EP2436296B1

EP2436296B1 - Drivable sweeping machine

Info

Publication number: EP2436296B1
Application number: EP11196159.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dieter Kalemba; Birgit Petersen; Jörg Sommer
Original assignee: Vorwerk and Co Interholding GmbH
Current assignee: Vorwerk and Co Interholding GmbH
Priority date: 2003-12-10
Filing date: 2004-12-07
Publication date: 2015-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 2024-12-07
Also published as: ES2547064T3; AT555708T; RU2006124525A; ES2384618T3; CN1889881A; EP2436296A1; JP4519140B2; EP1691657A1; DE10357637A1; WO2005055795A1; EP1691657B1; JP2007513659A

Description

The invention relates to a sweeping device to be traversed according to the features of the preamble of claim 1.
In the DE 44 14 683 A1 a sweeping machine is described and illustrated, which is provided with a device for receiving dust, debris or the like from a surface to be cleaned with sweeping brushes and a receiving chamber for recorded dirt. This sweeping device can be interconnected with a suction device for emptying the receiving chamber. Further, this known sweeping device is designed as an electric motor for driving the sweeping brushes having hand or stielgeführtes device.
From the WO95 / 09577 A is to be traversed sweeping device is known in which in the direction of travel of the sweeping brush a scrubbing / suction unit is arranged, which has plate brushes, and a spray device and a suction device. A liquid application device is arranged in the direction of travel behind the sweeping brush, wherein such a liquid application device can also be operated as a dehumidifying device.
Based on the last-mentioned prior art, the object of the invention is to specify a sweeping device to be traversed which is designed to be favorable in terms of the arrangement and sequence of functional units.
This object is achieved in the subject matter of claim 1, wherein it is pointed out that the dehumidifying device is arranged behind the liquid applicator, that the cleaning device is a cleaning roller, and that the cleaning roller is covered with a cleaning cloth.
Experience has shown that conventional sweeping of such hard floors does not result in complete cleaning. Rather, often a subsequent damp mopping of the hard floor is required. The sweeping device offers the possibility to follow sweeping with a damp mop. It is thereby possible a complete hard floor cleaning in a single operation. This user-friendly solution replaces the usual multiple operations with different devices and set-up times.
The individual components of the sweeping device - sweeping device, liquid application device and dehumidifying device - preferably work simultaneously. It is also conceivable, however, a solution in which individual modules can be added as needed. The specified solution results in a method for cleaning hard floors, especially in the household sector, in which initially swept in a single operation, hereinafter followed by a liquid application to the hard floor and finally the inclusion of the offset with dirt particles liquid film. A cleaning of hard floors is carried out according to this embodiment without long set-up times, without body contact to dirt or cleaning fluid, as is the case for example in the usual wet wiping and recording, and with little physical effort. Furthermore, by means of the specified sweeping device also a sweeping and damp cleaning of overground surfaces and, for example, vertical surfaces such as wall tiles, shower cubicles or the like is possible.
Before the dehumidifying device, the cleaning roller is arranged, by means of which the moistened by the liquid application device soil is mechanically processed. So even stubborn dirt on the hard floor can be eliminated in one operation. The cleaning with a Such, preferably driven by an electric motor rotating cleaning roller leads without multiple forward and backward movement of the sweeper over the area to be cleaned to very good results. The cleaning roller is covered with a cleaning cloth. The cleaning roller may be a bristle roller.
In order to achieve a significantly greater mechanical cleaning work compared to a simple sweeping over a soiled spot with a conventional wiper or the like, it is further provided that the cleaning roller rotates with a relative to the travel speed of the sweeper higher relative speed relative to the ground. For example, with a cleaning roller diameter of 40-60 mm, a rotational speed of the cleaning roller of more than 500 rpm, such as about 1000 rpm, is given.
The liquid application device arranged behind the sweeping brush in the direction of travel serves to wet the soil with cleaning liquid, for which purpose the liquid application device preferably has a metering gap oriented transversely to the direction of travel. Also conceivable is an embodiment in which the liquid application device is formed by a plurality of application nozzles arranged side by side transversely to the direction of travel. The liquid output can be gravity assisted by opening and closing a valve. Also conceivable is an embodiment in which the liquid is dispensed by pumping, so for example by arranging a metering pump, such as a mini-diaphragm pump.
The targeted application of a small amount of cleaning liquid for wetting the soil is sufficient. Thus, the order is preferably from 0.25 to 1 liter, more preferably 0.5 liter per 10 m ² . Due to this conditional the fresh water tank and a possibly provided waste water tank be relatively small dimensions. In order to be able to apply more cleaning fluid to heavily soiled areas as required or to apply a lower dosage amount to sensitive hard floors such as parquet or laminate, it proves to be expedient that the output quantity can be adjusted. The waste water remaining on the floor is finally taken up by the dehumidifying device, the latter being able to be a suction device. Such a suction device is provided with a, an air flow generating suction / blower motor and a shutdown sheath. Preferred is an embodiment in which the dehumidifying device is designed as a wipe.
Such a wipe may in this case be a cloth which is stretched in the bottom area of the sweeper. In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the wipe is arranged circumferentially. Such, in particular very slowly wraparound wipe can be used much longer, as this can absorb more liquid than a bottom-mounted wiper due to its greater length. In addition, the wraparound wipe can be dehumidified by squeezing, whereby the liquid emerging in this case is taken up in a collecting container. For this purpose, for example, two rollers are provided, between which the wipe is moved through.
In a further preferred embodiment of the subject invention, the sweeping device is operated by a rechargeable battery, which may also be advantageous in a hand or stalk guided sweeping device. About the accumulator, both the rotating sweeping brush and the cleaning roller and the dehumidifying device, in particular the rotating wiper is driven, wherein further, for example, via an integrated electronics dosing the liquid output is adjustable. This electronics can be used to trigger the pump or valve to dispense the liquid at intervals adjusted to the desired dosage.
Furthermore, the arrangement of a known dirt sensor is conceivable, by means of which the output quantity of the liquid is automatically adjusted according to the determined degree of soiling of the hard floor to be cleaned. The coarse dirt pickup in the direction of travel in front of the liquid applicator sweeping brush is done in a known manner by the motor-driven brush swept loose dirt on a dirt ramp in a dirt container, such as a snail shell-shaped container. This dirt container can either be removed and emptied after the cleaning process or vacuumed with the help of a vacuum cleaner. In this regard, the above-mentioned DE 44 14 683 A1 Reference is hereby made, the content of which is hereby incorporated in full into the disclosure of the present invention, also for the purpose of including features of this patent application in claims of the present invention.
The invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate only several embodiments, explained in more detail. It shows:

