EP2387933A2 - Method for cleaning a floor surface and floor cleaning device for implementing the method - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves applying cleaning fluid from a cleaning fluid tank (46) on the floor surface (12). A front cleaning tool is provided with a front outlet (58), where a rear cleaning tool is provided with a rear outlet (54). A partition wall (32) is arranged between the front and rear cleaning tools. An independent claim is also included for a floor cleaning device with a discharge conductor.

Description

The invention relates to a method for cleaning a floor surface with a mobile floor cleaning device, wherein applying cleaning liquid from a cleaning liquid tank on the floor surface to be cleaned, the bottom surface with at least one front and this processed with at least one rear cleaning tool and then the liquid and dissolved dirt of receives the bottom surface and transferred to a dirty liquid tank.

Moreover, the invention relates to a mobile floor cleaning device for performing the method with at least one front and at least one rear cleaning tool for cleaning the bottom surface, a cleaning liquid tank, which communicates with at least one outlet for applying cleaning liquid to the bottom surface in fluid communication, and with a dirty liquid tank, the with a receiving device in fluid communication is for receiving liquid and dissolved dirt from the bottom surface.

For cleaning of floor surfaces such floor cleaning devices in the form of scrubbing machines are often used, which are moved along the bottom surface and having arranged on its underside in the direction of travel of the scrubbing machine behind one another, a first and a second cleaning tool. The cleaning tools attack the floor surface and clean it with the aid of a cleaning liquid, which is stored in a cleaning liquid tank of the scrubber and is applied via an outlet on the floor surface to be cleaned. Subsequently, the cleaning liquid is taken together with dissolved dirt using a recording device from the bottom surface and transferred to a dirty liquid tank, which is carried by the scrubber. Such a scrubbing machine is for example from the publication WO 98/48685 A1 known.

As cleaning liquid usually water is used. To increase the cleaning effect, the cleaning liquid is often mixed with a liquid or powdered cleaning chemical before the cleaning liquid is applied to the floor surface to be cleaned. However, the use of a cleaning chemical is associated with not inconsiderable costs. In addition, for reasons of environmental protection, it is desirable to keep the consumption of cleaning chemical low.

Object of the present invention is to develop a generic method for cleaning a floor surface and a generic mobile floor cleaning device such that the consumption of cleaning chemical can be reduced without affecting the achievable cleaning effect.

This object is achieved in a method of the type mentioned in the present invention by assigning the front cleaning tool at least one front outlet and the rear cleaning tool at least one rear outlet and that emits cleaning liquid via the outlets, wherein the cleaning liquid, which then over the at least one front outlet is dispensed prior to dispensing a cleaning chemical admixed and wherein arranging between the front and the rear cleaning tool at least one partition.

In the method according to the invention, the floor surface to be cleaned is processed by at least two cleaning tools, which are arranged one behind the other in the direction of travel of the floor cleaning appliance. The front in the direction of travel cleaning tool as well as the rear in the direction of travel cleaning tool associated with at least one outlet, on the cleaning fluid can be applied to the floor surface. The cleaning fluid dispensed through the front outlet is mixed with a cleaning chemical before delivery. As a result, a mixture of cleaning fluid and cleaning chemical is discharged onto the floor surface to be cleaned via the at least one front outlet. The front cleaning tool then treats the bottom surface under the effect of the mixture of cleaning fluid and cleaning chemical. Through the use of at least one partition wall positioned between the front cleaning tool and the rear cleaning tool, a relatively high concentration of cleaning chemical can be achieved in the region of the front cleaning tool, without requiring a high consumption of cleaning chemical. As the floor cleaner is moved along the floor surface, the floor surface area, initially processed under the combined action of cleaning fluid and cleaning chemical, is subsequently processed by the rear cleaning tool with the aid of cleaning fluid dispensed through the at least one rear outlet.

The use of the partition wall disposed between the front and rear cleaning tools results in an increase in the cleaning effect, so that the amount of cleaning chemical to be mixed in the cleaning liquid can be reduced. Despite the reduced use of cleaning chemical a very good cleaning effect is achieved with the method according to the invention.

