Patent Application
20250089976
The present disclosure relates to a supply device for moving on a floor surface and for coupling to a floor cleaning machine, and to a system comprising a supply device and a floor surface.
Supply devices for coupling with a floor cleaning machine and floor cleaning machines are well known from the prior art. The floor cleaning machines known from the prior art, which can be designed in particular as autonomously operating cleaning robots but also as hand-held cleaning machines or self-propelled ride-on machines, generally have a chassis with at least one wheel, which is driven by a drive, a cleaning device, for example in the form of a brush arrangement, a wiping device and/or a suction device for collecting dirty liquid from the floor surface to be cleaned, a fresh water tank for receiving fresh water, a dirty water tank for receiving dirty water and a coupling arrangement for coupling the floor cleaning machine to the supply device. Known supply devices usually also have a coupling arrangement for coupling the supply device to the floor cleaning machine, a power supply, a fresh water supply and a dirty water intake.
In such systems consisting of a floor cleaning machine and a supply device, it has proven to be problematic that in order to couple the floor cleaning machine, it must be moved towards the supply device while the supply device remains stationary. In this case, it is necessary to move the floor cleaning machine towards the supply device until the coupling arrangements come into contact and also to press against the supply device so that the coupling arrangements form a secure connection. Such coupling processes can cause additional stress on the supply device, which can cause damage to the supply device or the floor cleaning machine and their coupling arrangements. In addition, the supply device can be tilted or shifted during the coupling process, which can also lead to faults.
Another disadvantage is that the floor cleaning machines have to move in reverse in order to detach the coupling of the coupling units. On the one hand, this results in a greater space requirement when uncoupling and, on the other hand, if the floor cleaning machine is designed as an autonomously operating cleaning robot, it must have sensors that can check the rear area for obstacles and, in particular, people before and during reversing.
It is desirable to provide a supply device which can be coupled to and detached from a floor cleaning machine in a particularly simple and safe manner, without requiring increased space and without the floor cleaning machine having to perform a reverse movement in order to detach.
According to a first aspect, a supply device includes the features of patent claim 1. The supply device is designed to be moved on a floor surface and to be coupled to a floor cleaning machine, which can be designed in particular as a hand-held floor cleaning machine or a self-propelled ride-on machine or also as an autonomously driving cleaning robot, and comprises a frame, a chassis supported on the frame, which is designed so that the supply device can be moved over the floor surface, a fresh water inlet, a dirty water outlet and/or a power supply, a coupling arrangement which is connected to the fresh water inlet, the dirty water outlet and/or to the power supply and which is designed to be detachably coupled to a further coupling arrangement on the floor cleaning machine, so that fresh water can be conveyed from the fresh water inlet via the coupling arrangements to a fresh water tank of the floor cleaning machine, dirty water can be conveyed from a dirty water tank of the floor cleaning machine to the dirty water outlet and/or a rechargeable battery of the floor cleaning machine can be connected to the power supply, and a drive unit which is designed to move the supply device in or against a possibly rectilinear first travel direction between a first and a second position, wherein the drive unit is supported at a proximal end on the frame and has a distal end which is designed to be connected to a fastening element which is stationary relative to the floor surface.
As already mentioned, the supply device can have a frame and a chassis supported on the frame, which is designed so that the supply device can be moved over the floor surface. The chassis enables mobility on the floor surface by movably supporting the supply device on the floor surface via the frame. The supply device is supported evenly on the floor surface so that the supply device can move parallel thereto. This has the advantage that a uniform movement of the supply device is realized, while preventing the supply device from tilting.
In addition, the supply device can have a coupling arrangement which is connected to the fresh water inlet, the dirty water outlet and/or to the power supply and which is designed to be detachably coupled to a further coupling arrangement on the floor cleaning machine, so that fresh water can be conveyed from the fresh water inlet via the coupling arrangements to a fresh water tank of the floor cleaning machine, dirty water can be conveyed from a dirty water tank of the floor cleaning machine to the dirty water outlet and/or a rechargeable battery of the floor cleaning machine can be connected to the power supply. For this purpose, the coupling arrangement can have an interface for providing fresh water, which is connected to the fresh water inlet, an interface for providing electrical energy, which is connected to the power supply, and a dirty water collection basin, which is connected to the dirty water outlet.
The supply device further can have a drive unit which is designed to move the supply device in or against a possibly rectilinear first travel direction between a first and a second position. This allows the supply device to be moved in or against a possibly rectilinear travel direction. The supply device can be installed in a building, possibly on or in front of a wall, so that a rear panel of the supply device faces the wall. In this case, the first position is a retracted position and the second position is an extended position, which means that a front side of the supply device is closer to the wall in the first position than in the second position. This means that the supply device takes up less space in the first position and in the second position the distance that the floor cleaning machine has to travel to connect to the supply device is reduced.
