WO2005055795A1

WO2005055795A1 - Automotive or drivable sweeping device and combined sweeping device/ base station device

Info

Publication number: WO2005055795A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/053303
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dieter Kalemba; Birgit Gawlik; Jörg Sommer
Original assignee: Vorwerk & Co. Interholding Gmbh
Priority date: 2003-12-10
Filing date: 2004-12-07
Publication date: 2005-06-23
Also published as: JP2007513659A; DE10357637A1; RU2006124525A; CN1889881A; EP1691657A1; EP2436296A1; ES2384618T3; ATE555708T1; ES2547064T3; EP2436296B1; JP4519140B2; EP1691657B1

Abstract

The invention relates to an automotive or drivable sweeping device (1) comprising a sweeping brush (6) and a dirt collector area (9) associated therewith. In order to improve the above-mentioned sweeping device such that it enables full cleaning in comparison with known devices, a liquid application device (10), which is arranged to the rear of the sweeping brush (6) in the direction of travel (r),is provided in addition to a dehumidifying device (17), which is arranged further behind.

Description

Self-propelled or traversing sweeper and combination of a sweeper with a base station

The invention initially relates to a self-propelled or traversing sweeper with a sweeping brush and an associated protective collecting space.

Sweepers of the type in question are known. In DE 44 14683 AI a sweeper is described and shown, which is provided with a device for picking up dust, dirt or the like from a surface to be cleaned with brushes and a receiving chamber for dirt. This sweeper can be interconnected with a suction device for emptying the receiving chamber. Furthermore, the sweeping device known from the aforementioned patent application is designed as a hand-held or stick-guided device having an electric motor for driving the sweeping brushes. In addition, self-propelled sweeping devices such as sweeping robots are known which autonomously work larger areas, in particular hard areas, by means of sweeping brushes and store the collected dirt in a receptacle. In this regard, reference is made, for example, to DE 10242257 AI.

With regard to the prior art described above, a technical problem of the invention is seen in improving the design of a sweeper of the type in question such that it enables complete cleaning compared to the known devices.

