EP3106566B1 - Suction foot assembly for a floor cleaning machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a squeegee assembly for a floor cleaning machine for siphoning liquid from a floor surface to be cleaned with a central body having a central portion and first and second arms, the middle portion being adapted to be supported on a coupling member of the floor cleaning machine such the central portion is fixedly aligned with the coupling element, the arms extending away from the central portion on opposite sides in a suction foot plane, central sealing lips being disposed at the central portion between the arms, lateral sealing lips being attached to the arms on both sides of their extension direction , wherein the sealing lips extend toward the bottom surface to be cleaned, so that the central body and the sealing lips, when the free ends rest on the floor surface to be cleaned, define an interior, and wherein the M Ittelabschnitt has a connection through which the interior can be connected to a dirt container of the floor cleaning machine. Furthermore, the invention relates to a floor cleaning machine with such a Saugfußanordnung.

Floor cleaning machines or scrubber-driers are known from the prior art, which have a scrubbing deck with driven brushes and a suction foot arranged behind the scrub deck when viewed in the direction of travel of the machine. To clean smooth floor surfaces, liquid is first brought to the floor surface to be cleaned with the aid of the scrub deck, so that the dirt is released by the brushes from the floor surface to be cleaned and then absorbed by the cleaning fluid. By attached to the chassis of the floor cleaning machine squeegee, the dirt-laden Liquid is sucked up again and transported via a suction pipe in a dirt container.

For example, in the Hako Citymaster 1250 City Cleaner, a squeegee with a substantially elongated central body extending and bent transversely to the direction of travel is mounted on the chassis in a height-adjustable manner. The central body comprises two arms and a central portion, which are integrally formed with each other, and at the edges of the central body extending to the floor surface to be cleaned sealing lips made of rubber, so that between the sealing lips and the central body, an interior is formed, from which the dirt-laden liquid can be sucked up. A floor cleaning machine with such a suction foot is particularly suitable for cleaning large, flat floor surfaces, e.g. in pedestrian areas, on pedestrian and cycle paths or in underground garages.

However, it is problematic in such a design of the squeegee, when the floor cleaning machine from a flat bottom surface to an inclined region such. a ramp in an underground car park, meets. On the flat bottom surface of the entire squeegee is aligned in a plane parallel to the surface to be cleaned. Socks the squeegee with a part of it on the inclined portion, the inherently rigid squeegee with its elongated arms can only dodge in such a way that it moves as a whole relative to the vehicle frame upwards. Due to the elongated shape of the center body, when only one end of the squeegee runs on an inclined portion, it may easily cause the squeegee to be damaged when the center portion supported on the chassis does not move up, but rather Central body is bent.

The EP 1 197 606 A1 discloses a squeegee having a central body having a center piece and arms hingedly hinged thereto. The centerpiece is provided with a spigot which goes directly into a pipe to a suction.

Thus, the present invention has for its object to provide a floor cleaning machine and a designated Saugfußanordnung that also allow to clean floor surfaces that have significant bumps.

This object is achieved with the features of claim 1.

In particular, the arms are pivoted about pivotal connections to the central portion such that they can pivot away from the floor surface to be cleaned out of the suction cup plane.

In such an embodiment of the Saugfußanordnung a floor cleaning machine, the central portion with the two arms of the central body is not configured in one piece or at least firmly connected thereto. The two arms are articulated rather pivoted at the central portion, so that they can each pivot freely from the Saugfußebene. The planes in which the two arms can be located may thus differ from the plane of the middle section. This occurs especially at the moment when the squeegee runs from a flat bottom surface to an inclined portion. Then, the two arms can move independently of each other so that they pivot out of the Saugfußebene and are aligned at an inclined portion substantially parallel to this. In addition, when passing over bumps, the two arms can move independently of each other and so avoid any unevenness. Overall, it does not lead to unintentionally high forces that must be absorbed by the central body.

In the structure according to the invention it is avoided that there is a loss of contact of the sealing strips with the ground, so that does not lie, as in the rigid Saugfußausführung, water. Rather, the flexible design adapts to the bumps much better and thereby improves the extraction result.

