EP3463027A2

EP3463027A2 - Cleaning device

Info

Publication number: EP3463027A2
Application number: EP17728120.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Uwe Schaaf; Klaus-Jürgen Fischer; Sandra Diehl; Christian Sambale; Andreas GRONER; Roland WURZEL; Andreas KEUTER; Gerd Schwarz; Andreas Beer
Original assignee: Leifheit AG
Current assignee: Leifheit AG
Priority date: 2016-05-30
Filing date: 2017-05-30
Publication date: 2019-04-10
Anticipated expiration: 2037-05-30
Also published as: WO2017207591A2; EP3463027B1; WO2017207591A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning device (4) having a support piece (5), a wiper plate (4), arranged at a lower end of the support piece (5), for holding a cleaning element (11) that is mounted on at least one side of the wiper plate (4), a liquid reservoir (2) for holding a cleaning liquid, and a conduit system for supplying the cleaning liquid in the direction of the cleaning element (11) via a pump unit. The disadvantage of known cleaning devices is that potential cleaning additives have to be added to the liquid reservoir (2), which requires some effort and has the disadvantage that the totality of the liquid is mixed with the cleaning additive. In order to solve this problem, the cleaning device (4) according to the invention is provided with a dosing system having at least one reservoir for a cleaning additive, said dosing system being designed in such a way that it can add the cleaning additive to the cleaning liquid.

Description

cleaner

The invention relates to a cleaning device having a carrier body, a wiper plate arranged at a lower end of the carrier body for carrying a cleaning element arranged on at least one side of the wiper plate, a liquid tank for receiving cleaning liquid and a line system for supplying the cleaning liquid in the direction of the cleaning element via a pump device ,

Such a cleaning device may for example be part of a wiper system, wherein the cleaning device then as a wiper device, which is for example a floor wiper, may be formed. Such a wiper device is known from DE10358467 A1. This wiper device has a carrier body in the form of a handle, at the lower end of a wiper plate is provided, which is provided with a reference as a cleaning element. The wiper device further comprises the liquid tank for receiving cleaning liquid, usually mixed with or without cleaning agent added water. Via a pump, which forms the pumping device, the liquid is sprayed through the conduit system in front of the surface, which is to be subsequently cleaned during the wiping movement of the cleaning element.

The known device allows to easily and easily provide fluid to solve even stubborn dirt. Depending on the intended use, the cleaning additives provided may be added to the cleaning liquid for this purpose. The disadvantage of the known device is, on the one hand, that the cleaning liquid is sprayed in front of the cleaning element, which of course is only possible if sufficient space is available for this purpose. For corners and edges and under furniture, this can be difficult.

Furthermore, there is a disadvantage in that the cleaning additive must be added to the cleaning liquid, so that the user must either measure exactly how much cleaning additive added cleaning liquid he needs or store the staggered cleaning liquid after use or dispose of it. A particularly advantageous application of the invention consists in a wiper system, which is not designed as a complete wetting system, but are used in the substantially dry, only occasionally moistened cleaning elements. Such a wiper system may for example have a mobile storage box with dry cleaning elements in the form of towels and a cleaning device according to the aforementioned type. In a preferred embodiment, the storage box can be mounted on rollers, wherein the storage box and / or cleaning device can be designed such that the cleaning appliance can be coupled to the storage box.

In general, however, the invention can also be used in conjunction with all other cleaning devices, for example, suction devices for windows or other surfaces, regardless of their orientation. Also in connection with classical wet wiping systems, the invention can be used. In all cases, however, there is the problem that when separate cleaning liquid is to be supplied to the cleaning element or before the cleaning element is to be applied to the surface to be cleaned, this cleaning liquid must be previously added with the required cleaning additive. Often, however, only minor parts of the surface will have contamination for which the cleaning additive is needed, or the surface will generally be smaller than the area that could be cleaned with the cleaning liquid present in the liquid tank.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a cleaning device with the one hand, the cleaning is effective and easy, and on the other hand is easy to use.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the cleaning device has a metering system with at least one reservoir for a cleaning additive, wherein the metering system is designed such that it is able to add the cleaning additive of the cleaning liquid.