It is advantageous if only a cleaning chemical to be dispensed via the at least one front outlet cleaning liquid. Exclusively this amount of cleaning liquid is added to the cleaning chemical, whereas the amount of cleaning liquid that is discharged to the bottom surface via the at least one rear outlet, no cleaning chemical is added. The amount of cleaning chemical required to achieve a good cleaning effect can thereby be considerably reduced.

In a preferred embodiment of the method, the at least one front outlet is supplied with a smaller amount of cleaning liquid per unit time than the at least one rear outlet. The division of the cleaning liquid removed from the cleaning liquid tank into a first portion, which is supplied to the at least one front outlet, and a second portion, which is supplied to the at least one rear outlet, takes place non-uniformly in such an embodiment of the method according to the invention. The flow rate of cleaning fluid dispensed through the at least one front outlet is selected to be less than the flow rate of cleaning fluid dispensed through the at least one rear outlet. A cleaning chemical is preferably admixed only with the amount of cleaning liquid dispensed through the front outlet. Thus, even with the use of a relatively small amount of cleaning chemical in the area of the front cleaning tool, a high concentration of cleaning chemical can be achieved. This high concentration of cleaning chemical is reliably maintained by the use of the partition positioned between the front and rear cleaning tools.

The distribution of the throughput of cleaning liquid which is discharged via the at least one front outlet or via the at least one rear outlet, for example, be such that the at least one front outlet supplied volume flow of cleaning liquid, that is, the at least one front outlet per unit time supplied amount of cleaning liquid, a maximum of one third of the volume flow of the cleaning liquid, which is supplied to the at least one rear outlet. In particular, a volume flow of the cleaning liquid supplied to the at least one front outlet of at most one fifth of the volume flow of the cleaning liquid supplied to the at least one rear outlet is preferred. For example, it may be provided that approximately 10% of the cleaning liquid taken from the cleaning liquid tank is the at least one front outlet are fed, wherein this portion, a cleaning chemical is mixed, and that about 90% of the cleaning liquid tank removed cleaning liquid are supplied to the at least one rear outlet, with this proportion no cleaning chemical is added.

As mentioned above, the invention also relates to a mobile floor cleaning device for carrying out the method. In such a floor cleaning appliance, the above object is achieved according to the invention in that the at least one front cleaning tool is assigned at least one front outlet and the at least one rear cleaning tool has at least one rear outlet, wherein a cleaning chemical can be added to the cleaning liquid dispensable via the at least one front outlet and wherein between the front and the rear cleaning tool at least one partition wall is arranged.

As already explained, the positioning of the partition wall between the front cleaning tool and the rear cleaning tool makes it possible to achieve a high concentration of cleaning chemical in the region of the front cleaning tool, without having to use a large amount of cleaning chemical per unit time. With the floor cleaning appliance according to the invention, a good cleaning effect can be achieved, and at the same time, the amount of cleaning chemical required to achieve this cleaning effect can be kept relatively low.

In an advantageous embodiment of the floor cleaning appliance according to the invention, the at least one front outlet has a smaller throughput of cleaning liquid than the at least one rear outlet. Throughput is understood to mean the amount of cleaning fluid which is dispensed per unit time via the respective outlet. The amount of cleaning fluid dispensed per unit time is also referred to as volume flow. The flow rate through the front outlet releasable cleaning fluid is in such an embodiment of the invention is less than the volume flow of the cleaning liquid, which is deliverable via the at least one rear outlet.

For example, it can be provided that the throughput of cleaning liquid of the front outlet amounts to a maximum of one third of the throughput of cleaning liquid of the rear outlet.

It is particularly advantageous if the throughput of cleaning liquid of the at least one front outlet amounts to a maximum of one fifth of the throughput of cleaning liquid, which can be discharged to the bottom surface via the at least one rear outlet.

It is advantageous if the at least one front outlet is connected via a front discharge line with the cleaning liquid and when the at least one rear outlet is connected via a rear discharge line with the cleaning liquid, wherein the front discharge line has a greater flow resistance than the rear discharge line. The provision of different flow resistances for the front and the rear discharge line ensures that, during operation of the floor cleaning device, different volume flows result for the cleaning liquid supplied to the at least one front outlet and the at least one rear outlet. The result of the greater flow resistance of the front discharge line is that the volume flow of the liquid which can be supplied to the at least one front outlet is less than the volume flow of the cleaning liquid that can be fed to the at least one rear outlet.

