EP3547889B1 - Cleaning device and method for operating a cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a cleaning device for cleaning a surface in a forward direction, comprising a device body with an underside which faces the surface to be cleaned during a cleaning process, at least one cleaning tool which is arranged on the device body and extends at least in a partial area over the underside of the device body, and a guide element for dirty fluid, which is assigned to the at least one cleaning tool and is arranged on the device body behind the at least one cleaning tool in relation to the forward direction, wherein the guide element is movably arranged on the device body and/or is designed to be movable and at least one has a first position in which a gap between the underside of the device body and the surface to be cleaned can be covered while resting against the surface to be cleaned, and at least a second position in which the guide element has a gap to the surface to be cleaned, and wherein a signpost device is arranged on the guide element, which is provided for support on the surface to be cleaned and, when moving on the surface to be cleaned in the forward direction, brings the guide element into the at least one first position and in the at least one first position Holds position and, when moving in a rearward direction opposite to the forward direction, brings the guide element into the at least one second position and holds it in the at least one second position.

The invention also relates to a method for operating a cleaning device for cleaning a surface, in which, when moving in a forward direction on the surface to be cleaned, a guide element is pressed against the surface to be cleaned and a gap between the surface to be cleaned and a device body is covered, and in which, upon movement in a rearward direction in the opposite direction to the forward direction, the guide element is lifted off the surface to be cleaned, a signpost device being arranged on the guide element and depending on the Direction of movement exerts a force on the guide element, which automatically causes the appropriate positioning of the guide element when moving in the forward direction and when moving in the reverse direction.

the U.S. 2015/327743 A1 discloses a nozzle arrangement of a cleaning device for cleaning a surface, comprising a nozzle housing, a rotating brush with a cylindrical core element and with flexible brush elements.

From the DE 20 2014 105 382 U1 a sealing device for a cleaning device which is movable in a working direction for cleaning a surface is known. The sealing device has a sealing lip facing a surface to be cleaned. A device-side sealing lip holder is provided, with which the sealing lip is mechanically connected, the sealing lip having an elastic strip of material which extends in a longitudinal direction which runs transversely to the working direction. The sealing lip has a tensioning device which, when the sealing lip is deflected from a tension-free initial position in a direction which has a directional component orthogonal to the longitudinal direction and working direction, generates mechanical tension acting on the material strip.

From the WO 2016/058956 A1 a surface cleaning machine is known, comprising a cleaning roller holder, at least one cleaning roller which is arranged on the cleaning roller holder, a drive device for driving the at least one cleaning roller in rotation, and a sweeping element which the at least one cleaning roller is assigned and the at least one cleaning roller feeds debris. At least in one cleaning operation, the sweeping element is immersed with a front region in an edging of the at least one cleaning roller.

From the WO 2016/058907 A1 a surface cleaning machine is known, comprising a cleaning roller holder, a cleaning roller which is arranged on the cleaning roller holder, a drive device for driving the cleaning roller in rotation, and a sweeping element which is assigned to the cleaning roller and which sweepings are fed to the cleaning roller, wherein the Sweeping element is rotatably arranged on the cleaning roller holder.

The invention is based on the object of providing a cleaning device of the type mentioned at the outset which, while being easy to operate, delivers a good cleaning result.

This object is achieved according to the invention with the cleaning device mentioned at the outset in that the guide element is provided on the front side with at least one access ramp for step areas on the surface to be cleaned and that the at least one access ramp has an inclined surface which faces the surface to be cleaned and which in a first acute angle is oriented to an envelope plane of a positioning device on the surface to be cleaned.

A cleaning device in which the underside of the device body is at a distance from the surface to be cleaned provides an improved cleaning result since the surface area of the support points for supporting the device body on the surface to be cleaned can be kept relatively small. A corresponding installation device is formed, for example, using rollers. In order for the at least one cleaning tool to be able to act on the surface to be cleaned, it must protrude beyond the underside of the device body. Dirty fluid can "escape" through a gap between the underside of the device body and the surface to be cleaned. If a guide element is arranged in the area of this gap in order to cover it at least partially, this can be counteracted.

In the solution according to the invention, it is provided that the guide element rests against the surface to be cleaned in its first position, ie covers the gap during normal operation (if there are no particular obstacles on the surface to be cleaned). This provides a type of sweeping edge which keeps dirty fluid in the area of action of the at least one cleaning tool.

However, if movement then occurs in the rearward direction, then debris fluid will be entrained in the rearward direction, which is undesirable.

In the solution according to the invention, the guide element is arranged and/or designed to be movable. It is provided with signage. The signpost device detects to a certain extent whether there is a movement in the forward direction or in the reverse direction. When there is a movement in the forward direction, the guide device ensures that the mentioned gap through which the dirty fluid can "escape" is covered in order to achieve a correspondingly high cleaning result.

When there is movement in the rearward direction, the direction indicator causes the vane to rise and a gap is created between the guide element and the surface to be cleaned, over which the dirty fluid can be run over to a certain extent and is therefore not pushed away to the rear.

This dirty fluid can then be picked up again when moving in the forward direction on the surface to be cleaned.

Depending on the direction of movement, the signpost device provides for the corresponding setting of the at least one first position or the at least one second position, in particular automatically.

In particular, it is provided that the signpost device is constantly supported on the surface to be cleaned, even when the guide element is lifted from the surface to be cleaned. As a result, the signpost device can exercise its "sensor function" with regard to the direction of movement. Furthermore, by being supported on the surface to be cleaned, the signpost device can provide the necessary force to bring the guide element from the at least one first position into the at least one second position or from the at least one second position into the at least one first position and to hold the guide element in the appropriate position.

This results in a high cleaning effect with simple operability.

The guide element also has in particular a kind of shovel function for dirty fluid in order to be able to discharge this dirty fluid and in particular to be able to lead it into a receptacle.

