Patent Application
20230363605
This application claims the benefit and priority of German Patent Application No. 10 2022 111 606.9, filed May 10, 2022, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth in detail herein.
The present disclosure relates to a roller cover for a floor-cleaning machine and a floor cleaning machine having a roller cover.
Roller covers of this type are known from the prior art. First of all, a housing is provided which is fitted preferably in a height-adjustable manner to the machine housing of a floor-cleaning machine, wherein a cleaning roller, frequently in the form of a brush roller, is accommodated in a manner driven rotationally in the housing. During the operation, cleaning liquid is applied to the floor surface being cleaned in front of the brush roller, as seen in the direction of movement of the floor-cleaning machine, and therefore the brush roller engages with the floor surface in the region which has previously been wetted with cleaning liquid. The engagement with the brush roller causes dirt to be detached from the floor surface being cleaned. Behind the roller cover, as seen in the direction of movement of the machine, there is then provided a dirty liquid receiving device, generally in the form of what is referred to as a suction foot, with which the cleaning liquid which has remained on the floor surface being cleaned is sucked up again with the aid of a negative pressure source.
Furthermore, it is known that a dirt container is additionally provided in the housing of the roller cover, said dirt container being arranged in such a manner that dirt which is detached by the brush roller is hurled into the dirt container.
One possibility here is to arrange the dirt container in such a manner that it is arranged in front of the brush roller, as seen in the direction of movement which the circumference of the brush roller has along the line in which said circumference is in contact with the floor surface being cleaned. Dirt then has to be hurled away forwards in the direction of the dirt container only at a relatively acute angle to the floor surface. This is referred to as the “forward throwing” principle.
However, this gives rise to the problem that, when the circumference of the brush roller moves in the direction of travel on the line along which the brush roller engages with the floor surface being cleaned, dirt-laden liquid is likewise hurled forwards in the direction of travel. Dirt is therefore conveyed away from the suction volume located behind the roller cover. When the brush roller rotates in such a manner that the circumference thereof moves counter to the direction of travel in the line in which the circumference is in contact with the floor surface being cleaned, the dirt container has to be arranged between the roller cover and the dirty liquid receiving device, which increases the distance between them and is therefore likewise problematic.
Furthermore, it is known from the prior art to provide two counter-rotating brush rollers in the roller cover, wherein the roller cover is constructed in such a manner that dirt-laden liquid thrown up by the brush rollers is conveyed around the upper section of a roller into a dirt container, wherein the dirt container is arranged behind the brush roller with respect to the direction of movement of the circumference of the brush roller along the line along which the brush roller is in contact with the floor surface being cleaned. A design of this type is based on the “overhead throwing” principle. The design which has two counter-rotating brush rollers which each convey the dirty liquid upwards and around a roller has the disadvantage, however, that dirty liquid tends to be squeezed out laterally from the roller cover. This is associated in turn with the requirement of additionally providing squeegees at the sides of the roller cover, the squeegees preventing liquid from flowing laterally out of the region which is covered by the roller cover. However, such lateral squeegees are associated with the disadvantage that they become worn and also increase the width of the roller cover.
In addition, the further problem arises that the brush rollers are intended to have a certain minimum size. This is because small brush rollers because of their short bristle bundles cannot convey very large objects (debris), do not enter unevennesses in the floor to a sufficient depth and also become worn more rapidly. If two brush rollers are therefore intended to be used, this also causes a certain constructional size, which is disadvantageous since the space available for the roller cover on the machine housing is limited and a compact construction is desirable because handling is easier.
This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.
One object of the present disclosure is the provision of a roller cover and a floor-cleaning machine with a roller cover, wherein the roller cover has as large a working width as possible in relation to the width of the roller cover and it is ensured that dirt-laden liquid remaining on a floor surface being cleaned can reliably enter the region of a dirty liquid receiving device arranged behind the roller cover.
