Patent Grant
11357372
Applicant claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of German Application No. 10 2019 105 935.6 filed Mar. 8, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.
The invention pertains to a vacuumed material collection station for receiving vacuumed material from a vacuum cleaning apparatus, wherein the vacuumed material collection station comprises a vacuumed material collection container and an interface for connecting the vacuum cleaning apparatus to the vacuumed material collection station.
The invention furthermore also pertains to a system consisting of a vacuumed material collection station and a vacuum cleaning apparatus with a housing, a suction nozzle, a filter chamber, a fan and an electric motor for driving the fan.
Vacuumed material collection stations and vacuum cleaning apparatuses are known from the prior art.
The vacuumed material collection stations serve for receiving vacuumed material such that the filter chamber of a vacuum cleaning apparatus containing vacuumed material can be emptied at the vacuumed material collection station. For this purpose, the vacuum cleaning apparatus preferably is connected to the vacuumed material collection station in a dust-tight manner such that the vacuumed material can be transferred into the vacuumed material collection container of the vacuumed material collection station without contamination of the ambient air.
Publications EP 1 849 391 A2 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,849,555 B2 respectively disclose a robotic cleaning system with a cleaning robot and a docking station for the cleaning robot. The cleaning robot comprises a dust collection container, which can be exchanged for another dust collection container by means of the docking station. A dust collection container filled with vacuumed material can be emptied in the docking station, wherein the vacuumed material is transferred into a collection container of the docking station.
Publication US 2005/0212478 A1 likewise discloses a system consisting of a cleaning apparatus and a base station, wherein a collection container of the cleaning apparatus can be exchanged by means of a rotary mechanism of the base station. The filled collection container received from the cleaning apparatus can be emptied in the base station.
Based on the aforementioned the prior art, the invention aims to develop an alternative vacuumed material collection station for cleaning a filter chamber of a cleaning apparatus, wherein the invention primarily focuses, in particular, on a disposal of the vacuumed material without contamination of the ambient air and/or excessive noise pollution by a fan operating in the vacuumed material collection station.
In order to attain the above-defined objective, it is proposed that the vacuumed material collection station comprises a receptacle space for receiving a filter chamber of a vacuum cleaning apparatus connected to the vacuumed material collection station and a feed device for feeding the filter chamber into the receptacle space, wherein the receptacle space is designed for completely encompassing the filter chamber and/or at the most not encompassing a chamber side facing the interface with the vacuum cleaning apparatus, wherein the receptacle space forms a partial volume within the housing of the vacuumed material collection station, and wherein the feed device is designed for removing the filter chamber from the vacuum cleaning apparatus and displacing the filter chamber into the receptacle space.
According to the invention, the vacuumed material collection station preferably is designed for completely receiving the filter chamber of the vacuum cleaning apparatus in the vacuumed material collection station. The receptacle space of the vacuumed material collection station preferably is realized such that its shape corresponds to a filter chamber of a vacuum cleaning apparatus, which should be inserted into the vacuumed material collection station. The receptacle space forms a partial volume within the housing of the vacuumed material collection station, wherein said partial volume is sufficiently large for completely encompassing the filter chamber of the vacuum cleaning apparatus in such a way that an outer contour of the filter chamber lies completely within or at least on the outer contour of the housing of the vacuumed material collection station. In this case, the receptacle space borders on the interface of the vacuumed material collection station, for example with one receptacle space side. Only the chamber side of the filter chamber facing the vacuum cleaning apparatus is accessible when the filter chamber is properly received in the receptacle space of the vacuumed material collection station. The remaining chamber sides of the filter chamber lie within the vacuumed material collection station and are not visible from outside. In case of a cuboid filter chamber, this means that only one of altogether six sides is not covered by the housing of the vacuumed material collection station, namely by the walls of the receptacle space. The complete insertion of the filter chamber of the vacuum cleaning apparatus into the vacuumed material collection station makes it possible to ensure a low-noise and dust-free transfer of the vacuumed material from the vacuum cleaning apparatus into the vacuumed material collection station. After the filter chamber has been transferred into the receptacle space of the vacuumed material collection station, the vacuum cleaning apparatus may remain connected to the interface or alternatively move away from the vacuumed material collection station. If the vacuum cleaning apparatus remains connected to the interface, it is not necessary to close the housing of the vacuumed material collection station in the region of the interface in order to ensure that dust and dirt present in the filter chamber or the receptacle space cannot reach the surroundings. If the vacuum cleaning apparatus moves away from the vacuumed material collection station, it may be desirable or due to a noise emission advisable to respectively close the housing of the vacuumed material collection station or the receptacle space in the region of the interface. It would be conceivable to respectively close the receptacle space and/or the housing of the vacuumed material collection station with a closure element in the region of the interface such that the filter chamber received in the receptacle space is enclosed on all sides. According to this embodiment, vacuumed material cannot reach the ambient air. Furthermore, this embodiment allows particularly quiet cleaning of the filter chamber by means of the vacuumed material collection station, for example, because a fan or mechanical devices used for cleaning the filter chamber are less noticeable. In any case, it is proposed that the opening of the vacuumed material collection station is closed in the region of the interface by at least one chamber side of the filter chamber inserted into the receptacle space. This chamber side may be sealed relative to the walls of the receptacle space and/or the housing of the vacuumed material collection station with the aid of sealing elements such that vacuumed material remains within the receptacle space and cannot escape into the surroundings through a gap that may potentially be formed between the filter chamber and the receptacle space.
