CN108882821B - Noodle cleaning machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a surface cleaning machine, comprising a cleaning head (14) having a driven cleaning roller unit (18) with a rotational axis (58), wherein, in a cleaning operation, the surface cleaning machine is supported on a surface (16) to be cleaned only via the cleaning roller unit (18) or on the surface (16) to be cleaned via the cleaning roller unit (272) and a further support device (292), and further comprising a drive motor (28) for the cleaning roller unit (18) and a dirty liquid tank device (66), which is arranged on the cleaning head (14) in a removable manner.

Description

Noodle cleaning machine

Technical Field

The invention relates to a surface cleaning machine comprising a cleaning head with a driven cleaning roller unit having a rotational axis.

Background

A surface cleaning machine with rotating brushes is known from WO 2010/041185 a 1.

A cleaning head for a floor cleaning machine is known from US 7,665,174B 2.

From US 4,173,054 a floor cleaner is known, which comprises a handle, a main body, a roller mechanism with a roller with a cleaning belt, a scraper and a dirty liquid reservoir.

A surface cleaning machine having a cleaning roller and a drive unit for driving the cleaning roller is known from WO 2013/106762 a 2. A dirt shroud is provided into which the scrub roller sweeps dirt as it rotates. The dirt cup can be opened.

A carpet soil removal device is known from US 7,921,497B 2, which is manually operated and comprises a drive roller coupled to a soil removal roller.

Surface cleaners are known from the applications PCT/EP2015/073275, PCT/EP2015/072929, PCT/EP2015/073529, PCT/EP2015/073116 and PCT/EP2015/073478, which have not been published beforehand. A surface cleaning machine is also known from PCT/EP2015/073315, which is not published beforehand.

From US 4,875,246 a portable floor cleaning appliance is known, which has a roller driven by an electric motor.

DE 202009013434U 1 discloses a device for wet cleaning of floors with a brush which can be rotated about an axis of rotation.

A cleaning machine is known from CN 201197698Y.

From US 6,026,529 an apparatus for cleaning floors or other hard surfaces is known.

A floor cleaning machine having a handle which is pivotably arranged on a base is known from WO 2005/087075 a 1.

Further floor cleaning machines are known from WO 2015/086083 a 1.

A hard floor cleaning appliance is known from US 3,789,449.

Disclosure of Invention

The task of the invention is that: a surface cleaning machine of the type described at the outset is provided which, with ease of operation, provides an optimized cleaning effect.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in the surface cleaning machine described at the outset in that, in the cleaning mode, the surface cleaning machine is supported on the surface to be cleaned only via a cleaning roller unit having a rotational axis, a drive motor for the cleaning roller unit is provided, and a dirty-liquid tank device is provided, which is arranged on the cleaning head in a removable manner.

Since the surface cleaning machine is supported on the surface to be cleaned only via the cleaning roller unit, a relatively simple structure of the surface cleaning machine is obtained which can be realized with low mass.

The scrub roller unit includes a scrub roller having a single rotational axis, either in one piece or in multiple pieces. In the case of a multi-part cleaning roller unit, all the subunits have the same coaxial rotational axis, and in the cleaning mode, the rotation of all the subunits takes place about the same rotational axis in the same rotational direction at the same rotational speed, and the drive motor drives all the subunits.

Furthermore, cleaning can also be carried out in hard-to-reach areas, since the space requirement for the cleaning head can be kept small, and the driven cleaning roller unit therefore also acts as a support; thereby, no further travel elements, such as wheels or the like, have to be provided.

Since the dirty liquid tank arrangement on the cleaning head is removable, the distance from the cleaning roller unit to the dirty liquid tank arrangement for dirty liquid can be kept small, so that a simple feed is possible.

Since the dirty-tank device can be removed from the cleaning head, it is possible to empty and clean the dirty-tank device in a simple manner. The dirty liquid tank arrangement may contain a large amount of dirty liquid including liquid. In particular, the dirty-liquid tank arrangement can be removed as a whole from the cleaning head or inserted as a whole into the cleaning head, so that a high degree of filling can be achieved for the dirty-liquid tank arrangement.

It is thus even possible to feed dirty liquid from the cleaning roller unit to the dirty-liquid tank device without a suction machine, or to support this with a suction machine having a relatively low power requirement and thus a relatively low energy requirement.

This allows the surface cleaning machine to be operated in an energy-saving manner. It is thus also possible to supply the surface cleaning machine and in particular the drive motor with current by means of a preferably rechargeable battery device. The surface cleaning machine can thus be operated independently of the electrical network.

Advantageously, the cleaning roller unit is or comprises a wiping roller unit. Wet cleaning can thereby be carried out in particular on hard floors. In particular, the wiping roller unit is wetted and by the rotation of the wiping roller unit is then able to just correspondingly wet the surface to be cleaned and can partially dissolve dirt and be mechanically stripped off and entrained by the rotation of the wiping roller unit.

In one embodiment, the cleaning roller unit includes a wiping roller unit and a sweeping roller unit. The arrangement is in particular such that the sweeping roller unit is disposed upstream of the wiping roller unit with respect to a normal cleaning operation. In particular, the sweeping operation can therefore be carried out before the wiping operation is carried out on the surface to be cleaned. The sweeping roller unit can in particular form an additional support for the cleaning head on the surface to be cleaned.

The surface cleaning machine is advantageously supported during the cleaning operation on the surface to be cleaned via the wiping roller unit and the sweeping roller unit. Thus, for example, a self-traveling and self-deflecting cleaning head ("cleaning robot") can be realized in a simple manner, which is capable of performing a sweeping process and a (wet) wiping process on the surface to be cleaned.

Advantageously, the dirty liquid tank arrangement comprises a common receptacle (common container) for the cleaning fluid from the cleaning roller unit and for the dirty liquid from the wiping roller unit. The cleaning material is dirty liquid from the cleaning roller unit. The dirty liquid can be correspondingly received by the dirty liquid tank device from the surface to be cleaned.

It may also alternatively be provided that the dirty liquid tank arrangement comprises separate receptacles for the cleaning material from the cleaning roller unit and for the dirty liquid from the wiping roller unit. For example, separate receptacles for dry dirty liquid (for cleaning) and for wet dirty liquid (for dirty liquid from the wiping roller unit) can be provided.

