EP3017743A1 - Self-propelled floor cleaning appliance comprising a device for applying a ground cleaning liquid - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a self-propelled floor care appliance, comprising a drive system (3) for moving the floor care appliance over the floor surface to be maintained and a device controller controlling the floor care device along a travel path, and to a device (10) for applying a floor care fluid (20) to the floor caring floor surface. The self-propelled floor care appliance is characterized in that the device (10) has a rotatable hollow roller body (11) for storing the floor care fluid (20), wherein the roller body (11) is designed such that floor care fluid (20) during rotation of the roller body ( 11) from this exit.

Description

The invention relates to a self-propelled ground care device for automated floor care comprising a drive system for moving the floor care device over the floor surface to be maintained and a device control controlling the floor care device along a driveway and a device for applying floor care fluid to the floor surface to be cared for ,

Self-propelled floor cleaning devices are used for automated cleaning of floor surfaces. They are for example designed as vacuum cleaners, which are then usually referred to as vacuum robots. Furthermore, self-propelled cleaning devices for wiping a floor are known and combi devices that can clean by sucking and wiping.

In self-propelled floor wiping equipment, wiping liquid is typically applied to the floor by means of a pump system via spray nozzles. Such a system is expensive and only useful if a larger amount of liquid must be applied.

If liquid is applied primarily for cleaning purposes, but for care purposes, it is usually sufficient to apply a smaller amount of liquid. Such floor care liquids are, for example, oil or wax-containing and serve the care of hard floors such as parquet or plank floors.

In order to apply said care liquids in small quantities, it is known, for example, to apply a cloth impregnated with the care liquid under a vacuum robot and thus to convert the vacuum robot to a self-propelled floor care device. The soaked with the care liquid wipe either on the suction itself or in a special driving cycle without suction on the floor, while the care liquid from. This expansion of a suction robot to a care function is inexpensive, but the delivery of the care liquid is not dosed and inhomogeneous over the area. In particular, downtimes of the vacuum robot can lead to an undesired selective delivery of care liquid.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a self-propelled ground care apparatus having a device for applying a floor care liquid to a floor. can be dispensed well with the care liquid. Furthermore, should be given by the device at the same time a polishing possibility for the soil. Finally, the device for applying the floor care fluid should be simple and easily integrated into a self-propelled robotic vacuum to retrofit this to a self-propelled floor care device or possibly also to be able to retrofit.

This object is achieved by a self-propelled floor cleaning device having the features of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

An inventive self-propelled floor care device of the type mentioned above is characterized in that the device for applying the floor care fluid has a rotatable hollow roller body for storing the floor care fluid, wherein the device is designed so that floor care fluid exits during rotation of the roller body from this.

The dispensing of the floor care fluid takes place during rotation of the roller body, whereas no floor care fluid is dispensed at a standstill. The rotation of the roll body also serves to apply and incorporate the soil care liquid into the soil, whereby the soil can be polished as well. Thus, a floor care device is created, which can stockpile floor care liquid without a complex pump system and can dispense doses when needed.

In an advantageous embodiment, the floor care device is based on a vacuum robot, wherein the device for applying the floor care liquid is arranged in a receptacle of a brush roller of the vacuum robot instead of the brush roller. With a device for applying the floor care liquid, which is configured with respect to their outer dimensions and their storage compatible with a brush roll of a vacuum robot so that it can be easily replaced with an existing brush roller, a vacuum cleaner can be easily converted in this way to the floor care device.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the floor care device, a plurality of bores is arranged in a lateral surface of the roller body. Preferably, the holes are covered on at least one side by a membrane, which is particularly preferably made of a synthetic material. The membrane can, for example, lining the inside of the roll body or else cover the holes in the form of individual small sections. The membrane is selected so that its fine porosity prevents leakage of the soil care fluid from the interior of the roller body at standstill of the roller body. The fine porosity of the membrane generates a retention force similar or identical to a capillary holding force, which prevents leakage of the soil care fluid from the interior of the roller body at a standstill of the roller body. Upon rotation of the roll body, the centrifugal forces acting on the floor care liquid exceed the retention force of the membrane, so that it becomes permeable to the floor care liquid. As a result, the soil care fluid exits through the holes from inside the roller body.

