EP3569124B1 - Cleaning device - Google Patents

Cleaning device Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3569124B1
EP3569124B1 EP19170761.1A EP19170761A EP3569124B1 EP 3569124 B1 EP3569124 B1 EP 3569124B1 EP 19170761 A EP19170761 A EP 19170761A EP 3569124 B1 EP3569124 B1 EP 3569124B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
brush
movement
cleaning appliance
nozzle
speed
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP19170761.1A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3569124A1 (en
Inventor
Dennis Walfort
Sebastian Windhövel
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Miele und Cie KG
Original Assignee
Miele und Cie KG
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Publication date
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Publication of EP3569124A1 publication Critical patent/EP3569124A1/en
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Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47LDOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/02Nozzles
    • A47L9/04Nozzles with driven brushes or agitators
    • A47L9/0405Driving means for the brushes or agitators
    • A47L9/0411Driving means for the brushes or agitators driven by electric motor
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47LDOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/28Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
    • A47L9/2805Parameters or conditions being sensed
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47LDOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/28Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
    • A47L9/2836Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means characterised by the parts which are controlled
    • A47L9/2847Surface treating elements

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a cleaning device according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • the motion sensor is designed as an accelerations measuring piezo element with a freely acting on acceleration weight and the sensitivity of the piezo element is designed for the acceleration acting during a back and forth movement of the vacuum cleaner or the attachment during normal use, whereby a Failure to apply acceleration over a predetermined period of time is used to regulate the power of the electric motor.
  • cleaning devices for cleaning surfaces are known. These can in particular be vacuum cleaners.
  • the surface to be cleaned is, for example, a floor covering such as carpet, tiles, laminate, parquet and the like, or the surface of upholstered furniture, car upholstery, tables, window sills, etc.
  • a vacuum cleaner is a cleaning device that is equipped with a fan that can generate a negative pressure.
  • a nozzle with a suction opening is provided, which the user can specifically guide over the surface to be cleaned.
  • the nozzle can therefore also be referred to as a floor nozzle.
  • the air sucked in by the fan via the suction opening usually flows through several filters, which can filter out components such as dust, mostly house dust, as well as small dirt particles from the air flow. The air leaves the vacuum cleaner much cleaner than it entered it.
  • the nozzle In order to improve the cleaning effect on the surface to be cleaned, the nozzle usually has a rotatable brush, which can whirl up dirt particles from the surface to be cleaned into the air flow.
  • the brush is arranged inside the nozzle, which is why the nozzle can also be referred to as a brush head.
  • the fan has an electric fan motor and the brush has an electric brush motor.
  • the user To clean the surfaces, the user usually guides the nozzle over the surface to be cleaned in such a way that the nozzle moves away from the user along an axis of movement, ie forwards, and again towards the user, ie backwards, is moved. These alternating movements in the forward direction and backward direction along the movement axis are carried out repeatedly by the user in order to clean the surface which is within the range of these movements.
  • the disadvantage here is that due to this back and forth of the directions of movement, ie due to the change between forward movement and backward movement of the nozzle along the movement axis, strong fluctuations in the relative speed between the brushes and the surface to be cleaned can occur, which can lead to increased wear of both the brush and the surface to be cleaned. In particular, a carpet as a surface to be cleaned can be more heavily worn as a result. The strong fluctuations in the relative speed between the brush and the surface to be cleaned can also lead to unnecessary energy consumption. Furthermore, this can cause noises which can be perceived by the user as unpleasant or annoying. Typically, users perceive, in particular, periodic changes in pitch and / or volume of noises to be more unpleasant than constant noises.
  • the invention thus poses the problem of providing a cleaning device with greater ease of use for the user than previously known.
  • the cleaning device should preferably partially or preferably completely overcome at least some, preferably all, of the disadvantages described at the beginning.
  • a cleaning device is to be provided which can automatically adjust to the to-and-fro movements described at the beginning and / or to faster movements for cleaning a more heavily soiled point on the surface to be cleaned. This should preferably be made possible as simply and / or inexpensively as possible.
  • At least an alternative to known cleaning devices of this type is to be created. With the cleaning device according to the invention, a surface to be cleaned can also be better protected.
  • the present invention thus relates to a cleaning device for cleaning surfaces.
  • Such surfaces can in particular be floors or floor coverings such as carpets, tiles, laminate, parquet, but also other surfaces such as surfaces of upholstered furniture / car upholstery, tables, window sills and the like.
  • Cleaning can be done, for example, by sweeping and / or vacuuming.
  • the cleaning device can be called a sweeper or a vacuum cleaner.
  • the cleaning device can be guided over the surface to be cleaned by a user with at least one hand.
  • the cleaning device can also be driven over the surface to be cleaned or, e.g. as a robot vacuum, move automatically over the surface to be cleaned.
  • the cleaning device has at least one nozzle with at least one opening.
  • a nozzle is understood to be a floor nozzle as described above, which can also be referred to as a brush head.
  • the nozzle is designed to be moved with the opening along a movement axis over the surface to be cleaned. If the cleaning device is designed as a vacuum cleaner, the opening can be referred to as a suction opening. In the case of a sweeper, the terms floor nozzle or brush head should also be used for the sake of simplicity.
  • the movement axis or the movement path represents a line along which the nozzle can move over the surface to be cleaned.
  • This line can preferably be essentially straight, but can also be bent or curved at least in sections.
  • the nozzle for cleaning the surface can be guided along this axis of movement or can move automatically.
  • the movement of the nozzle along the movement axis can preferably take place alternately in one direction along the movement axis and in the opposite direction along the movement axis. If the cleaning device is guided by a person as the user by hand, this can lead to a movement along the movement axis away from the user, which can be referred to as a forward movement, and to a movement along the movement axis towards the user, which is referred to as a backward movement can.
  • the movement axis can essentially be shifted to the side so that with every movement along the movement axis, a new area of the surface to be cleaned can be reached and cleaned with the nozzle.
  • This can also be an essentially zigzag movement pattern.
  • the cleaning device has at least one brush which is arranged and rotatable inside the nozzle in such a way that dirt particles from the surface to be cleaned can be conveyed into the cleaning device by the brush.
  • These components can be any body which is to be removed from the surface by cleaning and which are suitable for being conveyed into the cleaning device by the brush.
  • the brush can be rotated by means of a motor, in particular by means of an electric motor, which can be arranged as a brush motor on the nozzle.
  • the cleaning device according to the invention is characterized in that it has at least one acceleration sensor which is arranged and designed to detect accelerations of the brush along the axis of movement.
  • Any types of sensor that can detect the acceleration can be used as acceleration sensors for this purpose.
  • piezoelectric acceleration sensors or microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) can be used.
  • the present invention is based on the knowledge that operating the brush at a constant speed and direction of rotation can cause the disadvantages described at the beginning for the surface to be cleaned. Therefore, according to the invention, the accelerations of the brush along the movement axis are detected by sensors in order to be able to reduce or even completely overcome the disadvantages described at the beginning based on this additional information, as will be described in more detail below.
  • the acceleration sensor can be arranged at any point on the cleaning device, provided that the accelerations detected there allow a conclusion to be drawn about the acceleration of the brush along the axis of movement.
  • the acceleration sensor is preferably arranged at a point on the cleaning device which is connected to the brush as rigidly as possible, so that the acceleration sensor can be moved directly with the brush. This can simplify the inference from the acceleration at the location of the acceleration sensor on the acceleration of the brush along the axis of movement. For this reason, it can be preferred if the measurement axis of the acceleration sensor coincides as precisely as possible with the (usual) movement axis of the nozzle, but it is not absolutely necessary.
  • acceleration sensors can also be used. This can be advantageous in order to be able to continue to provide the advantages according to the invention in the event of a failure of a sensor, if possibly also with reduced accuracy and quality.
  • Several more economical sensors can also be used and their measured values can be calculated to form an acceleration value, which is sufficiently accurate but less expensive can be used as a single higher quality but more expensive accelerometer.
  • the cleaning device has two or more brushes. These brushes can optionally be regulated separately from one another depending on the respective acceleration with regard to the rotational speed. In this way, for example, a movement of the nozzle along a curved path or a curve can be supported. With such a movement, the brush on the inside of the curve can be given a lower speed of rotation than the one on the outside of the curve, in order to make cornering easier for the user or to reduce the resistance to rotation about the vertical axis of the nozzle.
  • the already described advantages of an adapted relative speed power consumption, surface protection, brush wear, etc.
  • the acceleration sensor is arranged on the nozzle.
  • the accelerations of the brush along the axis of movement can be recorded as close as possible to the brush.
  • the brush is arranged in a rigid and stationary manner relative to the nozzle, so that the detected accelerations of the nozzle can be viewed as representative of the accelerations of the brush along the axis of movement.
  • conversions between the detected accelerations into the accelerations of the brush along the axis of movement can be avoided or at least kept low and / or simple. All of this can improve the quality of the detection of the accelerations of the brush along the axis of movement and / or simplify the detection of the accelerations of the brush along the axis of movement and / or enable it to be more cost-effective.
  • the cleaning device is designed to operate the brush with a speed of rotation and / or direction of rotation as a function of the detected accelerations of the brush.
  • the speed of rotation and thus also the conveying capacity of the brush can be adapted to the manner in which the nozzle moves over the surface to be cleaned.
  • the manner in which the nozzle moves over the surface to be cleaned can be recognized from the accelerations of the nozzle along the axis of movement and the speed and / or direction of rotation of the brush can be adjusted accordingly.
  • the manner in which the nozzle moves over the surface to be cleaned can thus be viewed as information for influencing the speed of rotation of the brush.
  • the scalar acceleration or the direction of the acceleration vector of the nozzle can be deduced from the direction of movement along the axis of movement and the speed of rotation of the brush can be adapted to the direction of movement, as will be described in more detail below.
  • the speed of rotation of the brush and thus the cleaning performance can be increased, for example, through greater acceleration of the nozzle or a higher frequency of changes in direction by the user, as will be described in more detail below.
  • a “scalar sensor” is understood to mean one which can only measure an acceleration in one direction and only outputs a scalar acceleration value in this direction.
  • a “vectorial sensor” is understood to mean one which can measure an acceleration in more than one direction, preferably in all 3 spatial directions, and outputs the acceleration as a vector.
  • the cleaning device is designed to use the detected accelerations of the brush to differentiate between two directions of movement of the brush along the axis of movement, the cleaning device further being designed to rotate the brush at a speed depending on the direction of its movement to operate the axis of motion.
  • a distinction can be made between the two directions of the brush along the axis of movement on the basis of the scalar or vectorial accelerations. In this way, a forward movement along the axis of movement can be distinguished from a backward movement along the axis of movement and the speed of rotation of the brush can be adapted to this.
  • the cleaning device is designed to operate the brush at a speed of rotation depending on the direction of its movement, so that a constant or at least less direction-dependent relative speed can be achieved between the brush and the surface to be cleaned.
  • the speed of rotation of the brush can be reduced in one direction of movement, which counteracts the rotation of the brush, and the speed of rotation can be increased in the opposite direction of movement, which favors the rotation of the brush.
  • the speed of rotation of the brush can be increased or decreased in such a way that this results in a constant or at least less direction-dependent relative speed between the brush and the surface to be cleaned.
  • this will be gentler on the brush and on the surface to be cleaned, so that wear on the brush and the floor can be reduced. This can also reduce the energy consumption caused by the operation of the brush can. Likewise, the strongly fluctuating, direction-dependent background noise can be reduced, which can previously occur, as described above, which can be annoying for the user. Furthermore, guiding the cleaning device can be done more easily for the user, that is to say with constant or at least less strongly varying expenditure of force, since the user no longer has to work against the rotation of the brush to the same extent as before. Rather, in this case the cleaning device can be guided in both directions along the axis of movement with comparable or at least less markedly different thrust and tensile forces.
  • the cleaning device is designed to use the detected accelerations of the brush to differentiate between at least two speed ranges of the movement of the brush along the axis of movement, the cleaning device also being designed to operate the brush at a rotational speed as a function of the detected speed Operate speed range of their movement along the axis of movement.
  • the speed ranges can be differentiated from one another by means of a predetermined limit value of the acceleration of the brush along the axis of movement, which leaves a speed range when it is exceeded or fallen below and another speed range is reached at the same time. If exactly two speed ranges are used, it is possible to switch between these two speed ranges by exceeding or falling below one limit value. In this case, the lower speed range begins at a speed which corresponds to standstill.
  • a rotation speed of the brush can be specified for each speed range in which the brush is guided along the axis of movement, e.g. by the user.
  • the cleaning device is designed to distinguish between at least one slower speed range and at least one faster speed range, the rotation speed of the brush in the faster speed range being greater than the rotation speed of the brush in the slower speed range.
  • this movement can be classified in the faster speed range of the brush along the axis of movement, whereby the speed of rotation of the brush can be increased in order to clean the apparently more soiled area of the surface to be cleaned more strongly than the other areas of the surface to be cleaned.
  • a lower or normal rotation speed of the brush can be used due to normal / lower accelerations or normal / lower frequency of changes in direction, since these accelerations of the brush along the axis of movement are used to assign the movement to the slower speed range being able to lead.
  • the cleaning device is designed to operate the brush in a controlled or regulated manner.
  • a predetermined, but in particular also coating-dependent rotation speed can be set via the brush motor. This can be done easily and comparatively inexpensively with regard to the control technology and sensors required for this.
  • a regulation preferably with a speed sensor for detecting the speed of rotation of the brush, can be used in order to ensure that the predetermined speed of rotation is actually reached by the brush. This can increase the effort and costs, but enable a more precise implementation of the desired speed of rotation on the brush.
  • the cleaning device is a vacuum cleaner, preferably a hand-held vacuum cleaner or a floor vacuum cleaner, or a robot vacuum cleaner.
  • a vacuum cleaner preferably a hand-held vacuum cleaner or a floor vacuum cleaner, or a robot vacuum cleaner.
  • the cleaning device or the vacuum cleaner is designed to be supplied with electrical energy by means of at least one battery, the battery being designed to be rechargeable or an accumulator.
  • the battery being designed to be rechargeable or an accumulator.
  • a power cable-connected operation of the vacuum cleaner can be avoided, which can be perceived by the user as a hindrance due to the restricted mobility of the user.
  • a wired power supply or a hybrid power supply (operation with battery and without cable, operation on the cable with simultaneous charging) can be available.
  • the present invention also relates to a nozzle for use in a cleaning device as described above, the nozzle having at least one opening, the nozzle is designed to be moved with the opening along a movement axis over the surface to be cleaned, and wherein the nozzle has at least one brush, which is arranged and rotatable within the nozzle in such a way that dirt particles from the surface to be cleaned from the brush in the cleaning device can be conveyed in or whirled up in such a way that they can be sucked in by the fan, the nozzle having at least one acceleration sensor which is arranged and designed to detect accelerations of the brush along the axis of movement. In this way, the properties and advantages described above can be made possible by means of such a nozzle in corresponding cleaning devices.
  • the Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a cleaning device 1 according to the invention in the form of a handheld vacuum cleaner 1.
  • the handheld vacuum cleaner 1 has a housing 10 which can be held and guided by a user by means of a handle 11.
  • a fan including a fan drive and at least one filter and an exhaust opening are arranged (not shown).
  • a suction tube 12 is arranged on the housing 10 opposite the handle 11.
  • a nozzle 13 is provided, which can also be referred to as a floor nozzle 13 or a brush head 13.
  • the nozzle 13 has an interior space which is designed to be open at the bottom by means of an opening 15, which can also be referred to as a suction opening 15.
  • a brush 14, which can be driven in rotation by means of a brush motor (not shown), is arranged inside the interior of the nozzle 13.
  • the hand-held vacuum cleaner 1 can be placed by a user on a floor 2 or on a floor covering 2 such as a carpet with the nozzle 13 in order to clean the floor 2 as a surface 2 to be cleaned.
  • the handheld vacuum cleaner 1 is switched on so that the fan is operated by means of the fan motor and the brush 14 is operated by means of the brush motor.
  • an air flow is sucked in by the fan, which is cleaned via the suction opening 15 into the nozzle 13 and from there via the suction pipe 12 to the fan and through at least one filter again into the environment.
  • dirt particles such as dust, crumbs and the like are conveyed from the floor 2 into the air flow by the brush 14, so that the cleaning effect on the floor 2 can be intensified by the brush 14.
  • the handheld vacuum cleaner 1 In order to clean the floor 2 over the entire surface, the handheld vacuum cleaner 1 is usually pushed back and forth by the user again and again, ie in a forward direction along a movement axis A, and pulled back towards him, ie in a backward direction along the movement axis A .
  • the movement axis A is offset or rotated laterally with every movement, so that over time the entire surface 2 to be cleaned can be reached and vacuumed.
  • an acceleration sensor 16 is therefore provided, in this exemplary embodiment on the nozzle 13 (in alternative embodiments on the housing or a device part rigidly connected to the nozzle), which can detect the accelerations that the brush 14 experiences along the axis of movement A.
  • the recorded accelerations can, for example, be evaluated by the control of the handheld vacuum cleaner 1.
  • a distinction can be made between the forward and backward movements of the nozzle 13 or the brush 14 along the axis of movement or in the direction of movement A and these can be recognized.
  • the speed of rotation of the brush 14 can be reduced during one of these two movements along the axis of movement, if the rotation of the brush 14 hinders this movement, and the speed of rotation of the brush 14 can be increased during the other movement, movements along the axis of movement the rotation of the brush 14 favors this movement.
  • a relative speed that is as constant as possible between the brush 14 and the surface 2 to be cleaned can be achieved, whereby energy can be saved, the development of disturbing noises can be reduced or even avoided, and the wear and tear on the brush 14 and the base 2 can be reduced.
  • Both movements along the axis of movement can also be carried out by the user with comparable or at least less strongly different forces, which can be more pleasant for the user.
  • the direction of rotation of the brush can also be changed according to the detected direction of movement of the nozzle.
  • the direction of rotation can be adjusted so that the pushing of the nozzle is supported.
  • a direction of rotation could also be provided which counteracts the sliding, which causes increased brushing of the surface to be cleaned.
  • a user moves the nozzle 13 of the hand-held vacuum cleaner 1 several times and faster or with more frequently changing direction than with the other movements over a more soiled area of the surface 2 to be cleaned in order to clean this area more intensely.
  • this can also be recognized alternatively or additionally by means of the acceleration sensor, in that the accelerations and / or the frequency or frequency of the changes in direction are recorded and compared with a predetermined limit value.
  • the predetermined limit value of the detected accelerations or the frequency of the change of direction is exceeded, it can be concluded from this that the user moves the handheld vacuum cleaner 1 in an intensive cleaning operation over the surface 2 to be cleaned, which also results in comparatively strong accelerations when changing direction between the two Movement directions along the movement axis A can result.
  • This can be interpreted, for example, by the control of the hand-held vacuum cleaner 1 as an intensive cleaning operation, in which the brush 14 can be operated at a faster rotation speed in order to increase the cleaning effect of the brush 14.
  • an "intensive" cleaning operation can be understood as meaning that the user does not move with the cleaning device or at least its nozzle, or at least very little, and thereby drives over a spatially very limited area with frequent changes of direction, the area not being surrounded by walls or furniture must be limited.
  • the efforts of the user to better clean a certain point of the surface 2 to be cleaned can be recognized by the handheld vacuum cleaner 1 and achieved by an increased cleaning performance of the brush 14.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Nozzles For Electric Vacuum Cleaners (AREA)

