Floor treating machine for hand-guided treating of a floor surface

Abstract

The invention discloses a floor treating machine for hand-guided treating of a floor surface. The floor treating machine includes a floor unit, a guide unit, a collecting container, and a suction turbine. The guide unit has an elongated shape and is movably attached to the floor unit by means of a hinge. The floor unit is supplied with a cleaning fluid and applies the cleaning fluid to the floor surface to thereby treat the floor surface. The collecting container is attached to the floor unit. The suction turbine provides vacuum to suck up wastewater from the floor surface and feeds the wastewater to the collecting container.

Description

[0001] FLOOR TREATING MACHINE FOR HAND-GUIDED TREATING OF A FLOOR SURFACE

[0002] BACKGROUND

[0003] The invention relates to a floor treating machine for hand-guided treating of a floor surface.

[0004] A hand-guided floor treating machine is used to treat a floor in such a way that the floor is cleaned of dust, oil, grease or other soiling. A floor surface of the floor is automatically wetted with a cleaning fluid by the floor treating machine, with one or more brushes scrubbing the floor surface at the same time. When the floor treating machine is guided by a user in a treating direction, a squeegee collects the wastewater, with a suction turbine on the floor treating machine transporting the wastewater into a collecting container.

[0005] Floor treating machines are known from the prior art which have a floor unit and a guide unit. The user guides the floor treating machine in the treating direction by means of a handle unit, which is arranged at an end of the guide unit facing the user. The floor unit is arranged at an end of the guide unit facing away from the user. When the floor unit is moved in the treating direction, one or more brushes in the floor unit scrub the floor surface.

[0006] Often, two containers are attached to the guide unit, one for the cleaning fluid which is applied to the floor surface and one for the wastewater which is sucked off the floor surface by a suction unit together with a suction turbine.

[0007] BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0008] The invention is intended to improve the state of the art and the floor treating machines of the said type technically in a simple manner. A floor treating machine comprises a floor unit, a guide unit, a collecting container, and a suction turbine, wherein the guide unit has an elongated shape and is movably attached to the floor unit by means of a hinge, wherein the floor unit is configured to be supplied with a cleaning fluid and to apply the cleaning fluid to the floor surface to thereby treat the floor surface, wherein the collecting container is attached to the floor unit, wherein the suction turbine is configured to provide vacuum to suck up wastewater from the floor surface and feed the wastewater to the collecting container.

[0009] The collecting container attached to the floor unit is arranged at a smaller distance from the floor surface than is known in the prior art. With the small distance to the floor surface, the squeegee can be attached directly to the collecting container, whereby the path for the wastewater into the collecting container is very short.

[0010] Due to the short distance from the floor surface, the wastewater can be transported through the squeegee into the collecting container with a lower suction power, whereby suction losses are reduced. Preferably, the squeegee is attached to a bottom side of the collecting container facing the floor surface.

[0011] According to an aspect, the floor treating machine with the collecting container attached to the floor unit can be constructed more compactly. In this case, the center of gravity is lower, whereby the floor treating machine is easier to maneuver, turn and move.

[0012] Preferably, it can be provided that the suction turbine is mounted to the floor unit. In this way, the suction losses between the suction turbine and the collecting container and / or a nozzle of a squeegee of the floor treating machine can be reduced.

[0013] According to an advantageous embodiment, the floor treating machine further comprises a suction unit which is fluidically connected to the collecting container. The suction unit is arranged on an outer wall of the collecting container. The suction unit may comprise a body, elastic blades of rubber or plastic, and a suction nozzle. The body holds the blades and the suction nozzle. The blades collect wastewater on the surface of the floor and urges the wastewater towards the suction nozzle. The suction nozzle collects the wastewater and conveys the wastewater into the collecting container by the vacuum provided by the suction turbine.

[0014] According to an embodiment, the floor treating machine further comprises a liquid container, wherein the guide unit comprises a control unit and a handle unit, wherein the floor treating machine is configured to be guided in a treating direction by means of the handle unit, wherein the liquid container is attached to the guide unit and is configured to receive the cleaning fluid. The attachment of the liquid container to the guide unit enables the user to easily and quickly refill with new cleaning fluid.

[0015] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the suction unit comprises a squeegee which is arranged on a bottom side of the collecting container facing the floor surface, wherein the squeegee is configured to collect wastewater on the floor surface such that the collected wastewater is sucked up by the vacuum provided by the suction turbine and fed to the collecting container. Preferably, the suction turbine is fhiidically connected to the collecting container by means of at least one flexible hose.

[0016] The flexible hose allows the collecting container to be pivoted from an operating position to a parking position.

[0017] If the squeegee is attached to the collecting container by means of at least one hose, the hose can be short. Advantageously, there is less residual wastewater in the short hose after the floor treating machine has been switched off, which can run back onto the floor surface through the squeegee. Advantageously, the probability of blockages in the short hose is reduced.

[0018] According to an advantageous embodiment, the collecting container is pivotably attached to the floor unit such that the collecting container is pivotable about a pivot axis. When the floor treating machine is switched off, the collecting container can be swiveled around the pivot axis, whereby the floor treating machine becomes more compact and can be stowed away more easily.

[0019] In one embodiment, the floor unit comprises at least one brush which is arranged on the bottom side of the floor unit so that it faces the floor surface and that it treats the floor surface while rotating about an axis of rotation.