This object can be achieved by a roller cover for a floor-cleaning machine, with a housing, wherein the housing has a housing wall arrangement which delimits a housing interior and which comprises a rear wall and two opposite side walls and which has an opening which is arranged so as, during the operation of the roller cover to face a floor surface to be cleaned, with a cleaning roller, which extends along a longitudinal axis and has at least one cleaning element radially on the outside, wherein the cleaning roller extends along its longitudinal axis through the housing interior from the first side wall to the second side wall, wherein the at least one cleaning element of the cleaning roller extends through the opening, with a drive which is coupled to the cleaning roller in order to drive the latter rotationally, wherein the drive is configured in such a manner that, whenever the cleaning roller is driven, that part of the cleaning roller which is provided to engage with a floor surface to be cleaned rotates towards the rear wall, wherein a dirt container is arranged in the housing interior on that side of the cleaning roller which faces away from the rear wall, wherein fitted to the housing wall arrangement is a dirt strip arrangement which has a bottom edge which runs parallel to the longitudinal axis and is configured to rest on a floor surface to be cleaned, wherein the dirt strip arrangement is held on the housing wall arrangement in such a manner that the bottom edge is arranged on that side of the longitudinal axis of the cleaning roller which faces the rear wall, and wherein the dirt strip arrangement is held movably on the housing wall arrangement such that the distance of the bottom edge from the longitudinal axis, as seen perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis and perpendicularly to the plane of the opening, can be changed.
The roller cover can have a housing which in turn has a housing wall arrangement which, inter alia, comprises a rear wall and two side walls preferably extending away therefrom. In addition, an opening is provided in the housing wall arrangement, said opening, when the roller cover is in operation and is moved over a floor surface being cleaned, faces the floor surface being cleaned. In addition, a cleaning roller is provided which extends along a longitudinal axis and has at least one cleaning element which is arranged radially on the outside, preferably around a roller core. The cleaning roller is arranged here in the housing in such a manner that the cleaning element extends with one part through the opening and is therefore capable, during operation of the roller cover, of engaging with the surface being cleaned and over which the roller cover is moved.
Furthermore, a drive is provided on the roller cover, said drive being coupled to the cleaning roller in order to drive the latter rotationally. The drive is configured in such a manner that it drives the cleaning roller with such a direction of rotation that that part of the cleaning roller which extends through the opening and is provided to engage with a floor surface being cleaned moves towards the rear wall. In other words, the circumference of the cleaning roller in the line in which the cleaning roller is in contact during operation with the floor surface being cleaned moves towards the rear wall. The roller cover according to the present disclosure is therefore configured as a “co-rotator”. This is because, by rotation of the brush roller, a certain propulsion is exerted in the forwards direction on the roller cover, i.e., a floor-cleaning machine with the roller cover according to the disclosure is not braked when the roller cover is in operation, but rather an additional propulsion is exerted by the roller cover. In the case of smaller machines, this can even make a drive superfluous.
Furthermore, a dirt container is arranged in the housing interior on that side of the cleaning roller which faces away from the rear wall, and therefore in the front region in front of the cleaning roller, said dirt container being configured so as, during the operation of the roller cover, to receive dirt thrown up by the cleaning roller from a floor surface being cleaned, wherein said dirt is hurled around the cleaning roller according to the “overhead throwing” principle before it enters the dirt container.
Furthermore, a dirt strip arrangement is provided which is fitted to the housing wall arrangement and has a bottom edge which runs parallel to the longitudinal axis and is also configured to rest on a floor surface being cleaned when the roller cover, fitted to a floor-cleaning machine, is moved with the latter over the floor surface being cleaned. In addition, the dirt strip arrangement is held on the housing in such a manner that the bottom edge is arranged on that side of the longitudinal axis of the cleaning roller which faces the rear wall. The dirt strip arrangement is therefore fitted behind the cleaning roller, as seen in the normal direction of movement of the roller cover, and serves to collect dirty liquid and dirt thrown up rearwards by the cleaning roller. Finally, according to the disclosure, the dirt strip arrangement can also be held on the housing wall arrangement in such a manner that the distance of the bottom edge from the longitudinal axis, as measured perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis and likewise perpendicularly to the plane of the opening through which the cleaning roller extends out of the housing, can be automatically changed. As a result, the position of the dirt strip arrangement relative to the housing wall arrangement can be automatically adjusted in a direction perpendicularly to the floor surface being cleaned, and therefore a changing length in the radial direction of the cleaning elements on the cleaning roller can be compensated for. It is therefore not required to actively take into account such a change due to wear.