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft ein Reinigungsgerät gemäß dem Oberbegriff des Patentanspruchs 1.The invention relates to a cleaning device according to the preamble of claim 1.

Aus der Druckschrift DE 103 38 874 A1 Staubsauger mit einem Elektromotor und einem Vorsatzgerät, in dem ein Bewegungssensor angeordnet ist. Der Bewegungssensor ist als ein Beschleunigungen messendes Piezo-Element mit einem frei auf Beschleunigung wirkenden Gewicht ausgebildet und die Empfindlichkeit des Piezo-Elements ist auf die bei einer Hin- und Herbewegung des Staubsaugers bzw. des Vorsatzgerätes während des bestimmungsgemäßen Gebrauchs wirkende Beschleunigung ausgelegt, wobei ein Ausbleiben von einer Beschleunigungsbeaufschlagung über einen vorbestimmten Zeitraum zur Leistungsregulierung des Elektromotors genutzt ist.From the pamphlet DE 103 38 874 A1 Vacuum cleaner with an electric motor and an attachment in which a motion sensor is arranged. The motion sensor is designed as an accelerations measuring piezo element with a freely acting on acceleration weight and the sensitivity of the piezo element is designed for the acceleration acting during a back and forth movement of the vacuum cleaner or the attachment during normal use, whereby a Failure to apply acceleration over a predetermined period of time is used to regulate the power of the electric motor.

