Cleaning device for use in a device for cleaning a floor surface

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cleaning device (1) for use in a device for cleaning a floor surface (2), comprising: - at least one housing (4) enclosing an interior space (3), - at least one rotatably driven cleaning roller (5) arranged at least partially in the interior space (3) of the housing (4), wherein the cleaning roller (5) is provided with a plurality of bristle tufts (6), - at least one cutting element (7) movably arranged on the housing (4) for removing hair from the cleaning roller (5), wherein the cutting element (7) is movably designed to move between at least two positions, - at least one drive device for driving the cutting element (7), and - at least one control device for controlling the drive device.In order to provide a cleaning device (1) that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art and enables a particularly simple and reliable way to remove hair from the cleaning roller (5), the invention proposes at least one wind power device (8) for converting wind energy into electrical energy and at least one energy storage unit (9), wherein the electrical energy converted by the wind power device (8) can be stored in the energy storage unit (9) and can be used to power the drive device, so that the cutting element (7) can be driven using the energy provided by the wind power device (8).

Description

The invention relates to a cleaning device according to the preamble of claim 1.The cleaning device is suitable for use in a device for cleaning a floor surface, for example a hand vacuum cleaner, vacuum cleaner or vacuum robot. The cleaning device is intended to reliably clean the floor surface to be cleaned. For this purpose, the device provides a suction air flow generated by a blower, by means of which dust and dirt particles located on the floor surface can be absorbed and conducted to a dirt collecting container of the device.For this purpose, the cleaning device comprises at least one housing enclosing an interior space and at least one rotationally drivable cleaning roller arranged at least partially in the interior space of the housing. The cleaning roller is provided with a plurality of bristle tufts which are provided to convey the dust and dirt particles in the direction of a suction mouth typically arranged on the cleaning device.Typically, however, during the course of cleaning, hairs become caught in the bristle tufts of the cleaning roller, which leads to a reduced rotational speed and a correspondingly reduced cleaning performance. As a rule, the hair must then be removed manually from the cleaning roller. For example, a type of comb can be used for this purpose, by means of which the hairs can be combed out of the bristle tufts.Due to the aforementioned problem, the cleaning device comprises at least one cutting element, which is arranged movably on the housing, for removing hairs which have become caught in the bristle tufts during the cleaning of the bottom surface. For this purpose, the cutting element is movable between at least two positions. Hairs located in the region of a cutting blade of the cutting element are severed as a result of the movement of the cutting element and can be conveyed to the dirt collection container by means of the suction air flow.In order to be able to drive and actuate the cutting element, the cleaning device further comprises at least one drive device and at least one control device, which in turn can actuate the drive device.Cleaning devices of the above-described type are known from the prior art. By way of example, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 9,999,330 B2, which describes a cleaning device comprising a toothed cutting element, wherein the cutting element is axially movable along a longitudinal axis of the associated cleaning roller.Furthermore, such a cleaning device is described in the international patent application WO 2018 / 218157. The cleaning device described therein comprises a cleaning roller and a cutting element which can move between two end positions in order to separate caught hairs.Cleaning devices equipped with a photoelectric sensor are also known. The sensor detects the hair and emits a corresponding indication for cleaning to a user of the cleaning device.However, it has proved to be problematic in known cleaning devices that the removal of the hair manually or also by a comb has proven to be particularly cumbersome and time-consuming. The automatically acting cutting elements use threaded rods which, however, frequently wear and must then be replaced. It is also known to use springs to move the cutting element. However, fatigue of the spring occurs in this case as well. The use of a photoelectric sensor is likewise undesired on account of the associated complex electrical interconnection.It is accordingly the object of the present application to provide a cleaning device which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art and enables a particularly simple and reliable possibility for removing hair from the cleaning roller.The underlying object is achieved according to the invention by means of a cleaning device having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are evident from the associated dependent claims.The cleaning device according to the invention is characterized by at least one wind power device and at least one energy storage unit. The wind power device is suitable and configured to convert wind energy into