Patent Application
20250089972
The present disclosure relates to a floor cleaning machine comprising a frame, a running gear, wherein the running gear is configured in such a way that the floor cleaning machine can be moved over a floor surface to be cleaned, and at least one cleaning device configured to engage with the floor surface to be cleaned in order to loosen and/or remove dirt from the floor surface to be cleaned.
Such floor cleaning machines are known from the state of the art. A cleaning device is provided, for example in the form of a brush arrangement, a wiper and/or a suction device, which is formed to engage with the floor surface to be cleaned and to remove dirt from it. In general, the cleaning device is designed to loosen and collect fine dirt from the floor surface. To prevent larger objects from getting into the cleaning device and damaging it, a protective lip can be provided that clears larger objects to the side.
With such floor cleaning machines, it has proven to be problematic that the protective lip rests on the floor surface being cleaned, at least during operation. As a result, not only are larger objects cleared to the side, but the fine dirt is also pushed along in front of the protective lip and does not reach the cleaning device to be picked up or removed, which leads to an overall poorer cleaning result. Furthermore, when the protective lip rests on the floor surface, it is subject to considerable wear, which results in higher maintenance costs.
It has also proved to be a problem that, although protective lips that rest on the floor surface have a particularly simple configuration, they can only be adapted to a limited extent to the conditions in which the floor cleaning machine is used.
A floor cleaning machine of the type mentioned at the outset can ensure that larger objects are cleared to the side and the fine dirt is picked up by the cleaning device.
The floor cleaning machine can have a frame, a running gear which has at least one wheel, possibly driven by a running gear drive, wherein the running gear is configured in such a way that the floor cleaning machine can be moved over a floor surface to be cleaned, and at least one cleaning device which is configured to engage with the floor surface to be cleaned in order to loosen and/or remove dirt from the floor surface to be cleaned. The floor cleaning machine can have a front end and is configured to be moved in a forward direction over the floor surface to be cleaned in a cleaning operation, wherein during movement in the forward direction the front end points in the forward direction and has a clearing blade arrangement which is mounted in front of the cleaning device when viewed in the forward direction, wherein the clearing blade arrangement has a clearing blade which is configured to be guided over the floor surface to be cleaned. A guiding wheel can be connected to the clearing blade, wherein the guiding wheel is configured to roll over the floor surface to be cleaned and wherein the guiding wheel determines the position of the clearing blade relative to the floor surface to be cleaned in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. The clearing blade arrangement may be mounted on the frame so that its height can be adjusted in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned.
The floor cleaning machine can have at least one cleaning device which is configured to engage with the floor surface in order to loosen and/or remove dirt from the floor surface to be cleaned. The cleaning device can possibly have a brush arrangement, a wiper, a device for dispensing fresh water, possibly mixed with cleaning agents, and/or a suction foot with which dirty water can be picked up from the floor surface. The brush arrangement and the wiper are possibly driven and engage with the floor surface in such a way that contaminants are loosened and/or removed from the floor surface. The suction foot can be used to suck up contaminants together with previously applied fresh water and direct them into a dirty water tank. This has the advantage that heavily soiled floor surfaces can be cleaned easily.
Furthermore, the floor cleaning machine can have a front end and is configured to be moved in a cleaning operation in the forward direction over the floor surface to be cleaned, wherein during a movement in the forward direction the front end points in the forward direction. The floor cleaning machine can be an autonomously operating cleaning robot or a manually operated, hand-held floor cleaning machine. With a manually operated floor cleaning machine, the floor cleaning machine can be moved across the floor surface by a user. For this purpose, the floor cleaning machine can have handles at the rear end.
As already mentioned, the floor cleaning machine can have the clearing blade arrangement which is mounted in front of the cleaning device when viewed in the forward direction, wherein the clearing blade arrangement has the clearing blade which is configured to be guided over the floor surface to be cleaned. The purpose of the clearing blade is to prevent large, loose objects from getting under the floor cleaning machine and, in particular, into the area of the cleaning device in such a way that it is damaged. In addition, objects that cannot be sucked up by the suction foot initially should be prevented from accumulating on the rubber strip and then becoming blocked. The clearing blade arrangement can act as a barrier against which larger, loose objects bounce off or get stuck. This has the advantage that these objects do not get under the floor cleaning machine or reach the cleaning device, thus preventing damage to the floor cleaning machine.
