EP3838095A1 - Holding plate for a vacuum cleaner filter bag - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention comprises a holding plate (1) comprising a first plate (2) and a second plate (3) which are arranged in a first plane, and a third plate (8) which is arranged in a second plane which is parallel to first level, the third plate (8) having a lower flexural rigidity than the first plate (2) and the second plate (3), the first plate (2) and the second plate (3) so over the third plate ( 8) are connected to each other that between the first plate (2) and the second plate (3) a hinge is formed around the hinge axis (A) of which the first plate (2) and / or the second plate (3) with the respective associated part of the third plate (8) are bendable.

Description

The invention relates to a holding plate for a vacuum cleaner filter bag, and a vacuum cleaner filter bag with such a holding plate.

Many solutions are known for fixing vacuum cleaner filter bags in the installation space of the vacuum cleaner. Most often, so-called holding plates are used, that is to say flat components which are connected to the bag wall of the vacuum cleaner filter bag and have a through opening that overlaps the inflow opening of the bag wall. The holding plate is pushed into a corresponding receptacle in the vacuum cleaner before it is put into operation, so that it is arranged in a certain position. When the vacuum cleaner is then closed, a nozzle of the vacuum cleaner engages in the through opening of the holding plate so that the air to be filtered can flow into the vacuum cleaner filter bag. Solutions are also known that do not use retaining plates, but are based, for example, on connecting pieces that are attached to corresponding counterparts in the installation space of the vacuum cleaner, such as in the U.S. 2,068,332 disclosed.

Due to limitations with regard to the installation space, retaining plates have been proposed which have flexible areas so that the actually flat components can also be pushed into curved guides. This is intended to enable better adaptation to the installation space. Examples of such retaining plates are from WO 2017/194081 A1 and the WO 2017/196211 A1 known. One proposed solution uses film hinges in order to make a region of the holding plate flexible. However, component failures can easily occur here due to film hinges that cannot be mechanically stressed enough. In particular, the film hinges can be weakened even more by using recycled plastics such as recycled polypropylene, rPP. For ecological reasons, however, the use of recycled plastics is becoming more and more desirable. In addition, the design of the film hinges by injection molding is complex.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide an improved holding plate for a vacuum cleaner filter bag which is, in particular, more reliable to use and easier to manufacture.

This object is achieved by a vacuum cleaner filter bag according to claim 1. Particularly advantageous developments can be found in the subclaims.

The invention thus provides a holding plate comprising a first plate and a second plate which are arranged in a first plane, and a third plate which is arranged in a second plane which runs parallel to the first plane, the third plate being a smaller one Has bending stiffness than the first plate and the second plate, wherein the first plate and the second plate are connected to one another via the third plate that a hinge is formed between the first plate and the second plate, around the hinge axis of which the first plate and / or the second plate with the part of the third plate connected therewith can be bent.

Because the hinge is not formed by a line of weakness in the material, as is usual in the prior art, but by a combination of the three plates, the retaining plate, in particular the hinge, can be designed to be functionally reliable and more flexible in terms of the properties that can be achieved. For example, panels that have been produced using different manufacturing processes can also be combined. For example, one or more plates that have a particularly demanding geometry can be injection molded parts. The thermoforming process is also suitable for simpler structures. It is also possible to combine different materials. For example, the third plate, which is bent during use, can also comprise a material particularly suitable for this, such as, for example, a thermoplastic elastomer, TPE, or consist of it. This then also makes it possible to implement a seal around the vacuum cleaner connector integrally by means of the third TPE plate.

The term “plate” here refers to a flat component, that is to say a component whose extent in a plane (plate width and plate length) is significantly greater than its extent perpendicular to this plane (plate thickness).

The bending stiffness describes the resistance of the plate to elastic deformation by a bending moment and is defined in a manner known to the person skilled in the art.

The third plate can be formed in one piece or made up of several interconnected parts. The third plate is in any case designed in such a way that it connects the first plate to the second plate.

The holding plate can in particular comprise one or more plastics or consist of one or more plastics. In particular, recycled plastics can also be used, such as recycled polypropylene, rPP, and / or recycled polyethylene terephthalate, rPET. The recycled plastic material can be used in particular for the first plate and the second plate can be used. The third plate can then also comprise or consist of new synthetic material (virgin material).

The holding plate can be formed from a combination of injection molded parts or from a combination of parts produced by thermoforming. The retaining plate can also comprise elements manufactured partly by injection molding and partly by thermoforming.

