FLOOR CLEANING MACHINE

Abstract

A floor cleaning machine is provided, in particular a hand-guided and/or hand-held floor cleaning machine, including a support device, at least one cleaning roller arranged on the support device, capable of being driven in rotation and provided with a cleaning substrate, said cleaning substrate being made of a textile material; and at least one mouth towards the at least one cleaning roller that includes a first and a spaced second mouth wall having a mouth opening therebetween, wherein the first mouth wall is positioned above the second mouth wall relative to the direction of gravity, wherein the first and/or second mouth wall protrude(s) into the cleaning substrate of the at least one cleaning roller.

Claims

1. A floor cleaning machine, comprising: a support device; at least one cleaning roller which is arranged on the support device, is capable of being driven in rotation and is provided with a cleaning substrate; a fan device for creating a suction flow; a suction channel device for the suction flow which provides at least one suction channel operatively connected for fluid communication between the fan device and the at least one cleaning roller; wherein the at least one suction channel has at least one mouth towards the at least one cleaning roller and wherein the at least one mouth comprises a first mouth wall and a spaced second mouth wall having a mouth opening formed therebetween; and wherein at least one of the first mouth wall and the second mouth wall is in contact against or protrudes into the cleaning substrate of the at least one cleaning roller; and at least one sweeping lip associated with the at least one cleaning roller; wherein the at least one sweeping lip is configured such that it contacts the floor that is to be cleaned.

2. The floor cleaning machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one sweeping lip is arranged behind the cleaning roller with respect to a front end of the floor cleaning machine.

3. The floor cleaning machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one sweeping lip is arranged and configured such that coarse dirt between the at least one sweeping lip and the at least one cleaning roller is picked up by the at least one cleaning roller and delivered to the at least one mouth.

4. The floor cleaning machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one sweeping lip is at least one of moveably arranged and moveably configured.

5. The floor cleaning machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first mouth wall is positioned above the second mouth wall relative to the direction of gravity when the at least one cleaning roller is placed on a floor that is to be cleaned.

6. The floor cleaning machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of an end face of the first mouth wall and an end face of the second mouth wall is at least approximately parallel to an axis of rotation of the at least one cleaning roller.

7. The floor cleaning machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first mouth wall is in contact against the cleaning substrate or protrudes thereinto and the second mouth wall is in contact against the cleaning substrate of the at least one cleaning roller or is spaced therefrom or protrudes thereinto, or wherein the second mouth wall is in contact against the cleaning substrate or protrudes thereinto and the first mouth wall is in contact against the cleaning substrate or protrudes thereinto or is spaced therefrom.

8. The floor cleaning machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second mouth wall is arranged upstream of the first mouth wall with respect to a direction of rotation of the at least one cleaning roller.

9. The floor cleaning machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein a distance of an end face of the first mouth wall from an axis of rotation of the at least one cleaning roller is less than a distance of an end face of the second mouth wall from said axis of rotation.

10. The floor cleaning machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one cleaning liquid container is provided which is operatively connected for fluid communication with the at least one cleaning roller.

11. The floor cleaning machine in accordance with claim 10, wherein the at least one cleaning liquid container is arranged on a user holding unit.

12. The floor cleaning machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of (i) the fan device is arranged on the support device and (ii) the suction channel device is arranged on the support device.

13. The floor cleaning machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the suction channel device comprises a housing in which the at least one suction channel is arranged or formed.

14. The floor cleaning machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein a dirty liquid container is provided, said dirty liquid container being associated with a separator device.

15. The floor cleaning machine in accordance with claim 14, wherein the dirty liquid container is arranged at the suction channel device.

16. The floor cleaning machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the support device has arranged thereon a user holding unit.

17. The floor cleaning machine in accordance with claim 16, wherein a pivot axis of the joint is oriented parallel to an axis of rotation of the at least one cleaning roller.

18. The floor cleaning machine in accordance with claim 16, wherein the user holding unit comprises a stick device, said stick device having a handle located thereon.

19. The floor cleaning machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein a direction of rotation of the at least one cleaning roller is from a line of contact with the floor to be cleaned towards the second mouth wall and then towards the first mouth wall.

20. The floor cleaning machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one sweeping lip is arranged at the suction channel device.

21. The floor cleaning machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one sweeping lip isolates a space behind the at least one cleaning roller and below the suction channel device towards the floor to be cleaned from the at least one cleaning roller when the at least one cleaning roller is placed on the floor.

