JP7534066B2 - Suction base for floor cleaners - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a suction base for a floor cleaning machine, comprising a suction base basic body and a suction connection, the suction base basic body having a top wall from which a front wall and a rear wall extend, between which a suction passage is formed, the rear wall having a rest edge for resting on the floor surface to be cleaned, the suction connection being connected to the suction passage, preferably extending through the top wall, and capable of being connected to a suction device of the floor cleaning machine. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a floor cleaning machine with such a suction base and a method for operating the floor cleaning machine.

In floor cleaners and in particular scrubber-driers known from the prior art, a so-called suction base is used to remove liquid present on the floor surface to be cleaned, which may contain dirt and which has been previously spread on the floor surface by the cleaning device of the floor cleaner. The liquid is removed by negative pressure, which is provided by a suction device of the floor cleaner provided for this purpose and which is applied to the suction base, in particular to the suction passages of the suction base.

During operation, dirt collects especially in the suction passages of the suction base, which must be cleaned at regular intervals. Cleaning this suction base is often time-consuming and cumbersome to carry out.

Therefore, the objective of the present invention is to provide a suction base that can be easily cleaned.

This problem is solved by the suction base according to claim 1. The suction base according to the invention has a flushing device for supplying flushing fluid into the suction passage, the flushing device having a connection element for connection to a supply for flushing fluid, the connection element being attached to the suction base basic body and connected to the suction passage for supplying the flushing fluid.

If the floor cleaner is switched off more and more over the course of operating time, more and more dirt particles may adhere to the suction base and in particular to the rear wall defining the suction passage, where they may dry out and form a hard dirt layer. The suction base according to the invention can be particularly easily cleaned by means of a flushing device, by supplying a flushing fluid, for example a cleaning fluid, from a cleaning fluid tank of the floor cleaner to the connecting element of the suction base and then introducing it into the suction passage. This flushing fluid can then be sucked out again by sucking it up with a suction device provided on the floor cleaner, so that the suction passage can be particularly easily flushed. Such a flushing step can be easily carried out in time intervals that are shorter than the time intervals between other cleaning processes, since the effort involved is much less. This allows the dirt particles adhering to the suction base to be at least partially removed before they dry out and form a hard dirt layer.

In a preferred embodiment, the front wall of the suction passage can be dimensioned such that it does not extend to the floor surface to be cleaned or does not extend over its entire length to the floor surface to be cleaned. This simplifies the suction of liquid or soiled liquid from the floor surface to be cleaned. Furthermore, the connection to the supply for flushing fluid is simplified, since the connection element can be formed as a hose joint.

In a preferred embodiment, the suction base has a curved suction base basic body, the end of which is located in front of the suction connection when viewed in the running direction of the floor cleaning machine. Furthermore, the curvature of the rear wall portion may be smaller than the curvature of the front wall portion, in particular in some parts.

In another preferred embodiment, the flushing device has a flushing fluid opening connected to the connecting element through which the flushing fluid can enter the suction passage, the flushing fluid opening being spaced apart from the suction connection. As the distance between the flushing fluid opening and the suction connection increases, a longer section of the suction passage can be reliably flushed. In this embodiment, the cleaning action of the flushing fluid is improved.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the suction base basic body, the front wall and the rear wall extend between the first end and the second end, and the suction connection is arranged, in particular, centrally between the first end and the second end. In short, in this embodiment, the flushing fluid opening is arranged at the first end. In this embodiment, when the flushing fluid is introduced, it is ensured that the entire section between the first end and the suction connection is flushed. It is also conceivable in this embodiment that another flushing fluid opening, also connected to a connecting element, is arranged at the second end, so that the section between the second end and the suction connection is also flushed.

Another preferred embodiment has a plurality of flushing fluid openings connected to the connecting element through which the flushing fluid can enter the suction passage, the flushing fluid openings being arranged along the rear wall and spaced apart from one another. The flushing fluid openings may be uniformly spaced apart from one another. In this embodiment, the cleaning action is further improved.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the connection element is arranged on the upper wall portion defining the suction passage. When the suction base is installed on the floor cleaning machine, the connection element may be open toward the floor surface to be cleaned. In this embodiment, a particularly simple construction results.

