Floor cleaning machine with a clearing blade assembly

Abstract

A floor cleaning machine (1) is shown and described, comprising a frame, a chassis (5) having at least one wheel (7), the chassis (5) being designed such that the floor cleaning machine (1) can be moved over a floor surface to be cleaned, and at least one cleaning device (9) designed to engage with the floor surface to be cleaned. The floor cleaning machine (1) has a front end, and is designed to be moved forward over the floor surface to be cleaned during cleaning operation, with the front end pointing forward during forward movement. The machine also includes a scraper blade assembly (17) positioned in front of the cleaning device (9) when viewed from the forward direction, and the scraper blade assembly (17) comprising a scraper blade (19) designed to be guided over the floor surface to be cleaned.wherein a guide wheel (29) is connected to the snowplow blade (19), wherein the guide wheel (29) is designed to roll over the floor surface to be cleaned, and wherein the guide wheel (29) determines the position of the snowplow blade (19) relative to the floor surface to be cleaned in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned, wherein the snowplow blade assembly (17) is mounted on the frame in a height-adjustable manner in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a floor cleaning machine comprising a frame, a chassis, wherein the chassis is designed such that the floor cleaning machine can be moved over a floor surface to be cleaned, and at least one cleaning device which is designed to engage with the floor surface to be cleaned in order to loosen and / or remove dirt from the floor surface to be cleaned.

[0002] Such floor cleaning machines are known from the prior art. They include a cleaning device, for example in the form of a brush assembly, a wiping device, and / or a suction device, which is designed to engage the floor surface to be cleaned and thereby remove dirt from it. Typically, the cleaning device is designed to remove and collect fine dirt from the floor surface. To prevent larger objects from entering the cleaning device and damaging it, a protective lip can be provided to clear larger objects to the side.

[0003] With such floor cleaning machines, it has proven problematic that the protective lip rests on the floor being cleaned, at least during operation. This not only results in larger objects being pushed aside, but also in fine dirt being pushed in front of the protective lip and not reaching the cleaning device to be picked up or removed, resulting in an overall poorer cleaning result. Furthermore, when the protective lip rests on the floor, it is subject to considerable wear, resulting in increased maintenance requirements.

[0004] Furthermore, it has proven problematic that protective lips that rest on the floor surface, although they have a particularly simple structure, can only be adapted to the conditions in which the floor cleaning machine is used to a limited extent.

[0005] Based on the prior art, it is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a floor cleaning machine of the type mentioned at the outset, which ensures that larger objects are cleared to the side and the fine dirt is picked up by the cleaning device.

[0006] This problem is solved by a floor cleaning machine with the features of patent claim 1.

[0007] The floor cleaning machine comprises a frame, a chassis having at least one wheel, preferably driven by a chassis drive, wherein the chassis is designed such that the floor cleaning machine can be moved over a floor surface to be cleaned, and at least one cleaning device designed to engage with the floor surface to be cleaned in order to loosen and / or remove dirt from the floor surface to be cleaned. The floor cleaning machine has a front end and is designed to be moved in a forward direction over the floor surface to be cleaned during a cleaning operation. During movement in the forward direction, the front end points in a forward direction and has a clearing blade assembly which is attached in front of the cleaning device as viewed in the forward direction. The clearing blade assembly has a clearing blade which is designed to be guided over the floor surface to be cleaned.A guide wheel is connected to the dozer blade, wherein the guide wheel is designed to roll over the floor surface to be cleaned and wherein the guide wheel determines the position of the dozer blade relative to the floor surface to be cleaned in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. The dozer blade assembly is mounted on the frame so that its height can be adjusted in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned.

[0008] The floor cleaning machine has at least one cleaning device designed to engage the floor surface in order to loosen and / or remove dirt from the floor surface to be cleaned. The cleaning device can preferably have a brush arrangement, a wiping device, a device for dispensing fresh water, optionally mixed with cleaning agents, and / or a suction cup with which dirty water can be collected from the floor surface. The brush arrangement and the wiping device are preferably driven and engage with the floor surface in such a way that contaminants are loosened and / or removed from the floor surface. The suction cup can be used to vacuum up contaminants together with previously applied fresh water and convey them into a dirty water tank. This has the advantage that heavily soiled floor surfaces can be cleaned easily.

