Floor cleaning device having tank and method for operating floor cleaning device

Abstract

The invention provides a floor cleaning device comprising: a floor head (12), where the floor head (12) defines a placement plane (26) for a floor (16) to be cleaned; at least one cleaning roller unit (28) arranged on the floor head (12) and rotatable about an axis of rotation (94); a drive motor (90) for rotationally moving the at least one cleaning roller unit (28); at least one cleaning liquid tank (40); and a wetting device (208) for conveying cleaning liquid from the at least one cleaning liquid tank (40) to the at least one cleaning roller unit (28), the wetting device (208) having at least one reservoir (212) associated with the at least one cleaning roller unit (28), the reservoir being arranged on the floor head (12; 288) and having a receiving volume (216) for the cleaning liquid, the wetting device (208) having at least one inlet (230) via which the cleaning liquid can be fed to the receiving volume (216) of the at least one tank (212), and wherein an opening device (222) is arranged on the at least one tank (212), cleaning liquid is supplied from the at least one reservoir (212) to the at least one cleaning roller unit (28) via an opening device (222), the opening device (222) being arranged above the receiving volume (216) with respect to a height direction (52) perpendicular to the placement plane (26).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a floor cleaning device, which comprises: a floor head, wherein the floor head defines a placement plane for a floor to be cleaned; at least one cleaning roller unit, which is arranged on the floor head and can rotate around a rotation axis; a drive motor for rotating the at least one cleaning roller unit; at least one cleaning liquid tank; and a wetting device for conveying cleaning liquid from the at least one cleaning liquid tank to the at least one cleaning roller unit.

[0002] In addition, the present invention also relates to a method for operating a floor cleaning device, wherein the floor cleaning device includes: a floor head, and the floor head defines a placement plane for the floor to be cleaned; includes at least one cleaning roller unit, which is arranged on the floor head and rotates around a rotation axis during the cleaning operation of the floor cleaning device; and a drive motor for causing the at least one cleaning roller unit to rotate, in the method, at least one cleaning roller unit is wetted with cleaning liquid during the cleaning operation of the floor cleaning device. Background Art

[0003] DE 10 2020 118 774 A1 discloses a floor cleaning device for a floor cleaning machine, the floor cleaning device having a conveying device, through which liquid is discharged for cleaning a cleaning surface, wherein the conveying device includes at least one distribution pipe, which extends essentially transversely to the walking direction and has at least one outlet opening for discharging liquid.

[0004] DE 20 2022 101 314 U1 discloses a floor cleaning device having a dirty fluid tank with a tank shell and a tank cover. The tank cover has a channel with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, wherein the inlet opening is used to couple in the dirty fluid, and wherein the outlet opening opens into the tank shell.

[0005] US 10,278,559 B1 discloses a floor cleaning system having a floor cleaning device.

[0006] WO 2016 / 058901 A1 discloses a surface cleaning machine, which comprises at least one cleaning roller and a wetting device for loading the at least one cleaning roller with a cleaning liquid. A distributor for the cleaning liquid is provided, which comprises or is formed by at least one groove, the groove extending at least approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the at least one cleaning roller and / or extending at least approximately parallel to the rotation axis of the at least one cleaning roller.

[0007] US 2,944,272 discloses a cleaning machine having a chamber for a liquid and an opening for draining the liquid from the chamber.

[0008] US 2006 / 0228160 A1 discloses an apparatus for distributing liquids on the ground.

[0009] US 2006 / 0179599 A1 discloses a floor cleaning device having a liquid discharge system including a liquid distributor in order to distribute a cleaning liquid on a surface to be cleaned.

[0010] DE 10 2015 104 247 A1 discloses a self-propelled floor care device having a hollow body which is designed such that a floor care liquid escapes from the hollow body when the hollow body rotates.

[0011] Floor cleaning devices are described, for example, in EP 3 750 464 A1, EP 3 884 834 A1, US 2021 / 018620 A1 or KR 2012 06900U.

[0012] WO 2018 / 162092 A1 discloses a floor cleaning device, which can be used to perform autonomous cleaning of the floor surface.

[0013] Floor cleaning devices are also disclosed, for example, in EP 2 574 264 B1, US Pat. No. 8,855,941 B1, DE 102 42 257 B4 and US Pat. No. 10,149,589 B2.

[0014] DE 20 2015 101 302 U1 discloses a cleaning device in the form of a vacuum cleaner.

[0015] Surface cleaning machines are known from WO 2016 / 058901 A1, WO 2016 / 058856 A1, WO 2017 / 063663 A1, WO 2016 / 058879 A1, and WO 2016 / 058956 A1. A surface cleaning machine is also known from WO 2016 / 058907 A1.

[0016] No. 4,875,246 discloses a portable floor cleaning appliance which has a roller driven by an electric motor.

[0017] DE 20 2009 013 434 U1 discloses a device for wet cleaning of floor surfaces, which device has a brush that is rotatable about an axis of rotation.

[0018] A cleaning machine is known from CN 201 197 698 Y.

[0019] A device for cleaning floors or other hard surfaces is known from US Pat. No. 6,026,529.

[0020] WO 2010 / 041185 A1 discloses a surface cleaning machine having a rotating brush.

[0021] A cleaning head for a floor cleaning machine is known from US Pat. No. 7,665,174 B2.

[0022] No. 4,173,054 discloses a floor cleaning device comprising a handle, a main body, a roller mechanism having a roller with a cleaning belt, a scraper and a dirty fluid receptacle.

[0023] WO 2013 / 106762 A2 discloses a surface cleaning machine having a cleaning roller and a drive unit for driving the cleaning roller. A dirt housing is provided into which the cleaning roller sweeps dirt during rotation. The dirt housing can be opened.

[0024] No. 7,921,497 B2 discloses a floor scrubber which can be operated manually and comprises a drive roller coupled to a scrubbing roller.

[0025] A further floor cleaning machine is known from WO 2015 / 086083 A1.

[0026] A hard floor cleaning device is known from US Pat. No. 3,789,449.

[0027] A self-propelled sweeping machine having a sweeping brush and an associated dirt collecting chamber is known from DE 103 57 637 A1.

[0028] A domestic floor cleaning device having a wiping roller is known from DE 10 2007 054 500 A1.

[0029] US 2006 / 0272120 A1 discloses a floor cleaning device having a housing, a hose assembly and a cleaning head.

[0030] DE 10 2017 120 723 A1 discloses a cleaning station for a cleaning machine, wherein the cleaning station has a receiving chamber for a cleaning head of the cleaning machine.

[0031] WO 2005 / 087075 A1 discloses a floor-cleaning machine which has a handle which is arranged pivotably on a base.

[0032] CN 107007215 A discloses a floor cleaning robot.

[0033] DE 20 2018 104 772 U1 discloses a dirty water collection mechanism, a dirty water detection mechanism and a cleaning facility.

[0034] Cleaning machines are also known from AU 2017101723 A4, CN 206687671 U, DE 20 2016 105 300 U1, US 9,622,637 B1, CN 205359367 U, US 2017 / 0119225 A1, CN 205181250 U, CN 205181251 U, CN205181256 U, DE 20 2016 105 299 U, WO 2017 / 059602 A1, WO 2017 / 059600 A1, WO 2017 / 059601 A1, WO 2017 / 059603 A1 or DE 20 2016 105 301 U1.

[0035] DE 10 2022 102 924.7, which has not been previously published, discloses a floor cleaning device, which comprises a floor head and at least one cleaning roller, which rotates about a rotation axis during operation of the floor cleaning device, wherein at least one cleaning roller is at least partially retained on the floor head by a retaining device, wherein the retaining device can be removed from the floor head together with at least one cleaning roller. This document is cited in its entirety. Other floor cleaning devices are disclosed in DE 10 2022 102937.9 and DE 10 2022 102 918.2, which have not been previously published, and are cited in their entirety.

[0036] Other floor cleaning devices are disclosed in CN 207850637 U and WO 21248591 A1. Summary of the invention

[0037] The object of the present invention is to provide a floor cleaning device of the type mentioned at the outset which has a simple design and at the same time has an efficient cleaning effect on the floor to be cleaned.

[0038] According to the present invention, this object is achieved in the floor cleaning device mentioned at the beginning in the following way, namely, the wetting device has at least one storage tank, which is assigned to at least one cleaning roller unit, the storage tank is arranged on the floor head and the storage tank has a storage volume for the cleaning liquid, the wetting device has at least one inlet portion, through which the cleaning liquid can be supplied to the storage volume of the at least one storage tank, and an opening device is arranged on the at least one storage tank, through which the cleaning liquid is supplied from the at least one storage tank to the at least one cleaning roller unit, wherein the opening device is arranged above the storage volume with reference to the height direction perpendicular to the placement plane.

[0039] In the floor cleaning device according to the invention, a distributor for at least one cleaning roller is provided via at least one storage tank, which distributor has a buffer volume via a receiving volume. The receiving volume can be filled with cleaning liquid until the liquid level reaches the opening device. The overflowing cleaning liquid then flows from the at least one storage tank through the entire opening device to the at least one cleaning roller unit.