[0020] In this embodiment, the brush is preferably formed as a disk brush, wherein the disk brush may have multiple bristles.

[0021] If at least two brushes are used, these preferably rotate in opposite directions around their respective axes of rotation. This stabilizes the floor treating machine in its guidance.

[0022] Alternatively, the brush may comprise a cleaning pad, like a textile pad, instead of multiple bristles.

[0023] The axis of rotation of the brush is vertical, i.e., the rotational plane of the brush is substantially parallel to the floor surface.

[0024] Preferably, the floor unit is configured such that it distributes the cleaning fluid supplied to the floor unit from an opening on the bottom side onto the floor surface and treats the floor surface by means of the brush. The opening on the bottom side of the floor unit conveys the cleaning fluid directly to the at least one brush, so that the brush can spread the cleaning fluid on the floor surface.

[0025] In one embodiment, in an operating state of the floor treating machine, the collecting container is pivotable about a longitudinal axis of the floor treating machine.

[0026] This pivotal movement may be described as a left-right pivotal movement and allows the container including the fixedly attached squeegee to adapt to the orientation and contour of the floor. Thus, the squeegee is pressed onto the floor with a substantially uniform pressure force to leave no wastewater behind.

[0027] Furthermore, since the suction unit is fixedly mounted to the bottom surface of the collecting container, the complexity of the mechanical structure of the collecting container and the suction unit (including the squeegee) is reduced since no complex hinge structure is required to allow a certain movement of the suction unit to adapt to the orientation and contour of the floor.

[0028] Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing a floor treating machine, the method comprising: attaching a guide unit to a floor unit by means of a hinge, wherein the guide unit has an elongated shape; configuring the floor unit to be supplied with a cleaning fluid and to apply the cleaning fluid to a floor surface, thereby treating the floor surface; attaching the collecting container to the floor unit, wherein the suction turbine is configured to provide vacuum to suck up wastewater from the floor surface and supply the wastewater to the collecting container.

[0029] The floor treating machine according to the method of the invention can be made more compact and the suction power required to suck the wastewater from the floor surface into the collecting container is reduced, since the collecting container is at a shorter distance from the floor surface.

[0030] Preferably, the method further comprises attaching the suction turbine to the floor unit.

[0031] In this way, the suction losses of the floor treating machine can be further reduced, as the suction turbine is arranged close to the squeegee with the floor nozzle as well as close to the collecting container on the floor unit.

[0032] In an advantageous embodiment, the method further comprises arranging the suction unit on an outer wall of the collecting container. With a suction unit being attached on the collecting container or being mounted to a lower surface of the collecting container, the complexity of the mechanical structure of the collecting container and the squeegee is reduced since no complex hinge structure is required to allow a certain movement of the suction unit to adapt to the orientation and contour of the floor. Instead, the squeegee is fixedly attached to the collecting container, and the collecting container together with the squeegee moves and adapts to the orientation and contour of the floor surface.

[0033] In the following, different concepts are described, each concept including several embodiments. These concepts can be combined by each other as indicated below.

[0034] Concept 1 : floor treating machine with collecting container arranged at a floor unit of the floor treating machine

[0035] Variant 1 : A floor treating machine for hand-guided treating of a floor surface comprises a floor unit, a guide unit, a collecting container, and a suction. The guide unit has an elongated shape and is movably attached to the floor unit by means of a hinge. The floor unit is configured to be supplied with a cleaning fluid and to apply the cleaning fluid to the floor surface to thereby treat the floor surface. The collecting container is attached to the floor unit. The suction turbine is configured to provide vacuum to suck up wastewater from the floor surface and feed the wastewater to the collecting container.

[0036] Variant 2: The floor treating machine of variant 1 of concept 1, wherein the suction turbine is mounted to the floor unit.

[0037] Variant 3: The floor treating machine of variant 2 of concept 1, further comprising a suction unit, wherein the suction unit is fluidically connected to the collecting container, and wherein the suction unit is arranged on an outer wall of the collecting container.

[0038] Variant 4: The floor treating machine according to any of the preceding variants of concept 1 , wherein the floor treating machine further comprises a liquid container, wherein the guide unit comprises a control unit and a handle unit, wherein the floor treating machine is configured to be guided in a treating direction by means of the handle unit, and wherein the liquid container is attached to the guide unit and is configured to receive the cleaning fluid.

[0039] Variant 5: The floor treating machine according to any of the preceding variants of concept 1, wherein the suction unit comprises a squeegee which is arranged on a bottom side of the collecting container facing the floor surface, wherein the squeegee is configured to collect wastewater on the floor surface such that the collected wastewater is sucked up by the vacuum provided by the suction turbine and fed to the collecting container.

[0040] Variant 6: The floor treating machine according to any of the preceding variants of concept 1 , wherein the collecting container is pivotably attached to the floor unit and configured to pivot about a pivot axis.

[0041] Variant 7 : The floor treating machine according to any of the preceding variants of concept 1 , wherein the suction turbine is fluidically connected to the collecting container by means of at least one hose.

[0042] Variant 8: The floor treating machine according to any of the preceding variants of concept 1 , wherein the floor unit comprises at least one brush which is arranged on the bottom side of the floor unit so that it faces the floor sur-face and that it treats the floor surface while rotating about an axis of rotation.