22. The floor cleaning machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein a supplementary air device to be provided by way of which a supply of supplementary air is provided to the at least one cleaning roller.

23. The floor cleaning machine in accordance with claim 22, wherein the supplementary air device comprises at least one channel having at least one outlet-side mouth for supplementary air that is oriented towards the at least one cleaning roller.

24. The floor cleaning machine in accordance with claim 23, wherein the at least one outlet-side mouth for supplementary air is arranged between the at least one mouth for suction flow and the at least one sweeping lip.

25. The floor cleaning machine in accordance with claim 23, wherein the at least one channel has at least one inlet-side mouth for supplementary air via which supplementary air is capable of being coupled in.

26. The floor cleaning machine in accordance with claim 25, wherein the at least one inlet-side mouth is arranged on an underside of the suction channel device.

27. The floor cleaning machine in accordance with claim 25, wherein the at least one channel is routed along the suction channel device.

28. The floor cleaning machine in accordance with claim 25, wherein the at least one channel is routed to the fan device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a floor cleaning machine constructed in accordance with the invention;

[0057] FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the floor cleaning machine in accordance with FIG. 1;

[0058] FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the floor cleaning machine in accordance with FIG. 1, in direction A;

[0059] FIG. 4 is a sectional view in a plane parallel to the drawing plane of FIG. 3;

[0060] FIG. 5(a) is an enlarged representation of a portion of the cleaning roller in accordance with FIG. 3;

[0061] FIG. 5(b) is a schematic representation of a contact pressure exerted by the cleaning roller on a floor to be cleaned depending on a rotational angle;

[0062] FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a first exemplary embodiment of an elastic device;

[0063] FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of a second exemplary embodiment of an elastic device;

[0064] FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of a third exemplary embodiment of an elastic device;

[0065] FIG. 9 is an enlarged representation of a portion of the cleaning roller in accordance with FIG. 4;

[0066] FIG. 10 is a variant of a floor cleaning machine, shown in a partial representation similar to FIG. 9;

[0067] FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 5(a) in accordance with a further exemplary embodiment;

[0068] FIG. 12 is a top view of a part of the floor cleaning machine in accordance with FIG. 1, in direction B;

[0069] FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 12;

[0070] FIG. 14 is an enlarged representation of detail C of FIG. 9 in accordance with a variant of an exemplary embodiment;

[0071] FIG. 15 is a representation similar to FIG. 14 in accordance with a further variant; and

[0072] FIG. 16 is a representation similar to FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0073] An exemplary embodiment of a floor cleaning machine, shown in overall view in FIGS. 1 and 2 and designated therein by 10, is a hand-guided and hand-held floor cleaning machine. This comprises a support device 12. The support device 12 is configured in the form of a frame 14.

[0074] Said frame 14 comprises a first frame bar 16 and a second frame bar 18. The second frame bar 18 is oriented transversely and in particular perpendicularly relative to the first frame bar 16 and is fixed to the first frame bar 16.

[0075] The first frame bar 16 and the second frame bar 18 span a plane. Located at the first frame bar 16 is an element 20 that protrudes beyond said plane. Held on the element 20 is a joint 22, and located at the joint 22 is a stick device 24. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the stick device 24 comprises a single stick.

[0076] The stick device 24 is held on the support device 12 for pivotal movement about a pivot axis 26 via the joint 22. The pivot axis 26 is at least approximately parallel to the first frame bar 16.

[0077] A handle 28 is located at an end of the stick device 24 that is opposite that via which the stick device 24 is fixed to the joint 22. In an exemplary embodiment, the handle 28 comprises a closed loop 30. It further comprises a grip element 32 in spaced relation to the loop 30.

[0078] Located at the handle 28 is or are one or more switches 34 for switching on and off a cleaning operation of the floor cleaning machine 10.

[0079] The stick device 24 including the handle 28 forms a user holding device via which a user can hold and guide the floor cleaning machine 10. The stick device 24 has a length such that a user can guide and operate the floor cleaning machine 10 which is placed on the floor to be cleaned in a standing posture without having to stoop.

[0080] In an exemplary embodiment, the stick device 24 is configured such that the length thereof and in particular the distance between the handle 28 and the joint 22 is fixably adjustable. This enables adjustment to different users.

