Cleaning station for a floor cleaner

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a cleaning station 11 for a vacuum cleaner 1 The cleaning station 11 comprises a vacuum cleaner 2 comprising a dust collecting device 3 and a wet cleaning tool 23,24. The cleaning station 11 being configured to remove dust particles from the dust collecting device 2 in the vacuum cleaner 1. The cleaning station comprises a housing 11 having an air inlet 12, for connection to the dust collecting device 3, a dust compartment 15, and an air exhaust 13,13a,13b. The housing 11 also comprises a motor / fan unit 17,30 adapted to create an air flow 40,41 from an air inlet 12,32 to the air exhaust 13,13a,13b. The housing 11 comprises a receiver 20 comprising a holder 21 configured to receive the wet cleaning tool 23,24. Said holder 21 being arranged in the air flow 40,41 and / or close to the air exhaust 13,13a,13b. Intended for publication:

Description

[0001] CLEANING STATION FOR A FLOOR CLEANER

[0002] Field of the invention

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a cleaning station for a floor cleaner.

[0004] Technical background

[0005] Such a cleaning station is described for instance in US-11006797-B1 , which discloses a cleaning station with an accommodation space where a full dust chamber of a vacuum cleaner is docked.

[0006] A cleaning stations like the one above is capable of emptying most of the dust particles caught in the vacuum cleaner dust container.

[0007] However, floor cleaning also involves wet cleaning of the floor. This may be done by attaching a wet cleaning nozzle to the vacuum cleaner. The wet cleaning nozzle could be adapted to work together with a suction function of the vacuum cleaner or without the suction. Independently, the wet cleaning nozzle usually comprises a rotating or vibrating wet cleaning tool, such as a pad or a roller.

[0008] A general problem is to effectively store and maintain the cleaning tools after use.

[0009] Summary of the invention

[0010] One object of the present disclosure is therefore to provide a cleaning station with a storing and drying function to more efficiently dry a wet cleaning tool after use.

[0011] This object is achieved by a cleaning station as defined in claim 1 . More specifically, in a cleaning station of the initially mentioned kind, there is provided a cleaning station for a stick type floor cleaner comprises a vacuum cleaner comprising a dust collecting device and a wet cleaning tool. The cleaning station being configured to remove dust particles from the dust collecting device in the vacuum cleaner. The cleaning station comprises a housing having an air inlet, for connection to the dust collecting device, a dust compartment, and an air exhaust.

[0012] The housing also comprises a motor / fan unit adapted to create an air flow from an air inlet to the air exhaust. The housing comprises a receiver comprising a holder configured to receive the wet cleaning tool. Said holder being arranged in the air flow and / or close to the air exhaust.

[0013] With this configuration, the cleaning station becomes capable of emptying both an internal dust container in a vacuum cleaner and storing and / or drying used wet cleaning tool.

[0014] In embodiments the holder is arranged so that at least a part of the air flow exiting the housing is adapted to encounter the wet cleaning tool.

[0015] With this configuration, the air flow reduces the time for the wet cleaning tool to dry.

[0016] In embodiments the holder is configured to receive a circular pad, a roller, or a wet cleaning tool of other shape.

[0017] In embodiments a heater is arranged in the housing to heat the air in the air flow.

[0018] With this configuration, the air flow comprises hot air which reduces the time for the wet cleaning tool to dry even more.

[0019] In embodiments the receiver is arranged in front of or above the air exhaust. In embodiments the air exhaust is arranged on a side or bottom surface of the outside of the housing.

[0020] In embodiments the housing comprises a switch for starting a wet tool drying sequence and / or setting the cleaning station to a low airflow drying sequence.

[0021] In embodiments at least a part of the airflow passes the wet cleaning tool when in the holder.

[0022] In embodiments the air inlet is in fluid connection with the dust compartment, a first air duct, a second air duct and the air exhaust.

[0023] In embodiments the housing comprises an auxiliary air inlet connected to an auxiliary air duct in fluid connection with the air exhaust. So, air for drying sequence do not need to pass the dust compartment.

[0024] In embodiments the motor / fan unit is arranged after the dust compartment and before the first air duct.

[0025] In embodiments a heater is arranged between the first air duct and second air duct to heat the air in the air flow, and thereby further reduce the drying time of the wet cleaning tool. The heater comprises a motor / fan device for creating an airflow from an air inlet to the air exhaust.

[0026] In embodiments, in a low airflow drying sequence the motor / fan unit runs at a significantly lower speed than when removing dust particles from the dust collection device. Alternatively, a motor / fan device of the heater runs at a low speed. This has the effect that the acoustic noise in this process becomes significantly reduced. This is due to the lower speed of any motor / fan unit or device.

