EP3795054B1 - Floor cleaning machine with a sweeping device with a container for sweepings with a fill level detection device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a floor cleaning machine with a chassis provided on the machine frame for moving the floor cleaning machine along a direction of travel over a floor area to be cleaned, with a cleaning device movably mounted on the machine frame, with a cleaning element and a dirt container on the cleaning device having a floor, are provided, wherein the cleaning device can be adjusted relative to the machine frame between a lowered position and a raised position, wherein in the lowered position the cleaning element is arranged relative to the floor surface to be cleaned in such a way that it can clean it, and wherein in the raised position the cleaning device is at a distance from the floor surface to be cleaned.

Such floor cleaning machines with a cleaning device, which is often designed as a sweeping device and which has a dirt container in addition to a cleaning element such as a brush roller, are well known from the prior art. While the cleaning device is lowered from a raised position to the lowered position, i.e. the working position, during cleaning operation, the floor cleaning machine is moved over the floor surface to be cleaned, with the cleaning element loosening dirt from the floor surface to be cleaned and conveying it into the dirt hopper .

Here, the problem now arises that the waste container has to be emptied regularly, but it is not immediately apparent to the user when this is necessary. In particular, it also happens that the user is not even aware that the machine has a waste container that needs to be emptied. However, if the dirt hopper is not emptied, no further dirt removed from the floor surface by the cleaning element such as the sweeping roller can no longer be accommodated in the dirt hopper, and the cleaning result deteriorates.

Against this background, it is desirable to provide a display or other type of signaling for the user, so that he receives an indication that the dirt container is completely full and needs to be emptied.

With regard to possible systems for detecting the fill level in the dirt hopper, however, there is the further problem that the area of the dirt hopper is exposed to dirt and moisture, so that electronic components in this area in particular are exposed to very heavy loads that shorten their service life. Therefore, when using electronically operating sensors such as optical sensors, which are arranged inside the waste container, there is a risk that these will fail quickly and a fill level detection system based on them will not work reliably over a long period of time.

In addition, there is the further problem that it is also difficult to detect whether the waste container is actually completely full. This is because sweepings can be virtually anything from fine-grained dust and dirt to leaves and cans. Therefore, depending on the composition, the properties of the sweepings such as mass, density, moisture and optical effects vary greatly. Sensors that only record one property of these properties do not generate sufficient detection reliability. If, for example, an optical sensor were used to detect the fill level, this would already signal a filled container if there was only one can in the area of the light beam crossing the container.

The document DE 196 49 962 A1 describes a floor cleaning machine according to the preamble of independent claim 1.

Proceeding from this prior art, it is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a floor cleaning machine with a cleaning device and a dirt container, in which it can be reliably detected whether the dirt container is full.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a floor cleaning machine with a machine frame, with a chassis provided on the machine frame for moving the floor cleaning machine along a direction of travel over a floor area to be cleaned, with a cleaning device movably mounted on the machine frame, with a cleaning element and a dirt container on the cleaning device that has a floor, are provided, wherein the cleaning device can be adjusted relative to the machine frame between a lowered position and a raised position, wherein in the lowered position the cleaning element is arranged relative to the floor surface to be cleaned in such a way that it can clean it, and wherein in the raised position the cleaning device is at a distance from the floor surface to be cleaned, with a A feeler element having a free end that extends into the hopper, the feeler element being arranged such that the distance between the free end of the feeler element and the bottom of the hopper increases when the cleaning device moves from the raised position to the lowered position wherein the feeler element is capable of movement relative to the machine frame in which its free end performs movement in a direction away from the bottom of the hopper, and means for detecting movement of the feeler element relative to the machine frame, wherein the means are designed to output a signal when a movement of the probe element is detected.

Accordingly, in the floor cleaning machine according to the invention, a machine frame is provided on which a chassis is provided, which in particular can have wheels which define a plane in which the floor surface to be cleaned essentially extends. With the help of the chassis, the floor cleaning machine can be moved over the floor area to be cleaned.