The above-described configuration has the advantage that the cleaning roller is fitted in very close vicinity to the rear wall of the housing of the roller cover and therefore also in close vicinity to a dirty liquid receiving device or a suction foot provided behind the roller cover. Provision is therefore specifically not made that the dirt container is provided between the cleaning roller and a dirty liquid receiving device. On the contrary, in the case of the design according to the present disclosure, the dirt container is arranged “in front of” the cleaning roller.
Owing to the fact that the cleaning roller rotates during the operation in such a manner that dirty liquid is conveyed rearwards and therefore towards the suction volume, the problem of dirty liquid building up in front of the roller cover does not occur either.
Furthermore, owing to the fact that only one single cleaning roller is used, it is also avoided that dirty liquid emerges laterally from the roller cover. On the contrary, it is conveyed by the already described selection of the direction of rotation of the cleaning roller in the direction of the rear wall and therefore of a dirty liquid receiving device provided behind the cleaning roller and is thus removed rapidly from the floor surface being cleaned. This dispenses with the necessity of providing squeegees laterally in the roller cover, and therefore the roller cover has a width which is only slightly larger than the width of the region which is actually in engagement with the cleaning roller. Finally, an advantage of the unusual design according to the present disclosure with just one brush roller is that a large roller brush diameter can therefore be used and larger/coarser dirt can be conveyed and the roller can readily enter into unevennesses in the floor. The larger diameter also makes it possible to achieve a greater filling height in the dirt container; that is to say, the dirt container can be loaded to a greater extent than would be the case with small brush rollers. In some examples, the at least one cleaning element comprises a multiplicity of bristles which extend away radially from the roller core, wherein, when the cleaning roller is driven by the drive, the bristles extending through the opening move towards the rear wall. In some examples, the cleaning roller is therefore designed as a brush roller, such a design having proven advantageous and efficient for removing dirt from a conventional floor surface. However, the present disclosure is not restricted to brush rollers, but rather it is also conceivable for the cleaning elements to be designed in some other way, for example as pads or the like.
The dirt strip arrangement can be held movably on the housing wall arrangement in such a manner that the distance of the bottom edge from the longitudinal axis, as seen perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis and perpendicularly to the plane of the opening, can be automatically changed by contact of the dirt strip arrangement, preferably of the bottom edge, with a floor surface to be cleaned. It is therefore preferably provided within the scope of the disclosure that the position of the dirt strip arrangement relative to the housing can be changed by the bottom edge of the dirt strip arrangement or else a guide wheel coming into contact with the floor surface being cleaned and, whenever the housing is lowered towards the floor surface, the dirt strip arrangement does not provide any significant resistance to such a lowering, but rather is displaced in relation to the housing.
Furthermore, it is preferred that the distance of the bottom edge from the longitudinal axis, as seen perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis and perpendicularly to the plane of the opening, can be changed in a region which has an upper and a lower boundary, wherein a pretensioning device is provided which pretensions the dirt strip arrangement into a position in which the distance of the bottom edge from the longitudinal axis, as seen perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis and perpendicularly to the plane of the opening, is at maximum within the region. The pretensioning device is therefore configured in such a manner that it pretensions the dirt strip arrangement away from the cleaning roller and therefore ensures that the bottom edge of the dirt strip arrangement is in contact with the floor surface being cleaned such that it is prevented that dirty liquid is hurled by the rotating cleaning roller “under” the dirt strip arrangement.
In some examples, the dirt strip arrangement has a holder and a flexible sheetlike dirt strip element which has the bottom edge and which is fitted releasably to the holder, and wherein the holder is fastened preferably releasably to a holding element which is held movably on the housing wall arrangement. This two-part design of holder and dirt strip element, on the one hand, and holding element, on the other hand, makes it possible for the element on which the bottom edge is provided and which is exposed to wear to be able to be changed in a simple manner. All that is required here is for the holder to first of all be detached from the holding element, which is held movably on the housing, and then the dirt strip element to be exchanged.
