WO2014094834A1 - Self-propelled and self-steering floor cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a self-propelled and self-steering floor cleaning device, comprising a housing (26), a suction unit (70) arranged in the housing (26), a dirt collection container (38), wherein suction air can be sucked from the suction unit (70) through the dirt collection container (38) for subjecting the latter to negative pressure and wherein the suction unit (70) comprises an air discharge opening (79) for exhaust air. In order to provide a floor cleaning device having a lower noise emission, it is proposed according to the invention that the housing (26) comprises an air discharge chamber (58), into which the exhaust air from the suction unit (70) is discharged and which is provided with discharge openings (68) via which the exhaust air can emerge from the housing (26).

Description

 SELF-LEANING AND SELF-LIFTING FLOOR CLEANER

The invention relates to a self-propelled and self-steering floor cleaning device, comprising a housing, a suction unit arranged in the housing, a dirt collecting container, wherein suction from the suction unit through the dirt collecting through the same can be sucked with negative pressure and wherein the suction unit comprises an exhaust port for exhaust air.

Such a suction unit is described in EP 1 365 674 Bl. A floor surface to be cleaned can be cleaned by using the suction unit and by applying a cleaning brush.

Dirt is sucked through a suction opening, on which the cleaning brush is arranged in the dirt collecting container and deposited there. The dirt collecting container forms sections of a suction channel of the floor cleaning device through which the suction unit is fluidly connected to the suction port. Suction air enters after exiting the dirt collector through the suction passage into the suction unit and is discharged through the exhaust port of the floor cleaning device. The exhaust opening is directed obliquely upward away from the floor surface, so that the risk is reduced that dirt is detected by the exhaust air.

The floor cleaning device described in EP 1 365 674 Bl has proven itself in practice. Nevertheless, it would be desirable to provide a floor cleaning appliance that has less noise.

Object of the present invention is to provide a generic floor cleaning device, which has a lower noise.

This object is achieved in a floor cleaning device of the type mentioned in the present invention, that the housing an exhaust space um- in which the exhaust air is discharged from the suction unit and which is provided with outlet openings, can escape through the exhaust air from the housing.

In the floor cleaning device according to the invention, the exhaust air discharged from the suction unit via the exhaust air opening can expand in the exhaust air space formed by the housing. Due to the expansion, the flow rate of the exhaust air can be reduced before it exits the housing. It turns out in practice that the attributable to the exhaust air noise of the floor cleaning device can be significantly reduced. The expansion of the exhaust air in the exhaust air space preferably also allows diffused air to be distributed in a directed flow from the suction unit. This has the advantage that also through the outlet openings exiting exhaust air is distributed. As with the floor cleaning appliance described in the above-mentioned document, the risk can be reduced that dirt is detected by the exhaust air.

It is favorable if the direction of flow of the exhaust air points through the exhaust air opening away from the outlet openings. This makes it possible that the exhaust air is deflected at least once before exiting the housing and thereby expand in a simpler manner and preferably can be distributed diffusely.

In an advantageous embodiment of the floor cleaning appliance according to the invention, it is favorable if the flow direction of the exhaust air is directed through the exhaust air opening in the direction of a front side of the floor cleaning appliance.

Position and orientation indications such as "front", "back", "top", "bottom", "horizontal" or "vertical" are to be understood in the present case on the intended use of the floor cleaning device, which is positioned on a floor surface to be cleaned, wherein a Touch level defined by the floor cleaning device coincides with a plane of the floor surface which is considered to be oriented horizontally. Furthermore, these details are to be understood as based on a longitudinal or main direction of movement of the floor cleaning device.

In particular, in the last-mentioned advantageous embodiment, it is advantageous if the exhaust air space is arranged at a rear portion of the floor cleaning device behind the dirt collecting and when the outlet openings are arranged on a rear side of the floor cleaning device. Suction air can be sucked through the dirt collecting container into the suction unit from the front side, at which a suction opening can be arranged, and drained into the exhaust air space arranged at the rear area. At the back and in particular on a rear wall of the floor cleaning device outlet openings are arranged for the escape of exhaust air.

It is preferred if at least one Abluftumlenkelement is arranged in or at the exhaust air space, is deflected at least once with the exhaust air before exiting through the outlet openings. By deflecting the exhaust air, in particular in combination with a cross-sectional enlargement of the flow of the exhaust air, an effective noise reduction can be achieved. Preferably, the exhaust air is therefore deflected more than once before it exits the housing.

