CLEANING APPARATUS

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning apparatus, in particular to a portable hand-held cleaner, to which a working fluid can be supplied and which has a plurality of cleaning members, in particular brush-type cleaning members, which can be driven to make a cleaning movement, wherein the cleaning members are adjustable relative to one another.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of German Patent Application DE 10 2008 034 005.7 filed Jul. 21, 2008.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a cleaning apparatus, in particular to a portable hand-held cleaner, to which a working fluid can be supplied.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Such apparatus are generally known, e.g. from DE 10 2004 034 819 B3. The post-published EP 1 949 836 also describes such cleaning apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the invention to further develop a cleaning apparatus of the initially named kind such that it can be used with even more versatility.

This object is satisfied by the features of claim 1. In accordance with the invention, the cleaning apparatus includes a plurality of cleaning members, in particular brush-like cleaning members, which can be driven to make a cleaning movement, with the cleaning members being adjustable relative to one another.

Independently of the manner of the drive for the cleaning members, the adjustability of the cleaning members makes it possible to match the cleaning apparatus overall to the respective article to be cleaned. It is in particular possible to match the spacings of adjacent cleaning members to the slat spacing of Venetian blinds to be cleaned.

The invention moreover relates to the use of a cleaning apparatus of the kind set forth here for the cleaning of Venetian blinds.

Possible further developments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims, in the description and in the drawing.

Provision can be made that the cleaning members are components of modules, in particular of the same construction, or are made as modules, in particular of the same construction, with the modules being releasably attached to the cleaning apparatus and being adjustable relative to one another. In this manner, the number of the cleaning modules of a cleaning apparatus can e.g. be changed in a simple manner. It is equally possible in a simple manner to swap cleaning modules in order either to replace damaged cleaning modules or to attach cleaning modules of a different type. Each module preferably includes a drive device in addition to the cleaning member. The cleaning member or a cleaning part e.g. in the form of a brush part, on the one hand, and the drive device, on the other hand, in this manner form a construction unit which can be swapped as a whole or can be replaced by a module of a different type.

In connection with this modular structure, each cleaning member can, for example, include a cleaning part which is in particular made as a brush part and which rotates during operation as well as a drive part with which the cleaning part is in particular swappably coupled, via which the module can be attached to the cleaning apparatus, for example to a carrier, and which in particular serves to communicate with one or more fluid supply devices to set the entering fluid into the desired movement of the cleaning part. The drive part of each module can in particular include an impeller or turbine wheel which is acted on by the fluid entering into the module or into the drive part in order to be set into rotation in this manner and thus to set the cleaning part or the brush part into rotation. A plurality of modules can be attached to a common carrier. In this respect, the number of modules is generally not restricted. Restrictions can, for example, be set by the design of the carrier or of the fluid supply devices. The carrier or the fluid supply devices can in particular be made such that modules can only be supplied with fluid at a specific number of connection points.

Provision can furthermore be made that the modules are each designed such that they can be used switchably, i.e. can be coupled in two different orientations with a carrier or a fluid supply device of the cleaning apparatus. In this way, different directions of rotation of the cleaning part with respect to the carrier or to the cleaning apparatus overall can be achieved simply in that the module is attached either in the one or the other orientation. A different direction of the action of an impeller or turbine wheel of the module provided in the drive device then in particular results in dependence on the orientation. It is furthermore possible, when a plurality of modules are used, to attach one module in a first orientation and a further module in a second orientation. Two simultaneously operated modules can be operated in opposite senses in this manner, whereby torques arising during use at least partly cancel on another out and a so-called “wandering effect” of the cleaning apparatus during use is avoided at least to a very large extent.

Provision can furthermore be made that a device for the adjustment and/or for the holding of the cleaning members, on the hand, and a device for the supply of working fluid and/or cleaning fluid to the cleaning members, on the other hand, are different from one another. This decoupling of the adjustment or the holding respectively, on the one hand, and the fluid supply, on the other hand, can increase the flexibility and versatility of the cleaning apparatus. The conditions relating to the fluid supply in particular do not have to be taken into consideration on the adjustment of the cleaning members. The cleaning members are preferably drivable by means of the working fluid which can be supplied to the cleaning apparatus. In this respect, the kinetic energy of the supplied fluid can be used to act on a drive device. A use of the reaction principle is, for example, not required. The drive of the cleaning members can be based, for example, on the impeller or turbine principle, i.e. the kinetic energy of the supplied fluid is used in that the fluid cooperates with a correspondingly adapted drive device, in particular with an impeller or turbine wheel, and sets it into rotation. It is of advantage in this respect that the drive is independent of the design of the cleaning members or of the cleaning parts provided e.g. in the form of brush parts and, for example, can in particular be coupled with differently formed cleaning parts within the framework of a modular design of the cleaning apparatus to realize different applications.

