WO2018065598A1

WO2018065598A1 - Cleaning robot

Info

Publication number: WO2018065598A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/075529
Authority: WO
Inventors: Norbert Weis; Johannes Flath; Conrad F. Alfaro; Satish POTINENI
Original assignee: Carl Freudenberg Kg
Priority date: 2016-10-07
Filing date: 2017-10-06
Publication date: 2018-04-12
Also published as: DE102016119103A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning robot (1) comprising a main body (2) with a drive device (3), a first cleaning device (4) and a second cleaning device (5), which are allocated to the underside (6) of the main body (2), wherein the first cleaning device (4) and the second cleaning device (5) are allocated to the underside (6) of the main body (2) at a distance from each other, wherein the first cleaning device (4) has a brush roller (7) which is rotatably mounted in the main body and transports dirt to a first dirt container accommodated within the main body (2) and wherein the second cleaning device (5) has a suction slot (9) which is operatively connected to a suction device arranged within the main body (2) and transports dirt to a second dirt container accommodated within the main body (2).

Description

Patent application

cleaning robot

The invention relates to a cleaning robot, comprising a main body with a drive device, a first cleaning device and a second cleaning device.

Such a cleaning robot is known for example from DE 10 2014 100 004 A1. The previously known cleaning robot comprises a

Main body, on the underside of a first cleaning device with a rotating roller mounted in the main body brush roller and a second cleaning device are arranged in the form of a suction unit. By the arrangement of two cleaning devices, a separation of functions can be achieved, so that the first cleaning device, for example, is equipped to receive coarse dirt, while the second

Cleaning device is equipped to pick up fine dirt.

Because coarse dirt is already absorbed by the first cleaning device, the second cleaning device, in particular if it is designed as a suction device, be provided with a relatively low suction power. This is particularly advantageous when used in cleaning robots, as they should be as light as possible and have a long service life before they automatically start the charging station.

The invention has for its object to provide a cleaning robot, which has a long service life with high cleaning performance.

This object is achieved with the features of claim 1. In advantageous embodiments, the dependent claims relate. According to the invention, the first cleaning device and the second

Cleaning device spaced associated with the underside of the main body. This results in a clear separation of functions between the first cleaning device and the second cleaning device, so that both cleaning devices can be equipped to accommodate special types of dirt. Furthermore, the two influence each other

Cleaning equipment is not mutually exclusive.

In this case, the first cleaning device on a rotatably mounted in the main body brush roller, which dirt in one within the

Main body received first dirt container transported. As a result, the first cleaning device is particularly equipped, coarse

Contain dirt such as sand, crumbs or the like. The brush roller is preferably motor-driven and has a shaft which extends transversely to the main direction of travel of the main body and is provided with bristles projecting radially from the shaft. The bristles may be spirally arranged on the shaft. Alternatively, the bristles may also be arranged in a V-shape on the shaft, so that

Contaminations are transported in the direction of the center of the shaft and then in the first dirt container.

The first cleaning device and the second cleaning device are arranged on the underside such that, starting from the front side of the main body, first the first cleaning device followed by the second cleaning device is arranged. Moves the

Cleaning robot forward, this is a large part of the pollution already absorbed by the first cleaning device.

The second cleaning device has a suction slot which is provided with a suction device arranged inside the main body

operatively connected and carries dirt into a received within the main body second dirt container. The suction device is preferably a battery-operated suction motor. This is the second Cleaning device designed to receive finer dirt, especially dusts and to promote in the second dirt container. The suction nozzle is preferably flow-optimized in such a way that a constant suction pressure is applied over the longitudinal extent of the suction nozzle. For this purpose, the suction nozzle gradually tapers and passes into a suction tube. In addition, in the suction nozzle and / or the suction tube

Flow guide be arranged.

An advantageous brush roller, which is used in a

Cleaning robot is particularly suitable, has a rotatable in the

Main body storable shaft, which is provided on at least one end face with drive means. The drive means may take the form of a

Gear may be formed, wherein the power transmission preferably takes place via a toothed belt.

From the shaft bristles protrude in the radial direction. The bristles are viewed in the longitudinal direction of the shaft linearly mounted on the shaft, wherein the arrangement is such that a curved curved spiral

Bristle arrangement results.

In an advantageous embodiment, the bristles are arranged so that viewed in the longitudinal direction of the shaft results in a projection which is free of bristles. This makes it particularly easy to get hair out of the

Brush roll to be removed, extending around the bristles and the shaft

have looped.