If the supply device is installed in front of a wall, the travel direction can be perpendicular to the wall. Rectilinear means that the supply device moves at a fixed angle to the wall, so the direction does not change. This has the advantage that the supply device can always move straight towards the floor cleaning machine or straight away from the floor cleaning machine, so that the coupling with the floor cleaning machine can be as precise and time-efficient as possible.
It is also conceivable that the supply device is installed inside a room, in which case the fresh water inlet and the dirty water outlet are connected to the supply device via pipes from the ceiling or floor of the room. In the event that the supply device is connected to pipes from the ceiling, the dirty water outlet can have a conveying device, for example a pump and in particular a lifting system, in order to convey dirty water to a dirty water pipe located above the dirty water outlet. This has the advantage that no wall is required to install the supply device and it can be positioned freely.
The drive unit can be supported at a proximal end on the frame and has a distal end which is designed to be connected to a fastening element which is stationary relative to the floor surface. In the event that the supply device is installed in front of a wall, the proximal end of the drive unit is the end of the drive unit furthest from the wall, and the distal end is the end of the drive unit closest to the wall. The fastening element, which is stationary relative to the floor surface, can be attached, for example, to the wall or the floor surface. The stationary fastening element serves as a stationary traction and/or pressure point for the drive unit. Two fastening elements can also be provided, each of which acts as a traction or pressure point. The drive unit can press against the fastening element in such a way that the supply device is moved in the first travel direction from the first to the second position. In order to move the supply device against the first travel direction, the drive unit can pull on the fastening element so that the supply device is brought from the second to the first position. This has the advantage that the supply device always moves relative to the stationary fastening element, so that it always has a fixed position, whereby the supply device can be positioned and coupled to the floor cleaning machine reliably and in a particularly simple manner despite its mobility.
In one embodiment, the supply device has a guide unit having a first guide rod and a second guide rod arranged parallel to one another, wherein the first guide rod extends along a first longitudinal axis and the second guide rod extends along a second longitudinal axis. The guide unit further can have two first guide arms having a first coupling section and a second coupling section, wherein the first coupling section of the first guide arms is pivotably mounted on the frame about a first pivot axis and the second coupling sections of the first guide arms are connected to the first guide rod at a distance from one another along the first longitudinal axis. The guide unit also can have two second guide arms which have a first coupling section and a second coupling section, wherein the first coupling section of the second guide arms is pivotably mounted on the frame about a second pivot axis and the second coupling sections of the second guide arms are connected to the second guide rod at a distance from one another along the second longitudinal axis. The first pivot axis, the second pivot axis, the first longitudinal axis, the second longitudinal axis and the first travel direction run parallel to one another. The guide unit also can have first bias elements between the frame and the first guide arms, which are designed to bias the first guide arms in such a way that the first guide rod is pressed towards the second guide rod. The guide unit further can have second bias elements between the frame and the second guide arms, which are designed to bias the second guide arms in such a way that the second guide rod is pressed towards the first guide rod. Finally, the guide unit can be designed to accommodate at least two guide pins, which are arranged on the floor surface and project perpendicularly therefrom, between the two guide rods.
The guide unit thus can have the first guide rod and the second guide rod, which are arranged parallel to one another, wherein the first guide rod extends along a first longitudinal axis and the second guide rod extends along a second longitudinal axis. The guide rods can run parallel to one another and along their longitudinal axes, so that they can be understood as parallel guides. The guide rods can be designed to be elongated, i.e., the guide rods are significantly larger in their length along the longitudinal axis than in their width perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. This has the advantage that the supply device can also be guided over longer travel distances by the guide unit, wherein the guide unit has a particularly compact design.
The first and second guide rods can have a round cross-section, so that the two guide rods touch or intersect along and on their circumferential surface in a contact line, namely if no guide pins were arranged between the two guide rods. The contact line can define the direction along which the supply device is guided.
The guide unit can have two first guide arms which have a first coupling section and a second coupling section, wherein the first coupling section of the first guide arms is mounted on the frame so as to be pivotable about a first pivot axis and the second coupling sections of the first guide arms are connected to the first guide rod at a distance from one another along the first longitudinal axis. The first two guide arms can ensure that the first guide rod is connected to the frame at two spaced-apart positions and thus in a stable manner, however about a defined first pivot axis. The first guide arms may have an identical shape. This makes it particularly easy to align the first guide rod so that the direction in which the guide unit is to guide the supply device can be easily determined.