[0040] By means of the opening device arranged above the receiving volume with reference to the height direction, cleaning liquid can be supplied to the at least one cleaning roller unit uniformly over a large length of the at least one cleaning roller unit. Even if the cleaning liquid is not supplied uniformly to the reservoir itself, the receiving volume ensures that a balance is achieved with regard to the outcoupling and thus the supply to the at least one cleaning roller unit by means of the temporary storage of the cleaning liquid.

[0041] This in turn enables the design expenditure on conveying the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid tank to be kept low. In principle, a small number of inlets and, for example, a single inlet is sufficient to load the at least one cleaning roller unit with cleaning liquid in a uniformly distributed manner.

[0042] In particular, the solution according to the invention allows the at least one cleaning roller unit to be charged with cleaning liquid independently of the distance between the respectively charged region of the at least one cleaning roller unit and the at least one inlet. The receiving volume as a buffer volume in combination with the opening device as an overflow opening device ensures a uniformly distributed loading of the at least one cleaning roller unit with liquid.

[0043] The defined placement plane of the floor head provides that at least one tank with a buffer function and an overflow function has a defined attitude with the floor to be cleaned. As a result, the corresponding functions can be realized when the floor is oriented horizontally with reference to gravity. Even when the floor to be cleaned has a slight inclination with respect to the direction of gravity, the functions according to the invention can be realized.

[0044] The solution according to the invention also allows the cleaning liquid that is usually carried by the floor cleaning device to be optimally utilized. The consumption of cleaning liquid can be kept low in an optimized manner, since a targeted and uniform delivery can be achieved. In addition, by optimizing the use of the cleaning liquid, excessive (local) application of cleaning liquid to the floor to be cleaned can also be avoided. This in turn keeps the drying time for the floor short.

[0045] In the solution according to the invention, the at least one cleaning roller unit can be wetted quickly and evenly, so that a shorter operating time for the cleaning operation can be achieved.

[0046] It is particularly advantageous if at least one of the following features is present:

[0047] - at least one tank extends along a longitudinal axis parallel to the axis of rotation;

[0048] - at least one tank has a uniform width transversely to the longitudinal axis;

[0049] - the opening device has at least one access opening with an access normal transversely and in particular perpendicularly to the axis of rotation and / or to the longitudinal axis of the at least one tank;

[0050] The length of the at least one reservoir or reservoir combination parallel to the axis of rotation is at least 70%, in particular at least 80% and in particular at least 90% of the length of the at least one cleaning roller unit.

[0051] This makes it possible to achieve in a simple manner in terms of design that the at least one cleaning roller unit is charged with cleaning liquid in a balanced manner parallel to the longitudinal axis and thus parallel to the axis of rotation. Cleaning liquid can be efficiently supplied from at least one liquid storage tank to the at least one cleaning roller unit.

[0052] In principle, the opening device can be formed by one or more gaps. In a design-advantageous embodiment, the opening device has a plurality of spaced-apart access openings. Thus, cleaning liquid can be delivered to the at least one cleaning roller unit in a targeted and uniform manner from the at least one storage tank substantially over the entire length of the at least one cleaning roller unit.

[0053] It is then advantageous if at least one of the following features is provided:

[0054] - the access openings are arranged on a line, wherein the line is in particular parallel to the axis of rotation and / or the placement plane;

[0055] - the access opening is arranged at the same height in the height direction relative to the bottom of the at least one tank, wherein the bottom is the bottom of the storage volume;

[0056] - at least in one or more sub-areas, the access openings are equidistant from one another;

[0057] - the access opening is arranged and / or formed in a wall of at least one tank;

[0058] - the access opening opens directly into the at least one cleaning roller unit, wherein, in particular, the length between the entry end of the access opening and the exit end to the at least one cleaning roller unit is at most or equal to 8 mm, and in particular at most or equal to 5 mm, and in particular at most or equal to 4 mm, and in particular at most or equal to 3 mm, and in particular at most or equal to 2 mm;

[0059] - a passage at the access opening between an inlet end of the access opening and an outlet end to the at least one cleaning roller unit is oriented parallel to or transversely to the height direction and in particular at an acute angle to the height direction;

[0060] - The linear density of the access openings is at least 0.4 cm -1 , and in particular at least 0.5 cm -1 .

[0061] By arranging the access openings in a line and in particular at the same height distance in the height direction relative to the bottom of the at least one storage tank, a uniform liquid supply is achieved with minimal design complexity.

[0062] For the same reason, it is advantageous if the access openings are spaced equidistantly from one another.

[0063] In particular, the cleaning liquid can be fed directly from the at least one tank through the opening device to the at least one cleaning roller unit, and the channel formed at the opening (especially in the form of a hole or the like) has a relatively short length of at most or equal to 8 mm or less.

[0064] By arranging such a channel at the access opening parallel or transversely to the height direction and in particular at an acute angle to the height direction, an optimized supply of cleaning agent to the at least one cleaning roller unit is achieved.

[0065] If the linear density of the access openings (as the number of access openings per unit length) is at least 0.4 cm -1 , and in particular at least 0.5 cm -1 , an efficient and uniform distribution of the cleaning agent with the above-mentioned advantages is obtained when the at least one cleaning roller unit is conveyed.

[0066] Advantageously, the inlet opening has a rounded wall at least toward the receiving volume and is in particular designed to be edgeless at least toward the receiving volume and / or the interior of the at least one storage tank. Thus, turbulence or the like can be kept low when the liquid is coupled out of the at least one storage tank.

[0067] It is particularly advantageous if at least one inlet opens into at least one tank or an input side of a channel device is fluidically coupled to at least one inlet, wherein the cleaning liquid is coupled into at least one tank via an output side of the channel device. In this way, the cleaning liquid can be coupled into at least one tank in a design-simple manner so that the storage volume can first be filled and then, when the storage volume is filled, the cleaning liquid can be applied to at least one cleaning roller unit via overflow through the opening device. The number of inlets can be kept small. In particular, a single inlet is sufficient. This in turn allows the design expenditure for conducting the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid tank into the at least one tank to be kept small.

[0068] In one embodiment, the output side of the channel device is arranged, in particular, at a longitudinal side of at least one tank and has at least one of the following features:

[0069] - the output side extends along a longitudinal side of at least one tank;

[0070] - The output side is opposite the opening device.

[0071] The input side of the channel device is the side through which the cleaning liquid is coupled in. The output side is the side through which the cleaning liquid is coupled out of the channel device. If the output side extends on the longitudinal side of the at least one reservoir, the cleaning liquid can be coupled into the at least one reservoir over a larger area of ​​the at least one reservoir, so that the holding volume is first filled and then overflowing. Direct loading of the opening device via the channel device is not provided.

[0072] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the channel device comprises at least one of the following features:

[0073] - at least one collecting channel, which is fluidically connected to the at least one inlet;

[0074] - at least one distributor that distributes the cleaning fluid to the plurality of channels;

[0075] At least one supply channel, from which the cleaning fluid is coupled via a respective outlet side directly into at least one storage tank.

[0076] By means of the at least one collecting channel, cleaning liquid can be discharged to a certain extent from the inlet in order to then be provided to the at least one reservoir (and its storage volume).

[0077] Via at least one distributor, the cleaning liquid can be distributed to a plurality of channels and then in particular also to a plurality of tanks.

[0078] The cleaning liquid can then also be coupled in a simple manner over a greater length into the at least one tank via the at least one supply channel.

[0079] In one embodiment, at least a first storage tank and a second storage tank are provided, wherein the second storage tank is spaced apart from the first storage tank, and has at least one of the following features:

[0080] - at least one distributor is arranged between the first tank and the second tank and is in particular designed as a distributor channel;

[0081] - a first conveying channel is assigned to the first storage tank and a second conveying channel is assigned to the second storage tank, wherein, in particular, the first conveying channel and the second conveying channel are located in one line;

[0082] The at least one inlet is connected to at least one collecting channel, wherein the at least one collecting channel opens into at least one distributor.

[0083] Thus, with relatively simple design, in particular by means of a labyrinth-like guide for the cleaning liquid, the first tank and the second tank can be filled simultaneously in terms of the receiving volume and then overflowed, thereby achieving a uniform loading of the cleaning liquid over a large length of the at least one cleaning roller unit.

[0084] In one embodiment, a plurality of separate tanks are provided. This results in a relatively fast and simplified filling process, so that the storage volume in the separate tanks can be filled and a uniform loading of the at least one cleaning roller unit with cleaning liquid is achieved via the overflow function. In addition, a large amount of cleaning liquid can be retained in the tank combination (multiple tanks) when the floor head is tilted (when the angle between the axis of rotation and the floor increases).

[0085] It is advantageous in terms of design if at least one inlet is arranged at or near the end side of at least one cleaning roller unit, and in particular if exactly one inlet is provided (it can also be arranged at another position than near the end side). This allows the guide path between the cleaning liquid tank and the distributor for the cleaning liquid to be kept small and the line complexity to be kept low.

[0086] In one embodiment, at least one cleaning roller unit is held on a holding device or a cassette body that is detachably arranged on the floor head, wherein at least one storage tank is arranged on the holding device of the cassette body. Thus, for example, all parts of the floor cleaning device that are loaded with liquid or have dirt can be taken out from the corresponding main body and cleaned. For example, the electronic unit and the motor unit can be separated from the parts that are loaded with liquid in a simple manner.