[0009] Furthermore, the floor cleaning machine has a front end and is designed to be moved in a forward direction over the floor area to be cleaned during cleaning operation, wherein the front end points in a forward direction during movement in the forward direction. The floor cleaning machine can be an autonomously operating cleaning robot or a manually operated, hand-held floor cleaning machine. In a manually operated floor cleaning machine, the floor cleaning machine is moved across the floor area by a user. For this purpose, the floor cleaning machine can have handles at a rear end.

[0010] As already mentioned, the floor cleaning machine has the clearing blade assembly, which is mounted in front of the cleaning device when viewed in the forward direction. The clearing blade assembly has the clearing blade, which is designed to be guided over the floor surface to be cleaned. The clearing blade is intended to prevent larger, loose objects from getting underneath the floor cleaning machine and, in particular, into the area of ​​the cleaning device, thereby damaging it. Furthermore, it is intended to prevent objects that cannot be vacuumed up by the squeegee from initially accumulating on the squeegee's rubber strip and subsequently becoming blocked. The clearing blade assembly acts as a barrier against which larger, loose objects bounce off or get stuck.This has the advantage that these objects do not get under the floor cleaning machine or reach the cleaning device, thus preventing damage to the floor cleaning machine.

[0011] The guide wheel is connected to the clearing blade, wherein the guide wheel is designed to roll over the floor surface to be cleaned, such that the position of the clearing blade relative to the floor surface to be cleaned is specified by the guide wheel in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. The guide wheel not only specifies the position of the clearing blade relative to the floor surface in a direction perpendicular to it, but also ensures that the clearing blade can be mounted or supported by the guide wheel relative to the floor surface. This ensures that the clearing blade does not rest on the floor surface to be cleaned with its edge facing the floor surface to be cleaned, but rather the guide wheel and its position relative to the clearing blade determines the vertical position and therefore also the distance from the floor surface to be cleaned that the clearing blade is arranged.

[0012] Specifying the position of the snow blade perpendicular to the floor surface has the advantage of allowing the snow blade to be moved across the floor at a fixed distance. This makes it possible, for example, to position the snow blade above the floor in such a way that larger objects catch on the snow blade, but the snow blade is not in contact with the floor surface. This has the advantage that the snow blade does not drag across the floor surface and is therefore subject to less wear. It also allows smaller dirt particles to pass under the snow blade to the cleaning device, where they are picked up, improving the cleaning result.

[0013] The dozer blade assembly is mounted on the frame so that its height can be adjusted in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. By height-adjustable mounted on the frame, we mean that the distance of the dozer blade assembly perpendicular to the floor surface can be changed. This is particularly the case when the floor cleaning machine is moved over an inclined or raised floor surface, such as a bump or a ramp. In this case, when the floor cleaning machine is moved in a forward direction, the dozer blade assembly is guided onto the inclined or raised floor surface while the floor cleaning machine is not yet on the inclined or raised floor surface. This means that the dozer blade assembly can be moved relative to the frame attached to the floor cleaning machine in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface, depending on the incline of the floor surface.This prevents the floor cleaning machine from jamming or tipping. It also prevents the blade assembly from colliding with inclined or raised floor surfaces.