In particular, one or more receptacles (receptacles) of a dirty-liquid tank device for dirty liquid are positioned in a releasable manner on the cleaning head between the sweeping roller unit and the wiping roller unit. A space-saving construction of the cleaning head is thereby obtained. The cleaning head can be realized in particular in a self-traveling and self-deflecting manner.

The further support means is for example a roller unit with one or more rollers, e.g. with one or more sweeping rollers, and/or the support means is or comprises at least one roller and/or the support means is or comprises at least one sliding element. Additional support portions may thereby be formed. In particular, self-traveling and self-deflecting cleaning heads can thus be realized in a simple manner. The support means may (fully or partially) provide the travel drive. The support means may also be used for travel drive or additional travel drive of the cleaning head. It may also be configured for additional or unique redirection of the cleaning head.

Advantageously, the cleaning roller unit comprises one or more cleaning rollers or sub-cleaning rollers which are driven by the same drive motor, wherein different cleaning rollers or sub-cleaning rollers have the same or different oriented axes of rotation. This results in an optimized operating possibility, in particular also for self-traveling and self-deflecting cleaning heads. In the case of different orientations of the rotational axes, variable directionality can be achieved in a simple manner, for example via different actuation with respect to rotational speed and/or rotational direction.

Advantageously, the longitudinal axis of extension of the dirty-liquid tank arrangement is oriented parallel to the (in particular single) rotational axis of the cleaning roller unit. The longitudinal extension axis of the dirty-liquid tank device extends between a first end side and an opposite second end side of the dirty-liquid tank device. It presets the longest extension of the dirty liquid tank device. This results in a space-saving arrangement of the dirty-liquid tank device on the cleaning head.

It is also advantageous if the motor axis of the drive motor is oriented transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the longitudinal extension axis of the dirty-liquid tank device. The motor axis of the drive motor corresponds to the rotor axis of the drive motor. A space-saving construction is obtained by the transverse orientation of the longitudinal extension axis of the dirty-liquid tank arrangement.

It is more particularly advantageous that the dirty-liquid tank arrangement is arranged between the cleaning roller unit and the drive motor. This results in a short feed stroke for feeding dirty liquid from the cleaning roller unit into the dirty liquid tank. It is therefore sufficient again to use a suction machine with a relatively low power to suck off the dirty liquid or to enable a suction-machine-less configuration.

In one embodiment, a transmission for torque transmission is provided, which is arranged between the drive motor and the cleaning roller unit, wherein the dirty-liquid tank device has an upper side and a lower side, wherein the lower side faces the cleaning roller holder of the cleaning roller unit and the upper side faces away from the lower side, and wherein the transmission is guided past the upper side or the lower side of the dirty-liquid tank device. The transmission provides torque transmission from the drive motor to the scrub roller unit. The cleaning roller unit is positioned spaced apart from the drive motor. The transmission provides, in particular, a rotational speed reduction, a torque reversal and, if appropriate, a bridging distance. A simple and compact construction is obtained in that the gear is guided past the lower or upper side of the dirty liquid tank. In principle, it is also possible for the gear to be guided through a through-opening in the dirty liquid tank. In contrast, a simplified removability of the dirty-liquid tank arrangement from the cleaning head and a simplified design of the dirty-liquid tank arrangement are achieved if the transmission is guided past the lower or upper side of the dirty-liquid tank.

In one embodiment, the dirty-liquid tank arrangement has a recess in which at least one partial region of the gear arrangement is positioned when the dirty-liquid tank arrangement is fastened to the cleaning head. The corresponding free space through the recess provides a space in which the transmission can be positioned. This results in an optimum adaptation of the geometry of the dirty liquid tank arrangement to the cleaning head.

In one embodiment, an apparatus body is provided on which the cleaning head is arranged, wherein at least one of the following means is positioned on the apparatus body: a tank arrangement for cleaning liquid; valve means for reducing the delivery of cleaning liquid to the cleaning head; battery means for driving the motor; a holding rod device for holding and/or guiding the surface cleaning machine; a filter device for the cleaning fluid; at least partially driving the motor. A compact construction is thereby obtained. In particular, elements of the surface cleaning machine having a relatively large weight, such as for example the drive motor, can be positioned lowermost in the vicinity of the cleaning head. Furthermore, a removable valve device for delivering cleaning liquid to the cleaning head can be located on the device body, for example. In particular, a valve device for supplying the cleaning liquid to the cleaning head and a filter device for the cleaning liquid can be positioned in the housing on the device body in a protected manner. Furthermore, the battery device can be optimally positioned, especially when the drive motor itself is arranged on the apparatus body. It may also be provided that at least part of the drive motor is positioned in the machine body. For example, the machine body is used to "anchor" the drive motor to the surface cleaning machine.

Advantageously, the drive motor is arranged at least partially between the machine body and the cleaning head, wherein the drive motor is arranged in particular at least partially in the machine body part. This makes it possible to arrange the battery device in an optimal manner in the device housing, for example. Furthermore, a torque transmission from the drive motor to the cleaning roller unit on the cleaning head can be realized in a simple manner. The drive motor can be arranged relatively far below (in view of the intended operation with the cleaning roller unit supported on the surface to be cleaned), so that ease of operation is achieved. In this arrangement, a pendulum movement between the cleaning head and the device housing can also be achieved in a simple manner.

Advantageously, the cleaning head can be swiveled about a swivel axis relative to the drive motor and/or the device housing, wherein the swivel axis is in particular oriented parallel or coaxially to the motor axis of the drive motor. Thereby an extended operational possibility is obtained; the accessibility of the spatially narrow region of the surface to be cleaned is improved, since the device body can be repositioned to match the cleaning head. The respective pivot bearing can be formed in a simple manner by, for example, forming the jacket of the drive motor as an inner sleeve and the outer sleeve arranged on the machine body in such a way that the pivot bearing is realized.

In one embodiment, the cleaning roller holder on which the cleaning roller unit is positioned has a receiving chamber with a receiving cavity for the dirty liquid tank device. The receiving chamber can be multi-chambered and the receiving chamber can comprise a plurality of partial spaces. In principle, these subspaces can be fluidically effectively connected to one another or can be fluidically effectively separated from one another here.