electrical energy. The electrical energy is stored in the energy storage unit. The energy can be used to feed the drive device, so that the cutting element can be driven using the energy provided by the wind power device.The cleaning device according to the invention has many advantages. In particular, the cleaning device enables a particularly low-emission drive of the cutting element.In particular, in addition to the wind power device, no further components are required for operating the drive device. The energy storage unit ensures that the drive device can also be operated if the wind power device cannot be driven in the absence of wind. In this case, the drive device can be fed by means of the energy stored in the energy storage unit. However, it is also conceivable that the electrical energy can be used directly, i.e. without intermediate storage in the energy storage unit, for feeding the drive device.The wind power device can be designed in the form of a wind turbine and be equipped with a plurality of rotor blades which are arranged rotatably on an axis. Upon the action of wind energy, the rotor blades are set in motion and cause a rotation about the axis.According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the wind power device is coupled to the cleaning roller by means of at least one gear mechanism in such a way that a rotational movement of the wind power device can be transmitted to the cleaning roller, so that the cleaning roller can be driven by means of the wind energy. Advantageously, the wind power device can thus be used not only for feeding the drive device, but also for driving the cleaning roller in a rotational manner.In this case, it can preferably be provided that the gear mechanism has gearwheels and a toothed belt connecting the gearwheels. In particular, it can be provided that an axle of the wind power device is coupled to the gear via a toothed belt in order to transmit the rotational movement of the axle of the wind power device to the cleaning roller. In a particularly preferred manner, the toothed belt connects a roller body of the cleaning roller to the axle of the wind power device.Preferably, it can be provided that the cutting element is movable between the two positions at a predefinable frequency. In particular, it can be provided that the cutting element is moved between two end positions between which the cutting element can move. However, it can also be provided that the cutting element can be moved into an intermediate position. The frequency with which the cutting element moves between the at least two positions can be adjusted in this case depending on the currently present conditions. It is thus conceivable, for example, that the frequency can be increased if the cleaning roller is particularly soiled. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the bristle tufts are arranged wave-shaped on a roller body of the cleaning roller. A wave-shaped arrangement of the bristle tufts on the roller body has proven to be particularly advantageous in particular with regard to a particularly efficient cleaning of the bottom surface.According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a length of the cutting element substantially corresponds to a length of the cleaning roller. However, it can also be provided that the cutting element is formed slightly shorter than the length of the cleaning roller in order to allow a movement of the cutting element without fear of a protrusion over the length of the cleaning roller.An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the cutting element has a cutting blade, preferably a cutting blade with a wavy cut. A cutting blade with wavy cut has proven to be advantageous in particular with regard to a reliable separation of the hairs adhering to the cleaning roller. In this case, it can be particularly advantageous if the cutting blade is sharply formed in the region of both flanks of a shaft. In this way, it can be ensured that the cutting element severs the hairs both during a movement to the first position and during a movement to the second position.A particularly advantageous further development of the cleaning device according to the invention provides that the energy storage unit comprises a capacitor and / or a battery. The two energy storage units mentioned above have proven to be particularly advantageous. When using a capacitor, a Fala capacitor has proven to be particularly expedient since it is characterized by a large capacitance, while only relatively low voltages are required.Furthermore, it can be provided that the wind power device comprises a generator for generating the electrical energy. The generator converts the kinetic energy arising when the wind power device is driven into electrical energy and stores it in the energy storage unit.If the cleaning roller is likewise to be driven by the wind power device, it can be provided that the wind power device is coupled on the one hand, preferably by means of the transmission, to the cleaning roller in order to transmit the kinetic energy to the cleaning roller. The cleaning roller can on the other hand be coupled to the generator via a further transmission or a power-transmitting connection, so that the kinetic energy can also be transmitted to the generator. In the case described above, the wind energy is indirectly converted into electrical energy, since this is first used in kinetic energy for driving the cleaning roller and is finally transmitted to the generator, which converts