FR2840180A1 - VACUUM CLEANER WITH SCRAPER - Google Patents

Abstract

The vacuum cleaner nozzle (1) has a sole plate (3) with an aspiration channel (4). Two scraping plates (5a,5b) are located on either side of the aspiration channel and attached to rods (7a,7b) which are pivoted (6a,6b) at their inner ends. For each direction of motion (F1,F2) the leading scraping blade tends to scrape and disturb dust from the pile (11) of a carpeted surface (8) An Independent claim is also included for : A vacuum cleaner which uses the nozzle

Description

VACUUM CLEANER WITH RAC LAG E DEVICE

  The present invention relates to a dust vacuum cleaner nozzle, and more particularly to an improvement in the dust removal performance of

carpet-like surfaces.

  As represented in FIG. 1, it is known from document GB 855,613 to use a rubber rule for scraping rubbish, said rule having two levers 139 and 140 articulated around a fastener 121. On either side of this wind rule has openings connecting the flow channel 120 with the suction channel 141. When the squeegee 100 moves in the direction H. under the effect of friction with the surface to be cleaned, the lip 139 comes

  close the opening 260. The air is then sucked in under the front edge 132 of the nozzle.

  In this way, the rule makes it possible not only to collect and root the dust on the surface to be cleaned, but also to close off the half-channel located at

  the back of the rule with respect to the direction of movement.

  However, if such a nozzle is relatively effective on smooth floors, such as parquet or tiled floors, it is rather ineffective for cleaning carpet or carpet type floors where most of the dust is localized between the polls of the carpet, or in physical connection to the carpet so it's

  difficult, with a simple flow of suction air, to dislodge this dust.

  In the remainder of this document, we designate by carpet, any type of surface composed of fibers and / or polls, these surfaces possibly being carpets,

  wall coverings, towels, carpets ...

  An improvement of this device was proposed by the Applicant in application WO 00/65979. In this device, the suction channel of the squeegee open towards the surface to be cleaned is separated in two by an articulated blade which, according to the direction of movement of the squeegee takes a position which, on the one hand

To 2840180

  stresses the surface to be cleaned, and, on the other hand, closes a portion of the internal suction channel of the squeegee, the active part of said channel being located at the rear

  of the scraper blade in the direction of displacement of the squeegee.

  The blade therefore makes it possible to solicit the fibers of the soil to dislodge the

  dust, immediately caught in an air flow.

  This device works to satisfaction, but the arrangement of the scraper rule in the middle of the suction channel, thereby reducing the width of said channel by two, can cause, depending on the configuration of the nozzle, some discomfort during

['aspiration of bulky waste.

  The present invention aims to improve the device presented on the principle of a solicitation of the carpet fibers with an immediately consecutive suction of the suspended dust, and this, whatever the direction of

displacement of the squeegee.

  The present invention is achieved using a vacuum cleaner suction nozzle having at least one suction channel open towards the surface to be cleaned, and aeraulically connected to a flow channel, said suction channel being substantially transverse to the direction of movement of the squeegee, said squeegee comprising at least one blade capable of being in contact with the surface to be cleaned, said blade being parallel to said suction channel, characterized in that the blade is arranged close in front of the suction channel as seen with respect to the direction of displacement of the nozzle and in that this blade is integral with the end of an arm, the other end of which pivots freely around an axis parallel to said blade and situated substantially directly above the suction channel. Thus, when the squeegee is advanced, this blade approaches the surface a

  clean, under the effect of its weight and its friction with the surface.

  The simplified device as presented retains the specificity, during the passage of the nozzle on a carpet, of a solicitation by scraping the polls from the carpet prior to suction, said polls then being removed by the passage of the blade to dislodge them. the dust, immediately taken

in an aeraulic current.

  Advantageously, each of the ends of the blade is secured to a pivoting arm, which gives more rigidity to said blade. Advantageously, the blade has stops to stop its pivoting movement in order to control the scraping effect and not to brace the blade

under the squeegee.