This object is achieved first and foremost by the subject matter of claim 1, with the focus being on a honey application device which is arranged behind the sweeping brush in the direction of travel and a dehumidifying device arranged further behind. As a result of this According to the design, complete cleaning, in particular of hard floors, is made possible. Experience shows that the usual sweeping of such hard floors does not lead to complete cleaning. Rather, a subsequent wet wiping of the hard floor is often required. The sweeping device according to the invention offers the possibility of having the sweeping followed by a damp mop. This enables complete hard floor cleaning in one operation. This user-friendly solution replaces the previously usual multiple work steps with different devices and corresponding set-up times. Furthermore, the design of the sweeping device according to the invention is conceivable both with autonomously operating sweeping devices, such as sweeping robots, and with hand-held or stick-guided sweeping devices. The individual assemblies of the sweeping device - sweeping device, liquid application device and Eutfeuchtung device - preferably work simultaneously. However, a solution is also conceivable in which individual assemblies can be activated as required. The specified inventive solution also results in a novel method for cleaning hard floors, in particular in the household sector, with sweeping first in one operation, then applying liquid to the hard floor and finally taking up the liquid film mixed with dirt particles. According to this embodiment, hard floors are cleaned without long set-up times, without physical contact with dirt or cleaning fluid, as is the case, for example, with conventional wet wiping and cleaning, and with only little physical exertion. Furthermore, sweeping and damp cleaning of overfloor surfaces and, for example, vertical surfaces such as wall tiles, shower cubicles or the like is also possible by means of the sweeping device according to the invention. In order to achieve a further improved cleaning result, it is provided that a cleaning roller is arranged in front of the dehumidifying device, by means of which the floor moistened by the liquid application device is processed mechanically. So even stubborn dirt on the hard floor can be removed in one operation. Cleaning with such a rotating cleaning roller, which is preferably driven by an electric motor, leads to very good results even without multiple forward and backward movement of the sweeper over the area to be cleaned. The cleaning roller is preferably covered with a cleaning cloth. Alternatively, the cleaning roller can also be a bristle roller. In order to achieve a significantly greater mechanical cleaning work compared to simply sweeping a soiled area with a conventional wiper or the like, it is further provided that the cleaning roller rotates at a higher relative speed with respect to the floor than the travel speed of the sweeper. For example, with a cleaning roller diameter of 40-60 mm, there is a rotation speed of the cleaning roller of more than 500 rpm, for example about 1000 rpm. The liquid application device arranged behind the sweeping brush in the direction of travel serves to wet the floor with cleaning liquid, for which purpose the liquid application device preferably has a metering gap oriented transversely to the direction of travel. An embodiment is also conceivable in which the liquid application device is formed by a plurality of application nozzles arranged next to one another transversely to the direction of travel. The liquid dispensing can be carried out with difficulty by opening and closing a valve. An embodiment is also conceivable in which the liquid is dispensed by pumps, for example by arranging a metering pump, such as a mini diaphragm pump. Due to the targeted application, a small amount of the cleaning liquid is sufficient to wet the floor. The application is preferably from 0.25 to 1 liter, more preferably 0.5 liters per 10 m ² . As a result, the fresh water tank and any waste water tank that may be provided can be of relatively small dimensions. To apply more cleaning liquid to heavily soiled areas if necessary can or. In order to apply a smaller amount to sensitive hard floors, such as parquet or laminate, it proves sensible that the dispensing volume is adjustable. The dirty water remaining on the floor is finally taken up by the dehumidifying device, the latter being a suction device. Such a suction device is provided with a suction / blower motor producing an air flow and a shut-off sheath. An embodiment is preferred in which the dehumidifying device is designed as a wipe. Such a wipe can be a cloth stretched in the floor area of the sweeper. In a preferred embodiment it is provided that the wipe is arranged all around. Such a wiping cloth, which rotates very slowly in particular, can be used for a significantly longer period of time since, due to its greater length, it can absorb more liquid than a wiping cloth stretched on the bottom. In addition, the all-round wiping cloth can be dehumidified by squeezing, the liquid escaping being taken up in a collecting container. For this purpose, for example, two rollers are provided, between which the wipe is moved. In a further preferred embodiment of the subject matter of the invention, the sweeper is operated by means of an accumulator, which is particularly advantageous in the case of a self-propelled sweeper, such as a sweeping robot, but also in the case of a belt- or stick-guided sweeper. Both the rotating brush and the brush are used via the accumulator the cleaning roller and the dehumidifying device, in particular the rotating wipe, are driven, the metering quantity of the liquid dispenser being adjustable, for example, via integrated electronics. Via this electronics, the pump or the valve for dispensing the liquid can be triggered at intervals that are matched to the desired dosing quantity. Furthermore, the arrangement of a dirt sensor known per se is conceivable, particularly in the case of an autonomously operating sweeper, by means of which the dispensed quantity of the liquid is automatically adapted in accordance with the determined degree of contamination of the hard floor to be cleaned. The rough sweeping of the sweeping brush arranged in the direction of travel in front of the Elüssig- keit-Aufcagseirurichtung takes place in a known manner in that the motor-driven sweeping breasts convey loose dirt via a dirt ramp into a dirt container, for example a container shaped like a snail shell. This dirt container can either be removed and emptied after the cleaning process or vacuumed off with the aid of a vacuum cleaner. In this regard, reference is made to the above-mentioned DE 44 14683 AI, the content of which is hereby fully incorporated into the disclosure of the present invention, also for the purpose of including features of this patent application in claims of the present invention.

