Suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner has: a suction mouth which can be arranged adjacently to the surface to be cleaned and which comprises a suction edge that delimits a sub-surface exposed to the vacuum air stream; a vacuum air stream extraction opening; and a delimiter that can be controlled according to a detection result of a sensor. The sensor is an obstacle sensor for detecting a substantially stationary obstacle located in front of the suction nozzle, in particular a wall or piece of furniture, wherein the obstacle sensor is configured to detect obstacles that are disposed outside the portion of the surface over which the suction nozzle projects and, in relation to an arrangement of the suction nozzle during typical cleaning operation, that protrude beyond a suction edge plane that has the suction edge.

Claims

1. A suction nozzle for a vacuum cleaner for vacuuming up material from a surface to be cleaned by a vacuum air flow, comprising: a suction mouth configured to be arranged adjacent to the surface to be cleaned and having a suction edge that defines a partial surface exposed to the vacuum air flow and a vacuum air flow extraction opening; a delimiting means that is assigned to the suction edge; an obstacle sensor configured for detecting an essentially stationary obstacle within a detection zone of the obstacle sensor, the obstacle being located in front of the suction nozzle and arranged outside a part of the surface covered by the suction nozzle and protruding beyond a suction edge plane containing the suction edge of the suction nozzle during a normal cleaning process, wherein the delimiting means is controlled by detection results of the obstacle sensor such that the delimiting means cannot be displaced into an open state until a detected distance between the suction nozzle and the obstacle is less than a defined threshold distance that is less than a possible maximum distance that is predetermined by the boundary of the detection zone, and wherein, in this way, material to be vacuumed up is pushed in front of the delimiting means until the suction nozzle reaches the threshold distance from the obstacle.

2. The suction nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the delimiting means is configured to be displaced from a blocking state, in which the delimiting means at least partially blocks a suction edge section of the suction edge, into an open state, in which the delimiting means completely releases the suction edge section, and vice versa.

3. The suction nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the delimiting means comprises a first delimiting means and a second delimiting means, wherein a first suction edge section of the suction edge features the first delimiting means and a second suction edge section of the suction edge features the second delimiting means, wherein the two delimiting means are configured to be displaced independently of one another, in dependence on the detection result of the obstacle sensor.

4. The suction nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the threshold distance is less than 50 mm.

5. The suction nozzle according to claim 1, wherein a first suction edge section is essentially aligned perpendicular to a normal moving direction (x) of the suction nozzle and a second suction edge section is essentially aligned parallel to the moving direction (x).

6. The suction nozzle according to claim 1, comprising at least one cleaning element that is configured to be displaced relative to the remaining parts of the suction nozzle in dependence on the detection result of the obstacle sensor, for cleaning an obstacle extending perpendicular to the surface to be cleaned.

7. A vacuum cleaner for vacuuming up material from a surface to be cleaned by means of a vacuum air flow, comprising a suction nozzle according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an inventive vacuum cleaner with suction nozzle;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the inventive suction nozzle in the form of a perspective view;

(4) FIG. 3 shows the suction nozzle in the form of a top view; and

(5) FIG. 4 shows part of a suction nozzle with cleaning elements for cleaning an obstacle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(6) The vacuum cleaner 1 shown in FIG. 1 consists of a commercially available floor vacuum cleaner that features an inventive suction nozzle 2. The suction nozzle 2 has a suction mouth 3, the vacuum air flow extraction opening 5 of which is fluidically connected to a fan of the vacuum cleaner 1 via a corresponding channel. Material vacuumed up through the suction mouth 3 of the suction nozzle 2 are therefore transported through the vacuum air flow extraction opening 5 and into a filter chamber of the vacuum cleaner 1, which is normally provided, e.g., with a dust filter bag.

(7) According to the detail in FIG. 2, the suction nozzle 2 has a suction mouth 3, the suction edge 4 of which defines the part of a surface 13 to be cleaned, which is acted upon with a vacuum. The suction edge 14 comprises a plurality of suction edge sections 6, 7, wherein a first suction edge section 6 is essentially aligned perpendicular to a normal moving direction x of the suction nozzle 2 and a second suction edge section 7 is essentially aligned parallel to the normal moving direction x of the suction nozzle 2. Additional suction edge sections are furthermore provided. The moving direction x results from the normal working motion of a user of the vacuum cleaner 1, which generally extends alternately forward and backward, if applicable, while swerving into the nearest cleaning path.