In another preferred embodiment, the suction base basic body is formed as a hollow body having an internal chamber, in which case the wall section of the hollow body facing the suction passage is formed by the upper wall, in which case the flushing fluid opening(s) is/are arranged. In this embodiment, no conduits or the like need to be provided in the suction base basic body to connect the flushing fluid opening to the connection element. Rather, the internal chamber forms the connection, and preferably the connection element is attached to the suction base basic body in such a way that the flushing fluid can flow through the connection element into the internal chamber of the suction base basic body. In another preferred embodiment, the suction connection extends through the upper wall and the internal chamber.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the flushing device has one or more flushing fluid lines, a first end of which is connected to the connecting element and a second end of which is connected to one or more flushing fluid openings. In this embodiment, it is not necessary to form the suction base basic body as a hollow body.

Furthermore, the above-mentioned object is achieved by a floor cleaning machine with a suction base according to the present invention. The floor cleaning machine has a running device for moving the floor cleaning machine over the floor surface to be cleaned, a cleaning device attached to the running device for spraying cleaning liquid onto the floor surface to be cleaned, a dirty liquid tank, a suction device for sucking the dirty liquid into the dirty liquid tank, and one of the suction bases described above. The suction base is arranged behind the cleaning device as seen in the direction of travel, and the suction connection is connected to the suction device. The floor cleaning machine according to the present invention achieves the advantages already described in connection with the suction base.

Preferably, the floor cleaning device has a lifting device configured to support the suction base. The lifting device can reversibly move the suction base from a rest state in which the resting edge is lifted from the floor surface to be cleaned to an operating state in which the resting edge is placed on the floor surface to be cleaned.

Preferably, the floor cleaner is provided with a cleaning liquid tank, to which a connection element is connected. The cleaning liquid may constitute a flushing fluid. The cleaning liquid tank can be used as a reservoir for the flushing fluid. In this way, the supply of flushing fluid into the suction passage is simplified. In an alternative embodiment, the connection element can also be configured to be connectable to a domestic water tap, so that domestic water can be used as the flushing fluid.

Finally, the above-mentioned problem is also solved by a method for operating a floor cleaning machine as described above, the method comprising the steps of:
Supplying flushing fluid from a flushing fluid reservoir through the connecting element into the wicking passage;
operating a suction device to suction the flushing fluid from the suction passage;
has.

Preferably, in the above-mentioned method, the reservoir is formed by a cleaning liquid tank, which is connected to the connecting element, whereby cleaning liquid is supplied to the connecting element as a flushing fluid for flushing or cleaning. In this way, the supply of flushing fluid into the suction passage may be simplified, in particular during operation of the floor cleaning machine.

Alternatively, during the first step, the connection element is connected to a domestic water tap. Thus, the operator can clean the suction base as needed or according to a maintenance schedule.

Finally, the reservoir is formed by a cleaning liquid tank, which may be connected to the connecting element, in which case, during normal operation of the floor cleaner, cleaning liquid is supplied at regular time intervals through the connecting element into the suction passage, so that the suction base is regularly cleaned during normal operation.

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, which merely show preferred embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a floor cleaning machine equipped with a suction base. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a suction base according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 3 is a cross-sectional view of the suction base shown in FIG. 2 near an end portion. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the centerline of the suction base shown in FIG. 2; 3 is a cross-sectional view in the region of the connecting element of the suction base shown in FIG. 2 . FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the flow in the suction base of the first embodiment according to the present invention; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of an end portion of a suction base according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 8 is a cross-sectional view in the region of the connecting element of the suction base shown in FIG. 7 .

Figure 1 shows a side view of a floor cleaner 1 with a suction base according to one embodiment of the present invention. The floor cleaner 1 has a running device with wheels 3, 5 for moving the floor cleaner 1 over the floor surface 7 to be cleaned, a cleaning device 9 attached to the running device for spraying cleaning liquid onto the floor surface 7 to be cleaned, a dirty liquid tank 11, a suction device (not shown) for sucking the dirty liquid into the dirty liquid tank 11, and a suction base 13 corresponding to the embodiment described below. The suction base 13 is arranged behind the cleaning device 9 as seen in the travel direction F of the floor cleaner 1, and the suction connection part 15 of the suction base 13 is connected to the suction device.

As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the suction base 13 of this embodiment has a suction base basic body 17. An upper wall portion 19 is formed on this suction base basic body 17. In this case, a front wall portion 21 and a rear wall portion 23 extend from the upper wall portion 19, thereby forming a suction passage 25 between the front wall portion 21 and the rear wall portion 23. This suction passage 25 is defined by the upper wall portion 19 toward the upper side. Furthermore, the rear wall portion 23 has a placement edge portion 27 for placement on the floor surface 7 to be cleaned.