The first plate can in particular only be connected to the second plate via the third plate. In other words, the first plate and the second plate can be completely separate components. However, this does not rule out the fact that there is physical contact between the first plate and the second plate or that there may be in certain positions. The contact surface can also be specifically shaped, for example raised at the edge in order to achieve a larger contact surface and / or to allow movement in only one direction and / or to limit the possible bending angle.

The hinge axis can in particular run parallel to the dividing line between the first plate and the second plate. The hinge axis then also lies in a plane parallel to the first and second plane, in particular in the second plane.

The third plate can in particular be made thinner than the first plate and / or the second plate. The thickness is determined perpendicular to the first and second plane. If the thickness is not constant, the mean thickness can be used as a size. Due to the smaller thickness, a higher flexibility, that is to say a lower flexural rigidity, can be achieved in a simple manner, especially if the same material is used for all plates. For example, the third plate can have a thickness of 0.05 to 1.0 mm, while the first plate and the second plate each have a thickness of 1.0 to 3.0 mm.

The third plate can alternatively or additionally be formed from a different material than the first plate and / or second plate, the material of the third plate having a lower modulus of elasticity than the material of the first plate and / or second plate.

The first plate and the second plate can be glued, welded or positively connected to the third plate. The connection can be designed to be non-destructively releasable or non-destructively releasable. In particular, a riveted connection is possible as a form-fitting connection.

A through opening can be arranged in the first plate, which in particular overlaps with a through opening in the third plate. The through opening or openings form the filling hole when the holding plate is connected to a vacuum cleaner filter bag.

The holding plate can also comprise a sealing lip surrounding the through opening. The sealing lip can comprise a thermoplastic elastomer, for example based on polypropylene, or consist of it. The sealing lip is intended to prevent or limit the escape of dust from the vacuum cleaner filter bag by sealing the area between the inner edge of the through opening and the outside of a connection piece of the vacuum cleaner. In particular, it is possible to form the sealing lip by parts of the third plate if it comprises or consists of a thermoplastic elastomer, TPE, in that the through opening in the third plate has a smaller diameter than the through opening in the first plate.

One or more positioning openings for positioning and / or fastening in a holding plate receptacle can be provided in the second plate. Correspondingly overlapping positioning openings can be provided in the third plate, so that the positioning openings are in the form of through openings in the holding plate. The positioning openings can, however, also be designed as blind holes. During operation, positioning elements of the holding plate holder of the vacuum cleaner can engage in the positioning openings and thus position and / or fix the holding plate.

The invention also provides a vacuum cleaner filter bag comprising a bag wall and a holding plate connected thereto as described above.

The bag wall is made of an air-permeable material and can be constructed in several layers. In the latter case, one also speaks of a laminate. Several layers of the laminate, in particular each layer of the laminate, can comprise or consist of a nonwoven fabric and / or a nonwoven fabric.

A wide variety of plastics can be used as the material for the bag wall, in particular for one or more layers of nonwoven fabric or nonwoven fabric, for example polypropylene and / or polyester. The bag wall can also comprise or consist of recycled plastic and / or recycled material from the manufacture of textiles (textile left-over - TLO).

There are relevant international standards for many plastic recyclates. For PET plastic recyclates, for example, DIN EN 15353: 2007 is relevant. PP recyclates are characterized in DIN EN 15345: 2008. For the purpose of the corresponding special plastic recyclates, the present patent application makes the definitions of these international standards its own. The plastic recyclates can be unmetallized. An example of this are plastic flakes or chips recovered from PET beverage bottles. The plastic recyclates can also be metallized, e.g. if the recyclates were obtained from metallic plastic films, in particular metallized PET films (MPET).

Recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) can be obtained, for example, from beverage bottles, in particular from so-called bottle flakes, that is to say pieces of ground beverage bottles.

The recycled plastics, in particular recycled PET and / or recycled PP, both in the metallized and in the non-metallized version, can be spun into the corresponding fibers, from which the corresponding staple fibers or meltblown or spunbond nonwovens are used for the purposes of the present invention.

Recycled material from the manufacture of textiles (TLO) falls in particular in the processing of textile materials (in particular textile fibers and filaments, as well as linear, flat and spatial textile structures produced with them), such as production (including carding, spinning, cutting and drying) or the recycling of textile materials. These powdery and / or fibrous materials represent waste materials that can settle on the machines or filter materials used to process the textiles. The dusts (powder) or fibers are normally disposed of and thermally recycled.