The guide unit also can have two second guide arms which also have a first coupling section and a second coupling section, wherein the first coupling section of the second guide arms is pivotably mounted on the frame about a second pivot axis and the second coupling sections of the second guide arms are connected to the second guide rod at a distance from one another along the second longitudinal axis. The two second guide arms can ensure that the second guide rod is also connected to the frame at two positions and thus in a stable manner, however about a defined second pivot axis. The second guide arms can have an identical shape. This makes it particularly easy to align the second guide rod, so that the direction in which the guide unit is to guide the supply device can be determined in a particularly simple manner.
The first pivot axis, the second pivot axis, the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis can run parallel to one another. As the first and second longitudinal axes, and thus the guide rods, run parallel to one another and to the first travel direction, the supply device is guided along the first travel direction. The pivotability of the guide rods also ensures that the supply device can be offset parallel to the first travel direction determined by the guide pins and can also be pivoted, which is necessary when coupling with a floor cleaning machine that is not exactly aligned with the first travel direction.
The first guide rod and the second guide rod as well as the first guide arms and the second guide arms may be identical. This results in a particularly simple and cost-effective construction of the guide unit.
The guide unit can have first bias elements between the frame and the first guide arms, which are designed to bias the first guide arms in such a way that the first guide rod is pressed towards the second guide rod. The first bias elements may be designed as tension springs and bias the first guide arms in such a way that a tensile force acts on the first guide rod, which acts on the first guide arms perpendicular to the first pivot axis, so that the first guide rod is pressed in the direction of the second guide rod due to the pivotability of the first guide arms. The guide unit further can have second bias elements between the frame and the second guide arms, which are designed to bias the second guide arms in such a way that the second guide rod is pressed towards the first guide rod. The second bias elements can be designed as tension springs and bias the second guide arms in such a way that a tensile force acts on the second guide rod, which acts on the second guide arms perpendicular to the second pivot axis, so that the second guide rod is pressed in the direction of the first guide rod due to the pivotability of the second guide arms.
This has the advantage that the guide unit not only guides the supply device along the travel direction, but also pushes it back towards it when the supply device is displaced or pivoted in a direction perpendicular to the first travel direction.
The first and second bias elements may be designed identically so that they exert an identical biasing force on the guide arms. This ensures that the two guide rods are aligned parallel to the travel direction of the supply device, which leads to a rectilinear guiding action.
The guide unit can be designed to accommodate at least two guide pins, which are arranged on the floor surface and project perpendicularly therefrom, between the two guide rods. As they are arranged on the floor surface, the guide pins may be fixedly connected to the floor surface. The two guide pins also define a straight line that runs through the two guide pins.
In one embodiment, the first and second bias elements are arranged in such a way that their longitudinal axes intersect. This means that the bias elements can be arranged directly on the frame of the supply device so that the guide unit has a particularly space-saving design.
The first bias elements and the second bias elements can have the same angle to the floor surface or the first and second longitudinal axes. This ensures that the bias elements bias the guide arms with the same force so that a uniform biasing is achieved.
In a further embodiment, the first and second bias elements can be arranged in such a way that their longitudinal axes run at an angle of between 90° and 180° to one another. At an angle of less than 90° to one another, the bias elements would exert a smaller force perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the guide rods on the guide arms than in the case where they are arranged at an angle of more than 90° to one another. At an angle of 180° to one another, the entire force of the bias elements could be used for biasing, but this would result in a more complicated structure with greater space requirements. The advantage of having an angle of the longitudinal axes of the bias elements of between 90° and 180° to one another is that the guide unit can be constructed in a particularly simple and space-saving manner as a result.
In one embodiment, guide elements are attached to the ends of the guide rods which point in the direction opposite to the first travel direction, wherein the guide elements are designed in such a way that the distance between the guide element on the first guide rod and the guide element on the second guide rod increases with decreasing distance to the free end of the guide elements, and wherein the guide elements are designed to receive a further guide pin between them. The guide elements arranged at the ends of the guide rods, which point in a direction opposite to the first travel direction and thus away from the floor cleaning machine when it is coupled to the supply device, make it possible for the supply device to be correctly realigned when it is moved back to the first position, even if it is in the second, extended position and is also pivoted relative to the first travel direction. This occurs due to the engagement of the guide elements, the distance between which increases towards their free end, with the additional guide pin. The engagement with the additional guide pin is achieved in a particularly simply manner due to the increasing distance. The guide pin can be “captured,” so to speak, by the guide elements, even if the supply device is pivoted to a large extent relative to the first travel direction.