The removal of hair can be further improved by a slot is introduced into the shaft, which is associated with the bristle-free portion and which extends in the longitudinal direction of the shaft. This makes it possible, for example, to cut hair along the slot with a knife or the like in order to remove it even easier. On the bottom of the main body can be between the first

Cleaning means and the second cleaning means may be provided a projection which projects in the direction of the floor to be cleaned. The projection causes a functional separation of the first and second cleaning device, so that both cleaning devices do not influence each other.

According to a first embodiment, the projection is formed in the form of a row of bristles. It is advantageous that the row of bristles supports the cleaning work of the first cleaning device and the second cleaning device and thus improves the cleaning performance of the cleaning robot. Furthermore, the projection prevents coarse contaminants, which are not detected by the first cleaning device, from entering the second cleaning device. The rough ones

Contaminations are retained by the row of bristles and by changing the direction of the cleaning robot from the first

Cleaning device added. The bristle row is preferably formed so that it comes into engagement with the floor to be cleaned. In a second embodiment, the projection is in the form of an elastic lip. It is advantageous that the elastic lip can also retain moist or liquid contaminants.

At least one further projection, which extends between an edge of the main body and the first cleaning device, can be assigned to the first cleaning device. The edges limit the bottom of the main body to the side surfaces. Due to the necessary storage of the brush roller in the main body can

By design, a narrow area between the edge of the

Main body and the brush roller are not detected by the first cleaning device during the cleaning work. So that no dirt on the floor to be cleaned remain in this area, the further projection is provided, which the dirt in Receives edge region and leads in the direction of the first cleaning device.

In a preferred embodiment, the first is on both sides

Cleaning device each provided a further projection. As a result, the two edges of the side surfaces of the main body are each assigned a further projection. Furthermore, it is preferred that the

Longitudinal extension of the projection is angled to the longitudinal axis of the first cleaning device. If two further protrusions are provided on both sides of the first cleaning device, a V-shaped arrangement of the further protrusions results. Coarse contaminants are directed in the direction of the first cleaning device when the cleaning robot moves over the floor to be cleaned. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the further projections are formed in the form of circular segments. The further projections may be in the form of bristle rows and / or elastic lips. Preferably also get the other

Projections in engagement with the soil to be cleaned.

Preferably, the first dirt container and the second

Dirt container arranged in a removable from the main body unit. In this embodiment, the first dirt container and the second dirt container are combined in one unit and can be removed with a single handle from the main body. The main body can have a shaft open to the top of the main body, the shaft having openings for the first cleaning device and the second cleaning device, and the unit being removable via the top side. This makes the unit easy to get out of

Main body are removed. The unit can be additionally with

Be provided facilities that the openings to the first

Close the cleaning device and the second cleaning device automatically as soon as the unit is removed. Between the second dirt container and the second cleaning device, a suction fan may be arranged, which air from the first

Promotes cleaning device in the direction of the second dirt container. This arrangement also simplifies the accessibility and removability of the unit with the second dirt container. The suction fan preferably comprises an impeller arranged in the air flow, which is driven by an electric motor.

Preferably, the unit is provided with a lid and a handle.

By the lid can be prevented that unintentionally dirt from the two dirt containers arrives and the unit can be very easily removed from the cleaning robot and transported by the handle. In this case, the lid can be attached via a hinge to the unit, which opens automatically when tilting the unit.

The cover preferably has an outlet for the exhaust air of the suction motor. To improve the cleaning performance of the outlet may be associated with a filter. The filter is preferably flat. The filter may for example be formed from a filter mat made of nonwoven fabric, which holds back dust in the dirt container.

Preferably, the first dirt container is so of the second

Dirt container separated, that the suction pressure of the suction device acts only in the second cleaning device. In this embodiment, the first dirt container is sealed relative to the second dirt container. This can be done, for example, that the first dirt container and the second dirt container are separated by an edge, wherein the edge during the intended use of the

Robotic robot comes to the cover of the unit to the plant. As a result, both dirt containers are separated from one another and it can be prevented that coarse contaminants pass from the first dirt container into the second dirt container and that the suction pressure exerted by the suction device acts on the first cleaning device. The brush roller, the suction device and the drive device are preferably driven by an electric motor. The energy source used is preferably an accumulator. Preferably, the

Brush roller, the drive device and the suction device driven by separate electric motors. This can be relatively small

Electric motors are used, which have a low weight and low noise emission.

The drive device preferably has drive wheels, which are arranged on the underside of the main body. The drive wheels are driven by an electric motor. The drive device preferably further comprises means which allow a change of direction of the moving cleaning robot. This can be done for example by rotatably arranged on the underside of the main body wheels. The

Drive device further preferably has an electronic control unit, which allows autonomous driving of the cleaning robot. The control electronics can also be assigned sensors that allow obstacle detection. Some embodiments of the cleaning robot according to the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. These show, in each case schematically:

1 shows a cleaning robot in the bottom view;

Fig. 2 in detail the brush roller;

3 shows in detail the unit with the first dirt container and the second dirt container.

