EP4125526A1

EP4125526A1 - Cleaning device for wet cleaning

Info

Publication number: EP4125526A1
Application number: EP21708984.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marc Heiland; Christian Stenglein
Original assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
Current assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
Priority date: 2020-03-27
Filing date: 2021-03-01
Publication date: 2023-02-08
Also published as: DE102020108607A1; DE102020108607B4; US20230135446A1; CN115279241A; WO2021190862A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning device and to a method for operating such a cleaning device. The object of the present invention is to make available a cleaning device which is of compact construction and which at the same time provides good cleaning performance. The cleaning device (100) has a housing (1), a drive device (2) for automatically moving the cleaning device (100) in a movement direction (V), and a wet-cleaning module (3) which is received in the housing (1) and has a movable cleaning element (30) for the wet cleaning of surfaces (1000) that are to be cleaned. According to the invention, it has been found to be advantageous for the cleaning element to have a band-shaped design, which permits good utilization of the cleaning surface of the cleaning element.

Description

CLEANING DEVICE FOR DAMP CLEANING

The invention relates to a cleaning device according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for operating such a cleaning device according to claim 16.

State of the art

Different self-propelled cleaning devices for wet cleaning of floor surfaces are known from the prior art. DE 10 2017 126 414 A1 shows a cleaning device for wet cleaning of floor surfaces, which has a plate-shaped cleaning element with a wipe that can be raised and lowered. As a result, the cleaning element can be brought into contact with the surface to be cleaned. The cleaning element has a relatively large cleaning surface. As a result, the dimensions of the cleaning device are also not compact.

When the cleaning device moves over the surface to clean it, the dirt mainly collects in the front area of the cleaning element. Uniform use of the cleaning surface is therefore not possible and the cleaning element has to be replaced, although it still has areas that are not very dirty. In the prior art, cleaning devices for wet cleaning of floor surfaces are also known which have rotating brushes as cleaning elements. With such devices, however, there is only an approximately linear contact of the cleaning element with the surface to be cleaned. This makes it more difficult to pick up dirt from the surface to be cleaned.

Task

The object of the present invention is to create a cleaning device which has a compact structure and at the same time offers good cleaning performance.

Technical solution

This object is achieved by a cleaning device with the characteristics of claim 1.

According to the invention, it was recognized as advantageous to design the cleaning element in the form of a strip, which allows good utilization of the cleaning surface of the cleaning element:

The cleaning device according to the invention has a housing, a drive device for automatically moving the cleaning device in a direction of movement and a dampening cleaning module accommodated in the housing. The direction of movement can also be referred to as the main direction of movement. The damp cleaning module has a movable cleaning element with a cleaning surface for contacting and cleaning the surface to be cleaned. The cleaning device is used for wet cleaning of surfaces to be cleaned, in particular floors. According to the invention, the cleaning element is designed in the form of a band, ie relatively thin and long, in particular having a wipe. The advantage of such a configuration of the cleaning element is that the belt-shaped cleaning element provides a cleaning surface that is relatively large in comparison to cleaning brushes and, at the same time, good utilization of the cleaning surface is ensured. Thanks to the band-shaped configuration of the cleaning element, a compact construction of the cleaning device is also made possible.

In a particularly advantageous and therefore preferred development of the cleaning device, the wet cleaning module for the belt-shaped cleaning element has three positions:

As the first position, a cleaning position in which the cleaning element contacts the surface to be cleaned with the cleaning surface of the cleaning element.

- As a second position, a parking position in which the cleaning element is spaced from the surface to be cleaned.

- And as a third position, a regeneration position located between the cleaning position and the parking position, in which the cleaning element can be regenerated, i.e. cleaned and processed. Alternatively, the parking position and the regeneration position can coincide and have a common position. This means that both the regeneration position and the parking position are in the second position. If a regeneration takes place in which the cleaning element is regenerated, that is, it is cleaned and prepared, the position has the function of a regeneration position. If there is currently no regeneration, the position has the function of a park position.