Furthermore, it is preferred that the dirt strip element runs in an upwardly inclined manner from the bottom edge to the housing and away from the cleaning roller. The effect achieved by this is that movement of the cleaning roller causes dirt-laden liquid and coarse dirt to be hurled on a trajectory around the cleaning roller such that they reliably reach the dirt container.
In some examples, the dirt strip arrangement on the holder has at least one rotatable guide wheel, wherein the at least one guide wheel is fitted to the holder in such a manner that, whenever the bottom edge rests on a floor surface to be cleaned, the guide wheel also rests on the floor surface to be cleaned. The effect achieved by the guide wheel is that the dirt strip element does not have to bear the entire load of the dirt strip arrangement, but rather part of said load is absorbed by the guide wheel. As a result, the wear at the dirt strip element is reduced.
Furthermore, it is preferred that the holding element is held on the rear wall so as to be displaceable between a retracted position and an extended position, the distance of the bottom edge from the longitudinal axis, as measured perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis and perpendicularly to the opening, is smaller in the retracted position than in the extended position. In some examples, the height-adjustability of the dirt strip arrangement is realized in a simple manner in that the holding element is fitted displaceably and therefore in a guided manner to the rear wall of the housing. Furthermore, it is preferred that a first and a second lever arm are coupled pivotably to the rear wall, the free ends of which lever arms are coupled to the holding element such that, by pivoting of the lever arms in relation to the housing, the holding element is displaced in a direction perpendicular to the opening. In this way, the guiding of the holding element is realized in a simple manner. It is possible here for the lever arms to be spring-pretensioned in relation to the housing in such a manner that they pretension the holding element towards a floor surface being cleaned. As a result, the holder is pressed with the dirt strip element towards the floor surface being cleaned.
Furthermore, it is preferred that the dirt container can be pushed through an opening in one of the side walls as far as an end position in the housing interior and can be pulled out of the housing interior from the end position, wherein, in the end position, the dirt container extends over the entire length of the cleaning roller. A lateral dirt container which can be pushed in has the advantage that it can easily be removed from the roller cover, even when the latter is fitted to a floor-cleaning machine since the lateral region of the roller cover is easily accessible.
In order to ensure that the roller cover is operated, i.e. the drive for the cleaning roller is switched on, only when the dirt container is also mounted correctly in the roller cover, it is furthermore preferred that an end switch is provided on the housing wall arrangement, said end switch being arranged in such a manner that it is in a first position when the dirt container is in the end position, and is moved out of the first position when the dirt container is not in the end position. Depending on the position of the end switch, a signal can be generated which permits the roller cover to be operated only when the end switch is in the first position.
In some examples, a detection element is provided and arranged in such a manner that it extends into the dirt container, wherein the detection element is displaceable between a first position and a second position, wherein an end of the detection element facing the dirt container is closer to a base of the dirt container in the first position than in a second position, wherein a detection device is provided which is configured to detect whether the detection element is in the first position or in a position remote from the first position, and wherein the detection device is configured to generate a first signal when the detection element is in the first position, and to generate a second signal when the detection element is in a position remote from the first position. With the aid of the detection element, it can be determined how high the level of dirt in the dirt container is. If it is determined with the aid of the detection device that the level in the dirt container has exceeded a maximum height, a second signal can be generated with this example that indicates to the user that the dirt container has to be emptied.
Finally, the present disclosure provides a floor-cleaning machine, with a running gear with wheels such that the running gear is configured to be moved over a floor surface being cleaned, and with a machine housing, wherein a roller cover according to one or more of the previously described examples is held on the machine housing in such a manner that the cleaning roller can engage with the floor surface being cleaned, wherein the housing is held displaceably on the machine housing in such a manner that it can take up different positions along a vertical direction which extends away vertically from the floor surface being cleaned, wherein a position detection device is provided which is configured to detect the position of the housing relative to the machine housing in the vertical direction, and wherein the position detection device is configured to output a predetermined signal if the distance of the housing from the floor surface being cleaned falls below a predetermined value. In this example, it is possible for the degree of wear of the at least one cleaning element on the cleaning roller to be detected by determining the position of the roller cover relative to the machine housing.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
With reference to
Furthermore, it can already be seen in
Finally, in the front region of the floor-cleaning machine 1, “side brooms 17” are fitted on both sides of the front wheel 9 and are driven rotationally and sweep the coarse dirt located on the floor surface 11 being cleaned towards the centre of the travel path along which the floor-cleaning machine 1 moves.
