Surface cleaning machine

• US 10,327,619 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2017
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Moser, Fabian, Schulze, Manuel, Buchmann, Johanna, Rufenach, Christoph, Mueller, Andreas, Braendle, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Redding, David
• Application Number:
  US15/485,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20170215681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/202 having separate drive for the cleaning brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/24 Floor-sweeping machines, motor-driven
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/302 having rotary tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4008 Arrangements of switches, indicators or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4016 specially adapted for collecting fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4027 Filtering or separating contaminants or debris
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4069 Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4075 Handles; levers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0411 driven by electric motor

Abstract

A surface cleaning machine is provided, including a cleaning roller holder, a cleaning roller that is arranged on the cleaning roller holder, a drive device for rotary driving of the cleaning roller, and a sweeping element that is associated with the cleaning roller and supplies swept material to the cleaning roller, wherein the sweeping element is arranged rotatably on the cleaning roller holder.

Claims

1. A surface cleaning machine, comprising:

a cleaning roller holder;

a cleaning roller that is arranged on the cleaning roller holder;

a drive device for rotary driving of the cleaning roller; and

a sweeping element that is associated with the cleaning roller and supplies swept material to the cleaning roller;

wherein the sweeping element is arranged rotatably on the cleaning roller holder;

wherein, in a cleaning mode, the surface cleaning machine is placed or supported on a surface to be cleaned solely by way of the cleaning roller;

wherein the sweeping element is arranged to be movably rotatable on the cleaning roller holder such that, in any angular position relative to the surface to be cleaned within an operating range of the surface cleaning machine, a spacing between the sweeping element and the cleaning roller is at least proximately constant.

2. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 1, wherein an axis of rotation of the sweeping element is oriented at least approximately parallel to, and in particular coaxial with, an axis of rotation of the cleaning roller.

3. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 1, comprising a resilient device that acts with a spring force on the sweeping element, wherein the spring force presses the sweeping element against a surface to be cleaned when the cleaning roller is placed on the surface to be cleaned.

4. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 3, wherein the resilient device is dimensioned such that the sweeping element is rotatably movable in opposition to the spring force as a result of the force of the weight of the surface cleaning machine.

5. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 3, wherein the resilient device is dimensioned such that the sweeping element is not pushed under the at least one cleaning roller by the action of the spring force.

6. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 3, wherein the resilient device is supported on the sweeping element and on the cleaning roller holder, or a device connected to the cleaning roller holder, and is in particular articulated thereto.

7. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 3, wherein the resilient device has at least one helical spring or torsion spring or rubber spring or pneumatic spring.

8. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 3, wherein the resilient device includes at least a first spring and a second spring which are spaced from one another, and wherein the drive device is at least partly located between the first spring and the second spring.

9. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 3, wherein a direction of rotation of the sweeping element in opposition to the spring force is clockwise, and in particular a direction of rotation of the sweeping element when it is moved by the spring force is counterclockwise.

10. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 1, comprising a suction device having a suction unit and at least one suction nozzle which is fluidically connected to the suction unit and is directed towards the cleaning roller for the removal of fluid at the cleaning roller by suction.

11. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 10, wherein, in a cleaning mode, the sweeping element is located between a surface to be cleaned, towards which the cleaning roller is directed, and the at least one suction nozzle.

12. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 1, wherein a spacing between the sweeping element and a contact region of the cleaning roller on the surface to be cleaned is at least approximately constant.

13. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 1, wherein, in a cleaning mode with the surface cleaning machine being pushed forwards, a direction of rotation of the cleaning roller is clockwise.

14. A surface cleaning machine according to claim 1, wherein an angular range for the rotatability of the sweeping element on the cleaning roller holder comprises at least 20°

in relation to a starting position, wherein in the starting position the sweeping element is deflected to a minimal extent in relation to the cleaning roller holder.

15. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 1, wherein the sweeping element has a sliding region for sliding on the cleaning roller holder.

16. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 15, wherein the sliding region takes the form of a cylinder shell or part of a cylinder shell.

17. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 15, wherein the cleaning roller holder has an inside that faces the cleaning roller and on which the sliding region of the sweeping element is slidable.

18. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 15, wherein the sliding region has a rigid construction.

19. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 15, wherein the sliding region is of a sufficiently flexible construction for it to be bucklable away from the cleaning roller as a result of accumulations of dirt.

20. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 1, wherein the sweeping element has a region for abutment against a surface to be cleaned that is arranged in particular on a sliding region of the sweeping element.

21. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 1, wherein there is arranged on the cleaning roller holder a first guide device and on the sweeping element a second guide device that cooperates with the first guide device for the purpose of rotatable guidance of the sweeping element on the cleaning roller holder.

22. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 21, wherein the second guide device has guide elements that are arranged on end sides of the sweeping element and cooperate with counter-guiding elements of the first guide device that are arranged on end sides of the cleaning roller holder, and wherein at least one of the first guide device and the second guide device provides a guide track.

23. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 1, wherein the sweeping element is guided on a circular track on the cleaning roller holder.

24. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 1, wherein when the surface cleaning machine having a cleaning roller placed on a surface to be cleaned is pushed in a forward direction, the sweeping element, remote from the forward direction, covers the cleaning roller to the rear and lies on the surface to be cleaned at least over a length of the cleaning roller.

25. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 1, comprising a wetting device for the cleaning roller.

26. A surface cleaning machine, comprising:

a cleaning roller holder;

a cleaning roller that is arranged on the cleaning roller holder;

a drive device for rotary driving of the cleaning roller; and

a sweeping element that is associated with the cleaning roller and supplies swept material to the cleaning roller;

wherein the sweeping element is arranged rotatably on the cleaning roller holder, and

wherein an axis of rotation of the sweeping element is oriented at least approximately parallel to an axis of rotation of the cleaning roller.

27. A surface cleaning machine, comprising:

a cleaning roller holder;

a cleaning roller that is arranged on the cleaning roller holder;

a drive device for rotary driving of the cleaning roller;

a sweeping element that is associated with the cleaning roller and supplies swept material to the cleaning roller; and

a resilient device that acts with a spring force on the sweeping element, wherein the spring force presses the sweeping element against a surface to be cleaned when the cleaning roller is placed on the surface to be cleaned,

wherein the sweeping element is arranged rotatably on the cleaning roller holder, and

wherein the resilient device includes at least a first spring and a second spring which are spaced from one another, and wherein the drive device is at least partly located between the first spring and the second spring.

28. A surface cleaning machine, comprising:

a cleaning roller holder;

a cleaning roller that is arranged on the cleaning roller holder;

a drive device for rotary driving of the cleaning roller; and

a sweeping element that is associated with the cleaning roller and supplies swept material to the cleaning roller;

wherein the sweeping element is arranged rotatably on the cleaning roller holder, and

wherein an angular range for the rotatability of the sweeping element on the cleaning roller holder comprises at least 20°

in relation to a starting position, wherein in the starting position the sweeping element is deflected to a minimal extent in relation to the cleaning roller holder.

29. A surface cleaning machine, comprising:

a cleaning roller holder;

a cleaning roller that is arranged on the cleaning roller holder;

a drive device for rotary driving of the cleaning roller; and

a sweeping element that is associated with the cleaning roller and supplies swept material to the cleaning roller;

wherein the sweeping element is arranged rotatably on the cleaning roller holder, and

wherein the sweeping element has a sliding region for sliding on the cleaning roller holder.

30. A surface cleaning machine, comprising:

a cleaning roller holder;

a cleaning roller that is arranged on the cleaning roller holder;

a drive device for rotary driving of the cleaning roller; and

a sweeping element that is associated with the cleaning roller and supplies swept material to the cleaning roller;

wherein the sweeping element is arranged rotatably on the cleaning roller holder, and

wherein the sweeping element has a region for abutment against a surface to be cleaned that is arranged in particular on a sliding region of the sweeping element.

31. A surface cleaning machine, comprising:

a cleaning roller holder;

a cleaning roller that is arranged on the cleaning roller holder;

a drive device for rotary driving of the cleaning roller; and

a sweeping element that is associated with the cleaning roller and supplies swept material to the cleaning roller;

wherein the sweeping element is arranged rotatably on the cleaning roller holder, and

wherein there is arranged on the cleaning roller holder a first guide device and on the sweeping element a second guide device that cooperates with the first guide device for the purpose of rotatable guidance of the sweeping element on the cleaning roller holder.

32. A surface cleaning machine, comprising:

a cleaning roller holder;

a cleaning roller that is arranged on the cleaning roller holder;

a drive device for rotary driving of the cleaning roller; and

a sweeping element that is associated with the cleaning roller and supplies swept material to the cleaning roller;

wherein the sweeping element is arranged rotatably on the cleaning roller holder, and

wherein the sweeping element is guided on a circular track on the cleaning roller holder.