As shown in particular in FIG. 4, the suction connection 15 is provided on the suction base basic body 17 and extends through the upper wall 19. In operation, the suction connection 15 is connected to the suction device of the floor cleaner 1. In this embodiment, as can be seen in FIG. 2, the suction connection 15 is centrally located between the first and second ends of the suction base 13, with the front wall 21 and the rear wall 23 extending between the first and second ends.

2 to 5, the suction base basic body 17 is formed as a hollow body which defines a closed inner chamber 29, the wall section of which facing the suction passage 25 is formed from the upper wall 19. Moreover, the inner chamber 29 is defined by the top wall 30, the front wall 21 and the rear wall 23. In this embodiment, the suction connection 15 extends through the inner chamber 29. As can be seen in particular in FIG. 5, in the suction base basic body 17, a connection element 31 is provided on the top wall 30, which is formed, for example, as a hose connection, via which flushing fluid can be introduced into the inner chamber 29.

In the upper wall 19, a number of flushing fluid openings 33 are provided. In this embodiment, these flushing fluid openings 33 are connected to the connection element 31 starting from the inner chamber 29, in which case, in the embodiment described here, these flushing fluid openings 33 are arranged along the rear wall 23 and are spaced apart from one another. Other arrangements of the flushing fluid openings 33 are also conceivable. In particular, a number of flushing fluid openings 33 are also provided at the first and second ends of the suction base 13. Thus, the flushing fluid led through the connection element 31 into the inner chamber 29 can enter the suction passage 25 through the flushing fluid openings 33. The connection element 31, the inner chamber 29 and the flushing fluid openings 33 thereby form a flushing device for the suction passage 25 of the suction base 13. The function of this flushing device is further explained below.

To clean the suction base 13 of the embodiment of the present invention described above, the following is performed:

When the suction base 13 is placed on the floor surface 7 with the resting edge 27, the connection element 31 is connected to a reservoir for flushing fluid, preferably a cleaning fluid tank of the floor cleaning machine 1, and cleaning fluid is supplied to the connection element 31 as flushing fluid. The flushing fluid passes from the connection element 31 into the interior 29 of the suction base basic body 17 and then through the flushing fluid opening 33 into the suction channel 25. In parallel, the suction device of the floor cleaning machine 1 is also operated, so that the flushing fluid is sucked out of the suction channel 25 in the form of cleaning fluid through the suction connection 15. In the process, dirt present in the suction channel 25 is entrained. Alternatively, water from a domestic water tap can be used as flushing fluid. In this case, the domestic water tap is connected to the connection element 31 via a hose, so that domestic water reaches the suction channel 25.

In short, the cleaning liquid tank may be permanently connected to the connecting element 31, in which case cleaning liquid is supplied through the connecting element 31 into the suction passage 25 at regular time intervals. This allows the suction base 13 to be regularly cleaned during normal operation.

The flushing fluid openings 33 are arranged in this embodiment across the entire width of the suction base 13, in particular also at the ends, so that the cleaning liquid flows through the entire suction passage 25, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 6, which results in a particularly good cleaning action.

The suction base 13 according to the invention, having a flushing device in the form of a connecting element 31 connected to the flushing fluid opening 33, therefore makes it possible to easily and efficiently clean the suction passage 25 of the suction base 13.

In the above-described embodiment, the connection element 31 is connected to the flushing fluid opening 33 via a closed internal chamber 29. In a second embodiment of the suction base 13 according to the invention, shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the connection element 31 and the flushing fluid opening 33 are connected to each other via a flushing fluid line 35. In particular, a first end of the flushing fluid line 35 is connected to the connection element 31, while a second end of the flushing fluid line 35 is connected to the flushing fluid opening 33. In this second embodiment, the internal chamber 29 of the suction base basic body 17 is therefore not used for directly distributing the flushing fluid, as is the case in the first embodiment. Furthermore, in this embodiment, it is not necessary for the suction base basic body 17 to be formed as a closed hollow body. In other respects, the second embodiment does not differ from the first embodiment in terms of basic function, and the advantages already described in connection with the first embodiment are also achieved in the second embodiment.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Floor washer 3, 5 Wheels 7 Floor surface 9 Cleaning device 11 Dirt liquid tank 13 Suction base 15 Suction connection 17 Suction base basic body 19 Upper wall 21 Front wall 23 Rear wall 25 Suction passage 27 Placement edge 29 Inner chamber 30 Top wall 31 Connection element 33 Flushing fluid opening 35 Flushing fluid line