Different flow resistance for the two discharge lines are achieved in an advantageous embodiment of the floor cleaning device according to the invention characterized in that the flow cross section of the front discharge line is less than the flow cross section of the rear discharge line.

Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that at least one throttle element is connected in the front discharge line, which increases the flow resistance of the front discharge line to a value which is greater than the flow resistance of the rear discharge line.

It can also be provided that the at least one front outlet and / or the at least one rear outlet has an outlet nozzle, wherein the outlet nozzle ensures that the throughput of cleaning liquid of the at least one front outlet is smaller than the throughput of cleaning liquid of at least a rear outlet.

The delivery of cleaning liquid via the at least one front outlet and the at least one rear outlet to the bottom surface can be carried out such that the cleaning liquid from the respective outlet initially impinges on the associated cleaning tool and is then transferred from this to the bottom surface.

It is particularly advantageous if the at least one front outlet and / or the at least one rear outlet are arranged in the direction of travel in front of the axis of rotation of the front cleaning tool or of the rear cleaning tool. The front and rear cleaning tools are each rotatable about an axis of rotation and the release of cleaning liquid takes place in the direction of travel in front of the respective axis of rotation. The axes of rotation are preferably aligned horizontally and transversely to the direction of travel.

In particular, it can be provided that the distance of the at least one front outlet from the axis of rotation of the front cleaning tool relative to the direction of travel of the floor cleaning device is greater than the radius of the front cleaning tool. This makes it possible to apply the cleaning liquid discharged from the at least one front outlet directly onto the floor surface to be cleaned, without the cleaning liquid first contacting the front cleaning tool. Cleaning fluid a cleaning chemical is admixed, can thus be applied to the bottom surface immediately in front of the front cleaning tool, and then the front cleaning tool can process the bottom surface under the effect of the already applied mixture of cleaning liquid and cleaning chemical.

Conveniently, the distance of the at least one rear outlet from the axis of rotation of the rear cleaning tool, based on the direction of travel of the floor cleaning device, greater than the radius of the rear cleaning tool, so that the cleaning liquid discharged from the rear outlet can be applied directly to the bottom surface, without the previously to contact the rear cleaning tool.

It may be provided, for example, that, based on the direction of travel of the floor cleaning device, the rear outlet is positioned in the region between the partition wall and the rear cleaning tool.

The positioning of the front and rear outlets in the direction of travel in front of the respective associated cleaning tool allows the cleaning of the bottom surface such that in a first step, a mixture of cleaning liquid, preferably water, and a cleaning chemical of relatively high concentration is applied directly to the bottom surface. The proportion of cleaning chemical applied to the cleaning liquid may be, for example, 3% to more than 30%. The high concentration of cleaning chemical can be achieved by selecting the volume flow of the cleaning liquid discharged via the at least one front outlet to be relatively low. For example, the volume flow of the cleaning fluid discharged via the at least one front outlet may amount to approximately one fifth to one tenth of the volume flow of the cleaning fluid dispensed via the at least one rear outlet.

In a second step, the bottom surface of the front cleaning tool can be processed under the effect of already applied to the bottom surface mixture of cleaning fluid and cleaning chemical.

In a third step, cleaning liquid can be applied to the bottom surface processed by the front cleaning tool. The volume flow of this cleaning liquid may be, for example, about 70% to 90% of the total volume flow, which is removed from the cleaning liquid tank. The bottom surface is in this case charged with pure cleaning liquid, without this is admixed with a further cleaning chemical.

In a fourth step, the bottom surface of the rear cleaning tool can be processed under the action of the pure cleaning liquid applied in the third method step and under the effect of the mixture of cleaning liquid and cleaning chemical applied in the first step of the cleaning method.

In a fifth step, the applied cleaning liquid and the cleaning chemical and the dissolved dirt can be absorbed by the bottom surface and transferred to the dirty liquid tank.

In order to detach even very stubborn dirt from the floor surface, at least one further cleaning tool can be positioned in the direction of travel behind the rear cleaning tool to which the at least one rear outlet is assigned for processing the bottom surface, wherein this cleaning tool is preferably not associated with an outlet for cleaning liquid , This further cleaning tool can thus process the bottom surface under the effect of the cleaning liquid already dispensed via the at least one first outlet and via the at least one second outlet and of the cleaning chemical admixed therewith.