[0043] Variant 9: The floor treating machine according to variant 8 of concept 1, wherein the axis of rotation is vertical.

[0044] Variant 10: The floor treating machine according to variant 8 or 9 of concept 1, wherein the floor unit is configured such that it distributes the cleaning fluid supplied to the floor unit from an opening on the bottom side onto the floor surface and treats the floor surface by means of the brush. Variant 11 : The floor treating machine according to any one of the preceding variants of concept 1 , wherein, in an operating state of the floor treating machine, the collecting container is pivotable about a longitudinal axis of the floor treating machine.

[0045] Variant 12: A method of manufacturing a floor treating machine according to any of the preceding variants of concept 1, the method comprising: attaching a guide unit to a floor unit by means of a hinge, wherein the guide unit has an elongated shape; configuring the floor unit to be supplied with a cleaning fluid and to apply the cleaning fluid to a floor surface, thereby treating the floor surface; attaching the collecting container to the floor unit, wherein the suction turbine is configured to provide vacuum to suck up wastewater from the floor surface and supply the wastewater to the collecting container.

[0046] Variant 13: The method according to variant 12 of concept 1, further comprising: attaching the suction turbine to the floor unit.

[0047] Variant 14: The method according to variants 12 or 13 of concept 1, further comprising: arranging a suction unit on an outer wall of the collecting container.

[0048] The variants of concept 1 may be implemented in a floor treating machine in combination with each of the variants of each of concept 2, concept 3, or concept 4.

[0049] Concept 2: floor treating machine with a brush unit that is movable with respect to a floor unit, wherein the brush unit is actuated by a collecting container via a transition mechanism

[0050] Variant 1 : A floor treating machine for hand-guided treating of a floor surface comprises a floor unit with a base plate and at least one front wheel mounted to the base plate, a guide unit, a collecting container, a transition mechanism, and a brush unit that is attached to the floor unit. The guide unit has an elongated shape and is movably attached to the floor unit by a hinge. The floor unit is configured to be supplied with a cleaning fluid and to apply the cleaning fluid to the floor surface to thereby treat the floor surface by the brush unit. The collecting container is attached to the floor unit and is configured to receive wastewater from the floor surface. The transition mechanism is connected to the collecting container and to the brush unit such that a displacement of the collecting container actuates the brush unit by the transition mechanism and causes a relative movement between the brush unit and the base plate.

[0051] Variant 1 of concept 2 may be implemented alone or in combination with the variants of the other concepts described herein. When combining one concept with another concept, this means that the features of one concept and the features of another concept are both implemented in a floor treating machine. In particular, variant 1 (as well as the following variants) of concept 2 may be combined with all variants of concept 1.

[0052] Variant 2: The floor treating machine according to variant 1 of concept 2, wherein the brush unit is movable between a retracted state and a protruding state by displacing the collecting container, and the collecting container is movable between an operating state and a tilted state.

[0053] Variant 3: The floor treating machine according to variant 2 of concept 2, wherein, in the retracted state, the at least one front wheel protrudes beyond the brush unit.

[0054] Variant 4: The floor treating machine according to variant 2 of concept 2, wherein, in the protruding state, the brush unit protrudes beyond the at least one front wheel.

[0055] Variant 5: The floor treating machine according to any one of the variants 2 to 4 of concept 2, wherein the transition mechanism is connected to the collecting container and to the brush unit such that the transition mechanism moves the brush unit from the protruding state to the retracted state when the collecting container is displaced from the operating state to the tilted state.

[0056] Variant 6: The floor treating machine according to any one of variants 2 to 5 of concept 2, wherein the transition mechanism is connected to the collecting container and to the brush unit such that the transition mechanism moves the brush unit from the retracted state to the protruding state when the collecting container is displaced from the tilted state to the operating state.

[0057] Variant 7 : The floor treating machine according to any one of the preceding variants of concept 2, wherein the transition mechanism is integrated into the floor unit or attached to the floor unit.

[0058] Variant 8: The floor treating machine according to any one of the preceding variants of concept 2, wherein the collecting container is movably attached or swivel-mounted to the floor unit.

[0059] Variant 9: The floor treating machine according to any one of the preceding variants of concept 2, wherein the collecting container is attached to the floor unit to be pivotable about a pivot axis.

[0060] The variants of concept 2 may be implemented in a floor treating machine in combination with each of the variants of each of concept 1, concept 2, or concept 3.

[0061] Concept 3: floor treating machine with a handle unit having two handles shaped to flare in a direction away from the handle unit or to have distal sections with a cross-section greater than a cross-section of a proximal section

[0062] Variant 1 : A floor treating machine for hand-guided treating of a floor surface comprises: a floor unit with a drive and a brush unit; a guide unit; and a control unit with a handle unit. The guide unit has an elongated shape and is movably attached to the floor unit by a hinge. The control unit is attached to the guide unit. The drive is coupled to the brush unit in a manner to move the brush unit for treating the floor surface. The control unit comprises a first handle and a second handle, wherein each of the first handle and the second handle comprises at least one operating element. The operating element is operatively coupled to the drive and configured to change an operating state of the drive depending on a switching state of the operating element. Each of the first handle and the second handle comprises a proximal section and a distal section, the proximal section being adjacent to the handle unit and the distal section projecting away from the handle unit. A radial cross-section of the distal section is bigger than a radial cross-section of the proximal section.

