Cleaning robot and cleaning system

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning robot (1), comprising a main body (2), a drive device (3) and a cleaning device (4), wherein: the cleaning device (4) is equipped for wet cleaning floors to be cleaned; an accommodation unit (5) for a mop covering (6) is associated with the main body (2) on the side facing the floor to be cleaned; for the wet cleaning, a mop covering (6) is fastened to the accommodation unit (5); and the cleaning robot (1) is equipped to automatically replace the mop covering (6) fastened to the accommodation unit (5) with another mop covering (6). The invention further relates to a cleaning system (17).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cleaning robot comprising a base body, a drive device, and a cleaning device. The cleaning device is equipped for wet cleaning floors to be cleaned. A receiving unit for a mop cover is assigned to the base body on the side facing the floor to be cleaned. A mop cover is attached to the receiving unit for wet cleaning. The invention further relates to a cleaning system comprising a cleaning robot and a base station.

[0002] Robots designed for wet cleaning are known, for example, from EP 3 482 669 A1. In the previously known cleaning robot, a cleaning element can be placed on a floor to be cleaned and then removed from the floor to be cleaned. The cleaning element is firmly connected to the cleaning robot. A disadvantage here is that the area coverage of such a cleaning robot is limited, as dirt accumulates on the cleaning element and must be removed from time to time. However, this requires interrupting the cleaning robot's cleaning work and manually removing the dirt from the cleaning element.

[0003] Another cleaning robot according to the preamble of claim 1 is disclosed in EP 3 069 644 A1. DE 10 2018 000 083 A1 describes a cleaning system comprising a cleaning robot with a base station in which additional cleaning modules are arranged, which are regenerated in the base station and can be inserted into the cleaning robot.

[0004] The invention is based on the object of providing a cleaning robot for wet cleaning which has a higher area performance.

[0005] This object is achieved by the features of claim 1. The subclaims refer to advantageous embodiments.

[0006] To achieve this objective, the cleaning robot is equipped to automatically replace the mop cover attached to the receiving unit with another mop cover. The mop cover is detachably attached to the receiving unit, and the cleaning robot is equipped to automatically replace the mop cover without the assistance of an operator. If a larger area needs to be cleaned, it is conceivable that the surface coverage of a single mop cover may not be sufficient. The inventive design allows the cleaning robot to replace a worn mop cover with a new one during cleaning. This enables the cleaning robot to achieve a higher surface coverage and, in particular, to completely clean larger areas.

[0007] The mop covers are attached to the receiving unit by a fixing device. The fixing device can consist, for example, of magnets attached to the mop cover and the receiving unit. It is also conceivable for the mop cover to be attached to the receiving unit by means of a hook-and-loop fastener.

[0008] If a mop cover attached to the receiving unit in this way is to be removed, the receiving unit is designed to be movably mounted beneath the base body and retracts into the base body to remove the mop cover. The mop cover is then removed from the receiving unit and can be replaced.

[0009] A first storage unit for storing mop covers can be assigned to the base body. The first storage unit is equipped to hold multiple mop covers and feed them to the receiving unit as required. For example, the first storage unit can be equipped to hold five unused mop covers.

[0010] The mop covers stored in the first storage unit can be provided with a cleaning agent. In this configuration, the mop covers are stored in the first storage unit pre-moistened and prepared for cleaning. The mop covers stored in this way are immediately ready for wet cleaning after being fed to the receiving unit.

[0011] A second storage unit for storing used mop covers can be assigned to the base body. If a used mop cover is replaced with a new one during cleaning, a new mop cover is removed from the first storage unit and the used mop cover is transferred to the second storage unit.

[0012] Alternatively, it is conceivable that a mop cover is removed from the first storage unit, fed to the holder and the used mop cover is fed from the holder back to the first storage unit.

[0013] The mop covers can be reusable. Such mop covers are preferably made of a textile fabric. The mop covers are preferably machine washable, allowing hygienic cleaning of the mop covers in a washing machine.

[0014] The mop covers can be designed as disposable items. The disposable items can be designed as disposable wipes. In particular, it is conceivable that the disposable items are pre-moistened with a cleaning agent and stored in a box. It is conceivable that the box represents a sales unit, and that the box with the mop covers arranged therein can be purchased by the user as a single unit.

[0015] It's also conceivable that the box could serve as the storage unit, allowing the box and the mop covers stored therein to be placed directly into the base of the cleaning robot. This makes handling particularly easy.

[0016] Alternatively, it is conceivable for the mop covers to be made of a textile material, making them reusable. It is particularly advantageous if the mop covers are machine washable. This design also reduces the amount of waste.