The flow direction of the exhaust air is preferably directed through the exhaust air opening onto an exhaust air deflecting element, so that it can be detected and deflected by the exhaust air deflecting element.

Conveniently, at least one Abluftumlenkelement on a flat extension, so that the exhaust air can be detected in a simple manner by Abluftumlenkelement. It is advantageous if a Abluftumlenkelement is formed as a partition which divides the exhaust air space into a first exhaust air space portion and a second exhaust air space portion, wherein the exhaust air is discharged into the first exhaust air space portion and flows around the partition in the second exhaust air space portion. The partition having a planar extension can be acted upon for example on one side with exhaust air and deflect it so that it is flowed around by the exhaust air before the exhaust air exits the housing. For example, the partition deflects the exhaust air in the direction of a side wall of the exhaust air space, on which side wall the exhaust air is redirected again to flow around the partition wall. It turns out in practice that this can be achieved a significant noise reduction.

It is expediently provided that the exhaust air space comprises a bottom wall and a ceiling wall and that the partition extends at least in sections between the bottom wall and the ceiling wall. For example, the partition may be at least partially extending from the bottom wall to the ceiling wall.

In an advantageous embodiment of the floor cleaning device in practice, it proves to be advantageous if the exhaust air Umluftumlenkelement before exiting from the outlet openings U-shaped rotates, for example, the above-mentioned partition, wherein the exhaust air in particular through the first and second exhaust air space to the outlet openings can flow.

As already mentioned, it can be provided that the exhaust air is deflected several times.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the floor cleaning appliance, it is advantageous if the exhaust air space comprises or forms at least one side wall forming an exhaust air deflecting element. For example, the side wall may be a front wall of the exhaust air space or vice versa a side wall, for example on a right side or a left side of the exhaust air space. The exhaust air can be discharged in particular in the direction of the front wall of the suction unit and previously meet on a partition wall, from which the exhaust air is deflected in the direction of the front wall.

Preferably, the housing comprises a first housing part and a second housing part, which form the exhaust air space, wherein the first housing part a ceiling wall, a front wall and preferably left and right side walls of the exhaust chamber and the second housing part have a bottom wall and a rear wall of the exhaust air space. This makes it possible to design the floor cleaning device structurally simple. The first housing part is, for example, a chassis of the floor cleaning appliance on which a chassis, possibly a cleaning brush and the dirt collecting container can be arranged, wherein the first housing part forms the top wall, the front wall and preferably left and right side walls. The second housing part forms the bottom wall and the rear wall of the exhaust air space, in particular on a rear side of the housing.

Preferably, the suction unit is arranged in the exhaust air space, because this also allows a structurally simple embodiment of the floor cleaning device.

It proves to be advantageous if the suction unit forms an axis and is positioned on the floor cleaning device, that the axis is arranged off-center to a first side of a longitudinal center plane of the floor cleaning device, and if the exhaust air space at least partially except for one of the first side with respect to the longitudinal center plane opposite second side extends. As a result, a compact design of the floor cleaning device can be achieved despite the presence of the exhaust air space. The suction unit is arranged on the floor cleaning device so that its axis has a distance from the longitudinal center plane. The exhaust air space is, at least in sections, on the opposite side of the longitudinal center of the axis level arranged. The exhaust air space may in particular extend from this side to the opposite side of the longitudinal center plane, on which the suction unit is arranged. This proves to be favorable, for example, in the above-mentioned advantageous embodiment, in which the suction unit is arranged in the exhaust air space.

Preferably, the exhaust port is arranged on the opposite side of the axis of the longitudinal center plane.

It is advantageous if the axis is inclined relative to the vertical in the direction of a front side of the floor cleaning device. For example, the axis has an angle of about 10 ° to about 30 ° relative to the vertical. The inclination of the suction unit relative to the vertical allows, for example, a structurally simple way to equip the floor cleaning device in the direction of the back with increasing bottom wall. This is beneficial because it reduces the risk that the floor cleaning device touches down on the floor surface when, for example, thresholds or carpet edges are run over.

Preferably, suction air enters the same at an upper side of the suction unit.

This proves to be particularly favorable when the suction unit is configured as axial-radial fan and when suction air enters axially through a central inlet opening and radially or tangentially exits through the exhaust air opening.