The guiding wheel may be connected to the clearing blade, wherein the guiding wheel is configured to roll over the floor surface to be cleaned, so that the position of the clearing blade to the floor surface to be cleaned is determined by the guiding wheel in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. The guiding wheel not only determines the position of the clearing blade in relation to the floor surface in a direction perpendicular to it, but also ensures that the clearing blade can be mounted or supported relative to the floor surface by the guiding wheel. This ensures that the clearing blade does not rest on the floor surface to be cleaned with its edge facing the floor surface, but the guiding wheel and its position relative to the clearing blade determines in which vertical position and thus also at what distance from the floor surface to be cleaned the clearing blade is arranged.
Specifying the position of the clearing blade perpendicular to the floor surface has the advantage that it allows the clearing blade to be moved over the floor surface at a fixed distance from the floor surface. This makes it possible, for example, to position the clearing blade above the floor surface in such a way that larger objects get caught on the clearing blade, but the clearing blade has no contact with the floor surface. This has the advantage that the clearing blade does not drag over the floor surface and is therefore subject to less wear and tear, and that smaller dirt particles can pass under the clearing blade to the cleaning device where they are picked up, which improves the cleaning result.
The clearing blade arrangement may be mounted on the frame so that its height can be adjusted in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. When mounted on the frame in a height-adjustable manner, this means that the distance of the clearing blade arrangement perpendicular to the floor surface can be changed. This is especially the case when the floor cleaning machine is moved over an inclined or raised floor surface, such as a bump or ramp. In this case, when the floor cleaning machine is moved in a forward direction, the clearing blade arrangement can be guided onto the inclined or raised floor surface while the floor cleaning machine is not yet on the inclined or raised floor surface. This results in the clearing blade arrangement being able to be moved relative to the frame attached to the floor cleaning machine in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface according to the slope of the floor surface. This can prevent the floor cleaning machine from jamming or tipping over. This also prevents the clearing blade arrangement colliding with inclined or raised floor surfaces.
In one embodiment, the cleaning device comprises a scrubbing deck attached to the frame, wherein the scrubbing deck comprises a driven cleaning element configured to engage the floor surface to be cleaned, and wherein the scrubbing deck is configured to apply cleaning fluid to the floor surface to be cleaned in the region of the scrubbing deck. The driven cleaning element can have a brush device in the form of a rotating brush or a roller brush or a wiper. The powered cleaning element, which engages with the floor surface, can remove heavier dirt from the floor surface. The cleaning result can be further improved by applying cleaning fluid.
In a possible embodiment, the floor cleaning machine comprises a suction foot which is mounted on the frame, wherein the floor cleaning machine comprises a vacuum source which is connected to the suction foot, wherein the suction foot is configured to pick up liquid from the floor surface to be cleaned, and wherein the suction foot is arranged behind the cleaning device when viewed in the forward direction. The suction foot can pick up dirty liquid from the floor surface to be cleaned and direct it into a dirty water tank. Because the suction foot is arranged behind the cleaning device when viewed in the forward direction, the floor surface is first cleaned by the cleaning device by loosening the dirt from the floor surface and the dirty liquid can then be picked up by the suction foot.
In an embodiment, the position of the clearing blade is adjustable relative to the guiding wheel in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. The adjustability means that the height of the clearing blade and thus the distance to the floor surface can be individually adjusted. This is particularly advantageous if the clearance of the clearing blade has changed due to wear on the clearing blade or the guiding wheel and needs to be adjusted. This also allows a user to individually adjust the distance of the clearing blade and thus adapt it to the conditions of the location where the floor cleaning machine is to be used and the amount of dirt present there.
In one embodiment, the guiding wheel is pivotably mounted relative to the clearing blade about an axis running perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. This ensures that the clearing blade arrangement or the floor cleaning machine can be easily moved or pivoted in any direction. The pivotability of the guiding wheel can be realized, for example, by a wheel that can rotate about a pivot axis running perpendicular to the floor surface or by a ball roller.
