Floor Cleaning Machine with A Clearing Blade Arrangement

Abstract

A floor cleaning machine with a frame, with a running gear which has at least one wheel, wherein the running gear is configured in such a way that the floor cleaning machine can be moved over a floor surface to be cleaned, with at least one cleaning device which is configured to engage with the floor surface to be cleaned, wherein the floor cleaning machine has a front end, wherein the floor cleaning machine is configured to move over the floor surface to be cleaned in a forward direction in a cleaning operation, wherein during a movement in the forward direction the front end points in the forward direction, with a clearing blade arrangement which is mounted in front of the cleaning device when viewed in the forward direction.

Claims

1. Floor cleaning machine with a frame, with a running gear which has at least one wheel driven by a running gear drive, wherein the running gear is configured such that the floor cleaning machine can be moved over a floor surface to be cleaned, with at least one cleaning device which is configured to engage with the floor surface to be cleaned in order to loosen and/or remove dirt from the floor surface to be cleaned, wherein the floor cleaning machine has a front end, wherein the floor cleaning machine is configured to be moved in a forward direction over the floor surface to be cleaned in a cleaning operation, wherein during a movement in the forward direction the front end points in the forward direction, with a clearing blade arrangement which is mounted in front of the cleaning device when viewed in the forward direction, wherein the clearing blade arrangement comprises a clearing blade which is configured to be guided over the floor surface to be cleaned, wherein a guiding wheel is connected to the clearing blade, wherein the guiding wheel is configured to roll over the floor surface to be cleaned and wherein the position of the clearing blade relative to the floor surface to be cleaned is predetermined by the guiding wheel in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned, wherein the clearing blade arrangement is mounted on the frame so as to be vertically adjustable in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned.

2. Floor cleaning machine according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning device comprises a scrubbing deck attached to the frame, wherein the scrubbing deck has a driven cleaning element which is configured to engage the floor surface to be cleaned, and wherein the scrubbing deck is configured to apply cleaning fluid in the region of the scrubbing deck to the floor surface to be cleaned.

3. Floor cleaning machine according to claim 1, with a suction foot which is attached to the frame, wherein the floor cleaning machine has a vacuum source connected to the suction foot, wherein the suction foot is configured to absorb liquid from the floor surface to be cleaned, and wherein the suction foot is arranged behind the cleaning device when viewed in the forward direction.

4. Floor cleaning machine according to claim 1, wherein the position of the clearing blade is adjustable in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned relative to the guiding wheel.

5. Floor cleaning machine according to claim 1, wherein the guiding wheel can be pivoted about an axis running perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned opposite the clearing blade.

6. Floor cleaning machine according to claim 1, wherein the clearing blade arrangement is connected to the frame via a first and a second parallelogram arrangement, wherein each of the parallelogram arrangements comprises a first and a second arm extending from a first to a second end and spaced apart from one another in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned, wherein the first end is pivotably mounted on the frame about a first pivot axis extending parallel to the floor surface to be cleaned, and wherein the second end is pivotably mounted on the clearing blade about a second pivot axis extending parallel to the floor surface to be cleaned, and wherein the pivot axes of the parallelogram arrangements run parallel.

7. Floor cleaning machine according to claim 6, wherein the frame has a stop element arrangement which is configured to limit the pivoting range of the arms away from the floor surface.

8. Floor cleaning machine according to claim 1, wherein the clearing blade is convexly curved when viewed against the forward direction.

9. Floor cleaning machine according to claim 1, wherein the clearing blade extends perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned.

10. Floor cleaning machine according to claim 1, wherein the clearing blade has a frame and a flexible strip extending therefrom towards the floor surface to be cleaned, wherein the ends of the flexible strip extend laterally beyond the frame of the clearing blade.

11. Floor cleaning machine according to claim 10, wherein the floor cleaning machine has a housing and wherein the frame of the clearing blade is arranged within the cross-section of the housing when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned.

