Ejection device and wet cleaning device or wet cleaning attachment

Abstract

The invention relates to an ejection device comprising - at least one movable shear arm (9, 14), each designed as a holder (9, 14) for a wipe media carrier (2) and which has at least in one shear arm section a shear arm magnet (8) and / or a magnetizable shear arm material, - a wiper media carrier (2) assigned to each shear arm (9, 14), which has at least in one wiper media carrier sub-area a wiper media carrier magnet (7) and / or a magnetizable wiper media carrier material, - an actuator (10) coupled to the shear arm (9), wherein the shear arm (9, 14) is designed to hold the wiping media carrier (2) in a working position of the wet cleaning device or wet cleaning attachment by means of a magnetic attraction between the wiping media carrier section and the shear arm section in the form of a force-fit connection, and wherein the actuator (10) is designed to cause the wiping media carrier (2) to be ejected from the shear arm (9, 14) by separating the force-locking connection by means of a shearing movement of the shear arm (9, 14) when actuated. Furthermore, the invention relates to a wet cleaning device or attachment comprising the ejection device and at least one wiping media carrier (2) which has at least in a partial area a magnet (7) and / or a magnetizable wiping media carrier material.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an ejection device and a wet cleaning device or a wet cleaning attachment. In particular, the invention relates to an ejection device for a wet cleaning device or a wet cleaning attachment, as well as the wet cleaning device or the wet cleaning attachment that contains the ejection device.

[0002] The wet cleaning device is designed for wet cleaning of a floor, while the wet cleaning attachment is an accessory for a device such as a dry cleaning device, for example.

[0003] This is a vacuum cleaner. The wet cleaning attachment is attached to the device for wet cleaning.

[0004] Common wet cleaning devices and attachments typically feature two wiping media, such as cloth wipes, that rotate in opposite directions relative to the direction of travel to achieve greater dirt removal. These wipes serve to absorb dirt and must be replaced or washed after use. They are usually attached to the wiper carrier with a non-removable hook-and-loop fastener, allowing the wiper to be detached and reattached.

[0005] When using the hook-and-loop fastener, precise alignment during assembly between the wiper media carrier and the wet cleaning device or attachment cannot be guaranteed, which can lead to problems such as obstructed suction openings, imbalances, or incomplete edge cleaning. Furthermore, the wiper media must be manually detached for removal, which is inconvenient and unhygienic.

[0006] Furthermore, a device for use as an attachment for a floor cleaning machine is known from unpublished prior art. The device comprises at least one housing, at least two counter-rotating cleaning units that can be arranged on the underside of the housing for cleaning a floor surface, and at least one drive unit for driving the cleaning units. Each cleaning unit has at least one receiving element and at least one wiping element that can be coupled to the receiving element. The receiving element can be coupled to the drive unit in a force-transmitting manner, so that a torque generated by the drive unit can be transmitted to the receiving element.Each cleaning device further comprises at least one first connecting element associated with the housing and at least one second connecting element associated with the receiving element, wherein the first and / or the second connecting element can be detachably connected to one another, e.g., via a magnetic or positive-locking connection. The device also comprises an actuating element designed to release the detachable connection between the connecting elements by means of a pressure force acting on the second connecting element. This creates the risk of unintentionally overloading the mechanism. Furthermore, force from the user is required to release the connection.

[0007] The invention therefore addresses the problem of providing a wet cleaning device and a wet cleaning attachment with improved handling and hygiene and without the risk of unwanted stress on the mechanics.

[0008] According to the invention, this problem is solved by an ejection mechanism with the features of claim 1 and a wet cleaning device or a wet cleaning attachment with the features of claim 5. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are described in the following dependent claims.

[0009] The advantages achievable with the invention, besides improved handling and hygiene, include the prevention or at least reduction of unintentional overloading of the mechanism. In particular, if the ejection device provides a passive rather than an active ejection mechanism, where the wipe media carrier is merely "released," unintentional stress is avoided, especially in cases of improper handling. Additionally, the force required to actuate the ejection device is reduced, which, particularly with electrically operated actuators, allows the respective drive elements to be designed more compactly, and therefore more cost-effectively and with reduced weight. The reduced actuation force results from the fact that the force required to shear two magnets against each other is only about 15% of the force required to "pull them apart," as is the case with a pull / push ejection mechanism using two magnets.Due to the reduced ejection forces, smaller drive and coupling components can be used, thus reducing costs. When the cleaning media carrier is ejected by the ejection device during and / or after actuation of the actuator, a tangential force acts against the holding force. The translational stroke movement results in a comparatively low overall height, enabling shallower wiping with the wet cleaning device or wet cleaning attachment.

