Floor cleaner with a movably mounted suction mouth

Abstract

A floor vacuum cleaner (100) for cleaning a floor surface (115) comprises a chassis (105) with a running gear (110) for driving on the floor surface (115); a suction nozzle (120) for introducing an airflow in the area of ​​the floor surface (115); wherein the suction nozzle (120) is mounted in the direction of travel (140) at the front left and right each by means of an arrangement of a pin (240) and a guide (245) relative to the chassis (105) in such a way that tilting of the suction nozzle (120) about the pins (240), rotation of the suction nozzle (120) about a longitudinal axis (210) and vertical movement of the suction nozzle (120) are enabled, but movement of the suction nozzle (120) in the longitudinal direction of the chassis (105) is prevented.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an automatic floor cleaner with a suction mechanism. In particular, the invention relates to the mounting of the suction nozzle relative to a chassis of the floor cleaner.

[0002] A floor vacuum cleaner is designed to move across a floor surface and clean it as it goes. To achieve this, the vacuum cleaner includes a suction mechanism that creates an airflow through a suction nozzle attached to the vacuum cleaner's chassis. The suction nozzle should be positioned at a predetermined distance from the floor surface to avoid obstructing the horizontal entry of coarse dirt or foreign objects. However, the distance should also not be too great, so that the airflow can be used efficiently to pick up dirt.

[0003] If the suction nozzle is rigidly attached to the chassis, it can collide with an obstacle and impede the movement of the floor vacuum. If the suction nozzle is vertically movable, the distance to the floor surface may be temporarily too small or too large, for example, when driving over an edge or threshold. Various proposals have been made for the movable mounting of a suction nozzle relative to a chassis.

[0004] DE 10 2010 000 577 A1 relates to a vacuum cleaner with a suction nozzle that is pivotally mounted at a rear end relative to the direction of travel. A guide consisting of a cam and a cam block is provided at a front end to allow vertical movement. A coil spring presses the front end against the chassis towards the floor surface. This can hinder the intake of coarse material into the suction nozzle area.

[0005] One of the problems underlying the present invention is to provide an improved technique for the flexible attachment of a suction nozzle to a floor vacuum cleaner. The invention solves this problem by means of the subject matter of the independent claims. Dependent claims describe preferred embodiments.

[0006] A floor vacuum cleaner for cleaning a floor surface comprises a chassis with a running gear for driving on the floor surface; and a suction nozzle for introducing an airflow into the area of ​​the floor surface, wherein the suction nozzle is mounted at the front left and right in the direction of travel by means of an arrangement of a pin and a guide in such a way that tilting of the suction nozzle about the pins, rotation of the suction nozzle about a longitudinal axis and vertical movement of the suction nozzle are enabled, but movement of the suction nozzle in the longitudinal direction of the chassis is prevented.

[0007] This mounting allows the suction nozzle to be held in a more advantageous position relative to the surface. Even when traversing uneven terrain, the suction nozzle remains positioned to effectively pick up dirt from the floor. The suction nozzle can be guided more precisely along the surface when crossing thresholds or steps, transitions between different floor coverings, cables, joints, or other obstacles. It can be moved in three predetermined degrees of freedom: the first degree of freedom allows the suction nozzle to tilt around a transverse axis of the vacuum cleaner, the second degree of freedom allows it to pivot around a longitudinal axis, and the third degree of freedom allows it to move along a vertical axis.

[0008] Optionally, the suction nozzle can also be moved along a transverse axis of the chassis. An elastic element can counteract any movement from a predetermined position. The restoring forces of the elastic element for a left and right movement can be the same or different. For this purpose, an arrangement with two different elastic elements can be used. The movement can be limited to a predetermined path on one or both sides.

[0009] The combination of the described degrees of freedom allows coarse dirt to be more easily swept from the floor surface into the suction nozzle area and vacuumed up. This prevents the vacuum cleaner from getting stuck on an edge or digging into soft or long-pile surfaces.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, a pin is provided at the suction nozzle and a guide on the chassis. This improves the vertical guidance of the pin. The pins extend along a common axis and can be designed like terminal blocks on both sides of the suction nozzle. The receptacle can be formed by two parallel contact surfaces, each extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the chassis. A contact surface can be of any desired width; in one embodiment, for example, a vertical cylinder can form the contact surface. A reverse arrangement, in which a pin is provided on the chassis and a receptacle on the suction nozzle, can also be used.