  Preferably, in order to give the nozzle a symmetry of efficiency whatever the direction of movement of the nozzle, the latter has two blades located

  in front and back of the suction channel.

  Advantageously, the two blades are arranged in a frame delimiting the canals of suction and one part of the canals, the frame being movable.

  pivoting about an axis parallel to the blades.

  Thus, under the effect of friction with the surface to be cleaned of the blade located in front of the suction channel according to the direction of displacement of the nozzle, said

  blade swivels closer to the surface to be cleaned.

  The arrangement of the scraper blades at the edges delimiting the suction channel also makes it possible, by adapting the housing of the frame, not to restrict the width of said channel at the level of the blades, which is favorable

  for [aspiration and disposal of "bulky" waste.

  In addition, the proposed implementation is as effective as the nozzle is moved,

  perpendicular to the scraper blades, in one direction or in opposite direction.

  Finally, the reaiisation of a soul-assembly constitutes a frame mounted in pivoting and whose edges constitute the scraper blades makes it possible to have only one piece which can be easily mounted in the channel

  suction, which reduces manufacturing costs.

  Advantageously, the frame has stops to stop its pivoting movement, which makes it possible to adjust the search effect of driving the blades into the carpet, while avoiding, by excessive rotation, that the blades

  do not lift the squeegee too much, which would reduce its suction efficiency.

  Advantageously, such stops also achieve airtightness of the

  squeegee at this level, in order to force the aspirated air to pass under the scraper blades.

  According to an advantageous version of embodiment, the blade is protuberant from a height between one and five millimeters when the frame pivots against the stops. Such values allow the carpet to be used in depth without excessively increasing the floor clearance of the squeegee at the suction channel, which could be detrimental to the efficiency of the squeegee. This height can be different on each of the blades in order to differentiate the effect

  depending on the direction of movement of the squeegee.

  According to one of the embodiments, the axis of the framework is arranged in line with the

  suction channel, which allows the blades to have a rotational movement

  more penetrating into the surface to be cleaned.

  Advantageously, the axis of the frame is arranged in the median plane of the suction channel. This symmetrical arrangement makes it possible to obtain the desired effect in an analogous manner depending on whether the nozzle is moved in one direction or in

  The other, in a direction perpendicular to the scraper blades.

  According to an alternative embodiment, the nozzle has means for modifying its ground clearance, according to the direction of movement of said nozzle. This asymmetry makes it possible to have a different level of penetration of the blade into the carpet according to the direction of movement of the squeegee, with the aim of causing a force of

  movement of the user by the different user according to the movement direction.

  This level, or ground clearance, can be obtained by an axis of rotation of the frame

  offset from the median plane of the suction channel.

  According to an improved version of the invention, the frame has at least one injection channel open towards the surface to be treated. It is indeed interesting, in order to increase the efficiency of the nozzle, to be able to dislodge the dust from the polls of

  the carpet using a localized air flow.

  Advantageously, the injection channel is located at the front of at least one of the blades in the direction of displacement of the nozzle, which makes it possible to best associate the effect of the air flow with the coating effect. polls by the action of the blade

  on said polls. Air is thus blown between the polls spread by the blade.

  This effect is reinforced by the use of blower means connected to the injection channel. This provides, when the vacuum cleaner is started, an air intake

  into the surface to be cleaned in the form of an air jet.

  As a variant or in addition, the injection channel can be connected to a container

  containing treatment products, such as detergent.

  Advantageously, the injection channel opens out in the form of slots or holes regularly distributed on a substantially horizontal wall and adjoining along the blade, said wall being located inward towards the interior of the nozzle.

compared to the end of the blade.

  The creation of slots or regularly distributed holes along the blade ensures the homogeneity of the air injection, which is also accelerated in the passage of the holes or slots, to improve the efficiency of stalling dust

carpet polls.

