WO2012065830A1

WO2012065830A1 - Floor cleaning machine

Info

Publication number: WO2012065830A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/068986
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frank Nonnenmann; Michael Oesterle; Armin Klenk; Rainer Schäfer
Original assignee: Alfred Kärcher Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2010-11-15
Filing date: 2011-10-28
Publication date: 2012-05-24
Also published as: EP2640251A1; CN103220958B; CN103220958A; DK2640251T3; EP2640251B1; DE202010015750U1; EP2640251B9

Abstract

The invention relates to a floor cleaning machine, comprising a cleaning device (14) and a storage reservoir (18) for cleaning liquid, said storage reservoir comprising an outlet (56) for cleaning liquid, which is fluidically connected to the cleaning device (14), and an outlet opening (38) for discharging cleaning liquid. In order to provide a floor cleaning machine which can be produced more easily, it is proposed according to the invention that the storage reservoir (18) comprises a cover (52) for closing and opening the outlet opening (38), the outlet (56) being integrated into the cover (52).

Description

FLOOR CLEANING MACHINE

The invention relates to a floor cleaning machine, comprising a cleaning device and a reservoir for cleaning liquid having an outlet for the cleaning liquid in fluid communication with the cleaning device and a discharge opening for discharging the cleaning liquid.

In such a floor cleaning machine, cleaning liquid, in particular water, to which a cleaning additive can be added, can be supplied via the outlet of the cleaning device in order to apply a floor surface to be cleaned to increase the cleaning effect. In addition to the outlet, the generic floor cleaning machine comprises the discharge opening through which cleaning liquid can be drained through during prolonged work breaks or during temporary shutdown of the floor cleaning machine. In this way, it is possible, for example, to prevent the cleaning additive from flocculating as a result of the service life and from clogging the outlet when the floor cleaning machine is put back into service. It is further provided to drain the cleaning liquid from the reservoir in order to clean the interior of foreign particles such as dirt.

The US 4,741,069 describes a mobile floor cleaning machine with a reservoir which comprises an outlet connected by means of a discharge line to the cleaning device.

Object of the present invention is to provide a floor cleaning machine of the type mentioned, which can be produced in a simpler manner. The object is achieved in a generic floor cleaning machine according to the invention in that the reservoir has a cover for closing and releasing the discharge opening, in which cover the outlet is integrated.

In operation of the floor cleaning machine, the drain opening is closed, and cleaning liquid can be supplied to the cleaning device via the outlet. If the cleaning liquid is to be drained off, for example to clean the storage container, the drainage opening can be released and the cleaning liquid drained off. The above embodiment of the floor cleaning machine according to the invention makes it possible to combine the cover and the outlet, which functionally have the same purpose, namely to enable or prevent the discharge of cleaning liquid from the storage container, into an assembly. During a uniform, common manufacturing process, the outlet can be easily integrated into the cover in terms of manufacturing technology, in order subsequently to be installed with the reservoir produced in a separate production method for the purpose of completing the reservoir. Incidentally, if the reservoir is made, as usual, by a rotation sintering process which does not permit integration of the outlet during the manufacturing process, subsequent integration of the outlet and thus a production step can be saved. In addition, the handling of the in practice often unwieldy reservoir is facilitated when the outlet is integrated into the comparatively small cover. Thus, the floor cleaning machine according to the invention not only receives a simpler structural design, but it can also be produced in a simpler way.

In the present case, the outlet can in the present case in the simplest case be an outlet opening formed in the cover, into which, for example, a supply line for cleaning liquid for the cleaning device can be inserted. It is also conceivable embodiment of the outlet as a connection element for the supply. Advantageously, the cross-sectional area of the discharge opening is substantially larger than the cross-sectional area of the outlet through which the cleaning liquid can flow. The cross-sectional area of the outlet can be selected during production such that the cleaning device can be supplied with the required amount of cleaning liquid. If the cross-sectional area of the discharge opening is chosen to be substantially larger than the cross-sectional area of the outlet, the storage container can be emptied and cleaned particularly quickly after the discharge opening has been released. For example, the cross-section of the outlet is approximately finger-thick, whereas the cross section of the outlet opening is approximately arm-thick, so that a user can also intervene through the discharge opening into the reservoir and clean it.