The invention also relates to a combination of a sweeper, in particular a sweeper as described above, in the form of a self-propelled sweeper with a base station in which the sweeper is located when not in use, for example for recharging batteries. A generic combination of a self-propelled sweeper with a base station is known from the above-mentioned DE 10242257 AI. The base station described there serves not only to recharge batteries but also to empty the dirt collecting container in which the corresponding dirt pick-up is sucked out by means of a separate vacuum cleaner. The content of this patent application is included in full in the disclosure in the present invention, also for the purpose of including features of this patent application in claims of the present invention. In order to further improve a generic combination, it is proposed that a cleaning device for the sweeping brush and / or for the dehumidifying device be provided in the base station. Such a cleaning device can also be used in dry sweepers as known from the prior art described above. In addition, however, also in a sweeper, which has a wet machining finishing direction according to the invention described above after a dry machining. Thus, in an advantageous manner, during a parking position of the sweeper in the base station, in addition to charging the rechargeable battery on the appliance side, the tillage devices of the appliance are also cleaned. As a result, any dirt residues adhering to the sweeping brush and / or to the dehumidifying device are advantageously removed in the parked position of the device. It is also proposed that a cleaning device for the cleaning roller is provided in the base station. It is further proposed that the cleaning device consists of a cleaning brush, wherein a plurality of cleaning brushes are also provided, which interact with the individual cleaning components of the device in association therewith. In any case, the cleaning brush is partially immersed in a cleaning liquid or can be wetted with it, so that the cleaning components of the device can be wet-cleaned. It is also proposed that the cleaning device be arranged in the base of a receiving station of the base station for the sweeper, for example in Form of an underfloor cleaning device, wherein a plurality of cleaning brushes are arranged in a trough which stores a cleaning liquid, which trough is passed over by the device with the same support on the edge. In this regard, it is also conceivable that the trough of the cleaning device is opened only when the device is moved onto the base station and closes automatically when the base station is left. Another advantage of the The solution according to the invention is that a liquid storage container is provided in the base station for filling a tank of the sweeper. This sweeper tank stores a cleaning liquid that is used to wet-clean a hard floor. According to the invention, this tank is refilled in the parked position of the device via the liquid reservoir on the station side. This filling can be automated, for example by docking the soapy tank into the liquid storage container. For this purpose, the tank on the device side can have a self-closing valve. It has also proven advantageous in this regard that a receptacle for dirty water is provided in the base station. For example, in the parked position of the device in the base station, the container storing the dirty water that is taken up is further preferably emptied automatically, for example by docking and supported by gravity.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which only show several exemplary embodiments. It shows:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a self-propelled sweeper according to the invention in the form of a sweeping robot.

2 shows the bottom view of this;

3 shows the schematic section along the line HI - HI in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a sectional illustration corresponding to FIG. 3, but relating to an alternative embodiment;

5 shows the self-propelled sweeper in a sectional view according to FIG. 4, but in association with a base station of the sweeping robot; Fig. 6 is a perspective schematic representation of the sweeper according to the invention in the form of a stick-guided device and

FIG. 7 shows a sectional illustration according to FIG. 4, but relating to the embodiment according to the illustration in FIG. 6.

Figures 1 and 2 show a sweeper 1 according to the invention in the form of an automatically movable cleaning robot with a chassis 2 and a covering hood 3 covering the chassis 2, as is known from DE 10242257 AI as a dust collector. The content of this patent application is hereby incorporated in full into the disclosure of the present invention, also for the purpose of including features of this patent application in claims of the present invention.

The autonomously operating sweeper 1 has two traction wheels 4 driven by an electric motor.

In the direction of travel r, an electric motor-driven sweeping brush 6 extending transversely to the direction of travel r is arranged on the end face, which serves to accommodate the coarse clan. This is done by mechanical brushing of the hard floor 7 to be cleaned by means of the sweeping brush 6, the dirt particles being conveyed into a dirt collecting space 9 via a dirt ramp 8 arranged behind the sweeping brush 6 in the direction of travel r. The latter and the dirt ramp 8 merging into it are shaped like a snail shell in cross section as shown in FIG. 3, so that the dirt accommodated in the dirt collecting space 9 cannot escape again automatically. Furthermore, a liquid application device 10 is provided behind the sweeping brush 6 or the dirt ramp 8 - viewed in the direction of travel r. This has a tank 11 for storing a cleaning liquid, which opens into a metering gap 13 oriented transversely to the direction of travel r in the area of the chassis floor 12 penetrated by the sweeping brush 6 and the dirt ramp 8. This metering gap 13 can be opened and closed via a valve 14.

The liquid is dispensed after gravity-assisted opening of the valve 14. An embodiment is also conceivable in which the liquid is supplied via a metering pump. Dosing of the liquid dispenser is also provided. This dosing can be done manually via a controller. In connection with an optionally provided dirt sensor of the sweeping device 1, by means of which a degree of soiling of the hard floor 7 to be cleaned can be determined, the metering can also take place with the aid of an electronic evaluation unit.

In the direction of travel r of the liquid application device 10 there is a cleaning roller 15 which, like the sweeping brush 6, extends transversely to the direction of travel r and has the same direction of rotation as the sweeping brush 6. In the embodiment shown in FIG Cleaning roller 15 around a bristle roller for mechanical brushing of the hard floor 7 moistened by the Hüssigkeit application device 10.