Preferably, the suction unit comprises a ring-shaped or spiral-shaped exhaust air duct, at the end of which the exhaust air opening is arranged. In the exhaust duct, which preferably widens continuously, a certain calming of the flow of the exhaust air can take place even before the exhaust air enters the exhaust air space in order to allow a further reduction in noise. It is advantageous if the floor cleaning device has a suction channel for suction, through which the suction unit with a suction opening, which is facing the floor surface to be cleaned, fluidly connected and which extends in sections through the dirt collecting, and if in a front wall of the exhaust chamber through opening of the Suction channel is formed. This allows a structurally simple embodiment, in which the front wall of the exhaust air space is included in the suction channel. The front wall of the exhaust air space can also form a wall of a receptacle for the dirt collector. In the recording, which will be discussed in more detail below, the dirt collecting container may preferably be detachably received.

The passage opening and advantageously one of these downstream in the flow direction of the suction air portion of the suction channel / are conveniently arranged off-center of a longitudinal center plane of the floor cleaning device and preferably arranged to that side of the longitudinal center plane to which the axis of the suction unit is arranged.

Advantageously, the floor cleaning device has at least one electrical device, which, opposite to an interior of the exhaust air space, is arranged on at least one wall of the exhaust air space. This gives the possibility that exhaust air can be used to cool the at least one electrical device. The flow of the exhaust air along the at least one wall of the exhaust air space allows it to be cooled. The cooling effect may extend to the outside of the exhaust air space arranged on the opposite side of the wall at least one electrical device.

Conveniently, the at least one electrical device comprises at least one printed circuit board which is aligned parallel or substantially parallel to the at least one wall. As a result, the cooling effect on the mini- at least one printed circuit board can be improved. The at least one printed circuit board can in particular rest flat against the at least one wall.

In an advantageous embodiment of the floor cleaning appliance according to the invention, it is favorable if an electrical device is arranged above a ceiling wall of the exhaust air space.

Conveniently, the electrical device comprises an optical sensor or such is arranged thereon, whose view is directed through an arranged in the top of the floor cleaning device viewing port in the housing. This allows a structurally simple embodiment of the floor cleaning device can be achieved. The electrical device above the ceiling wall, for example in the form of a printed circuit board, comprises the optical sensor which looks through the viewing opening or is arranged thereon. The sensor is for example an infrared receiver, especially an infrared camera. The infrared receiver can detect, for example, an infrared signal emitted by a loading and / or unloading station for the floor cleaning device, so that it can be purposefully activated and the floor cleaning device can dock thereon. The optical sensor can also be an optical, sensitive in the field of visible light camera. Images of the surroundings of the floor cleaning device taken via the camera can be processed by the electrical device. Information contained in the images can be used especially for localization and navigation of the floor cleaning device.

Further, it is advantageous if an electrical device is arranged on a side wall of the exhaust air space, in particular in the form of a printed circuit board.

The side wall is conveniently a suction unit opposite side wall of the exhaust space, along which preferably the exhaust air flows in the direction of the outlet openings. On the side next to the electrical device advantageously a receiving space on the housing is formed for electrical connection lines and / or electrical plug-in elements which are connected to the electrical device. In the receiving space, the connecting cables and / or plug-in elements can be stored space-saving.

The arranged on the side wall electrical device is conveniently connected via plugged connection lines with the above-mentioned electrical device above the top wall of Abluftrau- mes connected.

It is advantageous if the at least one electrical device is arranged on a rear side of the floor cleaning appliance and electrical connecting lines are guided on at least one side laterally past the dirt collecting container in the direction of the front side of the floor cleaning appliance. The connection lines can be guided to save space laterally past the dirt collector forward so that the dirt collector can have the greatest possible transverse extent. Batteries, a drive motor for a cleaning brush and / or sensor elements for the navigation of the floor cleaning device are arranged at the front, for example, which are electrically connected via the connecting lines to the electrical device at the rear. The connection lines are preferably guided past the dirt collecting container on two sides and in particular along two outer sides of the floor cleaning device.

The dirt collector is conveniently, it has already been received, releasably arranged on the floor cleaning device and this removable. A user can remove the dirt collector for emptying in a user-friendly way from the floor cleaning device. As a result, the entire floor cleaning appliance does not need to be transported to a drainage point. to be After emptying the dirt collector can be used in the floor cleaning device by the way again.

Preferably, the dirt collector is manually and in particular without tools detachable from the floor cleaning device and / or connectable to this. For example, the dirt collecting container locks with the floor cleaning appliance.

For the dirt collecting container a receptacle is conveniently formed on the floor cleaning device, wherein a rear wall of the receptacle may preferably form a front wall of the exhaust air space. In a rear wall of the dirt collecting container and in the front wall of the exhaust air space, mutually aligned passage openings are advantageously arranged through which suction air can be sucked from the dirt collecting container.