[0081] Located at the second frame bar 18, in the area of a front end of the support device 12, is a cleaning roller 36. The cleaning roller 36 is capable of being driven in rotation about an axis of rotation 38. To this end, for example, a drive is provided which is positioned in an interior space of the cleaning roller 36.

[0082] The axis of rotation 38 is in particular parallel to the pivot axis 26.

[0083] Furthermore, a fan device 40 is located at the support device 12. The fan device 40 creates a suction flow. A suction channel device 42 is arranged at the support device 12, between the fan device 40 and the cleaning roller 36. The suction channel device 42 provides an operative connection for fluidly communicating the cleaning roller 36 and the fan device 40 in order to allow the suction flow induced by the fan device 40 to be conducted away from the cleaning roller 36.

[0084] The fan device 40 has associated with it a drive 44 and in particular an electromotive drive 44. This drive is likewise positioned at the support device 12.

[0085] The fan device 40 has associated with it a separator device 46 by which an air portion and a remaining portion (liquid containing dirt particles) are capable of being separated in the suction flow. The separator device 46 is arranged upstream of the fan device 40 in the suction flow. It is in particular positioned at the suction channel device 42.

[0086] The separator device 46 in turn has associated with it a dirty liquid container 48 in which dirt-bearing liquid can be received. The dirty liquid container 48 is in particular removably arranged at the support device 12 and in particular at the suction channel device 42 so that it can be easily emptied and/or cleaned.

[0087] For performing a cleaning operation on a floor 50, the cleaning roller 36 is wetted (moistened). The floor cleaning machine 10 comprises a cleaning liquid container 52. In an exemplary embodiment, the cleaning liquid container 52 is arranged on the stick device 24 and is in particular removably arranged thereon for refilling. One or more liquid conduits 53 run from the cleaning liquid container 52 to the cleaning roller 36.

[0088] The suction channel device 42 is the “communicating” unit between the fan device 40 and the cleaning roller 36. It has the suction flow passed therethrough in order for a separation process to be effected in the separator device 46, thereby separating an air portion from a remaining portion. In principle, the suction flow contains air as a “carrier medium”, wherein the corresponding negative pressure flow is created by the fan device 40, as well as a liquid portion and a solids portion. The cleaning roller 36 is wetted by cleaning liquid (in particular water which may contain additives) from the cleaning liquid container 52 as will be explained in more detail below. Cleaning liquid can thereby be applied to the floor 50 that is to be cleaned, and dirt adhering to the floor can be softened up. Liquid and dissolved dirt or non-dissolved dirt particles are sucked in and conveyed through the suction channel device 42 into the separator device 46.

[0089] The cleaning roller 36 comprises a hollow roller 54 having an interior space 56 (refer to FIG. 9 for example). Located at the hollow roller 54 is a cleaning substrate 58 which is in particular made of a textile material.

[0090] In an exemplary embodiment, the cleaning roller 36 is wetted from the inside.

[0091] Cleaning liquid is supplied to the interior space 56 of the hollow roller 54 via the conduit 53. The hollow roller 54 is provided with corresponding openings directed towards the cleaning substrate 58. In this way, cleaning liquid can emerge and wet the cleaning substrate 58, thereby in turn enabling the cleaning liquid to be applied to the floor 50.

[0092] Further, by way of the hollow roller 54 including the interior space 56, the cleaning roller 36 can be placed and in particular slipped onto a rotationally driven shaft which is located at the support device 12. The cleaning roller 36 can be fixed to said shaft in rotationally fixed relationship thereto.

[0093] The suction channel device 42 comprises at least one suction channel 60 (cf. FIG. 9). Said suction channel 60 is arranged inside the suction channel device 42 and leads from the cleaning roller 36 to the fan device 40.

[0094] In an exemplary embodiment, the fan device 40 including the drive 44 is fixedly located at the support device 12 and in particular at the first frame bar 16. A drive 62 for the cleaning roller 36 is fixedly affixed to the second frame bar 18. In particular, the second frame bar 18 has arranged therein a gear for moment transfer to the shaft of the cleaning roller 36.

[0095] In this exemplary embodiment, the drive 62 and the fan device 40 including the drive motor 44 together form a unit which is fixedly located at the support device 12.

