WO2002069775A2 - Sweeper - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a sweeper for cleaning carpets and hard floors, comprising a housing, a dirt collector having a dirt inlet, and a driven rotary brush disposed adjacent to the dirt inlet. The rotary brush is associated with a sweeping sill on the dirt inlet, via which sweeping sill dirt particles are transported to the dirt collector. The aim of the invention is to improve the sweeper in such a manner that its forward movement is not impeded by the sweeping sill. To this end, the sweeping sill is mounted on the housing in such a manner that it can be adjusted in a direction towards the floor area to be cleaned.

Description

 sweeper

The invention relates to a sweeper for cleaning carpets and hard floors, comprising a housing, a dirt collecting container which has a dirt inlet opening, and a brush roller which can be rotated and is arranged adjacent to the dirt inlet opening, a brushing threshold being assigned to the brush roller at the dirt inlet opening, via which dirt particles in the dirt collection container can be transferred.

Such sweepers allow cleaning of both carpets and hard floors. Dirt particles can be picked up by the brush roller and thrown into the dirt collecting container via the sweeping threshold. The sweeping edge should be as close as possible to the floor surface to be cleaned, so that it can be prevented that the dirt particles caught by the brush roller are thrown under the sweeping edge. When cleaning deep-pile carpets, however, there is a risk that the sweeping threshold will get caught in the carpet, so that the sweeper is impeded from moving forward.

The object of the present invention is to develop a sweeper of the generic type in such a way that the forward movement of the sweeper is prevented by the sweeping threshold. This object is achieved according to the invention in a sweeper of the type mentioned at the outset in that the sweeping threshold is held on the housing so as to be adjustable in the direction of the floor surface to be cleaned. The sweeping threshold can thus be adjusted in its distance from the floor surface, so that jamming of the sweeping threshold, for example with a carpet, can be reliably prevented by correspondingly positioning the sweeping threshold above the carpet.

The threshold is adjustable on the housing. This enables, in particular, an embodiment in which the sweeping threshold is arranged to be movable relative to the brush roller, so that when cleaning a carpeted floor the brush roller sinks somewhat into the carpet, but the sweeping threshold slides over the fibers of the carpet.

An actuator is preferably assigned to the threshold for positioning the threshold at a minimum distance from the floor surface when the housing is approaching the floor surface. By means of the actuator, the threshold can be independent of the nature of the floor surface, i.e. both when cleaning a relatively soft carpet and a hard floor , be kept at a minimum distance from the floor.

It is advantageous if the actuator has mechanical contact elements which contact the floor surface when the minimum distance between the bump threshold and the floor surface is undershot and keep the bump threshold at a distance from the floor surface. The minimum distance is preferably approximately 0.3 to approximately 0.7 mm, in particular approximately 0.5 mm. The contact elements can, for example, be designed as freely rotatable contact rollers mounted on the bump. In a particularly preferred embodiment, it is provided that the contact elements are designed as sliding skids that slide along the bottom surface when the minimum distance between the threshold and bottom surface is undershot. In particular, it can be provided that the sweeper is designed to be movable and includes drive wheels and / or support rollers, the skids being held relative to the floor surface to be cleaned above the peripheral region of the drive wheels and / or support rollers contacting the floor surface. As a result, the skids are spaced from the floor surface when cleaning a hard floor, but slide along the carpet when cleaning a carpet, while the drive wheels and / or support rollers sink somewhat into the carpet due to the weight of the sweeper.

A guide can be used for the adjustable mounting of the bump on which the bump is slidably held. Alternatively and / or additionally, it can be provided that the sweeping threshold can be pivoted about a pivot axis aligned parallel to the axis of rotation of the brush roller. For this purpose, the sweeping threshold can be held on at least one pivoting pivot arm, which is preferably articulated on the rigid housing.

The mechanical contact elements explained above are preferably held on the swivel arm. It is advantageous if the contact elements are integrally connected to the swivel arm. For this purpose, it is advantageous if the swivel arm falls below one a minimum distance between the threshold and the floor surface has the sliding surface contacting the floor surface.