this into electrical energy.If the cleaning roller has its own drive, it can be provided that the wind energy is directly converted into electrical energy, for example by the generator which is assigned to the wind power device.A further embodiment of the invention provides that the drive device has at least one push rod, wherein the push rod is connected to the cutting element in a force-transmitting manner, such that a movement of the push rod can be transmitted to the cutting element. It can be provided that the push rod is designed to be extendable in two opposite directions. The push rod can be designed to be movable in a particularly preferred manner on the basis of an electromagnet provided with two coils, wherein the coils can be controlled independently of one another. Each of the coils is assigned to a direction in which the push rod is to be moved. It may be provided that each of the coils may generate a magnetic field with orientations of each respective magnetic field being opposite. The push rod can furthermore have a permanent magnet which brings about a movement of the push rod if one of the two magnetic fields is generated.Furthermore, it is particularly advantageous if the control device has at least one controller for controlling the cutting element, wherein the controller controls the cutting element as a function of a voltage generated by means of the wind power device. When the wind power device is driven, the wind energy is converted into electrical energy. The electrical energy can be characterized in particular by an electrical voltage. The value of the generated voltage is preferably measurable by means of the control device. In order to ensure that the energy storage unit has been sufficiently charged, i.e. has been charged in such a way that a movement of the cutting element is made possible, it can therefore be particularly advantageous if the controller of the control device actuates the cutting element only when a predefined threshold value of the voltage is reached. Before the threshold value is reached, the cutting element is therefore not actuated.The object mentioned at the beginning is furthermore achieved by means of a device according to the features of claim 12. An advantageous embodiment is evident from the associated dependent claim.The apparatus according to the invention comprises at least one cleaning device according to the invention. In addition, the device is assigned at least one blower which generates a suction air flow. By means of the suction air flow, the wind power device of the cleaning device can be driven.The device according to the invention has many advantages. A particular advantage is that the wind power device can be driven with the wind energy provided by the suction air flow. It is therefore not necessary to provide a separate drive for the cutting element. Rather, the suction air flow which is required in any case can be used to drive the wind power device. It can likewise be provided here that both the cleaning roller and the cutting element can be driven by means of the blower. The device consequently only has to be switched on under the control of the blower in order to drive the cleaning roller on the one hand and to set the cutting element in motion on the other hand. A further embodiment of the invention provides that the device is designed in the form of a hand vacuum cleaner, a vacuum cleaner or a robotic vacuum. In particular in the case that the device is designed as a vacuum cleaner,If the device is designed in the form of a hand vacuum cleaner or an robotic vacuum cleaner, it can be provided that, in addition to the wind power device, an electric motor and / or a wirelessly controllable power supply device is also available, since a power of the suction air flow in such devices is generally rather low and a drive of the wind power device solely by the blower could lead to problems.An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated purely schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. It shows: FIG. 1 shows a vertical section through a cleaning device according to the invention. FIG. 2 shows a horizontal section through the cleaning device according to the invention from FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows an underside of the cleaning device according to the invention from FIG. 1. FIG. 4 shows a first assembly of the cleaning device from FIG. 1. FIG. 5 shows a second assembly of the cleaning device from FIG. 1. FIG. 6 shows a circuit diagram of a control device of the cleaning device from FIG. 1.A cleaning device 1 according to the invention for use in a device for cleaning a floor surface 2 is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The cleaning device 1 is designed in the form of a floor nozzle 19 and is suitable in particular for use in a device designed as a vacuum cleaner.The bottom nozzle 19 comprises a housing 4 which encloses an interior space 3. Fluidically connected to the interior 3 of the housing 4 is a suction pipe connection piece 20, by means of which the floor nozzle 19 can be connected to the vacuum cleaner. Furthermore, the floor nozzle 19 has three wheels 21, by means of which the floor nozzle 19 can be moved over the floor surface 2 to be cleaned. Two of the wheels 21 are arranged in a rear region of the floor nozzle 19, while one of the wheels 21 is arranged in a front region of the floor nozzle 19.In the interior 3 of the housing 4 of the base nozzle 19 a cleaning roller 5 is arranged which