In one embodiment, the chassis has multiple, possibly four, bearing units which are designed to be in contact with the floor surface and to support the supply device on the floor surface during movement. The bearing units ensure a particularly good load distribution of the supply device on the one hand, and a particularly good mobility of the supply device on the floor surface on the other hand. With a number of four bearing units, the supply device can also be stored particularly in a particularly stable manner, making it less prone to wobbling or tipping over.
In one embodiment, the bearing units have ball bearings or ball rollers. By using ball bearings or ball rollers, the supply device can be stored particularly well on the floor surface, in particular while it is moving. The use of ball rollers as bearing units also allows the supply device to move freely in all directions. This has the advantage that the supply device can also be moved in a direction perpendicular to the first travel direction.
It is also conceivable that the bearing units have sliding bearings or sliding elements that slide on the floor surface. This has the advantage that the bearing units have no moving parts, which means the supply unit requires less maintenance.
In one embodiment, the supply device has a housing, wherein the housing has a recess pointing in the first travel direction, which extends over the width of the housing. The recess also extends in a horizontal plane. This recess makes it possible that when an autonomously driving floor cleaning machine with laser scanners provided at the height of the recess approaches the supply device, it is not detected by the laser scanners, which would otherwise lead to an immediate stop of the movement of the floor cleaning machine if it is designed as an autonomously driving cleaning machine.
In one embodiment, the coupling arrangement comprises a plug or socket unit which is designed to be coupled to a socket or plug unit of the further coupling arrangement of the floor cleaning machine, and a dirty water collection basin for collecting dirty water from a dirty water tank of the floor cleaning machine. Coupling the socket or plug unit can be understood as bringing the socket or plug unit into contact with a plug or socket unit of the floor cleaning machine, or achieving a coupled connection thereof. If, for example, the coupling arrangement of the supply device has a plug unit and the coupling arrangement of the floor cleaning machine has a socket unit, coupling can be understood to mean that the plug unit is completely received in the socket unit. This also applies analogously in the case where the coupling arrangement of the supply device has a socket unit and the coupling arrangement of the floor cleaning machine has a plug unit. With reference to the dirty water valve and the dirty water collection basin, a coupling is understood to mean that the dirty water valve is arranged above or in the dirty water collection basin of the supply device in such a way that dirty water drained by the dirty water valve can be completely received by the dirty water collection basin.
In an embodiment, the drive unit has a linear drive which has the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the linear drive can move the supply device in or against the first travel direction by extending and retracting. The linear drive enables precise positioning of the supply device. This is advantageous because the supply device for coupling with the floor cleaning machine should assume the same position during each coupling process in order to achieve the best possible coupling.
In addition, the speed can be varied in or against the first travel direction so that the supply device can move from the second to the first position at a higher speed and, for coupling with the floor cleaning machine, from the first to the second position at a lower speed. The drive unit can also have overload protection. Overload protection limits the power consumption of the drive unit motor so that the drive unit is stopped or slowed down when a predefined load limit is exceeded.
In one embodiment, the drive unit is coupled at the proximal end to a fastening arm pivotably mounted on the frame, wherein the fastening arm has a third pivot axis which is arranged perpendicular to the first travel direction, and the fastening arm is biased in such a way that its section coupled at the proximal end is biased towards the distal end. Pre-tensioning the proximal end of the drive unit is particularly important in the case where the supply device is coupled to the floor cleaning machine. When coupling the supply device to the floor cleaning machine, it is possible that the supply device presses against the floor cleaning machine. To ensure that the drive unit of the supply device, which strives to move the supply device into the second position during overrun, does not press further against the floor cleaning machine, the proximal end of the drive unit is attached to the frame via the pivotably mounted fastening arm. If the drive unit moves the supply device in the direction of the first travel direction, but the supply device reaches a stop, for example the floor cleaning machine, the remaining travel path of the drive unit is assumed by the fastening arm by pivoting the fastening arm in the direction of the first travel direction. This has the advantage that the supply device does not press against the floor cleaning machine beyond the point at which they are coupled. This prevents the floor cleaning machine from being pushed back by the supply device or tipped backwards.
The drive unit can be connected to the fastening arm via a fastening element, wherein the drive unit is pivotably connected to the fastening element about a fourth pivot axis and the fastening element is arranged on the fastening arm so as to be pivotable about a fifth pivot axis. The fourth pivot axis and the fifth pivot axis are arranged perpendicular to one another. It is further possible if the fourth pivot axis is arranged parallel to the third pivot axis. The pivotable mounting of the drive unit on the fastening arm ensures that the supply device can be moved in a direction perpendicular to the first travel direction and loads on the drive unit are avoided.