In a preferred embodiment, the pivot connections are designed such that a pivoting movement of the arms out of the level of the suction base out towards the floor surface to be cleaned is limited to a pivot angle of less than 10 °, preferably less than 5 °. The pivotal connection is preferably mounted on the outside of the central portion facing away from the cleaning surface and the two arms. This allows pivoting of the two arms out of the Saugfußebene away from the floor surface to be cleaned, as soon as the squeegee hits a bump or a sloping portion. The limitation of the pivot angle down to the cleaning floor surface to an angle less than 10 ° is advantageous because then the entire squeegee can be lifted from the floor surface to be cleaned alone by lifting the central portion without the free ends of the arms specially supported Need to become.

Preferably, the first arm is pivotally hinged about a first pivot axis at the central portion, and the second arm is pivotally hinged about a second pivot axis at the central portion. In this case, the first and the second pivot axis are parallel to the Saugfußebene.

The Saugfußebene in the context of the present invention is that level in which the central portion and the arms extend when the squeegee rests on a flat floor surface to be cleaned, so that the Saugfußebene then parallel to the plane of the bottom surface.

By the aforementioned construction with two parallel to the Saugfußebene extending pivot axes has the advantage that thereby the pivotability of the arms can be realized in a simple manner.

In a further preferred embodiment, the arms extend substantially V-shaped away from the central portion, the arrangement being such that the V formed by the arms opens in the normal direction of travel of the floor cleaning machine to which the squeegee assembly is attached. Thus, in operation dirt-laden liquid is directed toward the central portion, where it passes through an opening mounted there in a forward facing central sealing lip into the interior and is sucked into the dirt container.

It is further preferred that the first and the second pivot axis extend in the Saugfußebene. This allows the pivoting of the two arms in a plane perpendicular to the Saugfußebene.

In a preferred embodiment, support wheels are attached to the ends of the arms remote from the central portion. The support wheels support the free ends of the arms. Because so that the sealing lips strip off water optimally, they must be in a predetermined position to the ground in order to move defined. The support rollers ensure that this position is reached.

In another aspect, the above object is achieved by a floor cleaning machine. The floor cleaning machine comprises a chassis for moving the floor cleaning machine over a floor surface to be cleaned. The chassis defines a horizontal plane parallel to the floor surface to be cleaned. The floor cleaning machine further comprises a dirt container having an inlet and which is connected to the suction side of a suction, a coupling member which is supported on the chassis such that its distance is adjustable perpendicular to the horizontal plane relative to the floor surface to be cleaned, wherein in a lowered position of the coupling element, the orientation of the coupling element is fixed relative to the horizontal plane. Finally, the floor cleaning machine comprises a Saugfußanordnung, wherein the already mentioned preferred embodiments are possible and apply the advantages explained in this context.

The squeegee assembly includes a central portion that is supported on the coupling member such that the central portion is fixedly aligned with the coupling member and the squeegee plane is parallel to the horizontal plane, the port at the central portion being connected to the inlet of the dirt container. Thus, the dirt-laden liquid can be absorbed by the Saugfußanordnung so that it enters the interior of the central body and can be sucked up there and can be transported through the connection at the central portion via a suction pipe in the dirt container.

In a preferred embodiment, the central portion is releasably supported on the coupling element. The central body can be solved in a simple manner by the coupling element and replaced with another attachment.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht des vorderen Teils eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Bodenreinigungsmaschine ist,

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht des vorderen Teils des Ausführungsbeispiels aus Fig. 1 ohne die Saugfußanordnung ist,

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Saugfußanordnung des Ausführungsbeispiels aus Fig. 1 ist,

Fig. 4

eine zweite perspektivische Ansicht der Saugfußanordnung des Ausführungsbeispiels aus Fig. 1 ist,

Fig. 5

eine Seitenansicht der Saugfußanordnung des Ausführungsbeispiels aus Fig. 1 ist,

Fig. 6

eine Ansicht der Saugfußanordnung des Ausführungsbeispiels aus Fig. 1 von vorne ist und

Fig. 7

eine Ansicht der Saugfußanordnung des Ausführungsbeispiels aus Fig. 1 von hinten ist.

