Floor cleaning machine

p0001The invention relates to a floor cleaning machine with a dirt receiving container which is connected via a suction line with a suction unit in fluid communication, wherein on the suction line, a pleated filter is arranged, and with a filter cleaning, having at least one scraper which engages the filter cleaning at the folds of the folded filter, wherein the pleated filter and the scraper being movable relative to one another transversely to the longitudinal direction of the pleats.

p0002Such floor cleaning equipment are, for example as a flip-suction machines for use, by means of which a bottom surface can be cleaned. By means of a sweeping roller can be transferred to dirt from the floor surface to be cleaned in the dirt receptacle, wherein a suction flow can be generated by means of the suction unit in the range of the sweeping roller and of the dirt receptacle. This can significantly reduce the development of dust during the floor cleaning, and at the same time the effectiveness of cleaning is increased due to the suction flow.

p0003During operation of the floor cleaning machine, the pleated filter is gradually with dirt particles, so that the pleated filter an increasing flow resistance for the suction flow forms which thereby gradually becomes less effective. It is therefore necessary to clean off the pleated filter after some time in the floor cleaning machine. For this purpose it is known for example from<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="DE3734355C2"><text>DE 37 34 355 C2</text></patcit> known to carry a scraper at the folds along the folded filter, so that the folds are deformed from the stripper and then snap back to their original position. This adhering dirt is released on pleated filter, which is then absorbed by the dirt receptacle.

p0004In the <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="EP0793988A"><text>EP 0793988</text></patcit> is described in which a hohlzyllnderförmiges pleated filter is used, which can be displaced manually or by electric motor for the filter cleaning around its cylinder axis in rotation, while the scraper is fixed in the dirt receptacle a floor cleaning machine of the aforementioned type. For filter cleaning the suction unit is switched off so that the pleated filter is not subject to suction flow. This has an effective filter result, however, it is disadvantageous that the floor cleaning machine can not be used for floor cleaning during filter, because with off suction unit of the operation of the floor cleaning machine would be associated with a strong dust. In the<patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="EP0793988A2"><text>EP 0793988 A2</text></patcit> is therefore proposed in addition to store two pleated filter mounted within the dirt receptacle, wherein the suction flow is alternatively passed through one of the two fluted filter. Thus, one of the pleated filter are cleaned effectively without it undergoes a suction flow, while the other fluted filter comes to dirt deposition used. For this purpose, however, two in the flow direction parallel pleated filters are required, each associated with a rotary drive and a flow connection to the suction unit selectively releasing and interrupting closing flap. This results in a structurally complex structure of the floor cleaning machine itself and increases their manufacturing costs.

p0005From the <patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="EP0970652A"><text>EP-A-0970652</text></patcit> is a floor cleaning machine is known in which a single filter is divided into two filter areas, which can be alternately separated from the suction unit, and then purified. The cleaning takes place in that the folds of the filter areas are shaken from a cross between the folds comb back and forth, the filter area is separated by a valve at the same time from the suction unit. For opening and closing each valve comprises a solenoid coil and the drive of the two combs takes place respectively by means of a further solenoid coil.

p0006In the <patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="US5194077A"><text>US-A-5,194,077</text></patcit> is described in the side by side two pleated filters are arranged between a dirt receptacle and a suction unit that can be tapped for cleaning each case by means of a motor-driven beater a floor cleaning machine. Upstream of the filter is arranged in each case in one channel a door that can be pivoted by means of a magnetic coil between an open position and a closed position. The cleaning of the filter is carried out in succession, the respective filter rapped and simultaneously the upstream door is closed.

p0007Another floor cleaning machine with two pleated filters that can be shaken alternately by a shaking unit and cleaned in's <patcit id="pcit0006" dnum="US5013333A"><text>US-A-5,013,333</text></patcit> described. The pleated filter can each be separated from the suction unit during their cleaning by means of a valve.

p0008Object of the present invention is to provide a floor cleaning machine of the aforementioned kind such that it comprises a structurally simpler configuration and the folded filter can be reliably cleaned.