  According to one of the versions envisaged, the nozzle has, advantageously, a mechanism making it possible to adjust the height of the frame in the duct.

eVou suction flow.

  This mechanism allows, on the one hand, to adjust the height of the blades in the factory according to the types of carpet frequently encountered in the various countries, and, on the other hand, it allows the user to adapt his crevice tool to the different types of carpet he may have in his possession, in order to get the most out of his device. According to alternative embodiments, the ends of the blades can be fa, connee so as to cause different stresses depending on the case encountered, or even within the same nozzle. The end can thus be either

  beveled, and / or crenellated, and / or provided with polls.

  Advantageously, the vacuum cleaner nozzle according to the invention comprises at least one sealing flap, located at the front and / or at the rear of the nozzle and / or located at the front and / or at the rear of the nozzle. suction channel, depending on the direction of movement of the squeegee, which increases its efficiency. Such a bib can be

  made of elastomer or made up of very paired polls.

  In addition to the suction channel provided with blades as previously defined, the squeegee also has a suction opening open towards the surface to be cleaned and connected aeraulically to an air flow channel. sucks, said suction opening being free of blades, thus allowing

  the nozzle to increase the suction surface.

  Another object of the present invention also relates to the production of a dust vacuum cleaner comprising in particular a motor group capable of generating a flow of air suction in conduits "closed by a nozzle open to the surface to be cleaned, said nozzle conforming to one of the

  characteristics previously stated.

  The present invention will be better understood from the description which follows.

  follow, with reference to the appended figures, among which: - Figure 1 is a schematic side sectional view of a nozzle of the prior art, - Figure 2 shows the operating principle of the present invention, in a view symbolic section, - Figures 3 and 4 show the operating principle of a variant of the present invention, in a schematic view in a side section, - Figure 5 is a schematic view of a vacuum nozzle according to a variant embodiment of the present invention, in a bottom view, - Figure 6 is an isolated view of the frame and the blades shown in the figure, in a bottom view. Referring to Figure 2, the nozzle 1 according to the present invention comprises a sole 3 having an opening defining a suction channel 4. The usual movement! of the squeegee is made according to F1 or F2. The direction of displacement F1 can be considered as a usual displacement of the squeegee towards the front, the direction F2 as a displacement of the squeegee towards the rear. One of the main characteristics of the invention is to have a scraper rule at the outer edge of the suction channel 4. By way of example, the nozzle of FIG. 2 has two scraper rules 5a, 5b located on either side of

suction channel 4.

  These wind rules connected, by an oblique arm, respectively 7a, 7b, to a pivot axis 6a, 6b, the movement of rotation of the rules taking place according to the

  arcs of circles dotted figures in the figure.

  The axes 6a, 6b of rotation of the wind blades preferably located near the median plane of the suction channel so that the blades are pivoted

  according to a race which frankly penetrates the polls of the carpet.

  Thus, in operation, when the nozzle is moved in the direction F1, the blade 5a, located in front of the suction channel according to the displacement of the nozzle, under the effect of friction with the polls 11 of the soil 8, pivots around the axis 6a sinking, cant in the polls of the carpet according to the arrow indicated. This causes a scraping of the polls which favors the extraction of dust immediately

  entrainées by the suction flow in the suction channel.

  When the squeegee is moved in the direction F2, the blade 5b pivots in turn,

  in a manner analogous to the blade 5a as previously explained.

  It is preferable to provide the blades with pivoting stops so that they do not sink too far into the polls of the carpet, which could cause a

  tilting of the blade under the suction channel.

  Figures 3 and 4 illustrate schematically the general principle of an alternative embodiment of the invention. The nozzle 10, partially present, has walls 12a and 12b defining a flow channel 14

  opening into a suction channel 16 open to the surface to be cleaned.

  The surface 8 to be cleaned is of the carpet type and includes polls 11 encrusted

dust 13.

  More particularly according to the invention, a frame 24 is arranged inside the flow channel 14, so as to present two walls 26a, 26b

  forming a funnel and defining the suction channel 16.