[0010] The invention relates to an ejection device for a wet cleaning device or a wet cleaning attachment, comprising - at least one movable shear arm (9, 14), each designed as a holder (9, 14) for a wipe media carrier (2) and which has at least in one shear arm section a shear arm magnet (8) and / or a magnetizable shear arm material, - a wiper media carrier (2) assigned to each shear arm (9, 14), which has at least in one wiper media carrier sub-area a wiper media carrier magnet (7) and / or a magnetizable wiper media carrier material, - an actuator (10) coupled to the shear arm (9), wherein the shear arm (9, 14) is designed to hold the wiping media carrier (2) in a working position of the wet cleaning device or wet cleaning attachment by means of a magnetic attraction between the wiping media carrier section and the shear arm section in the form of a force-fit connection, and wherein the actuator (10) is designed to cause the wiping media carrier (2) to be ejected from the shear arm (9, 14) by separating the force-locking connection by means of a shearing movement of the shear arm (9, 14) when actuated.

[0011] The actuator can be a solenoid, electric motor, mechanical hand / foot lever, or the like. The mounting of the at least one shear arm is preferably on a separate pivot joint of the ejection device.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the ejection device further comprises at least one lever, which is assigned to each of the at least one shear arm and by means of which the actuator effects the shearing movement of the shear arm. This is a simple design for connecting the shear arm to the actuator.

[0013] Preferably, the ejection mechanism has several movable shear arms, and the ejection device preferably further includes a connecting rod that links the several shear arms together, so that when the actuator is actuated, the shearing movement of one of the shear arms is transferred to another of the shear arms. This means that only one actuator is required to move several shear arms.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the shearing motion is a rotary and / or translational shearing motion. This allows the ejection device to maintain a low overall height.

[0015] The invention further relates to a wet cleaning device or a wet cleaning attachment, comprising the ejection device according to one or more of the embodiments described above and at least one wiping media carrier configured to receive a wiping medium and comprising at least in one portion of the wiping media carrier a magnet and / or a magnetizable wiping media carrier material. The wiping medium can be, for example, a cleaning textile or a plastic foam medium.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, a receiving element is associated with the wiping media carrier, wherein the receiving element is configured to positively engage the wiping media carrier. Optionally, the receiving element can be configured to transmit a torque to the wiping media carrier.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the receiving element has a contour that is opposite to a contour of the wiping media carrier (2). This creates a positive-locking connection in a simple manner when the wet cleaning device or attachment is in a working state or coupled state with the wiping media carrier, and this connection can also be easily released using the ejection device.

[0018] Preferably, the wet cleaning device or wet cleaning attachment is designed to drive at least one wiping media carrier in a rotary motion during operation. This ensures a good and comprehensive cleaning effect. Preferably, the wet cleaning device or wet cleaning attachment further comprises a toothed gear or pulley mounted on the receiving element and a motor coupled to the receiving element, such that during operation a torque is applied that causes the at least one wiping media carrier to be driven in a rotary motion.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one shear arm comprises the shear arm magnet, and the at least one wiper media carrier comprises the magnetizable wiper media carrier material. Alternatively, and more preferably, the at least one shear arm comprises the magnetizable shear arm material, and the at least one wiper media carrier comprises the magnetizable wiper media carrier magnet. The magnetizable material is, for example, steel and / or iron. This results in cost savings.

[0020] Alternatively, preferably, the at least one shear arm has a shear arm magnet, and the at least one wiper media carrier has a wiper media carrier magnet. The advantage of using both the shear arm magnet and the wiper media carrier magnet is that the repulsive force of the magnets, in addition to the weight of the wiper media carrier, can further decouple the wiper media carrier from the shear arm. This also has the advantage that the wiper media carrier is ejected even if it becomes stuck, for example, due to soiling caused by the cleaning process.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one shear arm has a shear arm magnet, and the at least one wipe media carrier has a wipe media carrier magnet, wherein the shear arm magnet is designed and arranged such that its axis passing through its magnetic poles is orthogonal to the axis passing through the magnetic poles of the wipe media carrier magnet, wherein in an operating state the at least one shear arm is arranged such that in the force-fit connection between the wipe media carrier magnet and the shear arm magnet there is an opposite polarity between the wipe media carrier magnet and the shear arm magnet, and wherein a range of motion of the at least one shear arm during and / or after actuation of the actuator is limited or controlled such that an same polarity is established between the wipe media carrier magnet and the shear arm magnet.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one shear arm has a shear arm magnet and the at least one wipe media carrier has a wipe media carrier magnet, wherein the shear arm magnet is designed and arranged such that its axis passing through its magnetic poles is orthogonal to the axis passing through the magnetic poles of the wipe media carrier magnet, wherein in an operating state the at least one shear arm is arranged such that in the force-fit connection between the wipe media carrier magnet and the shear arm magnet there is an opposite polarity between the wipe media carrier magnet and the shear arm magnet, and wherein a range of motion of the at least one shear arm during and / or after actuation of the actuator is limited or controlled such that an same polarity is established between the wipe media carrier magnet and the shear arm magnet.