Advantageously, the dirt collecting container can be removed upwards in a direction away from the ground surface to be processed direction, because this facilitates the handling of the floor cleaning device.

It is favorable if the dirt collecting container has a filter element for filtering the suction air as well as a filter element cover and if the filter element can be removed from the dirt collecting container after opening the filter element cover on the cleanroom side. This facilitates the handling of the floor cleaning device and makes it more user-friendly. For cleaning or replacement of the filter element, the filter element cover can be released and accessed from the clean room side on the filter element.

As already mentioned, it is advantageous if the floor cleaning appliance has a cleaning brush. The cleaning brush is rotationally driven and arranged, for example, in the region of a front side at the suction opening. It is advantageous if a bottom wall of the housing is at least partially formed sloping sloping from the bottom surface to be cleaned, in the longitudinal direction of the floor cleaning device and preferably from a drive wheel to the back of the floor cleaning device. The sloping bottom wall reduces the risk that the floor cleaning device touches the housing when driving over thresholds or carpet edges.

The following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention serves in conjunction with the drawings, the detailed explanation of the invention. Show it :

Figure 1: a perspective view of an inventive

 Floor cleaning equipment;

Figure 2 is a rear view of the floor cleaning device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective sectional view of the floor cleaning device of Figure 1 partially in exploded view, wherein the sectional plane along the line 3-3 in Figure 2 runs;

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the floor cleaning appliance from FIG. 1,

 wherein a ceiling wall of a housing and a dirt collecting container are not shown;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of a rear portion of the floor cleaning device of Figure 1 along the line 5-5 in Figure 2 and

Figure 6: a side view of the floor cleaning device of Figure 1 from the left, partially in exploded view. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a floor cleaning appliance according to the invention, indicated overall by the reference numeral 10. The floor cleaning device 10 is designed as a self-propelled and self-steering floor cleaning device, as a so-called "cleaning robot", which allows the autonomous cleaning of a bottom surface 12 shown in Figure 2. The floor cleaning device 10 has a front side 14, a rear side 15, a left side 16, a right side 17, an upper side 18 and a lower side 19.

Positioning and orientation indications such as "front", "rear", "horizontal" and "vertical" are presently considered to refer to a use position of the floor cleaning device 10 on the bottom surface 12 and a longitudinal or main movement direction 20 of the floor cleaning device 10, wherein the Floor surface 12 is considered to be horizontally aligned.

At the bottom 19, the floor cleaning device 10 includes a chassis 22 with two drive wheels 23 and 24 and not shown in the drawing castors. The drive wheels 23 and 24 are disposed near the left and right sides 16, 17 and in the longitudinal direction of the floor cleaning device 10 approximately behind the center thereof.

The floor cleaning device 10 comprises a generally designated by the reference numeral 26 housing 26, which includes, among other housing parts 28, 29, 30 and 31. The housing part 28 forms a supporting chassis 32 of the floor cleaning device 10, on which the chassis 22 is held. On the chassis 32, a cleaning brush 33 is also held near the front side 14. The cleaning brush 33 is rotationally driven about a rotational axis 34 oriented transversely to the longitudinal direction, so that dirt can be detached from the floor surface 12 to be cleaned. The cleaning brush 33 is arranged in the region of a suction opening 35, which faces the bottom surface 12. The chassis 32 forms in the longitudinal direction behind the cleaning brush 33 a presently shaft-shaped receptacle 36, in which a dirt collecting container 38 of the floor cleaning device 10 is detachably received. The receptacle 36 is bounded by a rear wall 40 and left and right side walls 41 and 42 and a bottom wall 43. In the direction of the cleaning brush 33, the receptacle 36 is substantially opened, so that dirt are conveyed through a through hole 44 in the dirt collecting 38 can.

The dirt collecting container 38 has a trough-shaped or dish-shaped lower part 46 with a through opening 47 formed on its front side, which is aligned with the passage opening 44, so that dirt can get into the dirt collecting container 38. A rear wall of the lower part 46 can be applied to the rear wall 40, wherein a passage opening 49 in the rear wall 48 is aligned with a passage opening 50 in the rear wall 40.

