Automated brushroll cleaning

• US 9,375,122 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux
• Original Assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux
• Inventors: Eriksson, Henrik
• Primary Examiner(s): Muller, Bryan R
• Application Number:
  US13/826,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20130192023A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 813/83, 81/48, 813/19
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/006 formed by winding a strip tuft in a helix about the body
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0411 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0477 Rolls
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0494 Height adjustment of dust-loosening tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2831 Motor parameters, e.g. motor load or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2847 Surface treating elements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2889 Safety or protection devices or systems, e.g. for prevention of motor over-heating or for protection of the user

Abstract

A cleaning device agitator system having an agitator and one or more cleaning members. The agitator has first and second ends, a longitudinal axis and one or more agitating devices. One or more friction surfaces may project from the spindle. The cleaning members are adjacent the agitator and adapted to move between a first position and a second position. In at least the second position, the cleaning members engage the agitator, such as by engaging the friction surfaces, to remove debris. Agitator and cleaning members may be incorporated into a cleaning head having an inlet nozzle and a chamber in which the agitator rotates, and there may be an activation mechanism using, for example, a resilient member to move the cleaning members. An overload protection device may be provided, and may adjust its sensitivity depending on whether the cleaning devices are in the first or second position.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner agitator system comprising:

a floor agitator comprising a spindle extending along a longitudinal direction, agitators projecting from the spindle and one or more friction surfaces projecting from the spindle and extending a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction;

an electric motor configured to apply a torque to rotate the floor agitator about a rotation axis that extends parallel to the longitudinal direction;

an agitator cleaner mounted adjacent the floor agitator and comprising a blade edge that extends along the entire predetermined length of the one or more friction surfaces, the agitator cleaner being movable to an active position in which the blade edge engages the floor agitator, is parallel to the longitudinal direction and contacts at least a portion of an outermost radial face of the one or more friction surfaces to remove debris from the floor agitator;

an agitator cleaner actuator configured to selectively move the agitator cleaner to the active position; and

a controller configured to automatically operate the agitator cleaner actuator according to one or more predetermined operating criteria.

2. The vacuum cleaner agitator system of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises an electric circuit configured to detect the value of the torque to evaluate a resistance to movement experienced by the floor agitator and to operate the agitator cleaner when the resistance exceeds a predetermined threshold.

3. The vacuum cleaner agitator system of claim 1, wherein the one or more predetermined operating criteria comprises a predetermined cleaning schedule.

4. The vacuum cleaner agitator system of claim 1, wherein the agitator cleaner actuator comprises a solenoid.

5. A vacuum cleaner agitator system comprising:

a housing;

an inlet nozzle through a lower surface of the housing;

an agitator chamber in the housing adjacent to and in fluid communication with the inlet nozzle;

a rotary agitator comprising;

a spindle extending along a longitudinal direction from a first spindle end to a second spindle end, the spindle being mounted to the housing within the agitator chamber, and rotatable about a rotation axis that is parallel with the longitudinal direction,

agitating devices arranged between the first spindle end and the second spindle end and projecting from the spindle to extend through the inlet nozzle when the spindle rotates, and

one or more friction surfaces projecting from the spindle and extending along a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction;

an electric motor configured to apply a torque to rotate the rotary agitator;

an agitator cleaner mounted adjacent the floor agitator and comprising a blade edge that extends along the entire predetermined length of the one or more friction surfaces, the agitator cleaner being movable between an inactive position in which the agitator cleaner does not engage the rotary agitator, and an active position in which the blade edge is parallel to the longitudinal direction and contacts at least a portion of an outermost radial face of the one or more friction surfaces to remove debris therefrom;

an agitator cleaner actuator configured to selectively move the agitator cleaner to the active position; and

a controller configured to automatically operate the agitator cleaner actuator according to one or more predetermined operating criteria.

6. The vacuum cleaner agitator system of claim 5, wherein the agitating devices comprise at least one helical row of bristles or flexible.

7. The vacuum cleaner agitator system of claim 5, wherein the one or more friction surfaces do not extend through the inlet nozzle when the spindle rotates.

8. The vacuum cleaner agitator system of claim 5, wherein the controller comprises an electric circuit configured to detect the value of the torque to evaluate a resistance to rotation experienced by the rotary agitator and to operate the agitator cleaner when the resistance exceeds a predetermined threshold.

9. The vacuum cleaner agitator system of claim 5, wherein the one or more predetermined operating criteria comprises a predetermined cleaning schedule.

10. The vacuum cleaner agitator system of claim 5, wherein the agitator cleaner actuator comprises a solenoid.

11. The vacuum cleaner agitator system of claim 5, further comprising an overload protection device configured to detect a value of the torque, and having:

a first operation state activated when the agitator cleaner is in the first position, in which the overload protection device prevents the torque from exceeding a first predetermined value, and

a second operation state activated when the agitator cleaner is in the second position, in which the overload protection device permits the torque to exceed the first predetermined value.

12. The vacuum cleaner agitator system of claim 11, wherein the overload protection device prevents the torque from exceeding a second predetermined value that is greater than the first predetermined value when the overload protection device is in the second operation state.

13. The vacuum cleaner agitator system of claim 11, wherein the overload protection device is deactivated in the second operation state.

14. The vacuum cleaner agitator system of claim 11, wherein the overload protection device is configured to prevent the torque from exceeding the first predetermined value by terminating operation of the electric motor.