In particular, the receiving chamber is associated with a fastening device by means of which the dirty-liquid tank arrangement is fastened to the receiving chamber, wherein the fastening device is designed to be releasable in order to enable the dirty-liquid tank arrangement to be removed from the cleaning head, and in particular the fastening device is designed in such a way that the dirty-liquid tank arrangement is held in a holding position in the receiving chamber by means of a form-fit (Formschluss). The dirty liquid tank arrangement can thus be fixed to the receiving chamber in a simple manner. Furthermore, the dirty-tank device can be removed in a simple manner in order to empty it and, if necessary, to clean it. The fixing device is configured such that the dirty liquid tank device is positioned in a defined manner with respect to the cleaning roller unit by means of the inlet nozzle. In particular, the scraping guide can be positioned in a defined manner relative to the cleaning roller unit.

In a structurally simple embodiment, the fastening device comprises at least one pivotable flap or a flap itself. The pivotable flap can release the receiving chamber in a simple manner, so that the dirty liquid tank arrangement can be inserted or removed. When the turnover cover acts on the dirty liquid tank device, the turnover cover can also ensure that the dirty liquid tank device is kept positioned. The cover can also be designed such that a certain pretensioning is applied to it in order to position the dirty-liquid tank device in a defined manner on the receiving chamber, in particular in order to position the feed nozzle of the dirty-liquid tank device and/or the scraping guide, if appropriate, in a defined manner relative to the cleaning roller unit.

It is advantageous here if the pivot axis of the at least one flap is oriented at least approximately parallel to the axis of rotation of the cleaning roller unit. This results in a structurally simple construction. The dirty liquid tank arrangement can be removed and replaced again in a simple manner.

Advantageously, the at least one flap acts on an upper side of the dirty-liquid tank device, which upper side faces away from the lower side, wherein the lower side of the dirty-liquid tank device faces the bottom of the receiving chamber when the dirty-liquid tank device is fastened to the cleaning head. In this way, a secure positioning of the dirty-liquid tank arrangement on the receiving chamber can be ensured in a simple manner. Furthermore, a defined positioning can be achieved.

Advantageously, the at least one flap is designed as a hold-down holder which positions the dirty-liquid tank arrangement in a defined manner relative to the cleaning roller unit and/or in the receiving space, and in particular presses the dirty-liquid tank arrangement in the hold-down position against the bottom of the receiving space. Thus, the dirty liquid tank device can be removed or replaced in a simple manner for the operator, and automatic positioning can be achieved to some extent; the operator does not have to be concerned with accurate positioning.

For example, the at least one flap is spring-loaded and/or is elastically designed in such a way that the dirty-liquid tank arrangement is held with pretensioning in the receiving space. This pretension provides that the inlet nozzle of the dirty-tank device is located in a defined position relative to the cleaning roller unit.

In a structurally simple embodiment, at least one recess is arranged on the upper side of the dirty liquid tank device, and at least one flap has at least one counter element for sinking into the at least one recess. In particular, the movement of the dirty-liquid tank arrangement in the removal direction at the receiving chamber can thereby be prevented in a simple manner.

It is also advantageous if the at least one recess has at least one undercut and the at least one counter element has a locking element which is adapted to the at least one undercut, the locking element preventing a movability of the canister arrangement in a direction away from the bottom of the receiving chamber when the at least one flap is closed. A form-locking can thereby be achieved, which ensures that the dirty liquid tank arrangement is prevented from falling out in the holding position. Furthermore, the dirty liquid tank arrangement can thus be positioned in a simple manner relative to the cleaning roller unit.

In particular, the receiving chamber and the dirty-liquid tank arrangement are designed to be adapted to each other in such a way that, in the holding position of the dirty-liquid tank on the receiving chamber, a movement of the dirty-liquid tank arrangement is prevented transversely to a vertical line of the bottom of the receiving chamber. The fastening is thereby obtained in a simple manner. The base part then prevents mobility parallel to the vertical of the base part, while the flap prevents mobility in the opposite direction.

In one embodiment, the dirty liquid tank unit has one or more flaps. By opening the flap, the dirty liquid tank arrangement can be emptied and, if necessary, cleaned in a simple manner. The flap forms in particular an upper side of the dirty-liquid tank device, on which at least one flap of the fastening device can act.

In one embodiment, the dirty liquid tank arrangement is configured as a unit. The unit may here comprise one chamber or a plurality of chambers. The unit can be removed from the cleaning head as a whole or can be inserted into the cleaning head. In principle, it is also possible for the dirty liquid tank arrangement to have subunits which are separate from one another and can be removed independently of the cleaning head or can be inserted onto the cleaning head.

In one embodiment, the scrub roller unit is designed in two parts (two-part scrub roller) with a first part and a second part, wherein the first part of the scrub roller unit is assigned a first chamber of the dirty-liquid tank arrangement and the second part of the scrub roller unit is assigned a second chamber of the dirty-liquid tank arrangement, and in particular the drive motor acts on an intermediate region between the first part and the second part. The middle region is, for example, a middle region of the shaft. This results in a space-saving and structurally simple construction for the torque transmission from the drive motor to the cleaning roller unit having (exactly one) axis of rotation. In particular, the drive motor can be positioned such that its motor axis is transverse to the axis of rotation of the cleaning roller unit.

Advantageously, a scraping guide for dirty liquid is provided, which acts on the cleaning roller unit and which is arranged at the inlet nozzle of the dirty liquid tank device. Dirt can be detached from the cleaning roller unit by the scraping guide, and the detached dirt can be fed into the dirty liquid tank, in particular via the feed nozzle.

In particular, the scraping guide is arranged and configured in such a way that dirt entrained by the cleaning roller unit is separated from the cleaning roller unit by scraping and is guided to the inlet nozzle of the dirty liquid tank device. The dirty liquid is fed into the dirty liquid tank at the inlet mouth at least partially by means of a shock effect and possibly also by means of centrifugal forces. Dirty liquid may be at least partially thrown into the dirty liquid tank at the inlet nozzle via the scraping guide.

It is particularly advantageous if the scraper guide is designed in such a way that dirty liquid is guided without suction through the scraper guide at the inlet nozzle of the dirty-liquid tank device into the dirty-liquid tank device. The scraping guide is then arranged in particular directly at the inlet nozzle of the dirty-liquid tank device. In particular, the scraping guide then forms a wall of the inlet nozzle itself. A structurally simple construction of the surface cleaning machine is thus obtained overall, since it is not necessary to provide a suction machine with a blower motor, a low-pressure line and the like. Furthermore, a separator is not necessary.