[0087] Advantageously, a wall is arranged on the holding device of the cassette, which covers at least one cleaning roller unit toward the main body of the ground head, and at least one storage tank is arranged on the wall. The main body of the ground head is, for example, a walking body. The wall forms a kind of protective wall to prevent, in particular, liquid loading on the inner space of the main body. When at least one storage tank is arranged on the wall, a simple structure in design is obtained. The number of required components can be kept small. This has just obtained simplified manufacturing.

[0088] Advantageously, the opening device is arranged above at least one section of the at least one cleaning roller unit with reference to the height direction and in particular at a height above the placement plane that is greater than half the diameter of the at least one cleaning roller unit. In particular, the height is greater than 75% of the diameter of the at least one cleaning roller unit. As a result, the at least one cleaning roller unit can be wetted from above to a certain extent and thus can be wetted efficiently.

[0089] In one embodiment, a cleaning device for coarse dirt is provided, the cleaning device is assigned to at least one cleaning roller unit, and the cleaning device is arranged on the ground head. Thus, larger dirt particles can also be removed from the ground to be cleaned.

[0090] In one embodiment, at least one dirty fluid tank is provided, via which dirty fluid separated from at least one cleaning roller unit via at least one scraping element can be accommodated. In one embodiment, at least one dirty fluid tank is positioned on the floor head in a detachable manner. At least one dirty fluid tank can contain dirty fluid (cleaning fluid with dirt particles). In principle, it can be provided that the dirty fluid is "thrown" into the dirty fluid tank without a blower. It is also possible that the scraping element separates the dirty fluid from the at least one cleaning roller unit and then sucks it away.

[0091] In one embodiment, the floor cleaning device is configured as a self-propelled and self-cleaning floor device ("wiping robot"), wherein, in particular, the floor head is a walking body or includes a walking body, on which a travel drive for the floor cleaning device and a navigation device for the floor cleaning device are arranged. As a result, wet floor cleaning can be performed autonomously on the floor to be cleaned.

[0092] Alternatively, it is also possible to provide a handle device which is articulated to the floor head, wherein the floor cleaning device can be guided by a standing operator over the floor to be cleaned. The standing operator stands on the floor to be cleaned and holds and guides the floor cleaning device via the handle device. The floor head stands on the floor to be cleaned via the placement plane.

[0093] In particular, it is provided that at least one cleaning roller unit lies on a support plane and that at least one further floor contacting element is provided which is spaced apart from the at least one cleaning roller unit. This results in a defined support plane, by which the positioning of the at least one reservoir relative to the floor to be cleaned is in turn defined. The at least one floor contacting element can be, for example, a further cleaning roller unit, a roller or a wheel, or can be a slide.

[0094] According to the present invention, the above-mentioned task is solved in the method mentioned at the beginning in the following way, namely, cleaning liquid is transported from a cleaning liquid tank to a storage volume of a storage tank, wherein the storage tank is arranged above the ground, and the cleaning liquid is applied from the storage volume of the storage tank to at least one cleaning roller unit via an opening device, wherein the cleaning liquid overflowing from the storage volume through the opening device flows to at least one cleaning roller unit.

[0095] The method according to the invention has the advantages that have already been explained in conjunction with the floor cleaning device according to the invention.

[0096] Further advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention have also been addressed in conjunction with the floor cleaning device according to the invention.

[0097] In particular, the method according to the invention can be used for a floor cleaning device according to the invention, or the floor cleaning device according to the invention can be operated with the method according to the invention.

[0098] The delivery of the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid tank to the storage volume of the storage tank can be driven by gravity or, for example, can also be delivered by a pump. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0099] The following description of preferred embodiments is used to explain the present invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0100] in:

[0101] Figure 1 A perspective view showing an embodiment of a ground device having a ground head;

[0102] Figure 2 Show according to Figure 1 The floor cleaning equipment is based on Figure 1 A bottom view in direction A, wherein the cleaning roller unit is removed and wherein the tank assembly having the dirty fluid tank and the cleaning liquid tank is removed;

[0103] Figure 3 An embodiment of a removed holding device or cassette with a cleaning roller unit fixed thereto is shown, wherein according to Figure 3 The retaining device or the cassette is arranged according to Figure 1 on floor cleaning equipment;

[0104] Figure 4 Show according to Figure 3 A holding device or a cassette, wherein the cleaning roller unit has been removed, wherein the cleaning device can be seen;

[0105] Figure 5 Show according to Figure 1 A partial side view of the floor head in the area of ​​the holding device or the cassette and the cleaning roller unit and the sweeping device;

[0106] Figure 6 Along the basis Figure 4 Direction B shows that according to Figure 4 A partial bottom view of the retaining device or the cassette body;

[0107] Figure 7 Along the basis Figure 4 The direction C shows that according to Figure 4 A partial rear view of the retaining device or the cassette body;

[0108] Figure 8 Show according to Figure 7 A partial top view of the retaining device or the cassette body;

[0109] Fig. 9 Shown along the basis Figure 8 A side sectional view taken along line 9-9;

[0110] Fig.10 Shown along the basis Figure 8 A partial enlarged cross-sectional view of line 10-10;

[0111] Fig.11 The working mode of a tank with an inlet and an opening device is schematically shown in a perspective view;

[0112] Fig.12 Show according to Fig.11 A schematic cross-sectional view of a storage tank;

[0113] Fig.13 shows a schematic diagram of a known wetting device for explaining the solution according to the invention; and

[0114] Fig.14 The schematic illustration shows a further exemplary embodiment of a floor cleaning device according to the invention, which is designed to be operated by an operator standing on a floor to be cleaned. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0115] An embodiment of the floor cleaning device according to the present invention is a self-propelled and self-steering floor cleaning device ( Figure 1 , Figure 2The floor cleaning device 10 includes a floor head 12, which includes a self-propelled and self-steering walking body 14. During the cleaning operation, the floor cleaning device 10 uses its walking body 14 to stand on the floor 16 to be cleaned ( Figure 5 )superior.

[0116] A travel drive mechanism (not shown in the figure) is arranged on the travel body 14. The travel drive mechanism drives the wheel 18. In one embodiment, a first wheel 18a and a second wheel 18b are provided.

[0117] The wheel 18 is driven by a travel drive mechanism in a rotational manner about a wheel axis 19 .

[0118] Furthermore, a support roller 20 is arranged on the traveling body 14 , which support roller has an axis of rotation 21 . The support roller 20 can be pivoted about a (steering) axis 22 , which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation 21 .

[0119] In one embodiment, the support roller 20 is a passive deflection roller which is not driven (and in particular not driven in rotation about the axis of rotation 21 and in a pivoting movement about the axis 22 ).

[0120] A change of direction of the floor cleaning device 10 on the floor head 12 is achieved by corresponding actuation of the wheels 18 a and 18 b by a control device which is arranged on the traveling body 14 , wherein in particular the wheels can rotate at different speeds for the change of direction.

[0121] In principle, it can also be provided that the support rollers 20 are active deflection rollers for directional control of the floor cleaning device 10 .

[0122] The floor cleaning device 10 has a main travel direction 24. This is the travel direction of the floor cleaning device 10 when the support rollers 20 are oriented so that their rotation axes 21 are parallel to the wheel axes 19. This is the forward travel direction for the floor cleaning device 10.

[0123] The floor head 12 has a support surface 26 (see FIG. 18 ) via the traveling body 14 . The support surface 26 is predetermined by the wheels 18 and the supporting rollers 20 . The cleaning roller unit 28 is located on the support surface 26 .

[0124] A navigation device 30 is arranged on the traveling body 14. The navigation device 30 is a sensor device and includes at least one sensor element. The navigation device is connected to the control device in a signaling manner to control the traveling operation of the floor cleaning device 10. The navigation device includes, for example, one or more optical sensors, one or more radar sensors, one or more infrared sensors and / or one or more ultrasonic sensors.

[0125] With reference to the main direction of travel 24 , the traveling body 14 has a front end 32 and a rear end 34 . In the region of the rear end 34 , a tank assembly 36 consisting of a dirty fluid tank 38 and a cleaning liquid tank 40 is removably arranged on the traveling body 14 .

[0126] Dirty fluids are to be understood here as being fluids that can flow in principle. Dirty fluids can consist of dirt particles or can be a mixture of dirt particles and a liquid, in particular water, possibly with surfactant detergent additives.

[0127] The traveling body 14 has a bottom side 42 and an opposite top side 44. The wheels 18 and the supporting rollers 20 are arranged on the bottom side 42. The navigation device 30 is arranged on the top side 44 at least in a partial region.

[0128] Between the underside 42 and the top side 44 , the travelling body 14 has a wall 46 .

[0129] In the region of the front end 32, an impact body 48 (bumper) is arranged on the wall 46, with which a collision of the floor cleaning device 10 with an obstacle can be detected in a tactile manner. The impact body 48 is or includes one or more tactile sensor elements, which are connected to the control device in a signaling manner.