[0027] In embodiments the clean station comprises a device for rotation of the wet cleaning tool. Preferably, the receiver comprises the device for rotation.

[0028] With this configuration, the air flow is more evenly distributed and reduces the time for the wet cleaning tool to dry even more.

[0029] The cleaning station may have a holder configured to holder a circular pad, a roller, or a wet cleaning tool of other shape.

[0030] Brief description of the drawings

[0031] Fig 1 shows a cleaning station and a vacuum cleaner.

[0032] Fig 2 shows a vacuum cleaner.

[0033] Fig 2a show a vacuum cleaner with a nozzle for wet cleaning.

[0034] Fig 3 shows one example of a cleaning station according to the present disclosure.

[0035] Fig 4 shows an embodiment of the cleaning station schematically in cross section.

[0036] Fig 5 shows an embodiment of the cleaning station schematically in cross section.

[0037] Detailed description

[0038] The present disclosure relates generally to cleaning stations for vacuum cleaners. Fig 1 -2a illustrating an example of a vacuum cleaner 1 of the so-called stick- or upright type. The vacuum cleaner 1 comprises a handheld vacuum cleaner 2, a detachable tube 4, and a detachable nozzle 5, preferably a floor nozzle. The vacuum cleaner has a suction unit, preferably a motor / fan, for creating an airflow from the nozzle 5 through the tube 4, into a dust separation device, preferably a cyclone separation, which separated the dust into a dust collecting device 3, and further out through an air outlet.

[0039] The dust collection device 3 has an opening 6 for emptying the dust collecting device.

[0040] In Fig. 1 the vacuum cleaner 1 is attached to a cleaning device 11 . The cleaning device is used for emptying the dust collecting device 3 and may also be used to charge a battery in the handheld vacuum cleaner, or for storing the vacuum cleaner.

[0041] Generally, a vacuum cleaner 1 having a nozzle 5 that can be moved over for instance a floor surface to remove dust therefrom by a suction airflow is well known.

[0042] The vacuum cleaner may also be used to perform wet cleaning, for example mopping, of floor by using a nozzle adapted for wet cleaning, such a nozzle 5 in shown in Fig 2a.

[0043] Nozzles adapted for wet cleaning can have a rotating or vibrating pad or a rotating roller. The pad or roller is used together with water and / or detergent to wet the floor surface during cleaning.

[0044] The wet cleaning may be done at the same time as vacuum cleaning with an airflow or be done without an airflow, if so the motor / fan unit of the handheld vacuum cleaner is not used.

[0045] A cleaning station 10 according to the present disclosure is illustrated in fig 3. Such a cleaning station 10 is used to empty a vacuum cleaner dust collecting device. As illustrated in Fig 1 , it is possible to detachably dock the vacuum cleaner 1 as a whole with the cleaning station 10. In an alternative example, it is possible to detach the dust collecting device 3 from the vacuum cleaner 1 and to dock it on or in the cleaning station 10.

[0046] While the vacuum cleaner 1 in fig 1 is docked on the outer housing of the cleaning station 10, a detached dust collecting device of a vacuum cleaner can be docked inside the cleaning station 10 for instance in a compartment hidden behind a hatch.

[0047] Fig 2a shows a vacuum cleaner with a nozzle 5 suitable for wet cleaning. The nozzle comprises two removable pads 23 having a cleaning surface which in use is in contact with the floor. During cleaning the pads 23 are preferably rotated or vibrated to improve the cleaning performance.

[0048] The wet cleaning tool 23,24 has a cleaning surface which gets wet during cleaning. After use the wet cleaning tool is removed from the nozzle and inserted in the receiver 20. In the illustrated case, a holder 21 on the side of the housing. The wet cleaning tool 23,24 may be completely enclosed in the receiver, inside the housing 11 or outside, or partly enclosed in the receiver as illustrated in Fig 4-5.

[0049] The cleaning station according to Fig 3 comprises a housing 11 , having an air inlet 12, adapted to be docked to a dust collecting device 3 of a vacuum cleaner 1 , and an air exhaust 13.

[0050] The cleaning station 10 also comprises a support 14 to be arranged on a floor. The cleaning station is powered by an electric cable or batteries inside the housing (not shown).

[0051] The cleaning station 10 comprise an internal dust compartment 15, typically several times larger than a vacuum cleaner dust collection device. The dust compartment 15 have a dust bag 16 for separating and storing the dust and debris from the vacuum cleaner.

[0052] The cleaning station also comprises a receiver 20 comprising one or more holders 21 for a wet cleaning tool 23,24. In the embodiment shown in Fig 3 the cleaning tool are wet cleaning pads 23. A holder for other cleaning tools such as a roller could also be used, se Fig 5.