12. Floor cleaning machine according to claim 11, wherein the ends of the flexible strip extend laterally beyond the cross-section of the housing when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0024] The present disclosure is explained below with reference to a drawing showing only an embodiment, in which

[0025] FIGS. 1a and 1b show schematic views of an embodiment of a floor cleaning machine,

[0026] FIGS. 2a and 2b show schematic partial views of the embodiment of a floor cleaning machine from FIGS. 1a and 1b,

[0027] FIGS. 3a and 3b show schematic perspective views of a clearing blade arrangement of the embodiment of the floor cleaning machine from FIGS. 1a to 2b, and

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a schematic partial view of the clearing blade arrangement from FIGS. 3a and 3b.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] FIGS. 1a and 1b show a schematic view of an embodiment of a floor cleaning machine 1, wherein FIG. 1a shows a schematic perspective view of the embodiment of the floor cleaning machine 1 and FIG. 1b shows a schematic top view of the embodiment of the floor cleaning machine 1.

[0030] As can be seen from FIGS. 1a and 1b, the floor cleaning machine 1 has a housing 3 and a running gear 5, which in this embodiment has three wheels 7, of which the rear wheels are driven by a running gear drive. However, it is also conceivable that the floor cleaning machine is hand-held or a ride-on machine. The running gear 5 can be used to move the floor cleaning machine 1 over a floor surface.

[0031] Furthermore, the floor cleaning machine 1 has a cleaning device 9, a fresh water tank and a dirty water tank. In the present embodiment, the cleaning device 9 comprises a scrubbing deck 11 which is attached to a frame of the floor cleaning machine 1, wherein the scrubbing deck 11 has a driven cleaning element which is configured to engage with the floor surface to be cleaned. The cleaning element can be, for example, a brush with bristles or a pad.

[0032] Furthermore, the scrubbing deck 11 is configured to apply cleaning fluid in the area of the scrubbing deck 11 to the floor surface to be cleaned. The powered cleaning element, which engages with the floor surface, can remove heavier dirt from the floor surface. The cleaning result can be further improved by applying cleaning fluid.

[0033] The floor cleaning machine 1 has a suction foot 13 with which dirty water can be picked up from the floor surface. The suction foot 13 is mounted on the frame of the floor cleaning machine 1 and connected to the dirty water tank, wherein the floor cleaning machine 1 has a vacuum source connected to the dirty water tank so that when the dirty water tank is subjected to a vacuum, the suction foot 13 picks up liquid from the floor surface to be cleaned. The suction foot 13 is arranged behind the cleaning device 9 when viewed in the forward direction. The suction foot 13 can be used to pick up dirty liquid from the floor surface to be cleaned and to direct it into the dirty water tank. Because the suction foot 13 is arranged behind the cleaning device 9 when viewed in the forward direction, the floor surface is first cleaned by the cleaning device 9 by loosening the dirt from the floor surface and the dirty liquid can then be picked up by the suction foot 13.

[0034] Furthermore, the floor cleaning machine 1 has a front end and is configured to be moved in a cleaning operation in the forward direction over the floor surface to be cleaned, wherein during a movement in the forward direction the front end points in the forward direction.

[0035] The floor cleaning machine 1 can be an autonomously operating cleaning robot, a hand-held floor cleaning machine 1 or a ride-on machine. The floor cleaning machine 1 of the present embodiment can operate autonomously or be moved by a user. For this purpose, the floor cleaning machine 1 has a handle 15 at a rear end.