[0096] From the suction channel device 42, starting from an air side of the separator device 46, a pipe 64 leads from a connection 66 at the suction channel device 42 to a corresponding connection of the fan device 40. Located at the pipe 64 are pipe bends 68a and 68b. The pipe 64 and the pipe bends 68a, 68b are arranged exteriorly of the suction channel device 42 and the fan device 40. By way of example, they are arranged on a side that is opposite the drive 62.

[0097] In an exemplary embodiment, the suction channel device 42 is formed as a housing 70. Said housing 70 allows the at least one suction channel 60 to be arranged in a protected manner. Furthermore, the dirty liquid container 48 and the separator device 46 can be positioned inside the housing in a protected manner.

[0098] The suction channel 60 has a mouth 72 that is open towards the cleaning roller 36 (cf. FIGS. 4 and 9, for example). Via said mouth 72, the cleaning roller 36 is suctioned on an outer side thereof and the suction flow is coupled into the suction channel 60 and therefore into the suction channel device 42. The mouth 72 comprises a first mouth wall 74 and a second mouth wall 76. A mouth opening 78 is formed intermediate the first mouth wall 74 and the second mouth wall 76. The first mouth wall 74 is an upper mouth wall relative to the second mouth wall 76. When, for performing a cleaning operation, the cleaning roller 36 is placed on the floor 50 to be cleaned, then the first mouth wall 74 is located above the second mouth wall 76 with respect to the direction of gravity.

[0099] Spaced-apart transverse walls 75a, 75b are located between the first mouth wall 74 and the second mouth wall 76.

[0100] The first mouth wall 74 has an end face 80a. The second mouth wall has an end face 80b (cf. FIG. 9). The end faces 80a and 80b are at least approximately straight and parallel to each other. In particular, the end faces 80a and 80b are parallel to the axis of rotation 38.

[0101] The mouth opening 78 is rectangular in cross-section and extends preferably the entire length of the cleaning roller 36 which has a cleaning substrate 58 arranged thereon. A height of the mouth opening 78 (the distance between the first mouth wall 74 and the second mouth wall 76 at the mouth opening 78) is less than a diameter of the cleaning roller 36 and is for example no more than 10% of the diameter of the cleaning roller 36.

[0102] The mouth opening 78 is arranged in a fourth quadrant 82 relative to the cleaning roller 36 when the floor cleaning machine 10, in an operative operating mode thereof, is placed on the floor 50 and supported via the cleaning roller 36 and if, correspondingly, a coordinate plane is defined which has axes parallel and perpendicular to the floor 50 and where the center runs through the piercing point of the axis of rotation 38.

[0103] The first mouth wall 74 is in contact against or protrudes into the cleaning substrate 58 of the cleaning roller 36. FIGS. 3 and 9 illustrate an exemplary embodiment in which the first mouth wall 74 protrudes into the cleaning substrate 58.

[0104] The end face 80a of the first mouth wall 74 is in contact against the cleaning substrate 58 or extends into the cleaning substrate 58 (FIGS. 4 and 9).

[0105] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the second mouth wall 76 is in contact against the cleaning substrate 58; the end face 80b thereof contacts the cleaning substrate 58 without protruding thereinto. Alternatively, it is in principle also possible for the mouth opening 78 to be, relative to the end face 80b, set back from to the cleaning roller 36 including the cleaning substrate 58, i.e. for the end face 80b to be spaced from the cleaning substrate 58, or for the end face 80b to protrude into the cleaning substrate 58.

[0106] The suction channel 60 leads from the mouth 72 to the connection 66.

[0107] In an exemplary embodiment (FIGS. 14 to 16), a contact element 200 is arranged at the mouth 72. In an exemplary embodiment, said contact element 200 is arranged at the first mouth wall 74, wherein a fluid-tight relation is established between the first mouth wall 74 and the contact element 200. The contact element 200 faces transversely away from the first mouth wall 74.

[0108] The contact element 200 protrudes into the cleaning substrate 58 of the cleaning roller 36. It has its lower portion protruding into the cleaning substrate 58.

[0109] In the contact element 200, the area of protrusion thereof is a portion of the contact element 200.

[0110] A contour 202 of the contact element 200 is adapted to the cleaning roller 36. In particular, the contour 202, which is in facing relationship to the cleaning roller 36, is curved to the same curvature as the cleaning roller 36.

[0111] The contact element 200 provides enhanced coupling-in of fluid into the mouth 72.

