WO2009132757A1

WO2009132757A1 - Cleaning machine, in particular a sweeping and vacuuming machine, with filter cleaning

Info

Publication number: WO2009132757A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/002605
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ralph Werba; Michael Heinze; Karsten Kunze; Michael Hochrein
Original assignee: Alfred Kärcher Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2008-04-28
Filing date: 2009-04-08
Publication date: 2009-11-05
Also published as: DE102008022291A1

Abstract

A cleaning machine, in particular a sweeping and vacuuming machine (10), having a suction unit (24) which generates a suction-air stream (31) and is flow-connected to a dirt-accommodation container (22) via a suction line (28), and having at least one folded filter (33) which is arranged in the suction-air stream (31) and has a large number of filter lamellae (36), which are arranged next to one another, and which has an associated filter cleaning apparatus (40) with a slide (49) which can be displaced transverse to the fold lines of the folded filter (33) and on which a plurality of wiper elements (59, 60) which wipe along the free edges (37) of the filter lamellae (36) are arranged. In order to develop the cleaning machine in such a way that it allows effective cleaning of the at least one folded filter (33), at least two wiping elements (59, 60) are arranged aligned and at a distance from one another in the direction of the free edges (37) of the filter lamellae (36).

Description

CLEANING MACHINE, ESPECIALLY SWEEPING MACHINE, WITH

FILTER CLEANING

The invention relates to a cleaning machine, in particular a sweeper, with a suction air flow generating suction unit, which is connected via a suction line with a dirt receptacle in flow communication, and with at least one arranged in the suction air pleated filter having a plurality of juxtaposed filter blades and associated with a Filterabreinigungsvorrichtung is with a transversely movable to the fold lines of the pleated filter slide on which a plurality of scraper elements along the free edges of the filter fins are arranged.

Such cleaning machines are known for example in the form of sweeping machines, in which debris is introduced by means of a sweeping roller in the dirt receptacle. The dirt receptacle is acted upon by the suction unit with negative pressure. As a result, a suction air flow is generated from the dirt receptacle to the suction unit. In the suction air flow, at least one pleated filter is arranged, on which dirt particles are deposited. It is therefore necessary from time to time to perform a cleaning. For this purpose, a filter cleaning device is associated with the pleated filter. This has a slider which is displaceable transversely to the fold lines of the pleated filter. On the slide several scraper elements are arranged, which along the free edges of the filter blades along the sliding of the slider. The stripping elements initially take with their movement the filter plates, which are then released after a certain further movement of the stripping of these again, so that they due to their own elasticity they snap back to their original position. These movements lead to a cleaning of Fiiteriameiien.

Cleaning machines of the aforementioned type are also known in the form of vacuum cleaners, in which a suction hose is connected to the dirt receptacle, which carries a suction nozzle at its free end. The suction nozzle can be guided along a surface to be cleaned, in particular on a bottom surface, and due to the negative pressure prevailing in the dirt receptacle, the surfaces can be sucked off, wherein dirt particles are transferred into the dirt receptacle. Even with such vacuum cleaners is often a pleated filter is used, which can be cleaned by means of the above-explained filter cleaning device from time to time. Such cleaning machines are known for example from DE 42 35 745 Al and DE 195 39 350 Al. However, it is desirable to improve the cleaning effect of the pleated filters.

Object of the present invention is to develop a cleaning machine of the generic type such that it allows a more effective cleaning of the pleated filter.

This object is achieved in a cleaning machine of the aforementioned type according to the invention that at least two stripping elements are arranged in the direction of the free edges of the filter blades in alignment and at a distance to each other. In the cleaning machine according to the invention, a filter cleaning device is used for cleaning the pleated filter, which has at least two stripping elements, which are arranged in alignment with each other in the direction of the free edges of the filter blades. This has the consequence that the filter blades are detected in the movement of the filter in each case by two spaced apart stripping elements and set in motion, so that adhering dirt particles can peel off. The filter blades are thus each detected by at least two stripping elements, which are spaced from each other. Thus, the filter blades can be very effectively set in motion over their entire length and thereby cleaned, without a strong mechanical impairment of the filter blades occurs through the filter cleaning device. The wear of the pleated filter during cleaning is kept low and yet a very effective filter cleaning is achieved.

It is favorable if at least two scraper elements arranged in the direction of the edges of the filter slats are arranged mirror-symmetrically to a center plane of the pleated filter running perpendicular to the edges. The mirror-symmetrical arrangement of the stripping elements allows a particularly uniform filter cleaning of the filter blades.