It is particularly advantageous if the sliding surface of the swivel arm projects beyond the sweeping threshold in the direction of the floor surface. The protrusion of the sliding surface ensures that the sweeping threshold is kept at a distance from the floor surface even when cleaning a carpet, since the sliding surface slides along the carpet and the sweeping threshold is set back in relation to the sliding surface in the direction facing the floor surface.

In a mechanically particularly resilient embodiment of the sweeping device according to the invention it is provided that the sweeping device has two pivotably mounted swivel arms, at the free ends of which the sweeping threshold is held. It is advantageous if the two swivel arms are arranged outside the dirt inlet opening, for example, to accommodate the dirt inlet opening between them. Such a positioning of the swivel arms has the consequence that the dirt inlet opening has a geometry that is not influenced by the position of the swivel arms and consequently the shape of the dirt inlet opening is independent of the position of the swivel arms.

In order to achieve as constant a distance as possible between the bump threshold and the floor surface, it is advantageous if the bump threshold is elastically prestressed in the direction of the floor surface by means of a spring element. In such a configuration, the sweeping threshold can be adjusted against the action of an elastic restoring force in the direction of the housing of the sweeping device. but it is ensured that the sweeping threshold assumes a defined position relative to the housing in the absence of external forces.

For example, a leaf spring or a spiral spring can be used as the spring element. It has proven to be particularly favorable if the spring element is made from a rubber-like material, preferably from an elastomer.

The spring element is advantageously held on the dirt collecting container, which is preferably rigidly connected to the housing.

In a particularly preferred embodiment it is provided that the spring element forms a flexible seal which is arranged between the sweeping threshold and the dirt collecting container. This enables a dust-tight closure of the dirt collecting container in the area of the adjustable sweeping threshold. It can be provided here that the seal forms at least one sealing lip which can be placed on a wall of the dirt collecting container.

To increase the cleaning effect of the sweeping device, it is advantageous if the sweeping device is designed as a sweeping suction device and, for this purpose, has a suction turbine which is in flow connection via a suction channel with the dirt collecting container and the dirt inlet opening. A suction flow can be generated by means of the suction turbine, which supports the transfer of the dirt particles from the dirt inlet opening into the dirt collecting container. It is advantageous here if a dirt filter is arranged in the suction duct and the suction duct forms the dirt collecting container upstream of the dirt filter. This enables a special compact design of the sweeper, since a separate dirt collecting container is not absolutely necessary.

It can be provided that the sweeper is designed to be movable, the dirt inlet opening facing the floor surface to be cleaned being arranged in a front region of the sweeper in the direction of travel, while the suction turbine is positioned in an end region of the sweeper rearward in relation to the direction of travel, and that the Suction channel is aligned substantially horizontally and connects the suction inlet opening with an inlet opening of the suction turbine. The suction channel can comprise holding means for holding the dirt filter, so that a region of the suction channel which extends upstream of the holding means and the dirt filter forms the dirt collecting container.

It is advantageous if the suction channel comprises a base plate which is detachably connected to the housing and on which the sweeping threshold is held. The base plate provides access to the suction channel for changing the dirt filter and, if necessary, for emptying the dirt collecting container.

When cleaning a resilient floor surface, in particular a carpet, the sweeper sinks somewhat into the floor surface due to its weight. This results in a higher friction of the brush roller with the bottom surface, so that in order to maintain a constant cleaning action, the driving force required to rotate the brush roller must be increased. The brush roller can be driven by means of an electric motor, the electric motor preferably being connected to a rechargeable voltage source. is closable. In order to limit the power consumption of the electric motor when cleaning a carpet, in particular, it is advantageous if the contact pressure of the brush roller on the floor surface to be cleaned can be controlled. It has proven to be advantageous if the brush roller is held on the housing so as to be adjustable in the direction of the bottom surface, the adjustment of the position of the brush roller being independent of the adjustment of the position of the sweeping roller. This enables the sweeper roller to be kept at a minimum distance from the floor surface, as described above, while the brush roller can sink somewhat into the carpet in order to achieve an improved cleaning effect when cleaning a carpet.

The brush roller can, for example, be slidably held on the housing by means of guide elements aligned obliquely or parallel to the vertical.