Auf dem Gebiet der Haushaltsgeräte sind Reinigungsgeräte zum Reinigen von Flächen bekannt. Dies können insbesondere Staubsauger sein. Die zu reinigende Fläche ist beispielsweise ein Bodenbelag wie z.B. Teppich, Fliesen, Laminat, Parkett und dergleichen, oder auch die Oberfläche von Polstermöbeln, Autopolstern, Tischen, Fensterbänken etc.In the field of household appliances, cleaning devices for cleaning surfaces are known. These can in particular be vacuum cleaners. The surface to be cleaned is, for example, a floor covering such as carpet, tiles, laminate, parquet and the like, or the surface of upholstered furniture, car upholstery, tables, window sills, etc.

Ein Staubsauger ist ein Reinigungsgerät, das mit einem Gebläse ausgerüstet ist, welches einen Unterdruck erzeugen kann. An der Saugseite des Staubsaugers ist eine Düse mit einer Ansaugöffnung vorgesehen, welche vom Benutzer gezielt über die zu reinigende Fläche geführt werden kann. Die Düse kann daher auch als Bodendüse bezeichnet werden. Die vom Gebläse über die Ansaugöffnung angesaugte Luft fließt üblicherweise durch mehrere Filter, welche Bestandteile wie Staub, meist Hausstaub, sowie kleinere Schmutzteilchen aus dem Luftstrom herausfiltern können. Die Luft verlässt den Staubsauger weitaus sauberer, als sie in ihn hineingeströmt ist.A vacuum cleaner is a cleaning device that is equipped with a fan that can generate a negative pressure. On the suction side of the vacuum cleaner, a nozzle with a suction opening is provided, which the user can specifically guide over the surface to be cleaned. The nozzle can therefore also be referred to as a floor nozzle. The air sucked in by the fan via the suction opening usually flows through several filters, which can filter out components such as dust, mostly house dust, as well as small dirt particles from the air flow. The air leaves the vacuum cleaner much cleaner than it entered it.

Um die Reinigungswirkung auf der zu reinigenden Fläche zu verbessern, weist die Düse üblicherweise eine rotierbare Bürste auf, welche Schmutzpartikel von der zu reinigenden Fläche in den Luftstrom hinein aufwirbeln kann. Die Bürste ist innerhalb der Düse angeordnet, weshalb die Düse auch als Bürstenkopf bezeichnet werden kann. Das Gebläse weist einen elektrischen Gebläsemotor und die Bürste einen elektrischen Bürstenmotor auf.In order to improve the cleaning effect on the surface to be cleaned, the nozzle usually has a rotatable brush, which can whirl up dirt particles from the surface to be cleaned into the air flow. The brush is arranged inside the nozzle, which is why the nozzle can also be referred to as a brush head. The fan has an electric fan motor and the brush has an electric brush motor.

Zur Reinigung der Flächen wird die Düse üblicherweise vom Benutzer derart über die zu reinigende Fläche geführt, dass die Düse entlang einer Bewegungsachse vom Benutzer weg, d.h. vorwärts, und wieder zum Benutzer hin, d.h. rückwärts, bewegt wird. Diese abwechselnden Bewegungen in der Vorwärtsrichtung und Rückwärtsrichtung entlang der Bewegungsachse wird vom Benutzer wiederholend ausgeführt, um die Fläche zu reinigen, welche sich in der Reichweite dieser Bewegungen befindet.To clean the surfaces, the user usually guides the nozzle over the surface to be cleaned in such a way that the nozzle moves away from the user along an axis of movement, ie forwards, and again towards the user, ie backwards, is moved. These alternating movements in the forward direction and backward direction along the movement axis are carried out repeatedly by the user in order to clean the surface which is within the range of these movements.

Nachteilig ist hierbei, dass durch dieses Hin und Her der Bewegungsrichtungen, d.h. durch den Wechsel zwischen Vorwärtsbewegung und Rückwärtsbewegung der Düse entlang der Bewegungsachse, starke Schwankungen der Relativgeschwindigkeit zwischen der Bürste und der zu reinigenden Fläche auftreten können, welche zu einem erhöhten Verschleiß sowohl der Bürste als auch der zu reinigenden Fläche führen können. Insbesondere ein Teppich als zu reinigende Fläche kann hierdurch stärker abgenutzt werden. Auch können die starken Schwankungen der Relativgeschwindigkeit zwischen Bürste und zu reinigender Fläche zu einem unnötigen Energieverbrauch führen. Ferner können hierdurch Geräusche entstehen, welche vom Benutzer als unangenehm bis störend empfunden werden können. Üblicherweise werden von Benutzern insbesondere periodische Wechsel in Tonlage und/oder Lautstärke von Geräuschen als unangenehmer empfunden als gleichbleibende Geräusche.The disadvantage here is that due to this back and forth of the directions of movement, ie due to the change between forward movement and backward movement of the nozzle along the movement axis, strong fluctuations in the relative speed between the brushes and the surface to be cleaned can occur, which can lead to increased wear of both the brush and the surface to be cleaned. In particular, a carpet as a surface to be cleaned can be more heavily worn as a result. The strong fluctuations in the relative speed between the brush and the surface to be cleaned can also lead to unnecessary energy consumption. Furthermore, this can cause noises which can be perceived by the user as unpleasant or annoying. Typically, users perceive, in particular, periodic changes in pitch and / or volume of noises to be more unpleasant than constant noises.

Des Weiteren können je nach Bewegungsrichtung der Düse unerwünschte unterschiedlich große Schiebe- und Zugkräfte des Benutzers erforderlich sein, da der Benutzer in einer Bewegungsrichtung die Bürste in ihrer Rotationsrichtung bewegt, in der entgegengesetzten Bewegungsrichtung jedoch gegen die Rotationsrichtung der Bürste anarbeiten muss. Somit wird die Bewegung der Düse in einer Bewegungsrichtung durch die Rotation der Bürste unterstützt und in der entgegengesetzten Richtung behindert. Dies kann der Benutzer dadurch spüren, wieviel Kraft er für diese Bewegung aufbringen muss.Furthermore, depending on the direction of movement of the nozzle, undesired pushing and pulling forces of different magnitudes of the user may be required, since the user moves the brush in its direction of rotation in one direction of movement, but has to work against the direction of rotation of the brush in the opposite direction of movement. Thus, the movement of the nozzle in one direction of movement is supported by the rotation of the brush and is hindered in the opposite direction. The user can feel this by how much force he has to apply for this movement.

Es kann auch der Fall eintreten, dass eine Stelle der zu reinigenden Fläche stärker verschmutzt ist als der übrige Bereich. Um diese Stelle entsprechend stärker zu reinigen, d.h. um die Reinigungswirkung zu erhöhen, kann der Benutzer die Düse mit der Bürste häufiger über diese Stelle führen als über den übrigen Bereich. Auch kann diese Bewegung vom Benutzer schneller und/oder mit einer höheren Frequenz der Richtungswechsel ("Schrubben") ausgeführt werden.It can also happen that one part of the surface to be cleaned is more soiled than the rest of the area. In order to clean this point more intensely, i.e. to increase the cleaning effect, the user can move the nozzle with the brush over this point more often than over the rest of the area. This movement can also be carried out by the user faster and / or with a higher frequency of direction changes ("scrubbing").

Der Erfindung stellt sich somit das Problem, ein Reinigungsgerät mit einem höheren Bedienkomfort für den Benutzer als bisher bekannt bereitzustellen. Vorzugsweise soll das Reinigungsgerät zumindest einige, vorzugsweise alle, der eingangs beschriebenen Nachteile teilweise oder vorzugsweise vollständig überwinden. Insbesondere soll ein Reinigungsgerät bereitgestellt werden, welches sich auf die eingangs beschriebenen Hin-und-her-Bewegungen und bzw. oder auf schnellere Bewegungen zur Reinigung einer stärker verschmutzen Stelle der zu reinigenden Fläche selbsttätig einstellen kann. Dies soll vorzugsweise möglichst einfach und bzw. oder kostengünstig ermöglicht werden. Zumindest soll eine Alternative zu bekannten derartigen Reinigungsgeräten geschaffen werden. Mit dem erfindungsgemäßen Reinigungsgerät kann auch eine zu reinigende Fläche besser geschont werden.The invention thus poses the problem of providing a cleaning device with greater ease of use for the user than previously known. The cleaning device should preferably partially or preferably completely overcome at least some, preferably all, of the disadvantages described at the beginning. In particular, a cleaning device is to be provided which can automatically adjust to the to-and-fro movements described at the beginning and / or to faster movements for cleaning a more heavily soiled point on the surface to be cleaned. This should preferably be made possible as simply and / or inexpensively as possible. At least an alternative to known cleaning devices of this type is to be created. With the cleaning device according to the invention, a surface to be cleaned can also be better protected.

Erfindungsgemäß wird dieses Problem durch ein Reinigungsgerät mit den Merkmalen des Patentanspruchs 1 sowie durch eine Düse mit den Merkmalen des Patentanspruchs 11 gelöst. Vorteilhafte Ausgestaltungen und Weiterbildungen der Erfindung ergeben sich aus den nachfolgenden Unteransprüchen.According to the invention, this problem is solved by a cleaning device with the features of claim 1 and by a nozzle with the features of claim 11. Advantageous refinements and developments of the invention emerge from the following subclaims.

Somit betrifft die vorliegende Erfindung ein Reinigungsgerät zum Reinigen von Flächen. Derartige Flächen können insbesondere Böden bzw. Bodenbeläge wie z.B. Teppiche, Fliesen, Laminat, Parkett, aber auch andere Flächen wie Oberflächen von Polstermöbeln/Autopolstern, Tischen, Fensterbänken und dergleichen sein. Das Reinigen kann z.B. durch Kehren und/oder Saugen erfolgen. Je nachdem kann das Reinigungsgerät als Kehrgerät oder als Staubsauger bezeichnet werden. Das Reinigungsgerät kann von einem Benutzer mit wenigstens einer Hand über die zu reinigende Fläche geführt werden. Alternativ kann das Reinigungsgerät auch angetrieben über die zu reinigende Fläche geführt werden bzw. sich z.B. als Robotsauger selbsttätig über die zu reinigende Fläche bewegen.The present invention thus relates to a cleaning device for cleaning surfaces. Such surfaces can in particular be floors or floor coverings such as carpets, tiles, laminate, parquet, but also other surfaces such as surfaces of upholstered furniture / car upholstery, tables, window sills and the like. Cleaning can be done, for example, by sweeping and / or vacuuming. Depending on the case, the cleaning device can be called a sweeper or a vacuum cleaner. The cleaning device can be guided over the surface to be cleaned by a user with at least one hand. Alternatively, the cleaning device can also be driven over the surface to be cleaned or, e.g. as a robot vacuum, move automatically over the surface to be cleaned.