[0112] In another exemplary embodiment (FIG. 15), a contact element 204 is provided that is located at the first mouth wall 74, in an orientation projecting transversely therefrom. Said contact element 204 has a first end 206 which is in spaced relation to the first mouth wall 74. It further has a second end 208 which is located at the mouth 72 and therefore at the mouth wall 74. The contact element 204 extends between the first end 206 and the second end 208.

[0113] The contact element 204 does not have a constant height (in cross-section) between the first end 206 and the second end 208. It has a first area 210 where the first end 206 is located. Said first area 210 transitions and in particular transitions continuously into a second area 212, wherein the second end 208 is located in the second area 212. An underside 214 of the contact element 204 has a larger distance from the axis of rotation 38 of the cleaning roller 36 at the first area 210 than at the second area 212.

[0114] In principle, there is a negative pressure present at the contact element 200 or 204. By forming the contact element 204 to have the first area 210 and the second area 212, the amount of negative pressure present in the area of the first end 206 is reduced when compared with the negative pressure in the area of the second end 208. This enhances the suction effect, in particular because the risk of liquid short-circuiting (pulling out liquid in the area of the first end 206) is reduced.

[0115] Advantageously, the contact element 200 or the contact element 204 has a length (between the first end 206 and the second end 208) that is larger than a corresponding opening length of the mouth 72.

[0116] In a further exemplary embodiment, shown schematically in FIG. 16, a contact element 216 is arranged at the first mouth wall 74. The contact element 216 fully extends into the cleaning substrate 58 of the cleaning roller 36.

[0117] The contact element 216 has a first area 220 located at a first end 218 thereof; it has a second end 222 located at the first mouth wall 74, said second end 222 being formed in a second area 224. The contact element 216 has, on the side thereof facing towards the cleaning roller 36, a larger distance from the axis of rotation 38 in the first portion 220 than in the second portion 224.

[0118] In this exemplary embodiment, both the first portion 220 and the second portion 224 fully extend into the cleaning substrate 58.

[0119] The suction channel 60 tapers in an area towards the separator device 46. A kind of funnel 83 is thereby formed at the separator device 46 in order, on the one hand, to obtain effective suction over the entire length of the cleaning substrate of the cleaning roller 36 and, on the other hand, to increase the flow velocity for entry into the separator device.

[0120] In an exemplary embodiment, the cleaning roller 36 is driven for rotary motion in a direction of rotation 84. The rotation of the cleaning roller 36 and the operation of the fan device 40 are switched simultaneously by the switch 34. The corresponding drive 62 for driving the rotation of the cleaning roller 36 and the drive 44 have their drive energy supplied for example from a rechargeable battery device (not shown in the drawings), which is for example arranged in the housing 70 of the suction channel device 42, or from the mains grid.

[0121] The direction of rotation 84 is such that a line of contact 86 (FIG. 5(a)) made by the cleaning roller 36 with the floor 50 rotates away from the floor 50 in a direction towards the mouth 72. The direction of rotation 84 is such that the second mouth wall 76 is located upstream of the first mouth wall 74 with respect to said direction of rotation 84.

[0122] When the cleaning roller 36 is placed on the floor 50 during intended use, the direction of rotation 84 is clockwise from the perspective of a user standing up on the floor 50.

[0123] By the arrangement of the mouth 72 in the fourth quadrant 82, dirt that is picked up from the floor 50 is passed through the third quadrant 88 and delivered to the mouth 72 in the fourth quadrant 82.

[0124] In an alternative embodiment, the direction of rotation is counter to the direction of rotation 84, i.e. this rotation occurs in the counterclockwise direction. In this exemplary embodiment, the second mouth wall 76 is in contact against the cleaning substrate 58 or protrudes thereinto. The first mouth wall 74 can then be in contact against the cleaning substrate 58, it can be spaced therefrom or it can protrude thereinto. In this exemplary embodiment, dirt is picked up, the cleaning roller 36 then rotates from the second quadrant into the first quadrant and thence into the fourth quadrant, and the dirt is sucked in at the mouth 72.

[0125] In particular, a rotational velocity of the cleaning roller 36 is in the range between approximately 200 revolutions per minute and 400 revolutions per minute. The contact pressure weight exerted on the cleaning roller 36 is for example on the order of approximately 6 kg.

