Abstract
A cleaning roller for a cleaning appliance, in particular a wiping roller for a wet cleaning appliance, or a cleaning appliance having such a cleaning roller processes an area to be cleaned. The cleaning roller has a roller core that can rotate about a longitudinal axis and has a bearing for a drive shaft and a roller cover surrounding the roller core in the circumferential direction. The roller core, based on a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, has several spring elements formed beside one another in the circumferential direction of the cleaning roller, each of which extends from the bearing to the roller cover.
Claims
1. A cleaning roller (1) for a cleaning appliance (2) for processing a surface to be cleaned, in the form of a wiping roller for a wet cleaning appliance, wherein the cleaning roller (1) has a roller core (4) that has a closed cylindrical circumferential surface and that can rotate around a longitudinal axis (3), with a bearing (5) for a drive shaft and a roller cover (6) that is removably attached to the cylindrical circumferential surface of the roller core (4) and that surrounds the roller core (4) in the circumferential direction, wherein the roller core (4) has several spring elements (7) arranged one next to the other in the circumferential direction of the cleaning roller (1) relative to a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (3), which each extend from the bearing (5) to the roller cover (6), wherein the spring elements (7) are essentially U-shaped in design, wherein adjacent spring elements (7) are meanderingly connected with each other in the circumferential direction.
2. The cleaning roller (1) according to claim 1, wherein the spring elements (7) are fabricated out of an elastically deformable material, in particular a plastic.
3. The cleaning roller (1) according to claim 1, wherein a first end region (8) of a spring element (7) is allocated to the bearing (5), and a second end region (9) of the spring element (7) is allocated to the roller cover (6), wherein both the first end regions (8) and the second end regions (9) of adjacent spring elements (7) are spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction.
4. The cleaning roller (1) according to claim 1, wherein the spring elements (7) are designed radially between the bearing (5) and roller cover (6).
5. The cleaning roller (1) according to claim 1, wherein the spring elements (7) are formed over the entire length of the cleaning roller (1) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (3).
6. A cleaning appliance (2) with a rotatable cleaning roller (1) having a roller core (4) has a closed cylindrical circumferential surface and that can rotate around a longitudinal axis (3), with a bearing (5) for a drive shaft and a roller cover (6) that is removably attached to the cylindrical circumferential surface of the roller core (4) and that surrounds the roller core (4) in the circumferential direction, wherein the roller core (4) has several spring elements (7) arranged one next to the other in the circumferential direction of the cleaning roller (1) relative to a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (3), which each extend from the bearing (5) to the roller cover (6), wherein the spring elements (7) are essentially U-shaped in design, wherein adjacent spring elements (7) are meanderingly connected with each other in the circumferential direction.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The invention will be explained in greater detail below based on exemplary embodiments. Shown on:
(2) FIG. 1 is a cleaning appliance according to the invention,
(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a cleaning roller,
(4) FIG. 3 is a cross section of the cleaning roller according to FIG. 2,
(5) FIG. 4 is a second embodiment of a cleaning roller in an unloaded state,
(6) FIG. 5 is the cleaning roller according to FIG. 4 in a loaded state,
(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a cleaning roller,
(8) FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the cleaning roller according to FIG. 6,
(9) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a cleaning roller,
(10) FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the cleaning roller according to FIG. 8,
(11) FIG. 10 is a fifth embodiment of a cleaning roller in an unloaded state,
(12) FIG. 11 is the cleaning roller according to FIG. 10 in a loaded state,
(13) FIG. 12 is a sixth embodiment of a cleaning roller,
(14) FIG. 13 is a seventh embodiment of a cleaning roller,
(15) FIG. 14 is an eighth embodiment of a cleaning roller,
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
(16) FIG. 1 shows a cleaning appliance 2, which is here designed as a manually guided wet cleaning appliance. The cleaning appliance 2 has a base unit 12 and an attachment 11 arranged on the base unit 12. The attachment 11 has a cleaning roller 1, whose longitudinal axis 3 is perpendicular to a usual traversing direction of the cleaning appliance 2, specifically in relation to a cleaning movement, in which a user pushes the cleaning appliance 2 forward and pulls it back. The attachment 11 is further equipped with a liquid tank (not depicted), and has a filling hole 15 at the top to fill cleaning liquid into the tank. Also formed on the base unit 12 is a stem 13, which in particular can telescope, and thus be adjusted to the body size of a user. A handle 14 is arranged at the free end area of the stem 13, and can have an on and off switch or the like.