In an alternative embodiment, the holes which are also present in the lateral surface of the roller body are closed by a respective fiber plug. The fiber stoppers preferably contain polyester fibers. Similar to the aforementioned membrane, the capillary forces of the fibers retain the floor care liquid unless the roll body rotates.

In a development of this embodiment, the fiber plugs fill the bores in their longitudinal direction only partially so that a free space remains between the outer end of the fiber plugs and the outer circumference of the roller body. In this way prevents absorbent material applied to the roll of rollers into direct contact with the outer ends of the fiber plug and bottom care liquid is sucked out of the roll body through the fiber plug even at standstill of the roll body.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the floor care appliance, an absorbent layer, in particular a nonwoven layer, is arranged on the roll body. This layer may be tubular and be pushed onto the roller body. Alternatively, the absorbent layer can be wound on the roll body in adjacent and / or superimposed webs. The co-rotating absorbent layer distributes the floor care fluid leaving the roller body and applies it to the floor. In addition, it serves an effective polish of the soil.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the floor care device, the roller body is sealingly closed at its axial ends with end caps. Preferably, at least one of the end caps is removable to fill soil care fluid into the roll body and / or postpone a tubular absorbent layer. So floor care liquid can be easily refilled or refilled. The end caps may also comprise bearing means for rotatably supporting the device, for example by comprising a bearing collar. With a simple structure of only a few individual parts such a device for applying the floor care liquid is realized, the care liquid possibly refillable stored, can dose and apply. Rotated for application and dosing the device preferably at a rotational speed between about 400 and 1200 revolutions per minute.

Figur 1

eine schematische Seitendarstellung eines Bodenpflegegeräts mit einer Pflegevorrichtung;

Figur 2

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung eines erstes Ausführungsbeispiels einer Pflegevorrichtung in zwei verschiedenen Betriebszuständen;

Figur 3

eine isometrische Darstellung eines Walzenkörpers der Pflegevorrichtung gemäß Figur 2;

Figur 4

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels einer Pflegevorrichtung in zwei verschiedenen Betriebszuständen und

Figur 5

eine schematische Ansicht eines Details der Pflegevorrichtung aus Figur 4.

The invention will be explained in more detail by means of embodiments with reference to figures. The figures show:

FIG. 1

a schematic side view of a floor care device with a care device;

FIG. 2

a schematic sectional view of a first embodiment of a care device in two different operating states;

FIG. 3

an isometric view of a roll body of the care device according to FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 4

a schematic sectional view of a second embodiment of a care device in two different operating conditions and

FIG. 5

a schematic view of a detail of the care device FIG. 4 ,

In the FIG. 1 a modified suction robot 1 as an embodiment of a floor care device is shown schematically in a partially sectioned side view. The vacuum robot 1 has arranged on or in a housing 2 a drive system 3, which acts on two drive wheels 4, one arranged on each side of the vacuum robot 1. The drive wheels 4 can be driven independently of one another via drive motors of the drive system 3 which are not shown separately here. Further, a support wheel 5 is provided, which is formed either pivotable or as a rotatable ball in all directions. With independent control of the direction of rotation and / or rotational speed of the drive wheels 4, the vacuum robot 1 can perform movements with independently adjustable rotational and translational speeds on a floor surface to be maintained.

In the central region of the vacuum robot 1, a suction mouth 6 is arranged, which is connected in a known manner with a dust cassette 7 and a suction fan 8. In the area of the dust cassette, a filter system, e.g. with a vacuum cleaner bag arranged.