According to the invention, a system is now used in which cleaning additive can be supplied in a targeted manner via a metering system. In a simple variant, this could also be done by injections into the liquid tank. In this variant, the advantage of the invention is that the user always has a supply to cleaning additive is available, which he can choose and bring in the cleaning liquid.

Preferably, however, the cleaning liquid is not already mixed in the liquid tank, but only in the line system with the cleaning additive. This eliminates the above-mentioned drawback that too much cleaning liquid is mixed with the cleaning additive, so that either the cleaning additive needs to be unnecessarily consumed or disposed of.

In the preferred embodiment of the cleaning device, moreover, at least two reservoirs are provided for the provision of different cleaning additives. This embodiment preferably has an adjusting device, via which the respective reservoir can be selected. In this context, selecting means that a flow connection is established between the line system and the reservoir, so that the cleaning additive can be activated. Optional, fluidic reducing agents in the line to the line system, the amount of cleaning additive can also be adjusted, if desired.

How this activation occurs depends on the consistency of the cleaning additive. If, for example, a liquid cleaning additive is used, in particular in the form of a concentrate, the respective reservoir can be connected to the pipe system of the supply for the cleaning liquid via lines.

Alternatively, the cleaning additive can also be introduced directly into the cleaning element via a separate distribution line. The lines are preferably closed by valves, so that they can be selectively opened and closed especially when using multiple reservoirs. In addition, these valves can also be used to control the volume flow which is introduced from the reservoir into the liquid flow of the cleaning liquid.

The valves are preferably formed by an adjusting device, which can be operated by the user from the outside. This may, for example, be a sliding element which, in different positions, respectively leaves one of the lines running from one of the reservoirs to one connection to the conduit system of the cleaning liquid, while the other lines are closed, for example by being compressed by a blocking element. Of course, all other forms of valves are possible, for example, via a sliding element in each case the closing means of a separate valve can be transferred from the open to the closed position and vice versa. Also, all lines can be closed or opened separately, which makes it possible in particular to use a mixture of cleaning additives.

For example, it may be advantageous to use a cleaning additive that increases the cleaning efficiency or is used as a solvent, for example, for grease. By contrast, another cleaning additive, for example, could be used exclusively for aromatizing the cleaning fluid. Here are basically all mixtures conceivable that improve the cleaning effect, bring in flavors or disinfect, depending on what is desired by the user. Finally, a mixture adapted to the cleaning element can also be used, so that, for example, a solvent-containing material is used in a rather abrasive coating, while a pure aromatic substance is admixed to a soft, polishing coating.

The adjusting device is thus preferably designed such that in each case at least one cleaning additive stored in an active reservoir can be added via the dosing system of the cleaning fluid, while one or more further cleaning additives kept ready in passive reservoirs are prevented from being supplied to the cleaning fluid. This can be done via the slide already described as Einsteilvorrichtung. Controlling and adding the cleaning additives, if they are liquid, can also be done via the flow dynamics of the cleaning liquid. For example, a portion of the conduit system may be formed with a Venturi nozzle, so that the negative pressure generated in this nozzle is able to suck the cleaning additive automatically.

Alternatively, in the preferred embodiment, however, the metering system may also have a metering pump which actively pumps the liquid cleaning additive into the line system. This metering pump can either be operated separately by an operating means by the user or be coupled in their operation with the pumping device for the cleaning liquid. Thus, for example, the pumping device for the cleaning fluid may be formed by a manually operated pump whose pump body is moved via a Bowden cable or other traction means. Here, for example, be provided on the handle of the cleaning device, a corresponding actuating means. Such an actuating means may be a lever through which the Bowden cable can be tightened. At the same time, this movement can also be coupled to the movement of the pump body of the metering pump.