[0126] FIG. 5(b) schematically shows the course of a contact pressure force (down pressure force) for a cleaning roller 36 fitted with a textile cleaning substrate 58 depending on a rotational position thereof. The zero rotational angle refers to the line 86 as it is shown in FIG. 5(a). The line 86 contacts the floor 50 at zero rotational angle. That is the area where the highest contact pressure force exists. This causes a high level of line contact pressure; therefore, correspondingly, that is also the area where the highest concentration of water exists. Dirt on the floor 50 is correspondingly softened up. With further rotation of the cleaning roller 36, the contact pressure and hence the concentration of water decreases. The floor 50 can then be dried by the cleaning roller 36.

[0127] It is thereby possible for the cleaning roller 36 to be operated at a relatively low rotational velocity. Cleaning performance is enhanced and the level of residual moisture on the floor can be kept low. Even with a lack of cleaning liquid, the floor 50 is still treated gently, and therefore the risk of grinding into the floor is reduced.

[0128] The suction channel device 42 including the mouth 72 is urged against the cleaning roller 36 via an elastic device 90 (FIG. 6) and is thereby maintained in a biased condition. This is shown schematically in FIG. 6. On a first side 92, the elastic device 90 is supported on the support device 12; on a second side 94, it is supported on the separator device 46. In the corresponding exemplary embodiment, the separator device 46 and the suction channel device 42 form a single unit. The separator device 46 and the suction channel device 42 are connected together directly. As a result, the suction channel device 42 will be urged against the cleaning roller 36 by the elastic device 90, in supported relation to the support device 12.

[0129] This arrangement, as it is shown schematically in FIG. 6, corresponds to the arrangement used in the floor cleaning machine 10 in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0130] The elastic device 90 is formed by a spring device comprising for example one or more coiled springs or bending springs. The corresponding elastic device 90 is supported on the fan device 40.

[0131] In an alternative exemplary embodiment (FIG. 7), the separator device 46 and the suction channel device 42 are separate. The elastic device 90 comprising one or more springs is supported on the first side 92 thereof on the fan device 40. It has its second side 94 supported on the separator device 46 and urges the latter in a direction towards the cleaning roller 36 via a corresponding biasing force. The separator device 46 and the suction channel device 42 are connected together; however, this connection is not a direct connection but a force-locking connection. The separator device 46 thereby acts upon the suction channel device 42 with a corresponding contact pressure force and urges same against the cleaning roller 36.

[0132] In another embodiment (FIG. 8), the elastic device 90 has its first side 92 supported on the support device 12 (or the fan device 40 or the separator device 46); it has its second side 94 supported on the suction channel device 42 directly and urges the latter against the cleaning roller 36, in order to create the corresponding biasing force.

[0133] In an exemplary embodiment (FIGS. 9 to 11 in particular), the cleaning roller 36 has (at least) one sweeping lip 96 associated with it. The sweeping lip 96 is located in a receptacle 98 (FIGS. 9 and 10, with sweeping lip not shown). The floor cleaning machine 10 has a front end 100 thereof located at the cleaning roller 36. The sweeping lip 96 is arranged behind the cleaning roller 36 with respect to said front end 100. It is fixed to an underside of the suction channel device 42.

[0134] The sweeping lip 96 closes off a space 102 between an underside 104 of the suction channel device 42 opposite the first mouth wall 74 and the floor 50 from the cleaning roller 36.

[0135] A normal mode of operation of the floor cleaning machine 10 is such that the latter is pushed, i.e. pushed forward. The corresponding direction is indicated in FIG. 1 by the arrow designated by the reference numeral 106. The sweeping lip 96 is configured such that it contacts the floor 50, thereby “sweeping up” coarse dirt. This coarse dirt, gathered up in a space 108 between the sweeping lip 96 and the cleaning roller 36, is picked up by the cleaning roller 36 rotating in its direction of rotation 84 and is delivered to the mouth 72, where it can be sucked in. By the provision of the sweeping lip 96, coarse dirt can also be sucked up.

[0136] In particular, the sweeping lip 96 is movably arranged and/or movably configured. This is indicated in FIG. 11 by the arrow designated by the reference symbol 110. For example, the movable configuration can be accomplished by a rubber formation with a correspondingly elastic rubber material. Alternatively or in addition, the sweeping lip 96 can be movably arranged, for example pivotally arranged, and can in particular be movably arranged on the suction channel device 42. By way of example, the sweeping lip 96 is then fabricated from a correspondingly hard rubber material.