The lower part 46 comprises an upper wall 51 which extends in the longitudinal direction approximately over half of a defined dirt space 52. In the longitudinal direction behind the dirt collecting container 38, a filter element 53, which is taken in this case in a filter cartridge. As a filter medium, for example, a flat pleated filter is used, in particular of a paper or polyester material. The filter element 53 is detachably fixed to the upper wall 51 and the rear wall 48.

The dirt collecting container 38 also has an upper part in the form of a cover 54, which is releasably or movably, for example, pivotally mounted on the lower part 46. After releasing the cover 54, it is possible for a user to remove the filter element 53 in a user-friendly manner on the cleanroom side so that it can be cleaned or replaced.

The cover 54 further includes an opening 55 through which a locking member 56 on the upper wall 51 is accessed from above can be. About the locking element 56, such as a locking element, the dirt collecting 38 can be locked to the chassis 32.

Incidentally, the debris collecting container 38 may be removed from the floor cleaning apparatus 10 and emptied in a user-friendly manner so that the floor cleaning apparatus 10 does not have to be transported to a discharge site. The removal of the dirt collecting container 38 is user-friendly upwards away from the bottom surface 12 through an opening formed in the lid-shaped housing part 30 therethrough. The housing part 30 covers the chassis 32 from the left side 16 to the right side 17 and longitudinally approximately from the passage opening 44 to the rear side 15. Towards the front side 14, the front housing part 31 connects to the housing part 30.

In the longitudinal direction of the floor cleaning device 10, the rear wall 40 separates the receptacle 36 from a space arranged in the rear region of the floor cleaning device 10, hereinafter referred to as the exhaust air space 58. The exhaust air space 58 extends in the longitudinal direction about one third and in the transverse direction about 50% to 75% of the floor cleaning device. The exhaust air space 58 is formed by the chassis 32, which the rear wall 40 (hereinafter referred to as front wall 40 of the exhaust air space 58), a left side wall 59, a right side wall 60 and a top wall 61 of the exhaust chamber 58 includes (Figures 3 to 5).

The ceiling wall 61 is partially planar and in particular aligned horizontally, namely at a right of a longitudinal center plane 62 disposed side of the ceiling wall 61. The corresponding portion of the ceiling wall 61 is marked with the reference numeral 63. On the left of the longitudinal center plane 62, the ceiling wall 61 is curved in contrast, upwardly, wherein on the top side on the ceiling wall 61 a dome-shaped cover 64 is sealingly placed, will be discussed below. The rear, lower housing part 29 forms a bottom wall 66 of the exhaust air space 58, which at the same time forms in sections a bottom wall of the housing 26 at its rear region. The rear wall 67 has a plurality of outlet openings 68 for exhaust air of a suction unit 70 of the floor cleaning device 10. The housing part 29 is joined gap-free to the chassis 32, so that the exhaust chamber 58th is essentially sealed at the joints and exhaust air can escape via the outlet openings 68 into the atmosphere.

The suction unit 70 is received in the exhaust air space 58, wherein it abuts the bottom side 66 on the bottom wall 66 and on the top side on the ceiling wall 61. The suction unit 70 is arranged to the left side of the longitudinal center plane 62, wherein it protrudes slightly to the right side beyond this.

In the present case configured as axial-radial fan, the suction unit 70 comprises an upper-side central inlet opening 72 through which suction air can be sucked. The inlet opening 72 is formed at the end of a suction channel 74, via which the suction unit 70 is flow-connected to the suction opening 35. The suction channel 74 extends from the suction opening 35 through the aligned through holes 44 and 47, partially through the dirt collecting container 38 and the aligned through holes 49 and 50 and a subsequent thereto in the suction direction Saugkanalabschnitt 75 to the inlet opening 72. The Saugkanalabschnitt 75 is the top side through the dome-shaped cover 64 limited. The suction channel 74 is also arranged on the suction channel section 75 to the left side of the longitudinal center plane 62, ie on the side on which the suction unit 70 is substantially arranged with respect to the longitudinal center plane 62. The passage openings 49 and 50 are arranged to the left side of the longitudinal center plane 62. The suction unit 70 is positioned and oriented on the floor cleaning device 10 in such a way that a fan axis 76 defined by it is inclined at an angle in the direction of the front side 14, as can be seen in particular from FIG. The axis 76 is also slightly inclined in the direction of the left side 16 (Figure 5). For example, the angle between the axis 76 and the vertical indicated by reference numeral 77 in FIG. 6 is about 10 ° to about 30 °, and in the present case about 15 °. Due to the inclination of the suction unit 70 this can be installed to save space on the floor cleaning device 10. This also makes it possible to form the bottom wall of the housing 26 in the direction of the rear side 15 rising to the rear. The bottom wall extends with respect to the bottom surface 12 approximately inclined from the drive wheels 23 and 24 to the back 15. This reduces the risk that the floor cleaning device 10 is seated when driving over sleepers or carpet edges.