[0014] In one embodiment, the cleaning device comprises a scrubbing deck attached to the frame, wherein the scrubbing deck has a driven cleaning element configured to engage with the floor surface to be cleaned, and wherein the scrubbing deck is configured to apply cleaning fluid to the floor surface to be cleaned in the region of the scrubbing deck. The driven cleaning element can have a brush device in the form of a rotating brush or a roller brush, or a wiping device. The driven cleaning element, which engages with the floor surface, can remove heavier soiling from the floor surface. The cleaning result can be further improved by applying cleaning fluid.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the floor cleaning machine has a squeegee that is mounted on the frame, wherein the floor cleaning machine has a vacuum source that is connected to the squeegee, wherein the squeegee is designed to pick up liquid from the floor surface to be cleaned, and wherein the squeegee is arranged behind the cleaning device in the forward direction. The squeegee can pick up dirty liquid from the floor surface to be cleaned and guide it into a dirty water tank. By arranging the squeegee behind the cleaning device in the forward direction, it is achieved that the floor surface is first cleaned by the cleaning device in that the dirt is loosened from the floor surface and the dirty liquid can then be picked up by the squeegee.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the position of the clearing blade is adjustable relative to the guide wheel in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. This adjustability ensures that the height of the clearing blade and thus the distance from the floor surface can be individually adjusted. This is particularly advantageous if the distance of the clearing blade has changed due to wear on the clearing blade or the guide wheel and needs to be adjusted. Furthermore, it allows a user to individually adjust the distance of the clearing blade and thus adapt it to the conditions of the location where the floor cleaning machine is being used and the dirt present there.

[0017] In one embodiment, the guide wheel is pivotally mounted relative to the clearing blade around an axis running perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. This allows the clearing blade assembly or floor cleaning machine to be easily moved or pivoted in any direction. The pivotability of the guide wheel can be achieved, for example, by a wheel that can rotate around a pivot axis running perpendicular to the floor surface or by a ball transfer unit.

[0018] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the dozer blade assembly is connected to the frame via a first and a second parallelogram assembly, each of the parallelogram assemblies comprising a first and a second arm extending from a first to a second end and spaced from one another in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned, the first end being pivotally mounted on the frame about a first pivot axis running parallel to the floor surface to be cleaned, and the second end being pivotally mounted on the dozer blade about a second pivot axis running parallel to the floor surface to be cleaned, and the pivot axes of the parallelogram assemblies running parallel. A parallelogram assembly is generally understood to be a structure having two arms provided with joints at their ends, the joints forming the corners of a parallelogram.The two opposite sides of the parallelogram are formed by the first and second arms and can be aligned parallel to each other. The dozer blade is located at the second end of the two arms, which is held at its original angle to the floor surface to be cleaned while the arms are pivoted. This ensures that the dozer blade remains positioned at its original angle to the floor surface, even when pivoted upward.

[0019] In one embodiment, the frame has a stop element arrangement designed to limit the pivoting range of the arms away from the floor surface. The stop element arrangement can limit the pivoting range of the arms and thus of the dozer blade, thereby preventing the dozer blade or arms from colliding with the floor cleaning machine or the frame at a large pivot angle. The stop element arrangement can have a stop element for each parallelogram arrangement. The stop element can come into contact either with the arms of the parallelogram arrangement or with the frame of the dozer blade arrangement, which is connected to the arms. The stop element arrangement can prevent damage to the dozer blade or the floor cleaning machine.

[0020] In one embodiment, the dozer blade is convexly curved when viewed against the forward direction. The convex curvature, when viewed against the forward direction, deflects objects blocked by the dozer blade to one side of the floor cleaning machine. This prevents the floor cleaning machine from pushing the objects in front of it, which could lead to damage to the dozer blade or require the floor cleaning machine to be moved forward with increased force against the resistance of the objects.

[0021] In one embodiment, the clearing blade extends perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. This prevents objects from being lifted from the floor surface by the clearing blade, which would be the case if the clearing blade were inclined at less than 90° to the floor surface. This ensures that objects are deflected to one side of the clearing blade.

[0022] In one embodiment, the dozer blade comprises a frame and a flexible bar extending therefrom toward the floor surface to be cleaned, with the ends of the flexible bar extending laterally beyond the frame. The flexible bar allows the dozer blade and the floor cleaning machine to be moved over local elevations in the floor surface, such as strips or thresholds attached to the floor surface, without the dozer blade becoming jammed on these elevations. Furthermore, the flexible bar can be easily replaced in the event of excessive wear, without requiring the entire dozer blade to be replaced.