is designed to be rotationally drivable. The cleaning roller 5 has a roller body 11 and a plurality of bristle tufts 6 arranged on the roller body 11 along a longitudinal axis 22. As can be seen particularly well from FIGS. 2 to 5, the bristle tufts 6 are arranged on the roller body 11 in a wave-shaped manner, as viewed in a longitudinal direction of the cleaning roller 5.The floor nozzle 19 has a suction mouth 24 arranged on an underside 23 of the floor nozzle 19, via which dust and dirt particles located on the floor surface 2 can be absorbed. The suction mouth 24 is formed in the form of an elongate opening in the housing 4.The cleaning roller 5 rotates during operation of the vacuum cleaner and conveys dust and dirt particles and hair, which are located on the floor surface 2 to be cleaned, in combination with a suction air flow provided by a blower of the vacuum cleaner, into a dirt collection container of the vacuum cleaner, which dirt collection container is not shown in the figures.Furthermore, a wind power device 8 is arranged in the housing 4 of the floor nozzle 19. The wind power device 8 can be driven by a wind caused by the suction air flow: during operation of the vacuum cleaner, the suction air flow is generated. As a result, the wind power device 8 is driven, i.e. set in rotation. The wind power device 8 is connected to the roller body 11 via an associated shaft by means of a transmission 10, so that the operation of the vacuum cleaner with the associated operation of the wind power device 8 causes a rotation of the cleaning roller 5. The gear 10 is designed in the form of two gearwheels 25, 26 and a toothed belt 27 connecting the gearwheels 25, 26.The roller body 11 of the cleaning roller 5 is in turn coupled to a generator 28 of the wind power device 8, which rotates together with the cleaning roller 5 and in this way converts the rotational energy into electrical energy, which is stored in an energy storage unit 9 in the form of a capacitor 16. The capacitor 16 is designed as a farad capacitor 16 (also referred to as farad capacitor 16), which is distinguished by a particularly high capacitance. The generator 28 is connected to the Fala capacitor 16 by means of electrical lines.Also associated with the underside 23 of the base nozzle 19 is a cutting element 7 which has a cutting blade 14 which is in turn provided with a wavy cut, that is to say with saw-tooth-like cutting tips 29. Hairs caught in and between the bristle tufts 6 are intended to be cut by means of the cutting element 7. The separated hairs can then be suctioned off by means of the suction air flow and conveyed to the dirt collecting container of the vacuum cleaner.Furthermore, the cleaning device 1 comprises a drive device, not shown in the figures, which is suitable and provided for moving the cutting element 7 in order to cut off hairs caught in the cleaning roller 5 during the cleaning of the floor surface 2 and thus to remove them from the cleaning roller 5. The cutting element 7 is moved relative to the cleaning roller 5 along the longitudinal axis 22. The direction of movement changes continuously, so that the cutting element 7 moves "back and forth" between the two positions. A frequency at which the cutting element 7 moves can be specified by a control device not shown in the figures.In order to enable the above-described movement, the cutting element 7 has two elongated holes 30. The cutting element 7 is fixed to the cleaning roller 5 by means of the slots 30. A length 12 of the cutting element is slightly less than a length 13 of the cleaning roller 5.Furthermore, a push rod 17 is assigned to the drive device, which can be moved in two opposite directions 31, 32 running along the longitudinal axis 22 of the cleaning roller 5. The push rod 17 is in contact with the cutting element 7 and, upon extension, causes a translatory movement of the cutting element 7 along the longitudinal axis 22 of the cleaning roller 5 in a first direction 31 until a first position is reached. In order to effect a movement of the cutting element 7 in the second, opposite direction towards a second position, the drive device further comprises a spring 33 which is coupled to the cutting element 7 in such a way that the cutting element 7 is moved back into an initial position as a result of a translatory movement as a result of a tension and a subsequent relaxation.A circuit diagram of an electronic circuit is shown in FIG. 6. The circuit comprises two Fala capacitors 16. a first of the two Fala capacitors 16 is used to supply power to the push rod 17, while the second Fala capacitor 16 is used to supply power to a regulator 18. Both Fala capacitors 16 are charged by means of the electrical voltage generated by the generator 28.The controller 18 serves to control the push rod 17. For this purpose, a voltage threshold value is predefined in a program of controller 18. When a value of the voltage is present which corresponds to the voltage threshold value, the push rod 17 is actuated. The actuation of the push rod 17 results in a movement of the cutting element 7 in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning roller 5 in the first direction 31. As a result of the movement of the push rod 17, the voltage which is applied to the first Fala capacitor 16 falls. By means of the controller 18, the control is ended when the push rod 17 has reached the first position. Subsequently, the first Fala capacitor 16 is recharged again. When the voltage threshold value is reached