[0063] Variant 1 of concept 3 may be implemented alone or in combination with the variants of the other concepts described herein. When combining one concept with another concept, this means that the features of one concept and the features of another concept are both implemented in a floor treating machine. In particular, variant 1 (as well as the following variants) of concept 3 may be combined with all variants of concept 1 and / or with all variants of concept 2.

[0064] Variant 2: The floor treating machine according to variant 1 of concept 3, wherein the distal section is at least partially spherical.

[0065] Variant 3: The floor treating machine according to variant 1 or 2 of concept 3, wherein the proximal section is of a cylindrical shape.

[0066] Variant 4: The floor treating machine according to any one of the preceding variants of concept 3, wherein the first handle and the second handle project in opposite directions from the handle unit.

[0067] Variant 5: The floor treating machine according to any one of the preceding variants of concept 3, wherein a contour line of each of the first handle and the second handle corresponds to a contour line of the respective operating element.

[0068] Variant 6: The floor treating machine according to any one of variants 1 to 4 of concept 3, wherein each of the first handle and the second handle extends linearly and having a constant cross-section along a handle axis of the respective handle.

[0069] Variant 7 : The floor treating machine according to any one of the preceding variants of concept 3, wherein the operating element is arranged on an underside of the respective handle facing the floor surface. Variant 8: The floor treating machine according to any one of the preceding variants of concept 3, wherein the first handle and the second handle are attached to the handle unit on opposite handle sides of the handle unit.

[0070] The variants of concept 3 may be implemented in a floor treating machine in combination with each of the variants of each of concept 1 , concept 2, or concept 4 alone or in combination with any two or all of these concepts.

[0071] Concept 4: floor treating machine with a drive unit comprising a digital brushless motor

[0072] Variant 1 : A floor treating machine for hand-guided treating of a floor surface comprises a floor unit, a guide unit, at least one electric drive, and at least one brush. The guide unit has an elongated shape and is movably attached to the floor unit by a hinge. The floor unit is configured to be supplied with a cleaning fluid and to apply the cleaning fluid to the floor surface to thereby treat the floor surface by the brush. The brush is connected to the electric drive by means of a drive shaft of the electric drive. The electric drive is mounted to the floor unit and is configured to drive the brush in rotation about a drive axis of the drive shaft.

[0073] Variant 1 of concept 4 may be implemented alone or in combination with the variants of the other concepts described herein. When combining one concept with another concept, this means that the features of one concept and the features of another concept are both implemented in a floor treating machine. In particular, variant 1 (as well as the following variants) of concept 4 may be combined with all variants of concept 1 and / or with all variants of concept 2 and / or with all variants of concept 3.

[0074] Variant 2: The floor treating machine according to variant 1 of concept 4, wherein the drive shaft of the electric drive establishes an axis of rotation of the brush.

[0075] Variant 3: The floor treating machine according to variant 1 or 2 of concept 4, wherein the brush and the electric drive are connected to each other directly by the drive shaft and the drive shaft establishes a gearless connection between the brush and the electric drive.

[0076] Variant 4: The floor treating machine according to any one of the preceding variants of concept 4, wherein the electric drive is arranged in the floor unit or on the floor unit.

[0077] Variant 5: The floor treating machine according to any one of the preceding variants of concept 4, wherein the electric drive is a brushless DC motor (BLDC).

[0078] Variant 6: The floor treating machine according to any one of the preceding variants of concept 4, wherein the floor treating machine comprises two electric drives and two brushes, wherein each electric drive is assigned to one brush, respectively, to establish a drive-brush-pair.

[0079] Variant 7: The floor treating machine according to variant 6 of concept 4, wherein the electric drives of the two drive -brush-pairs are operated to rotate in opposite directions.

[0080] Variant 8: The floor treating machine according to variant 6 or 7 of concept 4, wherein, in an operating state of the floor treating machine, a rotational speed of the electric drive is identical to a rotational speed of the brush.

[0081] Variant 9: The floor treating machine according to any one of variants 6 to 8 of concept 4, wherein the electric drive and the brush of each drive-brush-pair are directly connected by the drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft is a single and continuous shaft interconnecting the electric drive and the brush.

[0082] The variants of concept 4 may be implemented in a floor treating machine in combination with each of the variants of each of concept 1, concept 2, or concept 3.

[0083] Description of the drawings

[0084] The invention is illustrated below by way of example using schematic figures. It shows: Fig. 1 a floor treating machine in a sideways position with a guide unit and a floor unit,

[0085] Fig. 2 the floor treating machine of Fig. 1 in a tilted position,

[0086] Fig. 3 the floor treating machine of Fig. 1 with a collecting container folded away from a floor surface,

[0087] Fig. 4 the collecting container in a perspective view,

[0088] Fig. 5 the collecting container in a perspective sectional view,

[0089] Fig. 6 a floor unit of the floor treating machine in a side sectional view with a transition mechanism,

[0090] Fig. 7 the floor unit in an open and perspective figure with two disc brushes and one BLDC each,

[0091] Fig. 8 a side view of one of the brushless DC motors,

[0092] Fig. 9 a first variant of a handle unit of the floor treating machine in a top view,

[0093] Fig. 10 a second variant of a handle unit of the floor treating machine in a top view,

[0094] Fig. 11 a third variant of a handle unit of the floor treating machine in a top view, and

[0095] Fig. 12 a perspective sectional view of the floor unit showing a suction turbine for providing vacuum. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0096] The drawings show different functional and structural concepts for a floor treating machine. It should be understood that these concepts may be implemented together with one another in a floor treating machine. However, the concepts may also be used isolated from one another.