  The end of the walls 26a, 26b respectively form a blade 27a, 27b for scraping in contact with the polls of the carpet. The lower edge of the blades 27a, 27b can be bevelled if a strong whipping effect is desired on the

  polls, or rounded to protect the floor to be cleaned as much as possible.

  The frame 24 is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis 18 parallel to the blades 27a, 27b. According to the example proposed, this axis is substantially on the median plane of the suction channel. It can however be shifted towards one of the walls 26a, 26b if it is desired that the action of the blades on the ground be different depending on the

direction of movement of the squeegee.

  Stops 30a, 30b, 32a, 32b, limit the rotation of the frame. The stops 30a, 30b are advantageously configured to cooperate respectively with a baffle 34a, 34b formed in the corresponding walls 26a, 26b in order to guarantee the sealing, at this level, of the suction channel. The baffles 34a, 34b and / or the stops 30a, 30b can be filled with a foam, a felt or a flexible joint in order to improve this seal. It is also possible to overmold a soft plastic part at the end of the

stops 30a, 30b.

  The height of the blades inside the squeegee can be adjusted in advance, during the assembly of the squeegee, or by the user when handling said squeegee, in such a way that the blade brushes the polls slightly or more energetically, being located, during the rotation of the frame, for example

  at mid-height of the polls, choice also depends on the type of carpet.

  Furthermore, this convenience also makes it possible to compensate for the wear of the blade as well as to be able to mount plates of different length while preserving the

same sucker.

  It can also be provided, by extension, to raise the blades further inside the nozzle so as to retract them and make them inactive. A

  such a configuration may be desired when the nozzle is used on smooth ground.

  The return and exit mechanisms of a brush, widely common on many nozzles, can advantageously be used to achieve such a function. This operation is further facilitated by the fact that the blades are integral with the frame which can then be easily adjusted in height inside the nozzle. As can be seen in Figures 3 and 4, the frame, when the nozzle is moved in the direction F1 or F2, pivots about the axis 18, guided by the stops 30a, 30b. The effect of the friction of the blades combined with the position of the axis 18 of pivoting of the frame, causes, according to the direction of displacement F1 or F2 of the squeegee, respectively a rotation of the frame according to G1 and G2 until coming against the stops respective 32b, 32a. This rotation causes the blade located at the front of the suction channel to be applied in the direction of movement of the squeegee. The polls on the carpet are then stirred by the blade

  scraping which promotes the extraction of dust behind this scraper blade.

  This dust is then immediately collected by suction.

  Such an effect occurs whether the squeegee is moved in the direction F1 or in the direction F2. According to a characteristic of the present invention, the rotation of the frame 24 around the pivot axis 18 can be symmetrical or asymmetrical in order to obtain a different scraping effect depending on the direction of movement of the nozzle. This asymmetry can be achieved by a judicious positioning or sizing of the stops eVou a decentralization of the axis of rotation of the frame in the suction channel etVou ecou lem ent. Devices allowing such a wind effect

  widely present in document WO 00/65979 in the name of the Applicant.

  According to an alternative embodiment presented in FIGS. 5 and 6, the nozzle has at least one air injection channel open towards the surface to be treated by

through holes.

  The particular structure of embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 5 is arranged, by way of example, on a nozzle 40 of triangular shape, presenting a front suction mouth 42, extended by two lateral channels 44 and 46. A channel d 'suction 43 located at the rear of the squeegee is delimited by a frame 54 as previously described, and whose axis, 58, is rotatably mounted in a part 60 forming a bearing. In this figure are also visible the locations 48 for the tear-off strips, the area 50 for receiving a sliding shoe, as well as the housing 52 for the displacement wheels.

of the squeegee.

  Found in frame 54, as detailed in FIG. 6, the walls 56a, 56b mainly delimiting the suction channel and whose respective ends 57a, 57b constitute the scraper blades as previously characterized. Such a frame comprises, moreover, at the level of the blade 57a, a 1 1 conduit 62 of air injectlon eVou of treating product, oriented towards the outside of the

  frame and extending over the entire length of the blade.