[0011] Preferably, the suction mouth is mounted vertically at the rear left and right, allowing for movement. Separate guidance in this area is not required. The mobility of the suction mouth can thus be defined comprehensively.

[0012] In a simple embodiment, the vertical position of the suction nozzle at its rear end is defined by the weight of the suction nozzle or an associated component. In a preferred embodiment, an elastic element can be provided to press a rear end of the suction nozzle into a predetermined vertical position relative to the chassis. An elastic element can be provided at both the rear left and rear right ends. An elastic element can act both upwards and downwards, with effective spring constants that can be the same or different. An elastic element can be omitted at the front end; here, the vertical position can preferably be set by the weight of the suction nozzle or by extending the rear end.

[0013] The elastic element can be formed by an elastic pipe stub through which the airflow from the suction nozzle flows towards the suction unit. The pipe stub is preferably located at the rear of the suction nozzle in the direction of travel and runs approximately horizontally. The elasticity of the pipe stub can be used to position the suction nozzle and thus eliminate the need for a separate elastic element. The pipe stub can be designed to provide predetermined elastic forces against rotation about a longitudinal axis (second degree of freedom) and against vertical deflection of the suction nozzle (third degree of freedom). These forces can be determined independently of each other within certain limits by the shape and material of the suction nozzle.

[0014] It is further preferred that the deflection of a rear end of the suction nozzle from its predetermined position upwards and / or downwards is limited to a predetermined path. An upward deflection path can be greater than a downward deflection path. For example, the suction nozzle can be deflected approximately 4.5 mm upwards and approximately 2.3 mm downwards relative to the chassis before a stop limits the movement.

[0015] The upward deflection of the front end of the suction mouth can be limited to a further predetermined value. This deflection can be less than the upward or downward deflection of the rear end. In one embodiment, the front end can be deflected upwards by approximately 1–2 mm. A downward deflection may be omitted or zero.

[0016] Preferably, a brush roller with a rotating axis extending transversely to the direction of travel is mounted in the suction nozzle. The brush roller can be rotated around this axis by means of a drive motor and is designed to loosen dirt from the floor surface or guide it within the area of ​​the suction nozzle. The proposed floating mounting of the suction nozzle can improve contact between the brush roller and the floor surface, thus enhancing the cleaning effect of the brush roller.

[0017] A sealing lip can be provided at the rear end of the suction nozzle. The sealing lip preferably extends transversely and is designed to lie as close as possible to the floor surface, sealing the suction nozzle against it. For this purpose, the sealing lip is preferably made of an elastic material so that it can be elastically deformed against an obstacle or unevenness on the floor surface if necessary. The sealing effect of the sealing lip against the floor surface can be further improved by the described mobility of the suction nozzle relative to the chassis.

[0018] A sliding element can be provided to support the rear end of the suction nozzle against the ground surface. The sliding element can have a surface made of plastic or textile (thread lifter). If a sealing lip is provided, the sliding element is positioned behind the sealing lip in the direction of travel.

[0019] The chassis can include a drive wheel and a control device to direct the movement of the floor vacuum across the floor surface. The floor vacuum is preferably designed for autonomous cleaning of a floor area. This floor area is further preferably located within a household and can, for example, comprise one or more rooms.

[0020] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: Figure 1: a vacuum cleaner; Figure 2: a schematic representation of a floating mounting of a suction nozzle; Figure 3: a longitudinal section through a vacuum cleaner; Figure 4: a first view of a suction nozzle of a vacuum cleaner; Figure 5: a second view of a suction nozzle of a vacuum cleaner; Figure 6: a view of a suction nozzle of a vacuum cleaner from below; represents.

[0021] Figure 1Figure 1 shows an exemplary floor vacuum cleaner 100. An upper part of a housing and some elements not relevant to the presentation of the invention are not shown. The floor vacuum cleaner 100 comprises a chassis 105 with a running gear 110, which is configured to support the chassis 105 against a floor surface 115. Preferably, the running gear 110 includes at least one drive wheel, which can be driven by a drive motor. A control device for controlling the drive motor and / or a steering mechanism may also be provided. The control device is preferably configured to control autonomous movement of the floor vacuum cleaner 100 on the floor surface 115. During operation, the floor vacuum cleaner 100 can be controlled to move along and clean a predetermined section of the floor surface 115.