[0097] Fig. 1 shows a floor treating machine 1, which can be moved on a floor surface 2 in a treating direction 11. A floor unit 3 of the floor treating machine 1 rests with one bottom side 34 of its disk brush 35 on a floor surface 2, while a guide unit 4 of the floor treating machine 1 is attached to the floor unit 3 at one end by means of a hinge 7. At an end of the guide unit 4 opposite the hinge 7, the guide unit 4 has a control unit 9 for a user who can grip a handle unit 10 of the control unit 9 and move the floor treating machine 1 in the treating direction 11.

[0098] In order to move the floor treating machine 1 in the treating direction 11 , the user must grasp two handles 23, 24 provided for this purpose with both hands and actuate two operating elements 25 while treating the floor surface 2. Typically, the brushes are driven by a drive unit when the operating elements 25 of both handles 23, 24 are pushed and held in a pushed state. When the user releases at least one of the control elements, the drive unit stops rotating the brush or brushes. The two operating elements 25 are each arranged on the underside 29 of the handles 23, 24 so that the user can actuate them with the fingers.

[0099] The guide unit 4 has a liquid container 8 into which a cleaning fluid can be filled via an opening that can be opened with a rotary plug 37. The liquid container 8 may be reversibly mounted to the guide unit 4 or it may be fixedly attached thereto. During the floor treating procedure, the cleaning fluid is conveyed from the liquid container 8 to the floor unit 3, for example by means of a hose, where it is fed from an opening 17 to the floor 2 and the brushes 15 clean the floor 2 while rotating around their vertical axis of rotation 16 distributing the cleaning fluid on the floor surface 2 with their bristles 33 and scrub the floor surface 2 at the same time. This cleans the floor surface 2 of dust, oil, grease or other soiling.

[0100] During the floor treating process and movement of the floor treating machine 1 in the treating direction 11, a squeegee 12 that is mounted to the lower outer surface (bottom side 13 facing the floor surface) of the collecting container 5 collects the wastewater from the floor surface 2 and transports it into a collecting container 5.

[0101] Fig. 1 shows the floor treating machine 1 in an operating state with the collecting container 5 in the lower position. In the operating state, the brush 15 is pressed onto the floor surface 2 such that the bottom side 35 of the brush 15 and the bristles 33 rests on the floor surface 2. In the operating state, however, one or two wheels 19 of the floor treating machine may contact the floor surface 2 (see Fig. 3 and Fig. 6). Preferable, two wheels contact the floor surface, with the two wheels being arranged such that they have a common axis of rotation. These two wheels (preferably the rear wheels 19 shown in Fig. 6) assist in holding a moving direction of the floor treating machine and being able to move the floor treating machine into a desired direction and / or along a desired trajectory.

[0102] In the operating state, the collecting container 5 is configured to pivot for a few degrees (e.g., 5° to 10° in each direction, clockwise and / or counterclockwise) about a longitudinal axis 45 of the floor unit 3. This pivotable movement about the longitudinal axis 45 allows for the squeegee 13 to adapt to the contour of the floor surface and / or to the orientation of the floor surface 2 relative to the orientation of the floor treating machine 1 .

[0103] The collecting container 5, which can collect the wastewater, is attached to the floor unit 3, which comprises a brush unit 21. The attachment of the collecting container 5 to the floor unit 3 and the positioning of the collecting container 5 at the level of the floor unit 3 with no large distance from the floor surface 2 makes it possible to keep the transport path for the wastewater from the floor surface 2 into the collecting container 5 short, so that the wastewater can be transported from the floor surface 2 via the squeegee 12 into the collecting container 5 with little suction power. Furthermore, compared to double- container-designs which comprise the cleaning liquid and the wastewater in a common housing with fluidically separated chambers that are both attached to the guide unit 4, the weight resting on the guide unit 4 is reduced, making it easier for a user to handle the floor treating machine. The center of gravity of the floor treating machine 1 is also low when the collecting container 5 is attached directly to the floor unit 3, making it easier and more user-friendly to maneuver and move the floor treating machine 1.

[0104] While the lateral views or side views of the floor treating machine 1 show only one brush 15, it should be understood that the floor treating machine 1 described herein typically includes two brushes 15. The two brushes 15 rotate in countering directions, i.e., one brush rotates clockwise and the other rotates counterclockwise. In particular, the brushes rotate such that dirt and water on the floor surface is transported to the center of the floor unit and backwards against the moving direction 11 towards the suction unit (squeegee) 12.

[0105] While a floor treating machine may include a single brush, it may be implemented with two brushes as described above. Therefore, any functional and structural description herein in the context of one brush is to be understood such that this functional or structural description relates to both brushes when the floor treating machine includes two brushes.