  This injection pipe is connected to an injection circuit which is housed inside the nozzle. It opens out in the form of slots or holes 64 regularly

  distributed, said holes being located near the scraper blade 57a.

  This feature allows a jet effect where the air takes a speed directed parallel to the axis of the holes. The air thus penetrates deeper into the center of the carpet and can reach the bottom of the carpet, which is a place

  difficult to access, and therefore difficult to clean.

  In addition, the air flow is oriented in a direction established by the position of the blade which makes it possible to direct the air intake in a less restrictive manner and

up to vertical.

  The choice of the shape (single or multiple air inlet, several holes ...) and the passage section of this air inlet make it possible to channel an aeraulic energy acting at the level of the scraper blade, but which can act

  also in the bottom of the carpet to remove dust.

  It is important to note that the present device can be associated with a so-called "classic" suction, that is to say without a scraper blade, and represented by

  the opening 42 presented in FIG. 5.

  This association makes it possible to create a synergism between a surface suction, capable of ridding the surface of the carpet of the most bulky and accessible waste, while allowing an action in

  depth by the device present.

  The injection channel can be connected, according to a first configuration, to the outside of the nozzle. Thus, the squeegee has air inlet holes allowing

  inject air taken outside the nozzle into the surface to be cleaned.

  According to a second embodiment, the injection channel is connected to a container containing treating products, either in its own right or in association with an outside air inlet, as previously described. The treating products used can be in liquid, pulverulent form, or in the form of aerosols, ... It is then possible to combine a mechanical action of supply

  of air and a physicochemical action by the product treating the carpet.

  It is quite possible, without departing from the scope of the present invention, to bring hot air through this channel, air which can be generated by blower means which may include a specific heating circuit. It is therefore interesting, in this case, to collect the air at the engine outlet. This air

  allows, for example, to dry a carpet.

  In addition, the shape of the channel as well as that of the openings in said channel towards the surface to be treated can be adapted so that the air comes out in the form of an air space, which makes it possible to have a better efficiency in the drying of the carpet eVou the detachment of dust embedded in the fibers of the carpet.

28401 80

Claims (25)