Finally, the flow occurring in the line system can also actuate a resistance means provided in the line system upon actuation of the pumping device for discharging cleaning liquid, which then in turn actuates the metering pump. For example, a small impeller can be driven by the flow of the cleaning fluid, which is arranged on a shaft which in turn drives the pumping element of the metering pump. The lines, both those of the cleaning fluid supplying line system and the lines for supplying the cleaning additive are preferably at least partially formed by flexible hoses.

The reservoir or, if several reservoirs are used, the reservoirs can be arranged on a common carrier body, for example in the form of an exchangeable cartridge. The reservoirs can be designed so that the user can easily refill them. The carrier body is preferably detachably connected to the cleaning device. The adjusting device can be provided in this case both on the carrier body and on the remaining part of the cleaning device. In both cases, the outgoing from the reservoirs lines via the adjustment device and are connected to a, provided on the cleaning device outside the support body, central connection to the line system.

The lines between the reservoir and the adjusting device preferably have closing means, in particular in the form of switchable valves, which automatically close by releasing the carrier body of the cleaning device or manually via the operation of the pumping device or a separate operation via one or more, further handles are actuated , If the cleaning additive is not liquid, it may be present, for example, as a capsule, tablet or in any other form, as known in particular from coffee machines. In this case, the reservoir is formed as a receptacle for such a capsule or tablet, wherein the cleaning additive can then be formed as a soluble additive and the recording is in fluid or diffusion communication with the tank and / or conduit system to the tablet in liquid or To bring diffusion contact with the liquid. The cleaning device then includes, for example, a capsule housing forming the receptacle, wherein the conduit system comprises a conduit from the fluid tank to the capsule housing and a pumping device for pumping the fluid from the fluid tank into the conduit system.

In the possible embodiment, which can be used both with liquid and with soluble, solid substances, the receptacle is formed by a rotatable magazine, which may in particular be a revolving magazine. Herein then the capsules, tablets or pads can be arranged on a circular path in individual compartments, wherein by rotating the magazine, the desired capsule, tablet or the desired pedestal is rotatable in the fluid path.

In principle, the invention can also be used in conjunction with the generic type wiper device mentioned at the beginning, ie spray the cleaning additive in front of the wiping surface. In the preferred embodiment, however, the invention is implemented in conjunction with a moisture penetration of the cleaning element by the mop plate. In this case, the mop plate preferably has at least one distributor line with a plurality of outflow openings, via which the mixture of cleaning fluid and cleaning additive flowing from the line system into the mop plate is able to wet the cleaning element from behind. This can be limited to the front region of the cleaning element or even detect areas located further back.

Preferably, the supply of the cleaning additive is provided downstream of the liquid tank in the liquid stream, so that the smallest possible proportion of the cleaning liquid located in the conduit system is mixed with the cleaning additive, so a quick switching when changing or omitting the cleaning additive is possible. Further advantages of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to FIGS.

In the drawings shows:

1 shows a first embodiment of a cleaning device according to the invention, FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a metering unit with three reservoirs and an adjusting device,

Fig. 2-2 a adjustability of the piston stroke of the metering pump in a schematic

Function view

3 shows a wiper system with a liquid tank for wetting the wipe,

4 shows a further embodiment of a wiper system with liquid tank,

5 shows a liquid tank of a wiper system with drawer for inserting a cleaning pad,

Fig. 6 shows an alternative possibility for the arrangement of cleaning capsules in

Flow path to the mop plate,

Fig. 7 shows a final embodiment of a wiper system with liquid tank, Fig. 8 shows an embodiment of a wiper plate designed as a cleaning element in a view from below and

Fig. 9, the wiper plate of Figure 8 in a side view in section.

FIG. 1 shows a cleaning device according to the invention. The cleaning device is designed here as a floor wiper with a mop plate 4, a style 5 and a handle 6. On the handle 6, an actuating means 7 is provided, via which a pumping device 7 can be actuated, the cleaning liquid from a liquid tank 2 in the lower region of the stem 5 by a nozzle 12 in front of the wiping area of the mop plate 4 is able to pump.