It is advantageous if between the rear cleaning tool and positioned in the direction of travel of the floor cleaning device behind the rear cleaning tool further cleaning tool also a partition wall is arranged.

It is advantageous if the amount of cleaning chemical which can be mixed with the cleaning liquid which can be dispensed via the at least one front outlet per unit time is variable. For this purpose, an actuator can be used, with the help of which the user can set the amount of cleaning chemical that can be added to the cleaning fluid per unit time. As an actuator, for example, a valve can be used, the flow cross-section can be adjusted by the user. Alternatively or additionally, an electrically controllable actuator may be provided for adjusting the amount of cleaning chemical which can be added per unit time of the cleaning fluid. As an electrical control element, for example, a solenoid valve can be used, which can be opened and closed periodically, the opening or closing times are adjustable by the user. Alternatively, a variable capacity pump can be used to add the cleaning chemical.

The front and rear cleaning tools are arranged in an advantageous embodiment of the floor cleaning device according to the invention in a common tool housing, wherein the tool housing has a arranged between the front cleaning tool and the rear cleaning tool partition. The tool housing including the partition may in combination with the front and the rear cleaning tool form a floor cleaning head, which is arranged on the underside of the floor cleaning device, preferably on the underside of the chassis. Conveniently, the floor cleaning head can be lifted from the floor surface and lowered onto it. In times when the floor cleaning device is not used, the Floor cleaning head occupy a distance from the bottom surface, thereby avoiding deterioration of the cleaning tools.

It can also be provided that the front and rear cleaning tools are arranged in separate tool housings. The tool housings can cover the respective cleaning tools at their top and at their front and back. For this purpose, they can each have a front wall arranged in the direction of travel and a rear wall arranged in the direction of travel. The rear wall of the front tool housing, like the end wall of the rear tool housing, may form a partition disposed between the front cleaning tool and the rear cleaning tool.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the floor cleaning appliance according to the invention, the front cleaning tool is arranged in a front tool housing, which is arranged in the direction of travel in front of a cleaning liquid tank receiving device housing of the floor cleaning device. The front tool housing thus protrudes in the direction of travel of the floor cleaning device on the device housing.

The front tool housing can be held by a boom on the chassis of the floor cleaning device.

It is advantageous if the boom is pivotable about a pivot axis aligned transversely to the direction of travel. This gives the possibility to lift the front tool housing from the bottom surface and lower it on demand, by the boom is pivoted about the pivot axis.

The partition wall arranged between the front cleaning tool and the rear cleaning tool can be designed as a rigid, dimensionally stable component, for example as a metal or plastic plate.

Alternatively it can be provided that the partition is made of a form-slack material, in particular in the form of a curtain, which is made for example of a textile material or of a film.

Figur 1:

eine schematische Schnittansicht einer ersten Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen fahrbaren Bodenreinigungsgerätes und

Figur 2:

eine schematische Schnittansicht einer zweiten Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen fahrbaren Bodenreinigungsgerätes.

The following description of preferred embodiments of the invention is used in conjunction with the drawings for further explanation. Show it:

FIG. 1:

a schematic sectional view of a first embodiment of a mobile floor cleaning device according to the invention and

FIG. 2:

a schematic sectional view of a second embodiment of a mobile floor cleaning device according to the invention.

In FIG. 1 schematically a inventive floor cleaning device 10 is shown, which is designed in the form of a scrubbing machine for cleaning a bottom surface 12. The floor cleaning device 10 includes a chassis 14, the upper side a device housing 16 carries and on the underside two rotatable about a common axis of rotation rear wheels and at least a front wheel are held. In FIG. 1 only a rear wheel 18 can be seen. A front wheel is in FIG. 1 not shown, since it is covered by a lower side on the chassis 14 in the vertical direction adjustable held floor cleaning head 20. The floor cleaning head 20 has a tool housing 22 with a ceiling wall 24, from which an end wall 26 and a rear wall 28 project in the direction of the bottom surface 12 downwards. Based on the direction of travel of the floor cleaning appliance 10, which is symbolized by the arrow 30, the end wall 26 is arranged in a front region of the ceiling wall 24 and the rear wall 28 is arranged in a rear region of the ceiling wall 24.