In an embodiment, the clearing blade arrangement is connected to the frame via a first and a second parallelogram arrangement, each of the parallelogram arrangements comprising a first and a second arm which extend from a first to a second end and which are spaced apart from one another in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned, wherein the first end is pivotally mounted on the frame about a first pivot axis running parallel to the floor surface to be cleaned and wherein the second end is pivotally mounted on the clearing blade about a second pivot axis running parallel to the floor surface to be cleaned, and wherein the pivot axes of the parallelogram arrangements are parallel. A parallelogram arrangement is generally understood to be a structure having two arms hinged at their ends, wherein the hinges form the corners of a parallelogram. The two opposite sides of the parallelogram are formed by the first and second arms and can be aligned parallel to one another. At the second end of the two arms is the clearing blade, which is kept at the original angle to the floor surface to be cleaned while the arms are pivoting. This ensures that the clearing blade remains at its original angle to the floor surface, even when it is pivoted upwards.
In one embodiment, the frame includes a stop element arrangement configured to limit the pivot range of the arms away from the floor surface. The stop element arrangement can limit the swivel range of the arms and thus of the clearing blade, which can prevent the clearing blade or the arms from colliding with the floor cleaning machine or the frame at a large swivel angle. The stop element arrangement can have one stop element for each parallelogram arrangement. The stop element can either come into contact with the arms of the parallelogram arrangement or with the frame of the clearing blade arrangement which is connected to the arms. The stop element arrangement can prevent damage to the clearing blade or the floor cleaning machine.
In one embodiment, the clearing blade is convexly curved when viewed against the forward direction. The convex curvature against the forward direction ensures that objects blocked by the clearing blade are deflected to one side of the floor cleaning machine. This prevents the floor cleaning machine from pushing the objects in front of it, which can cause damage to the clearing blade or result in the floor cleaning machine having to be moved forward with increased force against the resistance of the objects.
In one embodiment, the clearing blade extends perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. This prevents objects from being lifted from the floor surface by the clearing blade, which would be the case if the clearing blade had an inclination of less than 90° to the floor surface. This ensures that objects are deflected to one side of the clearing blade.
In one embodiment, the clearing blade comprises a frame and a flexible strip extending therefrom towards the floor surface to be cleaned, wherein the ends of the flexible strip extend laterally beyond the frame. The flexible strip ensures that the clearing blade and the floor cleaning machine can be moved over local elevations in the floor surface, such as strips or thresholds attached to the floor surface, without the clearing blade jamming on these elevations in the floor surface. In addition, the flexible strip can be easily replaced in the event of increased wear without having to replace the entire clearing blade.
In one embodiment, the floor cleaning machine comprises a housing and wherein the frame is arranged within the cross-section of the housing when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. This prevents the frame of the clearing blade from protruding sideways beyond the housing of the floor cleaning machine, which could cause the floor cleaning machine to get caught on an obstacle with the frame of the clearing blade, which could damage the clearing blade.
In one embodiment, the ends of the flexible strip extend laterally beyond the cross-section of the housing when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. The ends, which extend laterally across the cross-section of the housing in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned, prevent objects from getting under the side of the floor cleaning machine and damaging the cleaning device or getting caught on the rear rubber strip. In addition, the flexible ends can bend particularly easily, which is particularly advantageous when the floor cleaning machine moves along a wall.
The present disclosure is explained below with reference to a drawing showing only an embodiment, in which
As can be seen from
Furthermore, the floor cleaning machine 1 has a cleaning device 9, a fresh water tank and a dirty water tank. In the present embodiment, the cleaning device 9 comprises a scrubbing deck 11 which is attached to a frame of the floor cleaning machine 1, wherein the scrubbing deck 11 has a driven cleaning element which is configured to engage with the floor surface to be cleaned. The cleaning element can be, for example, a brush with bristles or a pad.