Das Reinigungsgerät weist wenigstens eine Düse mit wenigstens einer Öffnung auf. Unter einer Düse wird eine Bodendüse wie eingangs beschrieben verstanden, welche auch als Bürstenkopf bezeichnet werden kann. Die Düse ist ausgebildet, mit der Öffnung entlang einer Bewegungsachse über die zu reinigende Fläche bewegt zu werden. Ist das Reinigungsgerät als Staubsauger ausgebildet, so kann die Öffnung als Ansaugöffnung bezeichnet werden. Im Falle eines Kehrgeräts soll der Einfachheit halber ebenfalls die Begriffe Bodendüse oder Bürstenkopf verwendet werden.The cleaning device has at least one nozzle with at least one opening. A nozzle is understood to be a floor nozzle as described above, which can also be referred to as a brush head. The nozzle is designed to be moved with the opening along a movement axis over the surface to be cleaned. If the cleaning device is designed as a vacuum cleaner, the opening can be referred to as a suction opening. In the case of a sweeper, the terms floor nozzle or brush head should also be used for the sake of simplicity.

Die Bewegungsachse bzw. der Bewegungspfad stellt dabei eine Linie dar, entlang der eine Bewegung der Düse über die zu reinigende Fläche erfolgen kann. Diese Linie kann vorzugsweise im Wesentlichen geradlinig jedoch auch zumindest abschnittsweise gebogen bzw. gekrümmt sein. Entlang dieser Bewegungsachse kann die Düse zur Reinigung der Fläche geführt werden bzw. sich selbsttätig bewegen. Die Bewegung der Düse entlang der Bewegungsachse kann dabei vorzugsweise abwechselnd in der einen Richtung entlang der Bewegungsachse und in der entgegengesetzten Richtung entlang der Bewegungsachse erfolgen. Wird das Reinigungsgerät von einer Person als Benutzer mit der Hand geführt, so kann dies zu einer Bewegung entlang der Bewegungsachse von dem Benutzer wegführen, welche als Vorwärtsbewegung bezeichnet werden kann, sowie zu einer Bewegung entlang der Bewegungsachse zum Benutzer hin, welche als Rückwärtsbewegung bezeichnet werden kann. Dabei kann die Bewegungsachse nach jeder Vorwärts- und Rückwärtsbewegung soweit im Wesentlichen zur Seite versetzt werden, so dass mit jeder Bewegung entlang der Bewegungsachse ein neuer Bereich der zu reinigenden Fläche mit der Düse erreicht und gereinigt werden kann. Das kann auch ein im Wesentlichen zickzackartiges Bewegungsmuster sein.The movement axis or the movement path represents a line along which the nozzle can move over the surface to be cleaned. This line can preferably be essentially straight, but can also be bent or curved at least in sections. The nozzle for cleaning the surface can be guided along this axis of movement or can move automatically. The movement of the nozzle along the movement axis can preferably take place alternately in one direction along the movement axis and in the opposite direction along the movement axis. If the cleaning device is guided by a person as the user by hand, this can lead to a movement along the movement axis away from the user, which can be referred to as a forward movement, and to a movement along the movement axis towards the user, which is referred to as a backward movement can. After each forward and backward movement, the movement axis can essentially be shifted to the side so that with every movement along the movement axis, a new area of the surface to be cleaned can be reached and cleaned with the nozzle. This can also be an essentially zigzag movement pattern.

Das Reinigungsgerät weist wenigstens eine Bürste auf, welche innerhalb der Düse derart angeordnet und rotierbar ausgebildet ist, so dass Schmutzpartikel von der zu reinigenden Fläche von der Bürste in das Reinigungsgerät hineingefördert werden können. Diese Bestandteile können jegliche Körper sein, welche durch Reinigen von der Fläche entfernt werden sollen und geeignet sind, von der Bürste in das Reinigungsgerät hineingefördert zu werden.The cleaning device has at least one brush which is arranged and rotatable inside the nozzle in such a way that dirt particles from the surface to be cleaned can be conveyed into the cleaning device by the brush. These components can be any body which is to be removed from the surface by cleaning and which are suitable for being conveyed into the cleaning device by the brush.

Diese Bestandteile können insbesondere Staub, ganz besonders Hausstaub, sowie kleinere Schmutzteilchen sein. Das Rotieren der Bürste kann mittels eines Motors, insbesondere mittels eines elektrischen Motors, erfolgen, welcher als Bürstenmotor an der Düse angeordnet sein kann.These components can in particular be dust, especially house dust, as well as smaller dirt particles. The brush can be rotated by means of a motor, in particular by means of an electric motor, which can be arranged as a brush motor on the nozzle.

Im Kontext dieser Anmeldung ist unter "Hineinfördern" sowohl ein direktes Fördern in eine Öffnung als auch das Aufwirbeln in den Luftstrom und anschließende Einsaugen in die Öffnung zu verstehen.In the context of this application, “conveying into” is to be understood as meaning both direct conveying into an opening and swirling into the air stream and subsequent suction into the opening.

Das erfindungsgemäße Reinigungsgerät ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es wenigstens einen Beschleunigungssensor aufweist, welcher angeordnet und ausgebildet ist, Beschleunigungen der Bürste entlang der Bewegungsachse zu erfassen. Als Beschleunigungssensoren können hierzu jegliche Sensorarten verwendet werden, welche die Beschleunigung erfassen können. Beispielsweise können piezoelektrische Beschleunigungssensoren oder mikroelektro-mechanische Systeme (MEMS) verwendet werden.The cleaning device according to the invention is characterized in that it has at least one acceleration sensor which is arranged and designed to detect accelerations of the brush along the axis of movement. Any types of sensor that can detect the acceleration can be used as acceleration sensors for this purpose. For example, piezoelectric acceleration sensors or microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) can be used.

Der vorliegenden Erfindung liegt dabei die Erkenntnis zugrunde, dass durch den Betrieb der Bürste mit konstanter Geschwindigkeit und Rotationsrichtung für die zu reinigende Fläche die eingangs beschriebenen Nachteile hervorgerufen werden können. Daher werden erfindungsgemäß die Beschleunigungen der Bürste entlang der Bewegungsachse sensorisch erfasst, um basierend auf diesen zusätzlichen Informationen die eingangs beschriebenen Nachteile reduzieren oder sogar vollständig überwinden zu können, wie im Folgenden näher beschrieben werden wird.The present invention is based on the knowledge that operating the brush at a constant speed and direction of rotation can cause the disadvantages described at the beginning for the surface to be cleaned. Therefore, according to the invention, the accelerations of the brush along the movement axis are detected by sensors in order to be able to reduce or even completely overcome the disadvantages described at the beginning based on this additional information, as will be described in more detail below.

Dabei kann der Beschleunigungssensor an einer beliebigen Stelle des Reinigungsgeräts angeordnet sein, sofern die dort erfassten Beschleunigungen einen Rückschluss auf die Beschleunigung der Bürste entlang der Bewegungsachse zulassen. Vorzugsweise ist der Beschleunigungssensor an einer Stelle des Reinigungsgeräts angeordnet, welche möglichst starr mit der Bürste verbunden ist, so dass der Beschleunigungssensor direkt mit der Bürste mitbewegt werden kann. Dies kann den Rückschluss aus der Beschleunigung an der Stelle des Beschleunigungssensors auf die Beschleunigung der Bürste entlang der Bewegungsachse vereinfachen. Aus diesem Grund kann es bevorzugt sein, wenn die Messachse des Beschleunigungssensors möglichst genau mit der (üblichen) Bewegungsachse der Düse zusammenfällt, es ist allerdings nicht zwingend erforderlich.The acceleration sensor can be arranged at any point on the cleaning device, provided that the accelerations detected there allow a conclusion to be drawn about the acceleration of the brush along the axis of movement. The acceleration sensor is preferably arranged at a point on the cleaning device which is connected to the brush as rigidly as possible, so that the acceleration sensor can be moved directly with the brush. This can simplify the inference from the acceleration at the location of the acceleration sensor on the acceleration of the brush along the axis of movement. For this reason, it can be preferred if the measurement axis of the acceleration sensor coincides as precisely as possible with the (usual) movement axis of the nozzle, but it is not absolutely necessary.

Es können auch mehrere Beschleunigungssensoren verwendet werden. Dies kann dahingehend vorteilhaft sein, um bei einem Ausfall eines Sensors die erfindungsgemäßen Vorteile weiterhin bereitstellen zu können, wenn ggfs. auch mit reduzierter Genauigkeit und Qualität. Auch können mehrere kostengünstigere Sensoren verwendet und deren Messwerte zu einem Beschleunigungswert verrechnet werden, was ausreichend genau aber kostengünstiger sein kann, als einen einzigen hochwertigeren aber teureren Beschleunigungssensor zu verwenden.Multiple acceleration sensors can also be used. This can be advantageous in order to be able to continue to provide the advantages according to the invention in the event of a failure of a sensor, if possibly also with reduced accuracy and quality. Several more economical sensors can also be used and their measured values can be calculated to form an acceleration value, which is sufficiently accurate but less expensive can be used as a single higher quality but more expensive accelerometer.

In einer Ausführungsform weist das Reinigungsgerät zwei oder mehr Bürsten auf. Diese Bürsten können optional getrennt voneinander in Abhängigkeit von der jeweiligen Beschleunigung hinsichtlich der Rotations-Geschwindigkeit geregelt werden. Damit kann beispielsweise eine Bewegung der Düse entlang eines gekrümmten Pfades bzw. einer Kurve unterstützt werden. Die kurveninnere Bürste kann bei einer solchen Bewegung eine geringere Rotationsgeschwindigkeit erhalten als die kurvenäußere, um dem Benutzer die Kurvenfahrt zu erleichtern bzw. die Widerstände gegenüber einer Drehung um die Hochachse der Düse zu verringern. Die bereits beschriebenen Vorteile einer angepassten Relativgeschwindigkeit (Stromverbrauch, Oberflächenschonung, Bürstenverschleiß etc.) können hiermit auch für den komplexeren Fall einer Kurvenfahrt der Düse realisiert werden. Es kann dafür erforderlich sein, pro regelbarer Bürste einen Sensor zu verwenden, der die jeweilige lokale Beschleunigung messen kann.In one embodiment, the cleaning device has two or more brushes. These brushes can optionally be regulated separately from one another depending on the respective acceleration with regard to the rotational speed. In this way, for example, a movement of the nozzle along a curved path or a curve can be supported. With such a movement, the brush on the inside of the curve can be given a lower speed of rotation than the one on the outside of the curve, in order to make cornering easier for the user or to reduce the resistance to rotation about the vertical axis of the nozzle. The already described advantages of an adapted relative speed (power consumption, surface protection, brush wear, etc.) can hereby also be realized for the more complex case of cornering the nozzle. It may be necessary to use a sensor for each controllable brush that can measure the respective local acceleration.

