Base unit for a hand-held floor cleaning device, method for mounting such a base unit and hand-held floor cleaning device with such a base unit

Abstract

The invention relates to a floor unit for a hand-held floor cleaning device with a one-piece circuit board, wherein the circuit board has a front and a back side with respect to a main direction of movement of the floor unit, wherein a first light source, a component for adjusting a light source supply voltage and a coolant for cooling the light source are arranged on the circuit board, wherein a light coupling point of an optical fiber for coupling light emitted from the light source into the optical fiber is arranged at the light source, wherein the optical fiber has a light coupling area for coupling the coupled light onto a surface. The invention further relates to a method for assembling such a floor unit and a hand-held floor cleaning device with such a floor unit.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a floor unit for a hand-held floor cleaning device with a one-piece circuit board, wherein the circuit board has a front and a back side with respect to a main direction of movement of the floor unit, wherein a first light source, a component for adjusting a light source supply voltage and a coolant for cooling the light source are arranged on the circuit board, wherein a light coupling point of an optical fiber for coupling light emitted from the light source into the optical fiber is arranged at the light source, wherein the optical fiber has a light coupling area for coupling the coupled light onto a surface. The invention further relates to a method for assembling such a floor unit and a hand-held floor cleaning device with such a floor unit.

[0002] Floor nozzles for vacuum cleaners are known from EP 3 760 092 A1 and EP 3 760 093 A1. These nozzles have a light guide with a light output area at the front edge of the nozzle. These light guides only illuminate the area of ​​the floor directly in front of the nozzle. Areas to the side or behind the nozzle during cleaning are not illuminated. Consequently, dirty areas are not optimally visible to the user of such a vacuum cleaner. Furthermore, the cleaning results achieved with the nozzle are not optimally visible because the already cleaned area behind the nozzle is not illuminated.

[0003] The invention thus addresses the problem of providing an improved floor unit. Furthermore, the invention addresses the problem of providing an improved method for assembling such a floor unit and an improved handheld floor cleaning device incorporating such a floor unit.

[0004] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a floor unit with the features of claim 1, by a method for assembling such a floor unit with the features of claim 10, and by a hand-held floor cleaning device with the features of claim 11. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are set forth in the following dependent claims.

[0005] According to the invention, the first light source is arranged on the back of the circuit board. In a particularly preferred embodiment, all components are arranged on the back of the circuit board.

[0006] A handheld floor cleaning device can be a hand-held appliance for wet and / or dry cleaning of floor surfaces. Such floor cleaning devices can include, for example, a vacuum cleaner, a vacuum mop, or a mop. A floor attachment for such a handheld floor cleaning device can accordingly be a vacuum nozzle, a vacuum mop nozzle, or a mop head.

[0007] The primary direction of movement of the floor unit is the direction in which the floor unit is pushed by the user during cleaning operation as a result of a forward stroke. The definition of the front and back of the circuit board refers to the board's mounted state within the floor unit. Therefore, during cleaning, the back of the circuit board is the side facing the user.

[0008] The light source on the circuit board is preferably a light-emitting diode (LED). The circuit board can be an electronic circuit board. The circuit board of the ground unit can also be configured to control and / or supply electrical power to other components of the ground unit. The circuit board has a contact element for connection to an electrical conductor.

[0009] It is particularly preferred if the optical fiber is attached to the circuit board with its light coupling point at a light source. In a preferred embodiment, the optical fiber has a light transport area that connects the light coupling point of the optical fiber with the light coupling area of ​​the optical fiber. At the light coupling area of ​​the optical fiber, the light is emitted towards a surface when the floor unit rests on a surface during cleaning operation.

[0010] In the light output region of the optical fiber, the fiber can have prismatic recesses that deflect the light within the fiber in a desired output direction. An optical component, such as a lens, can be arranged on the optical fiber at the light output region, directing the light emitted through the fiber towards the substrate.

