TWM557581U - Wetting device for cleaning elements and base having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wetting device (1) for cleaning a cleaning element (2) of a wet cleaning device, in particular a cleaning roller, wherein the wetting device (1) has a tank (3), a pump (4) and an application device (5) for applying a liquid to the cleaning element (2). In order to provide a dampening device which can be configured as a separate device and thus does not affect the size of the wet cleaning device, the present authorise proposes that the dampening device (1) has a housing (6) with a perforation zone (7) The insertion zone is adapted to pass through the cleaning element (2) for wetting by the application device (5), wherein the application device (5) is at least partially formed around the insertion zone (7), and wherein the application The device (5) corresponds to a switching element (8) directed to the insertion zone (7) for manipulating the application device (5) by means of a cleaning element (2) passing through the insertion zone (7) .

Description

Wetting device for cleaning elements and base having the same

The present invention relates to a wetting device for cleaning a cleaning element of a wet cleaning device, in particular a cleaning roller, wherein the wetting device has a tank, a pump and an application for applying a liquid to the cleaning element. Device.

In addition, the present invention relates to a susceptor to which a wet cleaning device can be attached to perform service activities on the wet cleaning device.

In the prior art, wetting devices of the above type are known. The wetting device is typically mounted directly in the wet cleaning device so that the cleaning elements of the wet cleaning device can be wetted directly on the wet cleaning device.

DE 102 29 611 B3, for example, discloses a wet cleaning device having a wiping body that can be driven to rotate about a rotational axis, wherein the cleaning liquid is taken from the storage tank and the cleaning liquid is supplied by a nozzle arranged along the axis of rotation of the wiping body Spray on the surface of the wiper. The wiper wetted in this way travels over the surface to be cleaned during the wiping operation, wherein the wiper collects dirt on the surface to be cleaned.

During the wiping operation, the dirt collected by the wiping body gradually increases, so it is necessary to carry out regeneration. To this end, the wiper is separated from the surface to be cleaned, surrounded by a displaceable housing of the wet cleaning device and sprayed with unused cleaning liquid. The wiper rotates, causing the cleaning liquid and dirt to be discharged out of the wiper, reaching the inside of the casing and being transferred to the storage tank of the wet cleaning device.

The disadvantage is that the wet cleaning device becomes larger and heavier due to the integration of the wetting device including the tank, the pump and the application device.

Based on the prior art described above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a wetting device that can be configured as a discrete device and thus does not affect the size of the wet cleaning device.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention proposes that the dampening device has a housing with a perforation zone through which the cleaning element can pass for wetting by means of the applicator, wherein the applicator at least partially surrounds the applicator The insertion zone is formed, and wherein the application means corresponds to a switching element directed to the insertion zone, the switching element for manipulating the application device by a cleaning element passing through the insertion zone.

According to the present invention, the dampening device can be configured as a stand-alone device having all the components required to carry out the regenerative operation, ie a tank, a pump, an application device for storing unused cleaning liquid, and optionally contaminated Liquid storage tank.

The dampening device has an insertion zone for the cleaning element, the cleaning element passing through the insertion zone and being guided along the application device during this time so that liquid is applied there. The application device is formed at least partially around the insertion zone, so that the cleaning element does not need to be rotated in order to uniformly wet the entire circumference. Since the cleaning element is inserted in the insertion direction and the insertion direction preferably coincides with the longitudinal extension of the cleaning element, the cleaning element is also wetted along its entire length. Furthermore, the application means correspond to the switching element which is automatically manipulated together when the cleaning element is inserted into the insertion zone. The switching element preferably corresponds to the entrance of the interposing zone. Thereby it is ensured that the cleaning element is applied with liquid along its entire longitudinal extension. The switching elements can be configured in different ways. It is preferably a switching element that contacts the inserted cleaning element, as manipulated by a toggle switch and triggering the release of liquid onto the cleaning element. As an alternative, other switching elements can also be used, for example optical, Acoustics, capacitance or other means detect that the cleaning element passes through the insertion zone and then manipulates the switching element of the application device to release the liquid. Therefore, the user of the dampening device does not have to perform manual manipulation of the applicator.