The wet cleaning module also has a transport mechanism for moving the cleaning element into its cleaning position, its park position and its regeneration position. With such a cleaning device it is made possible in an advantageous manner that the cleaning element does not have to be replaced after use and when the degree of contamination is high, but can be regenerated again, ie processed, in the cleaning device itself. It is also ensured that the cleaning element only makes contact with the surface to be cleaned when cleaning is to take place. If the surface to be cleaned is a parquet floor, for example, it is particularly important that the damp cleaning element only contacts the parquet to be cleaned during the cleaning process. This prevents the parquet from swelling or the formation of water stains.

In an advantageous embodiment of the cleaning device described above, the transport mechanism is designed as at least one revolving belt with at least one drive roller and at least one deflection roller. The at least one circumferential belt can also be designed as a pair of circumferential, parallel belts.

The cleaning element is attached and fixed on the outside of the revolving belt with fixing means. The fixation can take place, for example, by means of a Velcro fastener or by means of snaps. This enables the cleaning element to be exchanged easily and enables intensive external cleaning, for example by washing in a washing machine. The deflection roller of the transport mechanism can either exclusively have the function of deflecting or have an additional function for driving the belt and thus also be designed as a drive roller.

In an advantageous development of the cleaning device according to the invention, the wet cleaning module has a regeneration unit for cleaning the cleaning element, each with at least one cleaning brush and / or a scraper comb and / or a spray device for moistening and / or Rinsing the cleaning element and / or a water tank and / or a pair of squeezing rollers and / or a disinfectant. A disinfectant is a device in which the cleaning element is disinfected. If necessary, a disinfectant, i.e. a disinfecting liquid, can also be used. A UV lamp, for example, can be used as a disinfectant to irradiate the cleaning element. It is also possible, for example, for two water tanks to be provided, a fresh water tank and a dirty water tank.

In a particularly advantageous and therefore preferred development of the cleaning device according to the invention, the following applies to the dimensions of the cleaning surface of the cleaning element: The extent in the direction of movement of the cleaning device is smaller than the extent perpendicular to the direction of movement of the cleaning device. That means the depth of the cleaning surface is smaller than the width of the cleaning surface. The depth is in particular a maximum of 10 cm, in particular a maximum of 3 -6 cm. Since most of the dirt is collected in the front area anyway - as seen in the direction of movement of the cleaning device, a compact design of the cleaning device is combined with a wide cleaning area and good cleaning performance.

Tests have found that it is particularly advantageous if the cleaning element can be moved perpendicular to the direction of movement of the cleaning device. In particular when the cleaning element is designed as a revolving belt, it is advantageous if the belt can be moved back and forth perpendicular to the direction of movement. As a result, an effective scrubbing movement of the cleaning element can be generated and the cleaning performance can be improved. In one possible embodiment of the cleaning device, the cleaning element is made of a textile material. The textile material can be microfiber, for example. The textile material can alternatively be a mixture of microfibers and other textiles. It is also advantageous if the cleaning element is made up of different plies or layers.

If the cleaning element is made of a textile material, it has been recognized as advantageous to use plastic elements, e.g. plastic strips, to stiffen the cleaning surface of the cleaning element. An alternative Ver stiffening can be done by additional textile strips connected to the textile material. This has the advantage that the area of the cleaning surface of the cleaning element is designed to be dimensionally stable.

In an advantageous variant of the cleaning device, the cleaning element has, in a cleaning position or in its cleaning position, a horizontal partial cleaning surface for cleaning a horizontal surface, e.g. a floor, and a vertical partial cleaning surface for cleaning a vertical surface, e.g. a skirting board.

In a further development, the cleaning surface of the cleaning element can be convexly curved at least in some areas, the curvature extending perpendicular to the direction of movement of the cleaning device. The cleaning surface of the cleaning element particularly preferably has a flat cleaning surface, which is followed by convex curvatures in and against the direction of movement. The advantage of such a shaping of the cleaning surface is, inter alia, that the area of the cleaning element in contact with the surface to be cleaned is embedded in a stable manner and thus shows less wear than the frictional stress. Alternatively or additionally, the cleaning surface can be between at least two opposite the edges of the cleaning surface are raised ramps, so that an unintentional detachment of the cleaning element by obstacles or disruptive objects on the surface to be cleaned is prevented.