In a preferred embodiment of the floor cleaning machine according to the invention, it proves to be favorable in practice if the cross-sectional area of the discharge opening is about 20 cm ² to about 180 cm ² , more preferably about 50 cm ² to about 110 cm ² and even more preferably about 80 cm ² . If the discharge opening is circular, this corresponds to a diameter of the discharge opening of about 5 cm to about 15 cm, more preferably about 8 cm to about 12 cm or even more preferably about 10 cm.

As already mentioned, a connection element can be provided on the cover. Preferably, the floor cleaning machine comprises an outlet forming, in the cover, moreover, integrated connecting element for a supply line, with the cleaning device cleaning liquid is supplied. At the connection element, the supply line can be reliably connected, thereby largely avoiding leakage in the region of the outlet.

In an advantageous embodiment of the floor cleaning machine according to the invention, it proves to be favorable in practice if the connection element is formed separately from the cover and connected to it, to integrate into this. This is for example advantageous if the cover has a plate-shaped lid which can be produced in a structurally simple manner and for the connecting element, a standardized component is used, which can also be manufactured in large numbers production-wise simple and connected to a lid. For example, the connection element with the cover is otherwise screwed, glued or welded.

In a different embodiment of the floor cleaning machine, however, it may be convenient to form the connecting element integral with the cover and to integrate in this way in this. The connecting element may be molded, for example, to the cover, for example, by casting.

Preferably, the connection element and / or the cover are made of a plastic material, because this allows their cost-effective and structurally simple production.

It is advantageous if the connection element is formed angled and defines, for example, a connection axis for the supply line, which forms an angle with a surface normal of the cover. This is advantageous, for example, if the cover is arranged at or near a lateral boundary of the floor cleaning machine, so that it can be reached by a user in a simpler manner. The angled connection element makes it possible that the supply line does not protrude beyond the lateral boundary of the floor cleaning machine, which may be perceived by the user as disturbing.

It is advantageous if the connection element is designed to be rotatable relative to the cover. This makes it possible to adjust the connection element so that the supply line is aligned in the direct direction of the cleaning device. In the floor cleaning machine can be provided, for example, that the reservoir is pivotable relative to a chassis to to expose an arranged below the reservoir suction unit, so that it is freely accessible to the user for maintenance. In this case, it is possible that the cover is pivoted together with the reservoir otherwise. If the connection element is designed to be rotatable with respect to the cover, this allows the supply container to be pivoted in the opposite direction of rotation while rotating the connection element, so that the supply line can not be separated from the connection element. The

Pivot axis of the reservoir preferably extends horizontally and through the cover, for example, perpendicular to the cover.

The floor cleaning machine preferably comprises a supply line which can be detachably connected to the connection element. The supply line is conveniently in particular manually connected to the connection element and / or manually detachable from this, for example by plugging or by peeling. The connection element opposite end of the supply line is also preferably manually connected to the cleaning device and / or manually detachable from this.

Preferably, the supply line is designed as a hose, because it is structurally simple to manufacture and flexible installation.

The handling of the floor cleaning machine is made easier for the user if the discharge opening is manually releasable and / or closable.

It is advantageous if the cover is detachably connectable to the reservoir. In the connected state, the cover closes the drain opening. If the cover is otherwise released from the storage container, the discharge opening is released. As a result, the cover can be made structurally simple.

Advantageously, the floor cleaning machine comprises at least one fastening element for fixing the cover to the storage container in a closed position in which the discharge opening is closed. In the lock ment, the cover on the storage container is otherwise fixed. By acting on, removing or actuating the at least one fastening element, the cover can be transferred to a release position, for example, be detached from the reservoir, moreover, in order to release the discharge opening.

Preferably, the at least one fastener is screwed to the reservoir, i. the at least one fastening element and the reservoir form a screw, by means of which the cover is fixable on the reservoir. This allows a structurally simple embodiment of the floor cleaning machine with simultaneous reliable fixation of the cover in the closed position.