The vacuum robot 1 is controlled by a device control, not shown here, which comprises one or more microcontrollers. The device control controls the individual components of the vacuum robot 1, such as the drive system 3 or the suction fan 8. In addition, the device control on a navigation system that the driving of the Saugroboters 1 plans and causes the track is traveled. For navigation purposes and to avoid collisions with obstacles, there are also long and / or short range sensors which are evaluated by the device control or the navigation system. These sensors can work eg visually or acoustically.

The in FIG. 1 Suction robot 1 shown is modified to a floor care device in that it has a device 10 for applying a floor care liquid, hereinafter abbreviated nursing device 10, has.

The care device 10 is arranged in the region of the suction mouth 6. It is cylindrical and extends over the substantially entire width of the suction mouth 6 and thus also of the vacuum robot 1. If the illustrated vacuum robot 1 used in unmodified form for cleaning a bottom surface, a brush roller is usually arranged instead of the care device 10. The brush roller can be rotated by suction robot 1 via drive motors and brushes dust and dirt particles with radially projecting bristles in the region of the suction mouth 6, for example, from the fibers of a carpet, so that they can be easily sucked into the suction 6.

When using the vacuum robot 1 as a floor care device, the brush roller is exchanged for the illustrated care device 10, which can also be set in rotation by the vacuum robot 1. A change between the use of the vacuum robot 1 as a floor cleaning device and as a floor care device can be done quickly and easily by the replacement of brush roller or care device 10 accordingly. In a development of the illustrated vacuum robot 1, the change between brushing roller and care device 10 can also be made automated by, for example, in the area of a charging station of the vacuum robot 1, a storage and recording option for brushing roller or care device 10 is provided so that the vacuum robot 1 exchange them independently can.

Two embodiments of a care device 10, the modification of the vacuum robot 1 according to FIG. 1 can be used for floor care device, are explained in more detail with reference to the figures described below.

In FIG. 2 a first embodiment of a care device 10 is shown in a schematic sectional view in two partial images a and b. Partial image a shows the care device 10 in a rest position, whereas partial image b rotates the care device 10. The care device 10 comprises a roller body 11, which in its central portion through which the cut in FIG. 2 is guided, is formed hollow cylindrical. Distributed over the circumference and over the length of the roller body 11 are bores 12 introduced into the wall of the roller body 11.

FIG. 3 shows a portion of a roller body 11 in an isometric view. In this figure, distributed in the mantle surface of the roller body 11 arranged holes 12 are clearly visible. To both ends (shown in FIG. 3 only one end region of the roller body 11) is provided on the roller body 11 depending on an end cap 15, which has an outwardly projecting collar 16 and a concentric bearing ring 17. The collar 16 limits the roller body 11 to the side and the bearing ring 17 serves for the rotatable mounting of the roller body 11 on the floor care device, for example, the in FIG. 1 About the bearing ring 17 can also be a drive of the roller body 11 to its rotation, for example by means of a friction wheel or by a seen in the longitudinal direction of the roller body 11 portion of the bearing ring 17 is provided with a toothing. The end cap 15 may have an optionally removable cap within the bearing collar 17 or alternatively be tightly closed and possibly be removable as a whole.

As again in FIG. 2 can be seen, outside of the roll body 11, a nonwoven layer 13 is arranged. The nonwoven layer 13 may be tubular and be pushed from one side onto the roller body 11. For this purpose, at least one of the end caps 15 can be removable, for example screwed into the roll body 11 or inserted. The starting material of the nonwoven layer 13 may alternatively be laid flat and around the roller body 11 and fixed there on the roller body 11. For this example, an adhesive connection or a connection by means of a hook and loop fastener are suitable. In order to avoid an axially running seam along the surface of the roller body 11, the nonwoven layer 13 can be precut in such a way that a seam extends helically along the surface of the roller body 11, possibly with a plurality of screw threads.

On the inside of the wall of the roller body 11, a membrane 14 is arranged. The membrane 14 covers at least the holes 12, but may also extend over the entire inner circumferential surface of the roller body 11.