[0023] In one embodiment, the floor cleaning machine comprises a housing, and the frame is arranged within the cross-section of the housing in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. This prevents the frame of the dozer blade from protruding laterally beyond the housing of the floor cleaning machine, which could cause the floor cleaning machine and the dozer blade frame to get caught on an obstacle, potentially damaging the dozer blade.

[0024] In one embodiment, the ends of the flexible strip extend laterally beyond the cross-section of the housing in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. These ends, which extend laterally beyond the cross-section of the housing in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned, prevent objects from getting underneath the floor cleaning machine and damaging the cleaning device or getting caught on the rear rubber strip. Furthermore, the flexible ends can bend particularly easily, which is particularly advantageous when the floor cleaning machine travels along a wall.

[0025] The present invention will be explained below with reference to a drawing showing only a preferred embodiment, in which Figures 1a and 1b show schematic views of an embodiment of a floor cleaning machine, Figures 2a and 2b show schematic partial views of the embodiment of a floor cleaning machine from the Figures 1a and 1b Figures 3a and 3b show schematic perspective views of a blade arrangement of the embodiment of the floor cleaning machine from the Figures 1a to 2b and Figure 4 shows a schematic partial view of the dozer blade arrangement from the Figures 3a and 3b shows.

[0026] The Figures 1a and 1b show a schematic view of an embodiment of a floor cleaning machine 1, wherein Figure 1a a schematic perspective view of the embodiment of the floor cleaning machine 1 and Figure 1b shows a schematic plan view of the embodiment of the floor cleaning machine 1.

[0027] As from Figures 1a and 1bAs can be seen, the floor cleaning machine 1 comprises a housing 3 and a chassis 5, which in this exemplary embodiment has three wheels 7, of which the rear wheels are driven by a chassis drive. However, it is also conceivable for the floor cleaning machine to be hand-guided or a ride-on machine. The chassis 5 allows the floor cleaning machine 1 to be moved across a floor surface.

[0028] The floor cleaning machine 1 further comprises a cleaning device 9, a fresh water tank, and a dirty water tank. In the present exemplary embodiment, the cleaning device 9 comprises a scrubbing deck 11 mounted on a frame of the floor cleaning machine 1. The scrubbing deck 11 comprises a driven cleaning element configured to engage the floor surface to be cleaned. The cleaning element can be, for example, a brush with bristles or a pad.

[0029] Furthermore, the scrubbing deck 11 is designed to apply cleaning fluid to the floor surface to be cleaned in the area of ​​the scrubbing deck 11. The driven cleaning element, which engages with the floor surface, can remove heavier soils from the floor surface. Applying cleaning fluid can further improve the cleaning result.

[0030] The floor cleaning machine 1 has a squeegee 13 for collecting dirty water from the floor surface. The squeegee 13 is mounted on the frame of the floor cleaning machine 1 and connected to the dirty water tank. The floor cleaning machine 1 has a vacuum source connected to the dirty water tank, so that when the dirty water tank is subjected to negative pressure, the squeegee 13 collects liquid from the floor surface to be cleaned. The squeegee 13 is arranged behind the cleaning device 9, viewed in the forward direction. The squeegee 13 can collect dirty liquid from the floor surface to be cleaned and direct it into the dirty water tank.Because the suction foot 13 is arranged behind the cleaning device 9 when viewed in the forward direction, it is achieved that the floor surface is first cleaned by the cleaning device 9 by loosening the dirt from the floor surface and the dirty liquid can then be picked up by the suction foot 13.

[0031] Furthermore, the floor cleaning machine 1 has a front end and is designed to be moved in a cleaning operation in the forward direction over the floor surface to be cleaned, wherein during a movement in the forward direction the front end points in the forward direction.

[0032] The floor cleaning machine 1 can be an autonomously operating cleaning robot, a hand-held floor cleaning machine 1, or a ride-on machine. The floor cleaning machine 1 of the present embodiment can operate autonomously or be moved by a user. For this purpose, the floor cleaning machine 1 has a handle 15 at its rear end.