[0036] The embodiment of a floor cleaning machine 1 according to the disclosure has a clearing blade arrangement 17 which, when viewed in the forward direction, is mounted in front of the cleaning device 9, wherein the clearing blade arrangement 17 has a clearing blade 19 which is configured to be guided over the floor surface to be cleaned, but this does not mean that the clearing blade 19 is in direct contact with the floor surface, but it is also possible that the clearing blade 19 is held at a predetermined distance from the floor surface. The purpose of the clearing blade 19 is to prevent larger, loose objects from getting under the floor cleaning machine 1 and in particular into the area of the cleaning device 9, in such a way that it is damaged. In addition, it is intended to prevent objects that cannot be sucked up by the suction foot 13 from initially accumulating on the rubber strip thereof and then possibly blocking the suction foot. The clearing blade arrangement 17 acts as a barrier against which larger, loose objects bounce off or get stuck. This has the advantage that these objects do not get under the floor cleaning machine 1 or as far as the cleaning device 9, thus preventing damage to the floor cleaning machine 1.

[0037] As FIGS. 3a, 3b and 4 show, the clearing blade 19 has a frame 21 and a flexible strip 23 extending therefrom towards the floor surface to be cleaned, wherein the ends of the flexible strip 23 extend laterally beyond the frame 21. The flexible strip 23 ensures that the clearing blade 19 and the floor cleaning machine 1 can be moved over local elevations in the floor surface, such as strips or thresholds attached to the floor surface, without the clearing blade 19 becoming jammed on these elevations in the floor surface. In addition, the flexible strip 23 can be replaced particularly easily in the event of increased wear without having to replace the entire clearing blade 19. In the present embodiment, the flexible strip 23 is a rubber strip. In an alternative embodiment, the flexible strip 23 is a flexible plastic strip. However, other designs are also conceivable.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 1b, the housing 3 has a cross-section with a first width 25, wherein the frame 21 is arranged within the cross-section of the housing 3 when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. This means that the width of the frame 21 is less than or equal to the first width 25. This prevents the frame 21 of the clearing blade 19 from protruding laterally beyond the housing 3 of the floor cleaning machine 1, which can lead to the floor cleaning machine 1 getting caught on an obstacle with the frame 21 of the clearing blade 19, which could damage the clearing blade 19.

[0039] The flexible strip has a second width 26 which is greater than the first width 25, so that the flexible strip 21 extends laterally beyond the cross-section of the housing 3 when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. The ends, which extend laterally beyond the cross-section of the housing 3 when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned, prevent objects from getting under the floor cleaning machine 1 from the side and damaging the cleaning device 9 or getting caught on the rear rubber strip of the suction foot 13. In addition, the flexible ends can bend in a particularly easy manner, which is particularly advantageous when the floor cleaning machine 1 moves along a wall.

[0040] FIGS. 2a and 2b show a schematic partial view of the embodiment of a floor cleaning machine 1 from FIGS. 1a and 1b. The floor cleaning machine 1 has a front wheel 27 which is configured to roll over the floor surface to be cleaned and which is possibly pivotably mounted relative to the floor cleaning machine 1 about an axis running perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. This ensures that the floor cleaning machine can be easily moved or pivoted in any direction.

[0041] Also shown is a guiding wheel 29 connected to the clearing blade 19, which is configured to roll over the floor surface to be cleaned, and a first plane 31 on which the front wheel 27 and the guiding wheel 29 roll. The first plane 31 can be formed by the floor area to be cleaned. The guiding wheel 29 is pivotably mounted relative to the clearing blade 19 about an axis running perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. This ensures that the clearing blade arrangement 17 or the floor cleaning machine 1 can be easily moved or pivoted in any direction.

[0042] The pivotability of the front wheel 27 and the guiding wheel 29 can be realized, for example, by a wheel that can rotate about a pivot axis running perpendicular to the floor surface or by a ball roller.