It is particularly advantageous if the distance between two stripper elements arranged in alignment with one another in the direction of the edges of the filter lamellae corresponds to half the length of the edges.

Of course, it can be provided that more than two stripping elements arranged in the direction of the edges of the filter slats in alignment with each other are, wherein the stripping elements are preferably arranged distributed uniformly over the length of the edges.

For filter cleaning, it is favorable if all filter lamellae are detected by stripping elements of the filter cleaning device. If only two stripping elements are used, which are arranged in alignment with each other, the complete cleaning of the pleated filter requires considerable lifting movement of the slide on which the two stripping elements are arranged. In order to reduce the stroke movement of the slide, it is provided in an advantageous embodiment of the invention that the filter cleaning device has a plurality of groups of scraper elements arranged offset from one another in the direction of movement of the slide, each group comprising at least two scraper elements arranged in alignment with each other in the direction of the edges of the filter slats includes. For example, it may be provided that a plurality of pairs of stripping elements arranged offset from one another in the direction of movement of the slide are used, each pair having two stripping elements arranged in alignment with one another in the direction of the edges of the filter disks. The use of a plurality of mutually staggered groups of scraper elements has the consequence that at a stroke movement of the slider at the same time a plurality of filter blades are offset from each other in the direction of movement of the slider staggered elements are detected so that even with a small stroke length of the slider and a pleated filter with a very large Number of filter blades can be effectively cleaned within a very short time. In a preferred embodiment, the filter cleaning device has at least a first and a parallel second row of stripping elements, wherein at least some of the stripping elements of the first row are arranged in the direction of the free edges of the filter blades in alignment with a stripping element of the second row. The two rows of scraper elements may each have a plurality of scraper elements. The stripping elements of different rows may be partially offset from each other in the direction of movement of the slider, but partially they are arranged in the direction of movement of the slider at the same height and thus in the direction of the free edges of the filter blades in alignment with each other. In the

Movement of the slide, therefore, the individual filter blades are first detected by several stripping elements, for example, two stripping elements, simultaneously, and as soon as these stripping the filter blade release, the filter blade of a smaller number of Abstreifele- elements, for example, only a single scraper detected to be detected by several scraper elements at the same time. This leads to an irregular movement of the filter blade and thereby to a very effective cleaning.

It is advantageous if the slider of the filter cleaning device has at least two longitudinal members aligned parallel to the direction of movement of the slider, on each of which a plurality of wiper elements are arranged at a distance from one another. The stripping elements can be uniformly distributed in the direction of movement of the slider on a side rail. It can be provided that the stripping elements are each detachably connectable to a longitudinal beam. Alternatively, a detachable connection, preferably a cohesive connection can be provided.

The longitudinal members are preferably connected via a plurality of perpendicular to the direction of movement of the slider aligned cross member with a central part of the slider. For example, two cross members may each be used, which protrude laterally from a central part and fix a longitudinal member at their free ends. Alternatively it can be provided that each side member is fixed to more than two cross members, for example, four cross members. This increases the mechanical stability of the Filterabreinigungsvor- direction.

A further improvement of the mechanical stability of the filter cleaning is achieved in a preferred embodiment of the invention characterized in that in the direction of movement of the slide staggered cross members are connected to each other via support struts.

It is particularly favorable when the slide is designed as a one-piece plastic molding.

The central part of the slider is conveniently releasably held on an actuating rod, which can be moved by the user, for example by means of a handle or a crank back and forth. Preferably, the central part of the slider is designed as a latchable with the actuating rod profile part. The profile part may for example be designed in cross-section U-shaped and latched onto the actuating rod.

It can be provided that the filter cleaning device has a plurality of slides held on the actuating rod. As a result, also pleated filters, which extend in the direction of movement of the slide over a large length, can be effectively cleaned with a small stroke movement of the actuating rod.

The stripping elements of the filter cleaning device are preferably designed C- or U-shaped. They each form a Abstreifbügel, which is rounded in the direction of the filter blades to prevent damage to the filter blades in the filter cleaning.

As already mentioned, the cleaning machine according to the invention can be configured as a sweeping machine. This has at least one sweeping roller for introducing dirt into the dirt collecting container.

The following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention serves in conjunction with the drawings for further explanation. Show it:

FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a cleaning machine according to the invention with a folded filter and a filter cleaning device; FIG. 2 shows a side view of the pleated filter and the filter cleaning device from FIG. 1;

Figure 3 is a view of the pleated filter and the filter cleaning device in the direction of arrow A of Figure 2, and

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the folded filter and the filter cleaning device.