Furthermore, the scrubbing deck 11 is configured to apply cleaning fluid in the area of the scrubbing deck 11 to the floor surface to be cleaned. The powered cleaning element, which engages with the floor surface, can remove heavier dirt from the floor surface. The cleaning result can be further improved by applying cleaning fluid.
The floor cleaning machine 1 has a suction foot 13 with which dirty water can be picked up from the floor surface. The suction foot 13 is mounted on the frame of the floor cleaning machine 1 and connected to the dirty water tank, wherein the floor cleaning machine 1 has a vacuum source connected to the dirty water tank so that when the dirty water tank is subjected to a vacuum, the suction foot 13 picks up liquid from the floor surface to be cleaned. The suction foot 13 is arranged behind the cleaning device 9 when viewed in the forward direction. The suction foot 13 can be used to pick up dirty liquid from the floor surface to be cleaned and to direct it into the dirty water tank. Because the suction foot 13 is arranged behind the cleaning device 9 when viewed in the forward direction, the floor surface is first cleaned by the cleaning device 9 by loosening the dirt from the floor surface and the dirty liquid can then be picked up by the suction foot 13.
Furthermore, the floor cleaning machine 1 has a front end and is configured to be moved in a cleaning operation in the forward direction over the floor surface to be cleaned, wherein during a movement in the forward direction the front end points in the forward direction.
The floor cleaning machine 1 can be an autonomously operating cleaning robot, a hand-held floor cleaning machine 1 or a ride-on machine. The floor cleaning machine 1 of the present embodiment can operate autonomously or be moved by a user. For this purpose, the floor cleaning machine 1 has a handle 15 at a rear end.
The embodiment of a floor cleaning machine 1 according to the disclosure has a clearing blade arrangement 17 which, when viewed in the forward direction, is mounted in front of the cleaning device 9, wherein the clearing blade arrangement 17 has a clearing blade 19 which is configured to be guided over the floor surface to be cleaned, but this does not mean that the clearing blade 19 is in direct contact with the floor surface, but it is also possible that the clearing blade 19 is held at a predetermined distance from the floor surface. The purpose of the clearing blade 19 is to prevent larger, loose objects from getting under the floor cleaning machine 1 and in particular into the area of the cleaning device 9, in such a way that it is damaged. In addition, it is intended to prevent objects that cannot be sucked up by the suction foot 13 from initially accumulating on the rubber strip thereof and then possibly blocking the suction foot. The clearing blade arrangement 17 acts as a barrier against which larger, loose objects bounce off or get stuck. This has the advantage that these objects do not get under the floor cleaning machine 1 or as far as the cleaning device 9, thus preventing damage to the floor cleaning machine 1.
As
As shown in
The flexible strip has a second width 26 which is greater than the first width 25, so that the flexible strip 21 extends laterally beyond the cross-section of the housing 3 when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. The ends, which extend laterally beyond the cross-section of the housing 3 when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned, prevent objects from getting under the floor cleaning machine 1 from the side and damaging the cleaning device 9 or getting caught on the rear rubber strip of the suction foot 13. In addition, the flexible ends can bend in a particularly easy manner, which is particularly advantageous when the floor cleaning machine 1 moves along a wall.
Also shown is a guiding wheel 29 connected to the clearing blade 19, which is configured to roll over the floor surface to be cleaned, and a first plane 31 on which the front wheel 27 and the guiding wheel 29 roll. The first plane 31 can be formed by the floor area to be cleaned. The guiding wheel 29 is pivotably mounted relative to the clearing blade 19 about an axis running perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. This ensures that the clearing blade arrangement 17 or the floor cleaning machine 1 can be easily moved or pivoted in any direction.
The pivotability of the front wheel 27 and the guiding wheel 29 can be realized, for example, by a wheel that can rotate about a pivot axis running perpendicular to the floor surface or by a ball roller.