Gemäß einem Aspekt der vorliegenden Erfindung ist der Beschleunigungssensor an der Düse angeordnet. Hierdurch können die Beschleunigungen der Bürste entlang der Bewegungsachse möglichst nah an der Bürste erfasst werden. Ferner ist die Bürste starr und feststehend relativ zur Düse angeordnet, so dass die erfassten Beschleunigungen der Düse als repräsentativ für die Beschleunigungen der Bürste entlang der Bewegungsachse angesehen werden können. Auch können hierdurch Umrechnungen zwischen den erfassten Beschleunigungen in die Beschleunigungen der Bürste entlang der Bewegungsachse vermieden oder zumindest gering und bzw. oder einfach gehalten werden. Dies alles kann die Qualität der Erfassung der Beschleunigungen der Bürste entlang der Bewegungsachse verbessern und bzw. oder das Erfassen der Beschleunigungen der Bürste entlang der Bewegungsachse vereinfachen und bzw. oder kostengünstiger ermöglichen.According to one aspect of the present invention, the acceleration sensor is arranged on the nozzle. In this way, the accelerations of the brush along the axis of movement can be recorded as close as possible to the brush. Furthermore, the brush is arranged in a rigid and stationary manner relative to the nozzle, so that the detected accelerations of the nozzle can be viewed as representative of the accelerations of the brush along the axis of movement. In this way, conversions between the detected accelerations into the accelerations of the brush along the axis of movement can be avoided or at least kept low and / or simple. All of this can improve the quality of the detection of the accelerations of the brush along the axis of movement and / or simplify the detection of the accelerations of the brush along the axis of movement and / or enable it to be more cost-effective.

Gemäß einem weiteren Aspekt der vorliegenden Erfindung ist das Reinigungsgerät ausgebildet, die Bürste mit einer Rotationsgeschwindigkeit und/oder Rotationsrichtung in Abhängigkeit der erfassten Beschleunigungen der Bürste zu betreiben. Hierdurch kann die Rotationsgeschwindigkeit und damit auch die Förderleistung der Bürste an die Art und Weise angepasst werden, mit der sich die Düse über die zu reinigende Fläche bewegt. Mit anderen Worten kann die Art und Weise der Bewegung der Düse über die zu reinigende Fläche aus den Beschleunigungen der Düse entlang der Bewegungsachse erkannt und die Rotationsgeschwindigkeit und/oder -Richtung der Bürste entsprechend angepasst werden. Die Art und Weise der Bewegung der Düse über die zu reinigende Fläche kann somit als Information zur Beeinflussung der Rotationsgeschwindigkeit der Bürste angesehen werden. Daher kann z.B. (je nach Art der Messung und verwendetem Sensor) aus der skalaren Beschleunigung bzw. der Richtung des Beschleunigungs-Vektors der Düse auf die Richtung der Bewegung entlang der Bewegungsachse geschlossen und die Rotationsgeschwindigkeit der Bürste an die Bewegungsrichtung angepasst werden, wie im Folgenden näher beschrieben werden wird. Ebenso kann z.B. durch eine stärkere Beschleunigung der Düse bzw. eine höhere Frequenz von Richtungsänderungen durch den Benutzer die Rotationsgeschwindigkeit der Bürste und damit die Reinigungsleistung erhöht werden, wie weiter unten näher beschrieben werden wird.According to a further aspect of the present invention, the cleaning device is designed to operate the brush with a speed of rotation and / or direction of rotation as a function of the detected accelerations of the brush. In this way, the speed of rotation and thus also the conveying capacity of the brush can be adapted to the manner in which the nozzle moves over the surface to be cleaned. In other words, the manner in which the nozzle moves over the surface to be cleaned can be recognized from the accelerations of the nozzle along the axis of movement and the speed and / or direction of rotation of the brush can be adjusted accordingly. The manner in which the nozzle moves over the surface to be cleaned can thus be viewed as information for influencing the speed of rotation of the brush. Therefore, for example (depending on the type of measurement and the sensor used), the scalar acceleration or the direction of the acceleration vector of the nozzle can be deduced from the direction of movement along the axis of movement and the speed of rotation of the brush can be adapted to the direction of movement, as will be described in more detail below. Likewise, the speed of rotation of the brush and thus the cleaning performance can be increased, for example, through greater acceleration of the nozzle or a higher frequency of changes in direction by the user, as will be described in more detail below.

Im Kontext dieser Anmeldung wird unter einem "skalaren Sensor" einer verstanden, der nur in einer Richtung eine Beschleunigung messen kann und nur einen skalaren Beschleunigungswert in dieser Richtung ausgibt. Im Kontext dieser Anmeldung wird unter einem "vektoriellen Sensor" einer verstanden, der in mehr als einer Richtung, bevorzugt in allen 3 Raumrichtungen, eine Beschleunigung messen kann und die Beschleunigung als Vektor ausgibt.In the context of this application, a “scalar sensor” is understood to mean one which can only measure an acceleration in one direction and only outputs a scalar acceleration value in this direction. In the context of this application, a “vectorial sensor” is understood to mean one which can measure an acceleration in more than one direction, preferably in all 3 spatial directions, and outputs the acceleration as a vector.

Gemäß einem weiteren Aspekt der vorliegenden Erfindung ist das Reinigungsgerät ausgebildet, mittels der erfassten Beschleunigungen der Bürste zwischen zwei Richtungen der Bewegung der Bürste entlang der Bewegungsachse zu unterscheiden, wobei das Reinigungsgerät ferner ausgebildet ist, die Bürste mit einer Rotationsgeschwindigkeit in Abhängigkeit der Richtung ihrer Bewegung entlang der Bewegungsachse zu betreiben. Zwischen den beiden Richtungen der Bürste entlang der Bewegungsachse kann aufgrund der skalaren oder vektoriellen Beschleunigungen unterschieden werden. Hierdurch kann eine Vorwärtsbewegung entlang der Bewegungsachse von einer Rückwärtsbewegung entlang der Bewegungsachse unterschieden und die Rotationsgeschwindigkeit der Bürste hieran angepasst werden.According to a further aspect of the present invention, the cleaning device is designed to use the detected accelerations of the brush to differentiate between two directions of movement of the brush along the axis of movement, the cleaning device further being designed to rotate the brush at a speed depending on the direction of its movement to operate the axis of motion. A distinction can be made between the two directions of the brush along the axis of movement on the basis of the scalar or vectorial accelerations. In this way, a forward movement along the axis of movement can be distinguished from a backward movement along the axis of movement and the speed of rotation of the brush can be adapted to this.

Gemäß einem weiteren Aspekt der vorliegenden Erfindung ist das Reinigungsgerät ausgebildet, die Bürste mit einer Rotationsgeschwindigkeit in Abhängigkeit der Richtung ihrer Bewegung derart zu betreiben, so dass eine gleichbleibende oder zumindest weniger stark richtungsabhängige Relativgeschwindigkeit zwischen der Bürste und der zu reinigenden Fläche erreicht werden kann. Je nach Rotationsrichtung der Bürste kann in der einen Bewegungsrichtung, welche der Rotation der Bürste entgegenwirkt, die Rotationsgeschwindigkeit der Bürste verringert, und in der entgegengesetzten Bewegungsrichtung, welche die Rotation der Bürste begünstigt, die Rotationsgeschwindigkeit erhöht werden. Die Erhöhung bzw. Reduzierung der Rotationsgeschwindigkeit der Bürste kann dabei derart erfolgen, dass hieraus eine gleichbleibende oder zumindest weniger stark richtungsabhängige Relativgeschwindigkeit zwischen der Bürste und der zu reinigenden Fläche resultiert.According to a further aspect of the present invention, the cleaning device is designed to operate the brush at a speed of rotation depending on the direction of its movement, so that a constant or at least less direction-dependent relative speed can be achieved between the brush and the surface to be cleaned. Depending on the direction of rotation of the brush, the speed of rotation of the brush can be reduced in one direction of movement, which counteracts the rotation of the brush, and the speed of rotation can be increased in the opposite direction of movement, which favors the rotation of the brush. The speed of rotation of the brush can be increased or decreased in such a way that this results in a constant or at least less direction-dependent relative speed between the brush and the surface to be cleaned.

Dies wird in der Regel schonender für die Bürste sowie für die zu reinigende Fläche sein, so dass der Verschleiß der Bürste sowie des Bodens reduziert werden kann. Auch kann hierdurch der Energieverbrauch reduziert werden, welcher durch den Betrieb der Bürste entstehen kann. Ebenso kann die stark schwankende, da richtungsabhängige Geräuschkulisse verringert werden, welche bisher auftreten kann, wie eingangs beschrieben, was für den Benutzer störend sein kann. Ferner kann das Führen des Reinigungsgeräts für den Benutzer einfacher, d.h. mit gleichbleibendem oder zumindest weniger stark variierendem Kraftaufwand erfolgen, da der Benutzer nicht mehr im gleichen Maße wie bisher gegen die Rotation der Bürste anarbeiten muss. Vielmehr kann das Reinigungsgerät in diesem Fall in beiden Richtungen entlang der Bewegungsachse mit vergleichbaren oder zumindest weniger stark unterschiedlichen Schub- und Zugkräften geführt werden.As a rule, this will be gentler on the brush and on the surface to be cleaned, so that wear on the brush and the floor can be reduced. This can also reduce the energy consumption caused by the operation of the brush can. Likewise, the strongly fluctuating, direction-dependent background noise can be reduced, which can previously occur, as described above, which can be annoying for the user. Furthermore, guiding the cleaning device can be done more easily for the user, that is to say with constant or at least less strongly varying expenditure of force, since the user no longer has to work against the rotation of the brush to the same extent as before. Rather, in this case the cleaning device can be guided in both directions along the axis of movement with comparable or at least less markedly different thrust and tensile forces.

