FLOOR-CLEANING APPLIANCE

Abstract

A floor-cleaning appliance has a housing movable in a working direction, forming a chamber, and having a downwardly directed intake opening extending in the working direction and in a transverse direction crosswise thereto. A front deflector and a rear deflector are provided in the opening with the latter spaced rearward in the working direction from the former. A flexible cleaning element is spanned over the deflectors and engageable with a floor surface below the housing.

Claims

1. A floor-cleaning appliance comprising: a housing movable in a working direction, forming a chamber, and having a downwardly directed intake opening extending in the working direction and in a transverse direction crosswise thereto; a front deflector in the opening; a rear deflector in the opening spaced rearward in the working direction from the front deflector; and a flexible cleaning element spanned over the front and rear deflectors and engageable with a floor surface below the housing.

2. The floor-cleaning appliance according to claim 1, wherein the front deflector is rotatable about a front axis extending in the transverse direction.

3. The floor-cleaning appliance according to claim 2, wherein the rear deflector is rotatable about a rear axis extending in the transverse direction and spaced rearward in the working direction from the front axis.

4. The floor-cleaning appliance according to claim 3, further comprising: drive means for rotating one of the deflectors about the respective axis.

5. The floor-cleaning appliance according to claim 3, wherein the cleaning element is wrapped around at least one of the deflectors.

6. The floor-cleaning appliance according to claim 3, wherein the floor-cleaning element is endless and extends around the front deflector and the rear deflector.

7. The floor-cleaning appliance according to claim 3, wherein the element is an endless scrubbing belt.

8. The floor-cleaning appliance according to claim 1, further comprising: vacuum means connected to the housing for drawing air upward through the opening.

9. The floor-cleaning appliance according to claim 1, further comprising: a conduit connected to the vacuum means.

10. The floor-cleaning appliance according to claim 1, wherein the appliance is part of an upright vacuum.

11. The floor-cleaning appliance according to claim 1, wherein the appliance is part of a vacuum-cleaner robot.

12. The floor-cleaning appliance according to claim 1, further comprising: means for shifting of the deflectors vertically relative to the housing.

13. The floor-cleaning appliance according to claim 12, wherein the means for shifting defines a plurality of stepped and defined positions of the one deflector relative to the housing.

14. The floor-cleaning appliance according to claim 13, wherein the one deflector is freely vertically movable in one of the positions.

15. The floor-cleaning appliance according to claim 14, wherein the one deflector is biased in another of the positions into the one position by a spring.

16. The floor-cleaning appliance according to claim 1, further comprising: a selector for moving the one deflector into the one or the other position.

17. The floor-cleaning appliance according to claim 1, further comprising: a drive coupled to the flexible cleaning element.

18. The floor-cleaning appliance according to claim 1, further comprising: a central deflector between the front and rear deflectors over which the cleaning element moves.

19. The floor-cleaning appliance according to claim 18, wherein the central deflector is adjustable vertically in the housing.

20. The floor-cleaning appliance according to claim 1, further comprising: means for applying a cleaning liquid.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0066] The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

[0067] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section through first embodiment of a floor-cleaning appliance according to the invention;

[0068] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section through a second embodiment of a floor-cleaning appliance according to the invention;

[0069] FIGS. 3A to 3D are simplified schematic views of various embodiments for guiding of the flexible cleaning element;

[0070] FIG. 4A to 4D show various embodiments for height adjustment of the deflectors;

[0071] FIGS. 5A and 5B show different options of a central deflector; and

[0072] FIGS. 6A and 6B show various possibilities for a scraper.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0073] The floor-cleaning appliance 1 according to the invention has a housing 2 movable in a normally horizontal working direction y and is designed as a suction head for a vacuum cleaner. This housing 2 extends in the working direction y, in a transverse direction x, and in a vertical direction z. A suction pipe S is connected to a rear end of the housing 2. The suction connection pipe can pivot on the housing 2 about an axis k extending parallel to the transverse direction x and can be connected to the standard vacuum suction hose. Also, the vacuum appliance 1 of the invention can also be a nozzle assembly for an upright vacuum cleaner.

[0074] The housing 2 forms a chamber 3 having a downwardly open generally rectangular cleaning opening 4 extending in the transverse and working directions x and y. The housing 2 holds in the hole 4 a front deflector 5 and a rear deflector 6 spaced in the direction y rearward from the front deflector 5. A cleaning element 7 is guided around the front and rear deflectors 5 and 6. Here the front deflector 5 is a cleaning roller mounted in the housing 2 for rotation about a front axis a.sub.1 running in the transverse direction x. The rear deflector 6 is designed as a roller that is rotatable about a rear axis a.sub.2 that in turn also extends parallel to and rearward of the front axis a.sub.1 in the transverse direction x.