[0022] For processing the floor surface 115, a suction nozzle 120 is provided, in which a brush roller 125 with a horizontal axis of rotation is arranged. The suction nozzle 120 is connected via a pipe stub 130 to a suction unit 135, which is preferably arranged behind the suction nozzle 105 with respect to a direction of travel 140. The suction unit 135 is in Figure 1The suction nozzle 120 is not directly visible and is located within the illustrated filter housing. It forms a chamber with a rear opening connected to the pipe stub 130 and a lower opening through which a section of the brush roller 125 can protrude and through which an airflow can enter. The brush roller 125 can be driven around its axis of rotation by means of a drive motor (not shown) to mechanically process the floor surface 115. The suction nozzle 120 is movable relative to the chassis 105 and can be pressed into a predetermined position relative to it by its own weight or by means of an elastic element. Preferably, edges on the underside of the suction nozzle 120 are rounded or chamfered to improve the upward deflection of the suction nozzle 120 upon contact with an obstacle on the floor surface 115.

[0023] It is proposed to mount the suction nozzle 120 in a manner movably relative to the chassis 105, which, with reference to Figure 2 will be explained in more detail. Figure 2 Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of the mounting of the suction nozzle 120 on the chassis 105. The suction nozzle 120 is simplified as a frame and the chassis 105 is simplified as two mounting points.

[0024] Regarding the chassis 105, a transverse axis 205, a longitudinal axis 210, and a vertical axis 215 are defined, preferably forming a right-handed system. The suction nozzle 120 can be tilted about the transverse axis 205, corresponding to a first degree of freedom 225. The suction nozzle 120 can be pivoted about the longitudinal axis 210, corresponding to a second degree of freedom 230. The suction nozzle 120 can be displaced along the vertical axis 215, corresponding to a third degree of freedom 235. Movements of the suction nozzle in the degrees of freedom 225 to 235 can be coupled to each other in a predetermined manner.

[0025] In the illustrated embodiment, movement along the transverse axis 205 is enabled by lateral distances between the suction nozzle 120 and the bearing points along a predetermined path. An elastic element can cause the suction nozzle 120 to return to a predetermined position when it is deflected horizontally. This elastic element can be associated with this movement. In another embodiment, this movement is prevented, for example, by making the aforementioned distances close to zero. The suction nozzle 120 is preferably immobile along the longitudinal axis 210. Rotation about the vertical axis 215 is also preferably prevented. Overall, the suction nozzle 120 is thus movable in 4 or 3 degrees of freedom and immobile in the remaining 2 or 3 degrees of freedom.

[0026] At the suction opening 120, a pin 240 is attached to the front left and right sides with respect to the direction of travel 140, the pins 240 extending along a common axis of rotation. In the schematic representation shown, the pins 240 form part of a continuous axis; in another embodiment, the axis may also be interrupted. Each pin 240 is received in a receptacle 245 on the chassis 105, which prevents movement of the pin 240 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 210, thereby also preventing rotation of the suction opening 120 about the vertical axis 215. However, movement of the suction opening 120 along the vertical axis 215 is possible to a predetermined extent. A receptacle 245 comprises a vertical elongated hole in the bearing location shown, with a pin 240 extending through the elongated hole. The limits of the elongated hole define a maximum upward and downward deflection of the pin 240 or the suction nozzle 120.Due to the independent mounting of the two pins 240, it is also possible to tilt the suction mouth 120 about the longitudinal axis 210.

[0027] With respect to the rear direction of travel 140, an elastic element 250 is provided on both the left and right sides to move the suction opening 120 into a predetermined position in this area. Optionally, one elastic element 250 is double-acting, or two antiparallel elastic elements 250 are provided, so that any deflection of the suction opening 120 from the predetermined position, both upwards and downwards, is counteracted by a corresponding restoring force. The spring constants in both directions can be the same or different. The elastic element 250 can be pre-tensioned, so that deflection of the suction opening 120 from the predetermined position requires a predetermined minimum force.

[0028] Elastic elements 250 can also be provided on the pins 240, or a vertical position of the suction mouth 120 in this area can be determined primarily by a weight force on the suction mouth 120.