Fig. 1: in a perspective view of an inventive self-propelled sweeper in the form of a sweeping robot;
Fig. 2: the bottom view of this;
Fig. 3: the schematic section along the line III - III in Fig. 2 ;
Fig. 4: one of the Fig. 3 corresponding sectional view, however, concerning an alternative embodiment;
Fig. 5: the self-propelled sweeper in a sectional view according to Fig. 4 but in association with a base station of the sweeping robot;
Fig. 6: in a perspective schematic view of the sweeping device according to the invention in the form of a stalk guided device and
Fig. 7: a sectional view according to Fig. 4 but the embodiment as shown in FIG Fig. 6 concerning.

The Figures 1 and 2 show a sweeping device 1 according to the invention in the form of an automatically movable cleaning robot with a chassis 2 and a chassis 2 covering the cover 3, as shown in DE 102 42 257 A1 as a ground dust collecting device is known. The content of this patent application is hereby incorporated in full into the disclosure of the present invention, also for the purpose of including features of this patent application in claims of the present invention.
The autonomously operating sweeping device 1 has two electric motor driven Verfahrräder 4.
In the direction of travel r is a transverse to the direction of travel r extending, driven by an electric motor sweeping brush 6 is arranged, which serves the coarse dirt pickup. This is done by mechanical brushing of the hard floor 7 to be cleaned by means of the sweeping brush 6, wherein the dirt particles are conveyed via a arranged in the direction of travel r behind the sweeping brush 6 dirt ramp 8 in a dirt collecting space 9. The latter and in this passing dirt ramp 8 are in cross-section as shown in FIG Fig. 3 formed snail shell, so that the dirt collected in the dirt collecting 9 can not escape automatically again.
Furthermore, behind the sweeping brush 6 or the dirt ramp 8 - viewed in the direction of travel r - a liquid application device 10 is provided. This has a tank 11 for storing a cleaning liquid, which opens in the area of the bottomed by the sweeping brush 6 and the dirt ramp 8 Chassisbodens 12 in a direction transverse to the direction r dosing gap 13. This metering gap 13 can be opened and closed via a valve 14.
The liquid is released after opening the valve 14 gravity assisted. Also conceivable is an embodiment in which the liquid is supplied via a metering pump. Furthermore, a dosage of the liquid dispensing is provided. This dosage can be done manually via a regulator. In connection with an optionally provided soil sensor of the sweeping device 1, by means of which a degree of contamination of the hard soil 7 to be cleaned can be determined, the metering can also take place with the aid of an electronic evaluation unit.
In the direction of travel r the liquid applicator 10 downstream of a cleaning roller 15 is provided, which extends equal to the sweeping brush 6 transversely to the direction of travel r and is rectified with respect to their direction of rotation to the sweeping brush 6. In the in the Fig. 3 In the illustrated embodiment, the cleaning roller 15 is a bristle roller for mechanical brushing of the hard floor 7 moistened by the liquid applicator 10.
The rotational speed, in particular of the cleaning roller 15, is selected such that it rotates with a relative speed, which is higher relative to the hard bottom 7, in comparison with the travel speed of the sweeper 1. Thus, both the cleaning roller 15 and the sweeping brush 6 preferably rotate at a speed of about 1000 rpm.
As in the embodiment as shown in FIG Fig. 4 shown, the cleaning roller 15 may also be covered with a cleaning cloth 16.
In the direction of travel r finally a dehumidifying device 17 is provided for receiving the dirty water located on the hard floor 7. This dehumidifying device 17 may be a suction device, for which purpose a sweeping fan, not shown, is arranged in the sweeping device 1. This is associated with a liquid separator.
As in Fig. 3 illustrated, the dehumidifying device 7 may also be formed in the simplest manner by a wiper 18 spanned under the chassis bottom 12, which is set according to receiving a larger amount of liquid.
Alternatively, as in Fig. 4 shown, the dehumidifying device 17 from a rotating wiper 18, which is guided by electric motor driven in a vertical plane around pulleys 19. The rotational speed of this endless wipe is set low. This alternative solution can be used much longer, since such a circumferential wiper 18 can absorb more liquid due to its greater length.
The circulating wipe 18 is dehumidified by squeezing, for which purpose two additional rollers 20 are provided, between which the wipe 18 is performed. By means of these rollers 20, the wiper 18 is wrung out, wherein the case emerging liquid is received in a collecting container 21.