[0033] The exemplary embodiment of a floor cleaning machine 1 according to the invention has a clearing blade arrangement 17 which, viewed in the forward direction, is mounted in front of the cleaning device 9. The clearing blade arrangement 17 has a clearing blade 19 which is designed to be guided over the floor surface to be cleaned. This does not mean, however, that the clearing blade 19 is in direct contact with the floor surface; rather, it is also possible for the clearing blade 19 to be held at a predetermined distance from the floor surface. The clearing blade 19 is intended to prevent larger, loose objects from getting underneath the floor cleaning machine 1 and, in particular, into the area of ​​the cleaning device 9, thereby damaging the latter. Furthermore, it is intended to prevent objects that cannot be vacuumed up by the squeegee 13 from initially accumulating on its rubber strip and subsequently possibly blocking the squeegee.The dozer blade assembly 17 acts as a barrier against which larger, loose objects bounce off or get caught. This has the advantage that these objects cannot get under the floor cleaning machine 1 or reach the cleaning device 9, thus preventing damage to the floor cleaning machine 1.

[0034] As the Figures 3a, 3b and 4show, the clearing blade 19 has a frame 21 and a flexible strip 23 extending therefrom towards the floor surface to be cleaned, wherein the ends of the flexible strip 23 extend laterally beyond the frame 21. The flexible strip 23 ensures that the clearing blade 19 and the floor cleaning machine 1 can be moved over local elevations in the floor surface, such as strips or thresholds attached to the floor surface, without the clearing blade 19 becoming jammed on these elevations of the floor surface. Furthermore, the flexible strip 23 can be replaced particularly easily in the event of increased wear, without the entire clearing blade 19 having to be replaced. In the present embodiment, the flexible strip 23 is a rubber strip. In an alternative embodiment, the flexible strip 23 is a flexible plastic strip. However, other designs are also conceivable.

[0035] As in Figure 1bAs shown, the housing 3 has a cross-section with a first width 25, wherein the frame 21 is arranged within the cross-section of the housing 3 in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. This means that the width of the frame 21 is less than or equal to the first width 25. This prevents the frame 21 of the clearing blade 19 from protruding laterally beyond the housing 3 of the floor cleaning machine 1, which could result in the floor cleaning machine 1 with the frame 21 of the clearing blade 19 getting caught on an obstacle, which could damage the clearing blade 19.

[0036] The flexible strip has a second width 26 that is greater than the first width 25, so that the flexible strip 21 extends laterally beyond the cross-section of the housing 3 in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. The ends, which extend laterally beyond the cross-section of the housing 3 in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned, prevent objects from getting underneath the floor cleaning machine 1 and damaging the cleaning device 9 or getting caught on the rear rubber strip of the suction foot 13. In addition, the flexible ends can bend particularly easily, which is particularly advantageous when the floor cleaning machine 1 moves along a wall.

[0037] The Figures 2a and 2b show a schematic partial view of the embodiment of a floor cleaning machine 1 from the Figures 1a and 1bThe floor cleaning machine 1 has a front wheel 27, which is designed to roll over the floor surface to be cleaned and is preferably pivotably mounted relative to the floor cleaning machine 1 about an axis running perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. This ensures that the floor cleaning machine can be easily moved or pivoted in any direction.

[0038] Also shown is a guide wheel 29 connected to the clearing blade 19, which is designed to roll over the floor surface to be cleaned, and a first plane 31 on which the front wheel 27 and the guide wheel 29 roll. The first plane 31 can be formed by the floor surface to be cleaned. The guide wheel 29 is pivotally mounted relative to the clearing blade 19 about an axis running perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. This ensures that the clearing blade assembly 17 or the floor cleaning machine 1 can be easily moved or pivoted in any direction.

[0039] The pivotability of the front wheel 27 and the guide wheel 29 can be realized, for example, by a wheel that can rotate about a pivot axis running perpendicular to the ground surface or by a ball roller.