p0009This object is achieved with a floor cleaning machine of the generic type according to the invention that the pleated filter a first and a second filter region, said first filter region is permanent when the suction unit to the suction unit in fluid communication, and the flow connection between the second filter region and the suction unit is selectively cleared and interruptible.

p0010When erflndungsgemäßen floor cleaning machine can through the first filter region through a continuous suction flow can be maintained as long as the suction unit is in operation. If when the suction unit the pleated filter moved relative to the stripper, the first filter area is cleaned by means of the stripper with sustained suction flow. In contrast, the second filter portion can be separated from the suction unit so that a filter cleaning of the second filter portion can be carried out without acting on him suction flow. If the suction unit is switched off, both filter areas can be cleaned without acting on it suction flow effectively by means of the scraper.

p0011It is advantageous if the filter cleaning comprises a blocking element for selectively enabling and interrupting the flow connection between the second filter region and the suction unit and a driving element for generating a relative movement between the wiper and the pleated filter, the blocking element is coupled to the drive element. By means of the drive element can be generated a relative movement between the pleated filter and the scraper, and the flow connection between the second filter area and the suction unit to be interrupted by means of the blocking element. The actuation of the blocking element can be effected with the aid of the drive element which is coupled with the blocking element. An additional actuator can be omitted for the locking element. Rather, it can be provided that the blocking element by means of the drive element between its release position and its interruption position is movable to and fro, can be moved, for example, about a rotation axis to rotate.

p0012The drive element can be configured for example as an electric motor. Here, it is advantageous if the direction of rotation of the electric motor is reversible, because this can in a structurally simple manner, a reciprocating movement of the locking element between its release position and its interruption position can be achieved.

p0013It is advantageous if the locking element rotatably supported on a drive shaft, which is rotationally driven by the electric motor is. By means of the drive shaft can in addition also the pleated filter or the associated stripper are set in motion to the locking element.

p0014In a preferred embodiment of the floor cleaning machine according to the invention the blocking element is configured as a rotatable diaphragm which releases an associated passage opening in a first rotational position and in a second rotational position covers the through opening, wherein the passage opening is arranged downstream of the second filter area in the suction line. By means of the rotatable locking member, the passage opening are selectively enabled or covered, thereby providing fluid communication between the second filter region and the suction unit selectively or interrupt.

p0015It is advantageous if the pleated filter is surrounded by a cylindrical, rotatably mounted and perforations exhibiting support tube in the circumferential direction, wherein the support tube by means of the drive element about its cylinder axis is rotatably and receives the locking element. The support tube thus forms a part of the suction line between the folded filter and the suction unit, while ensuring support of the pleated filter by this can be placed with its downstream side to the support tube. For generating a relative movement between the pleated filter and the scraper the support tube may be rotated about its cylinder axis in rotation. Inside the support pipe, the blocking element is arranged. An additional space for the locking element is therefore not necessary, and can be brought to a simple design of the upstream of the blocking element positioned area of ​​the folded filter selectively to the suction unit in fluid communication or separated from the suction unit by operating the locking element.

p0016Of particular advantage with regard to a compact design of the floor cleaning machine, it is, when the blocking element is rotationally fixedly held on a rotatable about the cylinder axis of the support tube drive shaft which dips into the support tube, wherein the locking element via coupling elements coupled to the support tube. This gives the possibility to enable the drive shaft by means of the drive element in rotation, so that the locking element about the cylinder axis of the support tube may be rotated and moved between its release position and its interruption position back and forth, and the rotational movement of the locking element, via the coupling elements at the support tube are transmitted, so that the support tube and with this, the voltage applied to him pleated filter can be added to the filter cleaning in rotation.

p0017Preferably, the coupling elements comprise at least one stop which cooperates with a support element. The rotational movement of the locking element can thus be transferred to the support tube via the stop and the support member. The stop is conveniently positioned on the locking element and the support member may be held on the support tube.