It is also advantageous if the scraping guide is arranged downstream of the feed nozzle with respect to the direction of rotation of the cleaning roller unit. The dirty liquid can thereby be separated from the cleaning roller unit by the scraping effect and guided into the dirty liquid tank.

It is more particularly advantageous if the scraping guide projects into the covering of the cleaning roller unit. This enables dirty liquid to be separated from the cleaning roller unit by scraping.

Advantageously, the scraping guide is rounded or chamfered at the edge which projects into the covering of the cleaning roller unit and faces the feed opening. Protection of the covering fibres is thus obtained. Furthermore, the rotary drive of the cleaning roller unit is operated in an energy-saving manner.

It is then particularly advantageous for the wet coating to project the scraping guide into the coating to a depth of at least 5% of the thickness of the coating.

In principle, it is possible for the scraper guide to be arranged on the cleaning roller holder. In an embodiment, the scraper guide is arranged on the dirty-liquid tank device and can be removed together with the dirty-liquid tank device from the cleaning head. The scraper guide is then automatically positioned "correctly" relative to the cleaning roller unit in a defined manner when the dirty-liquid tank device is positioned in a holding position on the cleaning head.

In particular, the scraping guide is formed by one or more edge elements, that is to say by one or more strips, which have corresponding edges which can be inserted into the covering of the cleaning roller unit in particular. Preferably, the edge element at least partially forms a wall of the inlet nozzle.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if a sweeping element is arranged on the cleaning head, by means of which the cleaning roller unit is supplied with coarse dirt for entrainment by the cleaning roller unit.

In particular, the inlet nozzle of the dirty-liquid tank device is positioned between the scraping guide and the cleaning element. In this way, coarse dirt transported via the sweeping elements of the cleaning roller unit can be entrained by the cleaning roller unit and scraped off on the scraping guide.

It is more particularly advantageous if battery means, and in particular rechargeable electronic means, are provided for supplying the drive motor with electrical energy. This allows the surface cleaning machine to be operated independently of the power grid. Simple operability is obtained.

It is furthermore advantageous if the drive motor is arranged between the battery device and the cleaning head. This results in an optimum positioning of the battery device.

It is also advantageous if a tank arrangement for the cleaning liquid is provided. The surface to be cleaned can thus be wetted directly or indirectly (by means of the wetting cleaning roller unit). The cleaning liquid is in particular water which may be mixed with a chemical cleaning agent. Dirt on the surface to be cleaned can be moistened by the cleaning liquid in order to achieve an improved disengageability.

In a structurally simple embodiment, the tank arrangement for the cleaning liquid is positioned above the cleaning roller unit with respect to the direction of gravity when the surface cleaning machine is operated in a defined cleaning mode when the cleaning roller unit is supported on the surface to be cleaned. The supply of cleaning liquid to the cleaning head and in particular to the cleaning roller unit then takes place solely under the influence of gravity. No additional pump for conveying the cleaning liquid is required.

Advantageously, the inlet nozzle of the dirty-liquid tank device has a longitudinal extension oriented parallel to the axis of rotation of the cleaning roller unit. This allows dirty liquid to be fed into the dirty liquid tank over a wide range of lengths.

The surface cleaning machine is in particular designed as a manually operated or manually guided surface cleaning machine. By virtue of the support on the surface to be cleaned via the cleaning roller unit, the operator can hold the surface cleaning machine (so that it does not tip over) on the end facing away from the cleaning head and guide it over the surface to be cleaned.

In one embodiment, the cleaning head is self-traveling and self-redirecting. This makes it possible to implement a cleaning robot, in particular a wiping robot. The cleaning roller unit is in particular a wiping roller unit with one or more wiping rollers. Such a wiping roller can then in particular perform a wet cleaning on a surface and in particular on a hard floor. It can also realize the cleaning function. Such a cleaning function can be realized, for example, via a separate cleaning roller unit and/or via a cleaning edge, wiper roller unit. Due to the self-traveling and self-steering design of the cleaning head, automatic surface cleaning can be performed.

In particular, the surface cleaning machine comprises a cleaning head and a stationary station, the cleaning head being movable relative to the stationary station, wherein the stationary station is provided for at least one of: storing the cleaning head during a non-cleaning operation of the cleaning head; charging a battery device disposed on the cleaning head; a defined or partial discharge of a battery device arranged on the cleaning head; cleaning a cleaning roller unit of a cleaning head; emptying the dirty liquid tank device; the tank arrangement for the cleaning liquid is filled with the cleaning liquid. The stationary station forms a docking station for the cleaning head.

It is more particularly advantageous if the travel drive for the cleaning head is provided via a cleaning roller unit and/or a further support device. The cleaning head can thereby be configured to be self-traveling.

For the same reason, it is advantageous if the variable directionality of the cleaning head is provided via the cleaning roller unit and/or by further supporting means. This makes it possible to realize a self-steering cleaning head, in particular for a wiping robot.

In one embodiment, it is provided that the rotational drive of the one or more cleaning rollers of the cleaning roller unit is effected via a drive motor in the clockwise and counterclockwise direction. Thereby, for example, a direction change for the traveling movement of the cleaning head can be achieved. Furthermore, variable directivity can be achieved thereby.

In one embodiment, the scrub roller unit comprises at least a first scrub roller having a first orientation of a rotational axis and a second scrub roller having a second orientation of the rotational axis, wherein the first and second orientations are at an angle different from 0 ° and 180 ° to each other. In particular, the cleaning rollers of the cleaning roller unit are arranged in a triangular shape with respect to each other. Therefore, the traveling drive and the direction-changing drive for the cleaning head can be realized in a simple manner. The cleaning roller (especially the wiping roller) of the cleaning roller unit is responsible for cleaning and for self-propelled and self-reversing. The variable directionality can be achieved in a simple manner by different rotational speeds and different rotational directions on the first cleaning roller and the second cleaning roller. In addition, good cleanability of corners, edges, joints or the like of the wall is achieved.

In particular, a first cleaning roller and a second cleaning roller are provided in a wedge-shaped arrangement on the cleaning head, wherein in particular the wedge-shaped tip is located in the region of the front end of the cleaning head. This makes it possible to implement self-traveling and self-deflecting embodiments for the cleaning head in a simple manner. This results in a high cleaning effect for the area close to the edge.

