US20230180987A1

US20230180987A1 - Cleaning appliance

Info

Publication number: US20230180987A1
Application number: US17/926,138
Authority: US
Inventors: Norbert Weis; Marc Heiland; Willem Lijmbach
Original assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
Current assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
Priority date: 2020-05-20
Filing date: 2021-05-10
Publication date: 2023-06-15
Also published as: DE102020113656A1; WO2021233702A1; CN115605118A; EP4153020A1

Abstract

A cleaning appliance includes: a main body with a bottom side, the main body being assigned on the bottom side, which faces toward a floor to be cleaned, at least one cleaning body, the at least one cleaning body being mounted on the main body so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation of the cleaning body being oriented perpendicularly to the bottom side. The at least one cleaning body is mounted in the main body such that, during cleaning, the axis of rotation is movable relative to the bottom side along a movement path which is oriented perpendicularly to the axis of rotation.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Phase application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2021/062255, filed on May 10, 2021, and claims benefit to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2020 113 656.0, filed on May 20, 2020. The International Application was published in German on Nov. 25, 2021 as WO/2021/233702 under PCT Article 21(2).

FIELD

The invention relates to a cleaning appliance comprising a main body which is assigned on the bottom side, which faces toward the floor to be cleaned, at least one cleaning body, wherein the cleaning body is mounted on the main body so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation, wherein the axis of rotation of the cleaning body is oriented perpendicularly to the bottom side of the main body.

BACKGROUND

Beside the cleaning bodies, the main body advantageously also has a device by means of which travel movement of the main body over the floor to be cleaned is possible. The device may in this case comprise rolls or rollers. Furthermore, the rolls or rollers may also be drivable with electric-motor action. Furthermore, a handle with a hand grip may be fastened to the main body. Alternatively, the cleaning appliance may be for autonomous cleaning.
The prior art has disclosed cleaning appliances in the case of which cleaning bodies are rotatably mounted on the bottom side of the main body, wherein the axis of rotation is oriented perpendicularly to the bottom side. The cleaning bodies are in this case normally assigned to the front corners of the main body. Owing to the rotatable mounting of the cleaning bodies, the cleaning surfaces of the cleaning bodies are normally of circularly symmetrical, that is to say circular, form. This configuration gives rise to the problem that corners of the floors to be cleaned cannot be reached by the cleaning bodies, so that dirt can accumulate there.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a cleaning appliance, comprising: a main body with a bottom side, the main body being assigned on the bottom side, which faces toward a floor to be cleaned, at least one cleaning body, the at least one cleaning body being mounted on the main body so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation of the cleaning body being oriented perpendicularly to the bottom side, wherein the at least one cleaning body is mounted in the main body such that, during cleaning, the axis of rotation is movable relative to the bottom side along a movement path which is oriented perpendicularly to the axis of rotation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described in even greater detail below based on the exemplary figures. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments. Other features and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention will become apparent by reading the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings which illustrate the following:

FIG. 1 shows a hand-guided cleaning appliance;

FIG. 2 shows an autonomous cleaning appliance (cleaning robot);