Gemäß einem weiteren Aspekt der vorliegenden Erfindung ist das Reinigungsgerät ausgebildet, mittels der erfassten Beschleunigungen der Bürste zwischen wenigstens zwei Geschwindigkeitsbereichen der Bewegung der Bürste entlang der Bewegungsachse zu unterscheiden, wobei das Reinigungsgerät ferner ausgebildet ist, die Bürste mit einer Rotations-geschwindigkeit in Abhängigkeit des erkannten Geschwindigkeitsbereichs ihrer Bewegung entlang der Bewegungsachse zu betreiben. Die Geschwindigkeitsbereiche können dabei mittels eines vorbestimmten Grenzwertes der Beschleunigung der Bürste entlang der Bewegungsachse voneinander unterschieden werden, bei dessen Über- bzw. Unterschreiten ein Geschwindigkeitsbereich verlassen und gleichzeitig ein anderer Geschwindigkeitsbereich erreicht wird. Werden genau zwei Geschwindigkeitsbereiche verwendet, so kann durch Über- bzw. Unterschreiten des einen Grenzwertes zwischen diesen beiden Geschwindigkeitsbereichen gewechselt werden. Der untere Geschwindigkeitsbereich beginnt in diesem Fall bei einer Geschwindigkeit, welche dem Stillstand entspricht. In jedem Fall kann für jeden Geschwindigkeitsbereich, in welchem die Bürste entlang der Bewegungsachse z.B. vom Benutzer geführt wird, eine Rotationsgeschwindigkeit der Bürste vorgegeben werden.According to a further aspect of the present invention, the cleaning device is designed to use the detected accelerations of the brush to differentiate between at least two speed ranges of the movement of the brush along the axis of movement, the cleaning device also being designed to operate the brush at a rotational speed as a function of the detected speed Operate speed range of their movement along the axis of movement. The speed ranges can be differentiated from one another by means of a predetermined limit value of the acceleration of the brush along the axis of movement, which leaves a speed range when it is exceeded or fallen below and another speed range is reached at the same time. If exactly two speed ranges are used, it is possible to switch between these two speed ranges by exceeding or falling below one limit value. In this case, the lower speed range begins at a speed which corresponds to standstill. In any case, a rotation speed of the brush can be specified for each speed range in which the brush is guided along the axis of movement, e.g. by the user.

Gemäß einem weiteren Aspekt der vorliegenden Erfindung ist das Reinigungsgerät ausgebildet, zwischen mindestens einem langsameren Geschwindigkeitsbereich und mindestens einem schnelleren Geschwindigkeitsbereich zu unterscheiden, wobei die Rotationsgeschwindigkeit der Bürste im schnelleren Geschwindigkeitsbereich größer als die Rotationsgeschwindigkeit der Bürste im langsameren Geschwindigkeitsbereich ist. Auf diese Art und Weise kann beispielsweise erkannt werden, wenn ein Benutzer das Reinigungsgerät an einer besonders stark verschmutzten Stelle der zu reinigenden Fläche vergleichsweise schnell entlang der Bewegungsachse hin und her bewegt, um diese Stelle stärker zu reinigen, ohne an dieser Stelle länger zu verbleiben. Hierdurch kann es zu besonders starken Beschleunigungen der Bürste entlang der Bewegungsachse durch die jeweilige Umkehr der Bewegungsrichtung kommen und/oder einer höheren Frequenz der Richtungsänderungen, welche mittels des Beschleunigungssensors erkannt werden können. Aufgrund der besonders starken Beschleunigungen oder der höheren Frequenz der Richtungsänderungen kann diese Bewegung in den schnelleren Geschwindigkeitsbereich der Bürste entlang der Bewegungsachse eingeordnet werden, wodurch die Rotationsgeschwindigkeit der Bürste erhöht werden kann, um die scheinbar stärker verschmutzte Stelle der zu reinigenden Fläche stärker durch die Bürste zu reinigen als die übrigen Bereiche der zu reinigenden Fläche. Bei diesem übrigen Bereich der zu reinigenden Fläche kann aufgrund normaler/geringerer Beschleunigungen bzw. normaler/geringerer Häufigkeit der Richtungsänderungen eine geringere bzw. normale Rotationsgeschwindigkeit der Bürste genutzt werden, da diese Beschleunigungen der Bürste entlang der Bewegungsachse zu einer Zuordnung der Bewegung in den langsameren Geschwindigkeitsbereich führen können.According to a further aspect of the present invention, the cleaning device is designed to distinguish between at least one slower speed range and at least one faster speed range, the rotation speed of the brush in the faster speed range being greater than the rotation speed of the brush in the slower speed range. In this way, it can be recognized, for example, when a user moves the cleaning device back and forth comparatively quickly along the axis of movement at a particularly heavily soiled point on the surface to be cleaned in order to clean this point more intensely without staying longer at this point. This can lead to particularly strong accelerations of the brush along the axis of movement due to the respective reversal of the direction of movement and / or a higher frequency of the changes in direction, which can be detected by means of the acceleration sensor. Due to the particularly strong accelerations or the higher frequency of the changes in direction, this movement can be classified in the faster speed range of the brush along the axis of movement, whereby the speed of rotation of the brush can be increased in order to clean the apparently more soiled area of the surface to be cleaned more strongly than the other areas of the surface to be cleaned. In this remaining area of the surface to be cleaned, a lower or normal rotation speed of the brush can be used due to normal / lower accelerations or normal / lower frequency of changes in direction, since these accelerations of the brush along the axis of movement are used to assign the movement to the slower speed range being able to lead.

Gemäß einem weiteren Aspekt der vorliegenden Erfindung ist das Reinigungsgerät ausgebildet, die Bürste gesteuert oder geregelt zu betreiben. Mittels eines gesteuerten Betriebs der Bürste kann eine vorbestimmte, insbesondere aber auch belagsabhängige Rotationsgeschwindigkeit über den Bürstenmotor eingestellt werden. Dies kann einfach und vergleichsweise kostengünstig hinsichtlich der hierzu erforderlichen Steuerungstechnik und Sensorik erfolgen. Alternativ kann eine Regelung, vorzugsweise mit einem Geschwindigkeitssensor zur Erfassung der Rotationsgeschwindigkeit der Bürste, verwendet werden, um sicherzustellen, dass die vorbestimmte Rotationsgeschwindigkeit auch tatsächlich von der Bürste erreicht wird. Dies kann den Aufwand und die Kosten erhöhen, jedoch eine genauere Umsetzung der gewünschten Rotationsgeschwindigkeit an der Bürste ermöglichen.According to a further aspect of the present invention, the cleaning device is designed to operate the brush in a controlled or regulated manner. By means of a controlled operation of the brush, a predetermined, but in particular also coating-dependent rotation speed can be set via the brush motor. This can be done easily and comparatively inexpensively with regard to the control technology and sensors required for this. Alternatively, a regulation, preferably with a speed sensor for detecting the speed of rotation of the brush, can be used in order to ensure that the predetermined speed of rotation is actually reached by the brush. This can increase the effort and costs, but enable a more precise implementation of the desired speed of rotation on the brush.

Gemäß einem weiteren Aspekt der vorliegenden Erfindung ist das Reinigungsgerät ein Staubsauger, vorzugsweise ein Handsauger oder ein Bodensauger, oder ein Robotsauger. Auf diese Art und Weise können die zuvor beschriebenen Eigenschaften und Vorteile bei einem Staubsauger umgesetzt und genutzt werden. Da Staubsauger weit verbreitet sind, können die zuvor beschriebenen Eigenschaften und Vorteile bei entsprechend vielen Reinigungsgeräten realisiert werden und somit möglichst vielen Benutzer zugutekommen.According to a further aspect of the present invention, the cleaning device is a vacuum cleaner, preferably a hand-held vacuum cleaner or a floor vacuum cleaner, or a robot vacuum cleaner. In this way, the properties and advantages described above can be implemented and used in a vacuum cleaner. Since vacuum cleaners are widespread, the properties and advantages described above can be realized with a correspondingly large number of cleaning devices and thus benefit as many users as possible.

Gemäß einem weiteren Aspekt der vorliegenden Erfindung ist das Reinigungsgerät bzw. der Staubsauger ausgebildet, mittels wenigstens einer Batterie mit elektrischer Energie versorgt zu werden, wobei die Batterie wiederaufladbar ausgebildet bzw. ein Akkumulator ist. Hierdurch kann ein stromkabelgebundener Betrieb des Staubsaugers vermieden werden, was aufgrund der eingeschränkten Bewegungsmöglichkeiten des Benutzers von diesem als hinderlich empfunden werden kann. Alternativ kann auch eine kabelgebundene Stromversorgung oder eine hybride Stromversorgung (Betrieb mit Akku und ohne Kabel, Betrieb am Kabel mit gleichzeitigem Aufladen) vorhanden sein.According to a further aspect of the present invention, the cleaning device or the vacuum cleaner is designed to be supplied with electrical energy by means of at least one battery, the battery being designed to be rechargeable or an accumulator. In this way, a power cable-connected operation of the vacuum cleaner can be avoided, which can be perceived by the user as a hindrance due to the restricted mobility of the user. Alternatively, a wired power supply or a hybrid power supply (operation with battery and without cable, operation on the cable with simultaneous charging) can be available.

Die vorliegende Erfindung betrifft auch eine Düse zur Verwendung bei einem Reinigungsgerät wie zuvor beschrieben, wobei die Düse wenigstens eine Öffnung aufweist, wobei die Düse ausgebildet ist, mit der Öffnung entlang einer Bewegungsachse über die zu reinigende Fläche bewegt zu werden, und wobei die Düse wenigstens eine Bürste aufweist, welche innerhalb der Düse derart angeordnet und rotierbar ausgebildet ist, so dass Schmutzpartikel von der zu reinigenden Fläche von der Bürste in das Reinigungsgerät hineingefördert bzw. derart aufgewirbelt werden können, dass sie von dem Gebläse angesaugt werden können, wobei die Düse wenigstens einen Beschleunigungssensor aufweist, welcher angeordnet und ausgebildet ist, Beschleunigungen der Bürste entlang der Bewegungsachse zu erfassen. Auf diese Art und Weise können die zuvor beschriebenen Eigenschaften und Vorteile mittels einer derartigen Düse bei entsprechenden Reinigungsgeräten ermöglicht werden.The present invention also relates to a nozzle for use in a cleaning device as described above, the nozzle having at least one opening, the nozzle is designed to be moved with the opening along a movement axis over the surface to be cleaned, and wherein the nozzle has at least one brush, which is arranged and rotatable within the nozzle in such a way that dirt particles from the surface to be cleaned from the brush in the cleaning device can be conveyed in or whirled up in such a way that they can be sucked in by the fan, the nozzle having at least one acceleration sensor which is arranged and designed to detect accelerations of the brush along the axis of movement. In this way, the properties and advantages described above can be made possible by means of such a nozzle in corresponding cleaning devices.