[0137] In order to obtain an optimized suction action at the mouth 72 even when a sweeping lip 96 is present, the floor cleaning machine 10 comprises a supplementary air device 112 (refer to FIGS. 9 and 10). By way of the supplementary air device 112, the cleaning roller 36 has supplementary air supplied to it at or near the mouth 72 in order to provide optimized suction.

[0138] In an exemplary embodiment (FIG. 9), the supplementary air device comprises (at least) one channel 114 which is arranged in the suction channel device 42. Said channel 114 has an inlet-side mouth 116 for coupling in supplementary air and an outlet-side mouth 118 for coupling out supplementary air that has been coupled in through the inlet-side mouth 116.

[0139] The inlet-side mouth 116 is arranged at the underside 104 of the suction channel device 42 in spaced relation to the cleaning roller 36. The outlet-side mouth 118 faces towards the cleaning roller 36. The outlet-side mouth 118 is arranged upstream of the mouth 72 with respect to the direction of rotation 84.

[0140] In particular, the outlet-side mouth 118 is arranged in the fourth quadrant 82. It is located in the vicinity of the mouth 72.

[0141] In an exemplary embodiment, the end face 80b of the second mouth wall 76 also forms an end face of a wall in which a mouth opening of the outlet-side mouth 118 is located.

[0142] Supplementary air can then be coupled in from the space 102 and can be supplied to the cleaning roller 36.

[0143] In a further exemplary embodiment (FIG. 10), the supplementary air device 112 comprises (at least) one channel 120 which has, at an inlet side thereof, a corresponding mouth thereof (not shown in FIG. 10) coupled to the fan device 40. By way of example, cooling air or exhaust air from the fan device 40 is used as supplementary air and this is then conveyed from the fan device 40 through the channel 120 to the cleaning roller 36. In particular, the channel 120 then extends along the suction channel device 42.

[0144] Here, an outlet-side mouth 118 is, in principle, arranged in the same manner as described above in conjunction with the exemplary embodiment in accordance with FIG. 9.

[0145] In an exemplary embodiment (FIGS. 12 and 13), the cleaning roller 36 is provided with grooves 122. Such a groove is formed in the cleaning substrate 58. For example, a groove 122 is formed by it being a recess in the cleaning substrate 58 that is left with no cleaning substrate 58 on it or that is left with a height of the cleaning substrate 58 above the hollow roller 54 which is less than that presented exteriorly of the corresponding groove 122.

[0146] In the exemplary embodiment, the groove is illustrated as being rectangular in cross-section. The corresponding groove formed as a recess in the cleaning substrate 58 can also have a different shape. It may have a circular cross-section for example or have a still different cross-sectional shape.

[0147] Such a groove 122 then comprises a space 124.

[0148] The cleaning roller 36 comprises a plurality of grooves 122 which are spaced apart in an axial direction 126 (which is parallel to the axis of rotation 38) and are spaced apart in a circumferential direction 128.

[0149] The cleaning roller 36 is patterned by the grooves 122. Upon rotation of the cleaning roller 36, a short pulse of air is generated at the individual grooves 122 in each case as they pass through the suction flow at the mouth 72. Said pulse of air is able to entrain dirt particles that have become entangled in the cleaning substrate 58.

[0150] In particular, the grooves 122 are uniformly distributed on the cleaning roller 36 with respect to the circumferential direction 128 and the axial direction 126 in order to prevent, as much as possible, dead spots with respect to dirt entrainment.

[0151] For example, for a groove 122 having a rectangular cross-section, a length of the groove 122 in the axial direction 126 is no more than 10% of the length of the cleaning roller 36 with its cleaning substrate 58 in said axial direction 126.

[0152] Furthermore, for a groove 122 having a rectangular cross-section, it is advantageous for a width of the groove 122 in the circumferential direction 128 to be no more than 5% of a total circumferential dimension of the cleaning roller 36 at a surface of the cleaning substrate 58.

[0153] In operation, the floor cleaning machine 10 is supported on the cleaning roller 36 alone. In particular, the floor cleaning machine 10 is configured in a manner that is free of supporting wheels. This prevents the problem of abrasion marking that would be presented by supporting wheels.

[0154] The floor cleaning machine 10 works as follows:

[0155] For performing a cleaning operation, the floor cleaning machine 10 is operated such that rotation of the cleaning roller 36 in the direction of rotation 84 is driven by a corresponding drive. The fan device 40 provides for a corresponding negative pressure to be applied in order to provide a suction flow.