Fig. 4 in detail the lid of the unit with (not shown) seal, which fluidly separates the first dirt container from the second dirt container;

Fig. 5 in detail the unit of Figure 4, provided with a flap 30 in the bottom region of the unit to dirt easier from the first To be able to remove dirt container and the second dirt container;

Fig. 6 in detail a filter unit 24 with a filter 29 and a

Filter frame 25, which allows the attachment of the filter 29 in the unit 14 or in the lid 15;

7 shows in detail a suction nozzle 26, which opens into the suction slot 9 and connects the suction slot 9 with the second dirt container 10; Fig. 8 in detail associated with the bottom 6 of the main body 2

Sensor system 27 comprising an infrared sensor; the sensor 27 allows obstacle detection and level detection.

The figures show a cleaning robot 1, comprising a main body 2 with a drive device 3, a first cleaning device 4 and a second cleaning device 5. The first cleaning device 4 and the second cleaning device 5 are spaced apart from each other

Assigned underside 6 of the main body 2.

The first cleaning device 4 has a rotatably mounted in the main body brush roller 7, which dirt in one within the

Main body 2 received first dirt container 8 conveyed.

The brush roller 7 has a rotatably mounted in the main body 2 shaft 18, which is provided on at least one end face 19 with drive means 20. The drive means 20 is designed in the form of a gear, wherein the power transmission of the brush roller 7 associated

Electric motor via a toothed belt. From the shaft 18 project bristles 21 in the radial direction. The bristles 21 are viewed in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 18 linearly mounted on the shaft 18, wherein the arrangement is such that there is a curved spiral bristle arrangement.

In this case, the bristles 21 are arranged so that viewed in the longitudinal direction of the shaft results in a projection 22 which is free of bristles 21. Of Furthermore, a slot 23 is introduced into the shaft 18 in the form of a groove, which is assigned to the bristle-free projection 22.

The second cleaning device 5 has a suction slot 9 which is provided with a suction device arranged inside the main body 2

is operatively connected and carries dirt in a received within the main body 2 second dirt container 10. The suction device has a suction fan, which is arranged between the second dirt container 10 and the second cleaning device 5. The suction fan comprises an air-flow fan wheel, which is driven by an electric motor.

On the bottom 6 of the main body 2 is between the first

Cleaning device 4 and the second cleaning device 5 a

Projection 1 1 provided, which projects in the direction of the soil to be cleaned. The projection 1 1 is presently formed in the form of a row of bristles. Alternatively, the projection 1 1 may be formed in the form of an elastic lip. The projection 1 1 is applied during the cleaning work on the floor to be cleaned.

The first cleaning device 4 on both sides further projections 12 is associated, which each extend between the lateral edge 13 of the main body 2 and the first cleaning device 4. The longitudinal extension of the further projections 12 is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the first cleaning device 4. This results in a total of a U-shaped bristle arrangement of the first cleaning device 4 together with the other projections 12. The other projections 12 are formed in the form of a row of bristles. The other projections 1 2 are applied to the floor to be cleaned during the cleaning work. Alternatively, the further projections may be in the form of an elastic lip.

The first dirt container 8 and the second dirt container 10 are arranged in a unit 14 which can be removed from the main body 2. The unit 14 is arranged in a shaft, wherein the shaft is open to the top of the main body. The unit 14 is provided with a lid 15 and a handle 16. In this case, a seal 17 is integrated into the filter frame 25, so that the first dirt container 8 is fluidically separated from the second dirt container 10. In this case, the lid 15 presses against the

Filter frame and attached seal and thereby causes the fluidic separation.

The cover 15 may have an outlet 28 associated with the second dirt container 10 for the exhaust air of the suction device, wherein the outlet 28 is associated with a filter 29.

The filter frame 25 further comprises an outlet 28 associated with the second dirt container 10 for the exhaust air of the suction device, wherein the filter frame 25 and thus the outlet 28 of the replaceable filter 29 is assigned in the form of a sheet material, here a filter mat made of nonwoven fabric.

The main body 2 is at least in the front of the

Cleaning robot 1 arranged screen 31 assigned. In this case, the screen 31 is associated with the edge 13. The screen 31 serves on the one hand as impact protection to absorb mechanical energy, on the other hand, the screen 31 is part of the sensor 27. For this purpose, the screen 31 is movably mounted on the edge 13. In the present case, the screen 31 is mounted such that the screen can escape relative to the main body both in the direction of travel and in the transverse direction. As a result, lateral impacts can be intercepted, or detected by the sensor 27.