The present invention will be explained below with reference to a drawing showing only a preferred embodiment, wherein

Fig. 1

3 is a perspective view of the front part of an embodiment of a floor cleaning machine according to the invention,

Fig. 2

a side view of the front part of the embodiment Fig. 1 without the squeegee assembly,

Fig. 3

a perspective view of the Saugfußanordnung of the embodiment Fig. 1 is

Fig. 4

a second perspective view of the Saugfußanordnung of the embodiment Fig. 1 is

Fig. 5

a side view of the Saugfußanordnung of the embodiment Fig. 1 is

Fig. 6

a view of the Saugfußanordnung of the embodiment Fig. 1 from the front is and

Fig. 7

a view of the Saugfußanordnung of the embodiment Fig. 1 from behind.

With reference to the Fig. 1 to 7 An embodiment of a Saugfußanordnung invention and a floor cleaning machine according to the invention will be described, the floor cleaning machine only in the Fig. 1 and 2 is shown and the remaining figures show the Saugfußanordnung from different perspectives.

As the FIGS. 1 and 2 show, the embodiment of a floor cleaning machine 1 according to the invention on a vehicle frame forming chassis 3, which includes four wheels 5, so that the floor cleaning machine 1 can be moved over a floor surface to be cleaned 7. In this case, the drive 3 defines by the position of the axes of rotation of the wheels 5 a horizontal plane 9, which runs parallel to the floor surface 7 to be cleaned.

On the chassis 3, a plate-shaped coupling element 11 is supported so height adjustable that the distance of the coupling element 11 to be cleaned to the bottom surface 7, measured perpendicular to the horizontal plane 9, is adjustable. For this purpose, the coupling element 11 is articulated via two mutually parallel retaining arms 13 on the chassis 3, wherein the retaining arms 13 are pivotally mounted with one end on the chassis 3 and with the other end pivotally mounted on the coupling element 11. This parallelogram arrangement of the holding arms 13 ensures that the orientation of the coupling element 11 relative to the horizontal plane 9 is the same regardless of the set distance of the coupling element 11 from the bottom surface 7 to be cleaned, ie the angular position of the coupling element 11 relative to the horizontal plane 9 is not equal changes. In particular, the orientation of the coupling element 11 is fixed to the horizontal plane 9 when the coupling element 11 is in a lowered position in which a mounted on the coupling element 11 squeegee rests on the bottom surface 7 to be cleaned.

Furthermore, the floor cleaning machine 1 has a dirt container 15, whose inlet is formed by a suction tube 17, which connects the dirt container 15 with an opening in the coupling element 11. On the dirt container 15 is an in Fig. 1 schematically illustrated suction 19 is provided, the suction side is connected to the dirt container 15, so that in the dirt container, a negative pressure can be generated and thus a flow from the opening in the coupling element 11 through the suction pipe 17 into the dirt container 15th

The embodiment of the floor cleaning machine 1 has a preferred embodiment of a Saugfußanordnung 21 according to the invention, which is detachably attached to the coupling element 11.

The Saugfußanordnung 21 includes a central body 23 and a plate-shaped coupling piece 25. The central body 23 in turn has a central portion 27 and first and second arms 29, 31. In this case, the central portion 27 is fixedly connected to the coupling piece 25 and a pipe section 33 leads from an opening in the central portion 27 to an opening 35 in the coupling piece 25, which forms a connection to the central portion 27.

The arms 29, 31 extend V-shaped away from the central portion 27, wherein the V formed by the arms 29, 31 opens in the direction of travel of the floor cleaning machine 1 (see Fig. 1 ). When the Saugfußanordnung 21 rests on a bottom surface to be cleaned 3, the arms 29, 31 extend in a common so-called Saugfußebene 37, which is parallel to the bottom surface to be cleaned 7.

On the side of the central portion 27 facing the bottom surface 7 to be cleaned, there are arranged between the two arms 29, 31 central sealing lips 39 which are attached to the central portion 25, pass around the central portion 27 and extend to the floor surface to be cleaned 7 extend. The two arms 29, 31 also comprise at the edges laterally of their extension direction opposite lateral sealing lips 41, which also extend in the direction of the bottom surface 7 to be cleaned.