It is further preferred as in Fig. 4 illustrated that the rotating wiper 18 is guided over a relatively large contact surface on the hard floor 7 for receiving the dirty water.
By means of the sequential arrangement according to the invention of a coarse dirt pickup - formed by sweeping brush 6 and dirt collecting chamber 9 - a liquid application device 10, a cleaning roller 15 and a final dehumidifying device 17 in one device, a simplified and hygienic complete cleaning of a hard floor can be achieved. In particular, due to the fact that initially a coarse dirt pickup is done by sweeping, only a relatively low liquid application is required for subsequent wet cleaning with conventional contamination. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, about 1 liter of cleaning fluid is sufficient for an area of about 20 square meters to be cleaned. Accordingly small, the tank 11 and the collecting container 21 can be dimensioned, which in turn leads to a compact design of the sweeping device 1.
The electric motors for the sweeping brush 6, the cleaning roller 15 and the drive for the rotating wiper 18 are operated via a battery 22 shown only schematically, via which a power supply of a control unit, for example, to control the valve 14 in the metering gap 13 can be achieved.
It is further from the mentioned DE 102 42 257 A1 known to assign the sweeping device 1, a base station 23, to which the sweeping device 1, among other things, to charge the battery 22 automatically returns. At this base station 23, a discharge of the dirt collecting space 9 can be carried out by means of a separate vacuum cleaner in a known manner.
As in the schematic representation in Fig. 5 shown, the base station 23 may have a cleaning device 31 for self-cleaning of the sweeping device 1, for which purpose in the base station 23 a bottom filled with a cleaning liquid 30 trough 24 is provided, via which the sweeping brush 6, the cleaning roller 15 and optionally the wiper 18 at tub edge side support of the sweeping device 1 hover over the Verfahrräder 4. About arranged in the tub 24, extending parallel to the sweeping brush 6 and the cleaning roller 15 and at least partially immersed in cleaning fluid 30 cleaning brushes 25, the cleaning components of the sweeper 1 are cleaned automatically, with the arranged in the underfloor pool 24 arranged cleaning brushes 25 active can be driven and rotated about these rotating cleaning brushes 25, the sweeping brush 6 and the cleaning roller 15 for the complete cleaning thereof. Also, the rotating wipe 18 is moved over the other cleaning brushes 25 in the circumferential direction for complete cleaning.
It is also conceivable in this regard, the arrangement of inactive cleaning brushes 25, which are only rotatably mounted. The cleaning of the corresponding components of the sweeper 1 in this case takes place by switching on the electric motors and concomitant rotation of the sweeping brush 6 and the cleaning roller 15 and associated circulating movement of the wipe 18, wherein by combing action with the cleaning brushes 25, a cleaning of these components.
It is also conceivable, but not shown, in the base station 23, a refilling of the device-side tank 11 with cleaning liquid, including in the base station 23, a liquid reservoir is provided and further refilling the tank 11 automatically at a docking of the device 1 at the Base station 23 takes place, for example, by a tank-side, self-closing valve is acted upon.
Furthermore, the emptying of the collecting container 21 in the base station 23 is also conceivable, for which purpose the base station 23 has a receptacle for the dirty water. This emptying can also be done automatically when docking the device 1 to the base station 23, for example, a self-closing valve is opened when docking and the stored in the reservoir 21 dirty water gravity assisted runs in the station-side receptacle.
As further in the representations in the Fig. 6 and 7 shown, the sweeping device 1 may also be designed in the form of a hand or stalk guided device. Thus, the sweeping device 1 is provided with a receptacle 26, in which a, provided at the end with a guide handle 27 device handle 28 can be inserted. The arrangement of the individual cleaning components such as sweeping brush 6, liquid applicator 10, cleaning roller 15 and dehumidifying device 17 correspond to the arrangement in the embodiments described above. The electric motors used to drive the individual components are accumulator-operated by this stalk-guided device. In contrast to the sweeping robot described above, no electric motor driven Verfahrräder are provided. The support of the device on the hard floor 7 via conventional support rollers or the like.
By means of this hand-held sweeping device 1 is also a sweeping / wet cleaning of overground surfaces and, for example, vertical surfaces possible, such as for cleaning wall tiles or shower enclosures.