[0011] The arrangement of the light source, coolant, component for adjusting the light source supply voltage, and a light coupling point on the back of the circuit board enables a ground unit with a light guide that has a nearly circumferential light output area. Because essential components of the light guide are located on the back of the circuit board, tight radii are avoided when routing the light guide within the ground unit. This avoidance of tight radii reduces losses during light transmission within the light guide. As a result, a ground unit with a light guide that has a nearly circumferential light output area and simultaneously exhibits high luminous intensity is possible.In particular, this ensures that sufficient luminosity of the light guide is guaranteed at the front edge of the base unit, which is furthest from a light coupling point of the light guide.

[0012] It is particularly preferred that a second light source with a light coupling point of an optical fiber is arranged on the back of the circuit board, wherein the first and second light sources are arranged at opposite ends of the circuit board. The first and second light sources are arranged on the back of the circuit board such that they are as far apart as possible. By arranging the first and second light sources at opposite ends of the circuit board, almost the entire width of the circuit board is utilized to ensure the greatest possible distance between the first and second light sources on the circuit board.

[0013] Positioning the two optical fibers at opposite ends of the circuit board reduces the length of the optical fiber, thereby minimizing light transmission losses. Furthermore, this arrangement of the optical fibers on the circuit board avoids space conflicts with other components on the board.

[0014] It is preferred that the first and second light sources are arranged symmetrically about a center point on the circuit board. In a preferred embodiment, the circuit board has a rectangular shape. In this case, the symmetrical arrangement of the light sources refers to the axis of symmetry along the longer side of the circuit board. In an alternative embodiment, the circuit board can also have a rectangular shape. In this case, the symmetrical arrangement of the light sources refers to the same axis of symmetry as on a rectangular circuit board. The symmetrical arrangement of the light sources on the circuit board enables homogeneous light extraction at the light extraction area of ​​the optical fiber.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the circuit board is arranged symmetrically to one longitudinal side of the ground unit. The circuit board is positioned centrally within the ground unit with respect to its longitudinal axis. This enables homogeneous light extraction at the light extraction area of ​​the optical fiber along all edges of the ground unit.

[0016] Furthermore, it is preferred that the floor unit has a front edge and a rear edge, wherein the light output area of ​​the optical fiber extends along the front and / or rear edge of the floor unit. The front edge of the floor unit is the edge with which the floor unit first traverses a floor surface during a forward stroke in cleaning operation. The rear edge of the floor unit is the edge with which the floor unit last traverses a floor surface during a forward stroke in cleaning operation. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the light output area of ​​the optical fiber extends along the entire front and / or rear edge of the floor unit. By extending the light output area of ​​the optical fiber along the front and / or rear edge, the adjacent areas of the floor surface are optimally illuminated by the floor unit during cleaning operation.

[0017] Furthermore, it is preferred that the floor unit has a front edge and a side edge, wherein the light output area of ​​the optical fiber extends along the front edge and / or the side edge of the floor unit. The side edge of the floor unit is the edge of the floor unit that connects the front and rear edges of the floor unit. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the light output area of ​​the optical fiber extends along the entire side and / or front edge of the floor unit. By extending the light output area of ​​the optical fiber along the side and / or front edge, the adjacent areas of the floor surface are optimally illuminated by the floor unit during cleaning operation.

[0018] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the light output area of ​​the light guide extends along the front, side, and rear edges of the floor unit. This illuminates all areas of the floor surface that border the floor unit during cleaning operation.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the ground unit includes a reflector, the reflector being arranged on the optical fiber in the light-emitting region. The reflector is designed to reflect light emitted by the optical fiber towards a substrate. The reflector is arranged along the entire length of the optical fiber's light-emitting region. In a preferred embodiment, the optical fiber in the light-emitting region is almost completely enclosed by the reflector. The reflector amplifies and homogenizes the light emitted from the optical fiber onto the substrate.

[0020] Furthermore, it is particularly preferred that the floor unit comprises a floor cleaning element and a drive for moving the floor cleaning element, wherein the light guide is arranged above the floor cleaning element and the drive within the floor unit. The light guide is positioned above the floor cleaning element and the drive along its entire length within the floor unit. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the light guide is arranged at an upper, outer edge of the floor unit. In another preferred embodiment, the light guide is positioned largely above the floor cleaning element and the drive. The floor cleaning element can be a brush or mop attachment for dry and / or wet cleaning of a floor surface.A drive system for moving a floor cleaning element can consist of an electric motor and a transmission and / or gearbox element. This arrangement of the light guide on the floor unit allows for a floor unit with a very low profile, making it easy to handle during cleaning. Furthermore, this positioning of the light guide provides excellent illumination of the surface surrounding the floor unit during operation.