Dirty fluid is generally understood here to mean that this dirty fluid can flow in the sense that it can be supplied to a receptacle. The dirty fluid can consist solely of solid particles, for example. It is also possible that the dirty fluid has a liquid content contains and consists, for example, of dirt particles in cleaning fluid.

The solution according to the invention can be implemented in particular on a sweeping device and in particular on a hand-held motor-driven broom. The dirty fluid is then mainly sweepings, consisting of dirt particles.

It is favorable if the guide element is able to move toward the at least one cleaning tool and away from the at least one cleaning tool. This allows an optimized cleaning result to be achieved.

It is particularly advantageous if the mobility of the guide element has a rotational movement component and in particular a pivoting movement component. In this way, the at least one first position or the at least one second position can be reached in a simple manner, initiated by the signpost device. Basically, the guide element can be rotatable on a web guide. A structurally simple design is obtained if the guide element can be pivoted.

In a structurally simple embodiment, the guide element is connected to a guide element holder via a film hinge and, in particular, is pivotably connected. The guide element can be connected to the guide element holder in particular in one piece. This results in a simple constructive mechanical structure while minimizing the required components. The guide element holder can, for example, be sufficiently stiff and the guide element is fixed to the device body via it. The film hinge provides the mobility that allows the position of the guide element to vary between the at least one first position and the at least one second position.

The at least one cleaning tool is favorably designed as a roller and a roller axis and an axis of rotation of a mobility of the guide element are oriented at least approximately parallel to one another and in particular the forward direction is oriented perpendicular to the roller axis. This results in an optimized cleaning result. The roller axis is in particular also an axis of rotation of the at least one cleaning tool, which in particular is driven in rotation by a motor in order to achieve a good cleaning result. For example, the at least one cleaning tool is a roller brush which is driven in rotation.

Provision is made for the guide element to have an effective area for the surface to be cleaned, and for the signpost device to be formed by at least one tab, with the at least one tab projecting from the effective area. A surface area is formed on the effective area, with which the guide element can be placed on the surface to be cleaned. A protruding tab can be used to form a type of spring which, on the one hand, is supported on the surface to be cleaned and, on the other hand, exerts differently oriented forces depending on the direction of movement with respect to the surface to be cleaned in order to bring the guide element into the first position and to close it hold, or to bring and hold the vane in the second position. Furthermore, a simple structural design results. In particular, the at least one tab can be formed in one piece on the guide element.

Provision is made for the at least one tab to protrude from the effective area on a side facing away from the at least one cleaning tool. As a result, the at least one tab can be supported on the surface to be cleaned in order to realize its "sensor effect" and its force effect.

It is favorable if the at least one tab is designed to be inherently elastic and/or is designed as a spring element. In particular, it is provided that the at least one tab, which is supported on the surface to be cleaned, can be moved by moving in the forward direction or

backward direction (whereby the deformation is different in the different directions of movement). This deformation in turn causes a force and in particular an elastic force, which is exerted on the guide element and brings or holds the movable guide element into the at least one first position or into the at least one second position, depending on the direction of movement.

It is favorable if the at least one tab is arranged and designed and connected to the effective area in such a way and in particular is designed to be inherently elastic in such a way that when it is supported on the surface to be cleaned and moves in the forward direction, the guide element is pressed into the at least one first position and upon movement in the rearward direction, the vane is raised to the at least one second position. As a result, the "correct" position of the guide element can be achieved automatically.

It is favorable if a plurality of spaced tabs is provided, with spaced tabs in particular having a spacing of at most 10 cm. The tabs must be supported on the surface to be cleaned in order to realize the "sensor effect" with regard to the direction of movement and to achieve a "movement drive" for the guide element. On the other hand, dirty fluid that is in the area of the tabs cannot be run over. There should therefore be a distance between spaced tabs, but this should be so small that the sensor effect and force effect are still realized. It has proven to be favorable if the distance between spaced tabs is at most 10 cm.

For the reasons mentioned, it is also favorable if the at least one tab protrudes from the active area by a height of at least 2 mm and preferably at least 3 mm, based on an unloaded state. This allows the sensor effect with respect to the direction of movement and the corresponding force to position the guide element can be achieved in a safe manner.

It is favorable if at least one stop element is arranged on the guide element, to which a stop is assigned as a counter-element on the device body and which limits mobility of the guide element towards the at least one cleaning tool. This stop defines the at least one second position at least with respect to a limit. This prevents the guiding element from being moved into the at least one cleaning tool due to "excessive" exertion of force and prevents the guiding element and the at least one cleaning tool from being able to touch one another.

It is favorable if the at least one stop element is arranged on a side of the guide element which faces away from a side on which the signpost device is arranged. This results in a simple structural design while minimizing the number of components required.

It is favorable if a plurality of spaced stop elements is provided. In particular, these can be positioned in such a way that, for example, a flow of dirty fluid into a receptacle is not impeded.

It is then provided in particular that a stop element is arranged in the area of a lateral end of the guide element.

For a good cleaning result, it has proven advantageous if the guide element is provided with at least one access ramp for step areas on the surface to be cleaned. Such step areas on a surface to be cleaned are caused, for example, by cracks or joints. Such a step can be driven over in a defined manner using the access ramp. The access ramp on the front side can be used as a wedge surface or inclined plane for lifting the guide element in order to achieve an optimized cleaning result when resting on the surface to be cleaned even when driving over a step area. On the one hand, this prevents the effective area from hitting such a step area "hard" and the operator is able to operate in a simple manner. On the other hand, due to the constant contact of the active area with the step area, dirty fluid can be scooped out to a certain extent in order to achieve an optimized cleaning result.

The at least one drive-on ramp has an inclined surface which faces the surface to be cleaned and which is oriented at a first acute angle to an envelope plane of a positioning device on the surface to be cleaned. The installation device is formed, for example, using rollers. The inclined surface with the first acute angle provides a wedge surface or an inclined plane, which improves driving over the guide element in a step area, with constant contact of the active area being ensured. With simplified operability, there is an improved cleaning result, even on surfaces to be cleaned that are provided with joints and the like.