The working fluid can simultaneously serve as a cleaning fluid. Alternatively, a cleaning fluid can be supplied to the cleaning apparatus in addition to the working fluid. The fluid supplied to the cleaning apparatus can therefore serve in a variant both to drive the cleaning members and can simultaneously be used for cleaning in that it is discharged, for example, in the region of cleaning parts in particular made in the form of brushes and/or via additionally provided outlet nozzles or is expelled as a cleaning jet. Provision can be made in another variant that the working fluid exclusively serves to drive the cleaning members in the respective desired manner and is not discharged.

A circuit closed at least with respect to the cleaning members can be provided for the working fluid, i.e. an outlet of the working fluid in the region of the cleaning members and in particular a utilization of the working fluid simultaneously as cleaning fluid is not provided in this embodiment. A “dry operation” can hereby be realized, for example, in which only the cleaning members which move due to the working fluid are used for the cleaning. It is possible that such an operation with a closed circuit of the working fluid can be selected directly by means of a correspondingly formed switchover device. It is then possible with this switchover device to switch over as required to a different operation in which the working fluid is then moreover utilized for cleaning purposes, for example for the wetting of the cleaning members and/or of the article to be cleaned.

The cleaning members are preferably drivable to make a rotational movement. This is, however, not compulsory. It is, for example, also possible to set the cleaning members into oscillation or vibration. This can, for example, be realized by loading special components associated with the cleaning members, for example swash plates, by means of the working fluid. It is also possible to load the cleaning members such that so-called “sweeping movements” are adopted which are wherein the cleaning members in particular made in the form of brushes move to and fro in a linear manner.

Provision can be made that, in addition to a main operating mode in which the cleaning members rotate, for example, an operating mode differing from a rotational operation can be realized by switching over and indeed such that the user can also switch back to the main operating mode again.

In accordance with a further embodiment, a central drive device can be provided for the cleaning members. A drive source made in any manner, for example a working fluid or an electric motor, hereby does not have to cooperate directly with each cleaning member or with each drive device. A substantially simplified structure of the cleaning apparatus can be produced in this manner.

The central drive device can, for example, have a common shaft, in particular a worm screw, which can be set into rotation centrally and which simultaneously cooperates with all cleaning members, in particular with gears associated with the cleaning members.

Generally, the type of the drive source for the cleaning apparatus in accordance with the invention can be any desired. A drive by means of a supplied fluid is not mandatory. An electric or a pneumatic drive device or a drive device operable by means of underpressure can in particular be provided for the cleaning members.

The cleaning apparatus can include a common carrier for the cleaning members and the cleaning members can be adjusted relative to said common carrier. The carrier can have a longitudinal extent, with the cleaning members being arranged distributed along the carrier and being adjustable relative to one another in the longitudinal direction of the carrier. The carrier can include fluid supply devices which serve to supply a fluid supplied centrally to the cleaning apparatus to the individual cleaning members. With such an embodiment, the carrier not only forms a device for the adjustment and/or the holding of the cleaning members, but rather simultaneously a device for the supply of a fluid. As already mentioned above, such a multiple function is not mandatory. The carrier can, for example, serve exclusively for the holding and for the adjustment of the cleaning members, whereas the supply of working fluid and/or of cleaning fluid takes place with the aid of additional devices.

Provision can be made in an embodiment that the cleaning members are connected to one another by at least one flexible fluid line allowing an adjustment of the cleaning members. This variant is a possibility to realize the fluid supply independently of a device for the holding and/or the adjustment of the cleaning members.

In a further embodiment, a supply device for an additional medium can be associated with each cleaning member, with the supply device in particular being operable by the working fluid and/or by a cleaning fluid in the region of the cleaning member. The additional medium can be a liquid which contains specific chemical components with which the cleaning effect is improved. The supply of an additional medium at the cleaning member itself has the advantage that the additional medium does not have to ran through the total system with the working fluid and/or cleaning fluid. A switch from an operation with additional medium to an operation without additional medium can thus be achieved immediately and without any delays which would result if it were necessary to wait for the additional medium to run through the total system.