[0156] The cleaning roller 36 is wetted from the inside with cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid container 52, whereby the cleaning substrate 58 is wetted. The cleaning roller 36 is suctioned at an outer side thereof, at the mouth 72, through the suction channel device 42.

[0157] The rotational velocity of the cleaning roller 36 is adjusted such that water droplets are largely prevented from flying off the cleaning roller 36.

[0158] The direction of rotation 84 preferably points towards a user when holding the floor cleaning machine 10 by the user holding unit. Normal operation, in which a user works his or her way out of the space being cleaned, can thereby be performed in an effective manner.

[0159] The suction channel device 42 including the mouth 72 is urged against the cleaning roller 36 by the elastic device 90, and in particular by spring force, in such a manner that an effective suction action is realized. In particular, the first mouth wall 74 is in contact against or penetrates into the cleaning substrate 58.

[0160] The sweeping lip 96 provides a sweeping function for particles that are not picked up directly by the cleaning roller 36. The cleaning roller 36 is a wiping roller. The sweeping lip 96 acts to ensure that coarse dirt also gets picked up by the cleaning roller 36 and is thereby delivered to the mouth 72.

[0161] In principle, a contact of the sweeping lip 96 against the floor 50 to be cleaned hinders air flow to the mouth 72. A sufficient supply of air is ensured by the provision of the supplementary air device 112. This then allows air taken from the surroundings to be supplied or process exhaust air or exhaust air from the fan device to be supplied. This in turn enables good coarse dirt pick-up at acceptable residual moisture levels.

[0162] The cleaning roller 36 is in contact against the floor 50. The contact pressure force is highest at a line of contact, and that is where the highest amount of cleaning liquid is provided which, in turn, can soften up dirt on the floor 50. Outside the line of contact 86, the contact pressure force is correspondingly lower and the concentration of cleaning liquid is then also at a lower level. The floor 50 can then be dried by the cleaning roller 36.

[0163] During a cleaning operation, the machine's entire weight is supported by the cleaning roller 36.

[0164] The cleaning roller 36 is patterned by the grooves 122. This causes short pulses of air to be generated during passage through the suction flow at the mouth 72 in order to enable entrainment of dirt particles that have become entangled in the cleaning substrate 58.

REFERENCE SYMBOL LIST

[0165] 10 floor cleaning machine [0166] 12 support device [0167] 14 frame [0168] 16 first frame bar [0169] 18 second frame bar [0170] 20 element [0171] 22 joint [0172] 24 stick device [0173] 26 pivot axis [0174] 28 handle [0175] 30 loop [0176] 32 grip element [0177] 34 switch [0178] 36 cleaning roller [0179] 38 axis of rotation [0180] 40 fan device [0181] 42 suction channel device [0182] 44 drive [0183] 46 separator device [0184] 48 dirty liquid container [0185] 50 floor [0186] 52 cleaning liquid container [0187] 54 hollow roller [0188] 56 interior space [0189] 58 cleaning substrate [0190] 60 suction channel [0191] 62 drive [0192] 64 pipe [0193] 66 connection [0194] 68a pipe bend [0195] 68b pipe bend [0196] 70 housing [0197] 72 mouth [0198] 74 first mouth wall [0199] 75a transverse wall [0200] 75b transverse wall [0201] 76 second mouth wall [0202] 78 mouth opening [0203] 80a end face [0204] 80b end face [0205] 82 fourth quadrant [0206] 83 funnel [0207] 84 direction of rotation [0208] 86 line of contact [0209] 88 third quadrant [0210] 90 elastic device [0211] 92 first side [0212] 94 second side [0213] 96 sweeping lip [0214] 98 receptacle [0215] 100 front end [0216] 102 space [0217] 104 underside [0218] 106 arrow [0219] 108 space [0220] 110 arrow [0221] 112 supplementary air device [0222] 114 channel [0223] 116 inlet-side mouth [0224] 118 outlet-side mouth [0225] 120 channel [0226] 122 groove [0227] 124 space [0228] 126 axial direction [0229] 128 circumferential direction [0230] 200 contact element [0231] 202 contour [0232] 204 contact element [0233] 206 first end [0234] 208 second end [0235] 210 first area [0236] 212 second area [0237] 214 underside [0238] 216 contact element [0239] 218 first end [0240] 220 first area [0241] 222 second end [0242] 224 second area