In particular, the dampening device can be designed to wet the cleaning roller, which is cylindrical in shape and has a large longitudinal extension compared to its diameter. Alternatively, the dampening device can also be configured to wet other cleaning elements, such as planar cleaning elements or cleaning elements such as those provided on a planar carrier. Advantageously, the cleaning element in any case has an inherent stability which enables the cleaning element to pass through the insertion zone, thereby facilitating the uniform wetting of the cleaning element. This ensures that the cleaning element can manipulate the switching element, thereby enabling the use of the functions of the present creation. Once the cleaning element has completely passed through the insertion zone and thus no longer manipulates the switching element, the application device automatically closes again to stop applying liquid to the cleaning element. Preferably, the user manually guides the cleaning element through the insertion zone. This eliminates the need for external heating to displace the cleaning elements. As an alternative, the cleaning element can also automatically pass through the insertion zone, for example inside a base that cooperates with the wet cleaning device, which performs service behavior on the wet cleaning device, for example for charging the battery or by integrating A dampening device in the base wets the cleaning roller. Wherein, the cleaning element can be removed from the wet cleaning device by a mechanism and sent to the wetting device or inserted into the base along with one of the wet cleaning devices. With this embodiment, the user no longer contacts the liquid.

The present invention further proposes that the insertion zone is at least partially cylindrical, in particular for a likewise cylindrical cleaning drum to pass axially in a correspondingly corresponding manner. This embodiment is particularly suitable for inserting a cylindrical cleaning drum, since for example the wall of the insertion zone can define the direction of insertion of the cleaning element in the direction of the guide carriage. The intervening zone can be configured, for example, as a cylindrical half-shell, along which the cleaning elements of corresponding diameter can be guided lead.

Advantageously, the application device is annular. If the dampening device is for example configured to wet the cleaning roller, the applicator device may have a circular cross section. However, if the cleaning element has other cross-sectional shapes, the application means may, for example, form an elliptical ring, a rectangular ring or other geometric shape. The application means is advantageously provided in the inlet region of the insertion zone and preferably forms the inlet of the insertion zone through which the cleaning element can enter the insertion zone. In this way, the application device has two functions at the same time. First, the application means that the user of the dampening device inside the dampening device inserts the cleaning element into the insertion zone, and the applicator is used to apply the liquid to the cleaning element. Finally, the application device itself also provides guidance during the passage of the cleaning element through the insertion zone, in particular with a form fit that matches the shape of the cleaning element.

The present application proposes that the application device is preferably detachably mounted on the dampening device for replacement. In this way, different application devices can be provided for the dampening device depending on the size of the cleaning element to be wetted, for example with differently sized ring applicators for cleaning elements of different diameters. In principle, the application device can be mounted in different ways. It is especially recommended to snap or screw. Furthermore, it can also be provided that the application device is movably supported on the dampening device, if necessary, to facilitate the insertion of the cleaning element into the insertion region. The movable support allows the application device to be deflected, for example, by a small angular range relative to the dampening device, for example an angular range of up to +/- 5[deg.]. This is beneficial in situations where the user of the wetting device causes the cleaning element to tilt when the cleaning element is inserted, for example, into the application device.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the application device has a plurality of application nozzles which are directed toward the insertion region, the application nozzles being arranged in particular annularly in the circumferential direction of the application device. The application nozzles are preferably equidistantly arranged to uniformly wet the surface of the cleaning elements. If the cross-section of the application device is, for example, circular, the discharge orifice of the application nozzle is preferably oriented radially The center of the circle is oriented towards the longitudinal axis of the cleaning roller. The application nozzle is preferably located in a common plane that extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cleaning element. The application nozzle can be particularly simple as a simple liquid outlet and/or has a shape which increases the velocity of the application device.