(17) Even though not shown, the invention can also find application in a cleaning appliance 2 designed for dry cleaning a floor surface by means of the cleaning roller 1. The structural design of the cleaning roller 1 described below remains unaffected by this.
(18) FIGS. 1 and 2 present a perspective view of a first embodiment of a cleaning roller 1. The cleaning roller 1 is essentially designed as a cylindrical body with a longitudinal axis 3. In particular, the cleaning roller 1 consists of a central bearing 5 for holding a drive shaft of the cleaning appliance 2 for rotating the cleaning roller 1, a roller core 4 along with a roller cover 6 enveloping the roller core 4. The roller cover 6 is here a microfiber layer, which is removably slipped onto the roller core 4 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 3. The roller cover 6 can be removed from the cleaning roller 1 for replacement or cleaning purposes. The roller core 4 has a plurality of spring elements 7, which are sickle-shaped, curved lamellae according to this embodiment. The spring elements 7 extend both in the direction of the longitudinal axis 3 of the cleaning roller 1 and in its circumferential direction. The spring elements 7 here consist of an elastically deformable plastic, so that they can be deformed when exposed to a weight force of the cleaning roller 1 or cleaning appliance 2, in particular bent in the direction of the bearing 5. The spring elements 7 each have a first end region 8 and a second end region 9. The first end region 8 is allocated to the bearing 5, while the second end region 9 is allocated to the circumferential area of the roller core 4 adjacent to the roller cover 6. The roller cover 6 here rests directly on the second end regions 9 of the spring elements 7, which form a closed cylindrical circumferential surface of the roller core 4. The roller cover 6 is elastically designed, so that it abuts against the roller core 4 when tensioned, and does not rotate around the roller core 4 while the cleaning roller 1 rotates. The first end regions 8 of the spring elements 7 have a shared end region base 17 with grooves, into which projections 18 of the bearing 5 can engage. The grooves and projections 18 run parallel to the longitudinal axis 3 of the cleaning roller 1, i.e., in a direction perpendicular to the rotational direction of the cleaning roller 1, so that the latter are non-rotatably joined together. FIG. 3 presents a cross sectional view of the cleaning roller 1. In evidence is the sickle shape of the spring elements 7, the concave side of which faces the bearing 5.
(19) FIGS. 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of a cleaning roller 1, in which the unloaded situation (FIG. 4) and loaded situation (FIG. 5) are compared. The cleaning roller 1 is not yet placed on a surface to be cleaned on FIG. 4, so that the spring elements 7 are not yet deformed, with the roller core 4 and roller cover 6 instead still having equidistantly arranged spring elements 7 that have not been deformed through exposure to a weight force of the cleaning roller 1 or cleaning appliance 2. The configuration of the cleaning roller 1 resembles the first embodiment, wherein the bearing 5 is here shown only in simplified point form. In addition, the embodiment according to FIGS. 4 and 5 is distinguished by the fact that the second end regions 9 of the spring elements 7 do not form any closed, cylindrical circumferential surface of the roller core 4, but rather an open structure upon which the roller cover 6 rests. FIG. 5 shows the cleaning roller 1 in a state placed on the surface to be cleaned. In evidence is the bearing area 10, which makes up the contact area between the roller cover 6 and the surface to be cleaned. The weight force of the cleaning roller or cleaning appliance 2 acting on the spring elements 7 compresses the spring elements 7 ending in the bearing area 10. The spring elements 7 allocated to the edge regions of the bearing area 10 are radially expanded, while the spring elements 7 arranged in a central region of the bearing area 10 are essentially compressed. The elongation or spreading of spring elements 7 caused by the compression or expansion widens the bearing area 10 in the circumferential direction, so that the cleaning roller 1 has an especially large bearing area 10 on the surface to be cleaned. At the same time, the circumference of the cleaning roller 1 remains constant, so that the roller cover 6 does not wrinkle, and an optimal cleaning result can be achieved.