In the housing body of the liquid tank 2, a cartridge in the form of a magazine 17 can be used, which is shown here next to the receiving opening for the cartridge. This magazine 17 receives here two reservoirs 15 with cleaning additives, which are arranged together on a support body of the magazine 17 so that they can be used together and removed. Figure 2 shows a schematic, three-dimensional view of a possible embodiment of the reservoir 15 and the pumping means, which are formed here by the pumping device 3 and the metering pump 9. The pumping device 3 pumps cleaning liquid in the form of water here from top to bottom, wherein in addition to the pumping device 3, a metering pump 8 is provided, can be discharged through the cleaning additives from reservoirs 15 through lines 9 in the flow channel of the cleaning liquid.

Which of the three reservoirs 15 are activated depends on the setting of the adjusting device 10, which is designed here as a slide which, depending on the angular position, leaves one of the three lines 9 open and closes the two other lines. Of course, positions of the slide can be provided in which none of the lines 9 or two or all three lines 9 are open. By color indication, in particular on the outside of the adjusting device 10, the user can be displayed which of the three reservoirs 15 is currently open.

The metering pump 8 of the metering unit may be a piston pump, a gear pump, a vane pump, a peristaltic pump or a diaphragm pump. It is also possible to aspirate the cleaning additive according to the Venturi principle or via a sensor-controlled valve device. The reservoirs 15 may, as shown here, be arranged side by side, so that the structure of the magazine 17, as shown in Figure 1, may result. Alternatively, a radial arrangement of the reservoirs 15 and a single removal of, for example, tubular reservoirs 15 carried upward. A linear arrangement of the reservoirs 15 with each other is possible.

The individual reservoirs 15 can be latched via latching means, possibly with associated seals, in their recording. Here, for example, comes a snap connection into consideration, as it is known from garden hoses. Also, a spring-loaded locking connection or a screw connection, in particular under opening of the opening of the reservoir 15 covering film when using a reservoir 15 for the first time, are possible. Instead of an adjusting device 10, which uses the above-mentioned slider under impressions of unnecessary lines 9, and rotary valves, pure sliding elements or a rotatable magazine can be used on the turret principle. Finally, any means by which the inflow can be restricted and / or blocked is suitable for turning the reservoirs 15 on or off. Further, the adjusting device 10 may be formed or have additional means for this purpose, that the amount of the cleaning additive supplied to the liquid flow is adjustable. This can be done via adjustable reducing valves or other flow resistances.

Such a possibility is represented functionally in FIG. 2-2. Here, the metering pump 8 and the pumping device 3 for the cleaning liquid are shown schematically. The cleaning liquid pumping device 3 is activated by a lifting rod which cooperates with a user-operable handle. About the lever 14, the piston rod of the metering pump 13 is coupled to the lifting rod or the piston rod of the pumping device 3, wherein the lever 13 is mounted in its inclination adjustable (here, the left end can be raised or lowered). As a result, the stroke of the piston rod of the metering pump 8 is changed at the same stroke of the piston rod of the pumping device 3, so that on the adjustment of the inclination angle of the lever 14 of the stroke of the metering pump and thus the delivered amount can be adjusted. The tilt adjustment can be adjusted by an externally accessible knob or other means.

In a similar manner, the lifting movement of both pistons can be coupled to one another and to one another in an adjustable manner via other types of transmission, for example an articulated connection via disks which can be rotated relative to one another.

In the illustrated embodiment, the pump shown on the left can be reduced in its stroke when the transverse lever 13 is moved by the actuator upwards, so that the actuating force concentric with the piston rod 14 of the pump shown on the right, in the left pump only one smaller stroke triggers. In the same way, of course, both pumps could be manipulated, this would then also the right pump must be arranged decentralized to the actuating force. In the figures 3 to 7 embodiments of the cleaning device 4 are shown, which also have a liquid tank 2, via which the wipe 1 1 can be moistened through the mop plate 4 therethrough. The embodiment shown in Figure 3 has a liquid tank 2, which is provided in the lower region of the stem 5 of the cleaning device 4. In this cleaning device 4, two devices for actuating the function are present. On the one hand an actuating means 7 is provided to actuate the pumping device 3 for conveying the cleaning liquid. About a separate sliding sleeve 18 of the cleaning additive is supplied. For this purpose, this sliding along the handle 5 sliding sleeve 18 actuates the metering pump 8 (not shown here).