It is also advantageous if the rotation of the first cleaning roller and the rotation of the second cleaning roller can be driven independently of one another, wherein the change in direction of the cleaning head can be achieved in particular by corresponding actuation of the first cleaning roller and the second cleaning roller. The self-advancing and self-deflecting construction of the cleaning head is thus obtained in a structurally simple construction.

Drawings

The following description of the preferred embodiments is provided to illustrate the invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a face cleaning machine according to the present invention;

fig. 2 shows a further perspective view of the cleaning head of the surface cleaning machine according to fig. 1, wherein the interface on the machine body is indicated;

figure 3 shows a side view of the cleaning head according to figure 2 with the dirty liquid tank arrangement removed;

fig. 4 shows a partial cross-sectional view in plane E of fig. 1;

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view of area A according to FIG. 4 with a fixed dirty liquid tank arrangement;

FIG. 6 shows the same view as FIG. 5 with the fixture in a position where it can be removed from the dirty tank device;

fig. 7 shows the same view as fig. 5, in an intermediate position;

FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a dirty liquid tank device;

FIG. 9 shows a view of the dirty liquid tank arrangement according to FIG. 8 in direction B;

fig. 10 shows a side view of the dirty-tank device according to fig. 8 in direction C.

FIG. 11 shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of a surface cleaning machine according to the invention with a stationary station and a self-traveling cleaning head;

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a self-traveling type cleaning head;

figure 13 shows an enlarged view of region D in the cleaning head according to figure 12;

figure 14 shows a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of a self-traveling cleaning head;

figure 15 shows an exploded view of the cleaning head according to figure 14;

figure 16 shows a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of a cleaning head according to the present invention; and

figure 17 shows a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of a cleaning head according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

The exemplary embodiment of a surface cleaning machine according to the invention, which is shown in fig. 1 and in partial view in fig. 2 to 10 and is designated by 10, is in particular designed as a hand-held and manually guided floor cleaning machine for hard floors.

The face cleaning machine 10 includes an apparatus body 12 and a cleaning head 14. The cleaning head 14 is disposed on the apparatus body 12.

During a cleaning process on the surface 16 to be cleaned, the surface cleaning machine 10 is supported on the surface 16 to be cleaned via a cleaning roller unit 18 and in particular a single cleaning roller unit 18. The cleaning roller unit 18 has a unique axis of rotation (see below). The cleaning roller unit 18 is a cleaning roller which may be one-piece or multi-piece. In the embodiment to be described below, the cleaning roller unit 18 is a two-piece cleaning roller.

The apparatus body 12 has a longitudinal axis 20. The surface cleaning machine 10 is held by or guided by the belt shaft. For this purpose, a holding rod arrangement 22 is arranged on the device body 12.

In one embodiment, the retaining bar arrangement 22 comprises (in particular exactly one) retaining bar 24 having a longitudinal extension parallel to the longitudinal axis 20. At the upper region of the holding lever arrangement 22, a handle 26, and in particular an arcuate handle, is arranged. The operator can hold the surface cleaning machine 10 with one hand on this handle 26 and can guide it over the surface 16 to be cleaned (with the cleaning roller unit 18 supported).

The retaining bar arrangement 22 can be designed to be variable or fixed in length relative to the length along the longitudinal axis 20.

The surface cleaning machine 10 is configured in terms of its dimensions such that, when the cleaning roller unit 18 is supported on the surface 16 to be cleaned, an operator can comfortably carry out a cleaning process on the surface to be cleaned with the angled holding arm. In particular, the length of the surface cleaning machine 10 between the cleaning roller unit 18 and the arcuate handle 26 along the longitudinal axis 20 is in the range of 60cm and 130 cm.

In particular, one or more operating elements are arranged on the handle 26. For example, a switch is provided via which the surface cleaning machine 10 can be switched on and off for a cleaning operation. The operation of the drive motor 28 for the rotational operation of the cleaning roller unit 18 can be switched by this switch. Furthermore, a switch may be provided for operating the valve arrangement 38 (see below).

The apparatus body 12 includes a housing 30 in which components of the face cleaning machine 10 are protected.

A holder 32 is disposed on the housing 30. A tank arrangement 34 for cleaning liquid, in particular water with or without additional cleaning agent, is arranged in a removable manner on the holder 32.

A tank receptacle 36 for the tank arrangement 34 is arranged on the housing 30. A corresponding outlet of the tank arrangement 34 can be connected to the tank receptacle 36.

A valve device 38 is positioned in the housing 30 behind the tank receptacle 36.

One or more fluid lines 40 lead from the valve arrangement 38 to the cleaning head 14.

The valve arrangement 38 has a shut-off valve, by means of which the supply of cleaning liquid from the tank arrangement 34 to the cleaning head 14 can be shut off. The valve device 38 can be assigned a filter device 39 for the cleaning liquid. The filter device 39 is in particular disposed upstream of the shut-off valve and is arranged between the valve device 38 and the tank receptacle 36.

With the shut-off valve open, cleaning liquid can flow from the tank arrangement 34 via the fluid line or lines 40 to the cleaning head 14 and be applied to the surface 16 to be cleaned.

For this purpose, one or more outlet nozzles for the cleaning liquid are provided on the cleaning head 14. In principle, it is possible to design the outlet nozzle or the outlet nozzles such that the cleaning liquid is applied directly to the surface 16 to be cleaned.

In an advantageous variant, the outlet nozzle or the outlet nozzles are arranged in such a way that the cleaning roller unit 18 and in particular the coating 42 of the cleaning roller unit 18 are exposed to the cleaning liquid. The surface 16 to be cleaned is then indirectly supplied with cleaning liquid, while the cleaning roller unit 18 is supplied with cleaning liquid.

The cover 42 is made in particular of a textile material.

The valve arrangement 38 is assigned a switch by means of which a user can adjust whether the shut-off valve of the valve arrangement 38 is closed (i.e. whether the cleaning liquid is shut off to the cleaning head 14) or whether the shut-off valve is open (i.e. whether cleaning liquid is released from the tank arrangement 34 to the cleaning head 14).

The switch may be disposed on the housing 30. In principle, it is also possible for the switch to be arranged on the handle 26.