[0043] The guiding wheel 29 determines the position of the clearing blade 19 relative to the floor surface to be cleaned in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. The position of the clearing blade 19 can be determined by the guiding wheel 29 by either varying the size of the guiding wheel 29 or by the position of the guiding wheel 29 relative to the clearing blade 19. The guiding wheel 29 not only determines the position of the clearing blade 19 relative to the floor surface in a direction perpendicular thereto, but also ensures that the clearing blade 19 can be mounted or supported relative to the floor surface by the guiding wheel 29. This ensures that the clearing blade 19 does not rest on the flexible strip 23 or its edge pointing towards the floor surface to be cleaned, but rather the guiding wheel 29 and its position relative to the clearing blade 19 determine in which vertical position and thus also at which distance from the floor surface to be cleaned the clearing blade is arranged. For example, it is possible for the guiding wheel 29 to be attached to the clearing blade 19 in such a way that the flexible strip 23 is exactly flush with the first plane 31. Alternatively, the guiding wheel 29 can be arranged on the clearing blade 19 such that the flexible strip 23 is arranged at a distance of a few millimeters or centimeters above the first plane 31 and thus above the floor surface to be cleaned.

[0044] Specifying the position of the clearing blade 19 perpendicular to the floor surface has the advantage that the clearing blade 19 can be moved over the floor surface at a fixed distance from the floor surface. This makes it possible to position the clearing blade 19, for example, above the floor surface in such a way that larger objects get caught on the clearing blade 19, but the clearing blade 19 has no contact with the floor surface. This has the advantage, on the one hand, that the clearing blade 19 does not drag over the floor surface and is therefore subject to less wear and tear and, on the other hand, that smaller dirt particles can pass under the clearing blade 19 to the cleaning device 9, where they are picked up, which improves the cleaning result.

[0045] The position of the clearing blade 19 is adjustable in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned relative to the guiding wheel 29. The adjustability ensures that the height of the clearing blade 19 and thus the distance to the floor surface can be individually adjusted. This is particularly advantageous if the distance of the clearing blade 19 has changed due to wear of the clearing blade 19 or the guiding wheel 29 and needs to be adjusted. This also allows a user to individually adjust the distance of the clearing blade 19 and thus adapt it to the conditions of the location where the floor cleaning machine 1 is to be used and the dirt present there.

[0046] It can also be seen that the clearing blade 19 in the present embodiment extends perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned or the first plane 31. This prevents objects from being lifted from the floor surface by the clearing blade 19, which would be the case if the clearing blade had an inclination of less than 90 to the floor surface. This ensures that objects are deflected to one side of the clearing blade.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 2b, the clearing blade arrangement 17 is mounted on the frame of the floor cleaning machine 1 so as to be height-adjustable in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. The phrase height-adjustable attached to the frame means that the distance of the clearing blade arrangement 17 from the frame of the floor cleaning machine 1 can be changed perpendicular to the floor surface. This is especially the case when the floor cleaning machine 1 is moved over an inclined or raised floor surface or an obstacle, such as a bump 33. The bump 33 defines a second plane 35, which has a vertical distance 37 from the first plane 31. In the present embodiment, when the floor cleaning machine 1 is moved in a forward direction, the clearing blade arrangement 17 is guided onto the bump 33 while the front wheel 27 of the floor cleaning machine 1 and the guiding wheel 29 are not yet in contact with the bump 33. This results in the clearing blade arrangement 17 being moved relative to the frame attached to the floor cleaning machine 1 in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface in accordance with the inclination or vertical distance 37 of the bump 33. The clearing blade arrangement 17 is guided onto the bump 33 with the flexible strip 23, wherein the flexible strip 23 initially gives way and bends in a direction opposite to the forward direction of the floor cleaning machine 1, so that the clearing blade 19 rests at least partially with the flexible strip 23 on the bump 33. Due to the flexible strip 23, which pushes back into its original state, a force acts perpendicular to the floor cleaning machine 1 on the clearing blade arrangement 17, which causes the clearing blade arrangement 17 to be pushed upwards in this direction perpendicular to the floor surface. This can prevent the floor cleaning machine 1 from jamming or tipping on the bump 33. This also prevents collisions between the clearing blade arrangement 17 and inclined floor surfaces.

[0048] The following explains how the height adjustability of the clearing blade arrangement 17 is realized perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned.