[0106] Fig. 2 shows the floor treating machine 1 being moved into a tilted position via at least one wheel 19 on the floor unit 3 after floor treating and shutdown. During the displacement of the floor treating machine 1 into the tilted position, the collecting container 5 rests with the squeegee 12 mounted to the bottom side 13 on the floor surface 2. Thus, the collecting container 5 is tilted about a pivot axis 14, which is located at the attachment point between the collecting container 5 and the floor unit 3, from an operating state towards the liquid container 8 into a tilted state.

[0107] In Fig. 3, the floor treating machine 1 is shown in the switched-off state, with the collecting container 5 in the tilted state. The collecting container 5 and the brush 15 can take different states and positions. In Fig. 1, the collecting container 5 is in the operating state and the brush 15 is in the protruding state in which the brush rests on the floor surface 2. In Fig. 2, it is shown how the collecting container 5 transitions from the operating state to a tilted state. The tilted state may also be referred to as a parking state. Fig. 3 shows the collecting container 5 in the tilted state and the brush 15 in the retracted state in which the brush is spaced apart from the floor surface 2. When the collecting container 5 changes from the operating state (shown in Fig. 1) to the tilted state (shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3), the brush unit 21 transitions from the protruding state (in the operating state) to a retracted state (in the tilted state), and vice versa.

[0108] In the protruding state (Fig. 1) of the brush unit 21, the bottom side 34 of the disc brush 15 rests on the floor surface 2 and a front wheel 19 is spaced apart from the floor surface. This allows the brushes 15 to scrub the floor surface 2.

[0109] In the retracted state (Fig. 3) of the brush unit 21, the brush 15 is shifted towards the floor unit 3 and away from the floor surface 2 and no longer rests on the floor surface 2, with the front wheel 19 protruding over the brush 15 towards the floor surface 2 and resting on the floor surface 2 - there is a distance 35 between the brush 15 and its bottom side 34 and the floor surface 2.

[0110] In this state, the floor treating machine 1 can be moved away by means of the wheels 19. The collecting container 5 is in the tilted state so that the floor treating machine 1 can be stored in a space-saving manner. Furthermore, when the brush 15 is in the retracted state, the bristles of the brush are not loaded by the weight of the floor treating machine, thereby reducing the structural load onto the brush and increasing the lifetime thereof by avoiding deformation and compression of the brush.

[0111] In Fig. 3, the front wheel 19 and the rear wheel 19 can be seen. When the brush is in the retracted state, the floor treating machine rests with the front and rear wheels on the floor surface 2. When the brush is in the protruded state, the brush protrudes beyond the front wheel while the rear wheel still rests on the ground for guiding the floor treating machine along the desired moving direction. It should be noted that there may be two rear wheels having a common axis of rotation, i.e., the second rear wheel is behind the rear wheel visible in Fig. 3. The front wheel may be a single wheel arranged in a lateral position at about half the distance between the two rear wheels.

[0112] Fig. 4 shows an enlarged perspective view of the collecting container 5. The collecting container 5 may include an additional wheel 19 (in addition to the front wheel and the rear wheel(s) of the floor unit 3), wherein the additional wheel 19 of the collecting container rests with this wheel on the floor surface 2 in the operating state, and the suction unit 12, i.e., the squeegee with the suction nozzle(s), is located on its bottom side 13. The suction unit 12 collects the wastewater by vacuum and directs it into the collecting container 5.

[0113] In an upper aera 38 of the collecting container 5, it has a collecting container handle 36 with which the collecting container 5 can also be manually transitioned between the operating state and the tilted state. There is also a rotary plug 37, whereby the wastewater can be removed and taken away through the opening that the rotary plug 37 closes.

[0114] Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of the collecting container 5, with a fill level sensor 6 located in an interior space 39 of the collecting container 5. The fill level sensor 6 is configured to detect a fill level of the collecting container 5 with wastewater and to provide a sensor signal in order to indicate to a user of the machine that the collecting container 5 needs to be emptied.

[0115] The suction turbine 44 (see Fig. 12) generates vacuum in the interior space 39 of the collecting container 5 and builds up a suction force by which the wastewater can be sucked from the floor surface 2 into the collecting container 5 via a suction duct 40 of the squeegee 12.

[0116] Fig. 6 shows the brush unit 21 of the floor unit 3 in more detail, with the floor unit 3 with the front and rear wheels 19 resting on the floor surface 2 and the brush 15 in the retracted state. The front wheel 19 may be attached to the base plate while the rear wheels are attached to a housing or a support structure of the floor unit 3. in the retracted state, the front wheel 19 protrudes beyond the brush 15 towards the floor surface

[0117] 2, and the front wheel 19 rests on the floor surface. The brush unit 21 is connected to a base plate 18 of the floor unit 3. A transition mechanism 20 is provided in the floor unit

[0118] 3. The transition mechanism 20 is connected to the collecting container 5 at the one end and to the brush unit 21 at the other end. When transitioning the collecting container 5 from the operating state to the tilted state (or vice versa), the transition mechanism 20 moves the brush unit 21 from the protruding state to the retracted state (or vice versa). When the brush unit 21 is pulled up away from the floor surface 2, there is a distance 35 between the bottom side 34 of the brush 15 and the floor surface 2 and the floor unit 3 rests on the front wheel on the floor surface.

[0119] The drive unit 22 and the brush unit 21 are supported by the base plate 18. When the transition mechanism 20 is actuated by moving the collecting container 5, the brush unit 21 is moved relative to the floor unit 3 and relative to the base plate 18, thus also moving the drive unit 22 relative to the floor unit 3 and the base plate 18. For example, the base plate 18 supports the brush unit 21 and the drive unit 22 while allowing a relative vertical movement of the brush unit 21 and the drive unit 22 with respect to the base plate 18.