The supply device for the additional medium is in particular operable by means of underpressure. This underpressure can in particular be generated using the flow of the working fluid and/or cleaning fluid supplied to the cleaning members. The additional medium can consequently be sucked in simply with the help of the fluid supplied to the cleaning member. It is of particular advantage in this respect that a comparatively small additional tank is sufficient for the additional medium which can be integrated in the cleaning apparatus itself and is, for example, connected to the respective cleaning members via short hoses. It is alternatively possible that each cleaning member has its own tank for the additional medium. The supply of the additional medium can be switchable so that work can be carried out selectively with or without additional medium.

In a further embodiment, a fluid outlet for the working fluid and/or for a cleaning fluid can be associated with each cleaning member which is spatially separate from the cleaning member and which is in particular made as a nozzle. Such a fluid outlet can be provided in addition to one or more fluid outputs which are provided directly at the cleaning member or at a cleaning part of the cleaning member in particular made as a brush part. The additional fluid outlet can serve to apply a fluid jet directly to the article to be cleaned in order in this manner to support the cleaning effect of a cleaning part of the cleaning member.

A screening device adjustable between an active and an inactive position can be provided for the fluid outlet. A pivotable impact element can be provided for the cleaning member, for example, which is e.g. pivoted or pushed as required in front of the fluid outlet so that the fluid still being discharged is not incident onto the article to be cleaned, but rather impacts onto the screening device. In addition, a suitable collection apparatus can be provided which collects the fluid and leads it off in a suitable manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in the following by way of example with reference to the drawing, with FIGS. 1 to 11 and the associated description only serving for the better understanding of the invention of which FIGS. 12 to 17 show possible embodiments.

There are shown:

FIG. 1 a perspective view of an embodiment of a cleaning apparatus;

FIG. 2 another perspective view of the cleaning apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 a drive device of the cleaning apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 a possible embodiment for a drive device provided with a transmission

FIG. 5 two views of a further embodiment of a cleaning apparatus;

FIGS. 6 to 11 further possible aspects of a cleaning apparatus; and

FIGS. 12 to 17 possible aspects of a cleaning apparatus in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The cleaning apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-3 is a slat cleaner or Venetian blind cleaner having four cleaning members in the form of brushes 11 which are arranged spaced apart from one another in a row along a common elongated carrier 13. The carrier 13 is in particular a sheet metal section.

A handle 15 comprising two half-shells and in particular made of plastic is connected to the carrier 13. The cleaning apparatus is designed such that it can be held in one hand and operated by one person during operation. An actuation device 17 in the form of a trigger lever is provided at the handle 15 and the fluid supply to the brushes 11 described in the following can be released and interrupted using said trigger lever.

The supply of the fluid, in particular water, takes place via a fluid inlet 19 which is arranged in the lower handle region and to which a fluid line made, for example, as a hose, can be connected.

The fluid flows via a distributor device 21 into one of two distributor lines 23 which extend parallel to one another along the carrier 13 and thus at both sides along the row of cleaning brushes 11. The user can supply the fluid either to the one or to the other distributor line 23 by switching over at the distributor device 21. The cleaning brushes 11 can hereby be operated selectively in the one or the other direction of rotation, which will be looked at in more detail in the following. The distributor lines 23 are closed in a fluid tight manner at their free ends remote from the distributor device 21.

The switching over at the distributor device 21 takes place, for example, in that a movably journaled slider is provided which can be displaced via switchover buttons 25 arranged at both sides and shown without seal in FIGS. 1 and 2. The position of the slider then determines the direction of rotation of the brushes 11.

As can in particular be seen from FIG. 3, which shows a section perpendicular to the axes of rotation of the cleaning brushes 11 and along the central axes of the distributor lines 23, each cleaning member 11 includes a housing-like carriage 27 which is open to the front and has a sleeve-like section 29 at mutually opposite sides with which the carriage 27 is pushed over the respective distributor line 23.

An inner sleeve 31 acting as a pressure cartridge is arranged inside each sleeve-like section 29. The pressure cartridges 31 are each designed such that, together with the outer wall of the respective distributor line 23, they bound a pressure space 33 which is outwardly sealed in each case by an O ring 35 at the ends of the pressure cartridges 31. Both an inlet opening 37 formed in the distributor line 23 and a drive opening 39 formed in the pressure cartridge communicate with the pressure space 33.