p0018In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the stop of an opening of the blocking element is arranged. The opening can for example be designed as an elongated hole that is penetrated from the support member, wherein the longitudinal extent of the slot is chosen to be greater than the diameter of the support element. If the locking member is rotated, the rotational movement of the blocking element is transferred to the support element when this abuts against a first wall region of the slot. This has the advantage that the locking element on the support tube is first of all related to rotate freely and thus can be, for example starting transferred from its release position to its interrupting position, and only upon further rotational movement of the locking member abuts the support member on the first wall region of the slot, so that then the rotational movement of the locking element can be transferred to the support pipe via the support member. If the direction of rotation of the locking member is reversed so the locking element may be initially again - based on the support pipe - be freely rotated and thus transferred again into its release position, and only when a further rotational movement abuts the support member on a first wall portion opposite second wall portion of the elongated hole so that then a further rotational movement of the locking element can be transferred to the support tube.

p0019The support member is configured in an advantageous embodiment, as the support tube longitudinally through cross traverse. The truss can be held at the end face of the support tube end caps, which are rigidly connected to the support tube. A first end cap can form a lid which closes the end flow-tight, the support tube, while the second end cap may have openings through which the suction flow can pass.

p0020As already explained, during running suction unit a filter cleaning can be carried out using only the first filter section is acted upon by the suction flow, while the second filter portion can be uncoupled from the suction flow. In order also to be able to clean off the first filter region without applying a suction flow is provided in a particularly preferred embodiment that the pleated filter is movable relative to the scraper when the suction unit is switched off.

p0021It is of advantage if the pleated filter after switching off of the suction unit is automatically movable relative to the scraper. Thereby, the handling of the floor cleaning machine is considerably simplified, because after completion of the floor cleaning, the user need only turn off the suction unit, and then can automatically a filter cleaning to be carried out without an area of ​​the folded filter is acted upon by suction flow.

p0022The floor cleaning machine according to the invention is preferably configured as a mobile Vacuum Sweepers and comprises a roller brush which is disposed adjacent to the dirt receptacle.

p0023The following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention serves in conjunction with the drawings for further explanation. Show it:<dl id="dl0001"><dt>Figure 1:</dt><dd>a schematic representation of a floor cleaning machine according to the invention;</dd><dt>Figure 2:</dt><dd>a sectional view of a pleated filter, the floor cleaning machine with a first and a second filter region, wherein both filter sections are flowed through by suction air;</dd><dt>Figure 3:</dt><dd>a sectional view of the folded filter accordingly <figref idrefs="f0002">figure 2</figref>Wherein only the first filter region is traversed by suction air;</dd><dt>Figure 4:</dt><dd>a perspective view of the folded filter with associated scrapers and</dd><dt>Figure 5:</dt><dd>a perspective view of a locking element.</dd></dl>

p0024In <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> is shown schematically a floor cleaning machine according to the invention in the form of an overall by the numeral 10 mobile Vacuum Sweepers, by means of which a bottom surface 12 can be cleaned. It comprises a driving Placed 14, the upper side a battery box 15 carries, which accommodates a battery for powering the Vacuum Sweepers. On the battery box 15, a seat 16 is held, on which the user can take 10 place in the process of Vacuum Sweepers.

p0025The traveling drive in Vacuum Sweepers 10 is powered by a hydraulic unit 17, which is coupled to an electric pump, not shown in the drawing and is in operative connection with a positioned behind the battery box 15 hydrostatic transmission 18th

p0026Underside are held on the chassis 14 front wheels 20 and rear wheels 21st The front wheels 20 are coupled with, disposed in the direction of travel 19 in front of the seat 16 steering wheel 23rd Between the front and rear wheels 20, 21 on the underside held one on the bottom surface 12 be lowered and raised from the roller brush 25 on the chassis 14, which is driven in rotation about a transversely to the travel direction 19 aligned roll axle 26 and by whose means the bottom surface can be swept , In the direction of travel 19 before the roller brush 25 a bulk waste flap 28 is positioned at the bottom of the chassis 14, and behind the roller brush 25, a dirt receptacle 30 is arranged in the image captured by the sweeping roller 25 debris 32 can be transferred.