Between the end wall 26 and the rear wall 28 protrudes from the ceiling wall 24, a partition wall 32 in the direction of the bottom surface 12. Through the partition wall 32 of the Werkzeuggehäuse22 captured tool space in a front tool chamber 34 and a rear tool chamber 36 which are open towards the bottom surface 12, respectively.

In the front tool chamber 34, a front cleaning tool in the form of a front brush roller 38 is arranged, which is rotatable about a horizontal, transverse to the direction of travel 30 oriented front axis of rotation 40. In the rear tool chamber 36, a rear cleaning tool in the form of a rear brush roller 42 is arranged, which is rotatable about a horizontal, transversely to the direction of travel 30 aligned rear pivot axis 44. The two brush rollers 38 and 42 are rotated in the usual manner by a common drive motor, which is not shown in the drawing in rotation.

The device housing 16 surrounds a cleaning liquid tank 46, a chemical tank 48 and a dirty liquid tank 50. The chemical tank 48 may be configured in the form of a container that can be inserted upside down into a container receptacle.

Via a rear discharge line 52, the cleaning liquid tank 46 is connected to the rear tool chamber 36. The free, the cleaning liquid tank 46 facing away from the end of the rear discharge line 52 forms a rear outlet 54, via the cleaning liquid, which is stored in the cleaning liquid tank 46, can be applied to the bottom surface 12 to be cleaned.

A short distance from the cleaning liquid tank 46 branches from the rear discharge line 52 from a front discharge line 56, which connects the front tool chamber 34 with the cleaning liquid tank 46 and at its free, the cleaning liquid tank 46 remote end carries a front outlet 58. Cleaning liquid can also be applied to the floor surface 12 to be cleaned via the front outlet 58. The diameter of the front discharge line 56 is set smaller than the diameter of the rear discharge line 52. As a result, the flow resistance of the front discharge line 56 is greater than the flow resistance of the rear discharge line 52. This in turn causes the volume flow of the cleaning liquid, the is discharged via the front outlet 58 is smaller than the volume flow of the cleaning liquid, which is discharged via the rear outlet 54. For example, of the total amount of cleaning fluid withdrawn from the cleaning liquid tank 46 per unit time, 10% may be discharged via the front outlet 58 and 90% may be discharged via the rear outlet 54.

Of course, it can be provided that a plurality of rear outlets 54 and front outlets 58 are arranged at the free ends of the rear discharge line 52 and the front discharge line 56. The outlets may, for example, be arranged on transverse lines aligned parallel to the axes of rotation 40 and 44, which are connected to the free ends of the delivery lines 52 and 56, respectively. Such transverse lines are known in the art and therefore not shown in the drawing.

In the front discharge line 56, a mixing element 60 is connected, which is connected via an actuator 62 to the chemical tank 48 in flow communication. The chemical tank 48 receives a cleaning chemical admixable with the cleaning liquid supplied to the front outlet 58 via the front discharge line 56. The actuator 62 makes it possible to adjust the amount of the cleaning chemical to be mixed per unit time of the cleaning liquid. As an actuator 62, for example, a valve with variable flow cross-section can be used or a pump with variable capacity or a solenoid valve that opens and closes periodically, the opening and / or closing times of the solenoid valve by means of an electrical control device can be changed. The mixing element 60 may, for example, be designed as a T-shaped line section of the front discharge line 56 or else in the form of an injector connected in the front discharge line 56.

The dirty liquid tank 50 is acted upon by a suction unit arranged in the housing 16 suction turbine 64 with negative pressure. The suction turbine 64 is for this purpose via a suction channel 66 with the dirty liquid tank 50 in flow communication. At its end immersed in the dirty liquid tank 50, the suction channel 66 may comprise a device which interrupts the flow connection between the dirty liquid tank 50 and the suction turbine 64 when a maximum filling level of the dirty liquid tank 50 is reached. Such devices are known in the art and therefore not shown in the drawing. They can be designed, for example, in the form of a float valve.

The dirty liquid tank 50 is connected via a suction hose 68 with a in the direction of travel 30 of the floor cleaning device 10 behind the rear wheel 18 on the bottom surface 12 engaging suction lip 70 in flow communication. By applying the dirty liquid tank 50 with negative pressure, a suction flow illustrated by the line 72 forms in the suction hose 68. This makes it possible to suck liquid applied to the bottom surface 12 together with dissolved dirt via the suction hose 68 into the dirty liquid tank 50. In combination with the suction turbine 64, the suction channel 66, the suction hose 68 and the suction lip 70 form a receiving device for receiving the liquid and the dissolved dirt from the bottom surface 12.