Furthermore, in the floor cleaning machine according to the invention, a cleaning device is movably mounted on the machine frame, a cleaning element and a dirt container, which has a bottom, being provided on the cleaning device. Because the cleaning device can be adjusted between the lowered and the raised position, it is possible for the machine to be moved over the floor surface to be cleaned when the cleaning device is in the lowered position in such a way that the cleaning device or the cleaning element is in engagement with the floor surface in order to clean it or, when the cleaning device is in the raised position, can be moved over the floor surface during transport journeys without the cleaning element coming into engagement with the floor surface. The dirt hopper can be used to pick up dirt that has been loosened or collected by the cleaning element from the floor surface to be cleaned during the cleaning operation, with the dirt hopper therefore having to be emptied regularly, sooner or later, depending on how dirty the floor surface is.

In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning element is designed as at least one sweeping element which, in the lowered position, engages with the floor surface to be cleaned and, in the raised position, is disengaged from the floor surface to be cleaned and in particular is at a distance from it. In particular, it can Sweeping element can be designed as a sweeping roller, which is driven to rotate about an axis of rotation extending parallel to the plane of the floor surface to be cleaned. With such an arrangement dirt can be effectively loosened from a floor surface and at the same time conveyed in the direction of the dirt container. In particular, the sweeping roller can have a large number of bristles or lobes extending essentially radially away from the axis of rotation.

More preferably, the debris container may extend parallel to the roller brush adjacent thereto, further enabling dirt swept up by the roller brush to be effectively collected.

According to the invention, the floor cleaning machine also has a feeler element that has a free end that extends into the dirt hopper, so that the free end of the feeler element can come into contact with dirt that is in the dirt hopper. The feeler element is arranged in such a way that the distance between the free end of the feeler element and the bottom of the dirt hopper increases when the cleaning device is moved from the raised position to the lowered position. As a result, the free end of the feeler element only extends as far as possible into the interior of the dirt container when the cleaning device is in the raised position. However, when the cleaning device is in the lowered position and thus in the operating position, the free end of the feeler element is spaced farther from the bottom of the dirt hopper and does not hinder its filling during cleaning.

In addition, according to the invention, the feeler element can perform a movement relative to the machine frame in which its free end performs a movement in a direction pointing away from the bottom of the dirt hopper. This structure makes it possible that when the dirt container is filled to a certain extent and the cleaning device is moved from the lowered position to the raised position, the feeler element first comes into contact with the dirt and then, provided that the resistance from the dirt is sufficient , is pressed towards the machine frame. If the debris with which the feeler element first comes into contact is only leaves or the like, its resistance is not sufficient to move the feeler element, but the feeler element pushes the sweepings aside during the upward movement of the cleaning device.

Finally, according to the invention, means are provided for detecting the movement of the feeler element relative to the machine frame, with the means being designed to output a signal when a movement of the feeler element is detected. A signal is then generated which indicates that the dirt hopper is sufficiently filled when the feeler element moves from the lowered position to the raised position as a result of dirt in the dirt hopper during the movement of the cleaning device.

Overall, the embodiment according to the invention ensures that the device for detecting the filling level of the waste in the waste container does not prevent it from being filled during cleaning operation, since the sensing element is further away from the bottom of the waste container when the cleaning device is in the lowered position . Furthermore, the filling level is reliably detected by the fact that mechanical contact is required between the free end of the sensing element and the debris, whereby light debris can be pushed aside by the sensing element and does not immediately cause the sensing element to move and thus the signal for exceeding the maximum filling level is triggered.

Thus, the construction according to the invention provides a device that works reliably and is not jeopardized by dirt in terms of its functional safety, in order to detect the filling level in the dirt container of the cleaning device.