[0075] An electric motor 8 is provided to drive the flexible cleaning element 7 and is coupled by a toothed belt to the front cleaning roller 5. In the illustrated embodiment, the electric motor 8 is driven by a power supply 9 held in the housing 2 in the form of a rechargeable battery and operated by a controller 10. Alternatively or additionally, the energy supply can also be provided externally, for example by an additional energy storage device such as a battery pack carried on the suction pipe and/or on the housing 2.

[0076] The housing 2 is supported on a floor surface 11 to be cleaned by rear rollers 12a and front rollers 12b. The axes of rotation a.sub.1 and a.sub.2 of the front cleaning roller 5 and of the rear cleaning roller 6 are relatively oriented such that the flexible cleaning element 7 engages the floor surface 11 to be cleaned. Due to its support on the front deflector 5 and the rear deflector 6 a particularly large contact surface is created whose size depends on the width of the flexible cleaning element 7 in the transverse direction x as well as a spacing A between the front rotation axis a.sub.1 and the rear rotation axis a.sub.2 in the working direction y. The height of the required ground clearance, on the other hand, is essentially determined by a diameter d.sub.1 of the front deflector roller 5 and a diameter d.sub.2 of the rear deflector roller 6.

[0077] In order to improve the cleaning effect, the cleaning device 1 further comprises a dispenser 13 for a cleaning liquid. This cleaning liquid is stored in a removable reservoir 14 in the housing 2. The dispenser is a spray nozzle and a feed pump for metered delivery of the cleaning liquid. In the illustrated embodiment, the nozzle of the dispenser 13 is oriented in such a way that an emerging mist of the cleaning liquid hits the floor surface 11 to be cleaned forward in the direction y from the front roller 5. The cleaning liquid serves to loosen dirt particles and the like from the surface of the floor 11 to be cleaned for easy removal. The dispenser 13 is also controlled by the controller 10.

[0078] FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of a floor-cleaning appliance floor-cleaning appliance 1′ according to the invention in the form of a vacuum cleaner robot shown in longitudinal section. This comprises a housing 2′ provided with driven rear wheels 12a′ that are rearward in the working direction y and a swivelling front support wheel 12b′. The housing 2′ has a cleaning chamber 3′ open on the underside and holds a flexible cleaning medium 7′ that fits around a front deflector 5′ and a rear deflector 6′. The housing 2′ of the robot vacuum cleaner has a suction line with a dirt collection container 15, a filter element 16 as well as a suction air conduit 17 with a blower 18 therein. Both the blower 18 and a drive motor 8′ coupled to the rear deflector 6′ are supplied by a power supply 9′. The cleaning chamber 3′ also holds a scraper 19 that wipes moisture off the flexible cleaning element 7′, removing cleaning liquid in particular so it can be caught in the collecting chamber 15.

[0079] FIGS. 3A to 3D show different variants for guiding the flexible cleaning element within the scope of the present invention: FIG. 3A corresponds to the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2. The flexible cleaning element 7 is an endless cleaning belt, a closed loop, that wraps around both the front cleaning roller 5 and the rear cleaning roller 6. As shown in the enlarged detail of FIG. 3A the belt 7 has a substrate band 7a made of a synthetic rubber material and an outer textile cleaning layer 7b attached thereto to provide the desired cleaning or scrubbing effect. A fiber pile 7c projects from the cleaning layer 7b on its outer face directed away from the deflectors 5 and 6. The two deflector rollers 5 and 6 can both be driven synchronously. Also as shown in shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, only one of the two rollers can be driven, the front roller 5 in the FIG. 1 nozzle and the roller 6 for the FIG. 2 system can be guided by a front wheel 12b′.

[0080] FIG. 3B shows an alternative design of the flexible cleaning element 7″ in simplified form. A detailed view of the individual layers has been omitted. Here, one end section of the flexible cleaning element 7″ shaped as a band or tape is wound in many layers around both the front deflector 5 and the rear deflector 6. By providing separate drives or an otherwise reversible drive system, it is possible to move the cleaning element 7″ relative to the housing 2 or 2′ for enhanced cleaning effect. Alternately the front and rear deflector rollers 5 and 6 can be used by paying out the cleaning element from one of the rollers and taking it up with the other of the rollers so when the exposed piece of the cleaning element needs to be changed, a fresh section can be moved into the hole 4. Moving the element 7 relative to the housing 2 by the rollers 5 and 6 allows one to mechanically clean a floor if that is necessary. Also, it is possible to move a dirty part of the cleaning element 7″ out of contact with the surface 11 to be cleaned.

[0081] In a further preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3C, an endless belt 20 is spanned between the front deflector 5 and the rear deflector 6. The lower reach of this belt 20 supports an alternative flexible cleaning element 7′″ formed as a tape or band that has opposite end regions wound in multiple turns around separate supply and storage rollers 7a′″ and 7b′″. This system eliminates the need for a physically strong flexible cleaning element since it is fully supported on the belt 20.