To clean the bottom surface 12, the floor cleaning device 10 can be moved in the direction of travel 30 on the bottom surface 12 along, wherein the brush rollers 38 and 42 are rotated and the dirty liquid tank 50 is acted upon by the suction turbine 64 with negative pressure. From the cleaning liquid tank 46 cleaning liquid, preferably water, on the front outlet 58 and the rear outlet 54 on the Floor surface 12 are applied. The volume flow of the cleaning liquid, which is discharged via the front outlet 58, is lower than the volume flow of the cleaning liquid, which is discharged via the rear outlet 54 due to the higher flow resistance of the front discharge line 56. The relatively small amount of cleaning liquid discharged via the front outlet 58 per unit time is admixed by means of the mixing element 60 and the actuator 62, a cleaning chemical provided in the chemical tank 48. Thus, a mixture of cleaning fluid and cleaning chemical is applied to the bottom surface 12 via the front outlet 58. In order to prevent premature dilution of this mixture, the dividing wall 32 is arranged between the front brush roll 38 and the rear brush roll 42. This can be designed as a rigid wall plate or in the form of a curtain, which is made for example of a rubber-elastic material.

Via the rear outlet 54, clean cleaning liquid is released during the operation of the floor cleaning appliance 10.

The front outlet 58 is located with respect to the direction of travel 30 of the floor cleaning device 10 at a distance from the front rotation axis 40, which is greater than the radius of the front brush roller 38. This ensures that the mixture of cleaning fluid and cleaning chemical, the front outlet 58 is discharged, directly on the bottom surface 12 meets. In a corresponding manner, the distance which the rear outlet 54 occupies relative to the direction of travel 30 to the rear axis of rotation 44, greater than the radius of the rear brush roller 42 is selected. The cleaning liquid discharged from the rear outlet 54 thus impinges directly on the bottom surface 12.

Since only the cleaning liquid discharged via the front outlet 58 is mixed with a cleaning chemical, but not the cleaning liquid discharged through the rear outlet 54, the Consumption of cleaning fluid can be kept relatively low. Since the volume flow of the cleaning liquid flowing through the front discharge line 56 is considerably smaller than the volume flow of the cleaning liquid flowing through the rear discharge line 52, despite the relatively small amount of cleaning chemical, which is mixed in the region of the front discharge line 56 of the cleaning liquid, in the front brush roll 38 a high concentration of cleaning chemical can be achieved. This high concentration is maintained through the use of the dividing wall 32, premature dilution of the cleaning chemical concentration is avoided.

In a first method step, a concentrated mixture of cleaning fluid and cleaning chemical is thus applied to the bottom surface 12 via the front outlet 58. Subsequently, the bottom surface 12 is processed by the front brush roller 58. In the method of the floor cleaning device 10, clean cleaning liquid is then applied to the processed bottom surface via the rear outlet 54, and in a further method step, the bottom surface 12 is processed under the action of the now diluted mixture of cleaning liquid and cleaning chemical. During further movement of the floor cleaning appliance 10, the suction lip 70 reaches the area of the floor surface which has just been worked, and the applied liquid together with dissolved dirt can be picked up by the floor surface 12 and transferred into the dirty liquid tank 50.

In FIG. 2 a second embodiment of a mobile floor cleaning device according to the invention is shown, which is generally designated by the reference numeral 80. It is formed largely identical to the above with reference to FIG. 1 explained floor cleaning device 10. For identical components are therefore in FIG. 2 the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 and with respect to these components, reference is made to the foregoing explanations to avoid repetition.

The floor cleaning device 80 differs from that in FIG FIG. 1 shown floor cleaning device 10 in that it has a front in the direction of travel 30 floor cleaning head 82 and a relative to the direction of travel 30 rear floor cleaning head 84, which are held on the chassis 14. The front floor cleaning head 82 projects in the direction of travel 30 on the device housing 16 of the floor cleaning device 80. About a boom 86, the front floor cleaning head 82 is connected to the chassis 14. The boom 86 is pivotable about a horizontal, transversely to the direction of travel 30 aligned pivot axis 88, so that the front floor cleaning head 82 can be lifted from the bottom surface 12 and lowered onto it.