[0120] When the collecting container 5 is in the operating state, a spring mechanism 41 pushes the brush unit 21 downwardly towards the floor surface. When the collecting container 5 is swiveled around the pivot axis 14 into the tilted state, the brush unit 21 is pulled into the retracted state against the pushing force of the spring mechanism 21 so that the brush 15 no longer rests on the floor surface 2. In the retracted state, the brush 15 bristles 33 are relieved, and their service life is increased.

[0121] Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of the floor unit 3 without the cover, with two drive units which are implemented by a brushless DC motor, BLDC 22. In the operating state, the BLDCs 22 are active, and each drives a disk brush 15 around its axis of rotation 16, whereby the two BLDCs 22 rotate in the opposite direction around their own drive axis 32. Particularly, for a functional unit comprising a BLDC 22 and the assigned brush 15, the drive axis 32 of a BLDC 22 coincides with the axis of rotation 16 of the brush assigned to this BLDC.

[0122] The example indicated in Fig. 7 shows two drives 22, each of which is assigned and connected to a respective brush 15.

[0123] A BLDC 22 is advantageously used because it has a low installation height and can provide high torque at low engine speed without the need for an additional gear that interconnects the BLDC 22 with the brush 15.

[0124] Fig. 8 shows a side view of one of the BLDCs 22, whereby the BLDC 22 has a drive shaft 31 with a drive axis 32. The drive shaft 31 has a brush side 42, which is mechanically attached to the brush 15 and transmits its rotational movement to the brush 15. The BLDCs 22 are advantageously constructed to be very flat and have no gearing, so that the floor unit 3 is also constructed to be flat and can reach into low spaces for cleaning.

[0125] In other words, the brush 15 may be mounted to the drive shaft 31 such that the BLDC 22 directly drives the brush 15 without a gearing being arranged in between.

[0126] The brush may be reversibly attached to the drive shaft 31, e.g., by a positive-locking connection using at least one recess on the surface of the drive shaft 31. Thus, a worn- out brush may be replaced by another brush.

[0127] Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 show two different variants of a control unit 9 of the floor treating machine 1 in a top view, wherein a handle unit 10 has a first handle 23 and a second handle 24 on two opposite handle sides 30. The handles 23, 24 have a smaller radial cross-section 28 in a proximal section 26, which faces the handle side 30, than in a distal section 27, which faces away from the handle side 30.

[0128] The radial cross-section 28 of the handles 23, 24 in Fig. 9 is conical in the direction of the handle axis 43 (the handles taper from the distal section 27 to the proximal section 26), while the handles 23, 24 in Fig. 10 are spherical in the distal section 27. Generally, the radial cross-section of a handle 23, 24 or of one of its sections 26, 27 is the cross-section orthogonal to the handle axis 43.

[0129] Each handle 23 ,24 (the first handle 23 and the second handle 24) has an operating element 25 on its underside 29, which must always be actuated during operation of the floor treating machine 1. The larger radial cross-sections 28 of the distal sections 27 can be gripped more ergonomically by the user when moving, turning and maneuvering the floor treating machine 1 without endangering the actuating of the operating elements 25. In other words, an operator may grasp the first and second handle 23, 24 with a respective hand at the lateral ends (the surfaces of the first and second handle 23, 24 facing away from the handle unit 10) of the distal sections 27 while holding the operating element 25 in the ON-position (pressed). This grasping position of the operator's hands may allow for a better handling of the floor treating machine, in particular when moving and turning the floor treating machine along curves with small radii. Furthermore, this grasping position may allow the operator turning the floor treating machine by a greater angle of rotation compared to a grasping position where the handle axis 43 extends along the operator's palm of the hand.

[0130] As can be seen in Figs. 9 and 10, the operating elements 25 may be shaped such that their shape corresponds to a shape of the respective handle 23, 24, i.e., the operating elements 25 may have differently sized cross-sections in the distal section 27 and the proximal section 26. In particular, the cross-section of the operating element 25 in the proximal section 26 is smaller than its cross-section in the distal section 27.

[0131] However, while the operating elements 25 and the handles 23, 24 may be shaped to have corresponding contour lines as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, it is conceivable that the operating elements 25 linearly extend along the handle axis 43 without varying the cross-section of the operating elements 25. The handles 23, 24 still have a different cross-section in the proximal and distal section. This allows for the benefit of the grasping position described above while the operating element 25 does not necessarily need to be shaped correspondingly as the operator can press the operating element 25 into the ON-position with a single finger.

[0132] Fig. 11 shows this variant in which the handles 23, 24 have a distal section 27 with a larger cross-section than the proximal section 26 and the operating elements 25 being linearly shaped without any tapered section (in the top view from the perspective of an operator viewing from the top onto the handle unit 10).

[0133] Fig. 12 shows a suction turbine 44 mounted to the floor unit 3. The suction turbine 44 is configured to provide vacuum for the wastewater to be sucked up into the collecting container 5. The suction turbine 44 is connected to the collecting container 44 by a hose 46 in order to provide vacuum to the collecting container. This vacuum is then applied to a nozzle of the squeegee in order to suck up the wastewater from the floor.