[0029] Figure 3 Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section through an exemplary floor vacuum cleaner 100. In the position shown, the pins 240 rest on the bottom of the receptacles 245 or on the chassis 105. At the rear, the suction nozzle 120 is connected to the chassis 105 or the suction unit 135 attached to the chassis 105 by means of the pipe stub 130. The pipe stub 130 is made of a flexible material, preferably plastic, for example, an elastomer.

[0030] The elastic properties of the pipe fitting 130 can be influenced by its shape, wall thickness, or material. An elastic force exerted by the pipe fitting 130 when it is subjected to shear stress by pivoting the suction nozzle 120 about the transverse axis 205 can be determined independently of an elastic force exerted when the suction nozzle 120 is twisted about the longitudinal axis 210. For example, the stiffness of the pipe fitting 130 against twisting about the longitudinal axis 210 can be lower if the cross-section of the pipe fitting 130 is oval or flat, and higher if its cross-section is round.

[0031] Behind the brush roller 125, a sealing lip 305 is attached to the suction opening 120, preferably extending parallel to the transverse axis 205. A sliding element 310, designed to rest on or slide over the base surface 115, is further preferably attached behind the sealing lip 305 to the suction opening 120.

[0032] Figures 4 and 5 Figure 1 shows views of a suction nozzle 120 in an exemplary embodiment. It can be seen that the pins 240 are positioned in front of a boundary of the airflow area at the suction nozzle 120. The pipe stub 130 has a horizontally flattened cross-section. A flange 405 for mounting on the chassis 105 or the suction unit 135 can be provided at a rear end of the pipe stub 130.

[0033] Figure 6Figure 1 shows a bottom view of the suction nozzle 120 of a floor vacuum cleaner 100. The brush roller 125 includes, for example, double helical flutes formed from rows of bristles. In an inlet area of ​​the suction nozzle 120, the chassis may be reinforced by longitudinally extending ribs. Reference sign

[0034] 100 Floor vacuum cleaner 105 Chassis 110 Running gear 115 Floor area 120 Suction nozzle 125 Brush roller 130 Pipe connection 135 Suction unit 140 Direction of travel 205 Transverse axis 210 Longitudinal axis 215 Vertical axis 225 first degree of freedom 230 second degree of freedom 235 third degree of freedom 240Pin 245Receptacle 250Elastic element 305 Sealing lip 310 Sliding element 405 flange

Claims

1. Floor cleaner (100) for cleaning a floor area (115), wherein the floor cleaner comprises the following: - a chassis (105) with an underbody (110) for travelling on the floor area (115); - a suction mouth (120) for admitting a flow of air in the region of the floor area (115); characterised in that the suction mouth (120) is mounted front left and right in the direction of travel (140) in each case by means of an arrangement comprising a pin (240) and a guide (245) with respect to the chassis (105) such that a tilting of the suction mouth (120) about the pin (240), a rotation of the suction mouth (120) about a longitudinal axis (210) and a vertical movement of the suction mouth (120) are enabled, but a movement of the suction mouth (120) in the longitudinal direction of the chassis (105) is prevented.

2. Floor cleaner (100) according to claim 1, wherein a pin (240) is provided on the suction mouth (120) and a guide (245) is provided on the chassis (105).

3. Floor cleaner (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the suction mouth (120) is mounted rear left and right in a vertically moveable manner.

4. Floor cleaner (100) according to claim 3, further comprising an elastic element (250) which is designed to press a rear end of the suction mouth (120) in a predetermined vertical position with respect to the chassis (105).

5. Floor cleaner (100) according to claim 4, wherein the elastic element (250) is formed by an elastic pipe connection (130) through which the flow of air flows.

6. Floor cleaner (100) according to one of claims 3 to 5, wherein a deflection of a rear end of the suction mouth (120) out of the predetermined position is delimited upward and downward in each case to a predetermined path.

7. Floor cleaner (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a deflection of the front end of the suction mouth (120) upward is delimited to a predetermined value.

8. Floor cleaner (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a brush roller (125) with an axis of rotation which runs at a right angle to the direction of travel (140) is attached in the suction mouth (120).

9. Floor cleaner (100) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a sealing lip (305) in the region of a rear end of the suction mouth (120).

10. Floor cleaner (100) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a sliding element (310) for supporting a rear end of the suction mouth (120) with respect to the floor area (115).

11. Floor cleaner (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the underbody (110) comprises a drive wheel and a control apparatus, in order to control a movement of the floor cleaner (100) on the floor area (115).

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