In a further embodiment, the frame has a stop element which limits the pivoting range of the fastening arm towards the distal end. The stop element prevents the pivotable fastening arm from being pivoted in the direction of the distal end of the drive unit when the supply device is moved from the second position to the first position. When decoupling the supply device from the floor cleaning machine, the supply device is moved from the second to the first position so that the effect of the drive unit overrunning has no negative effect since the supply unit is attracted to the fixed fastening element. This would make it possible to directly couple the drive unit to the frame of the supply device using the stop element.
In one embodiment, the coupling arrangement has an interface for sending and/or receiving data from the floor cleaning machine. This has the advantage that the floor cleaning machine can exchange data with the supply device or an external control unit. In particular, it is possible for error messages to be transmitted from the supply device to the floor cleaning machine, which in turn transmits them to a central server, possibly wirelessly. It is then unnecessary for the supply device to be independently connected to the corresponding server.
According to a second aspect of the disclosure, the above object is achieved by a system having the features of patent claim 14. The system comprises a supply device according to the disclosure for moving on a floor surface and two guide pins aligned with one another in the travel direction, which are fixedly attached relative to the floor surface.
In one embodiment, the system has a floor panel on which the floor surface is formed and to which the guide pins are attached. The floor panel creates a modular system which has the guide pins so that they do not have to be applied to the floor surface at the installation site of the supply device. This ensures that the system can be assembled and dismantled without causing any damage.
The floor panel to which the guide pins are attached can be firmly connected by connecting elements to a floor on which the floor panel and the supply device are to be installed. Alternatively, the floor panel can be firmly connected to a wall in front of which the supply device is to be installed. The floor panel can be connected to the wall either directly or via an adapter. A fixed connection of the floor panel to the floor or wall has the advantage that the floor panel cannot slip relative to the floor. Alternatively, it is also conceivable to increase the friction between the floor panel and the floor so that the floor panel does not slip on the floor. This can be achieved either by weighing down the floor panel with weights or by using friction elements that increase the friction against the floor. This has the particular advantage that the floor panel can be removed from the floor without causing any damage.
The present disclosure is explained below with reference to a drawing showing only one embodiment, in which
As can be seen from
In the exemplary embodiment described here, a floor panel 7 is provided. However, it is also conceivable that the supply device 1 is set up on a floor surface available at the installation location of the supply device 1 and moves thereon without the floor panel 7 having to be present.
Furthermore, the supply device 1 has a coupling arrangement 9 which has a plug unit 11 complementary to a socket unit of a floor cleaning machine, which can also be referred to as a plug, and a dirty water collection basin 13 complementary to a dirty water valve of a floor cleaning machine.
As already explained, the floor cleaning machine can be, for example, a hand-held floor cleaning machine, a self-propelled ride-on machine or an autonomously driving cleaning robot.
In the present embodiment, the plug unit 11 and the dirty water collection basin 13 are separated from one another, i.e., they are arranged at a distance from one another. In an alternative embodiment, the plug unit 11 and the dirty water collection basin 13 can be arranged integrally, i.e., in one component. The latter has the advantage that the coupling arrangement 9 requires less space.
The coupling arrangement 9 is connected to a fresh water inlet 15, a dirty water outlet 17, and to a power supply. The fresh water inlet 15 can be connected to a water supply, for example of the building in which the supply device 1 is used, for example via a line, not shown. Similarly, the dirty water outlet can be connected to the building's drainage system. Finally, the power supply can be connected to the building's supply network.
Alternatively, the fresh water inlet 15 may be connected to a fresh water storage tank and the dirty water outlet 17 to a dirty water storage tank. This is particularly advantageous if there is no water supply or drainage system at the installation location of the supply device 1.
To pump the fresh water from the fresh water storage tank and to pump the dirty water into the dirty water storage tank, the supply device 1 can have a pumping device, for example a pump. The pump can be part of the supply device 1. Alternatively, the supply device 1 can have a further interface for supplying power to an external pump, which can be connected to the supply device 1. This has the advantage that only the supply device 1 has to be connected to a power supply, since the supply device 1 can supply the pump with power via the interface.
The plug 11 has an interface for providing fresh water, which is connected to the fresh water inlet 15. Furthermore, the plug 11 has an interface for providing electrical energy, which is connected to the power supply. The dirty water collection basin 13 is connected to the dirty water outlet 17. In this case, it is additionally or alternatively possible that, in addition to fresh water, cleaning solution is also pumped from the supply device 1 via a suitable interface to the floor cleaning machine and into a cleaning solution tank of the latter. If this is the case, a corresponding cleaning solution tank can possibly also be provided in the supply device 1.