In a further development of the cleaning device, it has a sensor, in particular an optical sensor, for detecting the surface to be cleaned or the cleaned surface and for determining the cleaning success. In particular, the sensor can be arranged above the cleaning element in its cleaning position and can be activated when the cleaning element is outside its cleaning position (A), for example in its parked position. This advantageously enables the cleaning success to be determined immediately after cleaning has taken place without the cleaning device having to be moved in its position. Rather, only the cleaning element has to be moved from its cleaning position into the parking position. The result of the measurement or the result of the determined cleaning success can be displayed, for example, via an app on a smartphone of the user of the cleaning facility.

It is preferred if the cleaning element of the cleaning device is provided with a communication means, which in particular is provided with an electrically readable identifier, for communication with the cleaning device. The means of communication can, for example, be QR codes, punched tape patterns or radio transponders such as RFID chips. Such a configuration has the advantage that it is made possible to provide the user of the cleaning device with instructions for using a correct cleaning element that matches the cleaning surface and for replacing the cleaning element in good time to ensure the cleaning performance. This information can also be communicated via an app, for example. The cleaning performance of the cleaning device can be further improved in that the cleaning device additionally has a dry cleaning module accommodated in the housing for dry cleaning of the surfaces to be cleaned. The damp cleaning module and the dry cleaning module are preferably arranged one behind the other in the direction of movement of the cleaning device, the dry cleaning module lying in front of the damp cleaning module in the direction of movement when driving forward. Pre-cleaning can thus take place through the dry cleaning module and it is ensured that the surface to be cleaned which is moistened by the wet cleaning module can dry and is not smeared by cleaning elements of the dry cleaning module.

The invention also relates to a method for operating a cleaning device as described above, the cleaning element in its cleaning position executing a back and forth movement as a scrubbing movement. Due to the not only wiping but also scrubbing movement of the cleaning element, firmly adhering protection can be reliably removed and the cleaning performance can be significantly increased.

The described invention and the described advantageous developments of the invention also represent advantageous developments of the invention in combination with one another - insofar as this is technically sensible.

With regard to further advantages and structural and functional aspects of advantageous embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the subclaims and the description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. Embodiment

The invention will be explained in more detail in the figures attached to Fland. Corresponding elements and components are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures. For the sake of a better clarity of the figures, a representation true to scale has been dispensed with.

It show in a schematic representation

1 shows a cleaning device in a view from below

2a shows the cleaning device in a sectional illustration. FIG. 2b shows an alternative embodiment of a cleaning device in a sectional illustration

3 shows a detailed representation of a possible embodiment of a

Cleaning facility

Fig. 4 shows a variant of the cleaning device in a sectional view

In Fig. 1, a cleaning device 100 is in a view from below Darge provides. The cleaning device 100 has a housing 1 in which a drive device 2, a damp cleaning module 3 and a dry cleaning module 4 are accommodated. The drive device 2 has two driven wheels. The dry cleaning module 4 is built up segmented and has two rotatable brushes and a rotatable roller. In a direction of movement V, which is the main direction of movement of the cleaning device 100, the dry cleaning module 4 lies in front of the wet cleaning module 3 Dry cleaning module 4 and then done by means of the damp cleaning module 3. The damp cleaning module 3 has a cleaning element 30 with a cleaning surface 37.1., Which can be brought into contact with the surface 1000 to be cleaned. The cleaning surface 37.1. has an extension s1 in the direction of movement V and an extension s2 perpendicular to the direction of movement V, ie a depth s1 and a width s2. The depth s1 is in this case essential Lich less than the width s2, which extends essentially over the width of the cleaning device 100. As indicated by a double arrow, the cleaning element 30 can be moved back and forth perpendicular to the direction of movement V, that is, it can execute a movement from right to left and back again in the plane of the drawing. As a result, a scrubbing movement of the cleaning element 30 is generated, which brings about a particularly good cleaning performance of the wet cleaning module 3. This scrubbing movement is also indicated in Fig. 2a by a double arrow.