p0027The inclusion of the Kehrguts in the dirt receptacle 30 is assisted by a suction flow 34 which is generated by an above of the hydrostatic transmission 18 arranged suction unit 36, which communicates with the dirt receptacle 30 in flow communication with a suction channel 38th The suction channel 38 is fixed on a longitudinal side of the Vacuum Sweepers 10 on the chassis 14 and is connected via a transverse to the direction 19 oriented support tube 40 with the dirt receptacle 30 in fluid communication. The support tube 40 is cylindrical in shape and 43 can be rotated about its cylinder axis 41 in rotation by means of a drive element in the form of an electric motor. In particular from the<figref idrefs="f0002">figures 2</figref> and <figref idrefs="f0003">3</figref> It is clear, the support tube 40 over its entire length and the entire circumference thereof a plurality of perforations 42nd In the<figref idrefs="f0002">figures 2</figref> and <figref idrefs="f0003">3</figref> 42 shown only as to achieve a better overview, these perforations. In the circumferential direction, the support tube 40 is surrounded by a star-shaped folded pleated filter 44, through which the suction flow 34 is guided.

p0028To empty the dirt receptacle 30 can be raised. To this end, the Vacuum Sweepers 10 includes upwardly projecting arm 46, on which a transversely to the direction 19 aligned pivot axis 47 pivotable pivot arms 48 are kept, take the dirt receptacle 30 laterally between them. In<figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> the dirt receptacle shown in solid line in the lowered, positioned directly behind the sweeping roller 25 position, and in broken line the dirt receptacle 30 is illustrated in its raised position.

p0029In order also to the edge portions can reliably detect the floor surface to be cleaned 12 is a laterally beyond the outer contour of the chassis 14 protruding side brush 50 is rotatably held in front of the front wheels 20 on the chassis 14, which is configured as a cup brush.

p0030As already explained, can be transferred into the dirt receptacle 30 having the roller brush 25 sweepings, at the same time by means of the suction unit 36, a suction flow is produced, which supports the inclusion of the sweepings 32 and prevents dust formation when sweeping the floor surface 12th The suction flow 34 is passed in radial direction through the pleated filter 44, then flows across the driving direction 19 along the support tube 40 and by this - in the<figref idrefs="f0002">figures 2</figref> and <figref idrefs="f0003">3</figref> passed to the suction channel 38, is passed from which the suction flow 44 to suction unit 36 ​​- on the right side. The support tube 40 thus forms in combination with the suction channel 38, a suction pipe through which the dirt receptacle 30 is in fluid communication with the suction unit 36th

p0031Fine dirt of d it is entrained suction flow 34 attaches to the outside of the folded filter 44 so that it forms an increasing flow resistance for the suction flow 34th When Vacuum Sweepers 10 is therefore provided that the pleated filter 44 can be cleaned. For this purpose, below the pleated filter 10 is a filter cleaning is fixed with a scraper 52 which engages the pleats 54 of the pleated filter 44th For filter cleaning, the support tube 40 and held in it pleated filter 44 can be rotated by means of the electric motor 43 to the cylinder axis 41 in rotation, so that the pleated filter performs 44 a relative movement with respect to the wipers 52, wherein the flexible shaped folds 54 of the scraper 52 from their original position are deflected and then back into it quickly, so that 54 adhering dirt is removed at the folds and falls in the dirt receptacle 30th