Furthermore, the plug 11 has an interface for transferring data, which is connected to a control unit of the supply device 1 and can be connected to an interface of a coupling arrangement of a floor cleaning machine. This ensures that the supply device 1 can exchange data with the floor cleaning machine and evaluate said data. In particular, it is possible for error messages to be transmitted from the supply device 1 to the floor cleaning machine, which in turn transmits them to a central server, possibly wirelessly.
The supply device 1 has an actuator 19 which can engage with an actuating element of a dirty water valve of a floor cleaning machine when the coupling arrangement 11 is connected to a coupling arrangement of the floor cleaning machine, wherein, in order to convey dirty water from a dirty water tank of the floor cleaning machine to the dirty water outlet 17, the actuator 19 engages with the actuating element and transfers the dirty water valve to the open position. The actuator 19 of the supply device 1 can be designed as a lifting cylinder which can assume a first position and a second position and, if necessary, also positions in between. In the first position, the lifting cylinder is retracted so that the dirty water valve remains in the closed position when the coupling arrangements are connected. In the second position, the actuator 19 presses against the actuating element of the dirty water valve so that the dirty water valve can be transferred from the closed to the open position when the coupling arrangements are connected.
The supply device 1 has a lighting unit 21, possibly in the form of one or more light-emitting diodes. The lighting unit 21 serves to emit a visual warning signal when the supply device 1 is moved. Possibly, the lighting unit 21 flashes when the supply device 1 is moved from the first position to the second position and from the second position to the first position. The warning signal emitted by the lighting unit 21 can warn people that the supply device 1 is moving.
Furthermore, the supply device 1 has an LED arrangement with at least one LED light 22. In the present exemplary embodiment, two LED lights 22 are arranged, one on each side of the supply device 1. The LED lights 22 are capable of illuminating in a variety of colors, so that the LED light 22 can indicate a status by illuminating in a specific color. For example, it can be provided that the LED light 22 illuminates in a first color, for example blue, to indicate that the supply device 1 is in an autonomously operating state. The autonomously acting state means that the supply device 1 acts autonomously, that is, that it operates itself, i.e., extends and retracts. This condition is particularly advantageous when the supply device 1 is used with an autonomously operating floor cleaning machine. In contrast, the LED light 22 may illuminate in a second color, for example green, to indicate that the supply device 1 is in a manually operating state. A manually operating state means that the supply device 1 does not extend and retract independently, but only extends when a user has operated the supply device 1. This condition is particularly advantageous when the supply device 1 is used with a manually operated floor cleaning machine. Furthermore, the LED light 22 can illuminate in a third color, for example red, to indicate that an error is present. The error may be a fault with the supply device 1 or a fault occurring during coupling with the floor cleaning machine.
It is also conceivable that the LED light 22 illuminates in a fourth color to indicate that it is exchanging data with the floor cleaning machine, possibly when it is coupled to the floor cleaning machine. This exchange of data may include sending data, for example when the supply unit 1 sends data to the floor cleaning machine. Such data may comprise, for example, error data, operating data or other information about the supply device 1. The exchange of data may also include receiving data, for example when the supply device 1 receives data from the floor cleaning machine. Such data may, for example, comprise information about the floor cleaning machine or updates to the software of the supply device 1. The floor cleaning machine generally has a communication interface, for example for communicating with a server. By exchanging information with the supply device 1, it is not necessary for the latter to also have a communication interface, but rather communicates via the floor cleaning machine, for example with the server. For example, it is possible for the floor cleaning machine to receive an error log from the supply device 1 and send it to the server or to receive update data from the server for the supply unit 1 and forward said update data to it. This allows for maintenance of the supply device 1 to be carried out in a particularly easy manner.
Furthermore, the supply device 1 has an identification tag 23. The identification tag 23 can be read optically by the floor cleaning machine, for example by a camera. The identification tag 23 enables the floor cleaning machine to identify the supply device 1 and check whether the supply device 1 is compatible with the floor cleaning machine.
The supply device 1 has a threading unit 25 which can engage with a threading plate of the floor cleaning machine in order to align the supply device 1 with respect to the floor cleaning machine. For this purpose, the threading unit 25 has a recess which possibly has a conical shape, i.e., the recess widens in the direction away from the supply device 1. The threading unit 25 enables correct alignment of the supply device 1 relative to the floor cleaning machine to be achieved in a particularly simple manner, so that the supply device 1 is always correctly aligned relative to the floor cleaning machine. This enables a particularly reliable coupling of the floor cleaning machine with the supply device 1 to be achieved.