The drive opening 39 is designed, arranged and aligned such that fluid flowing via the drive opening 39 from the pressure space 33 into the carriage housing is incident n the form of a pressure fluid jet onto a turbine section or impeller section 41 of the respective cleaning member 11 and in this manner sets the cleaning member 11 into rotation which is rotatably journaled at the carriage 27 for this purpose.

The rotatable journaling of the impeller section or turbine wheel section 41 can e.g. take place via a simple hub/axle connection. Alternatively, ball bearings can be used, for example. It is furthermore possible to provide a transmission with which a step-up or step-down of the rotation of the impeller or turbine wheel 41 can be realized which corresponds to the respective application demands.

A cylindrical brush 43, which is elongated in the embodiment shown here and is provided with cleaning bristles 45, is coupled to the impeller or turbine wheel 41. Alternatively, for example, disk-shaped plate brushes can be used instead of these brushes 43. The cleaning apparatus can be realized in modular construction such that the cylindrical brushes 11 shown can be replaced as required by the mentioned plate brushes or other cleaning members. The versatility of the apparatus is increased in a simple manner by such a replacement possibility.

An advantage of the invention consequently consists of the drive of the cleaning member being independent of its embodiment. In particular a special embodiment of the cleaning members or brushes with respect to the cleaning effect is not a requirement for the fluid rotation drive since it takes place at the end of the axis of rotation of the cleaning members 11 close to the carrier.

It is also conceivable to provide an impeller section or turbine wheel section which always remains at the carriage 27 and to design differently configured brush sections to be able to be coupled, for example, by plugging on, to the impeller or turbine wheel in order to be able to configure or equip the cleaning apparatus in accordance with the respective application.

A rotationally fixed coupling between replaceable brush parts and the impeller sections or turbine sections rotatably journaled at the carriage can be achieved, for example, by a suitably designed crowning which ensures a taking along of the brush parts.

It can in particular be seen from FIG. 3 that the modules, that is the respective carriages 27 supporting the cleaning member 11, are adjustable along the distributor lines 23 in order to set different spacings between the cleaning brushes 11 in this manner. When the cleaning apparatus is configured as a slat or Venetian blind cleaner in accordance with FIGS. 1 to 3, the brush spacing can hereby be adapted to the slat spacing.

The vertical adjustment of the carriages 27 is in each case possible to the amount of the axial extent of the pressure space 33 defined by the pressure cartridge 31, i.e. as long as the inlet openings 37 formed in the distributor lines 23 are in the region of the respective pressure space 33, the function of the cleaning members 11 is ensured.

As can in particular be seen from FIG. 3 it is possible to switch between the directions of rotation of the cleaning brushes 11 by the provision of two distributor lines 23 between which a switchover can be made by means of the distributor device 21—as explained above. The two drive bores 39 of each carriage 27 act on the impeller or turbine wheel 41 in opposite senses of rotation. The vanes of the impeller or turbine wheel 41 are made symmetrical in this respect so that the same conditions apply in both directions of rotation.

The structure of the cleaning apparatus from an elongated carrier 13 with distributor lines 23 extending along the carrier 13 generally enables a working length of any desired size and thus generally any desired number of cleaning members 11.

The bore rows 47 provided in the carrier 13 can provide a grid for the positioning of the carriages 27 in the vertical adjustment. The grid of the bore rows 47 can be adapted to customary slat spacings of Venetian blinds.

In an embodiment only set forth by way of example here, the hand-held cleaner in accordance with the invention is designed for an operating pressure of at least 50 bar, with speeds of approximately 1,500 rpm being achieved for the cleaning brushes 11. An operating pressure of up to 100 bar is equally easily conceivable. The speed can, for example, be halved by means of the transmission.

Means, e.g. in the form of one or more ramps arranged in the lower region, can be provided in the carriage housing which is open to the front, said means promoting an outflow of the fluid from the housing and toward the points to be cleaned into the area of action of the brushes 11.

FIG. 4 shows an example for a transmission 49 such as was already generally mentioned above in a sectioned side view. In the embodiment shown, it is a step-down transmission which halves the speed of the impeller 41 for the cleaning part or brush part 43 of the cleaning member 11. The turbine wheel 41 is rotationally fixedly provided with two external rings 61, 65. A single external ring, throughgoing in the axial direction, could also be provided instead of two external rings 61, 65. Furthermore, the two external rings 61, 65 or a single external ring could be made in one piece with the impeller 41. The external rings 61, 65 form the external part of a spherical bearing which moreover includes a cage 51 in which a plurality of balls 53 are held such that all the balls 53 can only rotate together with the cage 51.