[0017] A transport device can be assigned to the base body, which transports mop covers from the storage unit to the receiving unit and / or from the receiving unit to the second storage unit. For this purpose, the transport device can, for example, comprise a gear arrangement or a belt drive or the like.

[0018] The mop covers are preferably held in a form-fitting manner on the receiving unit. For this purpose, the mop covers can be provided with an arrangement of perforations on opposing edges, for example in the form of a perforated strip pattern. The perforations engage with elevations assigned to the receiving unit, for example, gear-like projections. This allows the mop cover to be securely held on the receiving unit. Furthermore, it is conceivable for the transport unit to engage with the form-fitting elements and transport the mop cover from the first storage unit to the receiving unit and / or from the receiving unit to the second storage unit.

[0019] The mop cover can be equipped with a stiffener. This can be made from the textile strips assigned to the edges of the mop cover or

[0020] Plastic strips are used. The stiffening results in a dimensionally stable mop cover.

[0021] The object is also achieved by a cleaning system according to claim 11. Advantageous embodiments of the cleaning system refer to claim 11.

[0022] The cleaning system for solving the problem comprises a cleaning robot as described above and a base station, wherein the base station is equipped to receive a first supply of mop covers.

[0023] Base stations for cleaning robots are well known. In conventional cleaning robots, the base station is used to charge the batteries of the cleaning robot's electric drive. For this purpose, the cleaning robot can drive to the base station automatically.

[0024] In the embodiment according to the invention, the base station is further provided with a first supply unit in which mop covers are stored. When the cleaning robot approaches the base station, the cleaning robot can automatically pick up one or more mop covers from the base station. If the cleaning robot is equipped to pick up only one mop cover, it is fed directly to the pick-up unit. If the cleaning robot is equipped to pick up multiple mop covers, they are fed to the cleaning robot's storage unit.

[0025] The base station can be equipped with a second supply for used mop covers. In this context, it is conceivable for the cleaning robot to be equipped with only a single mop cover, which is located on the receiving unit, with the cleaning robot approaching the base station to replace the mop cover. In this case, the mop cover can be fed directly from the receiving unit to the second supply. In another embodiment, the cleaning robot is equipped to feed used mop covers temporarily stored in a second storage unit to the second supply of the base station.

[0026] The base station can have a pretreatment device for pretreating the mop covers. In this context, it is particularly conceivable for the base station to be equipped with a fresh water connection and / or a waste water connection. If the base station is equipped with a pretreatment device, the mop covers can be stored untreated, i.e. dry, in the first storage area. When the mop covers are fed to the cleaning robot, the pretreatment device pretreats the mop covers. However, the mop covers arranged in the first storage area can also be pretreated. In this case, the mop covers are preferably provided with a suitable cleaning agent. It is conceivable that a cleaning agent tailored to the upcoming cleaning task is applied to the mop cover.For example, a cleaning agent suitable for natural stone or a cleaning agent suitable for wooden floors can be applied to the mop cover as needed. It is also conceivable to apply fragrances or care products to the mop covers.

[0027] The dosage and selection of cleaning agents or care products can depend on automatic recognition of the cleaning task at hand, the floor to be cleaned, or a predefined assignment of a floor area or room to be cleaned. For this purpose, the cleaning robot can be equipped with a room recognition device. Furthermore, the cleaning robot can be provided with a memory unit in which a predetermined cleaning program is stored for a specific room. The cleaning program can specify the wiping duration, the amount of cleaning fluid to be applied, the contact pressure of the mop cover on the floor to be cleaned, and / or the type of cleaning or care product.

[0028] It is also conceivable for the mop cover to be equipped with communication means for communicating with the cleaning robot. Various, preferably electronically readable, identifiers are conceivable as communication means. Such identifiers include, for example, QR codes, punched tape patterns, and radio transponders such as RFID chips. In this case, it is conceivable for the cleaning robot to have variously designed mop covers available in the storage unit or in the base station, and for the cleaning robot to select a mop cover specified by the cleaning program for the upcoming cleaning task, with the mop cover being located using the communication means.

[0029] The pretreatment device can be designed as a spray device that sprays the mop covers with a cleaning and care agent when they are removed from the supply. However, it is also conceivable that the pretreatment device is equipped to pretreat all mop covers stored in the first supply.

[0030] The base station can have a post-treatment device for post-treating mop covers. The post-treatment device is particularly equipped to post-treat the used mop covers transferred by the cleaning robot to the second supply. The post-treatment can include disinfection and / or drying. For disinfection, it is conceivable to expose the used mop covers to UV light. The mop covers can be dried using an air stream, for example, via a fan.