(8) A separate delimiting means 8, 9 is assigned to each suction edge section 6, 7 and can be displaced from a blocking state into an open state and vice versa. In the blocking state, the delimiting means 8, 9 at least partially block the suction edge sections 6, 7 lying between the surface 13 to be cleaned and the housing of the suction nozzle 2. In this case, the delimiting means 8, 9 may be in direct contact with the surface 13 to be cleaned in a complete blocking state whereas a flow path from the suction edge section 6, 7 to the vacuum air flow extraction opening 5 remains open in a partial blocking state. In the open state, the delimiting means 8, 9 completely release the suction edge sections 6, 7 such that the largest vacuum air flow possible can reach the vacuum air flow extraction opening 5.

(9) In this case, an obstacle sensor 10, 11 is assigned to each of the suction edge sections 6, 7 and monitors the respective detection zone 16 for the presence or absence of an obstacle 15. In this example, the obstacle 15 is a cabinet, which the suction nozzle 2 laterally approaches with the suction edge section 7.

(10) The obstacle sensors 10, 11 of the suction nozzle 2 are realized in the form of ultrasonic sensors in this case. A common evaluation and control unit 12 is assigned to these obstacle sensors 10, 11, wherein said evaluation and control unit receives the detection results of the obstacle sensors 10, 11 and subsequently controls the displacement of the delimiting means 8, 9. The delimiting means 8, 9 are arranged within the housing of the suction nozzle 2 in a linearly displaceable fashion such that they can be vertically raised and lowered from the open state into the blocking state and vice versa. In this case, the delimiting means 8, 9 of the different suction edge sections 6, 7 can be displaced independently of one another such that one delimiting means 8 of a first suction edge section 6 can rest on the surface 13 to be cleaned while a delimiting means 9 of the second suction edge section 7 is spaced apart from the surface 13 to be cleaned such that a flow path from the second suction edge section 7 to the vacuum air flow extraction opening 5 is formed.

(11) FIG. 3 shows the suction nozzle 2 in the form of a top view, wherein the division of the suction edge 4 into multiple individual suction edge sections 6, 7 can be gathered from this figure. A separate delimiting means 8, 9 and a separate obstacle sensor 10, 11 are assigned to each suction edge section 6, 7, wherein said obstacle sensors respectively monitor a detection zone 16 lying in front of the respective suction edge section 6, 7.

(12) FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the suction nozzle 2 that features a cleaning element 14, namely a bristle element. The cleaning element 14 can be displaced relative to the housing of the suction nozzle 2 in dependence on the detection result of the obstacle sensor 10, 11, i.e. the presence of an obstacle 15. In this case, the cleaning element 14 may be arranged on the housing of the suction nozzle 2 such that it can be pivoted about a pivoting axis and displaced from a cleaning position into an idle position and vice versa, e.g. means of a servomotor.

(13) According to the invention, the vacuum cleaner 1 is guided over the surface 13 to be cleaned with the suction nozzle 2. The obstacle sensors 10, 11 are operative during the cleaning process, i.e. soon as the suction fan of the vacuum cleaner 1 is switched on (or alternatively as soon as contact between the suction nozzle 2 and a surface 13 to be cleaned is detected) and detect the presence or absence of an obstacle 15 on the surface 13 to be cleaned in their respective detection zones 16. In this case, a normal position of the delimiting means 8, 9 of the suction nozzle 2 may be defined in that the frontally arranged delimiting means 8 referred to the forward stroke direction of the suction nozzle 2, as well as the lateral delimiting means 9 aligned parallel to the moving direction x, are in a blocking state on the suction edge sections 6, 7. In this blocking state, the delimiting means 8, 9 contact the surface 13 to be cleaned with their free end region. Since the delimiting means 8, 9 are realized in the form of bristle strips, fine material to be vacuumed up such as dust can still reach the suction mouth 3 of the suction nozzle 2 through the delimiting means 8, 9 such that the surface 13 to be cleaned can be vacuumed in a normal cleaning process.