The pulverulent and / or fibrous recycled material is, for example, production waste; this applies in particular to material that is produced as a waste product during carding, spinning, cutting or drying of textile materials. In this case, one also speaks of "pre-consumer waste".

In the recycling of textile materials, i.e. the processing (e.g. shredding) of used textile materials or textiles (e.g. old clothes), powdered and / or fibrous recycled material is also produced; this is called "post-consumer waste". The recycled material from the manufacture of textiles, TLO, can therefore in particular fibers and or filaments that are made from waste materials from the textile and clothing industry, from post-consumer waste (textiles and the like) and / or from products that are intended for recycling collected, obtained, include.

In the context of the present invention, a nonwoven denotes a random structure that has undergone a consolidation step so that it has sufficient strength to be wound or unwound into rolls by machine (that is to say on an industrial scale), for example. The minimum web tension required for winding is 0.044 N / mm. The web tension should not be higher than 10% to 25% of the minimum maximum tensile force (according to DIN EN 29073-3: 1992-08) of the material to be wound. This results in a minimum maximum tensile force for a material to be wound up of 8.8 N per 5 cm strip width.

A non-woven fabric or simply called "non-woven fabric" corresponds to a random structure, which has not gone through a solidification step, so that, in contrast to a non-woven fabric, such a non-woven structure does not have sufficient strength to be wound or unwound mechanically into rolls, for example.

The term “nonwoven” is used in other words according to the definition according to ISO standard ISO9092: 1988 or CEM standard EN29092. Details on the use of the definitions and / or methods described herein can also be found in the Standard work "Vliesstoffe", W. Albrecht, H. Fuchs, W. Kittelmann, Wiley-VCH, 2000 , remove.

The nonwoven layers of the bag wall can in particular comprise a staple fiber nonwoven and / or an extrusion nonwoven. In particular, filament spunbond nonwovens (also referred to as “spunbond nonwovens” or “spunbond” for short) and / or meltblown nonwovens can be used.

One or more layers of the bag wall can comprise a carded material. Both mechanical processes (e.g. needling) and thermal processes (e.g. calendering) can be used as the binding step. It is also possible to use binding fibers or adhesives, such as a latex adhesive. Airlaid materials are also possible.

The nonwoven fabric of one or more layers of the bag wall can comprise bicomponent fibers. Bicomponent fibers (BiCo fibers) can be formed from a core and a sheath enveloping the core. In addition to core / sheath bicomponent fibers, the other common variants of bicomponent fibers, e.g. B. side-by-side, can be used.

The bicomponent fibers can be present as staple fibers or as filaments in the case of an extrusion nonwoven (for example meltblown nonwoven).

Correspondingly unconsolidated nonwovens are also conceivable, as mentioned.

The non-woven fabric of one or more layers of the bag wall can also have a micro-flange (Micrex).

The bag wall can also comprise an odor absorbent.

The bag wall can in particular comprise a capacity layer. A capacitance layer offers a high resistance to shock loading, and enables a filtering of large dirt particles, a filtering of a significant proportion of small dust particles and a storage or retention of large amounts of particles, the air being allowed to easily flow through, and thus a smaller one Pressure drop with high particle loading results.

The bag wall can also comprise a fine filter layer. A fine filter layer is used to increase the filtration performance of the multi-layer filter material by trapping particles which, for example, pass through the capacitance layer. To further increase the separation efficiency, the fine filter layer can preferably be charged electrostatically (e.g. by corona discharge or hydrocharging), in particular to increase the separation of fine dust particles.

The fine filter layer can in particular adjoin the capacitance layer towards the outside of the bag wall.

A support layer can be attached to the fine filter layer. A support layer (sometimes also called "reinforcement layer") is a layer that gives the multilayer composite of the filter material the necessary mechanical strength. The support layer can in particular be an open, porous nonwoven fabric with a light weight per unit area. The support layer can in particular be a spunbonded nonwoven fabric.

But it is also possible to use a single-layer filter material for the bag wall. In this case, it can in particular be a meltblown nonwoven. A suitable material for such a single-layer bag wall is, for example, from EP 2 311 360 B1 known.

The retaining plate can have one or more of the features described above.

The bag wall can in particular be welded to the third plate, the third plate comprising a plastic which is compatible with the plastic material of the outermost layer of the bag wall to which the third plate is welded. In other words, the material of the third plate can be selected so that it can be welded to the bag wall as firmly as possible.