[0031] Some embodiments of the cleaning robot and the cleaning system according to the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. These show, schematically: Fig. 1 shows a cleaning robot; Fig. 2 shows a detail of the receiving unit of the cleaning robot; Fig. 3 shows a mop cover equipped with communication means; Fig. 4 shows various designs of mop covers; Fig. 5 shows a cleaning system with a first supply; Fig. 6 shows a cleaning system with a first supply and a second supply; Fig. 7 shows a cleaning system with a transport device; Fig. 8 shows a cleaning system with a pre-treatment device; Fig. 9 shows a cleaning system with a pre-treatment device and a post-treatment device.

[0032] Figure 1shows a cleaning robot 1, comprising a base body 2, a drive device 3, and a cleaning device 4. The cleaning robot 1 is equipped to move autonomously across a floor to be cleaned and to perform cleaning work in the process. For this purpose, the drive device 3 comprises wheels driven by an electric motor, wherein the electric motor is powered by a rechargeable battery. The drive device 3 further comprises a sensor device by means of which the cleaning robot 1 can navigate across the floor to be cleaned. The battery is charged in a base station 13. The cleaning robot 1 is configured to approach the base station 13 automatically.

[0033] The cleaning device 4 is equipped for wet cleaning floors to be cleaned. For this purpose, a receiving unit 5 for a mop cover 6 is assigned to the base body 2 on the side facing the floor to be cleaned. For wet cleaning, a mop cover 6 is attached to the receiving unit 5. The cleaning robot 1 is equipped to automatically exchange the mop cover 6 attached to the receiving unit 5 for another mop cover 6.

[0034] According to an advantageous embodiment of the cleaning robot 1, a first storage unit 7 for storing mop covers can be assigned to the base body 2. The first storage unit 7 is preferably integrated into the base body 2, so that a supply of mop covers 6 is arranged in the first storage unit 7 within the base body 2. The mop covers 6 stored in the storage unit 7 can be pretreated with a cleaning agent so that they are immediately ready for use when they are fed to the receiving unit 5. A second storage unit 8 for storing used mop covers 6 can be assigned to the base body 2. In this embodiment, the mop covers 6 are preferably designed to be reusable.

[0035] Alternatively, the wiping covers 6 can be designed as disposable items or disposable wipes.

[0036] Figure 2 shows in detail the recording unit 5 of the Figure 1described cleaning robot 1. The base body 2 is assigned a transport device 10, which transports mop covers 6 from the first storage unit 7 to the receiving unit 5 and then from the receiving unit 5 to the second storage unit 8. The mop cover 6 is held in a form-fitting manner on the receiving unit 5 and is securely held on the receiving unit 5 by a fixing means 11 in the form of magnets.

[0037] Figure 3 shows a further development of the Figure 1described cleaning robot 1, wherein the mop cover 6 is equipped with communication means 9 for communicating with the cleaning robot 1. In this embodiment, the cleaning robot 1 also comprises communication means 9 in order to be able to exchange data with the mop cover 6. The communication means 9 are equipped to communicate via near field communication (NFC). For this purpose, an RFID chip can be integrated into the mop cover 6. The RFID chip can contain data that enable the mop cover 6 to be clearly assigned. In this context, it is particularly conceivable to record the number of cleaning cycles completed by the mop cover 6 and to localize the mop cover 6.

[0038] Figure 4shows various designs of mop covers. The mop cover 6 shown above is made of a textile material and is reusable. For cleaning, the mop cover 6 can be machine washed. The mop cover 6 shown below is designed as a disposable item or as a single-use cloth.

[0039] Figure 5 shows a cleaning system 17, comprising a cleaning robot 1 as described above, and a base station 13. The base station 13 is equipped to receive a first supply 14 of mop covers 6. In this embodiment, the cleaning robot 1 is equipped to remove a mop cover 6 from the first supply 14 and feed it to the receiving unit 5. If the cleaning robot 1 has a storage unit 8, the cleaning robot 1 can also remove several mop covers 6 from the first supply 14.

[0040] Figure 6 shows a further development of the Figure 5described cleaning system 17. In the present embodiment, the base station 13 comprises a second supply 15 for receiving used mop covers 6.

[0041] Figure 7 shows the process of exchanging mop covers 6 while the cleaning robot 1 is in the base station 13. While the mop covers 6 are being exchanged, a charging process can take place at the same time, during which the rechargeable battery integrated in the base body 2 of the cleaning robot 1 is charged. If the cleaning robot 1 is in the base station 13, a used mop cover 6 can be transported from the receiving unit 5 towards the second supply 15 via the transport device 10. A fresh mop cover 6 is then removed from the first supply 14 and fed to the receiving unit 5 via the transport device 10, where it is fastened to the receiving unit 5 in a force-fitting and form-fitting manner by means of the fixing means 11.