Preferably, the switching element is in operative connection with the valve, in particular with a piston for opening and/or closing the flow path between the tank and the application device. Accordingly, the application device corresponds to a valve that blocks or allows the liquid in the tank to be released. The valve is disposed between the tank and the application device and has a piston with a closed flow path. The valve is closed or opened by the switching operation of the switching element. If the switching element is, for example, a switch that is manipulated by contact with the cleaning element, the valve tappet and the piston are displaced. If the switching element is an electronic component and the electronic component performs a switching operation, for example, according to a detection process of an optical, capacitive or acoustic sensing device, the valve tappet and the piston can be displaced by the actuator.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the switching element corresponds to an elastic element whose restoring force is opposite to the steering direction of the switching element. In this solution, the switching element has a preferred position that corresponds to the closed position of the aforementioned valve. Therefore, the switching element is substantially in a position where the application device does not release the liquid. Only when the switching element is manipulated by the cleaning element passing through the insertion zone, the switching element is displaced against the restoring force of the elastic element and enables liquid to reach the cleaning element. Preferably, the resilient member is formed in a ring shape around the insertion region, such as in the form of a coil spring or an elastomeric plastic seal. When the cleaning element passes through the insertion zone, the cleaning element contacts the switching element and on the one hand displaces the switching element against the restoring force of the elastic element and on the other hand displaces the valve tappet. Thereby the flow path between the tank and the application device is opened so that liquid can reach the cleaning element.

More preferably, the switching element can have a steering direction that is large So as to be parallel to the direction of insertion of the cleaning element in the intervening zone. This technical solution relies on the continuous movement of the cleaning elements to control the application device. In this way, the switching element is not manipulated when the cleaning element is simply present inside the application device, that is to say, it is manipulated by a force acting radially outward in the plane of the application device, but is perpendicular thereto (ie preferably Forced in parallel with the force acting in the direction of insertion of the cleaning element in the insertion zone. Thereby, the switching element performs the switching operation only when it is currently forced to act on the switching element in this direction. In general, this situation only occurs when the cleaning element is moved relative to the switching element. Therefore, if the cleaning element is inserted into the insertion region, but remains there, there is no force for manipulating the application device in the direction parallel to the insertion direction. Thereby, the restoring force of the elastic element can be relied upon to avoid the situation where the partition of the cleaning element is excessively wetted when the cleaning element is stationary in the insertion zone. Preferably, the switching element is arranged and arranged such that the switching element contacts the cleaning element when the cleaning element is inserted into the insertion zone and is pulled together in the steering direction based on frictional resistance when the cleaning element is further moved into the insertion zone, and compressed during this time The elastic element proposed above and open the valve. If the user loosens the cleaning element or reduces the force in the steering direction in this situation, the following result occurs depending on the restoring force of the elastic element: the restoring force of the elastic element exceeds the force applied by the user and closes the valve. In this case, no more liquid can pass through the application device to the cleaning element. However, when the user continues to displace the cleaning element within the insertion zone, the valve opens again to release the liquid.

The present invention proposes that the pump of the dampening device is a manually operable air pump for generating a working pressure in the tank, the working pressure causing liquid to be discharged into the intervening zone when the applicator is manipulated . Through this technical solution, and in combination with manually passing the cleaning element through the insertion zone, the dampening device can be operated completely independent of external energy supply, can be used in any place and is saved in a resource-saving manner. Work. The pump delivers air into the interior of the tank and has a check valve that allows air to be sent to the tank, but neither air nor liquid can escape the tank through the pump. The user increases the internal pressure of the tank by performing one or several manipulations of the pump. Once the application device is opened, ie the valve of the application device is opened, the liquid helium flows to the cleaning element via the flow path between the liquid tank and the application device. For this purpose, a riser can be arranged inside the tank, one end of which is located in the bottom region of the tank and the other end on the valve of the application device.