The screen 31 is provided with a suspension 32 by which the screen 31 is fixed to the main body 2. The suspension 32 comprises at least one carrier, which projects into the main body 2. The carrier is provided with at least one opening 35 through which a holding means 36 associated with the main body 2 projects. The holding means 36 may, for example, a Be a screw or a rivet. The holding means 36 in this case has a thickening 37, which allows a captive attachment of the screen 31. For example, the thickening 37 may be a washer associated with the free end of the screw or rivet.

The suspension 32 are associated with spring bodies which hold the screen 31 in a starting position relative to the main body 2. When the cleaning robot 1 hits an obstacle, the screen 31 deviates and returns to the starting position when the cleaning robot 1 has moved away from the obstacle again.

The sensor 27 has infrared sensors. These are for

Obstacle detection as sensor pair 34, wherein the obstacle detection is carried out together with the screen. In the present embodiment, two sensor pairs 34 are assigned to the front region of the main body 2. A sensor of the sensor pair 34 emits infrared light received from the other sensor of the sensor pair 34. The sensor pair 34 is associated with a breaker 33. This is rod-shaped and assigned to the screen 31. The breaker 33 is held together with the screen 31 in a home position. In the home position, the breaker 33 is spaced from the sensor pair 34 so that the infrared light can be transmitted from one sensor to the other sensor. Does that drive

Cleaning robot 1 to an obstacle, the screen 31 is moved toward the main body 2. In this case, at the same time the attached to the screen 31 breaker 33, which thereby moves between the sensors of the sensor pair 34, so that an obstacle is detected and the

Cleaning robot 1 initiates a change of direction.

In the embodiment according to the invention, the screen 31 is mounted so that it is movable both in the direction of travel and transversely to the direction of travel. The screen 31 is formed curved. As a result, the interrupter 33 fixed to the screen 31 also moves when the screen 31 is moved by abutting an obstacle laterally. The breaker 33 slides in In this case, obliquely in the direction of the sensor pair 34, so that an obstacle is detected even when starting sideways.

Claims

Claims 1. Cleaning robot (1), comprising a main body (2) with a

Drive device (3), a first cleaning device (4) and a second cleaning device (5), which the underside of the

Main body (2) are assigned, wherein the first cleaning means (4) and the second cleaning means (5) spaced from one another the underside (6) of the main body (2) are assigned, wherein the first

Cleaning device (4) has a rotatably mounted in the main body brush roller (7), which dirt in a received within the main body (2) first dirt container (8) and wherein the second cleaning means (5) has a suction slot (9) which with one within the main body (2) arranged

Suction device is operatively connected and dirt in a within the main body (2) received second dirt container (10) conveys. 2. Cleaning robot according to claim 1, characterized in that on the underside (6) of the main body (2) between the first

Cleaning device (4) and the second cleaning device (5), a projection (1 1) is provided which projects in the direction of the soil to be cleaned.

3. cleaning robot according to claim 2, characterized in that the projection (1 1) is formed in the form of a row of bristles.

4. cleaning robot according to claim 2, characterized in that the projection (1 1) is formed in the form of an elastic lip.

5. Cleaning robot according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized

characterized in that the first cleaning device (4) at least a further projection (12) is associated, which extends between the lateral edge (13) of the main body (2) and the first

Cleaning device (4) extends.

Cleaning robot according to claim 5, characterized in that on both sides of the first cleaning device (4) each have a further projection (12) is arranged.

Cleaning robot according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the longitudinal extension of the further projection (12) is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the first cleaning device (4).

Cleaning robot according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the further projection (12) in the form of a

Bristle row and / or an elastic lip is formed.

Cleaning robot according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the first dirt container (8) and the second dirt container (10) in a removable from the main body (2) unit (14) is arranged.

10. Cleaning robot according to claim 9, characterized in that the unit (14) with a lid (15) and a handle (16) is provided.

Cleaning robot according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the first dirt container (8) from the second dirt container (10) is fluidically separated.

Cleaning robot according to one of claims 9 to 1 1, characterized in that the main body (2) has a shaft open to the top, wherein the shaft openings for the first

Cleaning device (4) and the second cleaning device (5), wherein the unit can be removed via the top. Cleaning robot according to claim 12, characterized in that between the second dirt container (10) and second

Cleaning device (5) a suction fan is arranged, which promotes air from the second cleaning device (5) in the direction of the second dirt container (10).

Cleaning robot according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the cover (15) a the second

Dirt container (10) associated outlet (28) for the exhaust air of the suction device, wherein the outlet (28) is associated with a filter (29).