The speed of rotation, in particular of the cleaning roller 15, is selected such that it rotates at a higher relative speed compared to the hard floor 7 compared to the traveling speed of the sweeper 1. Both the cleaning roller 15 and the sweeping brush 6 preferably rotate at a speed of approximately 1000 rpm.

As in the embodiment as shown in Fig. 4, the cleaning roller 15 can also be covered with a cleaning cloth 16.

In the direction of travel r finally a Entfeuchtimgs device 17 is provided for receiving the dirty water located on the hard floor 7. This E tfeuchtimgs device 17 may be a suction device, for which purpose a suction fan, not shown, is arranged in the sweeper 1. A liquid separator is assigned to this.

As shown in FIG. 3, the humidification device 7 can also be formed in the simplest manner by a wiping cloth 18 stretched under the chassis floor 12, which wipe is appropriately adjusted to receive a larger amount of liquid.

Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 4, the

17 from a revolving wipe 18, which is driven by electric motors in a vertical plane around deflection rollers 19. The revolving speed of this endless wipe is set low. This alternative solution can be used for a significantly longer time, since such a wiping wipe 18 can absorb more liquid due to its longer length.

The circumferential wipe 18 is dehumidified by squeezing, for which purpose two additional rollers 20 are provided, between which the wipe 18 is passed. The wiping cloth 18 is wrung out by means of these rollers 20 gene, the liquid emerging here being received in a collecting container 21.

It is further preferred, as shown in FIG. 4, that the circumferential wiping cloth 18 is guided over a relatively large contact area over the hard floor 7 to receive the dirty water.

By means of the arrangement of a coarse dirt according to the invention - formed by sweeping brush 6 and dirt collecting space 9 - a liquid application device 10, a cleaning roller 15 and a final dehumidifying device 17 in one device, a simplified and, moreover, hygienic complete cleaning of a hard floor can be achieved. In particular due to the fact that coarse dirt is first picked up by sweeping, only a relatively small amount of liquid is required for the subsequent wet cleaning in the case of usual soiling. In a preferred embodiment, approximately 1 liter of cleaning liquid is sufficient for an area of approximately 20 square meters to be cleaned. The tank 11 and the collecting container 21 can be dimensioned correspondingly small, which in turn leads to a compact design of the sweeping device 1.

The electric motors for the sweeping brush 6, the cleaning roller 15 and for the drive for the rotating wiping cloth 18 are operated via a battery 22, which is only shown schematically and via which a power supply to a control unit, for example for controlling the valve 14 in the metering gap 13, can also be achieved.

It is also known from the aforementioned DE 10242257 AI to assign the sweeper 1 a base station 23 to which the sweeper 1 automatically returns, among other things, for charging the battery 22. At this base Station 23 can be emptied of the dirt collecting space 9 in a known manner by means of a separate vacuum cleaner.

As shown in the schematic representation in FIG. 5, the base station 23 can have a cleaning device 31 for self-cleaning of the sweeper 1, for which purpose a base 24 filled with a cleaning liquid 30 is provided in the base station 23, via which the sweeping brush 6, which The cleaning roller 15 and, if necessary, the wiping cloth 18 float over the traversing wheels 4 when the sweeper 1 is supported at the edge of the tub. Arranged in the tub 24, parallel to the sweeping brush 6 or. of the cleaning roller 15, and in any case partially immersed in cleaning fluid 30, the cleaning components of the sweeping device 1 are cleaned automatically, the cleaning brushes 25 arranged in the underfloor tub 24 being designed as an underfloor basin can be actively driven and, via these rotating cleaning brushes 25, the sweeping brush 6 and the cleaning roller 15 are rotated to completely clean them. The circumferential wiping cloth 18 is also moved in the circumferential direction via further cleaning brushes 25 in order to completely clean it

In this regard, it is also conceivable to arrange inactive cleaning brushes 25 which are only rotatably mounted. The corresponding components of the sweeping device 1 are cleaned here by switching on the electric motors and the associated rotation of the sweeping brush 6 and the cleaning roller 15 or the associated circular movement of the wiping cloth 18, these components being cleaned by a meshing effect with the cleaning brushes 25.