The guiding wheel 29 determines the position of the clearing blade 19 relative to the floor surface to be cleaned in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. The position of the clearing blade 19 can be determined by the guiding wheel 29 by either varying the size of the guiding wheel 29 or by the position of the guiding wheel 29 relative to the clearing blade 19. The guiding wheel 29 not only determines the position of the clearing blade 19 relative to the floor surface in a direction perpendicular thereto, but also ensures that the clearing blade 19 can be mounted or supported relative to the floor surface by the guiding wheel 29. This ensures that the clearing blade 19 does not rest on the flexible strip 23 or its edge pointing towards the floor surface to be cleaned, but rather the guiding wheel 29 and its position relative to the clearing blade 19 determine in which vertical position and thus also at which distance from the floor surface to be cleaned the clearing blade is arranged. For example, it is possible for the guiding wheel 29 to be attached to the clearing blade 19 in such a way that the flexible strip 23 is exactly flush with the first plane 31. Alternatively, the guiding wheel 29 can be arranged on the clearing blade 19 such that the flexible strip 23 is arranged at a distance of a few millimeters or centimeters above the first plane 31 and thus above the floor surface to be cleaned.
Specifying the position of the clearing blade 19 perpendicular to the floor surface has the advantage that the clearing blade 19 can be moved over the floor surface at a fixed distance from the floor surface. This makes it possible to position the clearing blade 19, for example, above the floor surface in such a way that larger objects get caught on the clearing blade 19, but the clearing blade 19 has no contact with the floor surface. This has the advantage, on the one hand, that the clearing blade 19 does not drag over the floor surface and is therefore subject to less wear and tear and, on the other hand, that smaller dirt particles can pass under the clearing blade 19 to the cleaning device 9, where they are picked up, which improves the cleaning result.
The position of the clearing blade 19 is adjustable in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned relative to the guiding wheel 29. The adjustability ensures that the height of the clearing blade 19 and thus the distance to the floor surface can be individually adjusted. This is particularly advantageous if the distance of the clearing blade 19 has changed due to wear of the clearing blade 19 or the guiding wheel 29 and needs to be adjusted. This also allows a user to individually adjust the distance of the clearing blade 19 and thus adapt it to the conditions of the location where the floor cleaning machine 1 is to be used and the dirt present there.
It can also be seen that the clearing blade 19 in the present embodiment extends perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned or the first plane 31. This prevents objects from being lifted from the floor surface by the clearing blade 19, which would be the case if the clearing blade had an inclination of less than 90° to the floor surface. This ensures that objects are deflected to one side of the clearing blade.
As shown in
The following explains how the height adjustability of the clearing blade arrangement 17 is realized perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned.
As shown in
The first and second arms 43, 45 extend from a first end 43′, 45′ to a second end 43″, 45″ and are spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned, wherein the first end 43′, 45′ of the arms 43, 45 is pivotally mounted on the frame about first pivot axes 47 extending parallel to the floor surface to be cleaned and wherein the second end 43″, 45″ of the arms 43, 45 is pivotally mounted on the clearing blade 19 about second pivot axes 49 extending parallel to the floor surface to be cleaned. The first and second pivot axes 47, 49 of the parallelogram arrangements 39, 41 run parallel to one another.
At the second end 43″, 45″ of the two arms 43, 45, the clearing blade 19 is attached, which, due to the parallelogram arrangement, is held at the original angle to the floor surface to be cleaned during the pivoting of the arms 43, 45. This ensures that the clearing blade 19 remains arranged at the original angle to the floor surface, even if it is pivoted upwards.
The frame has a stop element arrangement with a first stop element 51 and a second stop element 53, which are configured to limit the pivoting range of the arms 43, 45 away from the floor surface. The stop element arrangement makes it possible to limit the pivoting range of the arms 43, 45 and thus of the clearing blade 19, thereby preventing the clearing blade 19 or the arms 43, 45 from colliding with the floor cleaning machine 1 or the frame at a large pivoting angle. The first stop element 51 limits the pivoting range of the first parallelogram arrangement 39, while the second stop element 53 limits the pivoting range of the second parallelogram arrangement 41. The stop element 51, 53 can either come into contact with the arms 43, 45 of the parallelogram arrangement or with the frame 21 of the clearing blade arrangement which is connected to the arms 43, 45. The stop element arrangement can prevent damage to the clearing blade 19 or the floor cleaning machine 1.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE102023125326.3 | Sep 2023 | DE | national |