[0082] For the sake of completeness, it is pointed out that the rollers 5 or 6 are not limited to the cleaning rollers described above. FIG. 3D shows a rotatably driven cleaning roller 6′ paired with a front deflector roller 5′ that is both nonrotatable and of significantly smaller diameter than the drive roller 6′. The belt 7″″ is spanned over both the nonrotating roller 5′ and the rotating roller 6′.

[0083] In particular, the invention also comprises variants in which the flexible cleaning element 7, 7′, 7″, 7″″ {in particular together with the deflectors 5, 6, 5′, 6′) is designed to be removable from the housing 2 or 2′. This allows in particular quick changing to unused or undamaged cleaning element 7, 7′, 7″, 7′. Such an exchange is particularly preferred in a cartridge system.

[0084] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, it is possible to adjust the height of at least one of the two deflector 5 and 6 as shown purely schematically in FIGS. 4A to 4C. This is effected in the instant floor-cleaning appliance 1 or 1′. The figures show another embodiment where the flexible cleaning element 7 is endless and spanned between a front cleaning roller cleaning roller 5 and a rear cleaning roller 6 that have respective front and rear rotation axes a.sub.1 and a.sub.2 and that extend in the transverse direction x. A mechanical selector switch 21 is provided on the housing 2 and can be set in different discrete setting positions.

[0085] FIG. 4A shows a first position in which both the front rotation axis a.sub.1 and the rear rotation axis a.sub.2 are maximally lowered. The two deflector 5 and 6 project down from the underside of the housing 2, so that the floor contact of the floor-cleaning appliance 1 or 1′ is affected and the appliance almost exclusively supported on the flexible cleaning element 7 that bears directly on the floor surface 11 to be cleaned. A rear support element 12b as well as a front support element 12a 12a have no contact with the ground in this position and do not contribute to its support.

[0086] FIG. 4B shows a second position in which the underside of the flexible cleaning element 7 is in contact with the support plane formed by the front support element 12b and the rear support 12a. In this position, the bottom face of the bottom stretch of the flexible cleaning element 7 is aligned with the support plane formed by the front and rear support elements 12a and 12b. In this position, the cleaning element 7 is in contact with the floor but not bearing all the weight or exclusively supporting the weight of the floor-cleaning appliance 1 or 1′. Depending on the design or setting, the flexible cleaning element 7 can also rest “force-free” on the floor surface 11 to be cleaned.

[0087] In the third position shown in FIG. 4C the two deflectors 5 and 6 are raised in such a way that the flexible cleaning element 7 does not come into contact with a support surface. This position can be selected by the user if no cleaning contribution of the flexible cleaning element 7 is possible or desired. This can be the case with carpeted floors, for example.

[0088] In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C both the front rotation axis a.sub.1 and the rear rotation axis a.sub.2 are centered in a vertically extending guide 22. In this embodiment, the vertical position of the two rollers 5 and 6 can be adjusted in steps between the three positions shown. The axes of rotation a.sub.1, a.sub.2 are each arrested at these height settings.

[0089] FIG. 4D shows an alternative design of the height adjustment. This is shown purely as an example for a rotation axis. A guide 22′ holds a vertically movable slide block 23 that is mechanically coupled to a respective rotation axis a.sub.1 or a.sub.2. The slide block 23 can be in a first range II (free running range). In this the deflector coupled to the rotation axis or the flexible cleaning element guided thereon is moved downward under its under its own weight and possibly rests on a surface to be cleaned. Furthermore, there are an upper end spring area I and a lower end spring area III each provided with a respective spring element 24 that urges the respective slide block 23 toward the central free-wheeling region II.

[0090] As a further option of the invention, it may be provided that a central deflector 25 is provided between the front deflector 5 and the rear deflector 6 as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. This deflector 25 is a pusher between the front deflector 5 and the rear deflector 6 that pushes the cleaning element 7 into contact with a floor surface 11 to be cleaned. According to FIG. 5B, the central deflector 25′ can also be used as a belt tensioner that can maintain the required longitudinal tension in the element 7.

[0091] For the removal of excess liquid particles that are carried along in the flexible cleaning element 7, dewatering mechanisms may also be provided as shown by way of example in FIGS. 6A and 6B.

[0092] In FIG. 6A as in FIG. 1 a pair of rollers 26a and 26b forms a nip through which the flexible cleaning element 7 is passed. The flexible cleaning element 7 is compressed in this roller nip so that excess liquid is squeezed out of it and drips off into a collecting tray 27. This collecting tray 27 can be connected to disposal container via a suction line 28a. The collected liquid is sucked in and carried away. Alternatively or additionally, one can provide suction nozzles 28b at the pair of rollers 26a and 26b that are directly coupled with a suction line.

[0093] Alternatively or additionally a wiper lip 19 or a wiper element can be provided that presses against the cleaning element 7 to produce the required thickness compression. Such a scraper 19 can be closely juxtaposed by stripper nozzles 28b′ that catch the escaping liquid. Such a targeted suction is necessary in particular if, as is particularly necessary in the case of a robot vacuum cleaner, only a relatively low suction power is available.