Claims

Displaceable sweeping device (1) with a sweeping brush (6) and an associated dirt collection chamber (9), a liquid application device (10), which is disposed behind the sweeping brush (6) in the direction of displacement (r), and a moisture removing device (17), whereby a cleaning device(15) is disposed in front of the moisture removing device(17), characterized in that the moisture removing device (17) is disposed behind the liquid application device (10), that the cleaning device is a cleaning roller (15) and that the cleaning roller (15) is covered with a cleaning cloth (16).
Sweeping device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning roller (15) is a bristle roller.
Sweeping device according to one of the claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the cleaning roller (15) rotates at a higher relative speed with respect to the floor (7) in comparison with the displacing speed of the sweeping device (1).
Sweeping device according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the liquid application device (10) has a metering gap (13) aligned transversely in relation to the direction of displacement (r).
Sweeping device according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the liquid delivery is gravity-assisted.
Sweeping device according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the liquid delivery takes place by pumping.
Sweeping device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the delivery rate is adjustable.
Sweeping device according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the moisture removing device (17) is a suction removal device.
Sweeping device according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the moisture removing device (17) is formed as a wiping cloth (18).
Sweeping device according to claim 9, characterized in that the wiping cloth (18) is disposed in a rotating manner.
Sweeping device according to claim 10, characterized in that moisture is removed from the rotating wiping cloth (18) by squeezing and the liquid that is removed in the process is received in a collecting container (21).
Sweeping device according to one of the claims, characterized in that the sweeping device (1) is operated by means of a storage battery (22).