Two internal rings 59, 63 form the inner part of the ball bearing. The two internal rings 59, 63 are rotationally fixedly arranged on a stationary shaft 55 serving as a bearing. At least the second internal ring 63 at the right in FIG. 4 is movable in the axial direction on the shaft 55. The second internal ring 63 is biased in the direction of the first internal ring 59 by means of a spring 67. Since the balls 53 run in grooves formed on the inner sides of the rings 59, 61, 63, 65 facing one another, any possible play in the ball bearing is eliminated by this bias of the right hand internal ring 63. It is hereby ensured that during operation, when the impeller 41 is acted on by fluid and thus rotates around the shaft 55, the balls 53 held in the cage 51 roll off in a defined manner between the external rings and the internal rings.

The defined rolling off of the balls 53 has the consequence that the above-described arrangement is active as a step-down transmission which halves the speed of the impeller 41 with respect to the cage 51 containing the rolling off balls 53. An intermediate piece 57 which is in turn rotationally fixedly connected to the brush part or cleaning part 43 is rotatably journaled at the drive part 27 around the bearing shaft 55 and is rotationally fixedly connected to the cage 51. The result is thus achieved with this cleaning member 11 that the respective brush of the cleaning member 11 rotates half as fast as the impeller 41.

A particular advantage of this transmission 49, in addition to the reliable operation, is the particularly simple design which can be realized with components available at a favorable price. Such a step-down transmission could alternatively be realized in the form of a transmission made up of gears, in particular of a planetary transmission. The components required for this purpose would, however, be associated with much higher costs.

The left hand representation in FIG. 5 corresponds to the representation in FIG. 3, with the module 27, 43, however, not being shown together with the fluid supply lines. It is therefore not the inlet openings formed in the fluid lines and opening into the respective pressure space 33 which can be seen, but only the drive openings 39 formed in the inner sleeves 31 forming the pressure cartridges.

In particular the symmetrical design of the module consisting of the drive part 27 and the cleaning part 43 with respect to the arrangement of the fluid supply lines relative to the cleaning part 43 can be seen from the plan view shown in the right hand representation of FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a cleaning apparatus in which only one single module is used. When the apparatus is held at the handle 15 in accordance with its purpose, the axis of rotation of the brush part 43 extends in the vertical direction. This embodiment shows that the operation of the cleaning member 11 is generally independent of its orientation in space. In addition, in particular the advantages of the modular construction are shown here. Independently of how the fluid supply lines 23 extend in space, the cleaning module in accordance with the invention only has to be pushed onto the line 23 with the drive part 27 including the drive device to provide a rotation of the brush part 43. The free end of the supply line 23 is only rotatably journaled in an upper arm of the apparatus.

FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment in which two cleaning modules are present which project in opposite directions, with the axes of rotation of the cleaning parts 43 coinciding and extending in a horizontal direction with a holding of the apparatus at the handle 15 in accordance with its purpose, but—unlike in FIG. 1—not facing away from the user, but to the side in each case. The drive part 27 of each module is pushed onto a single fluid supply line 23.

A support wheel 69 is arranged between the two modules. The support wheel 69 is not driven and serves to roll off the apparatus on a surface to be cleaned. The strain on the user is hereby reduced. At the same time, a defined cleaning spacing is observed between the surface to be cleaned, on the one hand, and the axes of rotation of the cleaning parts 43, on the other hand.

The embodiment of FIG. 8 is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1 with respect to the orientation of the axes of rotation of the cleaning parts 43. So-called plate brushes are provided here instead of the cylindrical brushes. The two modules can be pushed onto two fluid supply lines 23 extending in parallel in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1 to change the sense of rotation of the cleaning parts 43 by actuation of a corresponding switchover device. This is, however, not mandatory, i.e. it is also possible to provide only a single fluid supply line 23. Identically designed modules 27, 43 can be coupled to the fluid supply line 23 in an opposite orientation to rotate in the opposite sense during operation.