1 shows schematically a preferred embodiment of a cleaning machine according to the invention in the form of a sweeper 10 is shown. This is designed as a so-called "walk-behind sweeper", which can be moved by sliding or even by means of a traction drive, wherein the user occupies a position behind the sweeping machine.

The sweeper 10 has two arranged near its rear side 12 wheels, in Figure 1, only one impeller 13 can be seen. In addition, a near the front 15 of the sweeping machine 10 arranged pivoting steering wheel 16 is used. The steering wheel 16 is held on a Fahrge- stell 18, which is formed as a one-piece plastic molding and on which in the region between the steering wheel 16 and the wheels 13 below a sweeping roller 20 is rotatably mounted. The back side is followed by the broom 20 a dirt receptacle 22, and above the sweeping roller 20, a suction unit 24 is fixed on the upper side of the chassis 18, which has in the usual way an electric motor 25 and a rotatably driven by this suction turbine 26. The suction turbine 26 is connected via a suction line 28 to the dirt receptacle 22 in flow connection. dung. By means of the suction turbine 26, a suction air flow can be generated, which is illustrated in Figure 1 by the arrows 31, so that the dirt receptacle 22 is acted upon by the suction turbine 26 with negative pressure.

The suction opening 29 is covered by a pleated filter 33, which filters the suction air flow 31, so that dirt particles are deposited. The pleated filter 33 has a frame 34, on which a zigzag folded filter material 35 is held, which forms a plurality of juxtaposed filter blades 36, the free edges 37 are arranged in a common plane. Such pleated filters are also referred to as "flat pleated filter".

Below the pleated filter 33, a filter cleaning device 40 is held for mechanical cleaning of the pleated filter 33. The filter cleaning device 40 comprises an actuating rod 41 which protrudes with a free end 42 from a housing 44 of the sweeping machine 10 at the rear side pointing obliquely upwards. At the free end 42 of a user graspable handle 45 is fixed. By means of the handle 45, the actuating rod 41 can be moved back and forth in the longitudinal direction. The direction of movement is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 by the double arrow 47. On the actuating rod 41, a slider 49 is detachably held below the pleated filter 33. The slide 49 has a cross-sectionally U-shaped central part 50, which is latched onto the actuating rod 41. As becomes clear, in particular, from FIGS. 3 and 4, a plurality of cross members 52 oriented transversely to the direction of movement 47 are attached to the central part 50. shaped. Two cross members 52 are connected to each other via two crossing Haitestreben 53, 54 rigidly together. The cross member 52 project on both sides of the central part 50 to the outside. At the free ends, the cross members 52 each carry a side member 56 or 57 oriented parallel to the direction of movement 47 of the actuating rod 41.

The cross members 52, in combination with the support struts 53 and 54 and the longitudinal members 56, 57, form a truss-like lattice structure which only counteracts the suction air flow 31 with a very low flow resistance.

The filter cleaning device 40 thus has a first side member 56 on one side of the operating rod 41 and a second side member 57 on the other side of the operating rod 41. The first side member 56 carries on the upper side, that faces the filter blades 36 of the pleated filter 33, a plurality of offset in the direction of movement 47 staggered first Abstreifelemente 59. Similarly, the second side member 57 carries the upper side, that is the filter blades 36 of the pleated filter 33 facing several in the direction of movement 47 offset from each other arranged second stripping 60. The stripping elements 59 and 60 are each identical in shape U-shaped bracket, which are rounded and immersed in the space between adjacent filter blades 36. Here, in each case a first stripping element 59 is arranged in the direction of the free edges 37 in alignment with a second stripping element 60. This becomes clear from FIGS. 3 and 4. Thus, in each case a first stripping element 59 in combination with a second stripping element 60 arranged in alignment forms a pair of stripping elements which, relative to the direction of movement 47 of the slide 49 are arranged at the same height. This pair of scraper elements 59, 60 acts on the same filter blade 36, so that this filter blade 36 is stripped off at the same time by the two aligned scraper elements 59 and 60.