[0042] In an alternative embodiment, in which the cleaning robot 1 has a first storage unit 7 and a second storage unit 8, the used mop covers 6 held in the second storage unit 8 are fed to the second supply 15, while several mop covers 6 are removed from the first supply 14 and fed to the first storage unit 7.

[0043] Figure 8shows a further development of the previously described cleaning system 17. In the present embodiment, the base station 13 is equipped with a pretreatment device 16 for pretreating mop covers 6. The pretreatment device 16 is configured to apply a cleaning agent adapted to the upcoming cleaning task to a mop cover 6. In the present embodiment, the pretreatment device 16 comprises a spray device which is designed to provide the mop covers 6 arranged in the first supply 14 with a cleaning agent. In this case, the mop cover which is fed to the receiving unit 5 of the cleaning robot 1 is pretreated. The cleaning agent is therefore applied immediately before being fed to the receiving unit 5. The pretreatment device 16 comprises a reservoir 19 in which cleaning agent is arranged.

[0044] Figure 9shows a further embodiment of the cleaning system 17. In the present embodiment, the base station 13 is equipped with a first supply 14 for receiving unused mop covers 6 and a second supply 15 for receiving used mop covers 6. Furthermore, the base station 13 has a pretreatment device 16 for pretreating mop covers 6, which are arranged in the first supply 14. Furthermore, the base station 13 has a post-treatment device 18 for post-treating mop covers 6, which are located in the second supply 15. The post-treatment device 18 is designed as a drying device and has a fan for this purpose.

Claims

1. Cleaning robot (1), comprising a main body (2), a drive device (3) and a cleaning device (4), wherein the cleaning device (4) is equipped for wet cleaning of floors to be cleaned, wherein a receiving unit (5) for a mop cover (6) is assigned to the main body (2) on the side facing the floor to be cleaned, wherein, for the wet cleaning, a mop cover (6) is fastened to the receiving unit (5), characterized in that the cleaning robot (1) is equipped to automatically exchange the mop cover (6) fastened to the receiving unit (5) for another mop cover (6), and in that the mop cover (6) and the receiving unit (5) have a fixing means (11), and in that the receiving unit (5) is mounted movably under the main body (2) and is retracted into the main body (2) for removal of the mop cover (6), wherein the mop cover (6) can be removed and exchanged in the receiving unit (5).

2. Cleaning robot according to Claim 1, characterized in that a first storage unit (7) for storing mop covers (6) is assigned to the main body (2).

3. Cleaning robot according to Claim 2, characterized in that the mop covers (6) stored in the first storage unit (7) are provided with cleaning agents.

4. Cleaning robot according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a second storage unit (8) for storing used mop covers (6) is assigned to the main body (2).

5. Cleaning robot according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the mop covers (6) are reusable.

6. Cleaning robot according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the mop covers (6) are designed as disposable items.

7. Cleaning robot according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the mop cover (6) is equipped with communication means (9) for communicating with the cleaning robot (1).

8. Cleaning robot according to one of Claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the main body (2) is assigned a transport device (10) which transports mop covers (6) from the first storage unit (7) to the receiving unit (5) and / or from the receiving unit (5) to the second storage unit (8).

9. Cleaning robot according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the mop cover (6) is held in a form-fitting manner on the receiving unit (5).

10. Cleaning system (17), comprising a cleaning robot (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 10 and a base station (13), wherein the base station (13) is equipped to receive a first store (14) of mop covers (6).

11. Cleaning system according to Claim 10, characterized in that the cleaning robot (1) is equipped to remove at least one mop cover (6) from the first store (14) and to supply it to the receiving unit (5) and / or to the first storage unit (7).

12. Cleaning system according to Claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the base station (13) has a second store (15) for receiving used mop covers (6).

13. Cleaning system according to one of Claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the base station (13) has a pretreatment device (16) for the pretreatment of mop covers (6).

14. Cleaning system according to Claim 13, characterized in that the pretreatment device (16) is configured to apply a cleaning agent, which is matched to the forthcoming cleaning task, to a mop cover (6), to the mop covers (6) arranged in the first storage unit (7) or to the mop covers (6) arranged in the first store (14).

15. Cleaning system according to Claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the pretreatment device (16) comprises a spray device.

16. Cleaning system according to one of Claims 10 to 15, characterized in that the base station (13) has an aftertreatment device (18) for the aftertreatment of mop covers (6).

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