Advantageously, the at least one fastening element is formed separately from the cover. This facilitates the production of the cover, for example, if it comprises a structurally simple to produce plate-shaped lid. Furthermore, this also makes it easier to rotatably form the cover, as mentioned below, relative to the reservoir, in order to turn it and thus the outlet into a suitable position.

In a different preferred embodiment of the floor cleaning machine can be provided that the fastening element is formed integrally with the cover, for example, is formed on this.

Preferably, the at least one fastener engages over the cover in the closed position, because this allows a structurally simple way the fixation of the cover on the reservoir. For example, the at least one fastening element forms a screw ring or a union nut for the cover, which can otherwise be screwed to the reservoir for fixing the cover. It is advantageous if the outlet is arranged off-center of the cover on the same. If the cover assumes an orientation oriented obliquely or transversely to a horizontal plane, this makes it possible to align the outlet in a position that occupies the smallest distance from the bottom surface. This will ensure that the reservoir can be emptied as far as possible through the outlet before adding cleaning fluid. For example, the outlet is arranged on an edge region of the cover.

It is advantageous if the cover is rotatable relative to the reservoir, for example in the last-described embodiment of the floor cleaning machine. By turning the cover relative to the reservoir, moreover, the outlet can be transferred to the position with the smallest distance to the bottom surface. It can be provided that the cover is rotatable relative to the reservoir only if it is held by means of the at least one fastening element while loosely on this, but not fixed in the closed position. However, it is also conceivable that the cover in the closed position, in which it sealingly closes the discharge opening, is rotatable relative to the storage container.

The floor cleaning machine preferably has a filter element for filtering cleaning liquid flowing out of the outlet, because this allows the cleaning liquid to be freed of foreign particles and clogging of the components of the floor cleaning machine that carry the cleaning liquid to be avoided.

It is advantageous if the filter element is fixable by means of the cover in its closed position on the reservoir. This allows a structurally simple embodiment of the floor cleaning machine, can be dispensed with in a separate attachment for the filter element. Further, the filter element can be easily removed, replaced or maintained by the cover is transferred from the closed position to the release position, so that the filter element is freely accessible to the user. Preferably, the filter element is applied to an edge of the discharge opening between the cover and the reservoir. As a result, it is possible in a structurally simple way to fix the filter element by means of the cover. For example, the filter element is attached to the edge and inserted into the discharge opening, covered by the cover, which is then fixed by means of the at least one fastening element on the reservoir otherwise. This also allows a particularly simple handling of the floor cleaning machine.

It is advantageous if the cross-sectional area of the filter element is greater than the cross-sectional area of the outlet which can be flowed through by cleaning fluid, with a filter medium of the filter element favorably being at a distance from the outlet. Due to the large cross-sectional area, the cleaning liquid can be effectively filtered for a long period of time without the outlet becoming contaminated with foreign particles. By the distance of the filter medium from the outlet is further ensured that even with partially added filter medium of the cleaning device still cleaning liquid can be supplied through the outlet. In particular, the cross-sectional area of the filter element may be as large or substantially as large as the cross-sectional area of the discharge opening, for example by the filter medium extending over the entire discharge opening.

It is advantageous if the filter element comprises a filter medium as a filter, because this allows a cost-effective production of the filter medium. In addition, through the filter medium through a volume flow of cleaning liquid can be achieved, which is sufficient for loading the cleaning device, without the need for a pump unit must be used.

Preferably, the discharge opening is arranged in a vertical plane, ie the edge of the discharge opening defines a vertical plane. As a result, not only cleaning fluid can be reliably drained from the reservoir, but the user can also handle friendly from the side into the interior of the reservoir and clean it.

In a structurally simple embodiment, the cover may be at least partially plate-shaped. For example, it may comprise a plate-shaped lid into which a connection element forming the outlet is integrated.