When the free ends of the central and lateral sealing lips 39, 41 rest on the bottom surface 7 to be cleaned or are adjacent thereto, an interior space under the central body 23 is delimited by the bottom surface 7, the central body 23 and the sealing lips 39, 41 is connected via the pipe section 33 with the opening 35.

The first arm 29 has a first end 43 facing the central portion 27, and likewise the second arm 31 has a first end 45 facing the central portion 27 the first arm 29 has a second end 47 remote from the central portion 27, and the second arm 31 also has a second end 49 remote from the central portion 27.

Between the first end 43 of the first arm 29 and the central portion 27, a first pivotal connection 51 is formed which defines a first pivot axis 53 about which the first arm 29 moves away from the floor surface 7 to be cleaned away from the chassis bottom 3 relative to the central portion 27 the floor cleaning machine 1 can pivot. The first pivot axis 53 extends almost perpendicular to the extension direction of the first arm 29 and in the Saugfußebene 37. In addition, the first pivot connection 51 is configured such that the first arm 29 by a maximum of 10 °, preferably only 5 °, relative to the central portion 27 after can swing down to the bottom surface to be cleaned 7.

Similarly, between the first end 45 of the second arm 31 and the central portion 27, a second pivotal connection 55 is formed which defines a second pivotal axis 57 about which the second arm 31 moves away relative to the central portion 27 away from the bottom surface 7 to be cleaned can pivot to the chassis 3 of the floor cleaning machine 1. Again, the second pivot axis 57 extends almost perpendicular to the extension direction of the second arm 31 and in the Saugfußebene 37. Finally, the second pivot connection 51 is configured such that the second arm 31 by a maximum of 10 °, preferably only 5 °, relative to the Central portion 27 can pivot down to the bottom surface to be cleaned 7.

At the second ends 47, 49 of the arms 29, 31 support wheels 59, 61 are mounted, via which the arms 29, 31 are supported on the bottom surface 7 to be cleaned. In addition, 27 further support wheels 63 are provided at the central portion, which the Supported central portion 27 on the bottom surface 7 to be cleaned.

The Saugfußanordnung 21 is how Fig. 1 can be seen, via the fixedly connected to the central portion 27 coupling piece 25 releasably supported on the coupling element 11, wherein the coupling piece 25 and the coupling element 11 can not be pivoted against each other, so have a fixed predetermined orientation to each other. When the coupling piece 25 is supported on the coupling member 11, the suction pipe 17 and the opening 35 in the coupling piece 25 are aligned with each other, so that when the suction 19 is in operation, generates an air flow from the interior of the Saugfußanordnung 21 in the dirt container 15 becomes.

The above-described floor cleaning machine 1 according to the invention with the suction cup arrangement 21 supported on its coupling element 11 can now be used as follows.

During the cleaning operation, the Saugfußanordnung 21 is lowered by adjusting the position of the coupling member 11 perpendicular to the horizontal plane 9 in the direction of the bottom surface to be cleaned 7 until the central and lateral sealing lips 39, 41 touch the floor surface to be cleaned 7 or adjacent thereto and the support wheels 59, 61, 63 rest on the floor surface 7 to be cleaned. When the floor cleaning machine 1 moves with the suction 19 switched on the bottom surface 7, liquid located thereon is sucked out of the interior of the Saugfußanordnung 21 through the suction pipe 17 into the dirt container 15.

As long as the bottom surface 7 is flat, the central portion 27 and the arms 29, 31 are aligned in the common Saugfußebene 37.

However, when the floor cleaning machine 1 hits a portion inclined thereto, such as a ramp with a slope, from a flat portion of the floor surface 7, one of the support wheels 59, 61 at the second ends 47, 49 of the arms 29, 31 may run on the inclined ones Section. In this case, the corresponding arm 29, 31 perform a pivoting movement about the pivotal connection 51, 55 from the Saugfußebene 37 toward the horizontal plane 9, and the coupling element 11 does not have to be moved to the chassis 3. As a result, the arms 29, 31 can easily avoid the forces occurring in the event of unevenness without the squeegee assembly 21 being damaged. Without the pivotal connections would exist due to the rigid coupling between central portion 27 and coupling element 11 otherwise the risk that the arms 29, 31 bend or break.