[0023] Alternatively, preferably, the at least one shear arm has the shear arm magnet and the at least one wipe media carrier has the wipe media carrier magnet, wherein the shear arm magnet is designed and arranged such that its axis running through its magnetic poles is not orthogonal to the axis running through the magnetic poles of the wipe media carrier magnet, and wherein the shear arm is mounted such that the shearing movement of the shear arm causes the shear arm magnet to rotate about an axis of rotation running through the shear arm magnet, so that its south and north poles are reversed in their positions in such a way that an equal polarity to the wipe media carrier magnet is established.

[0024] The wet cleaning device can be any device designed for mopping a floor, such as a handheld mop or a wet cleaning robot. The wet cleaning attachment is preferably intended for use with a vacuum cleaner or robotic vacuum cleaner.

[0025] An embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. It is shown schematically and not to scale. Fig. 1 a cross-sectional view of a wet cleaning device according to a first embodiment; Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 each a partial view of the in Fig. 1. Wet cleaning device shown in various states; Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 each a top view of a wet cleaning device according to a second embodiment in different states; Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 cross-sectional views of a wet cleaning device according to a third embodiment.

[0026] Fig. Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a wet cleaning device according to a first embodiment. The wet cleaning device comprises a wiping device 1 or a wiping attachment and two wiping media carriers 2 for receiving wiping media (not shown) such as cleaning textiles or plastic foam media. Only one of the wiping media carriers 2 is shown. The wiping media carrier 2 and the wiping device 1 are detachably coupled.

[0027] The wiping device 1 has an ejection device (not shown) for the wipe media carrier 2. The ejection mechanism has two movable shear arms, one of which, shear arm 9, is shown. Each shear arm 9 is designed as a holder for the wipe media carrier 2 and has a shear arm magnet 8 and / or a magnetizable material in at least one section. Each shear arm 9 is rotatably or slidably mounted. The ejection mechanism further has a receiving element 4 associated with each shear arm 9, designed to positively engage the wipe media carrier 2. The wipe media carrier 2 has a receiving element 3, which has a wipe media magnet 7 and / or a magnetizable material in at least one section.The shear arm 9 is designed to hold the wiper media carrier 2 in a working position of the wet cleaning device or wet cleaning attachment by means of a magnetic attraction between the wiper media carrier section and the shear arm section, forming a force-fit connection. The wiper device 1 also has an actuator 10, which is coupled to the shear arm 9. The force-fit connection is effected by the magnetic attraction between the wiper media carrier and shear arm magnets 7, 8. When actuated, the actuator 10 is designed to eject the wiper media carrier 2 from the shear arm 9 by breaking the force-fit connection through a shearing movement of the shear arm 9.

[0028] Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 each show a partial view of the Fig. Figure 1 shows a wet cleaning device in various states. The mop 1 has two shear arms 9, 14. Furthermore, the ejection mechanism has a lever 15, 16, each assigned to one of the shear arms 9, 14, via which the actuator 10 effects the shearing movement of the shear arms 9, 14. A lever 11 is also assigned to the actuator 10. The ejection device also has a connecting rod 13, which connects the multiple shear arms 9, 14, so that when the actuator 10 is actuated, the shearing movement of one shear arm 9 of the shear arms 9, 14 is transmitted to another shear arm 14 of the shear arms 9, 14. The shearing movement is a rotational and / or translational shearing movement. The shear arms 9, 14 are each mounted on a separate pivot joint 12 within the mop 1.

[0029] In Fig. Figure 2 shows the coupled state, i.e., an operating state, of the wiper media carrier 2 and the wiper device 1. By holding the ejection mechanism over the wiper media carriers 2, the wiper media carriers 2 are attracted to the ejection mechanism due to the magnetic attraction forces of the wiper media carrier magnet (not shown) and the shear arm magnet 8. As a result, the wiper media carrier 2 aligns itself with the ejection mechanism according to the wiper media carrier and shear arm contours (not shown) of the wiper media carrier and receiving elements. Each wiper media carrier 2 is then force-fitted to the ejection mechanism.