Below the liquid tank 2, a receptacle for a capsule as a reservoir 15 is provided in the flow path, through which the liquid additional cleaning additives can be added. This can on the one hand be a cleaning agent, on the other hand, it can also be a perfume. Disinfectants can of course be added in this way. Preferably, the receptacle is designed so that the capsule can be interchangeably inserted into it and in the course of operation either dissolves or releases the substances bound in it, provided that the cleaning additives are not liquid.

Figure 4 shows a similar embodiment, but not only a capsule is provided here, but it is a magazine 17 is used, which is rotatably mounted between two upper limits. By rotating the magazine 17, a receptacle is manually rotated between a supply and a discharge line of the conduit system. This allows the user to move the desired capsule into the fluid path. Seals, of course, the corresponding receptacle is sealed so that the liquid can only enter and exit through the lines.

FIG. 5, in turn, shows an embodiment in which it is particularly easy to exchange the cleaning additives. Here, by way of example, a pod is used instead of a capsule, as is known, for example, from the preparation of coffee. However, the form of the additive which is in principle immaterial to the implementation of the inventive concept. The pedestrian is held in a drawer that can be placed in the fluid tank 2 or the piping System can be inserted below the liquid tank 2. In this way, it can be easily and simply replaced and placed in the flow path.

FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of a similar system. Here, the receptacle for receiving the capsule is provided directly on the side wings of the mop plate 4. Again, of course, instead of a single shot, a rotatable magazine 17 or a slide with a plurality of capsules arranged side by side can be provided. The drawer solution according to FIG. 5 can of course also be implemented here. This embodiment has the particular advantage that the capsule is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the wiper plate 4, so that after exchange of the capsule only a small residual amount of the previous substance is present in the conduit system.

The feeds to the capsule holders are preferably formed by elastic tubes, so that the rotation of the wiper plate 4 relative to the stem 5 is not canceled. Alternatively, of course, the liquid tank 2 can be arranged directly on the wiper plate 4, but this will only be useful if you work with little liquid, otherwise the inertia of the wiper plate 4 is too large. Furthermore, even with this solution, a connection to an actuating means would have to be provided.

FIG. 7 shows a final embodiment of a capsule system. Here, the liquid flows past a long-drawn, serving as a reservoir 15 capsule container with a capsule, wherein the material of the cleaning additive diffuses through a membrane into the liquid flow into it. In all embodiments, the enriched with the additive liquid stream is introduced via the manifolds 16 and outflow openings on the underside of the mop plate 4 in the wipe 1 1.

Figure 8 and Figure 9 show an example of a possible embodiment of the wiper plate 4. Here it can be seen that the mop plate 4 has a gap in the central region, in which a distribution line 16 is arranged, which is connected to the conduit system for supplying cleaning fluid. The distribution line 16 has individual nozzles 12, via which the cleaning agent added with the cleaning additive. nigungsflüssigkeit is introduced into the wiper 1 1, which is arranged below the wiper plate 4 shown here lying on the head (shown only in Figure 9). In this way, a rear moistening of the wipe 1 1 takes place.

The dosage of the cleaning additive is basically independent of the way to which the mixture of cleaning fluid and cleaning additive is applied and which configuration the cleaning device 4 has.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

Wipes container

liquid tank

Pumping device for cleaning liquid Mop plate

stalk

Handle

actuating means

metering

Lines from the reservoir to the line system adjustment device

wipe

jet

Lever for quantity metering

Piston rod of the dosing pump

reservoir

distribution lines

magazine

sliding sleeve

Claims

Patent claims:

1 . Cleaning device (4).