[0040] The guide wheel 29 determines the position of the clearing blade 19 relative to the floor surface to be cleaned in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. The position of the clearing blade 19 can be determined by the guide wheel 29 by either varying the size of the guide wheel 29 or by the position of the guide wheel 29 relative to the clearing blade 19. The guide wheel 29 not only determines the position of the clearing blade 19 relative to the floor surface in a direction perpendicular to it, but also ensures that the clearing blade 19 can be mounted or supported by the guide wheel 29 relative to the floor surface. This ensures that the clearing blade 19 does not move with its edge or base facing the floor surface to be cleaned.with the flexible bar 23 supported thereon, but the guide wheel 29 and its position relative to the clearing blade 19 determines in which vertical position and thus also at what distance from the floor surface to be cleaned the clearing blade is arranged. For example, it is possible for the guide wheel 29 to be attached to the clearing blade 19 such that the flexible bar 23 is exactly flush with the first level 31. Alternatively, the guide wheel 29 can be arranged on the clearing blade 19 such that the flexible bar 23 is arranged at a distance of a few millimeters or centimeters above the first level 31 and thus above the floor surface to be cleaned.

[0041] Specifying the position of the clearing blade 19 perpendicular to the floor surface has the advantage that it ensures that the clearing blade 19 can be moved over the floor at a fixed distance from the floor surface. This makes it possible, for example, to position the clearing blade 19 above the floor surface in such a way that larger objects get caught on the clearing blade 19, but the clearing blade 19 does not have contact with the floor surface. This has the advantage, on the one hand, that the clearing blade 19 does not drag over the floor surface and is therefore only subject to less wear and tear, and on the other hand, that smaller dirt particles can pass under the clearing blade 19 to the cleaning device 9, where they are picked up, which improves the cleaning result.

[0042] The position of the clearing blade 19 is adjustable relative to the guide wheel 29 in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. This adjustability ensures that the height of the clearing blade 19 and thus the distance from the floor surface can be individually adjusted. This is particularly advantageous if the distance of the clearing blade 19 has changed due to wear on the clearing blade 19 or the guide wheel 29 and needs to be adjusted. Furthermore, this allows a user to individually adjust the distance of the clearing blade 19 and thus adapt it to the conditions at the location where the floor cleaning machine 1 is being used and the dirt present there.

[0043] It can also be seen that, in the present embodiment, the clearing blade 19 extends perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned, or rather, the first plane 31. This prevents objects from being lifted from the floor surface by the clearing blade 19, which would be the case if the clearing blade were inclined at less than 90° to the floor surface. This ensures that objects are deflected to one side of the clearing blade.

[0044] As in Figure 2bAs shown, the clearing blade assembly 17 is mounted on the frame of the floor cleaning machine 1 so that it can be adjusted in height in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. Height-adjustable mounting on the frame means that the distance of the clearing blade assembly 17 from the frame of the floor cleaning machine 1 can be changed perpendicular to the floor surface. This is especially the case when the floor cleaning machine 1 is moved over an inclined or raised floor surface or an obstacle, such as a bump 33. The bump 33 defines a second plane 35, which is at a height difference 37 from the first plane 31. In the present exemplary embodiment, when the floor cleaning machine 1 is moved in a forward direction, the clearing blade assembly 17 is guided onto the bump 33 while the front wheel 27 of the floor cleaning machine 1 and the guide wheel 29 are not yet in contact with the bump 33.This causes the dozer blade assembly 17 to be moved relative to the frame, which is attached to the floor cleaning machine 1, in a direction perpendicular to the ground surface according to the inclination or height difference 37 of the ground shaft 33. The dozer blade assembly 17 is guided onto the ground shaft 33 by the flexible bar 23, wherein the flexible bar 23 initially gives way and bends in a direction opposite to the forward direction of the floor cleaning machine 1, so that the dozer blade 19 rests at least partially on the ground shaft 33 with the flexible bar 23. Due to the flexible bar 23, which pushes back to its original state, a force acts on the dozer blade assembly 17 perpendicular to the floor cleaning machine 1, causing the dozer blade assembly 17 to be pushed upwards in this direction perpendicular to the ground surface. This can prevent the floor cleaning machine 1 from jamming or tipping on the ground shaft 33.This also prevents collisions of the dozer blade assembly 17 with inclined ground surfaces.