In particular, the first acute angle has an opposite orientation to a second acute angle at which the vane is oriented to the envelope plane relative to an unloaded condition. This results in an optimized cleaning result. To a certain extent, the guide element can “shovel” dirty fluid into a discharge channel. Optimized cleaning can also be achieved in step areas via the access ramp.

It is favorable if a plurality of drive-on ramps are provided, which are spaced apart as drive-on ramp elements on the guide element. As a result, the guide element can be designed with a relatively small mass, in order in particular to achieve rotational mobility (and to allow in particular pivoting mobility), which is initiated by the signpost device.

It is favorable if the guide element is oriented at an acute angle to an envelope plane of a positioning device for the surface to be cleaned, based on an unloaded state. As a result, dirty fluid can be coupled into a discharge channel in an optimized manner and an optimized cleaning result is obtained.

In one embodiment, the device body has an opening on the underside, in which at least a partial area is positioned at least one cleaning tool. This allows the underside to be positioned at a distance from the surface to be cleaned for a cleaning process and the at least one cleaning tool can be positioned through the opening in such a way that a partial area protrudes beyond the underside and can act on the surface to be cleaned.

It is favorable when the guide element is arranged on and in particular in the opening and represents a boundary wall for the opening. As a result, dirt fluid can be discharged in an optimized manner.

It is then particularly favorable if the opening forms a channel for discharging dirty fluid and/or is fluidically connected to a channel for discharging dirty fluid. This results in optimized dirt fluid removal in order to achieve an optimized cleaning result.

Conveniently, a debris fluid receptacle is fluidly connected to the port. This allows dirty fluid to be collected from the surface to be cleaned.

In one embodiment, the receiving container is arranged (in particular detachably) on the device body. For example, in one embodiment a broom, the device body is formed by means of a sweeping head on which a receptacle for debris is detachably arranged.

It is also favorable if a drive motor is provided for a rotary drive of the at least one cleaning tool. This results in an optimized cleaning result that is easy to use.

In one embodiment, the drive motor is arranged on the device body. For example, in one embodiment of a broom, the drive motor is arranged on a sweeping head.

In one embodiment it is provided that a rod device (stealing device) for holding and/or guiding the cleaning device is arranged on the device body. This makes it easy to move the device body on the surface to be cleaned in the forward direction or the backward direction. It is easy to use.

In one embodiment, the cleaning device is designed as a sweeping machine or sweeping device (broom), with the at least one cleaning tool being a brush roller. In this way, surface cleaning can be carried out, especially for sweepings (dry dirt particles).

It is favorable in terms of construction if the guide element is designed in one piece. This can then be produced in a simple manner, for example in an injection molding process.

For the same reason, it is favorable if the guide element is connected in one piece to a guide element holder, with the guide element holder fixing the guide element to the device body. The number of required components can then be kept low. Furthermore, it is easy to assemble when manufacturing the cleaning device.

In one exemplary embodiment, the guiding element with the signpost device is produced as a 2K part. A one-piece design can be implemented in a simple manner, in particular also in combination with a guide element holder.

According to the invention, a method of operating a cleaning device for cleaning a surface is provided, in which, when moving in a forward direction on the surface to be cleaned, a guide element is pressed against the surface to be cleaned and a gap between the surface to be cleaned and a device body is covered, and in which the guiding element is lifted off the surface to be cleaned during a movement in a reverse direction in the opposite direction to the forward direction, with a signposting device being arranged on the guiding element which, depending on the direction of movement, exerts a force on the guiding element which automatically determines the corresponding positioning of the guide element when moving in the forward direction and when moving in the reverse direction, the guide element being provided on the front side with at least one access ramp for step areas on the surface to be cleaned and that the at least one access ramp has an inclined surface which faces the surface to be cleaned and which is oriented at a first acute angle to an envelope plane of a positioning device on the surface to be cleaned.

The method according to the invention has the advantages already explained in connection with the cleaning device according to the invention.

Further advantageous configurations have already been explained in connection with the cleaning device according to the invention.

In particular, the method according to the invention can be carried out with the cleaning device according to the invention or the cleaning device according to the invention can be operated with the method according to the invention.

In the method according to the invention, the signpost device has both a sensor function with regard to detecting the direction of movement and a force exertion function for the appropriate positioning of the guide element.

Figur 1

eine Seitenansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Reinigungsgeräts;

Figur 2

eine Vorderansicht des Reinigungsgeräts gemäß Figur 1;

Figur 3

eine Schnittansicht längs der Linie 3-3 gemäß Figur 2;

Figur 4

eine perspektivische Teildarstellung eines Gerätekörpers des Reinigungsgeräts gemäß Figur 1;

Figur 5

eine Unteransicht eines Bereichs des Gerätekörpers in der Richtung A gemäß Figur 3;

Figur 6

eine Draufsicht auf einen Bereich des Gerätekörpers in der Richtung B gemäß Figur 3;

Figur 7

eine Vorderansicht eines Bereiches des Gerätekörpers in der Richtung C gemäß Figur 3;

Figur 8

eine Schnittansicht längs der Linie 8-8 gemäß Figur 7;

Figur 9

eine Teildarstellung des Gerätekörpers mit Leitelement bei einer Bewegung des Reinigungsgeräts in einer Vorwärtsrichtung auf der zu reinigenden Fläche;

Figur 10

eine ähnliche Ansicht wie Figur 9 bei einer Bewegung in Rückwärtsrichtung;

Figur 11(a)

eine ähnliche Ansicht wie Figur 9, wobei an der zu reinigenden Fläche ein Stufenbereich vorliegt; und

Figuren 11(b), (c)

eine Positionierung eines Leitelements bei Bewegung über den Stufenbereich.