[0130] The ground head 12 has a center 50 ( Figure 1 ). The center 50 is the geometric center of gravity of the ground head 12 (with the tanks 38, 40). A height direction (axial direction) 52 perpendicular to the support plane 26 can be assigned to the center 50, and thus a peripheral direction accordingly. The impact body 48 extends on the wall 46 in the peripheral direction, in particular over an angular range of at least 120° and preferably at least 150°.

[0131] Cliff sensors 54 are arranged on the underside 42 of the traveling body 14 and are connected to the control device in a signaling manner. These cliff sensors 54 are used to prevent the floor cleaning device 10 from falling, for example, when reaching stairs, by correspondingly detecting a “cliff”.

[0132] The floor cleaning device 10 has a battery device, which is in particular a rechargeable battery device, which is arranged on the traveling body 14. For example, a corresponding battery compartment 56 is provided (see Figure 2 ), the battery compartment can be accessed from the lower side 42 and closed by a cover 58.

[0133] Further elements, such as a sensor 60 for carpet recognition, a WiFi module, etc., may be arranged on the traveling body 14 .

[0134] Furthermore, charging contacts 62 are arranged on the traveling body 14 in order to be able to charge the battery device at a charging station.

[0135] In the illustrated embodiment, the charging contacts 62 are arranged on the underside 42 .

[0136] The ground head 12 has a circular outer contour 64 when viewed from above in the height direction 52 toward the upper side 44. The distances from the center 50 to the upper edge of the wall 46 in a radial direction perpendicular to the height direction 52 are at least approximately equal (corresponding to the radius of the circle).

[0137] In principle, it is also possible for the outer contour 64 to have an approximately circular shape, wherein the distance from the center 50 to the outer contour would then deviate from the respective average value by at most 15%.

[0138] The traveling body 14 (the ground head 12 without the tank assembly 36 ) has as an outer contour an arcuate shape with a first chord 66 . The first chord 66 is oriented transversely and in particular perpendicularly to the main traveling direction 24 .

[0139] In one embodiment, the first chord is oriented at least substantially parallel to the wheel axis 19 .

[0140] Referring to the front end 32, the first chord 66 is located on the other side of the center 50. The first chord is located at the rear end 34. The center 50 is located between the first chord 66 and the front end 32.

[0141] When looking down on the top side 44 in the height direction 52 , the tank assembly 36 also has a second arcuate shape with a second chord 68 as an outer contour.

[0142] The first segment 64 of the outer contour of the traveling body 14 and the second segment of the outer contour of the tank assembly 36 complement each other to form a circular outer contour of the ground head 12 .

[0143] When the tank assembly 36 is placed on the traveling body 14 , the second chord 68 is parallel to the first chord 66 and is directly adjacent to the first chord.

[0144] A receiving shaft 70 for the cleaning roller unit 28 is arranged or formed on the traveling body 14. The receiving shaft 70 is arranged on the traveling body 14 in the region of the rear end 34. The receiving shaft 70 has a longitudinal extension direction 72 which is transverse to and in particular perpendicular to the main traveling direction 24. Furthermore, the longitudinal extension direction 72 is also at least approximately parallel to the wheel axis 19.

[0145] In one embodiment, the longitudinal extension direction 72 is parallel to the first chord 66 .

[0146] The receiving shaft is open toward the underside 42 of the traveling body 14 as the floor side facing the support plane 26 , so that the cleaning roller unit 28 held in the receiving shaft 70 can act on the floor 16 to be cleaned.

[0147] The receiving shaft 70 is closed toward the upper side 44 and thus away from the lower side 42 by a cover wall 74 .

[0148] Between the cover wall 74 and the underside 42, the traveling body has a wall 76 which delimits the receiving shaft 70 toward the interior of the traveling body 14. In the interior of the traveling body 14, a traveling drive, a control device, etc. are arranged.

[0149] The traveling body 14 has a first side 82 and a side facing away 84. The sides 82, 84 are referred to the main traveling direction 24 in this case.

[0150] When looking down from above at the ground body 12 in the height direction 52 , the front end 32 is followed in the clockwise direction by the second side 84 , then by the rear end 34 on the traveling body 14 and then by the first side 82 .

[0151] A lateral wall 86 is arranged on the first side 82 on the traveling body 14 . The lateral wall 86 delimits the receiving shaft 70 toward the first side 82 . The lateral wall 86 has an extension transverse to the first chord 66 .

[0152] The lateral walls 86 follow the circular outer contour 64 .

[0153] The receiving shaft 70 has an opening 88 on the second side 84 , opposite the lateral wall 86 .

[0154] A drive motor 90 for the cleaning roller unit 28 is mounted on the lateral wall 86 .

[0155] The drive motor 90 is supplied with electrical energy by a battery device in the battery compartment 56 .

[0156] In principle, it is also possible to arrange the drive motor 90, for example, behind the wall 76. A torque transmission device is then arranged on the lateral wall 86.

[0157] A drive shaft 92 is associated with the drive motor 90 , which is rotatable about an axis of rotation 94 .

[0158] The drive shaft 92 projects into the receiving shaft 70 . The drive shaft is connected to the cleaning roller unit 28 in a rotationally fixed manner during operation of the floor cleaning device 10 . The cleaning roller unit 28 is driven by the drive shaft 92 in a rotational movement about an axis of rotation coinciding with the axis of rotation 94 .

[0159] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the drive shaft 92 is directly connected to the drive motor 90 , ie, the drive shaft is an output shaft of the drive motor 90 or is coaxially connected to such an output shaft.

[0160] The drive shaft 92 is rotatably supported. In the illustrated embodiment, the drive shaft is directly supported on the drive motor 90. The drive shaft is formed with a first rotary bearing 96 for rotatably supporting the cleaning roller 28 when the cleaning roller 28 rotates about the rotation axis 94.

[0161] The axis of rotation 94 is transverse and in particular perpendicular to the main direction of travel 24 .

[0162] The axis of rotation 94 is parallel to the support plane 26 .

[0163] The axis of rotation 94 is transverse and in particular perpendicular to the height direction 52 (the height direction is the normal axis to the support plane 26 ).

[0164] Furthermore, the rotation axis 94 is in particular parallel to the wheel axis 90 . Furthermore, the rotation axis is in particular parallel to the first chord 66 .

[0165] The longitudinal extension direction 72 of the receiving shaft 70 is parallel to the axis of rotation 94 .

[0166] The floor cleaning device 10 includes a cartridge 98 (eg Figures 2 to 4 The cassette 98 is used to hold the cleaning roller unit 28 in the receiving shaft 70 during operation of the floor cleaning device 10 and to hold the cleaning roller when the cleaning roller unit 28 is placed on the traveling body 14 and when it is removed from the traveling body 14 .

[0167] A magazine is understood here to mean an intrinsically rigid or stable structure which is, to a certain extent, a receiving container for the cleaning roller unit 28 (but is not necessarily closed in this case) and which can be handled as an independent unit.

[0168] The cassette 98 includes a cover 100, which is used to close the opening 88 of the receiving shaft 70 when the cassette 98 is placed. When the cassette 98 is placed on the walking body 14, the cover 100 is opposite to the lateral wall 86.

[0169] The cover 100 is adapted in its geometrical course to the outer contour 64 of the travelling body 14 and is in particular designed to be correspondingly curved in order to follow a circular contour.

[0170] In order to fix the cover 100 on the traveling body 14 and thus to lock the cassette 98 with the traveling body 14, a locking device is provided. The locking device comprises, for example, an unlocking button, which is arranged on the traveling body 14 and acts on a stop pawl. In one embodiment, a mating element is arranged on the cover 100 as the stop pawl, wherein the mating element has an opening into which the stop pawl can sink. By operating the unlocking button, it can be ensured that the stop pawl, which is especially supported by a spring, comes out of the mating element and the corresponding locking of the cover 100 with the traveling body 14 is released.

[0171] A second rotary bearing 108 for rotating the cleaning roller unit 28 about the rotation axis 94 is arranged on the cover (see, for example Figure 4 ).

[0172] In one exemplary embodiment, the second rotary bearing 108 is designed as a ball bearing.

[0173] The cleaning roller unit 28 is fixed in a rotationally fixed manner on the second rotary bearing 108 .

[0174] When the cassette 98 is fixed on the traveling body 14 as specified, the cleaning roller unit 28 is supported in a rotatable manner on the first and second rotating bearings 96 and 108 that are opposite. The cleaning roller unit 28 realizes corresponding support on its opposite end sides. Both sides of the cleaning roller unit 28 are held between the first and second rotating bearings 96 and 108. The cleaning roller unit 28 is held between the first and second rotating bearings 96 and 108 in a suspended manner to a certain extent in the receiving shaft 70, and is supported on its respective end side regions. Therefore, the cleaning roller 28 can also be used with a longer length (in the longitudinal direction parallel to the axis of rotation 94), or a larger torsional moment can be absorbed. The shaking of the cleaning roller unit 28 is prevented.

[0175] The cassette body 98 comprises a load-bearing structure 110 , which is mounted on the cover 100 and ensures a corresponding stability or rigidity of the cassette body 98 .

[0176] The second rotary bearing 108 is positioned on the cover 100 at a distance from the supporting structure 110 .

[0177] In one embodiment, the support structure 110 is or includes a wall 112 fixed to the cover 100 .