[0045] The following explains how the height adjustment of the clearing blade assembly 17 is realized perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned.

[0046] Figures 3a and 3b show schematic perspective views of the clearing blade arrangement 17 of the embodiment of the floor cleaning machine 1 from the Figures 1a to 2bThe clearing blade 19 is convexly curved when viewed against the forward direction. The convex curvature, when viewed against the forward direction, ensures that objects blocked by the clearing blade 19 are deflected to one side of the floor cleaning machine 1. This prevents the floor cleaning machine 1 from pushing the objects in front of it, which could lead to damage to the clearing blade 19 or to the floor cleaning machine 1 having to be moved forward with increased force against the resistance of the objects.

[0047] As in the Figures 3a and 3b As shown, the dozer blade assembly 17 comprises a first parallelogram assembly 39 and a second parallelogram assembly 41. Each of the parallelogram assemblies 39, 41 is connected to the frame of the floor cleaning machine 1 and comprises a first arm 43 and a second arm 45. The first and second parallelogram assemblies 39, 41 are described below with reference to Figure 4 explained in more detail.

[0048] Figure 4 shows a schematic partial view of the dozer blade arrangement 17 from the Figures 3a and 3b The second parallelogram arrangement 41 is preferably identical to the first parallelogram arrangement 39, so that the following statements regarding the first parallelogram arrangement 39 apply analogously to the second parallelogram arrangement 41. Identical parallelogram arrangements 39, 41 ensure that the clearing blade 19 can be raised evenly in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned. This has the advantage that the clearing blade 19 always runs parallel to the floor surface.

[0049] The first and second arms 43, 45 extend from a first end 43', 45' to a second end 43", 45" and are spaced apart from one another in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned, wherein the first end 43', 45' of the arms 43, 45 is pivotally mounted on the frame about first pivot axes 47 running parallel to the floor surface to be cleaned, and wherein the second end 43", 45" of the arms 43, 45 is pivotally mounted on the dozer blade 19 about second pivot axes 49 running parallel to the floor surface to be cleaned. The first and second pivot axes 47, 49 of the parallelogram assemblies 39, 41 run parallel to one another.

[0050] At the second end 43", 45" of the two arms 43, 45, the clearing blade 19 is attached, which, due to the parallelogram arrangement, is held at its original angle to the floor surface to be cleaned while the arms 43, 45 are pivoted. This ensures that the clearing blade 19 remains positioned at its original angle to the floor surface, even when pivoted upwards.

[0051] The frame has a stop element arrangement with a first stop element 51 and a second stop element 53, which are designed to limit the pivoting range of the arms 43, 45 away from the floor surface. The stop element arrangement can limit the pivoting range of the arms 43, 45 and thus of the dozer blade 19, thereby preventing the dozer blade 19 or the arms 43, 45 from colliding with the floor cleaning machine 1 or the frame at a large pivoting angle.

[0052] The first stop element 51 limits the pivoting range of the first parallelogram assembly 39, while the second stop element 53 limits the pivoting range of the second parallelogram assembly 41. The stop element 51, 53 can either come into contact with the arms 43, 45 of the parallelogram assembly or with the frame 21 of the dozer blade assembly, which is connected to the arms 43, 45. The stop element arrangement can prevent damage to the dozer blade 19 or the floor cleaning machine 1. List of reference symbols:

[0053] 1 Floor cleaning machine 3 Housing 5 Chassis 7 Wheel 9 Cleaning device 11 Scrub deck 13 Squeegee 15 Handle 17 Dozer blade assembly 19 Dozer blade 21 Frame 23 Flexible bar 25 First width 26 Second width 27 Front wheel 29 Guide wheel 31 First level 33 Bump 35 Second level 37 Height difference 39 First parallelogram assembly 41 Second parallelogram assembly 43 First arm 45 Second arm 43', 45' First ends 43", 45" Second ends 47 First pivot axis 49 Second pivot axis 51 First stop element 53 Second stop element