Ein Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung ist in der Zeichnung rein schematisch dargestellt und wird nachfolgend näher beschrieben. Es zeigt

Figur 1
eine schematische Seitenansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Reinigungsgeräts in Form eines Handstaubsaugers.
An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically in the drawing and is described in more detail below. It shows
Figure 1
a schematic side view of a cleaning device according to the invention in the form of a handheld vacuum cleaner.

Die Figur 1 zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Reinigungsgeräts 1 in Form eines Handstaubsaugers 1. Der Handstaubsauger 1 weist ein Gehäuse 10 auf, welches mittels eines Griffs 11 von einem Benutzer gehalten und geführt werden kann. In dem Gehäuse 10 ist ein Gebläse samt Gebläseantrieb sowie mindestens ein Filter und eine Ausblasöffnung angeordnet (nicht dargestellt). Dem Griff 11 gegenüberliegend ist ein Saugrohr 12 an dem Gehäuse 10 angeordnet. An dem gegenüberliegenden Ende des Saugrohrs 12 ist eine Düse 13 vorgesehen, welche auch als Bodendüse 13 oder als Bürstenkopf 13 bezeichnet werden kann. Die Düse 13 weist einen Innenraum auf, welcher nach unten hin mittels einer Öffnung 15 offen ausgebildet ist, welche auch als Ansaugöffnung 15 bezeichnet werden kann. Innerhalb des Innenraums der Düse 13 ist eine Bürste 14 angeordnet, welche mittels eines Bürstenmotors (nicht dargestellt) rotatorisch angetrieben werden kann.the Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a cleaning device 1 according to the invention in the form of a handheld vacuum cleaner 1. The handheld vacuum cleaner 1 has a housing 10 which can be held and guided by a user by means of a handle 11. In the housing 10, a fan including a fan drive and at least one filter and an exhaust opening are arranged (not shown). A suction tube 12 is arranged on the housing 10 opposite the handle 11. At the opposite end of the suction tube 12, a nozzle 13 is provided, which can also be referred to as a floor nozzle 13 or a brush head 13. The nozzle 13 has an interior space which is designed to be open at the bottom by means of an opening 15, which can also be referred to as a suction opening 15. A brush 14, which can be driven in rotation by means of a brush motor (not shown), is arranged inside the interior of the nozzle 13.

Der Handstaubsauger 1 kann von einem Benutzer auf einen Boden 2 bzw. auf einen Bodenbelag 2 wie z.B. einen Teppich mit der Düse 13 aufgesetzt werden, um den Boden 2 als zu reinigende Fläche 2 zu reinigen. Hierzu wird der Handstaubsauger 1 eingeschaltet, so dass das Gebläse mittels des Gebläsemotors und die Bürste 14 mittels des Bürstenmotors betrieben werden. Hierdurch wird zum einen ein Luftstrom von dem Gebläse angesaugt, welcher über die Ansaugöffnung 15 in die Düse 13 und von dort über das Saugrohr 12 zum Gebläse sowie durch wenigstens einen Filter hindurch gereinigt wieder in die Umgebung gelangt. Zum anderen werden Schmutzpartikel wie Staub, Krümel und dergleichen durch die Bürste 14 vom Boden 2 in den Luftstrom hineingefördert, so dass durch die Bürste 14 die reinigende Wirkung auf den Boden 2 verstärkt werden kann.The hand-held vacuum cleaner 1 can be placed by a user on a floor 2 or on a floor covering 2 such as a carpet with the nozzle 13 in order to clean the floor 2 as a surface 2 to be cleaned. For this purpose, the handheld vacuum cleaner 1 is switched on so that the fan is operated by means of the fan motor and the brush 14 is operated by means of the brush motor. In this way, on the one hand, an air flow is sucked in by the fan, which is cleaned via the suction opening 15 into the nozzle 13 and from there via the suction pipe 12 to the fan and through at least one filter again into the environment. On the other hand, dirt particles such as dust, crumbs and the like are conveyed from the floor 2 into the air flow by the brush 14, so that the cleaning effect on the floor 2 can be intensified by the brush 14.

Um dabei den Boden 2 flächig zu reinigen, wird der Handstaubsauger 1 von dem Benutzer üblicherweise immer wieder nach vorne von sich weg, d.h. in einer Vorwärtsrichtung entlang einer Bewegungsachse A, geschoben sowie zu sich zurück, d.h. in einer Rückwärtsrichtung entlang der Bewegungsachse A, gezogen. Gleichzeitig wird die Bewegungsachse A mit jeder Bewegung seitlich versetzt oder gedreht, so dass über die Zeit die gesamte zu reinigende Fläche 2 erreicht und gesaugt werden kann.In order to clean the floor 2 over the entire surface, the handheld vacuum cleaner 1 is usually pushed back and forth by the user again and again, ie in a forward direction along a movement axis A, and pulled back towards him, ie in a backward direction along the movement axis A . At the same time, the movement axis A is offset or rotated laterally with every movement, so that over time the entire surface 2 to be cleaned can be reached and vacuumed.

Hierbei gestaltet sich das Führen des Handstaubsaugers 1 von dem Benutzer weg bzw. zu dem Benutzer hin unterschiedlich, da die Rotationsrichtung der Bürste 14 einer dieser beiden Bewegungen entgegenwirkt und die andere Bewegung begünstigt. Dies führt zu ungleichen Kräften, welche der Benutzer für die Vorwärts- und Rückwärtsbewegungen entlang der Bewegungsrichtung A aufbringen muss. Auch kann dies zu einer verstärkten Abnutzung der Bürste 14 und des Bodens 2 sowie zu störenden Geräuschen führen. Ebenso kann dies den Energieverbrauch der Bürste 14 erhöhen sowie deren Lebensdauer verringern.In this case, guiding the hand-held vacuum cleaner 1 away from the user or towards the user is different, since the direction of rotation of the brush 14 counteracts one of these two movements and favors the other movement. This leads to unequal forces which the user has to apply for the forward and backward movements along the direction of movement A. This can also lead to increased wear of the brush 14 and of the base 2 and to disturbing noises. This can also increase the energy consumption of the brush 14 and reduce its service life.

Erfindungsgemäß ist daher ein Beschleunigungssensor 16, in dieser beispielhaften Ausführungsform an der Düse 13, vorgesehen (in alternativen Ausführungsformen am Gehäuse bzw. einem starr mit der Düse verbundenen Geräteteil), welcher die Beschleunigungen erfassen kann, welche die Bürste 14 entlang der Bewegungsachse A erfährt. Die erfassten Beschleunigungen können z.B. von der Steuerung des Handstaubsaugers 1 ausgewertet werden. Hierdurch kann zwischen den Vorwärts- und Rückwärtsbewegungen der Düse 13 bzw. der Bürste 14 entlang der Bewegungsachse bzw. in der Bewegungsrichtung A unterschieden und diese erkannt werden. Auf diese Art und Weise kann die Rotationsgeschwindigkeit der Bürste 14 bei einer dieser beiden Bewegungen entlang der Bewegungsachse verringert werden, falls die Rotation der Bürste 14 diese Bewegung behindert, sowie bei der anderen Bewegung Bewegungen entlang der Bewegungsachse die Rotationsgeschwindigkeit der Bürste 14 erhöht werden, falls die Rotation der Bürste 14 diese Bewegung begünstigt. Hierdurch kann eine möglichst gleichbleibende Relativgeschwindigkeit zwischen der Bürste 14 und der zu reinigenden Fläche 2 erreicht werden, wodurch Energie gespart, die Entwicklung von störenden Geräuschen reduziert oder sogar vermieden sowie die Abnutzung der Bürste 14 und des Bodens 2 verringert werden kann. Auch können beide Bewegungen entlang der Bewegungsachse vom Benutzer mit vergleichbaren oder zumindest weniger stark unterschiedlichen Kräften ausgeführt werden, was für den Benutzer angenehmer sein kann.According to the invention, an acceleration sensor 16 is therefore provided, in this exemplary embodiment on the nozzle 13 (in alternative embodiments on the housing or a device part rigidly connected to the nozzle), which can detect the accelerations that the brush 14 experiences along the axis of movement A. The recorded accelerations can, for example, be evaluated by the control of the handheld vacuum cleaner 1. In this way, a distinction can be made between the forward and backward movements of the nozzle 13 or the brush 14 along the axis of movement or in the direction of movement A and these can be recognized. In this way, the speed of rotation of the brush 14 can be reduced during one of these two movements along the axis of movement, if the rotation of the brush 14 hinders this movement, and the speed of rotation of the brush 14 can be increased during the other movement, movements along the axis of movement the rotation of the brush 14 favors this movement. As a result, a relative speed that is as constant as possible between the brush 14 and the surface 2 to be cleaned can be achieved, whereby energy can be saved, the development of disturbing noises can be reduced or even avoided, and the wear and tear on the brush 14 and the base 2 can be reduced. Both movements along the axis of movement can also be carried out by the user with comparable or at least less strongly different forces, which can be more pleasant for the user.

Optional kann zusätzlich auch die Rotationsrichtung der Bürste entsprechend der erkannten Bewegungsrichtung der Düse geändert werden. Beispielsweise kann die Rotationsrichtung jeweils so angepasst werden, dass das Schieben der Düse dadurch unterstützt wird. Umgekehrt könnte jedoch auch eine Rotationsrichtung vorgesehen werden, die dem Schieben entgegenwirkt, was ein verstärktes Bürsten der zu reinigenden Fläche bewirkt.Optionally, the direction of rotation of the brush can also be changed according to the detected direction of movement of the nozzle. For example, the direction of rotation can be adjusted so that the pushing of the nozzle is supported. Conversely, however, a direction of rotation could also be provided which counteracts the sliding, which causes increased brushing of the surface to be cleaned.

Es kann ferner der Fall eintreten, dass ein Benutzer die Düse 13 des Handstaubsaugers 1 mehrfach und schneller bzw. mit häufiger wechselnder Richtung als bei den übrigen Bewegungen über eine stärker verschmutzte Stelle der zu reinigenden Fläche 2 führt, um diese Stelle stärker zu reinigen. Auch dies kann erfindungsgemäß alternativ oder zusätzlich mittels des Beschleunigungssensors erkannt werden, indem die Beschleunigungen und/oder die Frequenz bzw. Häufigkeit der Richtungswechsel erfasst und mit einem vorbestimmten Grenzwert verglichen werden.It can also happen that a user moves the nozzle 13 of the hand-held vacuum cleaner 1 several times and faster or with more frequently changing direction than with the other movements over a more soiled area of the surface 2 to be cleaned in order to clean this area more intensely. According to the invention, this can also be recognized alternatively or additionally by means of the acceleration sensor, in that the accelerations and / or the frequency or frequency of the changes in direction are recorded and compared with a predetermined limit value.