In one embodiment, a battery device 44 for supplying electrical energy to the drive motor 28 is arranged in the housing 30. The battery device 44 is rechargeable. This allows the surface cleaning machine 10 to be operated independently of the mains power supply.

In principle, however, it is also possible for the surface cleaning machine 10 to be operated via the mains current. Corresponding interface devices for the mains current are then arranged on the surface cleaning machine 10.

The battery device 44 can be removed from the device body 12 in order to be able to carry out recharging on the corresponding charger.

It may also be provided that a corresponding charging device is integrated in the device body 12 and recharging can be carried out without removing the battery device 44 from the device body 12. A corresponding socket is arranged, for example, on the retaining bar 24.

The drive motor 28 is an electric motor. It has a motor axis 46. The motor axis 46 is coaxial with the axis of rotation of the drive motor 28.

The drive motor 28 is mounted on the housing 30 between the cleaning head 14 and the apparatus body 12.

In one embodiment, the motor axis 46 is oriented at an angle to the longitudinal axis 20 of the apparatus body 12 (and of the retaining rod 24). The angle between the motor axis 46 and the longitudinal axis 20 is, for example, in the range between 150 ° and 170 °.

In one embodiment, the cleaning head 14 is swingable relative to the apparatus body 12 about a swing axis 48 (see fig. 2 and 3). This ability to swing is indicated in fig. 2 by a double arrow with the reference numeral 50.

In particular, the swing axis 48 is coaxial with the motor axis 46.

In one embodiment, the drive motor 28 is disposed on the inner sleeve 52. The inner sleeve 52 preferably forms an envelope for the drive motor 28.

An outer sleeve 54 is fixedly disposed within the apparatus body 12. The inner sleeve 52 is seated in the outer sleeve 54. The inner sleeve 52 can pivot about the pivot axis 48 relative to the outer sleeve 54, the inner sleeve 52 being mounted in the outer sleeve 54 so as to pivot. The inner sleeve 52 and the outer sleeve 54 form a swing bearing 56 for the cleaner head 14 to be able to swing relative to the apparatus body 12. The drive motor 28 can be pivoted about a pivot axis 48 relative to the device body 12. The corresponding lines from the battery device 44 to the drive motor 28 are arranged and designed in such a way that they allow pivoting. Accordingly, the fluid line 40 or the fluid lines 40 are designed such that they permit such pivoting.

The pivot bearing 56 has a basic position which is defined, for example, in such a way that a (single) rotational axis 58 of the cleaning roller unit 18 is oriented perpendicular to the plane E according to fig. 1. The pivoting about the pivot axis 58 relative to this basic position is manifested in the angular position of the rotation axis 58 relative to the plane E.

The pivot bearing 56 is adjusted in particular in such a way that a particular expenditure of force is required for the pivoting of the cleaning head 14 out of its basic position in relation to a normal cleaning operation.

The ability of the cleaning head 14 to pivot about the pivot axis 48 makes it possible to achieve better cleaning possibilities even in difficult-to-reach places, i.e., to a certain extent to "reposition" the device body 12 with the retaining bar arrangement 22 relative to the surface 16 to be cleaned.

The cleaning head 14 has a cleaning roller holder 60 on which the cleaning roller unit 18 is mounted so as to be rotatable about the axis of rotation 58. The clearer roller holder 60 is connected in a rotationally fixed manner (drehfest) to the inner sleeve 52.

The cleaning roller holder 60 has a holding region 62 for the cleaning roller unit 18 and an accommodating chamber 64 for a dirty liquid tank arrangement 66 (see for example fig. 3).

A receiving chamber 64 is positioned between the holding region 62 and the inner sleeve 52. The inner sleeve 52 is in particular firmly connected to the outside of the receiving chamber 64.

The cleaning roller unit 18 is coupled in a torque-active manner (wrksam) to the drive motor 28 via a transmission 68.

The transmission 68 connects the motor shaft of the drive motor 28 (which rotates about the motor axis 46) to a shaft 70 for the scrub roller unit 18 in a torque-active manner.

In one embodiment, the transmission 68 includes a rotational speed reducer. The speed reducer is used to reduce the speed of rotation compared to the speed of rotation of the motor shaft. For example, the rotation speed of a standard electric motor is of the order of 7000 revolutions per minute. The speed reducer provides for reducing the speed to, for example, about 400 revolutions per minute.

The rotational speed reducer may be arranged in the inner sleeve 52 on the scrub roller holder 60 or outside the inner sleeve 52.

The rotational speed reducer is designed, for example, as a planetary gear.

The transmission 68 also includes a bevel gear transmission that provides torque redirection to cause drive of the scrub roller unit 18 transverse (and particularly perpendicular) to the motor axis 46 with the axis of rotation 58. The bevel gear mechanism is arranged in particular downstream of the rotational speed reducer.

In one embodiment, the bevel gear mechanism has one or more gears which are coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to a respective shaft of the rotational speed reducer. These gears act on the bevel gear for angular conversion.

In one embodiment, the transmission 68 further comprises a belt that is torque-operatively coupled to the bevel gear and acts on the shaft 70. The belt spans the spacing between the shaft 70 and the bevel gear and provides speed reduction.

In one embodiment, the scrub roller unit 18 is constructed in two pieces with a first portion 72 and a second portion 74. The first part 72 is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on a first side of the shaft 70, while the second part 74 is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on a second side of the shaft 70 opposite the first side of the shaft 70.

The gear 68 is guided in an intermediate region 76 between the first part 72 and the second part 74 and is coupled to the shaft 70. They have the same axis of rotation 58.

The cleaning roller unit 18 or the first and second parts 72, 74 of the cleaning roller unit 18 have a sleeve 78 (see, for example, fig. 5), which is of cylindrical design. A wrap 42 is disposed over the sleeve 78. The scrub roller unit 18 or the first and second portions 72, 74 are fixed to the shaft 70 via a sleeve 78.

The cleaning roller unit 18 is arranged on the cleaning head 14 in such a way that the axis of rotation 58 is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 20.

The scrub roller unit 18 has a length along the rotational axis 58 between a first end side 80 (which is formed on the first portion 72) and a second end side 82 (which is formed on the second portion 74) that is much greater than a corresponding width of the apparatus body 12 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 20. In particular, the length of the scrub roller unit 18 between the first end side 80 and the second end side 82 is at least 20cm and preferably at least 25 cm.