In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning device has a housing, with the waste container being able to be pulled out of the housing laterally transversely to the direction of travel. Since the pushbutton element only protrudes deep into the dirt hopper when the cleaning device is in the raised position, but is further spaced from the floor in the lowered position, the pushbutton element does not prevent lateral movement of the dirt hopper when the cleaning device is in the lowered position position is. In turn, the ability to be pulled out to the side greatly simplifies removal, making it easier for the user to empty the waste container. It is further preferred if the dirt container has a lateral opening which extends towards the floor and which is arranged in a lateral wall of the dirt container as viewed in the direction of travel of the floor cleaning machine. Then it is easily possible to empty the dirt hopper on one side, which can be comparatively short. Then the waste container can simply be emptied into a container with a small opening. The feature of a dirt container in a cleaning device with a housing that preferably extends parallel to the brush roller adjacent to it, with the dirt container being able to be pulled out of the housing laterally transversely to the direction of travel, represents an independently inventive concept in a floor cleaning machine, which has a machine frame running gear provided on the machine frame for moving the floor cleaning machine along a direction of travel over a floor area to be cleaned, and a cleaning device movably mounted on the machine frame, with a cleaning element and a dirt container having a floor being provided on the cleaning device, with the cleaning device opposite the Machine frame can be adjusted between a lowered position and a raised position, wherein in the lowered position the cleaning element is arranged relative to the floor surface to be cleaned t that it can clean them, and wherein in the raised position the cleaning device is at a distance from the floor surface to be cleaned. In this independently inventive concept, it is a preferred embodiment if the dirt hopper has a lateral opening that extends toward the floor and is arranged in a lateral wall of the dirt hopper, viewed in the direction of travel of the floor cleaning machine.

In a further preferred embodiment of the floor cleaning machine according to the invention, the feeler element is movably mounted on a holder, with the feeler element performing the movement relative to the machine frame relative to the holder. Accordingly, in this embodiment, a holder is provided on the machine frame, on which the button is movably, particularly preferably displaceably, attached.

Furthermore, it is preferred if the means for detecting the movement of the feeler element relative to the machine frame comprise a switch which is attached to the holder and is actuated by the feeler element when the feeler element is moved relative to the holder towards the machine frame. In this embodiment, the signal with which the detection of a movement of the pushbutton element is indicated can be generated in a simple manner by utilizing the fact that the electrical switch is closed by the movement.

In a further preferred embodiment, the holder is movably mounted on the machine frame and coupled to the cleaning device in such a way that the holder moves relative to the machine frame towards the dirt container when the cleaning device is moved from the lowered position to the raised position. In this embodiment, not only does the movement of the cleaning device from the lowered position to the raised position cause the push button element to be moved into the dirt hopper towards the dirt, but this movement is reinforced by the fact that the holder also moves towards the dirt hopper and its ground is moved. This in turn means that the entire arrangement of feeler element and cleaning device can be designed in such a way that the free end of the feeler element is even further away from the bottom of the dirt hopper when the cleaning device is in the lowered position. The button element then impedes the cleaning operation and the associated filling of the dirt container to an even lesser extent.

In a further preferred embodiment, an actuating element that can be moved along a movement path is provided, which is coupled to the cleaning device and can be moved by motor between a first end and a second end of the movement path. The actuator is at the first end of the path of travel when the cleaner is in the lowered position and the actuator is at the second end of the path of travel when the cleaner is in the raised position. Finally, the holder has a guide which engages the actuating element such that movement of the actuating element from the first end of the path of movement to the second end of the path of movement moves the holder relative to the machine frame towards the hopper.

In this embodiment, advantage is taken of the fact that the actuating element, which is coupled to the cleaning device to bring about the adjustment between the lowered and the raised position, also engages with the holder or the guide provided thereon and the movement of the holder towards the Waste container causes. The guide can in particular be designed as a guide groove or link into which a projection on the actuating element extends. With such a structure, only a single actuator coupled to the actuating element is required to effect the adjustment of the cleaning device and the movement of the holder. In a particularly preferred manner this actuator is a lifting element which has an output element which can be moved in a straight line by a motor, the actuating element being attached to the output element. In order to mount the cleaning device on the machine frame so that it can be adjusted in a simple manner, in a further preferred embodiment the cleaning device can be attached to a swivel arm which is mounted on the machine frame so that it can pivot about a second pivot axis, the output element being connected to the cleaning device via a cable pull .

In a further preferred embodiment, the holder can be mounted on the machine frame such that it can pivot about a first pivot axis.

