WET CLEANING DEVICE

Abstract

A wet cleaning device (WCD) comprises a mopping unit (MU) for wet cleaning a surface, and an arrangement (ST) for increasing a pressure of the mopping unit (MU) to the surface by means of suction. The arrangement includes a hose at a side of the mopping unit (MU), the hose having an opening for applying suction to the surface. The hose may be present at opposite sides of the mopping unit (MU). Alternatively, the hose may be present around the mopping unit (MU). Preferably, a suction power of the arrangement is controllable. Advantageously, the suction power is controllable in dependence on a detection of stains, a speed of the wet cleaning device (WCD), and/or a type of the surface. If the wet cleaning device (WCD) is formed by a mopping robot vacuum cleaner, the suction for the arrangement (ST) is advantageously a part of a suction generated for vacuum cleaning.

Claims

1. A wet cleaning device, comprising: a mopping unit for wet cleaning a surface, and an arrangement for increasing a pressure of the mopping unit to the surface by means of suction, wherein the arrangement includes a hose at a side of the mopping unit, the hose having an opening for applying suction to the surface.

2. The wet cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hose is present at opposite sides of the mopping unit.

3. The wet cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hose is present around the mopping unit.

4. The wet cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a suction power of the arrangement is controllable.

5. The wet cleaning device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the suction power is controllable in dependence on a detection of stains.

6. The wet cleaning device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the suction power is controllable in dependence on a speed of the wet cleaning device.

7. The wet cleaning device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the suction power is controllable in dependence on a type of the surface.

8. The wet cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wet cleaning device is formed by a mopping robot vacuum cleaner, the suction for the arrangement being a part of a suction generated for vacuum cleaning.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 shows a bottom view of an embodiment of a wet cleaning device in accordance with the invention; and

[0011] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0012] The embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 relates to a wet cleaning device WCD formed by a mopping robot vacuum cleaner. As usual, the mopping robot vacuum cleaner has wheels W, a nozzle N with an optional rotating brush B, and a mopping unit MU. The mopping unit MU has a liquid tank (not shown) and a (replaceable) cleaning cloth. In accordance with the invention, a suction tool ST is provided at a side of the mopping unit MU. In the embodiment shown, the suction tool ST is formed by a hose having multiple openings around the mopping unit MU. Alternatively, the hose may have a slit-shaped opening. The hose may be made of rubber or some suitable plastic or other suitable material. The hose may be glued to the mopping unit MU.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 2, as usual for vacuum cleaners, dirty air from the nozzle N is guided to a dirt separation and collection unit DC, through which an airflow is generated by a fan F. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, part of the airflow generated by the fan F is used to generate suction for the suction tool ST. A valve V is present to control how much airflow can be used for the suction tool ST. The valve V may be formed by means of a clamp around a hose: if the hose is compressed by the clamp, less suction is available for the suction tool ST. Advantageously, the amount of suction available for the suction tool ST depends on a detection of stains (stain present=>more suction), a speed of the wet cleaning device WCD (too low speed=>reduce suction), and/or a type of the surface. To control the valve, a processor (anyway present in a robot cleaner) receives data (e.g. from a camera (not shown), and has software that can determine the presence of stains and the surface type from the camera image. This software may involve artificial intelligence based on a trained neural network. The wheel speed can be derived e.g. from an amount of current drawn by a motor that rotates the wheels W: if the current is relatively high, the motor has to work hard, so that it makes sense to reduce the suction for the suction tool to reduce friction.

[0014] It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the above examples, a rectangular robot vacuum cleaner has been shown with a rectangular mopping unit MU. Obviously, the wet cleaning device may have a different shape (e.g. round), and the same holds for the mopping unit MU, which may e.g. have the shape shown in US2017367552. In the embodiment shown, the mopping unit MU is surrounded by the suction tool ST, but in other embodiments, the suction tool ST is just present at a side or at opposite side of the mopping unit MU. The suction tool ST does not need to be along a side, i.e. it does not need to have an elongated shape, as long as it results in the mopping unit MU exercising an increased pressure on the surface. The wet cleaning device of the present invention may also be arranged for cleaning (vertical) surfaces like windows or walls. The wet cleaning device of the present invention does not need to have a vacuum cleaner function. And if the wet cleaning device does have a vacuum cleaner function, it may or may not use the vacuum cleaner fan F for creating suction to increase a pressure of the mopping unit to the surface; a separate low-power fan may be used for this purpose, and this may result in the advantage that a better control of mopping pressure may be achieved, independent of vacuuming activities. A wet cleaning device having a vacuum cleaner function may have different operation modes: (1) only vacuum cleaning, (2) only wet cleaning, and (3) both vacuum cleaning and wet cleaning. In the second mode, use of a separate suction unit for generating under-pressure may result in the advantage that less energy is consumed. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word “comprising” does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in a claim. The word “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The invention may be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements. In the device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. Measures recited in mutually different dependent claims may advantageously be used in combination.