For good welding results it is necessary that the materials to be joined are matched to one another as much as possible, both in terms of melting points and chemical character (amorphous / partially crystalline). This can be achieved if compatible materials are used. It is also conceivable to use the same material for the outermost layer of the bag wall, to which the third plate is welded, and the third plate.

However, it is also possible that the bag wall is connected to the first plate or the second plate. In this case, the respective plate can comprise a plastic which is compatible with the plastic material of the outermost layer of the bag wall to which the respective plate is welded.

The invention also provides a system comprising an above-described vacuum cleaner filter bag and a holder for the holding plate in a vacuum cleaner housing, the holder being designed so that the first plate and / or the second plate and the respectively connected part of the third plate in the Operating position with respect to the first and second level are bent around the hinge axis. The position in which the holding plate is arranged when the vacuum cleaner is in operation is referred to here as the operating position.

The vacuum cleaner filter bag can have one or more of the features described above.

The holder can in particular have a guide along which the holding plate can be inserted into the holder. This guide can comprise a straight and a curved section. The bend around the hinge axis can be brought about by the curved section.

The bracket can in particular as in the WO 2018/095519 A1 be designed as described.

Figur 1

eine Draufsicht auf eine beispielhafte Halteplatte;

Figur 2

einen Schnitt durch eine beispielhafte Halteplatte;

Figur 3

eine Seitenansicht auf eine beispielhafte Halteplatte in einer ersten Stellung;

Figur 4

eine Seitenansicht auf eine beispielhafte Halteplatte in einer zweiten Stellung; und

Figur 5

eine Draufsicht auf einen beispielhaften Staubsaugerfilterbeutel.

Further features and advantages of the invention are described below with reference to the exemplary figures. It shows:

Figure 1

a plan view of an exemplary retaining plate;

Figure 2

a section through an exemplary retaining plate;

Figure 3

a side view of an exemplary holding plate in a first position;

Figure 4

a side view of an exemplary holding plate in a second position; and

Figure 5

a top view of an exemplary vacuum cleaner filter bag.

Figure 1 shows a plan view of an exemplary holding plate 1, which comprises a first plate 2 and a second plate 3, which are designed as components that are completely separate from one another. In this example, the plates 2, 3 are spaced apart from one another by a gap 7. It would also be conceivable that the plates 2, 3 touch each other in this arrangement, as long as they remain separate components. The first plate 2 and the second plate 3 are only connected by one in Figure 1 non-recognizable third plate, which is arranged in a plane parallel to the plane of the first plate 2 and second plate 3 and in particular is also provided in the area under the gap 7.

Figure 2 shows a section through the exemplary holding plate 1. The third plate 8 is arranged under the first plate 2, the second plate 3 and in particular under the gap 7, so that the third plate 8 connects the plates 2, 3. The third plate 8 is arranged on the side of the holding plate 1 which is intended for connection to the bag wall of a vacuum cleaner filter bag.

The third plate 8 also has a lower flexural rigidity than the first plate 2 and / or second plate 3. In this example, this is achieved in that the third plate 8 is made thinner than both the first plate and the second plate 3. Alternatively or additionally, the third plate 8 can be formed from a different material than the first plate 2 and / or second plate 3, the material of the third plate having a lower modulus of elasticity than the material of the first plate 2 and / or second plate 3.

Due to the higher flexibility of the third plate and the reduced thickness of the holding plate 1 in the region of the gap 7 between the plates 2, 3, a hinge is formed. The hinge axis A is in Figure 1 indicated by a dashed line. The second plate 3 can be bent or pivoted about this hinge axis A with respect to the first plate 2 together with the part of the third plate 8 connected to it. This is in the Figures 3 and 4th shown. In Figure 3 all plates 2, 3, 8 are completely in two parallel planes, while in Figure 4 the second plate 3 and the associated part of the third plate 8 perpendicular to the planes of the Figure 3 is bent around the hinge axis A. As a result, the holding plate 1 can also be introduced into receptacles which have a curved guide and thus require a holding plate with flexible areas.

As in Figures 1 and 2 shown, a through opening 4 is formed in the first plate 2, which, as Figure 2 shows, also extends through the third plate 8. As a result, an inflow opening is formed together with a through opening in the bag wall of a vacuum cleaner filter bag. However, it is also conceivable that the third plate 8 does not extend over the entire underside of the first plate 1 and thus does not overlap the through opening 4 in the first plate 2. The inflow opening is then only formed by the through opening 4 in the first plate 2 together with the through opening in the bag wall.