[0021] Preferably, the floor unit comprises a floor cleaning element and a drive for moving the floor cleaning element, wherein the light guide is arranged in the floor unit along the rear edge below the drive and the floor cleaning element, and wherein the light guide is arranged in the floor unit along the side and front edges above the drive and the floor cleaning element. This routing of the light guide in the floor unit enables a particularly flat design of the floor unit.

[0022] A method according to the invention for assembling such a floor unit comprises the following steps: - Providing a lower housing part, - Arrangement and fixing of a floor cleaning element, a drive and a circuit board in the lower part of the housing, - Arrangement and fixing of a mounting unit consisting of a light guide and reflector in the lower part of the housing, - Connecting the optical fiber to the circuit board, - Placing a housing top onto the housing bottom, - Connecting the lower part of the housing to the upper part of the housing.

[0023] The base housing of the floor unit can be a load-bearing component designed to accommodate all of its components. In the assembly step of arranging and fixing a floor cleaning element, a drive, and a circuit board within the base housing, these components are inserted and connected to it using a positive-locking and / or force-locking connection. An assembly consisting of a light guide and a reflector is a pre-assembled module. All components of this module have already been joined together in a previous assembly step. In the assembly step of arranging and fixing the assembly within the base housing, the assembly is inserted into the base housing and connected to it using a positive-locking and / or force-locking connection. Additionally, the light guide is connected to the circuit board via its light coupling point.A housing top part can be a lid for the base unit.

[0024] An embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. The drawings show: Fig. 1 Side view of a vacuum cleaner, Fig. 2 Perspective view of a floor unit with circumferential light guide, Fig. 3 Perspective view of a floor unit with circumferential light guide, Fig. 4 Sectional view of a floor unit with circumferential light guide, Fig. 5 View of an assembly unit consisting of a circuit board with light guide, Fig. 6. Perspective view of another floor unit with circumferential light guide, Fig. 7 Perspective view of another floor unit with circumferential light guide.

[0025] Fig. Figure 1 shows a side view of a floor cleaning device 12 with a floor unit 10. The floor cleaning device 12 in Fig. Figure 1 is a vacuum cleaner 12 with a handle 48, a suction tube 50, a body 52, and a floor nozzle 10. During cleaning operation, the floor nozzle 10 of such a vacuum cleaner 12 is positioned on the floor surface to be cleaned. The user of the vacuum cleaner 12 moves the floor nozzle 10 across the floor surface to be cleaned using the handle 48. The in Fig. The arrow shown represents the main direction of movement 20 of the floor nozzle 10 during cleaning operation.

[0026] Fig. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a floor unit 10 for a floor cleaning device 12 with a circumferential light guide 46 (not shown in Figure 2). Fig. 2) At the in Fig. The floor unit 10 shown in Figure 2 is a floor nozzle 10 for a vacuum cleaner 12. The floor nozzle 10 has a front edge 28, a rear edge 30, and two side edges 32. A joint 54 is arranged at the rear edge 30 of the floor nozzle, which can be connected to a suction tube 50. The joint 54 is a swivel-tilt joint through which steering impulses from the suction tube 50 can be transmitted to the floor nozzle 10 during cleaning. This allows a user to control the floor nozzle 10 during cleaning.

[0027] The floor nozzle 10 has a housing base 40 in which all components of the floor nozzle 10, such as the floor cleaning element 36, the drive 38, the circuit board 14 and the light guide 46 (not shown in the image), are housed. Fig. 2) are arranged. The upper housing part 42 is arranged on the lower housing part 40. Both housing parts 40 and 42 are screwed together. A translucent housing section 56 is provided around the upper edge of the upper housing part 42, which is designed to direct the light emitted by the light guide 46 towards the background.