Fig. 1

ein Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen Bodenreinigungsmaschine in einer Seitenansicht zeigt,

Fig. 2

den Teil des Ausführungsbeispiels aus Fig. 1 mit der Reinigungseinrichtung zeigt, wobei die Reinigungseinrichtung in der abgesenkten Stellung ist,

Fig. 3

den Teil des Ausführungsbeispiels aus Fig. 1 mit der Reinigungseinrichtung zeigt, wobei die Reinigungseinrichtung in der ausgehobenen Stellung ist,

Fig. 4

mehrere perspektivische Ansichten des Kehrgutbehälters des Ausführungsbeispiels aus den Fig. 1 bis 3 zeigt,

Fig. 5

eine schematische Darstellung des Aufbaus der Reinigungseinrichtung des Ausführungsbeispiels in der abgesenkten Stellung zeigt und

Fig. 6

eine schematische Darstellung des Aufbaus der Reinigungseinrichtung des Ausführungsbeispiels in der ausgehobenen Stellung zeigt.

The present invention is explained below with reference to a drawing showing only one preferred exemplary embodiment, in which

1

shows an embodiment of a floor cleaning machine according to the invention in a side view,

2

the part of the embodiment 1 with the cleaning device, with the cleaning device in the lowered position,

3

the part of the embodiment 1 with the cleaning device, the cleaning device being in the raised position,

4

several perspective views of the hopper of the embodiment of the Figures 1 to 3 displays,

figure 5

shows a schematic representation of the structure of the cleaning device of the embodiment in the lowered position and

6

shows a schematic representation of the structure of the cleaning device of the embodiment in the raised position.

How out 1 can be seen, the preferred exemplary embodiment of a floor cleaning machine 1 according to the invention for cleaning a floor area 3 has a machine frame 5 on which, in addition to a chassis 7 with wheels, with which the floor cleaning machine 1 can be moved over the floor area 3 to be cleaned, other superstructures as under other things, a seat 9 and a steering column 11 and a tank assembly 13 are attached. By the wheels of the chassis 7 is doing the level defined, in which the floor surface to be cleaned 3 is arranged relative to the floor cleaning machine 1 and its machine frame 5 .

In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the floor cleaning machine 1 is designed as a ride-on machine. However, the invention is equally applicable to machines where a user walks behind the machine.

How next figures 1 as well as 2 and 3, the floor cleaning machine 1 has a cleaning device 15 which is movably attached to the machine frame 5 in such a way that it is positioned between the in 2 shown lowered position and in 3 illustrated raised position can be adjusted. In the preferred exemplary embodiment shown here, the cleaning device 15 is designed as a sweeping device and has two sweeping rollers 17 as cleaning elements, which are driven to rotate about axes of rotation running essentially parallel to the plane of the floor surface 3, the axes of rotation also being essentially perpendicular to the normal direction of travel F of the floor cleaning machine 1 run. The sweeping rollers 17 have bristles 19 which extend radially away from the axes of rotation and whose free ends when the cleaning device 15 is in the lowered position ( 2 ) is to engage with the floor surface 3 to be cleaned.

How further from the Figures 2 and 3 and 5 and 6, the cleaning device 15 also has a housing 21, and in the housing 21 there is a waste container 23 which extends parallel to the sweeping rollers 17 and is arranged directly behind the sweeping rollers 17 when viewed against the direction of travel F, which in 4 is shown in detail.

As further from the schematic representations in the figures 5 and 6 As can be seen, the cleaning device 15 has a swivel arm 25 which is connected to one end 27 on an arm 29 extending away from the housing 21 . The pivot arm 25 is connected to the machine frame 5 by the other end 31 such that it can be pivoted about a pivot axis 33 . Thus, the cleaning device 15 is adjusted by a pivoting movement of the pivot arm 25 between the lowered position and the raised position.

For this purpose, a lifting element, not shown in the figures, is mounted on the machine frame 5, which has an output element 35 has, which also serves as an actuating element for adjusting the cleaning device 15, as will be explained below. The output and actuating element 35 can be moved between the first end 37 and the second end 39 of a movement path 41, with the actuating element 35 being coupled via a cable pull 43 to the arm 29 attached to the housing 21 of the cleaning device 15, the cable pull 43 being connected via a deflection roller 45 is guided.

As the figures 5 and 6 show, the cleaning device 15 is in the lowered position when the actuating element 35 is at the first end 37 of the path of movement 41 . When the actuating element 35 is at the second end 39 of the movement path 41, the cleaning device 15 is in the raised position.