When the squeegee assembly 21 is raised by lifting the coupling member 11 after the end of the cleaning operation, the limited pivoting range of the pivotal connections 51, 55 downwardly toward the bottom surface 7 to be cleaned prevents the support wheels 59, 61 at the second ends 47, 49 of FIG Arms 29, 31 continue to rest on the bottom surface 7

Thus, the floor cleaning machine 1 according to the invention, on which the Saugfußanordnung 21 according to the invention is supported, are reliably moved over a bottom surface to be cleaned 7, which has both planar and inclined, provided with a slope areas. There is no risk that the Saugfußanordnung 21 is damaged when driving over the uneven floor surface sections.

Claims (8)

1. Suction base device for a floor cleaning machine (1) for the suction removal of fluid from a floor surface (7) to be cleaned
   with a central body (23) which has a middle section (27) as well as a first and a second arm (29, 31), wherein the middle section (27) is configured to be held on a connection element (11) of the floor cleaning machine (1) in such a way that the middle section (27) is firmly aligned to the connection element (11),
   wherein on opposite sides the arms (29, 31) extend away from the middle section (27) in a suction base plane (37),
   wherein on the middle section (27) between the arms (29, 31) central sealing lips (39) are applied, wherein on the arms (29, 31) on both sides of their extension direction lateral sealing lips (41) are applied,
   wherein the sealing lips (39, 41) extend to the floor surface (7) to be cleaned so that the central body (23) and the sealing lips (39, 41), when their free ends are in contact with the floor surface (7) to be cleaned, delimit an internal space,
   wherein the middle section (27) has a connection (35) via which the internal space can be connected with a dirt container (15) of the floor cleaning machine (1), and
   wherein the arms(29, 31) are connected in a swivelling manner to the middle section (27) by means of swivel connections (51, 55) in such a way that they can swivel outwards from the suction base plane (37) away from the floor surface (7) to be cleaned, characterised in that
   a plate-shaped connection piece (25) is provided which is firmly connected to the middle section (27) and in that
   a tube section (33) leads from an opening in the middle section (27) to an opening (35) in the connection piece (25) which forms a connection on the middle section (27).
2. Suction base device according to claim 1 wherein the swivel connections (51, 55) are designed in such a way that a swivelling movement of the arms (29, 31) out of the suction base plane (37) towards the floor surface (7) to be cleaned is limited to a swivel angle of less than 10°, preferably less than 5°.
3. Suction base device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the first arm (29) is connected in a swivelling manner to the middle section (27) about a first swivel axis (53),
   wherein the second arm (31) is connected to the middle section (27) about a second swivel axis (57) and wherein the first and the second swivel axes (53, 57) run parallel to the suction base plane (37).
4. Suction base device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the arms (29, 31) extend away from the middle section (27) in a V-shaped manner.
5. Suction base device according to claim 3 and 4 wherein the first and the second swivel axis (53, 57) extend in the suction base plane (37).
6. Suction base device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein on the ends (47, 49) of the arms (29, 31) distant from the middle section (27), support wheels (59, 61) are applied.
7. Floor cleaning machine with a chassis (3) for moving the floor cleaning machine (1) over a floor area (7) to be cleaned, wherein the chassis (3) defines a horizontal plane (9) parallel to the floor surface (7) to be cleaned,
   with a dirt container (15) which has an inlet and which is connected to the suction side of a suction system (19),
   with a connection element (11) that is held on the chassis (3) in such a way that its distance perpendicular to the horizontal plane (9) can be adjusted relative to the floor surface (7) to be cleaned, wherein in a lowered position of the connection element (11) the alignment of the connection element (11) relative to the horizontal plane (9) is fixed and
   with a suction base device (21) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the middle section (27) is held on the connection element (11) in such a way that the middle section (27) is firmly aligned to the connection element (11) and the suction base plane (37) runs parallel to the horizontal plane (9) and wherein the connection (35) on the middle section (27) is connected to the inlet of the dirt container (15).
8. Floor cleaning machine according to claim 7 wherein the middle section (27) is detachably held on the connection element (11).

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