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

Figure 1: a side view of a floor cleaning machine according to the invention;

Figure 2: a rear view of the floor cleaning machine of Figure 1 and

Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of a rear portion of a reservoir for cleaning liquid of the floor cleaning machine of Figure 1 in an exploded view.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a preferred embodiment of a floor cleaning machine according to the invention, which is configured as a so-called scrubber scrubber-drier and is generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The scrubber-drier 10 has a cleaning device 14 at the bottom on its front side 12. The cleaning device 14, a so-called "brush head" comprises two cleaning tools not shown in the drawing in the form of brush rollers. Using the brush rollers, after lowering the cleaning device 14

Dirt be removed from a floor surface 16 to be cleaned. To increase the cleaning effect of the cleaning device 14, a cleaning liquid can be supplied in the manner explained below, which is stored in a covered by the scrubber 10 reservoir 18, hereinafter tank 20. The cleaning liquid is preferably water, to which a cleaning additive may be added to increase the cleaning effect.

The mixture of loosened dirt and cleaning liquid can be sucked off a dirt-collecting container 22, which is arranged on the bottom side on a rear side 24 of the scrubber-suction machine 10 and is placed on the bottom surface 16 in the lowered state. The suction is carried out under the action of a suction unit, not shown in the drawing. The dirty liquid container is also not shown in the drawing, and it is located below a lid 26 at the top of the scrubber 10th

As can be seen in particular from FIG. 3, the tank 20 above the dirt suction device 22, offset slightly from the rear side 24, forms a hollow cylindrical bearing section 28. The bearing section 28 rests on a likewise cylindrical bearing shell 32 formed by a chassis 30 of the scrubber drier 10 on (Figure 2). About the bearing portion 28 and the bearing shell 32 of the tank 20 and the dirt liquid container arranged above it and a control unit 34 is pivotally mounted on the back 24 about a horizontal pivot axis 36. By pivoting the tank 20 relative to the chassis 30, the above-mentioned suction unit, which is held on the top of the chassis 30, exposed, so that it is freely accessible by a user for maintenance.

The storage portion 28 of the tank 20 has at its lowest point a lateral discharge opening 38 at the left side of the scrubber 10. The discharge opening 38 is bordered by a vertical plane defining edge 40 so that the discharge opening 38 is in a vertical plane is aligned. At the edge 40, a fastening element 42 is formed in the form of an external thread 44 on the wall of the tank 20. The external thread 44 can cooperate with a further fastening element 46 in the form of a threaded ring 48, which comprises an internal thread 50 and thereby detachably screwed onto the external thread 44 ,

For closing the discharge opening 38, the tank 18 comprises a cover 52, which has the cover in the closer sense, namely a plate-shaped circular cover 54, and an outlet 56 integrated in the plate-shaped cover 54 for cleaning fluid. Both the plate-shaped cover 54 and the outlet 56 are manufactured from a simple plastic material manufacturing technology, wherein the outlet 56 is an angled connecting nipple 58 produced inexpensively by a standardized method. The nipple 58 is arranged eccentrically on the cover 54, approximately at half the distance from the center to the outer edge.

The plate-shaped cover 54 has an opening 60 which is penetrated by one end side of the connection nipple 58, which cooperates by means of a fastening element in the form of a lock nut for fixing the connection nipple 58 on the cover 54. In addition, a polygonal recess 64 is provided in the cover 54, which can cooperate with a polygon and in particular hex 66 at the connection nipple 58. This ensures that the connection nipple 58 with a first, the lid 54 facing portion 68, which is parallel to the pivot axis 36, is rotatably held on the cover 54. A second section 70 of the connecting nipple 58 is aligned at right angles to the first section 68 and is freely rotatable relative to the first section 68 about a rotation axis 72 defined by it, which is aligned parallel to the pivot axis 36.

Furthermore, the tank 20 comprises a filter element 74 which can be placed between the cover 52 and the edge 40, wherein it is positively connected in the Ab- Laßöffnung 38 can be used. The cover 52 can be placed on the outside of the filter element 74 and by means of the threaded ring 48 firmly bolted to the tank 20 otherwise to seal the discharge opening 38. As a filter medium, the filter element 74 has a screen 76, which is arranged in the interior of the tank 20 at a distance from the connection nipple 58 and which covers a cross-sectional area which is substantially as large as that of the discharge opening 38.