[0049] FIGS. 3a and 3b show schematic perspective views of the clearing blade arrangement 17 of the embodiment of the floor cleaning machine 1 from FIGS. 1a to 2b. The clearing blade 19 is convexly curved when viewed against the forward direction. The convex curvature opposite to the forward direction ensures that objects blocked by the clearing blade 19 are deflected to one side of the floor cleaning machine 1. This prevents the floor cleaning machine 1 from pushing the objects in front of it, which can lead to damage to the clearing blade 19 or to the floor cleaning machine 1 having to be moved with increased force in the forward direction against the resistance of the objects.

[0050] As shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, the clearing blade arrangement 17 includes a first parallelogram arrangement 39 and a second parallelogram arrangement 41. Each of the parallelogram arrangements 39, 41 is connected to the frame of the floor cleaning machine 1 and has a first arm 43 and a second arm 45. The first and second parallelogram arrangements 39, 41 are explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 4.

[0051] FIG. 4 shows a schematic partial view of the clearing blade arrangement 17 from FIGS. 3a and 3b. The second parallelogram arrangement 41 is possibly identical to the first parallelogram arrangement 39, so that the following statements regarding the first parallelogram arrangement 39 apply analogously to the second parallelogram arrangement 41. By means of identical parallelogram arrangements 39, 41, the clearing blade 19 can be raised evenly in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. This has the advantage that the clearing blade 19 always runs parallel to the floor surface.

[0052] The first and second arms 43, 45 extend from a first end 43, 45 to a second end 43, 45 and are spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned, wherein the first end 43, 45 of the arms 43, 45 is pivotally mounted on the frame about first pivot axes 47 extending parallel to the floor surface to be cleaned and wherein the second end 43, 45 of the arms 43, 45 is pivotally mounted on the clearing blade 19 about second pivot axes 49 extending parallel to the floor surface to be cleaned. The first and second pivot axes 47, 49 of the parallelogram arrangements 39, 41 run parallel to one another.

[0053] At the second end 43, 45 of the two arms 43, 45, the clearing blade 19 is attached, which, due to the parallelogram arrangement, is held at the original angle to the floor surface to be cleaned during the pivoting of the arms 43, 45. This ensures that the clearing blade 19 remains arranged at the original angle to the floor surface, even if it is pivoted upwards.

[0054] The frame has a stop element arrangement with a first stop element 51 and a second stop element 53, which are configured to limit the pivoting range of the arms 43, 45 away from the floor surface. The stop element arrangement makes it possible to limit the pivoting range of the arms 43, 45 and thus of the clearing blade 19, thereby preventing the clearing blade 19 or the arms 43, 45 from colliding with the floor cleaning machine 1 or the frame at a large pivoting angle. The first stop element 51 limits the pivoting range of the first parallelogram arrangement 39, while the second stop element 53 limits the pivoting range of the second parallelogram arrangement 41. The stop element 51, 53 can either come into contact with the arms 43, 45 of the parallelogram arrangement or with the frame 21 of the clearing blade arrangement which is connected to the arms 43, 45. The stop element arrangement can prevent damage to the clearing blade 19 or the floor cleaning machine 1.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0055] 1 floor cleaning machine [0056] 3 housing [0057] 5 running gear [0058] 7 wheel [0059] 9 cleaning device [0060] 11 scrubbing deck [0061] 13 suction foot [0062] 15 handle [0063] 17 clearing blade arrangement [0064] 19 clearing blade [0065] 21 frames [0066] 23 flexible strip [0067] 25 first width [0068] 26 second width [0069] 27 front wheel [0070] 29 guiding wheel [0071] 31 first plane [0072] 33 bump [0073] 35 second plane [0074] 37 vertical distance [0075] 39 first parallelogram arrangement [0076] 41 second parallelogram arrangement [0077] 43 first arm [0078] 45 second arm [0079] 43, 45 first ends [0080] 43, 45 second ends [0081] 47 first pivot axis [0082] 49 second pivot axis [0083] 51 first stop element [0084] 53 second stop element