The receiving chamber 64 has a bottom 84 (see, e.g., fig. 5). At the bottom 84, transversely thereto, a receiving chamber wall 86 is arranged. The receiving chamber wall 86 and the bottom 84 of the receiving chamber 64 define a receiving chamber 88 for the canister assembly 66.

Opposite the bottom 84, the receiving chamber 88 is open. Via the respective side 90, the dirty liquid tank arrangement 66 can be removed from the receiving space 88 or can be inserted into it. The removal direction or insertion direction 92 (see fig. 6) is substantially perpendicular to the base 84 (and perpendicular to the axis of rotation 58).

In one embodiment, the containment chamber wall 86 has a step 96 at a wall region 94 of the containment chamber wall 86. The wall region 94 faces the holding region 62.

The step 96 is furthermore arranged near the bottom 84.

The receiving chamber 64 is associated with a fastening device 98, by means of which the dirty-tank device 66 can be fastened in a holding position 100 (fig. 5) on the receiving-chamber wall 86. The fixing is achieved in particular by form-locking.

In one embodiment, the fastening device 98 comprises a flap 98, which is arranged on the cleaning head 14 so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis 104 by means of a pivot bearing 106. The wobble bearing 106 is here positioned at or near the inner sleeve 52.

The pivot axis 104 is oriented parallel to the rotational axis 58 of the rotating roller 18.

In the holding position 100, the flap 102 acts on the canister assembly 66 and holds it in the receiving space 88 on the receiving space 64.

In order to remove the dirty-tank unit 66 from the cleaning head 14, the flap 102 can be pivoted (see fig. 6, indicated by reference numeral 108) starting from the holding position 100 in the direction of the device housing 12 in order to release the dirty-tank unit 66, so that it can be removed from the receiving space 88 at the side 92 in the removal direction 92 and can be removed from the cleaning head 14.

The dirty liquid tank device 66 (fig. 8 to 10) is constructed as a unit. It has a first chamber 110 facing the first portion 72 of the scrub roller unit 18 and a second chamber 112 facing the second portion 74 of the scrub roller unit 18.

The first chamber 110 contains dirty liquid from the first portion 72 of the scrub roller unit 18, while the second chamber 112 contains dirty liquid from the second portion 74 of the scrub roller unit 18.

In principle, it is possible here for the first chamber 110 and the second chamber 112 to be fluidically effectively connected to one another and, in this case, for example, to be fluidically effectively connected to a common evacuation opening.

It may also be provided that the first chamber 110 and the second chamber 112 are fluidly sealed from each other and that each chamber 110, 112 has its own outlet mouth.

The first chamber 110 and the second chamber 112 are spaced apart; between the first chamber 110 and the second chamber 112, the dirty liquid tank arrangement 66 has a recess 114. The recess 114 is arranged in the middle region of the dirty-liquid tank arrangement 66 with respect to a longitudinally extending axis 116 of the dirty-liquid tank arrangement 66.

When the dirty-liquid tank arrangement 66 is fixed in the holding position 100 on the cleaning head 14, the longitudinal axis 116 is oriented parallel to the rotational axis 58 of the cleaning roller unit 18.

The longitudinal extension axis 116 of the dirty-liquid tank arrangement 66 extends between a first outer end 118 and a second outer end 120 of the dirty-liquid tank arrangement 66, wherein the dirty-liquid tank arrangement 66 has its largest length dimension between the first outer end 118 and the second outer end 120.

The recess 114 is used to pass at least a partial region of the gear 68. The cleaning roller unit 18 is driven centrally. The transmission 68 bridges the distance between the drive motor 28 and the shaft 70. The recess 114 leaves a space area on the dirty-tank device 86 that accommodates the gear 68 to some extent.

It can be provided that the receiving chamber 64 has receiving chambers 88 for the first and second chambers 110, 112, respectively.

It is also possible to provide a common receiving chamber 88 for the first chamber 110 and the second chamber 112.

The first chamber 110 and the second chamber 112 are connected to each other via a crossover 122 so that the dirty liquid tank arrangement 66 forms a unit and can be removed from the cleaning head 14 as a whole or can be inserted into the cleaning head.

In one embodiment, the dirty liquid tank arrangement 66 has a cover plate 124 which is swingably mounted on the first and second chambers 110, 112 via spaced swing bearings 126a, 126 b.

The cover plate 124 may be flipped over to provide respective drain openings for the first and second chambers 110, 112 and to enable cleaning of the interior of the canister assembly 66 if necessary.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 8-10, the first chamber 110 and the second chamber 112 are fluidly sealed from each other. The cover plate 124 is a common cover plate for the first chamber 110 and the second chamber 112. The first chamber 110 and the second chamber 112 can then be emptied by opening the cover 124, or access to the first chamber 110 and the second chamber 112 is provided, in order to be able to perform a corresponding cleaning.

The cover can be secured with the first chamber 110 and/or the second chamber 112 and/or the crossover 122 in a manner that provides a fluid tight canister arrangement 66 (except for the inlet nozzle) when the cover 124 is closed.

In principle, it is possible for the dirty liquid tank arrangement 66 to also comprise mechanically separate chambers, wherein one chamber is then assigned to each of the first and second sections 72, 74 of the cleaning roller unit 18. In this case, the respective parts of the dirty liquid tank arrangement must then be removed or inserted separately from the cleaning head 14.

The dirty tank device 66 has an underside 128 that is formed on the first and second chambers 110, 112, respectively, on the outside of the bottom 84. It also has an upper side 130, which is opposite the lower side 128 and is formed on the outside of the cover plate 124.

A recess 132 (or recesses 132) is formed in the cover plate 124 on the upper side 130 of the dirty liquid tank device 66. The recess or recesses 132 are channel-shaped and have side concavities 134.

The flip 102 has a mating member 136 (or a plurality of mating members 136) that is adapted to cooperate with the recess 132.

A locking element 138 (fig. 5 to 7) is arranged on the mating element 136 or the mating elements 136, for cooperation with the lateral recess 134. When the mating element 136 with its locking element 138 is lowered into the recess 132 and reaches the retaining arrangement 100, the locking element 138 then rests against the lateral recess 134. Thus, the flip 102 is locked to prevent the upper side 130 of the canister assembly 66 from swinging away. A corresponding expenditure of force must be applied in order for the locking element 138 to be guided away from the lateral concavity 134.