[0178] Wall 112 has a cylindrical shell shape. This cylindrical shell shape extends along the longitudinal extension direction. When the cassette 98 and the cleaning roller 28 maintained thereon on the other hand were maintained on the walking body 14, this longitudinal extension direction of the cassette 98 was parallel to the axis of rotation 94. In addition, it is also parallel to the longitudinal extension direction 72 that accommodates the hoistway 70.

[0179] The wall 112 is configured so that, when the cassette 98 is held on the traveling body 14, it covers the wall 76 of the traveling body and at least partially covers the cover wall 74 on the traveling body 14. The wall 112 forms a cover from the cleaning roller 28 toward the traveling body 14 and thus forms a protective wall. Thus, soiling of the traveling body 14 during operation of the floor cleaning device 10 is largely avoided; the wall 112 keeps dirt out of the corresponding walls 74, 76 of the traveling body 14.

[0180] In order to hold and position the cassette 98 in a defined manner on the receiving shaft 70, a guide device is arranged on the receiving shaft 70. The cassette 94 has a matching guide device matched thereto.

[0181] For further details on this and on removing and inserting the magazine 94 , reference is made to the non-prepublished DE 102 022 102 937.9, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0182] The cassette 98 can be inserted into the receiving shaft 70 or removed from the receiving shaft along the insertion direction / removal direction 124 (in the direction and the opposite direction).

[0183] The insertion / removal direction 124 is parallel to the longitudinal extension direction of the magazine 98 and the longitudinal extension direction 72 of the receiving shaft 70 in the corresponding orientation. In particular, the insertion / removal direction 124 is parallel to the rotation axis 94.

[0184] The insertion / removal direction 124 is transverse and in particular perpendicular to the main direction of travel 24 .

[0185] A holding device 126 for the cleaning roller unit 28 is arranged on the cassette 98. The holding device 126 is designed here so that when the cassette 98 is placed on the traveling body 14, the holding device holds the cleaning roller unit 28 in a pre-positioned manner, and then when the cassette 98 is placed along the corresponding insertion direction 124 and the cover 100 is locked with the traveling body 14, the drive shaft 92 is automatically coupled to the cleaning roller unit 28. The holding device also ensures that the cleaning roller unit 28 is automatically removed by removing the cassette, that is, the user intervention is to remove the cassette 98, and in particular, the user does not need to grab the cleaning roller unit 28.

[0186] Furthermore, the holding device 126 ensures that the cleaning roller unit 28 is appropriately positioned on the magazine 98 during the cleaning operation and is in particular held on the first rotary bearing 96 (drive shaft 92 ) and on the second rotary bearing 108 .

[0187] The holding device 126 has a first holding element 128 and a second holding element 130 . The first holding element 128 is formed by the second rotary bearing 108 .

[0188] The second retaining element 130 is arranged on the wall 112 at a distance from the first retaining element 128 in the direction of longitudinal extension.

[0189] The second holding element 130 has, for example, an annular element 132 which has an opening 134 . The axis of the opening 134 is oriented parallel to the longitudinal extension direction of the cassette 98 .

[0190] The cleaning roller 28 includes a carrier 136 on which a cleaning medium 138 (see, for example, Figure 3). The carrier 136 is an annular cylinder which has an opening at least at the end of the end face. It is also possible that there is a through opening.

[0191] The cleaning medium 138 is a backing fixed to the carrier 136. In the embodiment as a wet wiping device, the cleaning medium 138 is in particular a textile backing arranged on the carrier 136, such as a microfiber backing.

[0192] For example, it is also possible for the cleaning medium 138 to include both a brush and a textile covering area.

[0193] The drive shaft 92 projects into the receiving shaft 70 .

[0194] A distributor device 168 is arranged on the magazine 98 and here on the wall 112 for the cleaning liquid coming from the cleaning liquid tank 40. This will be described in more detail below.

[0195] Arranged on the cartridge 98 is a port 176 which is in fluidic connection with the distributor device 168. The port 176 is an port of the cartridge 98 for fluidic connection with the cleaning liquid tank 40.

[0196] The interface 176 is designed in cooperation with the traveling body 14 and the dirty fluid tank 38 so that a fluidic connection is automatically established between the cleaning fluid tank and the dispenser 168 when the cartridge 98 is properly fastened to the traveling body 14 (when locked on the cover 100 ).

[0197] In particular, a valve device is assigned to the cleaning liquid tank 40 , which valve device is preferably positioned outside the cartridge 98 , and which valve device enables the discharge of cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid tank 40 only during the cleaning operation of the floor cleaning device 10 .

[0198] The cassette 98 contains no electronic components and the like, or no components requiring an energy supply.

[0199] A scraper element 178 is held on the magazine 98. The scraper element 178 can be removed from the magazine 98 in particular.

[0200] In this embodiment of the floor cleaning device, a cleaning roller unit 28 having a cleaning roller is provided. In particular, a scraping element 178 is assigned to this cleaning roller unit 28.

[0201] The scraping element 178 serves to scrape off (separated) dirty fluid from the cleaning roller unit 28 (the lining surface of the cleaning roller unit 28 ) and guide the dirty fluid to the dirty fluid tank 38 via a corresponding guide device.

[0202] An embodiment of the scraping element 178 is an integral structure. It comprises a main body. A channel device is integrated in the main body. In one embodiment, the channel device comprises a channel with an input access end and an output access end. When the scraping element 178 is positioned on the cassette 98 as required and when the cassette 98 is held on the traveling body 14, the input access end points to the cleaning roller unit 28, and the output access end points to the inlet access end of the dirty fluid tank 38.

[0203] In this regard, reference is made to DE 10 2022 102 937.9, to which reference is expressly made.

[0204] The scraping element 178 is held on the cassette 98 in a movable manner. In one embodiment, the scraping element 178 is pivoted about a pivot axis 192 (see Figure 4 ) is kept on the cassette body 98.

[0205] The pivot axis 192 is parallel to the longitudinal extension direction of the cartridge body 98 , or parallel to the rotation axis 94 .

[0206] When the cartridge 98 is held on the traveling body 14 , the pivot axis 192 is transversely and in particular perpendicularly to the main traveling direction 24 .

[0207] With regard to the arrangement and design of the tank assembly 36 and the supply of dirty fluid to the dirty fluid tank 38 , reference is made to the already mentioned, non-prepublished DE 10 2022 102 937.9, to which reference is also made in its entirety in this regard.

[0208] A wet wiping process can be performed on the floor surface 16 to be cleaned by means of the cleaning roller unit 28 and the cleaning agent from the cleaning liquid tank 40. The cleaning roller unit 28, by its rotation about the rotation axis 94, mechanically influences the floor surface 16 on the contact surface of the cleaning medium (covering) 138. Dirt can be separated and entrained via the cleaning roller unit 28. Dirty fluid is separated from the cleaning roller unit 28 at the scraping element 178 and supplied from there to the dirty fluid tank 38.

[0209] Furthermore, a cleaning device 202 is arranged on the floor head 12 , and is used to pick up coarse dirt (coarse dirt particles).

[0210] The cleaning device 202 comprises (at least one) cleaning element 206 which is designed as a cleaning strip. The cleaning element 206 is arranged on the wall 112 or is formed on the wall 112.

[0211] For an embodiment of the cleaning device 202, refer to the international patent application PCT / EP2022 / 071846 filed by the applicant on August 3, 2022, which has not yet been published.

[0212] The floor cleaning device 10 comprises a wetting device 208 . The wetting device 208 is used to deliver cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid tank 40 to the cleaning roller unit 28 and to wet the cleaning roller unit 28 . The wetting device 208 comprises a dispenser device 168 having an interface 176 .

[0213] The dispenser device 168 of the wetting device 208 includes a reservoir device 210. In the illustrated embodiment, the reservoir device 210 further includes a first reservoir 212 and a second reservoir 214 (see, for example, Figure 7 ).

[0214] The first reservoir 212 and the second reservoir 214 are spaced apart from each other. They are oriented flush with each other side by side with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cassette 98. The longitudinal axis of the cassette 98 is parallel to the rotation axis 94 of the cleaning roller unit 28.

[0215] The reservoir device 210 having the first reservoir 212 and the second reservoir 214 is fixed to the cartridge 98 (the holding device 126 ). In one embodiment, the reservoir device is mounted on the wall 112 .

[0216] The first tank 212 and the second tank 214 each have a holding volume 216 for the cleaning liquid. The respective tanks 212 , 214 of the tank arrangement 210 each include a tank bottom 218 and a tank wall 220 .

[0217] In the embodiment in which the sump arrangement 210 is arranged on the wall 112 , the sump bottom 218 and the sump wall 220 are arranged or formed on the wall 112 .

[0218] With reference to the height direction 52 , the tank bottom 218 is the lowest part of the respective tank 212 , 214 . Likewise, with reference to the height direction 52 , the receiving volume 216 is arranged above the tank bottom 218 .

[0219] When the floor cleaning machine 10 is placed on a flat and horizontally oriented resting surface 26 , the height direction 52 is at least approximately parallel to the direction of gravity. Thus, the tank bottom 218 is located at the lowest gravitational potential with respect to the tank arrangement 210 .