From the sectional view of Fig. 2a, the structure of the wet cleaning module 3 can be seen. The damp cleaning module 3 has a belt-shaped cleaning element 30 which is attached to a circumferential belt 32 by means of fixing means 35. The circulating belt 32 is part of a transport mechanism 31 for moving the cleaning element 30. In addition to the circulating belt 32, the transport mechanism 31 has at least one drive roller 33 and a deflection roller 34 around which the circulating belt 32 is guided. The revolving belt 32 is thus designed as an endless belt and is moved by the drive roller 33 - as shown by a double arrow. The wet cleaning module 3 has three different positions for the belt-shaped cleaning element 30: a cleaning position A, in which the cleaning element 30 contacts the surface 1000 to be cleaned (not shown) and effects cleaning, a parking position B2 in which the belt-shaped cleaning element 30 is removed from the area to be cleaned Area 1000 is spaced and a third position, namely a regeneration position B1, which is located between cleaning position A and parking position B2.

A regeneration unit 36, which serves to clean the cleaning element 30, is arranged in the area of the regeneration position B1. The cleaning element 30 is regenerated while the cleaning element 30 is being moved through the regeneration unit 36 by the transport mechanism 31. The regeneration unit 36 can have different components, which are provided with reference symbols in FIG. 2b: a cleaning brush 36.1, a spray device 36.2, a squeezing roller 36.3, which together with the drive roller 33 functions as a roller pair. The components of the regeneration unit 36 are shown by way of example. In addition to the components not shown, wiper combs, tanks or disinfectants can also be provided, for example.

In Fig. 2b, the wet cleaning module 3 of the cleaning device 100 is shown in a specific application. The cleaning element 30 makes contact with a surface 1000 to be cleaned and thereby effects the cleaning of the surface. The cleaning element 30 has a horizontal cleaning surface 37.1, which contacts a horizontal surface 1000 to be cleaned. The cleaning element 30 also has a vertical cleaning surface 37.2, which contacts a vertical surface 1000 to be cleaned. The vertical surface 1000 to be cleaned can be, for example, a skirting board, and the horizontal surface 1000 to be cleaned can be a floor, for example.

A sensor 6, for example an optical sensor, is arranged above the cleaning element 30 in its cleaning position A. With the help of this sensor 6, the cleaning success can be determined. So that the line of sight between the sensor 6 and the surface 1000 to be cleaned is free, the cleaning element 30 must move from its cleaning position A to its parking position B2 or at least moved into its regeneration position B1. The sensor 6 can then detect the condition of the surface to be cleaned. The cleaning element 30 can then be moved back into its cleaning position A and the surface 1000 can be cleaned. After cleaning has taken place, the cleaning element 30 can be moved again into the regeneration position B1 or into the parking position B2 and a renewed detection by the sensor 6 can take place. A cleaning success can be determined by comparing the measurement before and after cleaning. Alternatively, reference values can also be stored in a memory (not shown) of a control unit of the cleaning element 30, which allow a comparison of actual values with stored target values.

A communication means 39 is attached to the band-shaped cleaning element 30, which, with a corresponding arrangement, can also be read out by the sensor 6. Alternatively, however, another detection means could also be provided in order to read out the communication means 39. The communication means 39 can be designed, for example, as a data matrix code or as an RFID chip or RFID tag. The type of execution of the cleaning device, a maximum planned and / or already completed number of cleaning cycles, the time of the first use, etc. can be assigned to the communication means 39 as information.

In Fiq. 3 shows a detailed view of an embodiment variant of the damp cleaning module 3. The cleaning element 30 is designed as a band-shaped textile material which has plastic elements 38 to stiffen its cleaning surface. In order to prevent the cleaning element 30 from being damaged, pushed off or stripped off when it comes into contact with a flinder 1001 during cleaning, ramps 5 are provided on both sides of the cleaning element 30. These form while driving over an obstacle 1001 by the cleaning element 30 a protection for the cleaning element 30.

From the sectional view of Fiq. 4 shows an alternative structure of a damp cleaning module 3. The wet cleaning module 3 has a band-shaped cleaning element 30 which can be moved by a transport mechanism 31. The wet cleaning module 3 has two different positions for the band-shaped cleaning element 30: a cleaning position A, in which the cleaning element 30 contacts the surface to be cleaned 1000 (not shown) and effects cleaning, and a parking position B2 in which the band-shaped cleaning element 30 is removed from the surface 1000 to be cleaned is spaced apart, this position B then functioning as regeneration position B1 when the cleaning element 30 is regenerated there.