The embodiment of FIG. 9 is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 8, but with work not taking place from the front—seen from the user—with the plate brushes, but to the side. The modules 27, 43 can be designed such that they can be adjusted relative to the fluid supply line 23 around its central axis to be able to set the working direction of the plate brushes as desired with respect to the orientation of the handle 15. Alternatively, the modules 27, 43 and the apparatus can be made such that a specific relative orientation is required on the connection of the modules 27, 43 to realize the shown operating orientation of the plate brushes 43.

FIGS. 10 and 11 indicate that the use of a plurality of cleaning members, such as is shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, is not absolutely necessary. The cleaning apparatus can also have only a single cleaning member 11, with different working directions of the brush part being possible in dependence on the design of the cleaning member 11 or of the apparatus.

FIGS. 12 to 17 show advantageous embodiments of a cleaning apparatus in accordance with the invention which is in particular adapted to clean Venetian blinds. The cleaning apparatus described in the following each contain a plurality of technical aspects and properties which are also realized at least partly in the cleaning apparatus in accordance with FIGS. 1 to 11, are described above and can optionally be identified with reference to identical reference numerals. These aspects and properties will therefore not be looked at in more detail in the following. It generally applies that—as far as nothing otherwise is mentioned or no technical contradictions result—all the technical aspects and properties described above in connection with FIGS. 1 to 11 and shown in FIGS. 1 to 11 are also realized or can also be realized, in particular independently of one another, in the cleaning apparatus in accordance with FIGS. 12 to 17 and vice versa. Only those technical aspects will therefore essentially be looked at in the following which distinguish the cleaning apparatus in accordance with the invention in accordance with FIGS. 12 to 17 from the cleaning apparatus in accordance with FIGS. 1 to 11.

The cleaning apparatus in accordance with FIG. 12 is in particular wherein a carrier 13 which serves for the holding and the vertical adjustment of the cleaning modules 11 is different from devices 77 for the supply of working fluid to the cleaning members 11. The carrier 13 which includes holding rods or guide rods 87 for the cleaning modules 11 which are provided in addition to or as components of a column 105 thus serves exclusively for the holding and vertical adjustment of the cleaning modules 11.

The supply of working fluid, in particular water, to the cleaning modules 11 first takes place via a central distributor 107 which is in communication with a central fluid inlet, not shown, of the cleaning apparatus. Starting from this central distributor 107, the cleaning modules 11 are supplied with the fluid in cascade like manner via flexible hoses 77, the fluid loading a drive device provided at each cleaning module 11 to set the respective brush part 43 into rotation. In this respect, each cleaning module 11 is provided with a connector piece 89. It is possible e.g. in the manner described above to switch between the connector cascades at the left in FIG. 12 and at the right in FIG. 12 which each includes three connection hoses 77, i.e. the direction of flow of the fluid through the hoses 77 and the cleaning modules 11 can be reversed in order thus to selectively operate the cleaning modules 11 either in the one or the other direction of rotation, as was likewise described above.

The fluid supply via the external hoses 77 has the advantage that there are no restrictions with respect to the vertical adjustment of the cleaning modules 11 at the rods 87 or at the column 105 respectively, as is the case in part in the cleaning apparatus described above.

Generally, a plurality of discretely distributed positions can be provided for the vertical adjustment of the cleaning modules 11. In this respect, a latching can in each case be effective between the carrier 13 and the cleaning modules 11. A stepless vertical adjustment of the cleaning modules 11 is also generally possible.

The cleaning apparatus in accordance with FIG. 12 moreover has two handles 85 in addition to the handle not shown and the user can hold the cleaning apparatus with the other hand at them.

FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiment of a cleaning apparatus in accordance with the invention in which a circuit for the working fluid driving the cleaning modules 11 is provided which is closed with respect to the cleaning modules 11. Working lines 91 for the working fluid serve for the supply or leading off of the fluid. The working lines 91 correspond in principle to the previously described distributor lines 23 (cf. for example FIG. 3), but with an outlet of the working fluid not being provided in the region of the cleaning members 11 for cleaning purposes; it therefore being a closed fluid circuit in this respect.

The working lines 91 can in turn serve for the vertical adjustment of the cleaning modules 11. Alternatively or additionally, however, a central column 105 can also be provided.

A possible flow direction of the working fluid is indicated by the arrows in FIG. 13. The direction of flow can optionally be reversed by a suitable optional switchover apparatus such as has likewise already been described above.