A feed line 78 in the form of a hose 80, shown only in sections in FIG. 2, can be attached to the second section 70 of the connection nipple 58 in a manually detachable manner. The hose 80 extends from the connection nipple 58 to the cleaning device 14, to which it also, this is not shown in the drawing, is detachably connectable. To guide the tube 80, a trough-shaped recess 82 is provided in the chassis 30.

With the refinement explained above, the scrubber-drier 10 according to the invention has the following properties:

In normal operation, the cover 52 assumes a closed position in which the drain opening 38 is sealed. As mentioned, this is the filter element 74 at the edge 40, the cover 52 covers the filter element 74, and it is fixed by means of the threaded ring 48 on the tank 20 otherwise. This is possible for the user manually without the use of tools. When fixing the cover 52, the user can orient the connection nipple 58, which is held eccentrically on the cover 54, so that it occupies the smallest possible distance from the bottom surface 16 (see FIG. This can ensure that a maximum possible amount of cleaning liquid of the cleaning device 14 can be supplied from the tank 20.

During operation of scrubber-drier 10, cleaning fluid passes through filter element 74 of very large cross-sectional area as compared to the cross-sectional area of port nipple 58. Since the strainer 76 has a distance from the connection nipple 58, the risk that the Connecting nipple 58 with foreign particles contained in the cleaning fluid, extremely low. Even if a portion of the screen 76 is already added with foreign particles, cleaning liquid can still be discharged via the connection nipple 58.

The hose 80, which can be connected manually to the connection nipple 58, supplies the cleaning liquid to the cleaning device 14, so that the bottom surface 16 can be supplied with cleaning liquid. By virtue of the second section 70 of the connecting nipple 58 which is rotatable relative to the first section 68, it is possible to prevent kinks from forming in the hose 80. Rather, the second section 70 automatically adjusts relative to the first section 68 so that the tube 80 is free of kinking.

If the tank 20, as mentioned, pivots about the pivot axis 36 relative to the chassis 30, the second portion 70 can rotate relative to the first portion 68 so that the hose 80 does not come off either from the connection nipple 58 or from the cleaning device 14 and further also not kinked.

It may be necessary to release the vent opening 38, for example, to clean or replace the filter element 74 or to drain cleaning fluid from the tank 20. For this, the user can

Unscrew screw ring 48 from the tank 20 manually and without tools, transfer the cover 52 from the closed position into a release position and thereby release the drain opening 38. The filter element 74, since only inserted, can also be removed without tools from the tank 20 and cleaned or replaced, if necessary.

Discharge of cleaning liquid from the tank 20 may be necessary in the case of prolonged standstill or shutdown of the scrubber 10 in order to prevent a cleaning additive from flocculating. Furthermore, it may occasionally be necessary to drain the cleaning fluid to remove foreign particles from the interior of the tank 20. After loosening the screw ring 48, the cover 52 and the filter element 74, the tank 20 can be emptied particularly quickly when the drain opening is released. For this purpose, it is advantageous that the discharge opening 38 is formed comparatively large. Its diameter is approximately 10 cm, which corresponds to a cross-sectional area of approximately 80 cm ² . As a result, the cross section of the discharge opening 38 is more than armdick. This allows the user to intervene with the tool or the forearm in the interior of the tank 20 and remove foreign particles with tool or by hand from the tank 20. For the user, the intervention in the tank 20 in a simple manner possible because the discharge opening, as mentioned, vertically aligned and arranged laterally on the scrubber 10. A cleaning of the interior of the tank 20 via the discharge opening 38 is therefore possible for the user without excessively crooked posture.

After draining the cleaning liquid and / or cleaning or replacing the filter element 74, the drain opening 38 can be closed again. For this purpose, the filter element 74 is again applied to the edge 40 and to insert into the discharge opening 38, to cover by the cover 52, which can be manually fixed by means of the screw ring 48 on the tank 20 otherwise.