The suction unit 70 comprises an axis 76 which extends annularly around the exhaust air duct 78, which widens continuously or essentially continuously in the flow direction of the exhaust air and has an exhaust air opening 79 at the end, from which exhaust air emerges approximately radially. An end portion of the exhaust duct 78 passes through the longitudinal center plane 62 and is arranged to the right side thereof, as well as the exhaust port 79. Via the exhaust port 79 of the exhaust duct 78 opens into the not occupied by the suction unit 70 region of the exhaust chamber 58. The flow direction of the exhaust air through the exhaust port 79 is directed away from the outlet openings 68, namely obliquely forward in the direction of the front side 14 and the right side 17th

In the exhaust air chamber 58, a Abluftumlenkelement 81 is arranged, which is configured here as a flat element, in particular in the form of a partition 82. The partition 82 divides the exhaust chamber 58 on the right side of the longitudinal center plane 62 in an exhaust air space 83 left of the partition 82, according to is bounded on the left substantially by the exhaust air passage 78, and an exhaust air space portion 84 to the right of the partition 82nd The exhaust air space portion 84 is bounded to the right by the side wall 60. The exhaust air space portions 83 and 84 are fluidly connected to each other in front of the partition wall 82 and limited there by the front wall 40. The partition wall 82 extends from the bottom wall 66 to the ceiling wall 61.

Exhaust air of the suction unit 70 can meet after exiting through the exhaust port 79 on the partition wall 82 and is deflected by this in the direction of the front wall 40. Furthermore, the exhaust air can flow around the dividing wall 82 in a substantially U-shaped or hairpin-shaped manner. In this case, the exhaust air is deflected except by the partition wall 82 and the front wall 40 and the side wall 60. The flow of the exhaust air can be expanded by the redirecting in the exhaust air chamber 58 on the one hand and slowed down on the other. As a result, the exhaust air space 58 forms an expansion space for exhaust air, wherein a considerable reduction in noise of the exhaust air flow can be achieved by the expansion of the exhaust air, the flow slowdown and the deflection.

The exhaust air, after flowing around the dividing wall 82 on the rear side 15, can exit through the outlet openings 68, in the transverse direction over the entire width of the rear wall 67, i. Exhaust air can also flow behind the partition wall 82 to the left side of the longitudinal center plane 62. The provision of the exhaust air chamber 58 in the housing 26 and the multiple deflection of the exhaust air allows, as is shown in practice, to significantly reduce the noise of the exhaust air flow. This proves to be particularly advantageous if the floor cleaning device 10 is used in the evening or night hours for cleaning the bottom surface 12 and only a small noise is desired.

The floor cleaning device 10 has electrical devices 86 and 87, which are arranged on the exhaust air space 58. The electrical devices 86 and 87 each comprise a plurality of electrical and electronic components which are fixed to printed circuit boards 88 and 89, which are shown schematically. lays are. In the drawing, the circuit board 88 is shown only in Figure 4 and the circuit board 89 only in Figures 4 and 5.

The printed circuit board 88 rests on short spacer elements, this is not shown in the drawing, on top of the ceiling wall 61, on its plate-shaped section 63. An optical sensor shown schematically in FIG. 4 and, in particular, an infrared sensor 90 is arranged laterally next to the printed circuit board 88 and placed in front of it. The infrared sensor 90 is electrically connected to the circuit board 88 via electrical connection elements, not shown in the drawing. About a formed in the housing part 30 viewing aperture 91, the field of view of the infrared sensor 90 is directed to the outside. With the infrared sensor 90, an infrared signal of a charging and / or emptying station for the floor cleaning device 10 can be detected. This allows the station to be controlled and docked. The optical sensor may be spatially resolving, such as a camera. With the camera images of the environment of the floor cleaning device 10 can be created and transmitted to the electrical device 86. Based on the information obtained from the images, the floor cleaning device 10 can navigate.

The circuit board 89 is held laterally next to the side wall 60 in a slot-shaped receptacle, wherein it bears against the outside of the side wall 60 on the outside. To the right of the exhaust air space 58, a receiving space 92 is formed by the chassis 32, on the left side of the circuit board 89 is arranged. The receiving space 92, this is not shown in the drawing, serves to accommodate electrical connection lines and / or electrical plug-in elements which are connected to the circuit board 89 or the circuit board 88. The circuit boards 88 and 89 are connected to each other, for example via electrical plug-in elements.