[0220] The tank device 210 is provided with an opening device 222 . During operation of the floor cleaning machine 10 , cleaning fluid can flow from the respective tank 212 , 214 via the opening device 222 to the cleaning roller unit 28 in order to wet the cleaning roller unit 28 and in particular the cleaning medium (covering) 138 .

[0221] The opening device 222 is arranged above the tank bottom 218 with reference to the height direction 52 . The receiving volume 216 of the respective tank 212 , 214 is defined with respect to its height by the distance between the tank bottom 218 and the opening device 222 .

[0222] The upper side of the receiving volume 216 corresponds (at most) to an imaginary line perpendicular to the height direction 52 ; this imaginary line adjoins the lower side 224 of the opening device 222 with reference to the height direction 52 .

[0223] When the respective reservoirs 212, 214 are filled with cleaning fluid (see below), the fluid level 226 (see Fig.10 ) at most occurs at the receiving volume 216 up to the underside 224 of the opening device 222. Further filling of the reservoirs 212, 214 would cause overflowing, and the cleaning liquid would then flow through the opening device 222 onto the cleaning roller unit 28. Fig.10 This is indicated by reference numeral 228 in FIG.

[0224] In order to introduce cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid tank 40 into the tank device 210 by means of the wetting device 208, (at least one) inlet 230 is provided. In particular, exactly one inlet 230 is assigned to the tank device 210, or at most one inlet 230 is assigned to each tank 212, 214.

[0225] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment with two reservoirs 212 , 214 , an inlet 230 is provided, via which cleaning fluid coming from the cleaning fluid tank 40 is supplied both to the first reservoir 212 and to the second reservoir 214 .

[0226] The entry portion 230 is or includes the interface 176 .

[0227] In principle, it is possible to couple the cleaning liquid via the inlet 230 directly into the corresponding tank and in particular into the region of the receiving volume 216 of the tank. Fig.11 This is indicated schematically.

[0228] In the floor cleaning machine 10, a channel device 232 is provided (see in particular Figure 7 , Figure 8 ), the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid tank 40 is distributed to the storage tanks 212, 214 via the channel device and is coupled into these storage tanks. The channel device 232 is connected to the interface 176 and further connected to the inlet portion 230.

[0229] Figures 7 to 10 2 shows a partial view after the cover 234 is removed for better explanation. The cover 234 covers the channel device 232 and the tank device 210 toward the side away from the cleaning roller device 28.

[0230] In one embodiment ( Figure 7 , Figure 8 ), the channel device 232 includes a collection channel 236 ( Figure 7 , Figure 8). The collecting channel is connected to the inlet 230 and extends in a sub-region along the second storage tank 214. In this case, the collecting channel 236 is fluidically separated toward the second storage tank 214 by a corresponding wall. This wall is formed in particular by the storage tank wall 220. The collecting channel is fluidically separated toward the traveling body 14 (when the cassette 98 is placed on the traveling body 14) by a further wall 238, which in particular extends at least approximately toward the corresponding storage tank wall 220.

[0231] A channel arrangement 232 with a collecting channel 236 is arranged on the wall 112. A wall 238 (and the tank wall 220) is arranged on the wall 112.

[0232] The collecting channel 238 leads into a distributor 240 , which is in particular a distributor channel. The distributor 240 is arranged in the middle region between the first storage tank 212 and the second storage tank 214 .

[0233] The distributor 240 is delimited toward the first tank 212 by a first wall 242. The first wall 242 is transversely and in particular perpendicularly to the wall 238, is oriented transversely and in particular perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the cassette 98 or is oriented transversely and in particular perpendicularly to the axis of rotation 94.

[0234] Arranged opposite the first wall is a second wall 244 which adjoins the wall 238 and is oriented in particular parallel to the first wall 242. The respective channels of the distributor 240 are located between the first wall 242 and the second wall 244.

[0235] A first conveying channel 246 extends from the distributor 240. The first conveying channel 246 is oriented parallel to the first reservoir 212 and extends along the first reservoir 212. The first conveying channel 246 is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the magazine 98 or to the axis of rotation 94.

[0236] The cleaning liquid can be coupled into the first tank 212 via the first supply channel 246 substantially over its entire length and thus into the receiving volume 216 .

[0237] Furthermore, a second supply channel 248 extends from the distributor 240 in the opposite direction to the first supply channel 246 .

[0238] The second delivery passage 248 extends along the second reservoir 214 .

[0239] In particular, the second supply channel 248 and the first supply channel 246 are aligned in an aligned manner.

[0240] Cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid tank 40 , which is coupled via the wetting device 208 and in this case from the inlet 230 into the channel device 232 , can be coupled along the second tank 214 into the second tank 214 via the second supply channel 248 .

[0241] The cleaning fluid can be supplied to the first tank 212 and the second tank 214 via a single inlet 230 .

[0242] The inlet 230 (interface 176) is arranged in the region of an end 250 of an end side of the cassette, or in other words, when the cleaning roller unit 28 is held on the cassette 98, it is also arranged in the region of the end of the corresponding end side of the cleaning roller unit. This allows the line path between the cleaning liquid tank 40 and the inlet 230 to be kept short. By providing a single inlet 230, a lower design cost for providing cleaning liquid via the wetting device 208 of the cleaning roller unit 28 is obtained.

[0243] Via the channel arrangement 232 , a labyrinth-like guide is formed for guiding the cleaning fluid from the inlet 230 into the reservoirs 212 , 214 .

[0244] The first conveying channel 246 and the second conveying channel 248 are arranged opposite the opening device 222 with respect to the tank device 210 .

[0245] In principle, it is provided that the cleaning liquid is coupled into the tank device 210 in such a way that the cleaning liquid is provided to the opening device 222 by overflowing the receiving volume 216. The cleaning liquid is first coupled into the tank device 210 via the channel device 232 and then provided to the cleaning roller unit 28 by overflowing through the opening device 222.

[0246] Figure 8 2 shows the flow path of the cleaning liquid coupled in via the inlet 230. The cleaning liquid flows into the channel arrangement 232 via the inlet 230. The cleaning liquid flows into the distributor 240 via the collecting channel 236. From there, the cleaning liquid is distributed to the first delivery channel 246 and the second delivery channel 248.

[0247] The cleaning fluid then flows again from these supply channels 246 , 248 into the respective reservoirs 212 , 214 . In this case, the inflow into the reservoirs 212 , 214 takes place via the longitudinal sides of the respective reservoirs 212 and 214 .

[0248] In principle, it is possible for the opening device to have one or more slots.

[0249] In one embodiment ( Figures 6 to 12 ), the opening device 222 includes a plurality of discrete and spaced-apart access openings 252.

[0250] In particular, the access openings 252 are aligned with one another so that they lie on a line that is parallel to the rotation axis 94 of the cleaning roller unit 28 .

[0251] The access openings 252 are located at the same height relative to the height direction 52 and therefore all also have the same height spacing (in the height direction 52 ) from the tank bottom 218 .

[0252] The access opening 252 is formed as a continuous opening on the tank wall 220 , more precisely on the side of the tank wall 220 facing away from the respective supply channel 246 or 248 .

[0253] In particular, at least with respect to the reservoir 212 or 214 , the access openings 252 are spaced equidistant from one another.

[0254] Preferably, the linear density of the access openings 252 is at least 0.4 cm -1 and in particular at least 0.5 cm -1 Linear density refers to the number of access openings 252 per unit length.

[0255] The access opening 252 includes a passage 254 between an input end 256 and an output end 258 (see Fig.10 The input end 256 is arranged at the inner space of the respective storage tanks 212 , 214 . The output end 258 is located directly opposite to the cleaning roller unit 28 .

[0256] The channel 254 is formed in particular in the wall 112 .

[0257] The access openings 252 are oriented in particular such that the longitudinal axis 260 (see Fig.10 ) is oriented transversely to the height direction 52 and in particular is oriented at an acute angle to or parallel to the height direction 52.

[0258] In one embodiment, the acute angle of the orientation of the longitudinal axis 260 to the height direction 52 is in the range between 20° and 45° and is, for example, approximately 25°.

[0259] It can also be provided (not shown in the figures) that the longitudinal axis 260 is parallel to the height direction 52 .

[0260] The channel 254 (the design of the opening 252 ) is oriented in particular in such a way that, in the event of an overflow at the receiving volume 216 , the cleaning fluid flows under the force of gravity from the tank device 210 to the cleaning roller unit 28 .

[0261] The channel 254 formed by the access opening 252 is designed to be "short" with respect to its longitudinal axis 260, so that cleaning liquid can be directly conveyed from the tank device 210 to the cleaning roller unit 28. In particular, the length of such a channel 254 along the longitudinal axis 260 is at most or equal to 8 mm, and in particular at most or equal to 2 mm.

[0262] The access opening 252 has a rounded shape and is, for example, circular or oval in cross section.

[0263] In the region of the junction with the tank wall 220 , a rounding 262 of the wall is present, so that in particular an edge-free transition from the respective tank 212 , 214 to the channel 254 is achieved.

[0264] The lower side 224 of the opening device 222 which has already been mentioned above and which defines the maximum liquid level 226 is realized via a rounded portion 262 at the input end 256 (see Fig.10 ).