Inside the care device 10 is formed by the roller body 11 and the axial end caps 15 which have the collar 16 and the bearing ring 17, a cavity which is at least partially filled with a floor care liquid 20. In part a of the FIG. 2 is such a floor care liquid 20 filled to a water level 21.

In the axial direction, the roller body 11 is hermetically sealed by the end caps 15 so that the floor care fluid 20 can not escape. Furthermore, the membrane 14 is a permeable membrane that counteracts the hydrostatic pressures that the floor care fluid exerts on the membrane. Accordingly, in the state shown in part a, no soil care fluid 20 exits through the membrane 14 and through the holes 12 and wets the nonwoven layer 13.

During operation of the floor care device, the care device 10 is set in rotation, as shown in subfigure b of FIG. 2 is shown. In this case, speeds in the range of about 400 to about 1200 revolutions per minute can be achieved.

Due to the rotation and the resulting centrifugal forces, the floor care liquid 20 is pressed outwards against the membrane 14. The floor care liquid 20 is also substantially hollow cylindrical in the inner wall of the roller body 11. The centrifugal forces occurring in response to the rotation push the floor care fluid 20 through the membrane 14 and subsequently through the holes 12 into the nonwoven layer 13.

The membrane 14 may be, for example, a textile membrane made of a synthetic material having fine pores. If the centrifugal forces occurring during the rotation of the care device 10 exceed the retention force in the membrane 14, the membrane 14 becomes permeable to the floor care liquid 20. For a given membrane 14, a dosage of the amount of soil care fluid 20 delivered per unit time can be adjusted by varying the rotational speed.

For the care of a floor, for example a hard floor such as a laminate or a parquet, the floor care appliance moves with rotating floor care roller over the floor to be maintained, the nonwoven layer 13 has contact with the soil surface. For this purpose, the care device 10, for example, acted upon by spring force can be pressed onto the ground. As a result of the rotation of the care apparatus 10, the floor care liquid 20 is applied to the floor via the nonwoven layer 13 and, at the same time, the floor is polished by the nonwoven layer 13. The rotational speed of the care device 10 can be adapted to the travel speed of the ground care device such that a higher rotational speed is associated with a higher driving speed. In this way, a homogeneous application of soil care fluid 20 is achieved. In particular, it may be provided to stop the rotational movement of the care device 10 when the floor care appliance is at a standstill in order to prevent an excessive application of floor care liquid 20 at the corresponding location. During use of the care device 10 may be provided to turn off the suction fan 8. Alternatively, it is possible that Suction fan 8 - possibly at a lower speed than in the pure suction operation - to operate in the care operation with, to suck dirt particles before they are taken up by the rotating care device 10 or thrown.

FIG. 4 shows in a similar way as FIG. 2 a schematic sectional view through a second embodiment of a care device 10 in two partial images. Again, the partial image a indicates the care device 10 in a resting state and the partial image b indicates the care device 10 during the rotation. The same reference numerals in this and the next figure identify the same or equivalent elements as in the first embodiment.

With regard to the basic structure, the care device 10 of the second embodiment corresponds to the in FIG. 2 respectively. FIG. 3 shown. The corresponding description is hereby expressly referenced.

In contrast to the first embodiment, however, no membrane 14 is provided on the inside of the hollow cylindrical roller body 11 in the present case. In order to prevent a permanent penetration of soil care fluid 20 through the holes 12 in the nonwoven layer 13, 12 fiber plugs 18 are presently arranged in the holes. The fiber plugs 18 can be inserted, for example, and / or adhesively bonded to the roller body 11. The fiber plugs 18 are made of a fiber material, in particular a polyester fiber material. In their construction, the fiber plugs 18 correspond to fiber mines, as used for example in fiber pins. The capillary forces acting within the fiber stoppers 18 prevent the floor care fluid 20 from penetrating into the nonwoven layer 13 when the care device 10 is not in the rotating operating state.