The arrangement of the electrical devices 86 and 87 on walls of the exhaust air space 58 makes it possible to use the flow of the exhaust air in the exhaust air space 58 for cooling the devices 86 and 87. A result of the flow of Exhaust air resulting cooling effect has an effect on the top wall 61 and the side wall 62 except for the devices 86 and 87. For further cooling, a ventilation opening 93 is formed on the bottom side in the chassis 32, via which the receiving space 92 opens into the atmosphere.

Electrical connection lines are laid on the floor cleaning device 10 to save space, and they run along the left side 16 and the right side 17 laterally past the dirt collecting 38. At the left side 16, the floor cleaning device 10 has a cable guide 94 for the connecting cable, not shown in the drawing. The connection cables can be guided, for example, from the rear side 15 behind the dome-shaped cover 64 past the devices 86 and 87 on top of the chassis 32 through the cable guide 94. The cable guide 94 has holding elements 95 for fixing the connection lines, for example in the form of rings. Correspondingly, the floor cleaning device 10 on the right side 17 comprises a cable guide 96 and corresponding holding elements 97 for fixing the connection lines on the chassis 32.

The connection lines are guided in the direction of the front side 14, at the u.a. Batteries, a drive motor 98 for the cleaning brush 33 and sensor elements, for example, to navigate and locate the floor cleaning device 10 are arranged.

Due to the course of the connecting lines laterally past the dirt collecting container 38, it can be equipped with a large capacity in the region of the center of the floor cleaning appliance 10.