Above the threading unit 25, the housing of the supply device 1 has a recess 27, which serves to enable the floor cleaning machine to move completely up to the supply device 1. The recess 27 points in a first travel direction 29 of the supply device 1 and extends over the width of the housing 5. The recess 27 also extends in a horizontal plane. This recess 27 makes it possible that when an autonomously driving floor cleaning machine with laser scanners provided at the height of the recess 27 approaches the supply device 1, it is not detected by the laser scanners, which would otherwise lead to an immediate stop of the movement of the floor cleaning machine if it is designed as an autonomously driving cleaning machine.
The guide unit 37 also has first bias elements 55 between the frame 50 and the first guide arms 47, which are designed to bias the first guide arms 47 in such a way that the first guide rod 39 is pressed towards the second guide rod 41. The guide unit 37 further has second bias elements 57 between the frame 50 and the second guide arms 51, which are designed to bias the second guide arms 51 in such a way that the second guide rod 41 is pressed towards the first guide rod 39. Finally, the guide unit 37 is designed to accommodate at least two guide pins 59, which are arranged on the floor surface and project perpendicularly therefrom, between the two guide rods 39, 41.
The bias elements 55, 57 are shown in the figures in an untensioned state in which they are not connected to the guide arms 47, 51. In the biased state, the bias elements 55, 57 are connected to the guide arms 47,51. For this purpose, the bias elements 55, 57 can be hooked via their eyelets onto projections of the guide arms 47, 51, analogously to the connection to the frame, so that they bias the guide arms 47, 51.
The guide rods 39, 41 run parallel to one another and along their longitudinal axes 4345, so that they serve as parallel guides. The guide rods 39, 41 are possibly designed to be elongated, i.e., the guide rods 39, 41 are significantly larger in their length along the longitudinal axis than in their width perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. This has the advantage that the supply device 1 can also be guided over longer travel distances by the guide unit 37, wherein the guide unit 37 has a particularly compact design.
Possibly, the first and second guide rods 39, 41 have a round cross-section, so that the two guide rods 39, 41 touch or intersect one another along and on their circumferential surface in a contact line, namely if no guide pins 59 were arranged between the two guide rods 39, 41. The contact line defines the direction along which the supply device 1 is guided.
The two first guide arms 47 ensure that the first guide rod 39 is connected to the frame 50 at two spaced-apart positions and thus in a stable manner, however about a defined first pivot axis 49. The two second guide arms 51 ensure that the second guide rod 41 is also connected to the frame 50 at two positions and thus in a stable manner, however about a defined second pivot axis 53. Possibly, the first and second guide arms 47, 51 have an identical shape. This makes it particularly easy to align the guide rods 39, 41, so that the direction in which the guide unit 37 is to guide the supply device 1 can be easily determined.
As the first and second longitudinal axes 43, 45, and thus the guide rods 39, 41, run parallel to one another and to the first travel direction 29, the supply device 1 is guided along the first travel direction 29. The pivotability of the guide rods 39, 41 also ensures that the supply device 1 can be offset parallel to the first travel direction 29 determined by the guide pins 59 and can also be pivoted, which is necessary when coupling with a floor cleaning machine that is not exactly aligned with the first travel direction.
The first guide rod 39 and the second guide rod 41 as well as the first guide arms 47 and the second guide arms 51 are possibly identical. This results in a particularly simple and cost-effective construction of the guide unit 37.
The first and second bias elements 55, 57 are possibly designed as tension springs and bias the first and second guide arms 47, 51 in such a way that a tensile force acts on the first and second guide rods 39, 41, which acts on the first and second guide arms 47, 51 perpendicular to the first and second pivot axes 47, 49, so that the first and second guide rods 39, 41 are pressed in the direction of the other guide rod 39, 41 due to the pivotability of the first and second guide arms 47, 51. This has the advantage that the guide unit 37 not only guides the supply device 1 along the first travel direction 29, but also pushes it back towards it when the supply device 1 is displaced or pivoted in a direction perpendicular to the first travel direction 29.
The first and second bias elements 55, 57 are possibly designed identically so that they exert an identical biasing force on the guide arms 47, 51. This ensures that the two guide rods 39, 41 are aligned parallel to the travel direction of the supply device 1, which leads to a rectilinear guiding action.
As they are arranged on the floor surface, the guide pins 59 are fixedly connected to the floor surface. The two guide pins 59 also define a straight line that runs through the two guide pins 59.
As can be seen in particular in
Possibly, the first bias elements 55 and the second bias elements 57 have the same angle to the floor surface or the first and second longitudinal axes 43, 45. This ensures that the bias elements 55, 57 bias the guide arms 47, 51 with the same force, so that uniform biasing is achieved.