[0053] Thus, when emptying the dust collecting device 3 of the vacuum cleaner 1 in the cleaning station 10, the wet cleaning tool 23,24 may be taken off from the vacuum cleaner nozzle and inserted in the receiver 20 of the cleaning station 10. The airflow 40 created during the emptying of the dust collection device 3 then encounters the wet cleaning tool 23,24 and reduces the time for dying.

[0054] The drying of the wet cleaning tool may be made independently of the emptying of the dust chamber, although largely the same features in the cleaning station may be used. The drying of the wet cleaning tool 23,24 and emptying of the dust container may take place simultaneously or sequentially. There may also be provided a switch 11 a on the cleaning station that allows switching between filter cleaning and emptying modes.

[0055] Fig 4 illustrates schematically and in cross section features of the cleaning station 10 according to Figure 1 and 3.

[0056] The cleaning station 10 comprises a housing 11 and a support 14 to be arranged on a floor. The cleaning station is powered by an electric cable or batteries inside the housing (not shown). The housing 11 comprises an air inlet 12, adapted to be docked to an opening 6 of a dust collecting device 3 of a vacuum cleaner 1 , a dust compartment 15 having a dust separation device, in this embodiment a dust bag 16, but could be any other type such as a cyclonic dust separator. The air inlet 12 is connected to the dust compartment 15, and to a first air duct 18, a second air duct 19 and an air exhaust 13, 13a, 13b.

[0057] During emptying of a vacuum cleaner dust collecting device a motor / fan unit 17 creates an air flow 40 through the air inlet 12, through the dust bag 16, into the first air duct 18, into the second air duct 19, out through the air exhaust 13, 13a, 13b and encounters the surface of the wet cleaning tool, here illustrated as a pad 23. The air flow will then speed up the drying of the pad 23.

[0058] When the wet cleaning tool is inserted into the holder 21 , it is located close to the air exhaust. Preferably, the cleaning surface of the pad is facing the air flow when in the holder.

[0059] The illustrated cleaning station 11 for a stick type floor cleaner 1 comprises a vacuum cleaner 2 comprising a dust collecting device 3 and a wet cleaning tool 23,24. The cleaning station 11 being configured to remove dust particles from the dust collecting device 2 in the vacuum cleaner 1 . The cleaning station comprises a housing 11 having an air inlet 12, for connection to the dust collecting device 3, a dust compartment 15, and an air exhaust 13, 13a, 13b. The housing 11 also comprises a motor / fan unit 17,30 adapted to create an air flow 40,41 from an air inlet 12,32 to the air exhaust 13, 13a, 13b. The housing 11 comprises a receiver 20 comprising a holder 21 configured to receive the wet cleaning tool 23,24. Said holder 21 being arranged in the air flow 40,41 and / or close to the air exhaust 13, 13a, 13b.

[0060] In embodiments the holder 21 is arranged so that at least a part of the air flow 40,41 exiting the housing 11 is adapted to encounter the wet cleaning tool 23,24. In embodiments the holder 21 is configured to receive a circular pad 23, a roller 24, or a wet cleaning tool of other shape.

[0061] In embodiments a heater 32 is arranged in the housing 11 to heat the air in the air flow 40.

[0062] In embodiments the receiver 20 is arranged in front of or above the air exhaust 13, 13a, 13b.

[0063] In embodiments the air exhaust 13, 13a, 13b is arranged on a side or bottom surface of the outside of the housing.

[0064] In embodiments the housing comprises a switch 11 a for starting a wet tool drying sequence and / or setting the cleaning station to a low airflow drying sequence.

[0065] In embodiments at least a part of the airflow 40 passes the wet cleaning tool when in the holder.

[0066] In embodiments the air inlet 12 is in fluid connection with the dust compartment 15, a first air duct 18, a second air duct 19 and the air exhaust 13, 13a, 13b.

[0067] In embodiments the housing comprises an auxiliary air inlet 32 connected to an auxiliary air duct 34 in fluid connection with the air exhaust 13, 13a, 13b. So air for drying sequence do not need to pass the dust compartment

[0068] In embodiments the motor / fan unit 17 is arranged after the dust compartment 15 and before the first air duct 18. In embodiments a heater 32 is arranged between the first air duct 18 and second air duct 19 to heat the air in the air flow 40, and thereby further reduce the drying time of the wet cleaning tool. The heater 32 comprises a motor / fan device for creating an airflow 40 from an air inlet 12,32 to the air exhaust 13, 13a, 13b.

[0069] In embodiments, in a low airflow drying sequence the motor / fan unit 17 runs at a significantly lower speed than when removing dust particles from the dust collection device. Alternatively, a motor / fan device 30 of the heater runs at a low speed. This has the effect that the acoustic noise in this process becomes significantly reduced. This is due to the lower speed of any motor / fan unit or device.