(20) FIGS. 6 and 7 show a third embodiment of the invention, in which the cleaning roller 1 has spring elements 7 formed radially between the bearing 5 and roller cover 6. The spring elements 7 are here plastic disks formed in the direction of the longitudinal axis 3 and protruding radially from the bearing 5. The spring elements are pivoted to the bearing 5, wherein the first end regions 8 of the spring elements 7 each engage into a corresponding groove 19 on the exterior side of the bearing 5. The opening width of the groove 19 and thickness of the spring element 7 determine the maximum possible pivot angle of the spring elements 7 relative to the bearing 5. With the cleaning roller 1 in a loaded state, the spring elements standing on the surface to be cleaned are spaced apart from each other by using the maximum pivot angle on the one hand, and when the spring elements 7 elastically deform on the other. The roller cover 6 is clamped again as a result, thereby yielding the largest possible bearing area 10 on the surface to be cleaned.
(21) FIGS. 8 and 9 show a fourth embodiment of the invention, in which a plurality of U-shaped spring elements 7 are connected into a meandering shape in the circumferential direction of the roller core 4. Loops of the meandering shape here come about in the circumferential direction, whose curve vertices form the first end regions 8 and second end regions 9, which face in the direction of the bearing 5 on the one hand, and in the direction of the roller cover 6 on the other. The second end regions 9 each have a web 16, which is connected with a cylindrical circumferential surface of the roller core 4. The roller cover 6 abuts against this circumferential surface. When the cleaning roller 1 is exposed to the weight force of the cleaning roller 1 or cleaning appliance 2, the second end regions 9 of the meandering shape facing in the direction of the roller cover 6 are compressed, thereby enlarging the bearing area 10 on the surface to be cleaned, so that the cleaning roller 1 rests on as much of the surface to be cleaned as possible. At the same time, the circumference of the cleaning roller 1 is held constant, so that no wrinkles form on the roller cover 6.
(22) The fifth embodiment shown on FIGS. 10 and 11 consists of spring elements 7, which are each L-shaped in design. The material of the spring elements 7 is tapered in the connecting area of the two legs of the L-shape, thereby yielding an elastic deformability similar to a film hinge. When these spring elements 7 are exposed to a weight force, the spring elements 7 are kinked, until advantageously one or several of the legs allocated to the roller cover 6 abut against the roller cover 6. This creates an especially large bearing area 10.
(23) FIG. 12 shows a sixth embodiment of a cleaning roller 1, in which the spring elements 7 are each designed like a Y. Each spring element 7 here has a first end region 8, which is arranged on the bearing 5, and two end regions 9, which are arranged on the outer circumference of the roller core 4. When the spring elements 7 are exposed to a load, the two second end regions 9 of a spring element 7 are spaced apart from each other, so that the surface clamped between the two end regions 9 forms an especially large bearing area 10 of the cleaning roller 1.
(24) FIGS. 13 and 14 show an alternative embodiment of a cleaning roller 1, which has a roller core 4 with an air chamber 20. In particular, the cleaning roller 1 according to 13 has a rim 21 with the central bearing 5. The rim 21 carries the air chamber 20, the exterior side of which is in turn covered by the roller cover 6. The air chamber 20 is here formed with a single air volume. When the air chamber 20 is exposed to the weight force of the cleaning roller 1 or cleaning appliance 2, the circumferential section of the air chamber 20 standing on the surface to be cleaned is pressed together, wherein the partial air volume affected there escapes into the remaining partial circumferential sections of the air chamber 20. The air chamber 20 deviates from the previously essentially circular shape in the bearing area 10, and lies flat against the surface to be cleaned. Among other factors, the air pressure inside of the air chamber 20 and the ambient pressure determine the extent of the flattening. In addition, the size and material of the air chamber 20 play a role, along with the level of weight force applied by the cleaning roller 1 or cleaning appliance 2. In the embodiment according to FIG. 14, the cleaning roller 1 has several air chambers 20, which lie one next to the other in the circumferential direction of the cleaning roller 1. Each air chamber 20 forms a sealed air volume, which extends over a partial circumferential section and in the direction of the longitudinal axis 3 of the cleaning roller 1. When the cleaning roller 1 rests upon a surface to be cleaned, the air chamber 20 adjacent to the surface to be cleaned is compressed, displacing only the air contained within this air chamber 20. The outer circular shape of the air chamber 20 here flattens out, wherein the extent of the flattening is less than in the embodiment according to FIG. 13.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
(25) 1 Cleaning roller 2 Cleaning appliance 3 Longitudinal axis 4 Roller core 5 Bearing 6 Roller cover 7 Spring element 8 First end region 9 Second end region 10 Bearing area 11 Attachment 12 Base unit 13 Stem 14 Handle 15 Filling hole 16 Web 17 End region base 18 Projection 19 Groove 20 Air chamber 21 Rim