[0030] In Fig. Figure 3 shows a decoupling state of the wiper media carrier 2 from the wiper device 1, in which the wiper media carrier 2 is decoupled from the wiper device 1. When the actuator 10 is actuated, each shear arm 9, 14, and thus the shear arm magnet 8 associated with it in the ejection device, is moved rotationally or translationally. For this purpose, the actuator 10 acts directly or indirectly on each shear arm 9, 14 via the lever 11, so that, via the appropriately designed bearing of the shear arms 9, 14, each performs a movement. The movement of the shear arms 9, 14 causes the shear arm magnet 8 attached in / to the shear arm 9, 14 to move from its position in a shearing direction to the adhesive position towards the wiper media carrier magnet 7 of the wiper media carrier 2.Due to the positive fit between the wiper media carrier and the receiving elements (not shown), the respective wiper media carrier magnet 7 cannot follow the shear arm magnet 8 located on the shear arm 9, 14. Thus, the attraction and therefore the force-fit are released as the two associated wiper media carrier and shear arm magnets 7, 8 are separated from each other. As a result of the weight force acting on the wiper media carrier 2, it falls onto a lower surface (not shown), provided there is sufficient clearance beneath the wiper media carrier 2.

[0031] Fig. 4 and Fig. Figure 5 each shows a partial view of a wet cleaning device according to a second embodiment in different states.

[0032] The in Fig. 4 and Fig. The wet cleaning device shown in section 5 corresponds to the one in Fig. Figure 1 shows a wet cleaning device, with the difference that the shear arms 9, 14 each have the shear arm magnet 8 and the wiping media carriers 2 each have the wiping media carrier magnet 7. The shear arm magnet 8 is designed and arranged such that its axis passing through its magnetic poles is orthogonal to the axis passing through the magnetic poles of the wiping media carrier magnet 7.

[0033] Fig. Figure 4 shows a coupled state, i.e., operating state, in which the wiper media carrier 2 and the wiper device 1 are coupled. The shear arms 9, 14 are each arranged such that, in the positive-locking connection between the wiper media carrier magnet (not shown) and the shear arm magnet 8, there is an opposite polarity between the wiper media carrier magnet 7 and the shear arm magnet 8.

[0034] In Fig. Figure 5 shows a decoupling state of the wiper media carrier 2 from the wiper device 1, in which the wiper media carrier 2 is decoupled from the wiper device 1. The range of motion of the shear arms 9, 14 is limited or controlled during and / or after actuation of the actuator 10 such that an identical polarity is established between the wiper media carrier magnet (not shown) and the shear arm magnet 8.

[0035] Fig. 6 and Fig. Figure 7 shows cross-sectional views of a wet cleaning device according to a third embodiment.

[0036] The in Fig. 6 and Fig. The wet cleaning device shown in 7 corresponds to the one in Fig. 1. The wet cleaning device shown differs in that the shear arms (not shown) each have the shear arm magnet 8 and the wiping media carriers 2 each have the wiping media carrier magnet 7. The shear arm magnet 8 is designed and arranged such that its axis passing through its magnetic poles is not orthogonal to the axis passing through the magnetic poles of the wiping media carrier magnet 7.

[0037] Fig. Figure 6 shows a coupled state, i.e., operating state, in which the wiper media carrier 2 and the wiper device 1 are coupled. The shear arms are each arranged such that, in the positive-locking connection of the wiper media carrier receiving element 3 and the receiving element 4, there is an opposite polarity between the wiper media carrier magnet 7 and the shear arm magnet 8.

[0038] In Fig.Figure 7 shows a decoupling state of the wiping media carrier 2 from the wiping device 1, in which the wiping media carrier 2 is decoupled from the wiping device 1. The shear arms are mounted such that the shearing movement of the shear arms causes a rotation of the respective shear arm magnet 8 about an axis of rotation passing through the respective shear arm magnet 8, so that its south and north poles are reversed in their positions such that an identical polarity to the respective wiping media carrier magnet 7 is established. Reference symbol list 1 mop 2 wipe media carriers 3 Wipe media carrier holding element 4 Recording element 5 Wipe media carrier contour 6 Shear arm contour 7 wipe media carrier magnet 8 Shear arm magnet 9 Shear arm 11 levers 12 Swivel joint 13. Connecting rod 14 Shear arm 15 levers 16 levers