In addition to the wetting device proposed above, the present application finally proposes a base that can be connected to a wet cleaning device having the aforementioned wetting device. The pedestal can be designed, for example, to perform different service activities, such as charging a battery that is configured to clean the robot's wet cleaning device while simultaneously wetting the cleaning elements of the wet cleaning device. In addition, the base may also have a mechanism that removes the cleaning element from the wet cleaning apparatus and directs the cleaning element into the insertion zone of the dampening unit.

Therein, the base can be configured for different types of wet cleaning devices, for example for both hand held cleaning devices and automatic moving cleaning devices, such as cleaning robots. In addition, the wet cleaning device can also be a cleaning device that performs both a wiping task and a suction task.

According to the present invention, the dampening device is preferably configured as a discrete device (single machine), but the dampening device can also be part of the wet cleaning device and fixedly disposed in the wet cleaning device. Among other things, the wet cleaning device has a mechanism that can transfer the cleaning element into the dampening unit.

1‧‧‧ Wetting device

2‧‧‧ cleaning components

3‧‧‧liquid tank

4‧‧‧ pump

5‧‧‧Applying device

6‧‧‧Shell

7‧‧‧Insert zone

8‧‧‧Switching elements

9‧‧‧Applying a nozzle

10‧‧‧ flow path

11‧‧‧Flexible components

12‧‧‧Management direction

13‧‧‧ pump button

14‧‧‧Adding tube

15‧‧‧Inhalation valve

16‧‧‧Riser

17‧‧‧ valve tappet

18‧‧‧Piston

19‧‧‧ valve seat

20‧‧‧ valve

The present invention will be described in detail below in conjunction with the embodiments. Wherein: Figure 1 is the wetting device of the present invention; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the wetting device; Figure 3 is a partial region above the wetting device, the partition containing the application device and the application device in the closed position; Figure 4 is the partition of Figure 3, the application device is in the open position; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the application device; Figure 6 is the application 3 is a longitudinal section of the device; FIG. 7 is a wetting device when the cleaning element is partially inserted; FIG. 8 is a wetting device when the cleaning element is completely inserted; FIG. 9 is a wetting device when the cleaning element has been taken out; Rear view of the wet device.

Figure 1 shows a dampening device 1 having a housing 6 in which a perforation zone 7 is formed. In the insertion zone 7, a cleaning element 2 is provided, which is here a cleaning roller of the wet cleaning device. The cleaning element 2 is covered with a cleaning cover, and a sponge body which additionally generates a liquid storage function is optionally sandwiched between them. The cleaning cover is here, for example, a textile cleaning cloth.

The insertion zone 7 corresponds to the application device 5 by which the liquid can be released from the tank 3 of the dampening device 1 to the surface of the cleaning element 2. The tank 3 has a filling tube 14 for filling the tank 3. The tank 3 is connected to the application device 5 through a riser 16. Furthermore, the tank 3 corresponds to the pump 4, here an air pump, which can be manually operated by the pump button 13. By one or several manipulations, the user of the dampening unit 1 can pump air into the tank 3, wherein the air enters the tank 3 via the suction valve 15. Therefore, the pressure inside the liquid tank 3 is raised by operating the pump 4, which causes the liquid inside the riser 16 to rise when the application device 5 is opened.

Although the wetting device 1 is here configured as a discrete device, it is independent of the capacity a wet cleaning device provided with a cleaning element 2, but the dampening device 1 may also be part of a wet cleaning device or part of a base for a wet cleaning device, except for the wetting cleaning element 2, the base Other service activities are also implemented, such as charging the battery, implementing a regeneration program on the cleaning element 2, and the like. Therein, the base can also be configured such that the wet cleaning device can be at least partially moved into the base, for example as an automatic mobile robot. The base may advantageously have a mechanism that removes the cleaning element 2 from the wet cleaning apparatus and transfers it into the base section forming the dampening unit 1.