The drive unit 65 is supported at a proximal end on the frame 50 and has a distal end which is designed to be connected to a fastening element 67 which is stationary relative to the floor surface. In the event that the supply device 1 is installed in front of a wall, the proximal end of the drive unit 65 is the end of the drive unit 65 furthest from the wall, and the distal end is the end of the drive unit 65 closest to the wall. The fastening element 67, which is stationary relative to the floor surface, can be fastened, for example, to the wall or, as shown in
In order to move the supply device 1 against the first travel direction 29, the drive unit 65 can pull on the fastening element 67 so that the supply device 1 is brought from the second into the first position. This has the advantage that the supply device 1 always moves relative to the stationary fastening element 67, so that it always has a fixed position, whereby the supply device 1 can be positioned and coupled to the floor cleaning machine reliably and in a particularly simple manner despite its mobility.
Also shown are four bearing units 69, each having a ball roller. The bearing units 69 ensure a particularly good load distribution of the supply device on the one hand, and a particularly good mobility of the supply device 1 on the floor surface on the other hand. As can be seen in
By using ball rollers, the supply device 1 can be supported particularly well on the floor surface, especially during movement. The use of ball rollers as bearing units 69 also allows the supply device 1 to move freely in all directions. This has the advantage that the supply device 1 can also be moved in a direction perpendicular to the first travel direction 29.
In an alternative embodiment, the bearing units 69 have sliding bearings or sliding elements that slide on the floor surface. This has the advantage that the bearing units 69 have no moving parts, which means the supply unit requires less maintenance.
As shown in
Pre-tensioning the proximal end of the drive unit 65 is particularly important in the case where the supply device 1 is coupled to the floor cleaning machine. When coupling the supply device 1 to the floor cleaning machine, it is possible that the supply device 1 presses against the floor cleaning machine, so that the supply device 1 is at least partially pressed from the second position towards the first position and thus against the direction of the drive unit 65. To ensure that the drive unit 65, which strives to move the supply device 1 into the second position during overrun, does not press further against the floor cleaning machine, the proximal end of the drive unit 65 is attached to the frame 50 via the pivotably mounted fastening arm 73. If the drive unit 65 moves the supply device 1 in the direction of the first travel direction 29, but the supply device 1 reaches a stop, for example the floor cleaning machine, the remaining travel path of the drive unit 65 is assumed by the fastening arm 73 by pivoting the fastening arm 73 in the direction of the first travel direction 29. This has the advantage that the supply device 1 does not press against the floor cleaning machine beyond the point at which they are coupled. This prevents the floor cleaning machine from being pushed back by the supply device 1 or tipped backwards.
The drive unit 65 is connected to the fastening arm 73 via a connecting element 79, wherein the drive unit 65 is pivotably connected to the connecting element 79 about a fourth pivot axis 81 and the connecting element 79 is arranged on the fastening arm 73 so as to be pivotable about a fifth pivot axis 83. The fourth pivot axis 81 and the fifth pivot axis 83 are arranged perpendicular to one another. In addition, the fourth pivot axis 81 is arranged parallel to the third pivot axis 75. The pivotable mounting of the proximal section of the drive unit 65 on the fastening arm 73 ensures that the supply device 1 can be moved in a direction perpendicular to the first travel direction 29 and loads on the drive unit 65 are avoided.
The frame 50 has a stop element 85 which limits the pivoting range of the fastening arm 73 towards the distal end. The stop element 85 prevents the pivotable fastening arm 73 from being pivoted in the direction of the distal end of the drive unit 65 when the supply device 1 is moved from the second position to the first position. When decoupling the supply device 1 from the floor cleaning machine, the supply device 1 is moved from the second to the first position, so that the effect of the drive unit 65 overrunning has no negative effect, since the supply unit 1 is attracted to the fixed fastening element 67. This makes it possible to directly couple the drive unit 65 to the frame 50 of the supply device 1. Finally, in
If the supply device 1 is then moved further against the first travel direction 29 (see
The following is achieved by the guide elements 58 which are arranged at the ends of the guide rods 39, 41 pointing in a direction opposite to the first travel direction 29 and thus away from the floor cleaning machine when it is coupled to the supply device 1. Even if the supply device 1 is in the second, extended position and is also pivoted relative to the first travel direction 29, the supply device 1 is correctly realigned when it is moved back into the first retracted position by means of the drive unit 65.
This occurs due to the engagement of the guide elements 58, the distance between which increases towards their free end, with the further guide pin 59. The engagement with the further guide pin 59 is achieved in a particularly simple manner due to the increasing distance. The further guide pin 59 is “captured,” so to speak, by the guide elements 58, even if the supply device 1 is pivoted to a large extent relative to the first travel direction 29.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE102023125325.5 | Sep 2023 | DE | national |