Furthermore, from the figures 5 and 6 It can be seen that a holder 47 is mounted on the machine frame 5 so that it can pivot about a pivot axis 49 . A feeler element 51 is in turn attached to the holder 47 in such a way that its free end 53 can extend into the waste container 23 . It can also be seen that the feeler element 51 is attached in such a way that the distance between its free end 53 and the bottom 55 of the dirt container 23 increases when the cleaning device 15 is moved from the raised position to the lowered position.

At the end remote from the free end 53 of the feeler element 51, in the exemplary embodiment described here, the end thereof has an elongated hole 57 through which a bolt 59 fixedly connected to the holder 47 extends. As a result, the feeler element 51 is held on the holder 47 so that it can be displaced in such a way that the feeler element 51 can execute a movement relative to the machine frame 5 and also relative to the holder 47, which movement runs in a direction R away from the bottom 55 of the dirt hopper 23 points.

Also provided on the holder 47 and thus on the machine frame 5 are means for detecting the previously described movement of the feeler element 51 relative to the machine frame 5 and the holder 47 . These means include a switch 61 mounted on the holder 47 which, as shown in FIGS figures 5 and 6 can be seen, is actuated by the probe element 51 when the probe element 51 is moved relative to the holder 47 towards the machine frame 5 . When the switch 61 is actuated by the end remote from the free end 53 of the probe 51, a signal is thereby generated indicating movement of the probe 51 toward the machine frame 5.

Finally, as already mentioned, the holder 47 is mounted on the machine frame 5 such that it can pivot about the pivot axis 49 so that it can move toward and away from the machine frame 5 . How further in the figures 5 and 6 As can be seen, the holder 47 has a guide in the form of a guide groove 61 with which the actuating element 35 engages and which is curved towards the machine frame 5 . As a result, when the actuating element 35 is moved from the first end 37 of the movement path 41 to its second end 39 and the cleaning device 15 is thus moved from the lowered position to the raised position, the holder 47 and thus also the Move the feeler element 51 towards the dirt container 23 .

The holder 47 is thus movably mounted on the machine frame 5 and coupled to the cleaning device 15 in such a way that the holder 47 moves relative to the machine frame 5 toward the dirt hopper 23 and its bottom 55 when the cleaning device 15 moves from the lowered position to the raised position is moved.

The waste container 23 can be pulled out of the housing 21 to the side for emptying and, as shown in 4 as can be seen, next to the floor 55 there is an opening 65 pointing towards the sweeping rollers 17, through which dirt loosened or lifted from the floor surface 3 by the sweeping rollers 17 during operation can enter the sweepings container 23. Furthermore, the dirt container 23 has a side opening 67 which extends towards the bottom (55) and is arranged in a lateral wall of the dirt container 23 as viewed in the direction of travel of the floor cleaning machine. The dirt container 23 can be emptied in a simple manner via this opening 67 . Since the opening 67 has only a small width, the dirt container 23 can also be emptied into a vessel with only a small inlet opening.

In this context, it should be pointed out once again that the feature of a dirt hopper 23 in a cleaning device 15 with a housing 21, which preferably extends parallel to one or more brush rollers 17 adjacent thereto, with the dirt hopper 23 laterally transverse to the direction of travel out of the housing 21 is extractable represents an independently inventive concept. This applies in particular in connection with a floor-cleaning machine 1, which has a machine frame 5, a chassis 7 provided on the machine frame 5 for moving the floor-cleaning machine 1 along a direction of travel over a to-be-cleaned bottom surface 3 and a cleaning device 15 movably mounted on the machine frame 5, with a cleaning element, in particular in the form of a roller brush 17, and a dirt container 23, which has a floor 55, being provided on the cleaning device 15, with the cleaning device 15 opposite the machine frame 5 can be adjusted between a lowered position and a raised position.

The embodiment of a floor cleaning machine 1 described above can be operated as follows.

First, the cleaning device 15 from the raised position ( 6 ) to the lowered position ( figure 5 ) adjusted by the actuating element 35 from the in 6 shown position at the second end 39 of the movement path 41 is moved towards the first end 37 by means of the lifting element, not shown. The cleaning device 15 is lowered and at the same time the holder 47 is pivoted towards the machine frame 5 due to the engagement of the actuating element 35 with the guide groove 63 . This in turn moves the free end 53 of the feeler element 51 out of the dirt container 23 and further away from its bottom 55, ie this would be the case if only the cleaning device 15 were lowered.