[0265] As mentioned above, a longitudinal axis 264 can be assigned to the tank arrangement 210 and here to the respective tank 212, 214. The longitudinal axis 264 is the main extension direction of the respective tank 212, 214, in which the respective tank has the greatest length. The longitudinal axis 264 is parallel to the axis of rotation 94.

[0266] The delivery channels 246 , 248 are parallel to the longitudinal axis 264 .

[0267] As mentioned above, the channel 254 having the longitudinal axis 260 is oriented transversely and in particular perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis 264 .

[0268] An access normal of the access opening 252 toward the cleaning roller unit 94 is predetermined by the longitudinal axis 260 of the channel 254 and is accordingly also oriented transversely and in particular perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis 264 or the axis of rotation 94 .

[0269] With reference to the longitudinal axis 264 , the tank device 210 is arranged and constructed so that it extends in the longitudinal direction (parallel to the rotation axis 94 ) over at least 70%, preferably at least 80%, and in particular at least 90% of the cleaning roller unit 28 in order to obtain corresponding wetting over a larger area of ​​the cleaning roller unit 28 .

[0270] The basic working mode of the wetting device 208 and the storage tank device 210 is Fig.11 , Fig.12 Explained in.

[0271] The cleaning liquid enters the tank device 210 via the indicated inlet 230. The holding volume 216 is filled until the corresponding liquid level reaches the opening device 222. If the cleaning liquid continues to be injected, the cleaning liquid overflows from the opening device 222 and is loaded onto the cleaning roller unit 28.

[0272] The liquid buffer is adjusted by the reservoir device 210. First, the holding volume must be filled until the cleaning liquid can overflow from the opening device 222.

[0273] In the case of a horizontally oriented flat surface 26 with a horizontal placement plane, this means that when the corresponding liquid level is reached, the cleaning liquid will simultaneously overflow through the entire opening arrangement 222 and thus through all access openings 252. As a result, the cleaning roller unit 28 is substantially uniformly loaded with cleaning liquid over its entire length.

[0274] The reservoir device 210 then ensures a balanced supply of cleaning liquid to the cleaning roller unit 28. The receiving volume 216 contains just enough buffer liquid to ensure this balance.

[0275] The inlet 230 (and the passage means 232 which may be connected thereto) ensures the introduction of the cleaning liquid into the tank means 210 and in particular into the receiving volume 216. The cleaning liquid is then supplied to the washing roller unit 28 by overflowing through the opening means 222.

[0276] This makes it possible to arrange the inlet 230 at any desired position and in principle a single inlet 230 is sufficient, wherein uniform wetting of the cleaning roller unit 28 is nevertheless achieved.

[0277] In contrast, Fig.13 2 shows a variant which is not covered by the present invention, in which the cleaning liquid is delivered via the inlet 266 and the opening 268, without the presence of the receiving volume 216. The openings 268 close to the inlet 266 are provided with more cleaning liquid than the openings further away from the inlet 266. For the cleaning roller unit, this means that the cleaning liquid loading is not uniform and more cleaning liquid is delivered close to the inlet 266 than further away from the inlet.

[0278] In the solution according to the invention, the tank device 210 with the receiving volume 216 and the opening device 222 located above the receiving volume 216 with reference to the height direction 52 enables a uniform distribution of the cleaning liquid on the cleaning roller unit 28. To a certain extent, there is a decoupling from the inlet 230 due to the buffer volume provided by the receiving volume 216. Thus, a uniform distribution is achieved by overflowing from the receiving volume 216.

[0279] According to the invention, a defined resting plane 26 is provided, which holds the floor head 12 in a defined position relative to the floor surface 16 to be cleaned. The resting plane 26 is defined by the cleaning roller unit 28 and by the support roller 20 and the wheels 18a, 18b as further floor contact elements. As a result, a defined attitude of the tank device 210 relative to the floor surface 16 to be cleaned exists, and accordingly, when the floor head 12 stands in a defined manner with the resting plane 26 on the floor surface 16 to be cleaned, a uniform loading can be achieved.

[0280] In principle, the liquid level 226 is related to the inclination of the support plane 26 relative to the direction of gravity. Usually, the support plane 26 is perpendicular to the direction of gravity. Even in the case of a ground inclination with a small angle of the support plane 26 relative to a plane horizontal to the direction of gravity, a uniform liquid delivery can be achieved (as long as there is still cleaning liquid in the container volume 216).

[0281] By means of the solution according to the invention, uniform wetting of the cleaning roller unit 28 over its entire length parallel to the axis of rotation 94 can be achieved with little design effort. In addition, in principle, the liquid supply via the wetting device 208 can also be configured with little design effort. In principle, a single inlet 230 is sufficient to couple the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid tank 40 into the tank device 230.

[0282] The functions of the floor cleaning device 10 are as follows:

[0283] In the cleaning operation, the drive motor 90 drives the cleaning roller unit 28 in rotation in the direction of rotation 270 . As described above, the cleaning roller unit 28 (cleaning medium 138 ) is wetted with the cleaning liquid via the wetting device 208 .

[0284] The cleaning liquid is coupled into the tank device 210 via the inlet 230 and the channel device 232. The cleaning liquid overflowing from the receiving container 216 flows via the opening device 222 to the cleaning roller unit 28 and wets the cleaning roller unit.

[0285] In the contact area, the cleaning roller unit mechanically acts on the floor surface 16 to be cleaned. Dirt separation is achieved via the cleaning fluid.

[0286] The dirty fluid is separated from the cleaning roller unit 28 by means of the scraper element 178 and is supplied to the dirty fluid tank 38 .

[0287] If there are coarse dirt particles 204 on the floor to be cleaned, these can be picked up via the cleaning device 202 .

[0288] The floor cleaning device 10 is described as a self-steering and self-propelled floor cleaning device. If the floor cleaning device is designed for a standing operator, a corresponding wetting device 208 can also be used. Fig.14 Schematically shows such a floor cleaning device 286. A floor head 288 is provided, on which a handle device 290 is pivotably connected. Via the handle device 290, the operator can guide the floor head 288 on the floor 16 to be cleaned while standing, wherein in particular the main travel direction 24 is provided as the main cleaning direction.

[0289] A magazine 292 can be provided, on which a corresponding dampening device is then arranged for the cleaning roller unit 28 .

[0290] The solution according to the invention for the dampening device 208 can also be used, for example, to suck dirty fluid away from the cleaning roller unit 28 , for example via a suction blower device arranged on the handle device 290 .

[0291] The cleaning roller unit 28 can in principle comprise a single uniform cleaning roller or a plurality of partial cleaning rollers. A plurality of cleaning roller units or a plurality of partial rollers can be provided.

[0292] The wetting device 208 is described as described above using the storage tank device 210 positioned on the cassette 98. The storage tank device 210 with features according to the present invention can also be used when not being arranged on the cassette. For example, it can be directly arranged on the corresponding ground head and cannot be taken out.

[0293] Reference numerals list

[0294] 10 Floor cleaning equipment

[0295] 12 Ground Head

[0296] 14 Walking body

[0297] 16 Floor to be cleaned

[0298] 18 rounds

[0299] 18a round

[0300] Round 18b

[0301] 19 wheel axis

[0302] 20 Support rollers

[0303] 21 Rotation axis

[0304] 22 axis

[0305] 24 Main walking direction

[0306] 26 Placement plane

[0307] 28 Cleaning Roller Unit

[0308] 30 Navigation device

[0309] 32 front end

[0310] 34 rear end

[0311] 36 cans combination

[0312] 38 Dirty Fluid Tanks

[0313] 40 cleaning fluid tank

[0314] 42 lower side

[0315] 44 upper side

[0316] 46 walls

[0317] 48 Impact Body

[0318] 50 Center

[0319] 52 height direction

[0320] 54 Cliff Sensor

[0321] 56 battery compartment

[0322] 58 Cover

[0323] 60 sensors

[0324] 62 charging contacts

[0325] 64 Outer contour

[0326] 66 First String

[0327] 68 Second String

[0328] 70 Accommodate shaft

[0329] 72 longitudinal extension direction

[0330] 74 Cover wall

[0331] 76 walls

[0332] 82 First side

[0333] 84 Second side

[0334] 86 Lateral wall

[0335] 88 openings

[0336] 90 drive motor

[0337] 92 drive shaft

[0338] 94 Rotation axis

[0339] 96First rotating bearing

[0340] 98 box body

[0341] 100 caps

[0342] 108 Second rotating bearing

[0343] 110 load-bearing structure

[0344] 112 wall

[0345] 124 Insertion direction / removal direction

[0346] 126 Holding device

[0347] 128 first holding element

[0348] 130 second holding element

[0349] 132 Ring element

[0350] 134 Opening

[0351] 136 carriers

[0352] 138 Cleaning medium (lining)