Figure 2 shows a longitudinal section of the dampening unit 1. The dampening device 1 has an application device 5 in the upper partial region of the drawing, which is formed in an annular shape around one of the cleaning elements 2. The application device 5 has a plurality of application nozzles 9, which are radially inwardly formed and formed in the same plane extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the cleaning element 2. The application nozzle 9 is part of a switching element 8, which is likewise formed annularly around the cleaning element 2 and is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning element 2 in the direction of manipulation 12 (see FIG. 4). The switching element 8 corresponds to the elastic element 11 , which is here configured as an elastic ring. The restoring force of the elastic element 11 acts against the steering direction 12 of the switching element 8. The flow path 10 extending between the tank 3 and the application nozzle 9 can be opened or closed by displacement of the switching element 8 in the steering direction 12 or in the opposite direction to the steering direction 12. A valve 20 including a valve lifter 17, a piston 18 and a valve seat 19 is provided in the flow path 10. While the switching element 8 is being displaced, the piston 18 is displaced through the valve lifter 17 and opens the flow path 10 to the tank 3.

Figures 3 and 4 show the upper end region of the dampening device 1 in an enlarged view, wherein Figure 3 shows the applicator 5 when the valve 20 is closed (no cleaning element 2 in the interposing zone 7), and Figure 4 shows the valve 20 The application device 5 is opened (the cleaning element 2 is present in the insertion zone 7).

5 and 6 show the application device 5 in a perspective view. In particular, the application device 5 shown in Figure 5 is annular and carries several application nozzles 9 on its inner wall, which are arranged equidistantly and directed towards the central axis. The inner side of the switching element 8 has a projection in the region of the application nozzle 9, and thus has a V-shaped cross section, as shown in Fig. 6. The V-shaped tip is configured to contact the cleaning element 2 inserted into the insertion zone 7.

FIG. 5 further shows an elastic element 11 which is likewise annular below the switching element 8 of the application device 5. The elastic element 11 here consists, for example, of an elastic material, for example PTFE or a similar material.

7 to 9 show a dampening device 1 having a cleaning element 2, wherein starting from Fig. 7, the cleaning element 2 is first only partially inserted into the insertion zone 7 of the dampening device 1, and then completely in the interposing zone 7 in Fig. 8. Inside, finally, as shown in Fig. 9, the self-wetting device 1 is taken out again.

Finally, Figure 10 shows the wetting device 1 in a rear view angle relative to Figures 7 to 9, in which the pump button 13 for operating the pump 4 can be seen. The pump button 13 can be displaced parallel to the longitudinal extension of the dampening unit 1 for manipulation of the pump 4.

The working principle of the present creation is as follows: First, the user of the dampening device 1 loads a liquid (especially water) into the liquid tank 3. To this end, the user opens the filling tube 14 connected to the tank 3. After the filling is completed, the tank 3 is closed again, that is, the filling tube 14 is closed. Next, the user manipulates the pump 4 by means of the pump button 13 in such a way that the user presses the pump button 13 one or several times downwards (i.e., in the longitudinal direction of the dampening device 1). As a result, air enters the tank 3 through the suction valve 15 and increases the pressure inside the tank 3. This pressure is maintained because the suction valve 15 is configured to return the valve.

Next, the user inserts the end region of the cleaning element 2 through the annular applicator 5 into the insertion zone 7, whereby the cleaning element 2 is inserted into the wetting device 1. during this process, The cleaning element 2 contacts the switching element 8, i.e. the tip of the contact switching element 8, which projects radially inwardly, on which the application nozzle 9 is arranged. The frictional resistance generated between the switching element 8 and the cleaning element 2 causes the switching element 8 to be displaced in the steering direction 12, that is, vertically downward in the figure. In this case, the switching element 8 is displaced against the restoring force of the elastic element 11, which attempts to return the switching element 8 to the initial closed position.