• a carrier body (5),

• a wiping plate (4) arranged at a lower end of the carrier body (5) for carrying a cleaning element (1 1) arranged on at least one side of the wiping plate (4),

• a liquid tank (2) for holding cleaning liquid and

• a line system for supplying the cleaning liquid in the direction of the cleaning element (1 1) via a pump device (3), characterized in that

the cleaning device (4) has a dosing system with at least one reservoir (15) for a cleaning additive, the dosing system being designed such that it can add the cleaning additive to the cleaning liquid.

2. Cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two reservoirs (15) are provided, which can be selected via an adjusting device (10), the adjusting device (10) being designed such that at least one in each case is in an active reservoir ( 15) stored cleaning additive can be added to the cleaning liquid via the dosing system, while one or more further cleaning additives held in passive reservoirs (15) are prevented from being supplied to the cleaning liquid.

3. Cleaning device (4) according to claim 2, characterized in that the reservoirs can be selectively connected to the line system via the adjusting device (10) designed as a slide.

4. Cleaning device (4) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the reservoir (15) is designed as an additional tank and the dosing system has a dosing pump (8) which is able to pump the cleaning additive formed by a liquid into the line system .

5. Cleaning device (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two or more reservoirs (15) are provided, the reservoirs (15) being connected to the line system via a line (9). and the adjusting device (10) comprises blocking means which can selectively block the other lines (9) while releasing one line (9).

6. Cleaning device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the blocking means are formed by a slide, the slide being displaceable in at least positions in which it only releases one line (9) running from a reservoir (15) to the line system and all other lines (9) blocked.

7. Cleaning device (4) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the lines (9) are formed by flexible hoses.

8. Cleaning device (4) according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the reservoirs (15) are arranged on a common support body which is releasably connected to the cleaning device (4), the ones coming from the reservoirs (15). Lines (9) run over the adjusting device (10) and are connected to the line system with a central connection provided on the cleaning device (4) outside the carrier body and the adjusting device (10) is on the carrier body or on the cleaning device (4). is arranged outside the carrier body.

9. Cleaning device (4) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the lines (9) between the reservoir (15) and the adjusting device (10) have manually closable valves.

10. Cleaning device (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that to adjust the delivery amount of the amount of cleaning additive delivered by the reservoir (15) adjustable reducing valves are provided in the lines (9) or the adjusting device (10) is designed in this way that it can limit the flow of a line (9).

1 1 . Cleaning device (4) according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that the lines (9) between the reservoir (15) and the adjusting device (10) have valves which close automatically when the carrier body is released from the cleaning device (4).

12. Cleaning device (4) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the reservoir (15) serves as a receptacle for a capsule or tablet a soluble additive for adding the cleaning liquid, wherein the receptacle is in liquid or diffusion connection with the liquid tank (2) and / or line system in order to bring the tablet into liquid or diffusion contact with the liquid, and wherein the cleaning device (4). , which has a capsule housing forming the receptacle and the line system comprises a line (9) from the liquid tank (2) to the capsule housing and a pump device (3) for pumping the liquid from the liquid tank (2) into the line system.

13. Cleaning device (4) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the receptacle is formed by a rotatable magazine (17), in particular a revolver magazine, in which capsules, tablets or pads are arranged on a circular path in individual compartments which pass through Rotating the magazine (17) to select the desired capsule, tablet or pad can be rotated into the liquid path, the compartment being designed and sealed in such a way that the liquid is pumped into the compartment and out of it via a drain line to the wiping plate (4 ) is pumped.

14. Cleaning device (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the line system is connected to the wiping plate (4), at least one distribution line (16) with a plurality of nozzles 12 being provided as outflow openings in the wiping plate (4). which the mixture of cleaning liquid and cleaning additive flowing from the line system into the wiping plate (4) is able to moisten the cleaning element (1 1) from behind.

15. Cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pump device (3) can also actuate the dosing system.

16. Cleaning device (4) according to the preceding claim in conjunction with claim 4, characterized in that the cleaning device (4) has a handle which can be actuated via an actuating means 7 and via which the pump device (3) and the metering pump (8) can be actuated simultaneously .