During operation of the sweeping machine 10 dirt is picked up by a sweeping roller 20 from a bottom surface to be cleaned and introduced into the dirt receptacle 22. This is sucked from the suction unit 24, wherein the suction air stream 31 is formed, which flows through the pleated filter 33. Dirt particles deposit over time on the pleated filter 33, so that this must be cleaned. For this purpose, the user by means of the handle 45, the filter cleaning device 40 in the direction 47 push back and forth, wherein the stripping 59 and 60 along the filter blades 33 along. In each case two scraper elements 59, 60 arranged in alignment with one another engage the same filter lamella 36, first take it with them when moving the actuating rod 41, in order to release it again after a certain further movement of the actuating rod 41, so that they return to their position due to their own elasticity the starting position snaps back. This movement of the filter blade 36 leads to a virtually complete cleaning.

As is clear from FIG. 3, the scraper elements 59, 60 arranged in alignment with one another are arranged at a spacing which corresponds to half the length of the filter blades 36. In this case, the length of the filter lamellae is understood to mean their extent transversely to the direction of movement 47. The two stripping elements 59 and 60 are mirror-symmetrical to a center plane 62 of the pleat line aligned perpendicular to the edges 37 of the filter blades 36. filters 33 arranged. The center plane 62 divides the filter lamellae 36 into two halves, and the scraper elements 59, 60, which are arranged in alignment with one another, are positioned centrally in the longitudinal direction on one half of the filter lamella 36.

For cleaning the pleated filter 33, only a relatively short stroke movement of the actuating rod 41 is required, because several first stripping elements 59 and a plurality of second stripping elements 60 are arranged on each side member 56 and 57 in the direction of movement 47 one behind the other. In the illustrated embodiment, six first stripping elements 59 arranged one behind the other and six second stripping elements 60 arranged one behind the other are used.

In the illustrated embodiment, only one slide 49 is held on the actuating rod 41. However, it can also be provided that a plurality of slides 49 are arranged offset in the direction of movement 47 to each other on the actuating rod 41. Such a configuration is particularly advantageous when the pleated filter 33 extends in the direction of movement 47 over a large distance or when several folded in the direction of movement 47 juxtaposed pleated filters are used, each of which a slider is assigned.

Claims

1. cleaning machine, in particular sweeping machine, with a suction air flow generating suction unit, which is connected via a suction line with a dirt receptacle in flow communication, and with at least one arranged in the suction air pleated filter having a plurality of juxtaposed filter blades and a filter cleaning device is associated with a slidable slider transversely to the fold lines of the pleated filter, on which a plurality of stripping elements running along the free edges of the filter slats are arranged, characterized in that at least two scraper elements (59, 60) are aligned in the direction of the free edges (37) of the filter slats (36) are spaced apart.

2. Cleaning machine according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two in the direction of the edges (37) of the filter blades (36) in alignment with each other arranged Abstreifelemente (59, 60) mirror-symmetrical to a perpendicular to the edges (37) extending center plane (62) of the Pleated filters (33) are arranged.

3. Cleaning machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the distance between two in the direction of the edges (37) of the filter blades (36) in alignment with one another Abstreifelemente (59, 60) corresponds to half the length of the edges (37).

4. Cleaning machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter cleaning device (40) has a plurality of, in the direction of movement (47) of the slide (49) offset from one another groups of scraper elements (59, 60), each

Group at least two in the direction of the edges (37) of the filter blades (36) in alignment with each other arranged Abstreifelemente (59, 60) summarized.

5. Cleaning machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter cleaning device (40) at least a first and a parallel second row of scraper elements (59, 60), wherein at least some of the stripping elements (59) of the first row in the direction of the free Edges (37) of the filter blades (36) are arranged in alignment with a stripping element (60) of the second row.

6. Cleaning machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slide (49) at least two parallel to the direction of movement of the slide (49) aligned longitudinal members (56, 57), on each of which a plurality of stripping elements (59, 60) at a distance to each other are arranged.

7. Cleaning machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the longitudinal members (56, 57) via a plurality of perpendicular to the direction of movement (47) of the slide (49) aligned cross member (52) having a

Central part (50) of the slide (49) are connected.

8. Cleaning machine according to claim 7, characterized in that in the direction of movement (47) of the slide (49) offset from one another transverse members (52) via holding struts (53, 54) are interconnected.

9. Cleaning machine according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the central part (50) is releasably held on an actuating rod (41).

10. Cleaning machine according to claim 9, characterized in that the central part (50) as configured with the actuating rod (41) latchable profile part.

11. Cleaning machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stripping elements (59, 60) C- or U-shaped configuration.

12. Cleaning machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning machine is designed as a sweeping machine (10) and at least one sweeping roller (20) for

Introducing dirt into the dirt receptacle (22).