It is particularly expedient if the brush roller is mounted on the housing on a pivoting member so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis aligned parallel to the axis of rotation of the brush roller. To simplify the assembly of the sweeper, it is advantageous if the pivoting member comprises a drive housing for receiving an electric brush drive motor and an electrical voltage source. This enables the brush drive to be preassembled in the drive housing, which can then preferably be detachably connected to the housing of the sweeper.

In order to prevent the brush roller from going into the carpet covering beyond a predeterminable depth when cleaning a relatively soft floor covering, in particular a deep-pile carpet. sinks, it is expedient if the pivoting member comprises sliding runners which can be placed on the bottom surface to hold the brush roller in a predetermined position relative to the bottom surface. In a movable configuration of the sweeper, it is advantageous if the skids of the swivel member are held above the drive and / or support wheels of the sweeper relative to the floor surface to be cleaned, so that the skids of the swivel member are spaced from the floor surface when cleaning a hard floor , but when cleaning a carpet, slide along the carpet due to the sinking of the drive and / or support wheels.

In a particularly preferred embodiment it is provided that the sweeper is designed to be self-propelled. For this purpose, the sweeper can comprise a chassis, which is preferably formed in one piece with the housing and on which at least two drive wheels are rotatably mounted, which can be driven by means of at least one electric drive motor.

The following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention serves in conjunction with the drawing for a more detailed explanation. Show it:

Figure 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a sweeper;

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a bottom plate of the sweeper;

FIG. 3: a side view of the base plate according to FIG. 2 with the brush roller inserted; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation of the brush roller with an associated brush drive unit and

Figure 5 is a schematic side view of a front area of the sweeper.

In the drawing, a self-propelled sweeper, designated as a whole by the reference number 10, is shown with a housing 12 made of plastic and forming a chassis, on which two drive wheels 14 are rotatably mounted, which are by means of, in a manner known per se and therefore only shown schematically in the drawing of a conventional electric drive can be driven in rotation.

A cover can be placed on the housing 12, which forms a dust protection and is not shown in the drawing in order to achieve a better clarity.

The housing surrounds a suction channel 16 and comprises a support plate 20 which is aligned parallel to a bottom surface 18 and which is followed by a step 22 in the direction of travel 21 of the sweeper 10, via which the support plate 20 is integrally connected to a support plate 23 to which an end wall 24 facing the bottom surface 18 connects. At a distance from the support plate 20, the housing 12 comprises a base plate 26, which is shown in particular in FIGS. 2 and 3 and to which an end plate 28 is connected opposite to the direction of travel 21.

In its rear region, the housing 12 carries a suction turbine 30 with a turbine housing 31, which has a housing lower part 32 and includes an upper housing part 33 and receives a turbine wheel 34 and a turbine drive motor 35. By means of the turbine drive motor 35, the turbine wheel 34 can be driven to rotate about a turbine axis 36 oriented obliquely to the vertical. Adjacent to the turbine wheel is formed on the lower housing part 32, an intake port 37, via which the suction turbine 30 is in flow connection with the suction channel 16.

The base plate 26 is detachably connected to the end wall 24 and the support plate 20. For this purpose, as is particularly clear from FIG. 2, snap-in receptacles 39 are formed on the base plate 26, which cooperate with corresponding snap-in hooks (not shown), which are integrally connected to the end wall 24, and carry them in their rear region 21 in the direction of travel 21 the base plate 26 upwardly projecting locking hooks 40, which cooperate with corresponding locking receptacles on the support plate 20, also not shown in the drawing.

The bottom plate 26 defines below the support plate 23 a dirt inlet opening 42 which is delimited by longitudinal walls 43, 44 aligned parallel to the direction of travel 21 and front and rear transverse walls 45 and 46 aligned transversely to the direction of travel 21.

On the longitudinal walls 43 and 44, lateral guide walls 47 and 48, which are oriented upward and opposite to the direction of travel 21, adjoin. In the direction of travel 21 in front of the rear transverse wall 26, a dirt bump 50 plunges into the dirt inlet opening 42 and is held at the free end by sliding skids 52 and 53 arranged on the longitudinal walls 43 and 44 on the longitudinal walls 43 and 44, respectively. The skids 52, 53 each form a swivel arm which is articulated at a height at the front transverse wall 45 on a laterally projecting pivot pin 55 and can be pivoted about a pivot axis 56 oriented transversely to the direction of travel 21. As is particularly clear from FIG. 3, the skids 52, 53 are curved in the direction of the bottom surface 18 and form a sliding surface 57 with their underside facing the bottom surface 18.