The holding plate 1 has, in a manner known per se, a sealing lip 10 made of a thermoplastic elastomer, TPE, which in this example is injection molded onto the edge of the through opening 4 of the first plate 2. However, it is also possible to form the sealing lip 10 by the third plate 8 if it comprises or consists of a thermoplastic elastomer, TPE, in that the through opening in the third plate 8 has a smaller diameter than the through opening 4 in the first plate 2. According to further alternatives, the sealing lip 10 can also be glued or welded onto the first plate 2 from above or below. "Above" denotes the side facing away from the third plate 8 and "below" the side facing the third plate 8.

Also in Figure 1 two positioning openings 5, 6 can be seen in the second plate 3 for positioning and / or fastening in a holding plate receptacle. The positioning openings 5, 6 can also be provided as through holes in the third plate 8. During operation, positioning elements of the holding plate holder of the vacuum cleaner can engage in the positioning openings 5, 6 and thus position and / or fix the holding plate 1.

In Figure 5 the holding plate 1 is connected to a bag wall 9 of a vacuum cleaner filter bag. The bag wall 9 can in particular be welded to the third plate 8, the third plate 8 comprising a plastic which is compatible with the plastic material of the outermost layer of the bag wall 9 to which the third plate 8 is welded. As a result, the strength of the welded connection between the holding plate 1 and the bag wall 9 can be improved.

The bag wall 9 comprises several nonwoven layers or several nonwoven and fibrous nonwoven layers which overlap one another from the inside of the bag to the outside of the bag. The nonwoven or fiber nonwoven layers can lie loosely on top of one another or be connected to one another. The connections can be made over a large area (e.g. using spray adhesive) or selectively (e.g. using a calendering pattern).

The individual layers can in particular comprise different plastic materials, namely one below the other and / or within a respective layer.

The exemplary vacuum cleaner filter bag from Figure 5 is a so-called flat bag, in which the bag wall 9 comprises an upper side and a lower side, which are connected to one another by a circumferential weld seam. As mentioned above, both the upper side and the lower side of the flat bag comprise several layers of filter material, in particular several layers of nonwoven fabric or several layers of nonwoven fabric and nonwoven fibers. Both the upper side and the lower side can in particular be formed from a laminate of several nonwoven layers. However, the invention is not limited to flat bags, but can also be used, for example, for gusseted bags or block-bottom bags.

In this example, the holding plate 1 advantageously comprises a recycled plastic material, for example recycled polypropylene (rPP) or recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET).

It goes without saying that the features mentioned in the exemplary embodiments described above are not restricted to these special combinations and are also possible in any other combinations. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the geometries shown in the figures are only exemplary and are also possible in any other configurations.

Claims (9)

Holding plate (1) comprising a first plate (2) and a second plate (3) which are arranged in a first plane, and a third plate (8) which is arranged in a second plane which runs parallel to the first plane, wherein the third plate (8) has a lower flexural rigidity than the first plate (2) and the second plate (3), the first plate (2) and the second plate (3) thus connected to one another via the third plate (8) are that between the first plate (2) and the second plate (3) a hinge is formed around the hinge axis (A) of the first plate (2) and / or the second plate (3) with the part of the third plate (8) are bendable. Holding plate according to claim 1, wherein the third plate (8) is made thinner than the first plate (2) and / or the second plate (3). Holding plate according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the third plate (8) is formed from a different material than the first plate (2) and / or the second plate (3), the material of the third plate (8) having a lower modulus of elasticity than comprises the material of the first plate (2) and / or of the second plate (3). Retaining plate according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first plate (2) and the second plate (3) are glued, welded or positively connected to the third plate (8). Retaining plate according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a through opening (4) is arranged in the first plate (2), which in particular overlaps with a through opening (4) in the third plate (8). Retaining plate according to one of the preceding claims, one or more positioning openings (5, 6) for positioning and / or fastening in a retaining plate receptacle being provided in the second plate (3). A vacuum cleaner filter bag comprising a bag wall (9) and a holding plate (1) connected to it according to one of the preceding claims. Vacuum cleaner filter bag according to claim 7, wherein the bag wall (9) is welded to the third plate (8) and wherein the third plate (8) comprises a plastic which is compatible with the plastic material of the outermost layer of the bag wall (9) to which the third plate (8) is welded. System comprising a vacuum cleaner filter bag according to claim 7 or 8 and a holder for the holding plate (1) in a vacuum cleaner housing, the holder being designed so that the first plate (2) and / or the second plate (3) and the respectively connected thereto Part of the third plate (8) in the operating position relative to the first and second level are bent about the hinge axis (A).

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