The rear floor cleaning head 84 is also held in a known manner and therefore not shown in the drawing manner in the vertical direction adjustable on the chassis 14 and can be lowered to the bottom surface 12 and lifted by this.

The front floor cleaning head 82 includes a front tool housing 90 having a front ceiling wall 92 from which a front end wall 94 and a front rear wall 96 project downwardly toward the floor surface 12. The front tool housing 90 overhangs a front tool chamber 98, in which a front cleaning tool in the form of a front brush roller 100 is rotatably supported about a front axis of rotation 102. By means of a known per se and therefore not shown in the drawing drive motor, the front brush roller 100 can be rotated about the front axis of rotation 102 in rotation.

The rear floor cleaning head 84 includes a rear tool housing 104 having a rear ceiling wall 106 from which a rear end wall 108 and a rear rear wall 110 project downward toward the floor surface 12. Between the rear end wall 108 and the rear rear wall 110, an intermediate wall 112 is arranged, which divides the tool space surrounded by the rear tool housing 104 into a first rear tool chamber 114 and a second rear tool chamber 116. In the first rear tool chamber 114, a rear cleaning tool in the form of a rear brush roller 118 is arranged, which is rotatable about a horizontal, aligned perpendicular to the direction of travel 30 rear pivot axis 120. In the second rear tool chamber 116, an additional cleaning tool in the form of an additional brush roller 122 is arranged, which is rotatable about a horizontal, transverse to the direction of travel 30 aligned additional rotation axis 124. By means of a known per se and therefore not shown in the drawing to achieve a better overview drive motor, the rear brush roller 118 and the additional brush roller 122 can be rotated.

The front tool chamber is in fluid communication with the cleaning liquid tank 46 via the front discharge line 56, and the first rear tool chamber 114 is in fluid communication with the cleaning fluid tank 46 via the rear discharge line 52. In the second rear tool chamber 116 no discharge line opens.

To clean the bottom surface 12, the floor cleaning device 80 can be moved in the direction of travel 30 on the bottom surface 12 along. Via the front discharge line 56, a mixture of cleaning fluid and cleaning chemical is applied to the bottom surface 12 in the direction of travel in front of the front brush roller 100. The proportion of cleaning chemical to the applied mixture may be, for example, 3% to 30%. The bottom surface 12 is then processed by the front brush roller 100. The front brush roller 100 is separated from the rear brush roller 118 disposed behind the front brush roller 100 in the direction of travel 30 by the front rear wall 96 of the front floor cleaning head 82 and by the rear end wall 108 of the rear floor cleaning head 84.

During the processing of the bottom surface 12 by means of the front brush roller 100, pure cleaning liquid is applied to the bottom surface 12 via the rear discharge line 52, and under the action of the now diluted mixture of cleaning liquid and cleaning chemical the bottom surface 12 is processed by the rear brush roller 118 in a further method step.

In a subsequent method step, the bottom surface is processed by the additional bottom roller 122 without additional cleaning liquid or cleaning chemical being applied to the bottom surface 12. In a final process step, the applied liquid as well as the applied cleaning chemical and the dissolved dirt by means of the suction lip 70 is received by the bottom surface 12 and transferred via the suction hose 68 into the dirty liquid tank 50 in a similar manner as in the floor cleaning device 10.

Due to the non-uniform distribution of the cleaning liquid tank 46 removed volume flow of the cleaning liquid in a first, relatively small proportion, which is applied via the front discharge line 56 and the front outlet 58 on the bottom surface 12, and a second, relatively large proportion, on the rear Dispensing line 52 and the rear outlet 54 is applied to the bottom surface 12, wherein only the first portion of a cleaning chemical is mixed, both the floor cleaning device 10 and the floor cleaning device 80 a high cleaning effect can be achieved with low consumption of cleaning chemical. Despite the relatively low consumption, a high concentration of cleaning chemical can be achieved in the area of the front brush roller 38 or 100, which by providing the partition wall 32 or by providing the function of a partition front end wall 96 and the rear end wall 108 not be diluted prematurely. The bottom surface 12 can therefore be processed by the front brush roll 38 or 100 under the action of a highly concentrated solution of cleaning liquid and cleaning chemical, and after a dilution of the solution by the application of pure cleaning liquid then the bottom surface by means of the rear brush roller 42 and 118 additionally processed. At the in FIG. 2 illustrated second embodiment, then the bottom surface by means of the additional brush roller 122 are processed without the addition of additional cleaning fluid. In a final method step, the applied liquid can be taken up together with dissolved dirt from the bottom surface 12 and transferred into the dirty liquid tank 50.