In addition to the skids 52 and 53, the sill 50 is articulated to the bottom plate 26 via a resilient elastomer seal 59 which takes up the entire width of the base plate 26, the elastomer seal 59 exerting an elastic restoring force on the sill 50 when it is pressed into the dirt inlet opening 52 becomes. The elastomer seal 59 forms a sealing lip 60 in each of its lateral end regions which bear against the guide walls 47 and 48 and which ensure dust-tight closure of the suction channel 16 in the region between the base plate 18 and the bump 50.

A brush roller 63 is arranged adjacent to the dirt inlet opening 42 within the suction channel 16 with the axis of rotation 62 oriented transversely to the direction of travel 21, which is shown in highly schematic form in FIG.

The brush roller 63 comprises radially projecting sweeping brushes 64 which pass through the dirt inlet opening 42 and dirt particles from the Pick up the floor surface 18 and throw it into the suction channel 16 via the dust threshold 50. The dirt intake is supported by the suction flow, which is caused by the suction turbine 30.

To drive the brush roller 63, the sweeper 10 comprises a drive unit 66 arranged above the support plate 23, which is shown in particular in FIGS. 4 and 5. The drive unit 66 comprises an essentially cylindrical drive housing 67 which receives a drive motor 68 and rechargeable batteries 69. On the face side, downwardly projecting holding arms 70, 71 are formed on the drive housing 67, which laterally grip around the support plate 23 and support the brush roller 63 at their free ends, which is positioned in the holding arm 70 via gear means known per se and therefore not shown in the drawing are coupled to the drive motor 68.

The drive unit 66 is held by lever arms 73 which are integrally connected to the free ends of the holding arms 70 and 71 and which are articulated with their free end via integrally formed bearing sleeves 74 to bearing pins 75 formed laterally on the housing 12. The bearing pins 75 define a pivot axis 76 which is oriented transversely to the direction of travel 21 and parallel to the brush roller 63 (see FIG. 5).

The drive housing 67 forms, in combination with the holding arms 70 and 71 formed on the end face and the lever arms 73 attached to it, a pivoting member 78 for the pivotable mounting of the brush roller 63. As is particularly clear from FIG. 5, skids 80 are molded onto the free ends of the holding arms 70 and 71 facing the base surface 18.

On the base plate 26, the dirt inlet opening 43 has support rollers 82, 83 rotatably mounted so that the sweeper 10 can be supported on the base surface 18 to be cleaned.

As already explained, dirt can be picked up from the bottom surface 18 by means of the brush roller 63 and the suction flow generated by the suction turbine 30, which is symbolized by arrows 85, and transferred into the suction channel 16. This receives a dirt filter 87, and the area of the suction channel 16 arranged upstream of the dirt filter 87 forms a dirt collecting container 89.

If a hard floor is cleaned by means of the sweeper 10, the drive unit 66 is supported on the support plate 23 by a compression spring, not shown in the drawing, without the skids 80 touching the floor surface 18. The skids 52 and 53, on which the bump 50 is held, also assume a position at a distance from the floor surface 18 in this case. If, however, a relatively soft floor surface 18 is cleaned by means of the sweeper 10, for example a carpet, the drive wheels 14 and the support rollers 82 and 83 sink into the floor surface 18 to be cleaned, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The result of this is that the sliding surfaces 57 of the skids 52 and 53 touch the bottom surface 18 and in doing so press the sweeping threshold 15 against the spring force of the elastomer seal 59 into the suction channel 16 and thus keep it at a distance from the bottom surface 18 to be cleaned. The skids 80 of the swivel member 78 touch the floor surface 18 when cleaning a carpeted floor and in the process lift the swivel member 78 against the weight of the drive unit 66 upwards to such an extent that the sweeping brushes 64 of the brush roller 63, as shown schematically in FIG. 3, only slightly into the floor surface to be cleaned 18 penetrate, so that the carpet is thoroughly brushed, but an impermissibly high current consumption of the drive motor 68 of the brush roller 63 is avoided.

