Robot for cleaning smooth surfaces

• US 8,959,705 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2011
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
• Original Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
• Inventors: Juergens, Ralf, Hunger, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): REDDING, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US13/635,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20130007971A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,481 Days
• Field of Search: 153/20, 153/19, 153/22, 153/401, 134/21
• US Class Current: 15/319
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 1/02 Power-driven machines or devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/00 Robotic cleaning machines, i.e. with automatic control of the travelling movement or the cleaning operation

Abstract

An automatic robot for cleaning smooth surfaces includes a base having a traveling device, a water feed line and a water drain line. The traveling device is configured to automatically move the base on a smooth surface to be cleaned. The water feed line is configured to apply water to the smooth surface using a capillary effect. The water drain line is configured to drain dirty water from the smooth surface.

Claims

1. An automatic robot for cleaning smooth surfaces, comprising:

a base having a traveling device, a source of negative pressure, a water feed line and a water drain line, the traveling device being configured to automatically move the base on a smooth surface to be cleaned, the water feed line being configured to apply from 1 gram to 15 grams of water for each square meter of the smooth surface to the smooth surface using a capillary effect and the water drain line being configured to drain dirty water from the smooth surface, the water drain line being disposed so as to be adjacent the smooth surfaces and including a straight bundle of at least one of fibers, tubes and filaments configured to remove the water from the smooth surface using the capillary effect and having a negative pressure from the source of negative pressure such that the water removed by the capillary effect is immediately suctioned through the straight bundle.

2. The robot according to claim 1, wherein the water feed line is configured to apply only a film of the water onto the smooth surface.

3. The robot according to claim 1, wherein the water feed line is configured to supply less than 2 grams of the water for each square meter of the smooth surface.

4. The robot according to claim 1, wherein the water feed line is configured to supply between 3 grams and 10 grams of the water for each square meter of the smooth surface.

5. The robot according to claim 1, wherein the water feed line includes a bundle of at least one of fibers, tubes and filaments, and is configured to supply the water through the bundle to the smooth surface.

6. The robot according to claim 5, further comprising a distribution layer disposed on the bundle and configured to be placed onto the smooth surface.

7. The robot according to claim 1, further comprising a stripper element disposed downstream from the water drain line.

8. A method for cleaning smooth surfaces, comprising:

moving an automatic robot on a smooth surface to be cleaned;

applying, by the robot, from 1 gram to 15 grams of water for each square meter of the smooth surface onto the smooth surface using a capillary effect; and

removing, by the robot, the water from the smooth surface using the capillary effect of a straight bundle of at least one of fibers, tubes and filaments of a water drain line disposed adjacent the smooth surfaces that has a negative pressure to immediately suction the water removed by the capillary effect through the bundle.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the smooth surface is a window pane.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the smooth surface is a floor.