The receptacle space of the vacuumed material collection station preferably is closed in the region of the interface by a closure element in a non-use position, i.e. when the base station is not required for a service activity. This closure element may be realized, for example, in the form of a displaceable element such as a pivotable flap or a sliding element. The same applies to the vacuum cleaning apparatus, the housing of which is likewise closed during a normal vacuum cleaning operation such that the filter chamber is not visible from outside. The closure elements of the vacuum cleaning apparatus and the vacuumed material collection station are not opened until the vacuum cleaning apparatus is connected to the vacuumed material collection station such that the filter chamber of the vacuum cleaning apparatus can be transferred into the receptacle space of the vacuumed material collection station via the interface. The closure elements can be actuated manually by a user or alternatively also automatically when a cleaning request with respect to a filter chamber is detected. A transfer request may be communicated, for example, due to a mechanical contact of the vacuum cleaning apparatus with the vacuumed material collection station. For example, the vacuumed material collection station may comprise a contact switch that causes the closure element of the interface to open when docking of a vacuum cleaning apparatus takes place. In this case, it is irrelevant whether the vacuum cleaning apparatus is a robotic vacuum cleaning apparatus that autonomously travels to the vacuumed material collection station or a vacuum cleaning apparatus that is manually connected to the vacuumed material collection station by a user. Opening mechanisms other than contact switches would also be conceivable, for example, by using light barriers, radio signals or the like.
The feed device of the vacuumed material collection station is designed for removing the filter chamber from the vacuum cleaning apparatus and displacing the filter chamber into the receptacle space. The feed device preferably extends out of the housing of the vacuumed material collection station in the direction of the vacuum cleaning apparatus such that the filter chamber can be received. For example, the feed device may comprise a gripping device for taking hold of the filter chamber. Such a gripping device may be realized, for example, in the form of a hook element, a catch element or the like. The connecting element preferably can be displaced by a motor such that the process of taking hold of and once again releasing the filter chamber can also take place in an automated manner. A displacement of the guiding device preferably can also take place simultaneously with a displacement of the feed device in the direction of the vacuum cleaning apparatus such that the filter chamber to be displaced also comes in direct contact with the guiding device and is directly subjected to a guided displacement motion. As soon as the filter chamber has been emptied in the vacuumed material collection station, the feed device carries out a motion in the opposite direction, i.e. from the receptacle space in the direction of the vacuum cleaning apparatus. Since the vacuumed material collection station is realized with a feed device, it is not necessary that the vacuum cleaning apparatus comprises the device or a mechanism for displacing the filter chamber out of the vacuum cleaning apparatus in the direction of the vacuumed material collection station. The vacuum cleaning apparatus therefore may be realized passively in this respect.
It is furthermore proposed that the feed device comprises a guiding device for guiding a displacement motion of the filter chamber into the receptacle space and/or a driving device for displacing the filter chamber. The guiding device serves for aligning and guiding the filter chamber during the displacement from the vacuum cleaning apparatus into the receptacle space of the vacuumed material collection station. In this way, the displacement motion has a defined direction and the filter chamber can be prevented from tilting on its way into the receptacle space and thereby from assuming an improper position within the receptacle space. For example, the guiding device may be realized in the form of a slotted guide. The slotted guide particularly may be formed by walls of the receptacle space and optionally also comprise additionally guide braces or the like. The guiding device may furthermore comprise a guide rail. For example, the guide rail may extend from the interface of the vacuumed material collection station up to or completely into the receptacle space. In addition, the guiding device may also comprise a guide spindle. The guide spindle preferably is driven by a motor such that the rotation of the guide spindle simultaneously causes a guided displacement of the filter chamber into the receptacle space.
The feed device may furthermore comprise a driving device for displacing the filter chamber. Such a driving device particularly may comprise an electric motor and/or a spring element. The driving device preferably is combined with the guiding device of the feed device, e.g. with the above-proposed guide rail or guide spindle. Consequently, a preferred combination in the sense of an automated, guided displacement motion of the filter chamber is realized.