[0028] Fig. Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a floor unit 10 with a circumferential light guide 46 without the upper housing part 42 mounted. A floor cleaning element 36 for cleaning a floor surface is arranged in the lower housing part 40 of the floor nozzle 10. The floor nozzle 10 also contains a drive 38 in the form of an electric motor 58 and a belt 60. The belt 60 connects the electric motor 58 to the floor cleaning element 36. During cleaning operation of the floor nozzle 10, the floor cleaning element 36 is driven by the motor 58 via the belt 60. During cleaning operation, dust and dirt particles are mobilized from the floor surface to be cleaned by the floor cleaning element 36 and sucked in by the suction airflow of the floor nozzle 10.

[0029] A circuit board 14 is arranged in the lower housing 40 at the rear edge 30 of the floor nozzle 10. The circuit board 14 is centered in the lower housing 40 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the floor nozzle 10. The circuit board 14 has a rectangular shape and is fixed by a holder 64 of the lower housing 40. The front side 16 of the circuit board 14 is oriented in the direction of the main direction of movement 20 of the floor nozzle 10. Two light sources 22 (not shown) are located on the rear side 18 of the circuit board 14. Fig. 2) arranged. At each of the two light sources 22, an optical fiber 46 with a light coupling point 24 is connected to the circuit board 14. The optical fiber 46 has two light coupling points 24, two adjoining light transport sections 62, and a light coupling section 26. The two light transport sections 62 of the optical fiber 46 are limited to a first bend of the optical fiber 46, which, starting from the circuit board 14, guides the optical fiber 46 past the joint 54. The remaining length of the optical fiber 46 is formed by the light coupling section 26.

[0030] The light output area 26 of the light guide 46 is arranged around the upper edge of the lower housing part 40. The light guide 46 runs along the rear edge 30 of the base nozzle 10, as well as along the two side edges 32 and the front edge 28, thus forming a closed circle. In the light output area 26, the light guide 46 is encapsulated by a reflector 34, which almost completely surrounds the light guide 46. The reflector 34 is open only in one direction. The light guide 46, together with the reflector 34, is clipped into a recess provided for this purpose in the light output area of ​​the lower housing part 46.

[0031] Fig. Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view through a floor nozzle 10 with a circumferential light guide 46. At a front edge 28 of the floor nozzle 10, the light guide 46 is encapsulated by a reflector 34 and, together with the reflector 34, is fixed in the lower housing part 40. The reflector 34 almost completely encloses the light guide 46 and is open in only one direction. In this area, the light guide 46 is covered by the translucent section 56 of the upper housing part 42. The light guide 46 at the front edge 28 of the floor nozzle 10 is located above the floor cleaning element 36 and the drive 38.

[0032] At the rear edge 30 of the floor nozzle 10, the light guide 46 is also encapsulated by the reflector 34. The reflector 34 almost completely surrounds the light guide 46 and is only open in the direction opposite to the main direction of movement 20 of the floor nozzle 10. In this area, the light guide 46 is covered by the translucent section 56 of the upper housing part 42. The light guide 46 at the rear edge 30 of the floor nozzle 10 is located largely above the floor cleaning element 36 and the drive 38.

[0033] Fig. Figure 5 shows an isolated view of a circuit board 14 with connected light guides 46. The circuit board 14 has a rectangular shape, with an LED at each of its two outer ends 66, which serves as a light source 22. A light guide 46 with two light coupling points 24 is attached to the circuit board 14 at each of the two LEDs. A light transport section 62 follows the light coupling points 24 for the first bend, before the light guide 46 transitions into a light coupling section 26 for the remainder of its path. The light guide 46 has an approximately rectangular basic shape, which is based on the basic shape of the base unit 10. The path of the light guide 46 in the light coupling section 26 is rounded only in the transition areas between the front 28, the rear 30, and the side edges 32.

[0034] Fig. Figure 6 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a ground unit 10 with a circumferential light guide 46. The ground unit 10 also features a circumferential light guide 46. Fig. 6 refers to a floor nozzle 10 for a vacuum cleaner 12. In contrast to the floor nozzle 10 according to Fig. 3 indicates the floor nozzle 10 in Fig. 6. An even flatter design, especially at the rear edge 30. This further improves the undercutting characteristics of the floor nozzle 10.

