suction bar 30 in relation to the floor surface 16. As a result, the set-down angle of wiper lips 156 and 158 of the suction bar 30 (Figure 3) on the floor surface 16 changes. This enables the dirt pick-up device 28 to be adapted to the structure of the floor surface 16, and depending on the set-down angle of the suction bar 30, the suction power for suctioning off dirt and cleaning liquid can be varied.

The tilting of the holding parts 40 and 42 relative to each other functions as follows:

The operator actuates the rotary grip 132 by rotation about the axis of rotation 136 against the resistance of the latching projections 140, 142. This causes the spacing of the guide member 150 and of the guide member that is not shown to change relative to the fixing part 120, owing to the spiral shape of the slot guide 148 arranged at the circumference of the rotary grip 132.

This results in the lever arms 152 and 154 being raised or lowered, depending on the direction of rotation of the rotary grip 132, which finally causes the second holding part 42 to be tilted about the tilting axis 48.

In order to make it easier for the operator to recognize the position of the holding parts 40 and 42 relative to each other and hence the set-down angle of the suction bar 30 on the floor surface 16, the dirt pick-up device 28 has an integrated display device 160. This includes markings 162 made on the upper side of the rotary grip 132, which interact with a marking 164 arranged on the holding part 40.

Claims

A floor cleaning device (10) comprising a storage container (22) for a cleaning liquid that can be applied to a floor surface (16) to be cleaned, a cleaning device (20) for releasing dirt from the floor surface (16), a dirt pickup device (28 ) for sucking up loosened dirt and cleaning fluid under the influence of a suction unit, and a dirt liquid container (24) for receiving the sucked dirt and sucked cleaning fluid; wherein the dirt pickup device (28) is supported by at least one joint (64) with a first guide member (52) and a second guide member (50) cooperating therewith, pivotally mounted on the floor cleaning device (10) so that it can rotate about at least one pivot axis (66, 68, 70), wherein the first guide member (52) is a guide bowl (58) and the second guide member (50) is a guide head (54) housed therein; characterized in that the floor cleaning device (10) comprises at least one securing element (76) for securing the hinge head (54) in the hinge bowl (58), wherein the at least one securing element (76) comprises or forms at least one stop element (90, 92) for the hinge head ( 54) acting opposite an insertion direction of the hinge head (54) in the hinge bowl (58) and constituting at least one stop member (90, 92) of the hinge head (54) such that the hinge head (54) disposed in the hinge bowl (58), is passed through the at least one abutment element (90, 92) as it rotates.

Floor cleaning device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the hinge bowl (58) is a half bowl.

Floor cleaning device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the hinge head (54) can be inserted into the hinge bowl (58) from below.

Floor cleaning device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hinge bowl (58) is only open in the direction towards the floor surface (16).

Floor cleaning device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one joint (64) is a ball joint.

Floor cleaning device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dirt pick-up device (28) is fixedly movable on the floor cleaning device (10) by means of only one link.

Floor cleaning device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the floor cleaning device (10) comprises a base frame (34) on which one of the guide elements (52) is formed in one.

Floor cleaning device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dirt pick-up device (28) comprises the hinge head (54) and the floor cleaning device (10) further comprises the hinge cup (58).

Floor cleaning device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one securing element (76) is formed so that it is separated from the hinge head (54) and / or from the hinge bowl (58).

Floor cleaning device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one securing element (76) is formed in one.

Floor cleaning device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one securing element (76) comprises two stop elements (90, 92) spaced apart and on opposite sides of the hinge head (54).

Floor cleaning device (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that the at least one securing element (76) has a connecting section (84) connecting the stop elements (90, 92) to each other.

Floor cleaning device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one securing element (76) comprises or constitutes a stop element (94) for an edge (62) of the hinge bowl (58).

Floor cleaning device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there is attached to the at least one securing element (76) a securing element recess (100) connected to the hinge cup (58), in which the at least one securing element ( 76) can be inserted into the hinge cup (58) for securing the hinge head (54).

Floor cleaning device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one securing element (76) is rotatably configured with respect to the hinge cup (58).