FIG. 14 shows, in particular for the example of a cleaning module 11, two fluid outlets 81 which are provided in the form of nozzles and which are provided in addition to the brush part 43 and are in this respect arranged spatially separate from the brush part 43 at the cleaning module in that the fluid is not discharged directly at the brush part 43. The alienable outlet nozzles 81 whose orientation is changeable with respect to the brush part 43 serve to direct a fluid jet onto the respective article to be cleaned and to support the brush part 43 in this manner. Such outlet nozzles 81 are also provided in the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 12. In the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 14, a screening device 34 is additionally provided which is shown in an active position in FIG. 14 in which liquid jets being discharged from the nozzles 81 are blocked so that the fluid jets are not incident onto the article to be machined. The path for the fluid jets onto the article to be cleaned can be released by adjustment of the screening device 83, for example by pivoting or sliding.

The embodiment in accordance with FIG. 15 is in particular characterized by a supply device 79 which is provided for every cleaning module 11 and which serves to be mixed into the cleaning fluid which is supplied to the cleaning module 11 and which is discharged from the cleaning module 11. In this respect, the cleaning fluid itself or the flow of the cleaning fluid can be utilized to suck in the additional medium.

The supply of the cleaning fluid to the cleaning modules 11 and the rotational drive of the cleaning modules 11 by the cleaning fluid take place in each case in principle as described above in connection with FIG. 3. The fluid entering into the pressure space 33 is discharged via a nozzle 95 and loads the impeller or turbine wheel section 41 through a bore 109. In the embodiment of FIG. 15, there is the additional fact that a ring space 97 likewise communicates with the bore 109 via which the cleaning fluid leaving the pressure space 33 moves onto the impeller or turbine wheel section 41. This ring space 97 simultaneously communicates with an inlet section 93 of the supply device 79. The additional medium is supplied via the inlet section 93. The additional medium can, for example, be located in a tank which is integrated in the cleaning apparatus and to which the inlet section 93 is connected by means of a hose.

The expulsion of the cleaning fluid by means of the nozzle 95 generates an underpressure in the ring space 97, whereby the additional medium is sucked in via the inlet section 93 of the supply device 79 and is thus mixed with the cleaning fluid. The nozzle 95 is preferably made such that a fanning out of the discharged fluid jet results so that a particularly effective suction effect is produced.

Such a supply device 79 for an additional medium can be provided for every cleaning module 11, with the respective supply device 79 being selectively attached to the one or the other side of the cleaning module 11. It is thus also possible by switching between the two sides such as has been described above to select between an operation with additional medium and an operation without additional medium.

As FIG. 15 shows, the other side of the cleaning module 11, the lower side in FIG. 15, is also configured to be provided with a supply device 79. The corresponding opening in the housing or carrier of the cleaning module 11 is here closed by a plug 99.

The embodiment of FIG. 15 moreover shows holding screws 101 which are provided at both sides of the cleaning module 11 and which can be adjusted between a holding position and a release position by rotating through 180°. The holding screws 101 are made in steps—seen in the peripheral direction—so that either a holding section (holding position, cf. FIG. 15) or an outwardly returning release section (release position) of the holding screws 101 cooperates with a holding hoop 111 of the cleaning module 11. The free ends of the holding hoop 111 are compressed in the holding position of the holding screws 101. In the release position of the holding screws 101, the holding hoop 111 can be removed and the cleaning module 11 can thus be dismantled or replaced, in particular without a tool, in a simple manner.

FIG. 16 shows an example for a cleaning apparatus in accordance with the invention in which a central drive device 71 is provided for the three cleaning modules 11 which has a central section 113 and a shaft 73 connected to the central section 113 and made as a worm gear.

As can be recognized in the left hand representation of FIG. 16, which only shows the drive principle, each cleaning module 11 is provided with a gear 75 which meshes with the common worm gear 73 so that a rotation of the worm gear 73 simultaneously drives all three cleaning modules 11 and sets the respective brush parts 43 into rotation. This type of common drive easily allows a vertical adjustment of the cleaning modules 11 relative to one another.

The central drive can likewise be a fluid drive. The fluid supplied to the cleaning apparatus only drives the central section 113 via which the shaft 73 is set into rotation. Alternatively, for example, a central electric motor, a hydraulic drive or a vacuum drive can be provided to set the central section 113 into rotation.

The supply of cleaning fluid to the individual cleaning modules 11 only takes place at one side in this embodiment. The previously already described outlet nozzles 81 are only arranged at one side of the brush parts 43.