[0353] 168 Distributor Device

[0354] 176 interfaces

[0355] 178 Scraping element

[0356] 192 pivot axis

[0357] 202 cleaning device

[0358] 206 cleaning element

[0359] 208 Wetting device

[0360] 210 Storage Tank Device

[0361] 212 First Storage Tank

[0362] 214 Second storage tank

[0363] 216 Accommodation capacity

[0364] 218 Tank Bottom

[0365] 220 tank wall

[0366] 222 opening device

[0367] 224 lower side

[0368] 226 Liquid Level

[0369] 228 Cleaning fluid flowing out

[0370] 230 Enter the Department

[0371] 232 channel device

[0372] 234 Cover

[0373] 236 Collection Channel

[0374] 238 wall

[0375] 240 Distributor

[0376] 242 First Wall

[0377] 244 Second Wall

[0378] 246 First conveying channel

[0379] 248 Second conveying channel

[0380] 250 End side

[0381] 252 Access opening

[0382] 254 channels

[0383] 256 input ports

[0384] 258 output ports

[0385] 260 longitudinal axis

[0386] 262 rounded part

[0387] 264 Longitudinal axis

[0388] 266 Enter the Ministry

[0389] 268 opening

[0390] 270 Rotating Device

[0391] 286 Floor cleaning equipment

[0392] 288 ground head

[0393] 290 Grip

[0394] 292 box body

Claims

1. A floor cleaning device, comprising: Ground head (12; 288), wherein the floor head (12; 288) defines a placement plane (26) for a floor (16) to be cleaned; at least one cleaning roller unit (28), the at least one cleaning roller unit being arranged on the floor head (12; 288) and being rotatable about a rotation axis (94); a drive motor (90) for causing the at least one cleaning roller unit (28) to rotate; at least one cleaning liquid tank (40); and a wetting device (208) for conveying cleaning liquid from the at least one cleaning liquid tank (40) to the at least one cleaning roller unit (28), characterized in that the wetting device (208) has at least one storage tank (212; 214), the storage tank being assigned to the at least one cleaning roller unit (28), The storage tank is arranged on the ground head (12; 288) and has a storage volume (216) for cleaning liquid, the wetting device (208) has at least one inlet portion (230), via which the cleaning liquid can be supplied to the storage volume (216) of the at least one storage tank (212; 214), and an opening device (222) is arranged on the at least one storage tank (212; 214), via which the cleaning liquid is supplied from the at least one storage tank (212; 214) to the at least one cleaning roller unit (28), wherein the opening device (222) is arranged above the storage volume (216) with respect to a height direction (52) perpendicular to the placement plane (26).

2. The floor cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that Have at least one of the following characteristics: - said at least one reservoir (212; 214) extends along a longitudinal axis parallel to said axis of rotation (94); - the at least one reservoir (212; 214) has a uniform width transversely to the longitudinal axis; - the opening device (222) has at least one access opening (252) having an access normal transversely and in particular perpendicularly to the rotation axis (94) and / or to the longitudinal axis of the at least one reservoir (212; 214); The length of the at least one reservoir (212; 214) or the combination (210) of reservoirs (212; 214) parallel to the rotation axis (94) is at least 70%, in particular at least 80% and in particular at least 90% of the length of the at least one cleaning roller unit (28).

3. The floor cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The opening device (222) has a plurality of spaced-apart access openings (252).

4. The floor cleaning device according to claim 3, characterized in that Have at least one of the following characteristics: - the access openings (252) are arranged on a line, wherein the line is in particular parallel to the rotation axis (94) and / or the placement plane (26); - the access opening (222) is arranged at the same height in the height direction (52) relative to the bottom (218) of the at least one reservoir (212; 214), wherein the bottom (218) is the bottom of the storage volume (216); - at least in one or more sub-areas, the access openings (222) are spaced equidistant from one another; - the access opening (222) is arranged and / or formed on a wall (230) of the at least one reservoir (212; 214); - the access opening (222) opens directly into the at least one cleaning roller unit (28), wherein, in particular, the length between an input end (256) of the access opening (222) and an output end (258) to the at least one cleaning roller unit (28) is at most or equal to 8 mm, and in particular at most or equal to 5 mm, and in particular at most or equal to 4 mm, and in particular at most or equal to 3 mm, and in particular at most or equal to 2 mm; - a channel (254) at the access opening (222) between an input end (256) of the access opening (222) and an output end (258) to the at least one cleaning roller unit (28) is oriented parallel to or transversely to the height direction (52), and in particular at an acute angle to the height direction (52); - the linear density of the access opening (222) is at least 0.4 cm -1 , and in particular at least 0.5 cm -1 .

5. The floor cleaning device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that: The access opening (222) has a rounded wall (262) at least toward the receiving volume (216) and is in particular designed to be edgeless at least toward the interior of the receiving volume (216) and / or the at least one reservoir (212; 214).

6. Floor cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The at least one inlet (230) opens into the at least one storage tank (212; 214), or the input side of the channel device (232) is fluidically connected to the at least one inlet (230), wherein the cleaning fluid is coupled into the at least one storage tank (212; 214) via the output side of the channel device (232).

7. The floor cleaning device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The output side of the channel device (232) is arranged at a longitudinal side of the at least one storage tank (212; 214), and in particular has at least one of the following features: - the output side extends along a longitudinal side of the at least one reservoir (212; 214); - The output side is opposite the opening device (222).

8. The floor cleaning device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that: The channel device (222) includes at least one of the following features: - at least one collecting channel (236) which is fluidically connected to the at least one inlet (230); - at least one distributor (240) which distributes the cleaning fluid onto a plurality of channels (246; 248); - at least one supply channel (246; 248), from which the cleaning fluid is coupled directly into the at least one storage tank (212; 214) via a respective outlet side.

9. The floor cleaning device according to claim 8, characterized in that The invention comprises at least a first storage tank (212) and a second storage tank (214) spaced apart from the first storage tank (212), and has at least one of the following characteristics: - the at least one distributor (240) is arranged between the first tank (212) and the second tank (214) and is in particular designed as a distributor channel; - a first conveying channel (246) is assigned to the first storage tank (212), and a second conveying channel (248) is assigned to the second storage tank (214), wherein, in particular, the first conveying channel (246) and the second conveying channel (248) are located in one line; The at least one inlet (230) is connected to the at least one collecting channel (236), wherein the at least one collecting channel (236) leads to the at least one distributor (240).

10. Floor cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that There are a plurality of separate storage tanks (212; 214).

11. Floor cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The at least one inlet (230) is arranged at or near an end side of the at least one cleaning roller unit (28), and in particular, exactly one inlet (230) is provided.

12. Floor cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The at least one cleaning roller unit (28) is held on a holding device or a cassette (94) which is detachably mounted on the floor head (12; 288), wherein the at least one storage tank (212; 214) is arranged on the holding device or the cassette (94).

13. The floor cleaning device according to claim 12, characterized in that: A wall (112) is arranged on the holding device or the cassette (94), the wall covering the at least one cleaning roller unit (28) toward the body (14) of the floor head (12; 288), and the at least one storage tank (212; 214) is arranged on the wall (112).

14. Floor cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The opening device (222) is arranged above at least one section of the at least one cleaning roller unit (28) in relation to the height direction (52), and in particular is arranged above the support plane (26) at a height greater than half the diameter of the at least one cleaning roller unit (28).

15. Floor cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that A sweeping device (202) for coarse dirt is provided, which is assigned to the at least one cleaning roller unit (28) and is arranged on the floor head (12; 288).

16. Floor cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that At least one dirty fluid tank (38) is provided, via which dirty fluid separated from the at least one cleaning roller unit (28) via at least one scraping element (178) can be accommodated, and in particular, the at least one dirty fluid tank (38) is detachably mounted on the floor head (12; 288).

17. Floor cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The invention relates to a self-propelled and self-cleaning floor cleaning device (10), wherein in particular the floor head (12) is a traveling body or comprises a traveling body (14), on which a traveling drive for the floor cleaning device (10) and a navigation device (30) for the floor cleaning device (10) are arranged.

18. The floor cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that A handle device (290) is provided, which is hinged to the floor head (288), wherein the floor cleaning device (286) can be guided on the floor (16) to be cleaned by a standing operator.

19. A floor cleaning device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The at least one cleaning roller unit (28) lies flat on the placement plane (26), and at least one ground contact element (18; 20) is arranged spaced apart from the at least one cleaning roller unit (28).

20. A method for operating a floor cleaning device, wherein: The floor cleaning device comprises a floor head (12; 288), and the floor head (12; 288) defines a placement plane (26) for a floor (16) to be cleaned, the floor cleaning device comprises at least one cleaning roller unit (28), the at least one cleaning roller unit is arranged on the floor head (12; 288) and rotates around a rotation axis (94) during the cleaning operation of the floor cleaning device, and the floor cleaning device comprises a drive motor (90) for causing the at least one cleaning roller unit (28) to rotate. In the method, during the cleaning operation of the floor cleaning device, the at least one cleaning roller unit (28) is wetted with a cleaning liquid. At least one cleaning roller unit (28), and in the method, cleaning liquid is transported from a cleaning liquid tank (40) to a storage volume of a storage tank (212; 214), wherein the storage tank (212; 214) is arranged on the ground head (12; 288), and cleaning liquid is applied from the storage volume (216) of the storage tank (212; 214) via an opening device (222) from the storage tank (212; 214) to the at least one cleaning roller unit (28), wherein the cleaning liquid overflowing from the storage volume (216) through the opening device (222) flows toward the at least one cleaning roller unit (28).

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