During the further movement of the cleaning element 2 by the user of the dampening device 1 into the insertion zone 7, the frictional force consumed between the cleaning element 2 and the switching element 8 is maintained and the frictional force exceeds the restoring force, so that the switching element 8 continues towards the elastic element 11 direction displacement. The displacement of the switching element 8 causes the valve tappet 17 and the piston 18 of the valve 20 to be displaced toward the tank 3, wherein the flow path 10 is opened, and the liquid can pass through the riser 16 and the flow path 10 based on the elevated pressure inside the tank 3. The application nozzle 9 is reached and released onto the cleaning element 2.

The user continues to move the cleaning element 2 into the insertion zone 7, wherein the circumferential surface of the cleaning element 2 is completely wetted both in the circumferential direction and in the axial direction. Once the cleaning element 2 no longer has a partition inside the application device 5, the frictional force acting on the switching element 8 disappears, and the piston 18 of the valve 20 is again displaced to the valve seat 19 by the restoring force of the elastic element 11, thereby No more liquid reaches the application device 5.

In principle, the application device 5 can also be configured in such a way that the switching element 8 has a steering direction 12 which is parallel to the plane defined by the application nozzle 9 , so that the cleaning element 2 is placed in FIG. When the insertion zone 7 is inserted, the displacement of the switching element 8 has already been triggered, regardless of whether the cleaning element 2 is currently moving and thus the frictional force between the cleaning element 2 and the switching element 8 is affected. In this case, the flow path 10 of the application device 5 will always open when the cleaning element 2 is placed in the insertion zone 7. If so, the user of the dampening device 1 has to bother to guide the cleaning element 2 through the application. The device 5 is applied to wet the cleaning element as uniformly as possible at a relatively uniform speed.

Claims (11)

A dampening device for wetting a cleaning element (2) of a wet cleaning device, wherein the dampening device (1) has a tank (3), a pump (4) and a liquid for applying the cleaning element to the cleaning element (2) Application device (5), characterized in that the dampening device (1) has a housing (6) with a perforation zone (7), which can be worn by the cleaning element (2) The wetting is carried out by means of the application device (5), wherein the application device (5) is formed at least partially around the insertion region (7), and wherein the application device (5) corresponds to the insertion region (7) A switching element (8) for manipulating the application device (5) by means of the cleaning element (2) passing through the insertion zone (7). A dampening device according to claim 1, wherein the intervening zone (7) is at least partially cylindrical. A dampening device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the applicator (5) is annular. A dampening device according to claim 1, wherein the applicator (5) is detachably provided on the dampening device (1) for replacement. A dampening device according to claim 1, wherein the applicator (5) has a plurality of application nozzles (9) directed to the interposing zone (7). A dampening device according to claim 5, wherein the applicator nozzles (9) are arranged in a particular annular shape in the circumferential direction of the applicator (5). The dampening device of claim 1, wherein the switching element (8) is in operative connection with a valve (20), in particular connected to a piston (18) for opening and/or closing the liquid tank (3) A flow path (10) with the application device (5). A dampening device according to claim 1, wherein the switching element (8) corresponds to the elastic member (11), and the restoring force of the elastic member (11) is opposite to the steering direction (12) of the switching member (8). A dampening device according to claim 1, wherein the switching element (8) has a steering direction (12) which is parallel to the insertion direction of the cleaning element (2) in the insertion zone (7). The dampening device of claim 1, wherein the pump (4) is a manually operable air pump for generating a working pressure in the tank (3), the working pressure being at the applying device (5) When it is manipulated, liquid is discharged into the intervening zone (7). A susceptor to which a wet cleaning apparatus can be attached to perform a service behavior on the wet cleaning apparatus, characterized by a wetting device (1) of claim 1.