By lowering the cleaning device 15, the bristles 19 of the sweeping rollers 17 engage with the floor surface 3 to be cleaned and clean it when the sweeping rollers 17 are driven in rotation, with sweepings 69 thrown up by the sweeping rollers 17 being introduced into the sweepings container 23. All of this can take place when the floor cleaning machine 1 is moved over the floor surface 3 by means of the chassis 7 .

After the end of the cleaning process, the actuating element 35 is moved from the first end 37 of the movement path 41 back to the second end 39, so that the cleaning device is moved from the lowered position back to the raised position, ie from the in figure 5 position shown in the in 6 shown. During this movement of the actuating element 35 , the holder 47 is pivoted with the feeler element 51 towards the bottom 55 of the dirt container 23 . Due to this movement of the holder 47 and the upward movement of the cleaning device 15 towards the machine frame 5, the free end 53 of the feeler element 51 approaches the bottom 55 of the dirt container 23 or is moved towards it.

If there is a sufficient amount of debris 69 in the debris container 23, if the debris 69 is not simply pushed aside by the feeler element 51, the feeler element 51 can be moved relative to the machine frame 5 and also relative to the holder 47 toward the machine frame 5. For this purpose, the elongated hole 57 is displaced relative to the bolt 59, with the switch 61 being actuated. Actuating the switch 61 triggers a signal and the driver of the floor cleaning machine 1 can be shown that the dirt container 23 must be emptied.

This can be done in a simple manner in that the waste container 23 is pulled laterally out of the housing 21 of the cleaning device 15 and poured out.

The floor cleaning machine 1 ensures that the device for detecting the filling level of the waste 69 in the waste container 23 does not prevent it from being filled during cleaning operation, since the sensing element 51 is further away from the floor when the cleaning device 15 is in the lowered position 55 of the hopper 23 is. In addition, the fill level is reliably detected because mechanical contact is required between the free end 53 of the feeler element 51 and the debris 69, whereby light debris 69 can be pushed aside by the feeler element 51 and does not immediately cause the feeler element 51 moved and thus the signal for exceeding the maximum level is triggered.

A device that works reliably and is not jeopardized by dirt in terms of its functional reliability is therefore provided in order to detect the fill level in the waste container 23 . Furthermore, the engagement of the actuating element 35 with the guide groove 63 in the holder 47 has the effect that not only the movement of the cleaning device 15 from the lowered position into the raised position moves the feeler element 51 into the dirt container 23 towards the dirt 69, but this movement is reinforced by the fact that the holder 47 is additionally pivoted toward the dirt container 23 and its bottom 55 . This in turn means that the entire arrangement of feeler element 51 and cleaning device 15 can be designed in such a way that the free end 53 of feeler element 51 is even further away from the bottom 55 of dirt hopper 23 when cleaning device 15 is in the lowered position. Then the feeler element 51 hinders the cleaning operation and the associated filling of the dirt container 23 even less.

References:

1

floor cleaning machine

3

floor space

5

machine frame

7

landing gear

9

Seat

11

steering column

13

tank arrangement

15

cleaning device

17

roller brushes

19

bristles

21

housing

23

hopper

25

swivel arm

27

end - swivel arm

29

poor

31

end - swivel arm

33

Swivel axis - swivel arm

35

actuator

37

first end

39

second end

41

trajectory

43

cable pull

45

pulley

47

holder

49

Pivot axis - holder

51

tactile element

53

free end d. tactile element

55

Bottom - hopper

57

Long hole

59

bolt

61

counter

63

guide groove

65

opening

67

side opening

69

sweepings

Claims (14)