FIG. 3 shows in detail a cleaning body with transmission arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a further development of a cleaning appliance of the type mentioned in the introduction in such a way that the cleaning appliance has improved cleaning action.
To solve the problem, the cleaning body is mounted in the main body in such a way that, during the cleaning work, the axis of rotation is movable relative to the bottom side along a movement path which is oriented perpendicularly to the axis of rotation. In other words: the axis of rotation of the cleaning body is moved relative to the main body during the cleaning work.
In this respect, in the case of the cleaning appliance according to the invention, the cleaning body is mounted in the main body so as not to have an axis of rotation that is fixed, that is to say positionally fixed relative to the main body. Consequently, the cleaning body can rotate in such a way that corner regions are able to be reached more effectively.
Preferably, the axis of rotation moves along a circular path. In this case, the cleaning body, with its axis of rotation, tumbles along the circular path, wherein, relative to the floor to be cleaned, the cleaning body, beside a rotational movement, also performs a superimposed lateral movement. As a result of the superposition of a rotational movement and a lateral movement, the cleaning result is improved. In addition, it is also possible for a movement of the cleaning appliance to be superimposed, for example by displacement or travel movement of the cleaning appliance on the surface to be cleaned.
The cleaning body may be provided with a cleaning pad, wherein the cleaning pad has a cleaning surface which has a shape different from the shape of a circle. In this context, it is conceivable that, in at least one region, the cleaning surface has a smaller radius than the circumferential circle that bounds the cleaning surface. Furthermore, the cleaning surface may be pointed in one region. In these configurations, the cleaning surface is substantially circular, but differs from the shape of a circle in at least one region. Finally, the cleaning surface may also have a have a polygonal shape. In connection with the variable axis of rotation, the shape of the cleaning surface may in this case be selected in such a way that an improved cleaning result, in particular in corners, is obtained.
According to an advantageous configuration, the cleaning surface is in the form of a polygonal orbiform curve. If the cleaning surface is in the form of a polygonal orbiform curve, the mutually opposite edges of the cleaning pad are at the same distance from one another at each point. In this respect, the peripheral boundary of the cleaning pad forms a curve of constant width. Owing to the polygonal configuration, however, the cleaning surface differs from the shape of a circle. The orbiform-curve configuration makes the cleaning pad particularly suitable for cleaning of corner regions that are difficult to reach.
In an advantageous configuration, the cleaning surface of the cleaning pad is in the form of a Reuleaux triangle. A Reuleaux triangle is an orbiform curve for which the distance of each point of a side from the opposite corner point is constant. The constant width is maintained with rotation about the surface center point. In combination with the variable axis of rotation, an improved cleaning result is obtained. In particular if the axis of rotation moves along a circular path, the circular movement of the axis of rotation and the movement of the cleaning pad can be matched in such a way that the tips of the triangular cleaning pad reach even inaccessible corner regions of the floor to be cleaned.
The cleaning body may be able to be set in motion by means of a drive device, wherein the drive device comprises a transmission arrangement. In this case, the transmission arrangement is designed in such a way that both the setting in rotation of the cleaning body and the deflection of the axis of rotation are realized. In this case, the transmission arrangement may comprise for example a cardan joint or a spring shaft.
Preferably, the transmission arrangement is in the form of a gearwheel transmission. Gearwheel transmissions are inexpensive and robust.
According to an advantageous configuration of the transmission arrangement, the main body may be assigned a first gearwheel with an internal toothing that is arranged in a positionally fixed manner in the main body. A second gearwheel with an external toothing rolls in the first gearwheel. The diameter of the second gearwheel is in this case smaller than the inner diameter of the first gearwheel. The axis of rotation of the second gearwheel consequently moves along a circular path. Furthermore, the gearwheel rotates about its axis of rotation. The cleaning body, in turn, is fixed to the second gearwheel and likewise moves about the axis of rotation thereof. In this way, the cleaning body describes a superimposed tumbling and rotational movement. In connection with the triangular configuration of the cleaning pad, the result in this case is a surface covered by the cleaning pad that is almost rectangular. In this way, the cleaning path is capable of reaching even room corners.
The drive device may comprise an electric motor. This results in a particularly high cleaning power and energy-saving cleaning work. The supply of energy to the electric motor is realized preferably via a storage battery arranged in the cleaning appliance.
The cleaning appliance may be in the form of a cleaning robot. In this way, the cleaning appliance can perform cleaning work autonomously. The configuration according to the invention of the cleaning bodies results in this case in particularly thorough cleaning.
Preferably, the main body comprises two cleaning bodies. Furthermore preferably, the cleaning bodies are in each case assigned to a corner region of the front edge of the main body. Furthermore preferably, the cleaning bodies at least sectionally project laterally from the main body. This results in particularly effective cleaning.
FIG. 1 shows a cleaning appliance 1 comprising a main body 2 which is assigned on the bottom side 3, which faces toward the floor to be cleaned, two cleaning bodies 4. The cleaning bodies 4 are rotatably mounted on the main body 2, wherein the axis of rotation 5 of the cleaning bodies 4 is in each case oriented perpendicularly to the bottom side 3. The cleaning bodies 4 are each assigned to a corner region 10 of the front edge 11 of the main body 2. The cleaning appliance 1 is in the form of a hand-guided cleaning appliance and has a handle 14 which is connected in an articulated manner to the main body 2.
FIG. 2 shows a cleaning appliance 1 which is in the form of a cleaning robot and is configured to perform the cleaning of a floor autonomously. The cleaning appliance 1 comprises a main body 2 which is assigned on the bottom side 3, which faces toward the floor to be cleaned, two cleaning bodies 4. The cleaning bodies 4 are rotatably mounted on the main body 2, wherein the axis of rotation 5 of the cleaning bodies 4 is in each case oriented perpendicularly to the bottom side 3. The cleaning bodies 4 are assigned to the two corner regions 10 of the main body 2.
According to an alternative configuration, the cleaning appliance 1 additionally has a device 12 for travel movement over the floor to be cleaned. The device 12 comprises in this case a wheel arrangement which is driven via an electric motor.
In the configurations as per FIGS. 1 and 2 , the cleaning bodies 4 are mounted in the main body 2 in such a way that, during the cleaning work, the axis of rotation 5 is movable relative to the bottom side 3 along a movement path which is oriented perpendicularly to the axis of rotation 5. In this case, the axis of rotation 5 moves along a circular path.
The cleaning bodies 4 are able to be set in motion by means of a drive device 8, wherein the drive device 8 comprises a transmission arrangement 9. The transmission arrangement 9 is in this case in the form of a gearwheel transmission. Each cleaning body 4 is in this case assigned a transmission arrangement 9. The drive device 8 comprises an electric motor and a chargeable storage battery which is integrated into the main body 2.
FIG. 3 shows in detail a portion of the main body 2 in the region of a cleaning body 4 together with transmission arrangement 9 assigned to the cleaning body 4.
The transmission arrangement 9 assigned to the cleaning bodies 4 has an arrangement of gearwheels 12, 13. A first gearwheel 12 is fastened in a positionally fixed manner to the main body 2 and has an internal toothing. A second gearwheel 13 rolls on the internal toothing of the first gearwheel 12, wherein the outer diameter of the second gearwheel 13 is smaller than the inner diameter of the internal toothing of the first gearwheel 12. The axis of rotation of the second gearwheel forms in each case the axis of rotation 5 of the cleaning bodies 4. The second gearwheel 13 is set in rotation via an electric motor. Setting of the second gearwheel 13 in rotation results in a circular movement of the axis of rotation 5 of the second gearwheel 13, and thus also of the cleaning body 4 assigned to the second gearwheel 13, due to the rolling on the internal toothing of the first gearwheel 12. At the same time, the second gearwheel 13 rotates with the assigned cleaning body 4 about the axis of rotation 5.
The cleaning bodies 4 are provided with a cleaning pad 6, wherein the cleaning pad 6 has a cleaning surface 7 which faces toward the floor to be cleaned and which is in the form of a polygonal orbiform curve. In the present configuration, the cleaning surface 7 is in the form of a Reuleaux triangle. The interplay of transmission arrangement 9 and triangular configuration of the cleaning surface 7 of the cleaning body 4 results—with the cleaning appliance 3 stationary—in a surface covered almost rectangularly by the cleaning bodies 4. In this way, it is possible for the cleaning bodies 4 to reach even corner regions of the floor to be cleaned.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill within the scope of the following claims. In particular, the present invention covers further embodiments with any combination of features from different embodiments described above and below. Additionally, statements made herein characterizing the invention refer to an embodiment of the invention and not necessarily all embodiments.
The terms used in the claims should be construed to have the broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the foregoing description. For example, the use of the article “a” or “the” in introducing an element should not be interpreted as being exclusive of a plurality of elements. Likewise, the recitation of “or” should be interpreted as being inclusive, such that the recitation of “A or B” is not exclusive of “A and B,” unless it is clear from the context or the foregoing description that only one of A and B is intended. Further, the recitation of “at least one of A, B and C” should be interpreted as one or more of a group of elements consisting of A, B and C, and should not be interpreted as requiring at least one of each of the listed elements A, B and C, regardless of whether A, B and C are related as categories or otherwise. Moreover, the recitation of “A, B and/or C” or “at least one of A, B or C” should be interpreted as including any singular entity from the listed elements, e.g., A, any subset from the listed elements, e.g., A and B, or the entire list of elements A, B and C.