The following description of preferred embodiments serves to explain the invention in more detail in conjunction with the drawings. Show it:

figure 1

a side view of an embodiment of a cleaning device according to the invention;

figure 2

a front view of the cleaning device according to FIG figure 1 ;

figure 3

a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG figure 2 ;

figure 4

a perspective partial view of a device body of the cleaning device according to figure 1 ;

figure 5

a bottom view of a portion of the device body in the direction A according to FIG figure 3 ;

figure 6

a top view of a portion of the device body in the direction B according to FIG figure 3 ;

figure 7

FIG. 12 is a front view of a portion of the body of the device in the direction C of FIG figure 3 ;

figure 8

a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG figure 7 ;

figure 9

a partial representation of the device body with guide element during a movement of the cleaning device in a forward direction on the surface to be cleaned;

figure 10

a similar view as figure 9 when moving backwards;

Figure 11(a)

a similar view as figure 9 , wherein there is a step area on the surface to be cleaned; and

Figures 11(b), (c)

a positioning of a guide element when moving over the step area.

An exemplary embodiment of a cleaning device according to the invention is a broom 10. This broom 10 is hand-held and motor-driven. It comprises a sweeping head 12 and a rod device 14 with a handle 16 for guiding the broom 10.

The broom 10 is used to clean a surface 18. In a cleaning operation, the sweeping head 12 is supported on the surface 18 to be cleaned. An operator can, in particular while standing, guide the broom 10 over the surface 18 to be cleaned with the rod device 14 while holding the handle 16 .

In particular, it is provided that the rod device 14 is held on the sweeping head 12 via a pivot bearing 20 such that it can be pivoted about an axis 22 .

The sweeping head 12 has a device body 24 ( Figures 3 to 5 ).

In one embodiment, the implement body 24 has a housing 26 with a bottom 28 and a top 30. The bottom 28 faces the surface 18 to be cleaned when the sweeper head 12 is positioned on the surface 18 to be cleaned for proper operation. The upper side 30 faces away from the underside 28 and accordingly also faces away from the surface 18 to be cleaned. The pivot bearing 20 is arranged on the upper side 30 .

The housing 26 has a housing interior 32 between the bottom 28 and the top 30 . This housing interior 32 is through a front wall 34, an opposite rear wall 36 and side walls 38a, 38b ( figure 2 ) closed. These walls 34, 36, 38a, 38b are respectively connected to a bottom wall 40 on which the bottom 28 is formed and to a top wall 42 on which the top 30 is formed.

A cleaning tool 44 is positioned on the device body 24 and in the housing 26 . In the exemplary embodiment of a broom 10, the cleaning tool 44 is a roller brush 46. This roller brush 46 is arranged adjacent to the front wall 34 in the housing interior 32 such that it can rotate about an axis of rotation 48.

The lower wall 40 has an opening 50 on the underside 28 . A partial area 52 of the sweeping roller 46 with sweeping bristles 54 is immersed through this opening 50 so that the sweeping bristles 54 can act on the surface 18 to be cleaned.

A drive motor 56 is positioned in the housing interior 32 adjacent to the rear wall 36 . The drive motor 56 is in particular an electric motor. It is then arranged accordingly on the device body 24 .

Associated with the drive motor 56 is a rechargeable battery pack (not shown in the drawings) which may be detachable from the implement body 24 (on the sweeper head 12) or may be integral with the sweeper head 12.

The brush roller 46 is coupled in a torque-effective manner to the drive motor 56 via a torque transmission device 58 . In one exemplary embodiment, the torque transmission device 58 includes a toothed belt 60 which is arranged, for example, parallel at a distance from the side wall 38b and which transmits the torque of the drive motor 56 through the housing interior 32 to the brush roller 46 .

In one exemplary embodiment, a control device 62 with a corresponding electrical circuit for controlling the operation of the broom 10 is arranged in the region of the rear wall 36 , for example adjacent to the drive motor 56 .

A receptacle 64 for dirty fluid is positioned in the housing interior 32 in a region between the drive motor 56 and the brush roller 46 . This receptacle 64 can be removed from the sweeping head 12 in particular. For example, it is in a removal direction 66 (cf figure 4 ) can be pulled out of the housing 26 in the manner of a drawer and inserted into the housing 26 in the opposite direction to the removal direction 66 . The removal direction 66 corresponds to a distance direction between the side walls 38b and 38a. In particular, the removal direction 66 is at least approximately parallel to the axis of rotation 48.

The receptacle 64 has an opening 68 through which dirty fluid can be introduced into an interior of the receptacle 64 . Furthermore, the receptacle 64 can be emptied via the opening 68 .

The opening 68 is at a height distance from a base 70 of the receptacle 64 . When the receptacle 64 is properly seated in the housing 26, the bottom 70 faces the bottom wall 40. As shown in FIG.

The opening 68 of the receptacle 64 is fluidly connected to the opening 50 of the device body 24 so that dirty fluid can get from the surface 18 to be cleaned into the receptacle 64 .

(At least one) channel 72 is arranged in the device body 24 and is fluidly connected to the opening 50 and fluidly connected to the opening 68 of the receptacle 64 . This channel 72 provides a connecting channel to the receptacle 64 in order to be able to couple dirty fluid into the receptacle 64 .

The channel 72 has a lower boundary wall 74 and an upper boundary wall 76 .

The device body 24 can be placed on the surface 18 to be cleaned, in particular in a mobile manner, via a positioning device 78 .

In one embodiment, the erecting device 78 includes rollers 80a, 80b.

The positioning device 78 has an envelope plane 82 . This envelope plane 82 corresponds to a set-up plane for the surface 18 to be cleaned. If the sweeping head 12 is set up for a cleaning operation on the surface 18 to be cleaned and the surface 18 to be cleaned is a plane, then the envelope plane 82 coincides with the surface 18 to be cleaned .

In an unloaded state, sweeping bristles 15 protrude slightly beyond the envelope plane 82 .