  1. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (1,10, 40) having at least one suction channel (4, 16, 43) open towards the surface (8) to be cleaned, and releasing aeraulic manner to a flow channel ( 14), said suction channel (4, 16, 43) being substantially transverse to the direction of displacement of the nozzle (1, 10, 40), said nozzle comprising at least one blade (5a, 5b, 27a, 27b, 57a, 57b) capable of being in contact with the surface (8) to be cleaned, said blade being parallel to said suction channel (4, 16, 43), characterized in that the blade (5a, 5b, 27a, 27b, 57a , 57b) is arranged near the front of the suction channel (4, 16, 43) as seen in relation to the direction of movement of the squeegee and in that this blade is integral with the end of an arm whose l 'other end pivots freely around an axis (6a, 6b, 18, 58) parallel to said blade (5a, 5b, 27a, 27b, 57a, 57b) and located substantially perpendicular to the suction channel (4,16, 43).   2. vacuum cleaner nozzle (1,10, 40) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each of the ends of the blade (5a, 5b) is integral with an arm pivoting (7a, 7b).   3. vacuum cleaner nozzle (1, 10, 40) according to one of claims 1 or 2,   characterized in that the blade (5a, 5b, 27a, 27b, 57a, 57b) has   stops (30a, 30b, 32a, 32b) of its pivoting movement.   4. vacuum cleaner nozzle (1, 10, 40) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises two blades (5a, 5b, 27a, 27b, 57a, 57b) located in   front and rear of the suction channel (4,16,43).   5. vacuum cleaner nozzle (10, 40) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the two blades (27a, 27b, 57a, 57b) are arranged in a frame (24, 54) delimiting the suction channel (16 , 43) and part of the flow channel (14), said frame (24, 54) being pivotally movable about an axis (18, 58) parallel to the blades (27a, 27b, 57a, 57b) 6. vacuum cleaner nozzle (10,40) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the frame (24, 54) comprises stops (30a, 30b, 32a, 32b) of its pivoting movement.   7. vacuum cleaner nozzle (10, 40) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the blade (27a, 27b, 57a, 57b) is protruding from a height between one and five millimeters when the frame (24, 54 ) swivels against   the stops (30a, 30b, 32a, 32b).   8. vacuum cleaner nozzle (10, 40) according to one of claims 5 to 7,   characterized in that the axis (18, 58) of the frame (24, 54) is arranged vertically of the suction channel.   9. vacuum cleaner nozzle (10, 40) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the axis (18, 58) of the frame (24, 54) is arranged in the median plane of the suction channel (16, 43).   10. vacuum cleaner nozzle (10, 40) according to one of claims 5 to 9,   characterized in that it has the means to modify the ground clearance of the   nozzle (10, 40), according to the direction of movement (F1, F2) to said nozzle.   11. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (10,40) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the means for modifying the ground clearance are produced by the offset of the axis of rotation (18, 58) of the frame (24, 54) compared to the plan   median of the aspiration channel (16,43).   12. vacuum cleaner nozzle (40) according to one of claims 5 to 11, characterized in   that the frame (54) has at least one injection channel (62) open towards the surface to be treated.   13. vacuum cleaner nozzle (40) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the injection channel (62) is located at the front of at least one of the blades.   (57a) according to the direction of displacement of the nozzle (40).   14. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (40) according to one of claims 12 or 13, characterized   in that the injection channel (62) is connected to blower means, providing, when the vacuum cleaner is started, an air inlet in the surface to be cleaned.   15. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (40) according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized   in that the injection channel (62) is connected to a container containing treatment products.   16.A vacuum cleaner nozzle (40) according to one of claims 12 to 15, characterized   in that the injection channel opens out in the form of slots or holes (64) regularly distributed on a substantially horizontal wall and adjoining along the blade (57a), said wall being located set back towards   Inside the squeegee (40) relative to the end of the blade (57a).   17. vacuum cleaner nozzle (10, 40) according to one of claims 5 to 16,   character rise in that it has a mechanism for adjusting the height of the frame in the flow conduit (14) and / or suction (16, 43).   18. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (1, 10, 40) according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the contact surfaces with the surface to be cleaned of the two blades (5a, 5b, 27a, 27b, 57a, 57b) are substantially different from each other the other.   19.A vacuum cleaner nozzle (1, 10, 40) according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the end of the blades (5a, 5b, 27a, 27b, 57a, 57b) is bevelled.   20.A vacuum cleaner nozzle (1, 10, 40) according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the end of the blades (5a, 5b, 27a, 27b, 57a, 57b) is crenellated.   21. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (1, 10, 40) according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the end of the blades (5a, 5b, 27a, 27b, 57a, 57b) is provided with polls.   22. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (1, 10, 40) according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that it comprises at least one sealing flap, situated at the front and / or at the rear of the nozzle evou situated at the front and / or at the rear of the suction channel (4, 16, 43), depending on the direction of displacement of the squeegee (1, 10, 40). 23. vacuum cleaner nozzle (1, 10, 40) according to the preceding claim, characterized   in that the flap is made of elastomer or made up of very paired polls.   24. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (1, 10, 40) according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that it additionally has a suction opening (42) open towards the surface to be cleaned and connected in aeraulic manner to a channel   suction, said suction opening (42) being free of blades.   25.Dust vacuum cleaner comprising in particular a motor unit capable of generating a flow of air suction in conduits "sealed by a nozzle (1, 10, 40) open towards the surface to be cleaned (8), characterized   in that this nozzle (1, 10, 40) conforms to one of claims 1 to