p0032The rotary drive of the support tube 40 is carried by the electric motor 43 via a coaxial to the support tube 40 aligned and received by this drive shaft 56, which is coupled via a known per se and therefore in the drawing, not shown, transmission to the electric motor 43 and at its in the support tube 40 plunging end a locking element carries in the form of a first aperture 58th This is of particular<figref idrefs="f0004">figure 5</figref> significantly. The first aperture 58 has four evenly distributed over its circumference arranged perforations 59 and is held rotationally fixed to the drive shaft 56th In addition, the first orifice 58 on two diametrically opposed longitudinal holes 61, 62, which are aligned in the direction of rotation of the drive shaft 56th The longitudinal bores 61, 62 are penetrated in each case by a cross-piece 64 and 65, respectively, which are aligned parallel to the cylinder axis 41 of the support tube 40 and end caps fixed to end faces 67, 68 of the support tube 40th The end cap 67 is disposed on the drive shaft 56 facing away from front side of the support tube 40 and forms a support tube 40 frontally fluid tight lid. In contrast, the end cap 68 which is penetrated by the drive shaft 56, a plurality of outlet openings 70 through which the suction flow 34 may pass therethrough.

p0033At the cross members 64, 65, a second shutter 70 is fixed, which is located 58 immediately adjacent to the first aperture and is supported by a support sleeve 71 on the drive shaft 56th During a rotary movement of the drive shaft 56, the support sleeve 71 can slide on the outer circumference of the drive shaft 56 along. The second aperture 70 has corresponding to the first aperture 58 through holes 72, 58 can be 58 made to coincide depending on the rotational position of the set on the drive shaft 56 first panel with the openings 59 of the first aperture, as in<figref idrefs="f0002">figure 2</figref> is shown, or offset in the rotational direction of the drive shaft 56 to the openings 59 of the first orifice 58 can be positioned so that the first aperture 58, the apertures 72 of the second diaphragm 70 covers, as shown in <figref idrefs="f0003">figure 3</figref> is illustrated.

p0034If the filter cleaning, the electric motor 43 is switched on, the drive shaft 56 and the set of her first aperture 58 is displaced by the cylinder axis 41 in rotation. This can be initially rotated 58 relative to the second aperture 70 in a rotational position due to the length of the longitudinal bores 61 and 62, the first aperture, in which the perforations 72 of the second shutter 70 are covered by the first diaphragm 58th Upon further rotation of the drive shaft 56, the cross members 64 and 65 abut respectively on to one end side of the longitudinal bores 61 and 62, respectively, so that the rotational movement of the drive shaft 56 via the first aperture 58 and the cross members 64, 65 on the support tube 40 and at this held pleated filter is transmitted 44th The pleated filter 44 thus performs a rotational movement, so that the pleats 54 reliably cleaned by the scraper 52nd However, since the perforations 72 of the second diaphragm 70 are covered by the first diaphragm 58 in this state, only the first filter region, namely between the end cap 68 and the first aperture is during filter 58 disposed portion 74 of the pleated filter 44 from the suction flow flows through, while a second filter portion 75, namely the area of ​​the pleated filter 44, which is arranged between the first orifice 58 and the end cap 67, is separated from the suction flow 34th This is in<figref idrefs="f0003">figure 3</figref> shown. Due to the lack of action on the second filter region 75 with the suction flow 74 of this filter range can be particularly effectively cleaned, which is 34 through ensured both pursuant to maintain the suction flow through the first filter section 74, that the dirt receptacle 30 thoroughgoing suction flow is maintained during filter to avoid dust during filter.

p0035In a further method step, the direction of rotation of the electric motor 43 can be reversed. This means that initially the first aperture is rotated 58 relative to the second aperture 70 in a rotational position in which the respective openings can be 59 and 72 made to coincide, as in<figref idrefs="f0002">figure 2</figref> is shown, so that now the suction flow 34 can pass both the first filter section 74 and the second filter region 75th This is in<figref idrefs="f0002">figure 2</figref> shown. Thus, the filter cleaning is completed.

p0036After cleaning the bottom surface 12 of the user can turn off the suction unit 36th This has the consequence that briefly enabled by a control unit of Vacuum Sweepers 10 of the electric motor 43 is not shown in the drawing and cleaned reliably because of the consequent rotational movement of the folded filter 44, both the first filter section 74 and the second filter section 75 in shut off suction unit 36 can be. This ensures that even the first filter portion 74 undergoes a cleaning, when it is not acted upon by the suction flow 74th