Claims

PAT EN TA NSPR O CHE 1. Self-propelled and self-steering floor cleaning device, comprising a housing (26), a in the housing (26) arranged suction unit (70), a dirt collecting container (38), wherein suction from the suction unit (70) through the dirt collecting container (38) therethrough for applying the same Vacuum is sucked in and wherein the suction unit (70) comprises an exhaust port (79) for exhaust air, dadu rch ge nge ze ch n et, that the housing (26) comprises an exhaust air space (58) into which the exhaust air from the suction unit (70) is discharged and is provided with outlet openings (68) through which exhaust air from the housing (26) can escape. 2. Floor cleaning appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the flow direction of the exhaust air through the exhaust port (79) through from the outlet openings (68) points away. 3. Floor cleaning appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the flow direction of the exhaust air through the exhaust port (79) is directed towards a front side (14) of the floor cleaning device (10). 4. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the exhaust air space (58) at a rear portion of the floor cleaning device (10) behind the dirt collecting container (38) is arranged and that the outlet openings (68) on a rear side (15) of the floor cleaning device (10) are arranged. 5. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in or at the exhaust air space (58) at least one Abluftumlenkelement (40, 60, 81) is arranged, is deflected with the exhaust air before exiting through the outlet openings (68) at least once. 6. Floor cleaning device according to claim 5, characterized in that the flow direction of the exhaust air through the exhaust port (79) is directed through an exhaust air deflecting element (81). 7. Floor cleaning device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that at least one Abluftumlenkelement (40, 60, 81) has a flat extension. 8. floor cleaning appliance according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that a Abluftumlenkelement (81) as a partition wall (82) is formed, which divides the exhaust air space (58) into a first exhaust air space portion (83) and a second exhaust air space portion (84), wherein the exhaust air through the exhaust port (79) in the first exhaust air space portion (83) is discharged and the partition (82) flows around in the second exhaust air space portion (84). 9. floor cleaning appliance according to claim 8, characterized in that the exhaust air space (58) comprises a bottom wall (66) and a ceiling wall (61) and that the partition wall (82) at least partially between the bottom wall (66) and the ceiling wall (61) extends. 10. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the exhaust air Umluftumlenkelement (81) before exiting the outlet openings (68) U-shaped rotates. 11. Floor cleaning device according to one of claims 5 to 10, characterized in that the exhaust air space (58) comprises at least one Abluftumlenkelement forming side wall (40, 60) or forms. 12. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of the preceding claims,  characterized in that the housing (26) comprises a first housing part (28) and a second housing part (29) which form the exhaust air space (58), the first housing part (28) having a ceiling wall (61), a front wall (40). and preferably left and right side walls (59, 60) of the exhaust air space (58) and the second housing part (29) has a bottom wall (66) and a rear wall (67) of the exhaust air space (58). 13. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of the preceding claims,  characterized in that the suction unit (70) is arranged in the exhaust air space (58). 14. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of the preceding claims,  characterized in that the suction unit (70) forms an axle (76) and is positioned on the floor cleaning appliance (10) such that the axis (76) is off-center to a first side of a longitudinal center plane (62) of the floor cleaning appliance (10), and in that the exhaust air space (58) extends, at least in sections, up to a second side opposite the first side with respect to the longitudinal center plane (62). 15. Floor cleaning appliance according to claim 14, characterized in that the exhaust air opening (79) on the axis (76) opposite side of the longitudinal center plane (62) is arranged. 16. Floor cleaning appliance according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the axis (76) relative to the vertical (77) in the direction of a front side (14) of the floor cleaning device (10) is inclined. 17. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that suction air at an upper side of the suction unit (70) enters into the same. 18. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of the preceding claims,  characterized in that the suction unit (70) is designed as axial-radial fan and that suction air enters axially through a central inlet opening (72) and radially or tangentially through the exhaust port (79) emerges. 19. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of the preceding claims,  characterized in that the suction unit (70) comprises a ring-shaped or spiral-shaped exhaust air duct (78), at the end of which the exhaust air opening (79) is arranged. 20. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of the preceding claims,  characterized in that the floor cleaning device (10) has a suction channel (74) for suction, via which the suction unit (70) with a suction opening (35) facing the bottom surface to be cleaned (12) is fluidly connected and the sections through the Dirt collecting container (38) extends, and in that in a front wall (40) of the exhaust air space (58) has a passage opening (50) of the suction channel (74) is formed. 21. Floor cleaning appliance according to claim 20, characterized in that the passage opening (74) is arranged off-center of a longitudinal center plane (62) of the floor cleaning appliance (10). 22. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the floor cleaning device (10) has at least one electrical device (86, 87) which corresponds to an interior space the Abiuftraumes (58) opposite to at least one wall (60, 61) of the Abiuftraumes (58) is arranged. 23. Floor cleaning appliance according to claim 22, characterized in that the at least one electrical device (86, 87) comprises at least one printed circuit board (88, 89) which is aligned parallel or substantially parallel to the at least one wall (60, 61). 24. Floor cleaning appliance according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that above a ceiling wall (61) of the Abiuftraumes (58) an electrical device (86, 87) is arranged. 25. Floor cleaning appliance according to claim 24, characterized in that the electrical device (86) comprises or is arranged on an optical sensor (90) whose view is arranged by a viewing opening (91) arranged on the upper side (18) of the floor cleaning appliance (10) ) is directed in the housing (26). 26. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of claims 22 to 25, characterized in that on a side wall (60) of the Abiuftraumes (58) an electrical device (87) is arranged. 27. Floor cleaning device according to claim 26, characterized in that the side wall (60) is a suction unit (70) opposite the side wall (60) of the Abiuftraumes (58). 28. Floor cleaning device according to claim 26 or 27, characterized in that laterally next to the electrical device (87) a receiving space (92) on the housing (26) is formed for electrical connection lines and / or electrical plug-in elements which are connected to the electrical device (87). are connected. 29. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of claims 22 to 28, characterized in that the at least one electrical device (86, 87) is arranged on a rear side (15) of the floor cleaning appliance (10) and electrical connection lines on at least one side of the dirt collecting container (38 ) are guided past in the direction of the front side (14) of the floor cleaning device (10). 30. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of the preceding claims,  characterized in that the dirt collecting container (38) releasably disposed on the floor cleaning device (10) and this is removable. 31. Floor cleaning appliance according to claim 30, characterized in that the dirt collecting container (38) can be removed upward in a direction away from the ground surface to be machined (12) direction. 32. Floor cleaning device according to one of the preceding claims,  characterized in that the dirt collecting container (38) has a filter element (53) for filtering the suction air and a filter element cover (54) and that the filter element (53) the dirt collecting container (38) after opening the filter element cover (54) is clean room side removed. 33. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of the preceding claims,  characterized in that the floor cleaning device (10) has a rotationally drivable cleaning brush (33). 34. Floor cleaning appliance according to one of the preceding claims,  characterized in that a bottom wall of the housing (26) at least partially sloping from the bottom surface to be cleaned (12) is formed increasing in the longitudinal direction of the floor cleaning device (10) and preferably from a drive wheel (23, 24) to the back of the floor cleaning device (10 ).