FIG. 5 shows the region of the holes 12 and the fiber plug 18 used in a detail. It can be seen that between the nonwoven layer 13 and the outer end of the fiber plug 18, a free space 19 remains. The fiber plug 18 thus do not touch the fiber layer 13, since they are only partially inserted into the bore 12. The clearance 19 prevents a capillary action exerted by the nonwoven layer 13, even at rest, could suck the soil care fluid 20 through the fiber plug 18.

Regarding the use of in the FIGS. 4 and 5 shown care device 10 is directed to the embodiment of the first embodiment. As in the first embodiment, a care device is created, which can store without a complex pump system floor care liquid and can dispense dosed when needed. The dispensing of the floor care liquid is carried out by rotation of the care device, wherein the rotation beyond the application and incorporation of the floor care liquid in the Ground serves and also polishes the ground. In both embodiments, the care device may be configured to be compatible with a brush roll of a vacuum robot with respect to its outer dimensions and storage so that it can be easily replaced with an existing brush roller to modify a vacuum robot to the floor care device.

reference numeral

1

robotic vacuum

2

casing

3

drive system

4

drive wheel

5

stabilizer

6

saugmund

7

dust cassette

8th

aspirator

10

Device for applying soil fluid (care device)

11

roller body

12

drilling

13

nonwoven layer

14

membrane

15

collar

16

Small wreath

17

fiber plugs

18

free space

20

Floor care liquid

21

water level

Claims (18)

A self-propelled floor care appliance for automated floor surface maintenance, comprising a drive system (3) for moving the floor care device over the floor surface to be maintained, and a device controller controlling the floor care device along a driveway and an apparatus (10) for applying a floor care fluid (20) to the floor to be maintained floor surface, characterized in that the device (10) has a rotatable hollow roller body (11) for storing the soil care fluid (20), wherein the roller body (11) is formed so that soil care fluid (20) upon rotation of the roller body (11 ) from this exit. Self-propelled ground care device according to claim 1, wherein in a lateral surface of the roller body (11) a plurality of bores (12) is arranged. Self-propelled ground care device according to claim 2, wherein the bores (12) are covered on at least one side by a membrane (14). A self-propelled floor care appliance according to claim 3, wherein the membrane (14) is made of a synthetic material. Self-propelled floor care appliance according to claim 3 or 4, in which the membrane (14) lines the inside of the roller body (11). Self-propelled ground care device according to claim 2, wherein the bores (12) are each closed by a fiber plug (18). A self-propelled floor care appliance according to claim 6, wherein the fiber stoppers (18) contain polyester fibers. Self-propelled floor care appliance according to claim 6 or 7, in which the fiber stoppers (18) only partially fill the bores (12) in the longitudinal direction of the bores (12) so that between the outer end of the fiber stoppers (18) and the outer circumference of the roller body ( 11) a free space (19) remains. Self-propelled ground care device according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein an absorbent layer is arranged on the roller body (11). A self-propelled floor care implement according to claim 9, wherein the absorbent layer is a nonwoven layer (13). Self-propelled ground care device according to claim 10, wherein the absorbent layer is tubular and is pushed onto the roller body (11). Self-propelled ground care device according to claim 10, wherein the absorbent layer in-wound, in-side and / or superimposed webs on the roll body (11) is wound. Self-propelled ground care device according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the roller body (11) is sealingly closed at its axial ends with end caps (15). The self-propelled floor care apparatus according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the end caps (15) is detachable to fill floor care liquid (20) into the roll body (11) and / or postpone a tubular absorbent layer. A self-propelled floor care appliance according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the end caps (15) comprise bearing means for rotatably supporting the apparatus (10). A self-propelled floor care appliance according to claim 15, wherein the storage means comprises a bearing collar (16). A self-propelled floor care implement according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the device (10) is rotatable at a rotational speed between about 400 and 1200 revolutions per minute. Self-propelled ground care device according to one of claims 1 to 17, based on a suction robot (1), wherein the device (10) is arranged in a receptacle of a brushing roller of the vacuum robot (1) instead of the brushing roller.

Images