Bleiben die erfassten Beschleunigungen bzw. bleibt die Frequenz der Richtungswechsel unterhalb des vorbestimmten Grenzwertes, kann hieraus geschlussfolgert werden, dass der Benutzer den Handstaubsauger 1 in einem normalen Reinigungsbetrieb über die zu reinigenden Fläche 2 bewegt, woraus auch vergleichsweise geringe Beschleunigungen beim Richtungswechseln zwischen den beiden Bewegungsrichtungen entlang der Bewegungsachse A resultieren können. Dies kann z.B. von der Steuerung des Handstaubsaugers 1 als normaler Reinigungsbetrieb gedeutet werden, in dem die Bürste 14 mit einer langsameren Rotationsgeschwindigkeit betrieben werden kann. Im Kontext dieser Anmeldung kann unter einem "normalen" Reinigungsbetrieb verstanden werden, dass der Benutzer sich mit dem Reinigungsgerät oder zumindest dessen Düse mitbewegt, dabei relativ lange Strecken überfährt und Richtungswechsel üblicherweise an Begrenzungen wie Raumwänden oder Möbeln ausführt.If the recorded accelerations or the frequency of the direction changes remain below the predetermined limit value, it can be concluded from this that the user moves the hand-held vacuum cleaner 1 over the surface 2 to be cleaned in normal cleaning mode, which also results in comparatively low accelerations when changing direction between the two directions of movement along the axis of movement A. This can be interpreted, for example, by the control of the hand-held vacuum cleaner 1 as normal cleaning operation, in which the brush 14 can be operated at a slower speed of rotation. In the context of this application, a "normal" cleaning operation can be understood as meaning that the user moves with the cleaning device or at least its nozzle, traversing relatively long distances and changing direction usually at boundaries such as room walls or furniture.

Wird jedoch der vorbestimmte Grenzwert von den erfassten Beschleunigungen bzw. der Frequenz der Richtungswechsel überschritten, kann hieraus geschlussfolgert werden, dass der Benutzer den Handstaubsauger 1 in einem intensiven Reinigungsbetrieb über die zu reinigenden Fläche 2 bewegt, woraus auch vergleichsweise starke Beschleunigungen beim Richtungswechseln zwischen den beiden Bewegungsrichtungen entlang der Bewegungsachse A resultieren können. Dies kann z.B. von der Steuerung des Handstaubsaugers 1 als intensiver Reinigungsbetrieb gedeutet werden, in dem die Bürste 14 mit einer schnelleren Rotationsgeschwindigkeit betrieben werden kann, um die Reinigungswirkung der Bürste 14 zu verstärken. Im Kontext dieser Anmeldung kann unter einem "intensiven" Reinigungsbetrieb verstanden werden, dass der Benutzer sich mit dem Reinigungsgerät oder zumindest dessen Düse nicht oder zumindest sehr wenig mitbewegt und dabei einen räumlich stark begrenzten Bereich mit häufigen Richtungswechseln mehrfach überfährt, wobei der Bereich nicht von Wänden oder Möbeln begrenzt sein muss.However, if the predetermined limit value of the detected accelerations or the frequency of the change of direction is exceeded, it can be concluded from this that the user moves the handheld vacuum cleaner 1 in an intensive cleaning operation over the surface 2 to be cleaned, which also results in comparatively strong accelerations when changing direction between the two Movement directions along the movement axis A can result. This can be interpreted, for example, by the control of the hand-held vacuum cleaner 1 as an intensive cleaning operation, in which the brush 14 can be operated at a faster rotation speed in order to increase the cleaning effect of the brush 14. In the context of this application, an "intensive" cleaning operation can be understood as meaning that the user does not move with the cleaning device or at least its nozzle, or at least very little, and thereby drives over a spatially very limited area with frequent changes of direction, the area not being surrounded by walls or furniture must be limited.

Somit können erfindungsgemäß die Bemühungen des Benutzers zur besseren Reinigung einer bestimmten Stelle der zu reinigenden Fläche 2 von dem Handstaubsauger 1 erkannt und durch eine erhöhte Reinigungsleistung der Bürste 14 erzielt werden.Thus, according to the invention, the efforts of the user to better clean a certain point of the surface 2 to be cleaned can be recognized by the handheld vacuum cleaner 1 and achieved by an increased cleaning performance of the brush 14.

Bezugszeichenliste (Bestandteil der Beschreibung)List of reference symbols (part of the description)

AA.
Bewegungsachse der Bewegungen (Vorwärts- und Rückwärtsbewegung) der Düse 13 bzw. der Bürste 14Axis of movement of the movements (forward and backward movement) of the nozzle 13 and the brush 14, respectively
11
Reinigungsgerät; Staubsauger; Handsauger; BodensaugerCleaning device; Vacuum cleaner; Hand vacuum cleaner; Vacuum cleaner
1010
Gehäusecasing
1111
Griff des Gehäuses 10Housing handle 10
1212th
SaugrohrSuction pipe
1313th
(Boden)Düse; Bürstenkopf(Floor) nozzle; Brush head
1414th
rotierbare (Boden)Bürsterotatable (floor) brush
1515th
(Ansaug)Öffnung(Intake) opening
1616
BeschleunigungssensorAccelerometer
22
zu reinigende Flächesurface to be cleaned

Claims (8)

  1. Cleaning appliance (1) for cleaning surfaces (2),
    having at least one nozzle (13) with at least one opening (15),
    the nozzle (13) being designed to be moved with the opening (15) along a movement axis (A) over the surface (2) to be cleaned, and
    having at least one brush (14) which is arranged inside the nozzle (13) and is rotatable such that dirt particles can be conveyed from the surface (2) to be cleaned into the cleaning appliance (1) by the brush (14),
    having at least one acceleration sensor (16) which is arranged and designed to detect accelerations of the brush (14) along the movement axis (A);
    the cleaning appliance (1) being designed to distinguish between two directions of movement of the brush (14) along the movement axis (A) by means of the detected accelerations of the brush (14),
    the cleaning appliance (1) being further designed to operate the brush (14) at a rotational speed and/or rotational direction depending on the direction of its movement along the movement axis (A);
    characterised in that
    the cleaning appliance (1) is designed to determine the speed of the movement of the brush (14) along the movement axis (A) by means of the detected accelerations of the brush (14), and to operate the brush (14) with a rotational speed and/or rotational direction depending on the speed of its movement in such a way that a constant relative speed between the brush (14) and the surface to be cleaned (2) can be achieved.
  2. Cleaning appliance (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that
    the acceleration sensor (16) is arranged on the nozzle (13).
  3. Cleaning appliance (1) according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that
    the cleaning appliance (1) is designed to operate the brush (14) at a rotational speed and/or rotational direction depending on the detected accelerations of the brush (14).
  4. Cleaning appliance (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that
    the cleaning appliance (1) is designed to distinguish between at least two speed ranges of the movement of the brush (14) along the movement axis (A) by means of the detected accelerations of the brush (14),
    the cleaning appliance (1) being further designed to operate the brush (14) at a rotational speed and/or rotational direction depending on the detected speed range of its movement along the movement axis (A).
  5. Cleaning appliance (1) according to claim 4, characterised in that
    the cleaning appliance (1) is designed to distinguish between at least one slower speed range and at least one faster speed range,
    the rotational speed of the brush (14) in the faster speed range being greater than the rotational speed of the brush (14) in the slower speed range.
  6. Cleaning appliance (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that
    the cleaning appliance (1) is designed to operate the brush (14) under open-loop or closed-loop control.
  7. Cleaning appliance (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that
    the cleaning appliance (1) is a vacuum cleaner (1), preferably a hand-held vacuum cleaner, a floor vacuum cleaner or a robot vacuum cleaner.
  8. Cleaning appliance (1) according to claim 7, characterised in that
    the vacuum cleaner (1) is designed to be supplied with electrical energy by means of at least one battery,
    the battery being rechargeable.
EP19170761.1A 2018-05-18 2019-04-24 Cleaning device Active EP3569124B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102018112014 2018-05-18

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3569124A1 EP3569124A1 (en) 2019-11-20
EP3569124B1 true EP3569124B1 (en) 2021-08-18

Family

ID=66251635

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19170761.1A Active EP3569124B1 (en) 2018-05-18 2019-04-24 Cleaning device

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EP (1) EP3569124B1 (en)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2910899A1 (en) * 2020-11-13 2022-05-13 Cecotec Res And Development Sl Electronic cleaning and/or disinfection apparatus with inertial measurement means (IMU) and method to operate it (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)
CN114652230A (en) * 2020-12-22 2022-06-24 美智纵横科技有限责任公司 Cleaning apparatus, control method thereof, apparatus thereof, and computer program product
BE1029184B1 (en) * 2021-03-09 2022-10-11 Miele & Cie Procedure for operating a cordless vacuum cleaner
CN115444318A (en) * 2021-06-08 2022-12-09 尚科宁家(中国)科技有限公司 Roller type surface cleaning device
DE202021002931U1 (en) 2021-09-11 2021-10-01 Matthias Jünemann Equilateral surface cleaner
CN114246518B (en) * 2021-11-18 2023-06-23 安克创新科技股份有限公司 Cleaning device and control method thereof
CN114794996B (en) * 2022-03-30 2024-04-19 添可智能科技有限公司 Power assisting method of cleaning equipment and cleaning equipment
CN114831569B (en) * 2022-05-09 2023-09-01 添可智能科技有限公司 Power-assisted control method and cleaning machine

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2658411B2 (en) * 1989-07-20 1997-09-30 松下電器産業株式会社 Vacuum cleaner
GB2273865A (en) * 1992-12-19 1994-07-06 Fedag A vacuum cleaner with an electrically driven brush roller
DE19602723C2 (en) * 1996-01-26 2001-04-19 Gerhard Kurz Device for operating a vacuum cleaner
DE10338874A1 (en) * 2002-09-07 2004-03-18 Vorwerk & Co. Interholding Gmbh Vacuum cleaner has attachment containing a position independent movement sensor which controls electric motor use
DE102004010827B4 (en) * 2004-02-27 2006-01-05 Alfred Kärcher Gmbh & Co. Kg Soil cultivation device and method for its control
DE202013101098U1 (en) * 2012-02-02 2014-02-25 Laco Energy Systems Gmbh cleaning device
DE102012105845A1 (en) * 2012-07-02 2014-01-02 Miele & Cie. Kg A vacuum cleaner with a device for adjusting a fan power and method for operating such a vacuum cleaner

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