List of reference symbols

1 housing

2 drive device

3 damp cleaning module

4 dry cleaning module

5 ramp

6 sensor

30 cleaning element

31 Transport Mechanism

32 circumferential belt

33 Drive roller

34 Idler pulley

35 Position fixative

36 regeneration unit

36.1 cleaning brush

36.2 Spray device

36.3 Squeeze roller

37 cleaning area

37.1 horizontal cleaning surface

37.2 vertical cleaning surface

38 Plastic element for stiffening

39 Means of Communication

100 cleaning facility

1000 surfaces to be cleaned

1001 flinder or object s1 extension in the direction of movement s2 extension perpendicular to the direction of movement

A cleaning position B1 regeneration position

B2 parking position

B common regeneration position and parking position

V direction of movement

Claims

Expectations

1. Cleaning device (100) with a housing (1), a drive device (2) for automatically moving the cleaning device (100) in a direction of movement (V) and a damp cleaning module (3) with a movable cleaning element accommodated in the housing (1) (30) for wet cleaning of surfaces (1000) to be cleaned, characterized in that the cleaning element (30) is designed in the form of a strip.

2. Cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the wet cleaning module (3) for the belt-shaped cleaning element

(30) has three positions:

- A cleaning position (A) in which the cleaning element (30) contacts the surface (1000) to be cleaned with a cleaning surface (37, 37: 1, 37: 2),

- A parking position (B2) in which the cleaning element (30) is spaced from the surface (1000) to be cleaned, and

- A regeneration position (B1) located between the cleaning position (A) and parking position (B2) or a regeneration position (B1) in the parking position (B2), in which the cleaning element (30) can be regenerated, and that the wet cleaning module (3) a transport mechanism

(31) has for moving the cleaning element (30) into its cleaning position (A), parking position (B2) and regeneration position (B1).

3. Cleaning device according to claim 2, characterized in that the transport mechanism (31) is designed as a revolving belt (32) with at least one drive roller (33) and at least one deflection roller (34). is guided and that the cleaning element (30) is attached to the outside of the circumferential belt (32) with fixing means (35).

4. Cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the damp cleaning module (3) has a regeneration unit (36) for cleaning the cleaning element (30) with at least one cleaning brush (36.1) and / or a scraper comb and / or a Sprüheinrich device (36.2) and / or a water tank and / or a pair of squeezing rollers (36.3) and / or a disinfectant.

5. Cleaning device according to claim 4, characterized in that the disinfectant has at least one UV lamp.

6. Cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the extent of the cleaning surface (37) of the cleaning element (30) in the direction of movement (V) of the cleaning device (100) is smaller than the extent perpendicular to the direction of movement (V) of the cleaning device (100) ).

7. Cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning element (30) is movable perpendicular to the direction of movement (V) of the cleaning device (100).

8. Cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning surface (37) of the cleaning element (30) is made of a textile material. 9. Cleaning device according to claim 8, characterized in that the cleaning element (30) has plastic elements (38) for stiffening the cleaning surface (37).

10. Cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning element (30) in one or in its cleaning position (A) has a horizontal partial cleaning surface (37.1) for cleaning a horizontal surface (1000) and a vertical partial cleaning surface (37.2) for cleaning a vertical face (1000).

11. Cleaning device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the cleaning surface (37) of the cleaning element (30) is at least partially convex and / or that the cleaning surface (30) between raised ramps (37) opposite the edges of the cleaning surface (37). 5) lies.

12. Cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning device (100) has at least one sensor (6), in particular an optical sensor, for detecting the surface to be cleaned (1000) and for determining the cleaning success.

13. Cleaning device at least according to claim 2 and 12, characterized in that the sensor (6) is arranged above the cleaning element (30) and can be activated when the cleaning element (30) is outside its cleaning position (A).

14. Cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning element (30) is provided with a communication means (39) for communication with the cleaning device (100).

15. Cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning device (100) additionally has a dry cleaning module (4) received in the housing (1) for dry cleaning of surfaces to be cleaned (1000) and that damp cleaning module (3) and Dry cleaning module (4) are arranged one behind the other in the direction of movement (V) of the cleaning device (100), the

Dry cleaning module (4) is in the direction of movement (V) in front of the wet cleaning module (3).

16. A method for operating a cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning element (30) in its cleaning position (A) performs a back and forth movement as a scrubbing movement.