Claims

[1] Ejection device for a wet cleaning device or a wet cleaning attachment, comprising - at least one movable shear arm (9, 14), each designed as a holder (9, 14) for a wipe media carrier (2) and which has at least in one shear arm section a shear arm magnet (8) and / or a magnetizable shear arm material, - a wiper media carrier (2) assigned to each shear arm (9, 14), which has at least in one wiper media carrier sub-area a wiper media carrier magnet (7) and / or a magnetizable wiper media carrier material, - an actuator (10) coupled to the shear arm (9), wherein the shear arm (9, 14) is designed to hold the wiping media carrier (2) in a working position of the wet cleaning device or wet cleaning attachment by means of a magnetic attraction between the wiping media carrier section and the shear arm section in the form of a force-fit connection, and wherein the actuator (10) is designed to cause the wiping media carrier (2) to be ejected from the shear arm (9, 14) by separating the force-locking connection by means of a shearing movement of the shear arm (9, 14) when actuated. [2] Ejection device according to claim 1, characterized by at least one lever (15, 16) which is assigned to each of the at least one shearing arm (9, 14) and via which the actuator (10) causes the shearing movement of the shearing arm (9, 14). [3] Ejection device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by, that the ejection mechanism has several movable shear arms (9, 14), and that the ejection device further has a connecting rod (13) that connects the several shear arms (9, 14) together, so that when the actuator (10) is actuated, the shearing movement of one (9) of the shear arms (9, 14) is transferred to another (14) of the shear arms (9, 14). [4] Ejection mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the shearing motion is a rotational and / or translational shearing motion. [5] Wet cleaning device or wet cleaning attachment, comprising the ejection device according to one of claims 1 to 4 and at least one wiping media carrier (2) which is configured to receive a wiping medium which has at least in one wiping media carrier sub-area a wiping media carrier magnet (7) and / or a magnetizable wiping media carrier material. [6] Wet cleaning device or wet cleaning attachment according to claim 5, characterized by , that each wipe media carrier (2) is assigned a receiving element (4), wherein the receiving element is designed to receive the wipe media carrier in a form-fitting manner. [7] Wet cleaning device or wet cleaning attachment according to claim 6, characterized by , that the receiving element (4) has a contour that is opposite to a contour of the wipe media carrier (2). [8] Wet cleaning device or wet cleaning attachment according to claim 6, characterized by a toothed gear or pulley attached to the receiving element (4) and a motor coupled to the receiving element (4) such that during operation a torque is introduced in such a way that the at least one wiping media carrier (2) is driven rotationally during operation. [9] Wet cleaning device or wet cleaning attachment according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized by, that the at least one shear arm (9, 14) each has the shear arm magnet (8) and the at least one wipe media carrier (2) each has the magnetizable wipe media carrier material or that the at least one shear arm (9, 14) each has the magnetizable shear arm material and the at least one wipe media carrier (2) each has the magnetizable wipe media carrier magnet (7). [10] Wet cleaning device or wet cleaning attachment according to any one of claims 5 to 9, characterized by, that the at least one shear arm (9, 14) each has the shear arm magnet (8) and the at least one wipe media carrier (2) each has the wipe media carrier magnet (7), wherein the shear arm magnet (8) is designed and arranged such that its axis running through its magnetic poles is orthogonal to the axis running through the magnetic poles of the wipe media carrier magnet (7), wherein in an operating state the at least one shear arm (9) is arranged such that in the force-fit connection between the wipe media carrier magnet (7) and the shear arm magnet (8) there is an opposite polarity between the wipe media carrier magnet (7) and the shear arm magnet (8), and wherein a range of motion of the at least one shear arm (9) during and / or after actuation of the actuator (10) is limited or controlled in such a way,that an equal polarity is established between the wipe media carrier magnet (7) and the shear arm magnet (8). [11] Wet cleaning device or wet cleaning attachment according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized by , that the at least one shear arm (9, 14) each has the shear arm magnet (8) and the at least one wipe media carrier (2) each has the wipe media carrier magnet (7), wherein the shear arm magnet (8) is designed and arranged such that its axis passing through its magnetic poles is not orthogonal to the axis passing through the magnetic poles of the wipe media carrier magnet (7), and wherein the shear arm (9) is mounted such that the shearing movement of the shear arm (9) causes the shear arm magnet (8) to rotate about an axis of rotation passing through the shear arm magnet (8), so that its south and north poles are reversed in their position in such a way that an equal polarity to the wipe media carrier magnet (7) is established.

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