The lower boundary wall 74 of the channel 72 is at a (second) acute angle 84 to the envelope plane 82. This acute angle 84 is, for example, of the order of 45°.

It can be provided that the upper boundary wall 76 is also oriented at an acute angle and, for example, at the same acute angle as the acute angle 84 to the envelope plane 82 .

The channel 72 has a first opening 86 to a partial space 88 of the housing interior 32, in which the brush roller 46 is rotatably arranged. The first orifice 86 thereby establishes fluid communication with the opening 50 on the underside 28 .

The channel 72 also has a second opening 90 to the receptacle 74 . The receiving container 84 is fluidically connected to the channel 72 via the second opening 90 .

Dirty fluid (sweeping material) is picked up by the sweeping roller 46 from the surface 18 to be cleaned and is in particular thrown into the channel 72 . Dirty fluid then passes from channel 72 into receptacle 64. Channel 72, with its boundary walls 74, 76, is adapted to the position and design of sweeping roller 46 in such a way that at least a large portion of the dirty fluid that has been carried along reaches receptacle 64.

When using the cleaning device as a broom 10, the dirty fluid is essentially formed by solid dirt particles. Dirty fluid is understood here to mean that a type of flow can be formed on the dirty fluid. In the case of dirt particles, this flow then consists of solid dirt particles.

In principle, it is possible for the dirty fluid to also include a liquid that contains dirt particles, for example. If, for example, the cleaning device is a roughing device and the cleaning tool 44 is a roughing roller, then for example liquid with dirt particles can be transported through the channel 72 into the receptacle 64 (possibly with additional suction) while wetting the surface 18 to be cleaned.

A guide element 92 is assigned to the roller brush 46 . This guide element 92 is arranged on a guide element holder 94 (compare also the Figures 5 to 8 ). The guide element holder 94 is fixed to the device body 24 . It forms the lower boundary wall 74 .

In one exemplary embodiment, it has fixing pins 96 formed integrally on it, via which it is fixed in corresponding receptacles on the device body 24 .

The guide element 92 is movable with respect to the device body 24 . In one embodiment, it has mobility relative to the tool body 24 with a rotating component 98 ( figure 8 ) on. The rotating component 98 is formed in particular by the pivoting mobility of the guide element 92 with respect to the device body 24 .

In one embodiment, the guide element 92 is pivotably connected to the guide element holder 94 , in particular via a film hinge 100 . This film hinge 100 defines a rotation axis or pivot axis 102 ( figure 8 ), which enables the rotating component 98 to pivot the guide element 92 to the guide element holder 94 and thus to the device body 94 .

The guide element 92 is positioned in the opening 50 on the underside 28 of the lower wall 40 .

The guide element 92 is assigned to the sweeping roller 46 and to a certain extent forms an extension of the lower boundary wall 74 of the channel 72 towards the surface 18 to be cleaned.

The guide element 92 is arranged or designed to be movable in such a way that, depending on the direction of movement of the sweeping head 12 on the surface 18 to be cleaned, it is applied to the surface 18 to be cleaned or is lifted from it. This is explained in more detail below.

The broom 10 is provided for cleaning the surface to be cleaned in a movement in a forward direction 104 (cf figures 1 and 9 to 11 ). An opposite direction to the forward direction 104 is a reverse direction 106.

The forward direction 104 is perpendicular to the axis of rotation 48. It is a direction that corresponds to a spacing direction between the rear wall 36 and the front wall 34 from the rear wall 36 to the front wall 34.

In relation to the forward direction 104 , the guide element 92 is positioned behind the brush roller 46 .

The guide element 92 is arranged in the opening 50 .

The vane 92 is positioned at an acute angle to the envelope plane 82 relative to an unloaded condition. This (second) acute angle corresponds at least approximately to the acute angle 84.

The guide element 92 has an effective area 108 with which it can act by resting on the surface 18 to be cleaned. The effective area 108 has a side 110 facing the surface 18 to be cleaned (cf figure 5 ) and a side 112 facing away from the surface to be cleaned ( figures 6 , 7 ), this opposite side 112 in turn facing the roller brush 46.

A signpost device 114 is arranged on the side 110 in the effective area of the guide element 108 . It is the task of the signpost device 114 to position the guide element 92 correctly, depending on the direction of movement 104 or 106 .

The signpost device 114 comprises a plurality of spaced tabs 116. The spacing is in a longitudinal direction 118 of the guide element 92. This longitudinal direction 118 is parallel to the axis of rotation 48 or parallel to the pivot axis 102. A tab 116 has a width in the longitudinal direction 118, which is very much smaller than the width of the entire guide element 92 and is in particular at most 5% of the total width. A typical width of a tab is in the range between 1 mm and 10 mm. A corresponding tab 116 on the side 110 of the effective area 108 ab with a height H ( figure 8 ), which is at least 2 mm and in particular at least 3 mm in the unloaded state.

In a preferred embodiment, the height H is 4 mm.

In the unloaded state, such a tab 116 is oriented transversely to the envelope plane 82 and, for example, at an angle of at least approximately 90° (90°±30°) (cf figure 8 ).

A plurality of tabs are provided, with a distance between adjacent tabs being at most 10 cm.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, four tabs 116 are provided over the length of the guide element 92 in the longitudinal direction 118 .

In the unloaded state, the lugs 116 are arranged at an acute angle corresponding to the orientation of the lower boundary wall 74, which angle is approximately 45°, for example.

The tabs 116 are arranged on the guide element 92 and in particular are connected to it in one piece, and are designed in such a way that they have their own elasticity and are in particular designed as spring elements. When the sweeper head 12 is moved in the forward direction 104 on the surface 18 to be cleaned ( figure 9 ), then the tabs 116 bend and exert a force on the effective area of the guide element 108, so that it is pressed against the surface 18 to be cleaned and thereby rests against the surface 18 to be cleaned.