Claims

1. A floor cleaning machine (1) comprising a frame, a chassis (5) having at least one wheel (7), preferably driven by a chassis drive, wherein the chassis (5) is configured such that the floor cleaning machine (1) can be moved over a floor surface to be cleaned, at least one cleaning device (9) configured to engage with the floor surface to be cleaned in order to loosen and / or remove dirt from the floor surface to be cleaned, the floor cleaning machine (1) having a front end, the floor cleaning machine (1) being configured to be moved in a forward direction over the floor surface to be cleaned during a cleaning operation, the front end pointing in a forward direction during a movement in the forward direction, a clearing blade assembly (17) mounted in front of the cleaning device (9) as viewed in the forward direction,wherein the clearing blade assembly (17) comprises a clearing blade (19) which is designed to be guided over the floor surface to be cleaned, wherein a guide wheel (29) is connected to the clearing blade (19), wherein the guide wheel (29) is designed to roll over the floor surface to be cleaned and wherein the position of the clearing blade (19) relative to the floor surface to be cleaned is predetermined by the guide wheel (29) in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned, wherein the clearing blade assembly (17) is mounted on the frame so as to be height-adjustable in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned.

2. Floor cleaning machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning device (9) comprises a scrubbing deck (11) attached to the frame, wherein the scrubbing deck (11) has a driven cleaning element configured to engage with the floor surface to be cleaned, and wherein the scrubbing deck (11) is configured to apply cleaning fluid to the floor surface to be cleaned in the region of the scrubbing deck (11).

3. Floor cleaning machine (1) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a suction foot (13) mounted on the frame, wherein the floor cleaning machine (1) has a vacuum source connected to the suction foot (13), wherein the suction foot (13) is configured to collect liquid from the floor surface to be cleaned, and wherein the suction foot (13) is arranged behind the cleaning device (9) as viewed in the forward direction.

4. Floor cleaning machine (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, wherein the position of the clearing blade (19) is adjustable in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned relative to the guide wheel (29).

5. Floor cleaning machine (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, wherein the guide wheel (29) is pivotally mounted relative to the clearing blade (19) about an axis running perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned.

6. Floor cleaning machine (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, wherein the dozer blade assembly (17) is connected to the frame via a first and a second parallelogram assembly (39, 41), wherein each of the parallelogram assemblies (39, 41) comprises a first and a second arm (43, 45) extending from a first to a second end (43', 45', 43", 45") and spaced from one another in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned, wherein the first end (43', 45') is pivotally mounted on the frame about a first pivot axis (47) running parallel to the floor surface to be cleaned, and wherein the second end (43", 45") is pivotally mounted on the dozer blade (19) about a second pivot axis (49) running parallel to the floor surface to be cleaned, and wherein the pivot axes (47, 49) of the Parallelogram arrangements (39, 41) run parallel.

7. Floor cleaning machine (1) according to claim 6, wherein the frame has a stop element arrangement which is designed to limit the pivoting range of the arms (43, 45) away from the floor surface.

8. Floor cleaning machine (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, wherein the clearing blade (19) is convexly curved when viewed opposite to the forward direction.

9. Floor cleaning machine (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 8, wherein the clearing blade (19) extends perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned.

10. Floor cleaning machine (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 9, wherein the clearing blade (19) has a frame and a flexible strip (21) extending therefrom towards the floor surface to be cleaned, the ends of the flexible strip extending laterally beyond the frame of the clearing blade (19).

11. Floor cleaning machine (1) according to claim 10, wherein the floor cleaning machine (1) has a housing (3) and wherein the frame of the clearing blade (19) is arranged within the cross-section of the housing (3) in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned.

12. Floor cleaning machine (1) according to claim 11, wherein the ends of the flexible strip extend laterally beyond the cross-section of the housing (3) in a direction perpendicular to the floor surface to be cleaned.

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