[0134] The hose 46 is a flexible hose to allow the collecting container 5 be transitioned from the operating state to the tilted state and vice versa while the vacuum providing connection (the hose 46) between the suction turbine 44 and the interior space 39 of the collecting container 5 remains established.

[0135] As known by those in the art, the suction turbine 44 may be powered by electric energy from a battery, in particular from a rechargeable battery. This battery may also be used for powering the drives 22 used for rotating the brushes 15.

[0136] List of reference signs

[0137] 1 floor treating machine

[0138] 2 floor surface

[0139] 3 floor unit

[0140] 4 guide unit

[0141] 5 collecting container

[0142] 6 fill level sensor

[0143] 7 hinge

[0144] 8 liquid container

[0145] 9 control unit

[0146] 10 handle unit

[0147] 11 treating direction

[0148] 12 suction unit, squeegee

[0149] 13 outer wall, bottom side of the collecting container

[0150] 14 pivot axis

[0151] 15 brush

[0152] 16 axis of rotation

[0153] 17 opening

[0154] 18 base plate

[0155] 19 wheel

[0156] 20 transition mechanism

[0157] 21 brush unit

[0158] 22 drive (BLDC)

[0159] 23 first handle

[0160] 24 second handle

[0161] 25 operating element

[0162] 26 proximal section

[0163] 27 distal section

[0164] 28 radial cross-section

[0165] 29 underside

[0166] 30 handle side 31 drive shaft

[0167] 32 drive axis

[0168] 33 bristles

[0169] 34 bottom side of the brush 35 distance

[0170] 36 collecting container handle

[0171] 37 rotary plug

[0172] 38 upper area of the collecting container

[0173] 39 interior space 40 suction duct

[0174] 41 spring mechanism

[0175] 42 brush side

[0176] 43 handle axis

[0177] 44 suction turbine 45 longitudinal axis

[0178] 46 hose

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. Floor treating machine (1) for hand-guided treating of a floor surface (2), the floor treating machine (1) comprising: a floor unit (3); a guide unit (4); a collecting container (5); and a suction turbine (44); wherein the guide unit (4) has an elongated shape and is movably attached to the floor unit (3) by means of a hinge (7); wherein the floor unit (3) is configured to be supplied with a cleaning fluid and to apply the cleaning fluid to the floor surface (2) to thereby treat the floor surface (2); wherein the collecting container (5) is attached to the floor unit (3); wherein the suction turbine (44) is configured to provide vacuum to suck up wastewater from the floor surface (2) and feed the wastewater to the collecting container (5).

2. Floor treating machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein the suction turbine (44) is mounted to the floor unit (3).

3. Floor treating machine (1) according to claim 2, further comprising a suction unit (12); wherein the suction unit (12) is fluidically connected to the collecting container (5); wherein the suction unit (12) is arranged on an outer wall (13) of the collecting container (5).

4. Floor treating machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, the floor treating machine (1) further comprising: a liquid container (8); wherein the guide unit (4) comprises a control unit (9) and a handle unit (10);wherein the floor treating machine (1) is configured to be guided in a treating direction (11) by means of the handle unit (10); wherein the liquid container (8) is attached to the guide unit (4) and is configured to receive the cleaning fluid.

5. Floor treating machine (1) according to claim 3, wherein the suction unit (12) comprises a squeegee which is arranged on a bottom side (13) of the collecting container (5) facing the floor surface (2), wherein the squeegee (12) is configured to collect wastewater on the floor surface (2) such that the collected wastewater is sucked up by the vacuum provided by the suction turbine (44) and fed to the collecting container (5).

6. Floor treating machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the collecting container (5) is pivotably attached to the floor unit (3) and configured to pivot about a pivot axis (14).

7. Floor treating machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the suction turbine (44) is fluidically connected to the collecting container (5) by means of at least one hose.

8. Floor treating machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the floor unit (3) comprises at least one brush (15) which is arranged on the bottom side (13) of the floor unit (3) so that it faces the floor surface (2) and that it treats the floor surface (2) while rotating about an axis of rotation (16).

9. Floor treating machine (1) according to claim 8, wherein the axis of rotation is vertical.

10. Floor treating machine (1) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the floor unit (3) is configured such that it distributes the cleaning fluid supplied to the floor unit (3) from an opening (17) on the bottom side (13) onto the floor surface (2) and treats the floor surface (2) by means of the brush (15).11 . Floor treating machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in an operating state of the floor treating machine (1), the collecting container (5) is pivotable about a longitudinal axis (45) of the floor treating machine.

12. A method of manufacturing a floor treating machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, the method comprising: attaching a guide unit (4) to a floor unit (3) by means of a hinge (7), wherein the guide unit (4) has an elongated shape; configuring the floor unit (3) to be supplied with a cleaning fluid and to apply the cleaning fluid to a floor surface (2), thereby treating the floor surface (2); attaching the collecting container (5) to the floor unit (3), wherein the suction turbine (44) is configured to provide vacuum to suck up wastewater from the floor surface (2) and supply the wastewater to the collecting container (5).

13. The method according to claim 12, the method further comprising: attaching the suction turbine (44) to the floor unit (3).

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, the method further comprising: arranging a suction unit (12) on an outer wall (13) of the collecting container (5).

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