The guide element 92 then rests on the surface 18 to be cleaned behind the brush roller 46 in relation to the forward direction 104 . This creates a gap 120 (compare figure 3 ) between the bottom 28 of the device body 24 and the surface to be cleaned 18 covered by the guide element 92 behind the brush roller 46 and thus closed.

The guide element 92 thus forms a sweeping edge which travels along the surface 18 to be cleaned and which prevents the dirty fluid from being able to "evade" backwards (in the opposite direction to the forward direction 104) since the gap 120 is covered.

The guide element 92 is then in a first position 122 ( figure 9 ) positioned. In this first position 122, the sweeping result is improved because the contact between the surface 18 to be cleaned and the effective area 108 means that dirt cannot escape to the rear or be taken forward by the guide element 92 and dirty fluid that is not thrown into the channel 72 was or fell out of the channel 72 again, remains in the angular range of the sweeping roller 46 and can be thrown over the sweeping roller 46 in the direction of the receptacle 64.

The tabs 116 are arranged and configured such that when the sweeping head 12 is not yet being moved in the forward direction 104 on the surface 18 to be cleaned, and then subsequently performing this movement, they automatically move the guide member 92 to the first position 122 and then also hold in this first position 122 during the movement in the forward direction 104 .

The tabs 116 are supported on the surface 18 from. During the movement in the forward direction 104 , they exert a force on the guide element 92 , in particular due to their inherently elastic or resilient design, which in turn is caused by bending during the movement in the forward direction 104 . This bend is in figure 8 indicated by reference numeral 124.

Due to the pivotable arrangement of the guide element 92 via the film hinge 100 on the guide element holder 94, this exertion of force leads to the Tabs 116 of the signpost device 114 for a corresponding movement of the active area 108 and for holding the active area 108 in the first position 122 by means of the rotary component 98 ( figure 8 ).

When the sweeper head 12 is moved in the reverse direction 106 ( figure 10 ), then the tabs 116 bend with a bend 126, as in figure 10 implied. This bend 126 causes an at least approximately opposite force compared to the bend 124. This force causes the effective area 108 of the guide element 92 to be lifted from the surface 18 to be cleaned. This is brought into a second position 128, in which the effective area 108 is surface to be cleaned 18 is removed.

However, the tabs 116 continue to be supported on the surface 18 to be cleaned.

In the second position 128 there is a gap 130 between the effective region 108 of the guide element 92 and the surface 18 to be cleaned.

This gap 130 extends along the longitudinal direction 118 and is not continuous along the longitudinal direction 118 but rather has evenly spaced gap regions which are separated by the tabs 116 .

Dirty fluid can be “run over” through this gap 130 (or the corresponding gap areas) when moving in the reverse direction 106 . In its second position 128 when moving in the reverse direction 106 , the guide element 92 does not act as a sweeping edge, that is to say dirty fluid is carried along at most in a small area on the tabs 116 in the reverse direction 106 . The dirt fluid left behind can be picked up again during a movement in the forward direction 104 following the movement in the reverse direction 106 . (If the guide element 92 also rested against the surface 18 to be cleaned during a movement in the reverse direction 106, dirty fluid would be pushed back in the reverse direction 106 and accumulate accordingly. It would have to then, to sweep up, a larger lifting movement would have to be carried out by an operator or in areas close to the edge, sweeping up would no longer be possible.)

The effective area is automatically lifted off the surface 18 to be cleaned by the signpost device 114 when a movement in the reverse direction 106 takes place. During the movement in the backward direction 106, the tabs 116 are bent over 126, with the result that the elastic or resilient design of the tabs 116 causes the active region 108 to be lifted into the second position 128. This second position 128 is maintained during movement in the reverse direction 106 .

If there is a movement in the forward direction 104 again, then there is an automatic switchover from the bend 126 to the bend 124 and a transition from the second position 128 to the first position 122 of the guide element 92.

At the guide element 92 are stop elements 132a, 132b. In particular, a stop element 132a or 132b is arranged in the area of a lateral end (facing the side wall 38a or 38b) on the side 112 and protrudes upwards (away from the envelope plane 82).

The stop elements 132a, 132b are in particular formed in one piece on the guide element 92.

Counter-elements 134a, 134b are assigned to the stop elements 132a, 132b on the device body 24 . For example, a lateral boundary wall of the channel 72 (which is arranged between the lower boundary wall 74 and the upper boundary wall 76) forms the respective counter-element 134a, 134b.

The combination of stop element 132a and counter-element 134a or stop element 132b and counter-element 134b limits the pivotability of the guide element 92 away from the envelope plane 82 towards the brush roller 46. Ultimately, at least the limit for the second position 128 is thereby defined.

This prevents the effective area 108 of the guide element 92 from being able to contact the brush roller 46 .

On the guide element 92 spaced ramps 136 are arranged. These ramps 136 are formed by respective ramp elements which are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction 118 . They are positioned on the effective area 108 on the face side. Provision can be made for a ramp 136 to be positioned in the region of the stop elements 132a, 132b.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, four ramps 136 are arranged in the longitudinal direction 118 .

An access ramp 136 has, for example, a width (relative to the longitudinal direction 118) of the order of a few millimeters.

In principle, it is also possible for a continuous access ramp to be seated on the guide element 92 .

An access ramp 136 has an inclined surface 138 ( figure 8 ), which faces the surface 18 to be cleaned.

The inclined surface 138 is at a (first) acute angle 140 (cf figure 8 ) to the envelope plane 82 is oriented. This first acute angle 140 may be on the order of 45° relative to an unloaded condition.

The first acute angle 140 has a different orientation than the second acute angle 84 (cf figure 8 ), so that the inclined surface 138 faces the surface 18 to be cleaned.

The drive-on ramps 136 improve the cleaning result when there are 18 step areas 142 on the surface to be cleaned (cf Figures 11(a) to (c) ) are present. Such a step area 142 is formed, for example, at a joint or the like on the surface 18 to be cleaned.