It is furthermore proposed that the receptacle space of the vacuumed material collection station is arranged above the vacuumed material collection container referred to a normal operative orientation of the vacuumed material collection station such that vacuumed material can drop from a filter chamber arranged in the receptacle space into the vacuumed material collection container under the influence of the gravitational force. According to this embodiment, it is not necessary, but nevertheless possible, to use a fan or mechanical cleaning elements for emptying the filter chamber. In fact, the gravitational force acting upon the vacuumed material alone can suffice for causing the vacuumed material to drop from the filter chamber located in the receptacle space into the vacuumed material collection container located thereunder. It is accordingly important that an opening of the receptacle space and a corresponding opening of the vacuumed material collection container are arranged on top of one another referred to a vertical direction. The filter chamber of the vacuum cleaning apparatus accordingly is inserted into the receptacle space in such a way that an opening of the filter chamber is arranged congruently or at least partially overlaps the opening of the receptacle space and the opening of the vacuumed material collection container.
The receptacle space may additionally or alternatively be arranged in an air flow channel of the vacuumed material collection station. The air flow channel of the vacuumed material collection station can be connected to a fan of the vacuumed material collection station or to an external fan, e.g. the fan of a vacuum cleaning apparatus. The air flow guided in the air flow channel penetrates the receptacle space such that a vacuum is generated therein, wherein said vacuum transports the vacuumed material out of the filter chamber arranged in the receptacle space. In this case, the fan preferably is connected to the air flow channel in such a way that the flow direction corresponds to a transport direction of the vacuumed material from the receptacle space into the vacuumed material collection space of the vacuumed material collection station. The above-proposed gravitational force effect can assist in the transport of the vacuumed material by means of the air flow.
It is furthermore proposed that a station fan is associated with the air flow channel, wherein the station fan is designed for generating a vacuum in the receptacle space. According to this embodiment, the vacuumed material collection station itself comprises a station fan for respectively removing vacuumed material from the receptacle space or the filter chamber arranged therein. The noises of the station fan, which are potentially noticeable from outside, are reliably reduced due to the fact that the receptacle space completely encloses the filter chamber.
According to a special embodiment, the air flow channel of the vacuumed material collection station may respectively comprise a pressure sensor upstream and downstream of the receptacle space referred to the flow direction. The pressure sensors make it possible to measure a pressure loss across the filter chamber, which is a measure for the filling level of the filter chamber with vacuumed material. The power of the fan/station fan can then be controlled in dependence on the information on the quantity of vacuumed material located in the filter chamber. In this way, the fan can be controlled in dependence on the respective situation such that only the suction power required for optimally removing the vacuumed material from the filter chamber is applied. This additionally reduces the noises emitted by the fan. For example, a relatively high suction power of the fan can be adjusted if the pressure sensors measure a relatively high pressure loss across the filter chamber. A correspondingly reduced suction power is used for the cleaning operation if it is determined that the quantity of vacuumed material contained in the filter chamber is rather low. Furthermore, a point in time of an operation of the fan can be controlled in dependence on the determined pressure loss. For example, the fan may not be turned on until it is actually required. An inconspicuous, quiet and usage-controlled regeneration of the filter chamber therefore takes place in the vacuumed material collection station.
The invention ultimately also pertains to a system consisting of a proposed vacuumed material collection station and a vacuum cleaning apparatus with a housing, a suction nozzle, a filter chamber, a fan and an electric motor for driving the fan, wherein the feed device of the vacuumed material collection station is designed for removing the filter chamber from the vacuum cleaning apparatus and displacing the filter chamber into the receptacle space and/or wherein the vacuum cleaning apparatus comprises a displacement device that is designed for displacing the filter chamber out of the housing of the vacuum cleaning apparatus, and wherein the vacuum cleaning apparatus can be arranged on the interface of the vacuumed material collection station in such a way that the receptacle space of the vacuumed material collection station and a portion of the vacuum cleaning apparatus containing the filter chamber are connected to one another. The system therefore comprises a vacuumed material collection station and a vacuum cleaning apparatus that preferably are realized in accordance to an above-described embodiment. In this case, either the vacuumed material collection station or the vacuum cleaning apparatus of the system may comprise a mechanism for displacing a filter chamber from the vacuum cleaning apparatus into the receptacle space of the vacuumed material collection station. Furthermore, the vacuumed material collection station and the vacuum cleaning apparatus are designed so as to correspond to one another in such a way that a housing opening of the vacuum cleaning apparatus is arranged congruently with the interface of the vacuumed material collection station in a docked state of the vacuum cleaning apparatus with the interface of the vacuumed material collection station. It is proposed that corresponding housing openings of the vacuumed material collection station and the vacuum cleaning apparatus at least overlap one another in such a way that the filter chamber can be transferred from the vacuum cleaning apparatus into the receptacle space of the vacuumed material collection station in an unobstructed manner. The advantages and characteristics described above with reference to the vacuumed material collection station and optionally the vacuum cleaning apparatus apply accordingly to the inventive system. We therefore refer to the preceding explanations in order to avoid unnecessary repetitions.
Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.
In the drawings,
During a normal vacuuming operation, the vacuum cleaning apparatus 2 functions in such a way that the electric motor 16 drives the fan 15 in order to generate a vacuum, which opens the filter chamber closure element 32 and sucks vacuumed material from a surface to be cleaned into the filter chamber 6. Vacuumed material contained in the air being sucked in respectively remains in the filter chamber 6 or on the filter element 26 such that only cleaned air can flow onward to the fan 15 and the electric motor 16.
The function of the system consisting of the vacuumed material collection station 1 and the vacuum cleaning apparatus 2 connected thereto is described in greater detail below with reference to
The vacuum cleaning apparatus 2 initially docks with the interface 4 of the vacuumed material collection station 1 as described above. In the process, the closure elements 21 and 27 of the vacuumed material collection station 1 and the vacuum cleaning apparatus 2 are opened, for example by means of contact switches, such that the filter chamber 6 of the vacuum cleaning apparatus 2 can be transferred into the receptacle space 5 of the vacuumed material collection station 1. The filter chamber 6 is pushed out of the housing 18 of the vacuum cleaning apparatus 2 by the restoring force of the spring element 30 of the vacuum cleaning apparatus 2 until the filter chamber 6 comes in contact with the connecting element 22 of the vacuumed material collection station 1. For example, corresponding catch elements of the feed device 7 of the vacuumed material collection station 1 and the filter chamber 6 may engage with one another. The driving device 10 in the form of an electric motor 16 is subsequently activated in order to drive the guiding device 9, namely the spindle in this case. In this way, the connecting elements 22 arranged on the spindle are displaced from the vacuum cleaning apparatus 2 into the receptacle space 5 together with the filter chamber 6 fastened thereon until the filter chamber 6 abuts on a limit stop 29 of the receptacle space 5. The position of the filter chamber 6 on the limit stop 29 is illustrated in
In order to additionally reduce the noise pollution occurring when the filter chamber is emptied by means of the station fan 12, the filter chamber 6 may not be emptied by means of the station fan 12 until a user is no longer present in the surroundings of the vacuumed material collection station 1. In addition, a pressure loss across the filter chamber 6 including the filter element 26 can be measured with the aid of pressure sensors 13 that are arranged in the air flow channel 11 of the vacuumed material collection station 1 upstream and downstream of the receptacle space 5. If the pressure sensors 13 measure a relatively high pressure loss (in comparison with a reference value), for example, the filter chamber 6 may be immediately cleaned by means of the station fan 12. However, if the pressure loss is relatively low, the operation of the station fan 12 may be initially registered and not take place until the user is no longer present.
After the vacuumed material has been transferred from the filter chamber 6 into the filter bag 19 of the vacuumed material collection container 3, the guiding device 9 is moved in the opposite direction by means of the driving device 10, i.e. the spindle is moved in the opposite direction by means of the electric motor 16, such that the connecting elements 22 with the filter chamber 6 arranged thereon are displaced from the receptacle space 5 in the direction of the vacuum cleaning apparatus 2 through the interface 4. The filter chamber 6 is thereby once again completely displaced into the housing 18 of the vacuum cleaning apparatus 2 in the opposite direction until it has reached its end position. The closure elements 21, 27 of the vacuumed material collection station 1 and the vacuum cleaning apparatus 2 are then closed again and the vacuum cleaning apparatus 2 is available for another vacuuming operation. Once the filter chamber 6 has been cleaned, the vacuum cleaning apparatus 2 is in the ready-for-use position after the situation illustrated in
The displacement device 17 may alternatively or additionally also comprise a spring element 30 (see
Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2019 105 935.6 | Mar 2019 | DE | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5959423 | Nakanishi | Sep 1999 | A |
| 7849555 | Hahm | Dec 2010 | B2 |
| 20050212478 | Takenaka | Sep 2005 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 849 391 | Oct 2007 | EP |
| 1842474 | Oct 2007 | EP |
| 1849391 | Oct 2007 | EP |
| 20100010064 | Feb 2010 | KR |
| Entry |
|---|
| KR-20100010064-A—English Machine Translation (Year: 2010). |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20200281427 A1 | Sep 2020 | US |