The integration of the connection nipple 58, ie the outlet 56, on the cover 52 of the discharge opening 38 offers the advantage of a structurally simple, easy to manufacture and easy-to-use floor cleaning machine. In particular blockages can be corrected easily. In addition to blockages of the filter element 74, this is also possible in the case of blockages of the tube 80, they should occur at all. Since the hose 80 can be released manually from the connection nipple 58 and from the cleaning device 14, a cleaning or replacement of the hose 80 can also be carried out particularly easily. In addition, the hose 80 is accessible to the user by the arrangement on the side of the scrubber 10 in a simple manner. He is not beyond a lateral boundary of the scrubber 10, which is possible by the angled configuration of the connection nipple 58.

Between the filter element 74 and the cover 52, a dashed line shown in Figure 3 and in particular annular sealing element 84 may be arranged. Such an arrangement of the sealing element 84 offers the advantage that when the screw ring 48 is screwed onto the edge 40 no rotational movement of the sealing surfaces occurs relative to one another.

Claims

PAT E NTAN SP RU CHE

A floor cleaning machine comprising a cleaning device (14) and a cleaning fluid reservoir (18) having a cleaning fluid outlet (56) in fluid communication with the cleaning device (14) and a drain port (38) for draining cleaning fluid; since you are ke n ch, that the reservoir (18) has a cover (52) for closing and releasing the discharge opening (38), in which cover (52) of the outlet (56) is integrated.

2. Floor cleaning machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the cross-sectional area of the discharge opening (38) is substantially larger than the flow-through of the cleaning liquid cross-sectional area of the outlet (56).

3. Floor cleaning machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cross-sectional area of the discharge opening (38) is about 20 cm ² to about 180 cm ² , more preferably about 50 cm ² to about 110 cm ² and more preferably about 80 cm ² .

4. floor cleaning machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the floor cleaning machine (10) forming the outlet (56), in the cover (52) integrated connecting element (58) for a supply line (78), with the cleaning device ( 14) cleaning fluid can be supplied.

5. floor cleaning machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the connecting element (58) is formed separately from the cover (52) and connected thereto.

6. Floor cleaning machine according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the connecting element (58) and / or the cover (52) are made of a plastic material.

7. floor cleaning machine according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the connecting element (58) is angled.

8. Floor cleaning machine according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the connecting element (58) relative to the cover (52) is rotatable.

9. Floor cleaning machine according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the floor cleaning machine (10) with the connection element (58) releasably connectable supply line (78).

10. Floor cleaning machine according to claim 9, characterized in that the supply line (78) is designed as a hose line (80).

11. Floor cleaning machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the discharge opening (38) is manually releasable and / or closable.

12. Floor cleaning machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (52) with the reservoir (18) is releasably connectable.

13. Floor cleaning machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the floor cleaning machine (10) comprises at least one fastening element (46) for fixing the cover (52) on the storage container (18) in a closed position in which the discharge opening (38) is closed ,

14. Floor cleaning machine according to claim 13, characterized in that the at least one fastening element (46) with the reservoir (18) can be screwed.

15. Floor cleaning machine according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the at least one fastening element (46) is formed separately from the cover (52).

16. Floor cleaning machine according to one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the at least one fastening element (46) engages over the cover (52) in the closed position.

17. Floor cleaning machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outlet (56) off-center of the cover (52) is arranged on the same.

18. Floor cleaning machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (52) relative to the reservoir (18) is rotatable.

19. Floor cleaning machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the floor cleaning machine (10) has a filter element (74) for filtering out of the outlet (56) effluent cleaning liquid.

20. Floor cleaning machine according to claim 19, characterized in that the filter element (74) by means of the cover (52) in its closed position on the reservoir (18) is fixable.

21. Floor cleaning machine according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the filter element (74) on an edge (40) of the discharge opening (38) between the cover (52) and the reservoir (18) is applied.

22. Floor cleaning machine according to one of claims 19 to 21, characterized in that the cross-sectional area of the filter element (74) is greater than the flow-through of cleaning liquid cross-sectional area of the outlet (56).

23. Floor cleaning machine according to one of claims 19 to 22, characterized in that the filter element (74) as a filter medium comprises a sieve (76).

24. Floor cleaning machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the discharge opening (38) is arranged in a vertical plane.

25. Floor cleaning machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (52) is at least partially plate-shaped.