Claims

1. A cleaning appliance, comprising:

a main body with a bottom side, the main body being assigned on the bottom side, which faces toward a floor to be cleaned, at least one cleaning body, the at least one cleaning body being mounted on the main body so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation of the cleaning body being oriented perpendicularly to the bottom side,

wherein

the at least one cleaning body is mounted in the main body such that, during cleaning, the axis of rotation is movable relative to the bottom side along a movement path which is oriented perpendicularly to the axis of rotation.

2. The cleaning appliance of claim 1, wherein, during cleaning, the axis of rotation moves along a circular path.

3. The cleaning appliance of claim 1, wherein the at least one cleaning body comprising a cleaning pad, and

wherein the cleaning pad has a cleaning surface which has a shape different from a shape of a circle.

4. The cleaning appliance of claim 3, wherein the cleaning surface comprises a polygonal orbiform curve.

5. The cleaning appliance of claim 3, wherein the cleaning surface comprises a Reuleaux triangle.

6. The cleaning appliance of claim 1, wherein the at least one cleaning body is configured to be set in motion by a drive device, and

wherein the drive device comprises a transmission arrangement.

7. The cleaning appliance of claim 6, wherein the transmission arrangement comprises a gearwheel transmission.

8. The cleaning appliance of claim 6, wherein the drive device comprises an electric motor.

9. The cleaning appliance of claim 1, wherein the cleaning appliance comprises a cleaning robot.

10. The cleaning appliance of claim 1, wherein the at least one cleaning body comprises two cleaning bodies.

11. The cleaning appliance of claim 1, wherein the at least one cleaning body comprises at least two cleaning bodies are provided, and

wherein the at least two cleaning bodies are in each case assigned to a corner region of a front edge of the main body.