In the embodiment of FIG. 17 in accordance with the invention, the cleaning apparatus is configured for a rotary drive of the cleaning modules 11 by means of underpressure. The cleaning modules 11 are each connected at both sides to lines 103 of which one can be connected to an underpressure source, for example to a commercial vacuum cleaner or industrial vacuum cleaner, with the other line 103 communicating with the environment so that ambient air can be sucked in.

The flow generated in this manner drives a correspondingly designed drive device in each of the cleaning modules 11 to set the brush parts 43 into rotation.

An additional supply of cleaning fluid, for example water, can be provided, but is not shown in FIG. 17.

The vertical adjustment of the cleaning modules 11 can take place via the mentioned vacuum lines 103, with a central column 105 also being able to serve for this purpose alternatively or additionally.

Claims

1. A cleaning apparatus having an inlet for a working fluid, a plurality of cleaning members (11), a drive for driving said cleaning members to make a cleaning movement, and means for adjusting said cleaning members (11) relative to one another.

2. A cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in the form of a hand-held cleaning apparatus.

3. A cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said cleaning members comprise brushes.

4. A cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cleaning members (11) are one of components of modules and made as modules, with the modules being releasably attached to the cleaning apparatus and being adjustable relative to one another, each said module optionally including a drive device (41) in addition to the cleaning member (11).

5. A cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein a device for the adjustment and/or for the holding of the cleaning members (11), on the one hand, and a device for the supply of working fluid and/or cleaning fluid to the cleaning members (11), on the other hand, are different from one another.

6. A cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cleaning members (11) are adjustable relative to one another such that at least one of the separation of adjacent cleaning members (11) and the perpendicular spacings between axes of rotation of adjacent cleaning members (11), can be changed.

7. A cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cleaning members (11) can be driven by means of the working fluid.

8. A cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the working fluid also serves as a cleaning fluid or a cleaning fluid can be supplied to the cleaning apparatus in addition to the working fluid.

9. A cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein a circuit is provided for the working fluid which is closed at least with respect to the cleaning members (11).

10. A cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cleaning members (11) can be driven to make a rotary movement.

11. A cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one drive device (41) is provided for the cleaning members (11) and can be loaded by the working fluid to set the cleaning members (11) in rotation.

12. A cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein a rotary drive of the cleaning members (11) is based on the impeller or turbine principle.

13. A cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein a central drive device (71) is provided for the cleaning members (11).

14. A cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein the central drive device (71) including one of a common shaft (73) and a worm gear can be set into rotation centrally and which simultaneously cooperates with all cleaning members (11).

15. A cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein said cleaning members each have an associated drive gear with which said central drive device cooperates.

16. A cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein an electric or a pneumatic drive device or a drive device operable by means of underpressure is provided for the cleaning members (11).

17. A cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cleaning members (11) are arranged at a common carrier (13) and can be adjusted relative to the carrier (13).

18. A cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein the carrier (13) has a longitudinal extent and the cleaning members (11) are arranged distributed along the carrier (13), with the cleaning members (11) being adjustable relative to one another in the longitudinal direction of the carrier (13).

19. A cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cleaning members (11) are connected to one another by at least one flexible fluid line (77) allowing an adjustment of the cleaning members (11) relative to one another.

20. A cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein a supply device (79) for an additional medium is associated with each cleaning member (11), with the supply device (79) being operable by the working fluid and/or a cleaning fluid in the region of the cleaning member (11).

21. A cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the supply device (79) can be operated with underpressure which can be generated by means of the working fluid and/or of the cleaning fluid in the region of the cleaning member (11).

22. A cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein a fluid outlet (81) for the working fluid and/or a cleaning fluid is associated with each cleaning member (11), which is spatially separate from the cleaning member (11) and which is in particular made as a nozzle.

23. A cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 22, wherein a screening device (83) is provided for the fluid outlet (81) which can be adjusted between an active and an inactive position.

24. A cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one or each drive device of the cleaning members (11) includes a transmission (11) with which the speed of at least one cleaning member (11) is changed, in particular reduced and preferably halved, with respect to an input speed, with the transmission (49) in particular including a ball bearing or roll bearing (51, 53).

25. A cleaning apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cleaning apparatus is made as a Venetian blind cleaner.

26. Use of a cleaning apparatus having an inlet for a working fluid, a plurality of cleaning members (11), a drive for driving said cleaning members to make a cleaning movement, and means for adjusting said cleaning members (11) relative to one another for the cleaning of Venetian blinds.