[0070] In embodiments the clean station comprises a device for rotation 22 of the wet cleaning tool (23,24). Preferably, the receiver 20 comprises the device for rotation 22.

[0071] It is possible to provide the cleaning station 10 with a charger, configured to charge a docked vacuum cleaner 1 at the same time as it is docked. The charger 26 then includes an adapter, which is connected to an AC power outlet.

[0072] The present disclosure is not restricted to the above-described embodiment and may be varied and altered in different ways within the scope of the appended claims.

[0073] Details:

[0074] 1 . Floor cleaning device

[0075] 2. Vacuum cleaner

[0076] 3. Dust collecting device

[0077] 4. Tube

[0078] 5. Nozzle

[0079] 6. Opening

[0080] 10. Cleaning station

[0081] 11. Housing

[0082] 11 a. User interface

[0083] 12. Air inlet

[0084] 13 Air exhaust

[0085] 13a First air exhaust

[0086] 13b Second air exhaust

[0087] 14. Floor support

[0088] 15 Dust compartment

[0089] 16 Dust bag

[0090] 17. Motor / fan unit

[0091] 18. First air duct

[0092] 19. Second air duct

[0093] 20. Receiver

[0094] 21. Holder

[0095] 22. Device for rotation

[0096] 23. Pad 24. Roller

[0097] 30. Heater

[0098] 32. Auxiliary air inlet

[0099] 33. valve 34. Auxiliary air duct

[0100] 40. First air flow

[0101] 41. Auxiliary air flow

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A cleaning station (11 ) for a stick type floor cleaner (1 ) comprising a vacuum cleaner (2) comprising a dust collecting device (3) and a wet cleaning tool (23,24), the cleaning station (11 ) being configured to remove dust particles from the dust collecting device (2) in the vacuum cleaner (1 ), the cleaning station comprising a housing (11 ) having an air inlet (12), for connection to the dust collecting device (3), a dust compartment (15), and an air exhaust (13, 13a, 13b), the housing (11 ) also comprises a motor / fan unit (17,30) adapted to create an air flow (40,41 ) from an air inlet (12,32) to the air exhaust (13, 13a, 13b), characterized by that the housing (11) comprises a receiver (20) comprising a holder (21 ) configured to receive the wet cleaning tool (23,24), said holder (21 ) being arranged in the air flow (40,41 ) and / or close to the air exhaust (13, 13a, 13b).

2. Cleaning station according to claim 1 , wherein the holder (21 ) is arranged so that at least a part of the air flow (40,41 ) exiting the housing (11 ) is adapted to encounter the wet cleaning tool (23,24).

3. Cleaning station according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the holder (21 ) is configured to receive a circular pad (23), a roller (24), or a wet cleaning tool of other shape.

4. Cleaning station according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a heater (32) is arranged in the housing (11 ) to heat the air in the air flow (40).

5. Cleaning station according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the receiver (20) is arranged in front of or above the air exhaust (13, 13a, 13b).

6. Cleaning station according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the air exhaust (13, 13a, 13b) is arranged on a side or bottom surface of the outside of the housing.

7. Cleaning station according to any of the preceding claims wherein the housing comprises a switch (11 a) for starting a wet cleaning tool drying sequence and / or setting the cleaning station to a low airflow drying sequence.

8. Cleaning station according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least a part of the airflow (40) passes the wet cleaning tool when in the holder.

9. Cleaning station according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the air inlet (12) is in fluid connection with the dust compartment (15), a first air duct (18), a second air duct (19) and the air exhaust (13, 13a, 13b).

10. Cleaning station according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing comprises an auxiliary air inlet (32) connected to an auxiliary air duct (34) in fluid connection with the air exhaust (13, 13a, 13b).11 . Cleaning station according to claim 9, wherein the motor / fan unit (17) is arranged after the dust compartment (15) and before the first air duct (18).

12. Cleaning station according to any of the claims 9 or 11 , wherein a heater (32) is arranged between the first air duct (18) and second air duct (19) to heat the air in the air flow (40)13. Cleaning station according to claim 4 or claim 12, wherein the heater (32) comprises a motor / fan device for creating an airflow (40) from an air inlet (12,32) to the air exhaust (13, 13a, 13b).

14. Cleaning station according to claim 7, wherein in the low airflow drying sequence the motor / fan unit (17) runs at a significantly lower speed than when removing dust particles from the dust collection device, alternatively that the motor / fan device (30) of the heater runs at a low speed.

15. Cleaning station according to any of the preceding claims comprising a device for rotation (22) of the wet cleaning tool (23,24).

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