Also conceivable, but not shown, in the base station 23 is also a refilling of the tank 11 on the device side with cleaning liquid, for which purpose A liquid storage container is provided in the base station 23 and the tank 11 is further refilled automatically when the device 1 is docked onto the base station 23, for example by acting on a tank-side, self-closing valve.

Furthermore, the emptying of the collecting container 21 in the base station 23 is also conceivable, for which the base station 23 has a receiving container for the dirty water. This emptying can also take place automatically when the device 1 is docked at the base station 23, wherein, for example, a self-closing valve is opened when docking and the dirty water stored in the collecting container 21 drains heavily into the receiving container on the station-side.

As further in the representations in the property. 6 and 7, the sweeper 1 can also be designed in the form of a hand-held or stick-guided device. Thus, the sweeper 1 is provided with a receptacle 26 into which a device handle 28 provided at the end with a handle 27 can be inserted. The arrangement of the individual cleaning components such as sweeping brush 6, liquid

10, cleaning roller 15 and dehumidifying device 17 correspond to the arrangement in the exemplary embodiments described above. The electric motors used to drive the individual components are battery-operated by this arm-guided device. In contrast to the sweeping robot described above, no traction wheels driven by an electric motor are provided. The device is supported on the hard floor 7 via conventional support rollers or the like.

By means of this hand-held sweeper 1, sweeping / damp cleaning of surface areas and, for example, also vertical surfaces is possible, for example for cleaning wall tiles or shower partitions. All of the features disclosed are (in themselves) essential to the invention. The disclosure content of the associated / attached priority documents (copy of the prior application) is hereby also included in full in the disclosure of the application, also for the purpose of including features of these documents in claims of the present application.

Claims

EXPECTATIONS

1. Self-propelled or traversing sweeper (1) with a sweeping brush (6) and an associated dirt collecting space (9), characterized by a liquid Auftiagsemrichtung (10) which is arranged in the direction of travel (r) behind the sweeping brush (6) and one dehumidification device (17) arranged further behind.

2. Sweeper according to claim 1 or in particular according thereto, characterized in that a cleaning roller (15) is arranged in front of the dehumidifying device (17).

3. Sweeper according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the cleaning roller (15) is covered with a cleaning cloth (16).

4. Sweeper according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the cleaning roller (15) is a bristle roller.

5. Sweeper according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the cleaning roller (15) rotates at a higher relative speed with respect to the ground (7) compared to the travel speed of the sweeper (1).

6. Sweeper according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the liquid

(10) has an aligned metering gap (13).

7. Sweeper according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the liquid dispensing is heavily assisted.

8. Sweeper according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the liquidity is output by pumps.

9. Sweeper according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the output quantity is adjustable.

10. Kebrgerät according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the Ehtfeuch- device (17) is a suction device.

11. Sweeper according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the fiitfeuch- device (17) is designed as a wipe (18).

12. Sweeper according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the wipe (18) is arranged all around.

13. Sweeper according to one of the several of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the rotating de wiping cloth (18) is dehumidified by squeezing and the liquid escaping is received in a collecting container (21).

14. Sweeper according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the sweeper (1) is operated via an accumulator (22)

15. Combination of a sweeper (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, in the embodiment of a self-propelled sweeper (1) with a base station (23), in which the sweeper (1) when not in use, for example for recharging batteries (22 ), characterized in that a cleaning device (31) for the sweeping brush (6) and / or for the dehumidifying device (17) is provided in the base station (23).

16. Combination according to claim 15 or in particular according thereto, characterized in that a cleaning device (31) for the cleaning roller (15) is provided in the base station (23).

17. Combination according to claims 15 to 16 or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the cleaning device (31) consists of a cleaning brush (25).

18. Combination according to claims 15 to 17 or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the cleaning brush (25) is in any case partially immersed in a cleaning liquid (30) or is wettable with such a liquid.

19. Combination according to claims 15 to 18 or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the cleaning device (31) is arranged in the bottom of a receiving space of the base station (23) for the sweeper (1).

20. Combination according to claims 15 to 19 or in particular according thereto, characterized in that a liquid reservoir is provided in the base station (23) for filling a tank (11) of the sweeper (1).

21. Combination according to claims 15 to 20 or in particular according thereto, characterized in that a receptacle for dirty water is provided in the base station (23).