again, the push rod 17 is actuated again. However, the push rod 17 is moved in the second, opposite direction 32 in this case, so that the cutting element 7 likewise moves in the second, opposite direction 32. In the same way, the control by the controller 18 is ended and the first Fala capacitor 16 is recharged in order subsequently to be able to move the cutting element 7 again in the original direction. In this way, the cutting element 7 is moved continuously between the two positions.The push rod 17 can be actuated by means of an electromagnet with two coils. The movement of the push rod 17 into the first position is effected via an activation of a first spool, while the movement of the push rod 17 into the second position is effected via an activation of the second spool.A frequency at which the push rod 17 moves between the two positions can be set by the controller 18, in particular by defining the voltage threshold value.A lower part of the cleaning roller 5 is further removable from the cleaning roller 5. In particular in the case where lateral air inlet slots 34 are clogged, the lower part can be removed from the cleaning roller 5 by means of two screws 35, as can be seen from FIG. 3.List of reference characters1 Cleaning device 2 Floor surface 3 Interior space 4 Housing 5 Cleaning roller 6 Bristle tufts 7 Cutting element 8 Wind power device 9 Energy storage unit 10 Transmission 11 Roller body 12 Length Cutting element 13 Length Cleaning roller 14 Cutting blade 15 Capacitor 16 Capacitor 17 Push rod 18 Controller 19 Floor nozzle 20 Suction pipe connection piece 21 Wheel 22 Longitudinal axis 23 Underside 24 Suction mouth 25 Gearwheel 26 Gearwheel 27 Toothed belt 28 Generator 29 Cutting tip 30 Elongated hole 31 First direction 32 Second direction 33 Spring 34 Air inlet slot 35 ScrewReferences included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedU.S. Pat. No. 9,999,330 B2

[0007] WO 2018 / 218157

[0008]

Claims

Cleaning device (1) for use in a device for cleaning a floor surface (2), comprising - at least one housing (4) enclosing an interior space (3), - at least one rotationally drivable cleaning roller (5) arranged at least partially in the interior space (3) of the housing (4), wherein the cleaning roller (5) is provided with a plurality of bristle tufts (6), - at least one cutting element (7) arranged movably on the housing (4) for removing hairs from the cleaning roller (5), wherein the cutting element (7) is formed movably between at least two positions, - at least one drive device for driving the cutting element (7), - at least one control device for driving the drive device, characterized by - at least one wind power device (8) for converting wind energy into electrical energy and at least one energy storage unit (9), wherein the electrical energy converted by the wind power device (8) can be stored in the energy storage unit (9) and can be used to feed the drive device, so that the cutting element (7) can be driven using the energy provided by the wind power device (8).Cleaning device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the wind power device (8) is coupled to the cleaning roller (5) by means of at least one gear mechanism (10) in such a way that a rotational movement of the wind power device (8) can be transmitted to the cleaning roller (5) so that the cleaning roller (5) can be driven by means of the wind energy.Cleaning device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the cutting element (7) is movable between the two positions at a predeterminable frequency.Cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bristle tufts (6) are arranged wave-shaped on a roller body (11) of the cleaning roller (5).Cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a length (12) of the cutting element (7) substantially corresponds to a length (13) of the cleaning roller (5).Cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cutting element (7) has a cutting blade (14), preferably a cutting blade (14) with a wavy cut.Cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the energy storage unit (9) comprises a capacitor (15, 16) and / or a battery.Cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wind power device (8) comprises a generator (28) for generating the electrical energy.Cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive device has at least one push rod (17), wherein the push rod (17) is connected to the cutting element (7) in a force-transmitting manner, such that a movement of the push rod (17) can be transmitted to the cutting element (7).Cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device has at least one controller (18) for controlling the cutting element (7), wherein the controller (18) controls the cutting element (7) as a function of a voltage generated by means of the wind power device (8).Cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device actuates the cutting element (7) only when a predetermined threshold value of the voltage is reached.Device for cleaning a floor surface (2), comprising at least one cleaning device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device comprises at least one blower for generating a suction air flow, characterized in that the suction air flow can be used to drive the wind power device (8) of the cleaning device (1).Device according to claim 12, characterised in that the device is designed in the form of a hand vacuum cleaner, a vacuum cleaner or a robotic vacuum.

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