As is furthermore revealed in
As is furthermore revealed in
A cleaning roller in the form of a brush roller 35 is accommodated in the housing interior 21, wherein the brush roller 35 has a roller core 37 which extends along a longitudinal axis 39, wherein bristles 41 extending radially outwards are fitted to the roller core 37. The brush roller 35 is arranged here in the housing interior 21 in such a manner that the longitudinal axis 39 runs parallel to the rear wall 23 and the brush roller 35 extends between the side walls 25, 27. Furthermore, the bristles 41 are dimensioned in such a manner that they extend through the opening 33 in the base of the housing 19 outwards to a floor surface 11 being cleaned, as is revealed in particular in
A drive 43, which is designed in the exemplary embodiment illustrated here as a motor, is provided on the upper side of the housing 19 of the roller cover 13, wherein the drive 43 is connected via a belt drive, not illustrated in detail, to the brush roller 35 such that the latter, as illustrated by the arrow pointing in the direction of rotation 45 in
Furthermore, it can be gathered from
Furthermore, it is revealed in
It can also be seen from
Finally,
A dirt strip element 73 is fastened in turn to the holder 65 with the aid of clamping elements 75, the dirt strip element 73 being sheetlike and flexible and having a bottom edge 77 which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis 39 of the brush roller 35 and is provided to be placed on the floor surface being cleaned when the roller cover is moved together with a floor-cleaning machine 1 over the floor surface 11 being cleaned.
Since the holding element 63 is held displaceably on the housing 19, the dirt strip arrangement comprising the holding element 63, the holder 65 and the dirt strip element 73 can be moved along the rear wall 23 between a retracted position and an extended position in such a manner that the distance of the bottom edge 77 from the longitudinal axis 39, as seen perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis 39 and also perpendicularly to the plane of the opening 33 which is provided in the base of the housing 19, can be changed. The distance of the bottom edge 77 from the longitudinal axis 39 is smaller in the retracted position than in the extended position. The connection between the holding element 63 and the rear wall 23 is configured in such a manner that the resistance which is provided against a movement of the holding element 63 relative to the housing 19 is so small that, whenever the roller cover 13 is placed onto a floor surface being cleaned, the dirt strip arrangement 63, 65, 77 is readily displaced upwards such that the distance between the bottom edge 77 and the longitudinal axis 39 is reduced.
Furthermore, it can be seen in
In addition, it can be seen in
Finally, it can be gathered from
In the operation of the floor-cleaning machine 1, when the latter is moved by means of the running gear 5 over a floor surface 11 being cleaned, the free ends of the bristles 41 of the brush roller 35 of the roller cover 13 are in engagement with the floor surface 11 being cleaned and the brush roller 35 is driven rotationally, the latter rotates in the direction of rotation 45 indicated by the arrow (see
Finally, the effect achieved by the displaceability of the dirt strip arrangement 63, 65, 73 relative to the housing 19 is that the bottom edge 77 of the dirt strip element 73 of the dirt strip arrangement 63, 65, 73 rests on a floor surface 11 being cleaned irrespective of the degree of wear of the bristles 41 of the brush roller 35. This is illustrated in particular in
It can be seen there in part a) that the dirt strip arrangement 63, 65, 73 is displaced relative to the housing 19 in the vertical direction with respect to the floor surface 11 being cleaned such that the bottom edge 77 of the dirt strip element 73 is at a comparatively large distance 91 from the longitudinal axis 39 of the brush roller 35, said distance 91 being measured perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis 39 and also perpendicularly to the plane of the opening 33. If the bristles 41 become further worn, as is shown in
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE102022111606.9 | May 2022 | DE | national |