If, for example, during a sweeping process in the forward direction 104, the effective area 108 of the guide element 92 encounters such a stepped area 142 ( Figure 11(a) ), then due to the inclined surface 138 due to the corresponding force (comparable to a wedge), the guide element 92 can be raised against the force of the tabs 116 ( Figure 11(b) ), wherein the effective area 108 remains applied to the surface 18 to be cleaned.

In the event of a further movement, the active area 108 can then remain in place above the stepped area 142 . As a result, dirty fluid can be taken along and coupled into the receptacle 64 at such step areas 142 as well. The guide element 92 also functions as a sweeping edge in such step areas 142 . A constant contact of the effective area 108 is thereby achieved.

The ramps 136 also prevent the tabs 116 from "snapping over", since the inclined plane of the inclined surface 138 can exert a counterforce which leads to or at least contributes to the lifting of the active area 108 on the step area 142 .

A gap formation in the first position 122 of the guide element 92 can be largely prevented even if a step region 142 is present.

The cleaning device 10 according to the invention works as follows:
For a cleaning operation, the sweeping head 12 is placed with its positioning device 78 on the surface 18 to be cleaned.

During a movement in the forward direction 104, the tabs 116 of the signpost device 114, which are always supported on the surface 18 to be cleaned, are positioned in such a way that they exert a force on the guide element 92, which pushes this with its effective area 108 against the surface to be cleaned 18 presses. The mobility of the guide element 92 on the guide element holder 94 via the film hinge 100 allows precisely this pressing onto the surface 18 to be cleaned.

Dirty fluid (in the exemplary embodiment of a broom 10 sweepings) is thereby taken along in the manner of a sweeping edge or is kept in an area in which the sweeping roller 46 can act on dirty fluid and can convey this into the receptacle 64 .

The drive-on ramps 136 ensure an improved sweeping result when step areas 142 such as gaps are present on the surface 18 to be cleaned. If such a step area 142 is driven over, then the ramps 136 ensure an optimized driving over with a good sweeping result, in which the inclined surface 138 ensures that the active area 118 is constantly in contact with the surface 18 to be cleaned or an unwanted "deformation". the guide element 92 is made possible by the compensating movement made possible via the inclined surface 138 .

When changing over to a movement in the reverse direction 106, the guide element 92 is automatically brought into its second position 128 and held there. The tabs 116 are also supported on the surface 18 to be cleaned when moving in the reverse direction 106 . The reverse direction 106 now causes a force to be exerted on the guide element 92, which lifts it off the cleaning surface 18 and releases the gap 130 (or the gap regions). Dirty fluid (sweeping material) can then be run over to a certain extent. In the reverse direction 106 this becomes at most small parts taken by the guide element 92. When driving in the forward direction 104 again, the guide element 92 can function as a sweeping edge and ensure an optimized sweeping result.

The cleaning device according to the invention was described above using a broom 10 as an example. As a rule, the corresponding dirty fluid is then sweepings, which consists of solid particles.

In principle, the solution according to the invention with the guide element 92 and its signposting device 114 or its access ramps 136 can also be used if the dirty fluid contains a liquid component and, for example, additional suction also takes place. The receiving container can then also be arranged at a distance from the device body 24 .

According to the invention, a cleaning device is provided which has a high cleaning effect while being easy to operate.

The guide element 92 with its ramps 136 and its tabs 116 is in particular formed in one piece. Furthermore, it is provided in particular that the guide element 92 is formed in one piece (via the film hinge 100) with the guide element holder 94.

The guide element 92 designed in this way or the combination of guide element 92 and guide element holder 94 is produced in particular as a 2K part (injection molded part).

In particular, the corresponding guide element 92 or the combination of guide element 92 and guide element holder 94 is made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). It has been shown that a corresponding polyurethane elastomer has high wear resistance.

reference list

10

broom

12

sweeperhead

14

staff facility

16

handle

18

surface

20

swivel bearing

22

pivot axis

24

device body

26

housing

28

bottom

30

top

32

housing interior

34

front wall

36

back panel

38a

Side wall

38b

Side wall

40

lower wall

42

top wall

44

cleaning tool

46

roller brush

48

axis of rotation

50

opening

52

subarea

54

sweeping bristles

56

drive motor

58

torque transmission device

60

timing belt

62

control device

64

receptacle

66

removal direction

68

opening

70

floor

72

channel

74

Lower boundary wall

76

Upper boundary wall

78

installation device

80a

roll

80b

roll

82

envelope plane

84

(Second) acute angle

86

First estuary

88

subspace

90

Second estuary

92

guiding element

94

baffle holder

96

fixation pin

98

rotating component

100

film hinge

102

pivot axis

104

forward direction

106

reverse direction

108

effective range

110

page

112

page

114

signpost device

116

tab

118

longitudinal direction

120

gap

122

First position

124

bend

126

bend

128

second position

130

gap

132a

stop element

132b

stop element

134a

counter element

134b

counter element

136

ramp

138

bevel

140

(First) acute angle

142

level area

Claims (14)

1. A cleaning appliance for cleaning a surface (18) in a forward direction (104), comprising an appliance body (24) with an underside (28), which underside during a cleaning procedure faces the surface (18) to be cleaned, at least one cleaning tool (44; 46), which is arranged on the appliance body (24) and at least in a partial region projects beyond the underside (28) of the appliance body (24), and a dirty-fluid guide element (92), which is associated with the at least one cleaning tool (44; 46) and related to the forward direction (104) is arranged on the appliance body (24) so as to be behind the at least one cleaning tool (44; 46), wherein the guide element (92) is movably arranged on the appliance body (24) and/or is movable in design and has at least one first position (122), in which with contact with the surface (18) to be cleaned there can be covered a gap (120) between the underside (28) of the appliance body (24) and the surface to be cleaned, and at least one second position (128), in which the guide element (92) frees a gap (130) to the surface (18) to be cleaned, and wherein a path-indicator device (114) is arranged on the guide element (92) and is provided for support on the surface (18) to be cleaned and upon motion in the forward direction (104) on the surface (18) to be cleaned brings the guide element (92) into the at least one first position (122) and keeps it in the at least one first position (122) and upon motion in a rearward direction (106) counter to the forward direction (104) brings the guide element (92) into the at least one second position and keeps it in the at least one second position (128), characterised in that the end face of the guide element (92) is provided with at least one ramp (136) for step regions (142) at the surface (18) to be cleaned and in that the at least one ramp (136) has an inclined surface (138) which faces the surface (18) to be cleaned and which is oriented at a first acute angle (140) to an encasing plane (82) of a placement device (78) on the surface (18) to be cleaned.
2. A cleaning appliance according to claim 1, characterised by at least one of the following:

   - the guide element (92) has mobility towards the direction of the at least one cleaning tool (44; 46) and mobility away from the at least one cleaning tool (44; 46);

   - the mobility of the guide element (92) has a rotary motion component and in particular a pivoting motion component;

   - the guide element (92) is connected to a guide element holder (94) via a film hinge (100) and is in particular pivotably connected;

   - the at least one cleaning tool (44; 46) is in the form of a roller and a roller axis (48) and a rotational axis (102) of a mobility of the guide element (92) are oriented at least approximately parallel to one another, and in particular the forward direction (104) is oriented perpendicular to the roller axis (48).
3. A cleaning appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the guide element (92) has an operative region (108) for the surface (18) to be cleaned, and in that the path-indicator device (114) is formed by at least one flap (116), wherein the at least one flap (116) projects from the operative region (108), and in particular

   characterised in that the at least one flap (116) projects at the operative region (108), at a side (110) remote from the at least one cleaning tool (44; 46), and in particular characterised in that the at least one flap (116) is inherently elastic and/or is in the form of a spring element, and in particular

   characterised in that the at least one flap (116) is arranged and designed in such a manner and is connected to the operative region (108) in such a manner and in particular is inherently elastic in such a manner that the guide element (92) is pressed into the at least one first position (122) upon supporting on the surface (18) to be cleaned and movement in a forward direction (104) and the guide element (92) is raised into the at least one second position (128) upon motion in the rearward direction (106), and in particular

   characterised by a plurality of spaced-apart flaps (116), wherein in particular spaced-apart flaps (116) are at a distance of at most 10 cm, and in particular

   characterised in that the at least one flap (116) projects with a height (H) of at least 2 mm and preferably at least 3 mm from the operative region (108), related to an unloaded state.
4. A cleaning appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one stop element (132a, 132b) is arranged at the guide element (92), with which stop element there is associated a stop at the appliance body (24) as a counter element (134a, 134b) and which stop element restricts mobility of the guide element (92) towards the at least one cleaning tool (44; 46), and in particular

   characterised in that the at least one stop element (132a, 132b) is arranged at a side (112) of the guide element (92), remote from a side (110) at which the path-indicator device (114) is arranged, and in particular

   characterised by a plurality of spaced-apart stop elements (132a, 132b), and in particular characterised in that a stop element (132a, 132b) is arranged in the region of a lateral end of the guide element (92).
5. A cleaning appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first acute angle (140) has an opposite orientation to a second acute angle (84) at which, related to an unloaded state, the guide element (92) is oriented to the encasing plane (82), and/or characterised by a plurality of ramps (136) which are arranged at the guide element (92) in a spaced-apart manner as ramp elements.
6. A cleaning appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that related to an unloaded state, the guide element (92) is oriented at an acute angle (84) to an encasing plane (82) of a placement device (78) for the surface (18) to be cleaned.
7. A cleaning appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the appliance body (24) has an opening (50) at the underside (28), in which there is positioned at least a partial region (52) of the at least one cleaning tool (44; 46), and in particular

   characterised in that the guide element (92) is arranged at and in particular in the opening (50), and in particular

   characterised in that the opening (50) forms a channel (72) for the discharge for dirty fluid and/or is fluidically connected to a channel (72) for the discharge of dirty fluid, and in particular

   characterised in that a receiving container (64) for dirty fluid is fluidically connected to the opening (50), and in particular

   characterized in that the receiving container (64) is arranged at the appliance body (24).
8. A cleaning appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by a drive motor (56) for a rotative drive of the at least one cleaning tool (44; 46), and in particular characterised in that the drive motor (56) is arranged at the appliance body (24).
9. A cleaning appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a rod device (14) for holding and/or guiding the cleaning appliance is arranged at the appliance body (24).
10. A cleaning appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised by a design as a sweeping machine, wherein the at least one cleaning tool is a sweeping roller (46).
11. A cleaning appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the guide element (92) is one-piece.
12. A cleaning appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the guide element (92) is integrally connected to a guide element holder (94), wherein the guide element holder (94) fixes the guide element (92) on the appliance body (24).
13. A cleaning appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the guide element (92) is manufactured with the path-indicator device (114) as a 2-component part.
14. A method of operating a cleaning appliance for cleaning a surface (18), in which a guide element (2) is pressed against the surface (18) to be cleaned upon motion in a forward direction (104) on the surface (18) to be cleaned and a gap (120) between the surface (18) to be cleaned and an appliance body (24) is covered, and in which the guide element (92) is raised from the surface (18) to be cleaned upon motion in a rearward direction (106) in a counter direction to the forward direction (104), wherein a path-indicator device (114) is arranged at the guide element (92) and exerts a force on the guide element (92) dependent on the motion direction, which force automatically brings about the appropriate positioning of the guide element (92) upon motion in the forward direction (104) and upon motion in the rearward direction (106), characterised in that the end face of the guide element (92) is provided with at least one ramp (136) for step regions (142) at the surface (18) to be cleaned and in that the at least one ramp (136) has an inclined surface (138) which faces the surface (18) to be cleaned and which is oriented at a first acute angle (140) to an encasing plane (82) of a placement device (78) on the surface (18) to be cleaned.

Images