Claims

Sweeper for carpet and hard floor cleaning comprising a housing, a dirt collecting container, which has a dirt inlet opening, and a brush roller which can be rotated and is arranged adjacent to the dirt inlet opening, the brush roller being assigned a sweeping threshold at the dirt inlet opening, via which dirt particles can be transferred into the dirt collecting container characterized in that the sweeping threshold (50) is held on the housing (12) so as to be adjustable in the direction of the floor surface (18) to be cleaned. Sweeper according to claim 1, characterized in that an actuator (52, 53) is assigned to the sweeping threshold (50) for positioning the sweeping threshold (50) at a minimum distance from the floor surface (18) when the housing (12) approaches the floor surface (18 ). Sweeper according to Claim 2, characterized in that the actuator has mechanical contact elements (52, 53) which, when the minimum distance between the sweeping threshold (50) and the bottom surface (18) falls below, contact the bottom surface (18) and the sweeper threshold (50) in Keep a distance from the floor surface (18). Sweeper according to claim 3, characterized in that the contact elements than when the minimum distance is undershot sliding skids (52, 53) are formed between the bump (50) and the floor surface (18) along the floor surface (18). 5. Sweeper according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sweeping threshold (50) about a parallel to the axis of rotation (62) of the brush roller (63) aligned pivot axis (56) is pivotable. 6. Sweeper according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sweeping threshold (50) is held on at least one pivotably mounted swivel arm (52, 53). 7. Sweeping device according to claim 6, characterized in that the swivel arm (52, 53) has a sliding surface (57) contacting the floor surface (18) when the floor clearance (50) and the floor surface (18) fall below a minimum distance. 8. Sweeper according to claim 7, characterized in that the sliding surface (57) in the direction of the bottom surface (18) overhangs the sweeper threshold (50). 9. Sweeper according to claim 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that the sweeper (10) has two pivotably mounted swivel arms (52, 53), at the free ends of which the sweeper threshold (50) is held. 10. Sweeper according to claim 9, characterized in that the two swivel arms (52, 53) are arranged outside the dirt inlet opening (42). 11. Sweeper according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sweeping threshold (50) in the direction of the bottom surface (18) by means of a spring element (59) is elastically biased. 12. Sweeper according to claim 11, characterized in that the spring element (59) is made of a rubber-like material, preferably of an elastomer. 13. Sweeper according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the spring element (59) is held on the dirt collecting container (89). 14. Sweeper according to claim 11, 12 or 13, characterized in that the spring element forms a flexible seal (59) arranged between the sweeping threshold (50) and the dirt collecting container (89). 15. Sweeper according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sweeper (10) has a suction turbine (30) in flow connection via a suction channel (16) and the dirt collecting container (89) with the dirt inlet opening (42). 16. A sweeper according to claim 15, characterized in that a dirt filter (87) is arranged in the suction channel (16) and the suction channel (16) upstream of the dirt filter (87) forms the dirt collecting container (89). 17. Sweeper according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the suction channel (16) comprises a releasably connectable bottom plate (26) on which the sweeper threshold (50) is held. 18. Sweeper according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the brush roller (63) in the direction of the bottom surface (18) is held adjustable on the housing (12), the adjustment of the position of the brush roller (63) being independent of the adjustment the position of the threshold (50). 19. Sweeper according to claim 18, characterized in that the brush roller (63) on a pivot member (78) about a parallel to the axis of rotation (62) of the brush roller (63) aligned pivot axis (76) is pivotally held on the housing (12). 20. Sweeper according to claim 19, characterized in that the pivoting member (78) comprises a drive housing (67) for receiving an electric brush drive motor (68) and an electrical voltage source (69). 21. Sweeper according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that the pivot member (78) on the bottom surface (18) can be placed on skids (80) for holding the brush roller (63) in a predetermined position relative to the bottom surface (18). 22. Sweeper according to claim 19, 20 or 21, characterized in that the pivoting member (78) is detachably connected to the housing (12). 3. Sweeper according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sweeper (10) is designed to be self-propelled.