[0035] Fig. Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the floor nozzle 10 in the embodiment according to Fig.6 without the upper housing part 42 mounted. In this embodiment, the light guide 46 is guided from the circuit board 14 in the light transmission area 62 through a first bend past the joint 54 and downwards. As a result, the light guide 46 runs in the light output area 26 along the rear edge 30 of the floor nozzle 10 below the drive 38. At the transition between the rear edge 30 and the side edges 32, the light guide 46 is guided upwards so that it runs along both side edges 32 and the front edge 28 above the drive 38 and the floor cleaning element 36. This guidance of the light guide 46 along the rear edge 30 of the floor nozzle 10 enables its particularly flat design. Reference symbol list 10 Floor unit / floor nozzle 12 Floor cleaning device / vacuum cleaner 14 ladder map 16 Front side of ladder card 18 Back of ladder card 20 Main direction of movement Ground unit 22 Light source 24 Light coupling point 26 Light output area 28 Front edge floor unit 30 Rear edge floor unit 32 Side edge floor unit 34 Reflector 36 floor cleaning element 38 Drive 40 Housing lower part 42 Housing top 44 Assembly unit circuit board 46 fiber optic cables 48 handle 50 Intake pipe 52 Corpus 54 joint 56 translucent housing section 58 Engine 60 belts 62 Light transmission area 64 bracket 66 End of ladder map QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 3 760 092 A1

[0002] EP 3 760 093 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Floor unit (10) for a hand-held floor cleaning device (12) with a one-piece circuit board (14), wherein the circuit board (14) has a front (16) and a back (18) with respect to a main direction of movement (20) of the floor unit (10), wherein a first light source (22), a component for adjusting a light source supply voltage and a coolant for cooling the light source (22) are arranged on the circuit board (14), wherein a light coupling point (24) of an optical fiber (46) for coupling light emitted from the light source (22) into the optical fiber (46) is arranged on the light source (22), wherein the optical fiber (46) has a light coupling area (26) for coupling the coupled light onto a surface, characterized by , that the first light source (22) is located on the back (18) of the circuit board (14). [2] Ground unit (10) according to claim 1, wherein a second light source (22) with a light coupling point (24) of an optical fiber (46) is arranged on the back side (18) of the circuit board (14), wherein the first and second light sources (22) are arranged at opposite ends of the circuit board (14). [3] Ground unit (10) according to claim 2, wherein the first and second light sources (22) are arranged symmetrically to a center of the circuit board (14) on the circuit board (14). [4] Ground unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the circuit board (14) is arranged symmetrically to a longitudinal side of the ground unit (10). [5] Ground unit (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the ground unit (10) has a front edge (28) and a rear edge (30), wherein the light output area (26) of the light guide (46) extends along the front edges (28) and / or the rear edge (30) of the ground unit (10). [6] Ground unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the ground unit (10) has a front edge (28) and a side edge (32), wherein the light output area (26) of the light guide (46) extends along the front edge (28) and / or the side edge (32) of the ground unit (10). [7] Ground unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the ground unit (10) has a reflector (34), wherein the reflector (34) is arranged on the light guide (46) in the light coupling area (26). [8] Floor unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the floor unit (10) comprises a floor cleaning element (36) and a drive (38) for moving the floor cleaning element (36), wherein the light guide (46) is arranged in the floor unit (10) above the floor cleaning element (36) and the drive (38). [9] Floor unit (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the floor unit (10) has a floor cleaning element (36) and a drive (38) for moving the floor cleaning element (36), wherein the light guide (46) is arranged in the floor unit (10) along the rear edge (30) below the drive (38) and the floor cleaning element (36), wherein the light guide (46) is arranged in the floor unit (10) along the side (32) and front edge (28) above the drive and the floor cleaning element. [10] Method for assembling a floor unit (10) by the following steps: - Providing a lower housing part, - Arrangement and fixing of a floor cleaning element, a drive and a circuit board in the lower part of the housing, - Arrangement and fixing of a mounting unit, a light guide and a reflector in the lower part of the housing, - Connecting the optical fiber to the circuit board, - Placing a housing top onto the housing bottom, - Connecting the lower part of the housing to the upper part of the housing. [11] Handheld floor cleaning device (12) with a floor unit (10) according to claim 1.

Images