(14) During this cleaning process, the obstacle sensors 10, 11 continuously transmit their detection result to the evaluation and control unit 12, which compares the detection results with reference results stored in a data memory. The detection result of the obstacle sensors 10, 11 may consist, for example, of a measured distance from an obstacle 15. The stored reference result is a threshold distance that defines the distance between the suction nozzle 2 and an obstacle 15, at which a delimiting means 8, 9 lying nearest to the obstacle 15 is displaced into an open state. To this end, the evaluation and control unit 12 controls an actuator, e.g. a servomotor, assigned to the respective delimiting means 8, 9 in such a way that the delimiting means 8, 9 can be moved away from the surface 13 to be cleaned. As soon as the evaluation and control unit 12 determines that the detection results transmitted by the obstacle sensors 10, 11 once again indicate a distance that is greater than the threshold distance, the previously raised delimiting means 8, 9 is displaced back into the blocking state, in which it contacts the surface 13 to be cleaned. The evaluation and control unit 12 may, in principle, also take into account operating or sensor data of the vacuum cleaner 1 such that, for example, a displacement of the delimiting means 8, 9 is only possible when a minimum value for the suction power and/or the volumetric flow rate of a fan of the vacuum cleaner 1 is exceeded.

(15) According to another embodiment, the delimiting means 8, 9 of the suction edge sections 6, 7 may be spaced apart from the surface 13 to be cleaned by a defined distance in a blocking state such that smaller coarse material can also reach the suction mouth 3 between the surface 13 to be cleaned and the delimiting means 8, 9. If one of the obstacle sensors 11 detects an obstacle 15, which is spaced apart from the suction nozzle 2 by a distance that is shorter than the threshold distance, the delimiting means 9 of the suction edge section 7 lying nearest to the obstacle is displaced into the open state such that a flow channel is formed between the obstacle 15 and the suction nozzle 2, wherein said flow channel concentrates the suction power of the suction fan on this flow channel and therefore allows optimal dust intake in front of the obstacle 15. The evaluation and control unit 12 simultaneously controls the other delimiting means 8 in such a way that they are placed on the surface 13 to be cleaned, wherein the remaining suction edge sections 6 are thereby blocked by the delimiting means 8 such that only fine material can reach the suction mouth 3 through these suction edge sections 6. This also applies to the opposite suction edge section 7, which is arranged parallel to the moving direction x. The delimiting means 9 arranged thereon is likewise placed on the surface 13 to be cleaned.

(16) Other combinations of blocking states and open states of different delimiting means 8, 9 are also possible although these combinations are not discussed in greater detail in this application. For example, one or more delimiting means 8, 9 may be displaced into an open state while other delimiting means 8, 9 are in a partial blocking state, in which the delimiting means 8, 9 are also not placed on the surface 13 to be cleaned, but positioned near this surface.

(17) According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the suction nozzle 2 is also normally displaced over the surface 13 to be cleaned. In this case, the obstacle sensors 10, 11 monitor the detection zone 16 in front of the respectively assigned suction edge sections 6, 7 in the above-described fashion. As soon as the evaluation and control unit 12 detects that the suction nozzle 2 approaches an obstacle 15 based on a comparison between the detection results and defined threshold distances, the evaluation and control unit 12 controls the cleaning means 14, which lies nearest to the respective obstacle 15, in such a way that the cleaning element 14 is pivoted out of a housing section of the suction nozzle 2 and can be brought in contact with the obstacle 15. In this example, the cleaning element 14 consists of a bristle element, the bristles of which can brush over the obstacle 15, in this case a baseboard and part of a wall, with their free end regions. The cleaning element 14 is advantageously arranged directly adjacent to the respective suction edge section 6, 7 such that material to be vacuumed up, which is separated from the obstacle 15, can be immediately vacuumed into the suction mouth 3 through the opened suction edge section 6, 7. In this case, the cleaning elements 14 are shaped and dimensioned in such a way that the bristles are arranged at least approximately 1-10 cm from the surface 13 to be cleaned in order to thereby clean material to be vacuumed up from the horizontally extending edge of a baseboard. As soon as the obstacle sensor 10, 11 assigned to the corresponding suction edge section 6, 7 indicates that the threshold distance from the obstacle 15 has been exceeded, the cleaning element 14 is once again retracted into the housing of the suction nozzle 2 such that it no longer protrudes over the contour of the suction nozzle 2.

REFERENCE LIST

(18) 1 Vacuum cleaner 2 Suction nozzle 3 Suction mouth 4 Suction edge 5 Vacuum air flow extraction opening 6 Suction edge section 7 Suction edge section 8 Delimiting means 9 Delimiting means 10 Obstacle sensor 11 Obstacle sensor 12 Evaluation and control unit 13 Surface 14 Cleaning element 15 Obstacle 16 Detection zone x Moving direction