1. Floor cleaning machine with a machine frame (5),

   with a chassis (7), which is provided on the machine frame (5), for moving the floor cleaning machine (1) along a direction of travel over a floor surface (3) to be cleaned,

   with a cleaning device (15) which is held movably on the machine frame (5),

   wherein a cleaning element (17) and a container for sweepings (23), which has a base (55), are provided on the cleaning device (15),

   wherein the cleaning device (15) can be adjusted in relation to the machine frame (5) between a lowered position and an elevated position,

   wherein, in the lowered position, the cleaning element (17) is arranged relative to the floor surface (3) to be cleaned such that said cleaning element can clean the latter, and wherein, in the elevated position, the cleaning device (15) is spaced apart from the floor surface (3) to be cleaned,

   characterized in that the floor cleaning machine has a probe element (51) which has a free end (53) which extends into the container for sweepings (23), wherein the probe element (51) is arranged in such a manner that the distance of the free end (53) of the probe element (51) from the base (55) of the container for sweepings (23) is increased when the cleaning device (15) is adjusted from the elevated position into the lowered position,

   wherein the probe element (51) can execute a movement relative to the machine frame (5), during which movement the free end (53) of said probe element executes a movement in a direction which points away from the base (55) of the container for sweepings (23), and

   with means (61) for detecting the movement of the probe element (51) relative to the machine frame (5), wherein the means (61) are configured to emit a signal when a movement of the probe element (51) is detected.
2. Floor cleaning machine according to Claim 1, wherein the cleaning element is designed as at least one sweeping element (17) which, in the lowered position, comes into engagement with the floor surface (3) to be cleaned and which, in the elevated position, is disengaged from the floor surface (3) to be cleaned.
3. Floor cleaning machine according to Claim 2, wherein the sweeping element is designed as a sweeping roller (17) which is driven rotationally about an axis of rotation extending parallel to the plane of the floor surface (3) to be cleaned.
4. Floor cleaning machine according to Claim 3, wherein the container for sweepings (23) extends parallel to the sweeping roller (17) adjacent thereto.
5. Floor cleaning machine according to one or more of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the cleaning device (15) has a housing (21), and
   wherein the container for sweepings (23) can be pulled out of the housing (21) laterally transversely with respect to the direction of travel.
6. Floor cleaning machine according to Claim 5, wherein the container for sweepings (23) has a lateral opening (67) which extends towards the base (55) and is arranged in a lateral wall of the container for sweepings (23), as seen in a direction of travel of the floor cleaning machine.
7. Floor cleaning machine according to one or more of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the probe element (51) is held movably on a holder (47) in such a manner that the probe element (51) executes the movement relative to the machine frame (5) relative to the holder (47).
8. Floor cleaning machine according to Claim 7, wherein the probe element (51) is attached displaceably to the holder (47).
9. Floor cleaning machine according to Claim 7 or 8, wherein the means for detecting the movement of the probe element (51) relative to the machine frame (5) comprise a switch (61) which is attached to the holder (47) and is actuated by the probe element (51) when the probe element (51) is moved relative to the holder (47) towards the machine frame (5).
10. Floor cleaning machine according to one or more of Claims 7 to 9, wherein the holder (47) is held movably on the machine frame (5) and coupled to the cleaning device (15) in such a manner that the holder (47) moves relative to the machine frame (5) towards the container for sweepings (23) when the cleaning device (15) is moved from the lowered position into the elevated position.
11. Floor cleaning machine according to Claim 10, wherein an actuating element (35) which is movable along a movement path (41) is provided, said actuating element being coupled to the cleaning device (15) and being movable by motor between a first end (37) and a second end (39) of the movement path (41),

    wherein the actuating element (35) is at the first end (37) of the movement path (41) when the cleaning device (15) is in the lowered position, and wherein the actuating element (35) is at the second end (39) of the movement path (41) when the cleaning device (15) is in the elevated position,

    wherein the holder (47) has a guide (63) which engages with the actuating element (35) in such a manner that, during a movement of the actuating element (35) from the first end (37) of the movement path (41) to the second end (39) of the movement path (41), the holder (47) is moved relative to the machine frame (5) towards the container for sweepings (23).
12. Floor cleaning machine according to Claim 10 or 11, wherein the holder (47) is held on the machine frame (5) so as to be pivotable about a first pivot axis (49) .
13. Floor cleaning machine according to Claim 11 or 12, wherein a lifting element is provided with a starting element (35) which is movable rectilinearly by motor, and
    wherein the actuating element (35) is attached to the starting element.
14. Floor cleaning machine according to Claim 13, wherein the cleaning device (15) is attached to a pivoting arm (25) which is held on the machine frame (5) so as to be pivotable about a second pivot axis (33),
    wherein the starting element (35) is connected to the cleaning device (15) via a cable pull (43).

Images