Claims (11)

A suction base for a floor cleaning machine (1), comprising:
A suction base basic body (17),
A wicking connection (15);
Equipped with
The suction base basic body (17) has an upper wall portion (19) from which extend a front wall portion (21) and a rear wall portion (23), between which a suction passage (25) is formed, and the rear wall portion (23) has a placement edge portion (27) for placement on the floor surface (7) to be cleaned,
A suction base for a floor cleaning machine (1), the suction connection (15) being connected to the suction passage (25) and capable of being connected to a suction device of the floor cleaning machine (1),
a flushing device for supplying flushing fluid into said suction passage (25), said flushing device having a connection element (31) for connection to a supply for flushing fluid, said connection element (31) being attached to said suction base basic body (17),
The suction base basic body (17) is formed as a hollow body having an inner chamber (29),
the wall section of the inner chamber (29) facing the suction passage (25) is formed by the upper wall (19);
one or more flushing fluid openings (33) are arranged in said upper wall (19), said connection element (31) is connected to said suction passage (25) via said internal chamber (29) and said flushing fluid openings (33) for supplying flushing fluid, said suction connection (15) extending through said upper wall (19) and said internal chamber (29) ,
the suction base basic body (17), the front wall (21) and the rear wall (23) extend between a first end and a second end, the suction connection (15) is arranged centrally between the first end and the second end, and the flushing fluid openings (33) are arranged at the first end and the second end,
A suction base for a floor cleaning machine (1), characterized in that The suction base according to claim 1, wherein the flushing device has one flushing fluid opening (33) connected to the connection element, through which the flushing fluid can enter the suction passage (25), and the flushing fluid opening (33) is spaced apart from the suction connection (15). The suction base according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of flushing fluid openings (33) are provided, the flushing fluid openings (33) are connected to the connecting element (31), through which the flushing fluid can enter the suction passage (25), the flushing fluid openings (33) are arranged along the rear wall (23) and spaced apart from one another. the front wall portion (21) and the rear wall portion (23) extend vertically upward beyond the top wall portion (19), and a top wall portion (30) is present vertically above the top wall portion (19) and between the front wall portion (21) and the rear wall portion (23);
Suction base according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting element (31) is arranged on the top wall ( 30 ). A suction base according to claim 4 , wherein said interior chamber (29) is defined by said front wall (21), said rear wall (23) and said top wall (30). 6. The suction base according to claim 5, wherein the connection element (31) is attached to the suction base basic body (17) so that flushing fluid can flow through the connection element (31) into the inner chamber ( 29 ) of the suction base basic body (17). A floor cleaning machine (1), comprising:
a travel device for moving the floor cleaning machine (1) on a floor surface (7) to be cleaned;
a cleaning device (9) attached to the traveling device for dispersing a cleaning liquid onto the floor surface (7) to be cleaned;
A dirty liquid tank (11);
a suction device for sucking the dirty liquid into the dirty liquid tank (11);
A suction base (13) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 ,
A floor cleaning machine (1) comprising:
The suction base (13) is arranged behind the cleaning device (9) in the direction of travel,
The suction connection (15) is connected to the suction device.
Floor cleaning machine (1). 8. A floor cleaning machine according to claim 7 , further comprising a cleaning fluid tank, the connecting element (31) being connected to the cleaning fluid tank. 9. A method of operating a floor scrubber according to claim 8 , comprising:
The method comprises:
Supplying flushing fluid from a reservoir for flushing fluid through said connecting element (31) into said wicking passage (25);
operating a suction device for suctioning flushing fluid from said suction passage (25);
16. A method of operating a floor scrubber comprising: 10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the reservoir is formed by the cleaning liquid tank, which is connected to the connecting element (31), thereby supplying cleaning liquid to the connecting element (31) as a flushing fluid. the reservoir is formed by the cleaning liquid tank, which is connected to the connecting element (31);
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising feeding a cleaning liquid through the connecting element (31) into the suction passage (25) at regular time intervals.