Claims (16)

A method for cleaning a floor surface with a mobile floor cleaning device, wherein applying cleaning liquid from a cleaning liquid tank on the floor surface to be cleaned, the bottom surface with at least one front and this subsequently processed with at least one rear cleaning tool and then receives the liquid and dissolved dirt from the bottom surface and transferred to a dirty liquid tank, characterized in that the front cleaning tool assigns at least one front outlet and the rear cleaning tool at least one rear outlet and that emits cleaning liquid via the outlets, wherein the cleaning liquid, which then discharged via the at least one front outlet is added before the delivery of a cleaning chemical and wherein arranging between the front and the rear cleaning tool at least one partition. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that admixing a cleaning chemical only those cleaning liquid, which is then discharged via the at least one front outlet. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that less cleaning liquid per unit time is supplied to the at least one front outlet than to the at least one rear outlet. Mobile floor cleaning device for carrying out the method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one front and at least one rear cleaning tool for cleaning a bottom surface and with a cleaning liquid tank having at least one outlet for applying cleaning liquid to the Floor surface is in flow communication, and with a dirty liquid tank, which is in communication with a receiving device for receiving liquid and dissolved dirt from the bottom surface, characterized in that the at least one front cleaning tool (38, 100) at least one front outlet (58) and at least one rear outlet (54) is associated with the at least one rear cleaning tool (42, 118), wherein a cleaning chemical can be dispensed via the at least one front outlet (58), and between the front and rear cleaning tools (38, 42 100, 118) at least one partition wall (38, 96, 108) is arranged. Floor cleaning appliance according to claim 4, characterized in that the at least one front outlet (58) has a smaller throughput of cleaning liquid than the at least one rear outlet (54). Floor cleaning appliance according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the throughput of cleaning liquid of the front outlet (58) is at most one third of the passage of cleaning liquid of the rear outlet (54). Floor cleaning appliance according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the at least one front outlet (58) via a front discharge line (56) is connected to the cleaning liquid tank (46) and that the at least one rear outlet (54) via a rear discharge line (52) is connected to the cleaning liquid tank (46), wherein the front discharge line (56) has a greater flow resistance than the rear discharge line (52). Floor cleaning appliance according to claim 7, characterized in that the flow cross section of the front discharge line (56) is smaller than the flow cross section of the rear discharge line (52). Floor cleaning appliance according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the at least one front outlet (58) in the direction of travel (30) of the floor cleaning device (10; 80) in front of a rotation axis (40; 102) of the front cleaning tool (38; 100) is. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that the at least one rear outlet (54) in the direction of travel (30) of the floor cleaning device in front of a rotation axis (44; 120) of the rear cleaning tool (42; 118) is arranged. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that the amount of cleaning chemical which is admixable to the cleaning liquid dispensable via the front outlet (58) per unit time is variable. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of claims 4 to 11, characterized in that the front and rear cleaning tools (38, 42) in a common tool housing (22) are arranged, wherein the tool housing (22) between the front and the rear cleaning tool (38, 42) arranged separating wall (32). Floor cleaning appliance according to one of claims 4 to 11, characterized in that the front and rear cleaning tools (100, 118) in separate tool housings (90, 104) are arranged. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of claims 4 to 11, characterized in that the front cleaning tool (100) in a front tool housing (90) is arranged in the direction of travel (30) in front of a cleaning liquid tank (46) receiving device housing (16) of the floor cleaning device ( 80) is arranged. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of claims 4 to 14, characterized in that the at least one partition (32; 96, 108) between the front and the rear cleaning tool (38, 42; 100, 118) is designed to be rigid. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of claims 4 to 14, characterized in that the at least one dividing wall (32; 96, 108) between the front and the rear cleaning tool (38, 42; 100, 118) is made of a shapely material.

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