The dirty-liquid tank arrangement 66 is positioned relative to the flap 102 and the receiving chamber 64 in such a way that, when the dirty-liquid tank arrangement 66 is positioned on the receiving chamber 64 in the retaining position 100, the locking element 138 dips into the recess 132 and accordingly bears against the lateral recess 134 and thus ensures the retaining position 100.

In an embodiment, the dirty tank device 66 has a step 140 that mates with the step 96 (see FIG. 6).

When the canister device 66 is inserted into the receiving space 88, the receiving space wall 86 locks the mobility of the canister device 66 in the receiving space 88 in a direction transverse to the insertion/removal direction 92.

The form-locking lock is optionally supported by the steps 96, 140.

The bottom 84 of the receiving chamber 64 prevents the canister assembly 66 from "losing" when inserted.

When the flap 102 is closed and the locking element 138 is positioned in the recess 132 against the lateral recess 134, the mobility parallel to the removal direction 92 is then prevented, in order to ensure that the dirty-tank device 66 remains in position 100 on the receiving chamber 64.

The flap 102 is in particular designed as a hold-down holder, which provides a defined positioning of the dirty liquid tank device 66 relative to the cleaning roller unit 18.

The flap 102 is in particular arranged or formed in a resilient manner in such a way that, in the holding position 100, a corresponding positioning force is exerted on the flap 100 and, in particular, presses the dirty-liquid tank arrangement 66 against the base 84 and the wall region 94. The pressure on the wall area 94 is also supported by the step 96 on the wall area 94 in cooperation with the step 140 in the dirty liquid tank device 66.

It may be provided that the flap 102 is elastically supported on the pivot bearing 106, for example. Alternatively or additionally, the flap 102 can be formed on the counter element 136, for example, in such a way that a corresponding elastic force can be applied to the dirty liquid tank device 66.

The cleaning head 14 has a scraping guide 142 (see fig. 5) which acts on the cleaning roller unit 18 (and in this case on the first section 72 and the second section 74) and is used to detach and convey dirt liquid (in particular water with dirt particles) entrained by the cleaning roller unit 18 to an inlet nozzle 144 of a dirt-liquid tank arrangement 66 which is fixed in the holding position 100 on the cleaning head 14. The dirty liquid is thus fed into the dirty liquid tank arrangement 66.

The inlet nozzle 144 of the canister assembly 66 is slit-shaped (fig. 9). It comprises a first portion 146, which is an inlet mouth for the first chamber 110, and a second portion 148, which is an inlet mouth for the second chamber 112.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 9, the first portion 146 and the second portion 148 each have a greater length on the longitudinal extension axis 116 than the associated chamber 110 or 112. The dirty liquid tank arrangement 66 has walls at the ends of the inlet nozzle 144 in the first and second sections 146, 148, respectively, to enable dirty liquid collected via the first and second sections 146, 148 of the inlet nozzle 144 to be delivered to the first or second chamber 110, 112, respectively.

A first part 146 of the inlet nozzle 144 is associated with the first part 72 of the scrub roller unit 18. A second part 148 of the inlet nozzle 144 is assigned to the second part 74 of the scrub roller unit 18. First portion 146 and second portion 148 of input nozzle 144 are spaced apart from one another corresponding to the spacing of first portion 72 and second portion 74.

Preferably, the first and second portions 146, 148 have respective wrap lengths along the rotational axis 58 that at least approximately correspond to the first and second portions 72, 74 of the scrub roller unit 18, respectively.

The scraping guide 142 is designed such that dirty liquid is scraped off from the cleaning roller assembly 18 via it and guided into the feed nozzle 144.

It is possible in this case that, when the cleaning roller unit 18 rotates, a guiding effect is achieved via the action of centrifugal force and the dirty liquid is thrown into the dirty liquid tank arrangement 66 to some extent.

The scraping guide 142 is spaced from the axis of rotation 58.

In one embodiment (see, e.g., fig. 5), the scrape off guide 142 extends to a depth into the wrap 42 of the scrub roller unit 18. This depth is at least 5% in view of the wet state of the coating 42, in particular the thickness D (fig. 5) of the coating 42 of the cleaning roller unit 18.

The scraping guide 142 is formed in particular by one or more edge elements 150. For example, edge elements 150 are respectively associated with the first part 72 and the second part 74 of the cleaning roller unit 18.

The edge elements 150 are designed as bars which project into the covering 42 of the scrub roller unit 18 on the first and second sections 72, 74.

The edge element 150 has a relatively small thickness, which is in particular smaller than the thickness D of the covering 42.

In one exemplary embodiment, one edge element 150 or a plurality of edge elements 150 is/are formed in a curved manner.

The scraper guide 142 forms, in particular, a wall of the feed nozzle 144 by means of an edge element 150 or a plurality of edge elements 150.

One or more edge elements 150 are rounded or chamfered at the edge facing the inlet nipple 144. The fibers of the cover 42 are thereby protected and less force needs to be overcome when the scrub roller unit 18 is rotated. Thereby realizing the energy-saving effect. This rounding at the edge is indicated in fig. 5 by reference numeral 151.

In principle, it can be provided that the scraping guide 142 is arranged on the cleaning roller holder 60.

In the embodiment shown, the scrape off guide 142 is positioned on the dirty liquid tank arrangement 66.

The dirty-liquid tank arrangement has a wall section 152 which faces the wall section 94 in the holding position 100. One or more edge elements 150 are arranged on the respective wall 152 of the first chamber 110 and of the second chamber 112.

The corresponding scraping guide 142 is preferably arranged here outside the flap 124 of the dirty liquid tank device 66.

In this embodiment, the scraping guide 142 is removed from the cleaning head 14 when the dirty liquid tank arrangement 66 is removed from the cleaning head.

Furthermore, it is provided that a covering part 154 is positioned on the cleaning head 14 in association with the cleaning roller unit 18. The covering 154 is arranged immediately after the scraping off guide 142 (with one or more edge elements 150). The edge element 150 is curved in such a way that it is adapted to the corresponding curvature of the cleaning roller unit 118 with the coating 42.

In principle, the covering part 154 comes into contact with the covering 42 or penetrates into it, wherein the penetration depth is preferably smaller than the penetration depth T of the scraper guide 142.

In one exemplary embodiment, the fluid line 40 or the fluid lines 40 open into the region 156 between the cover 154 and the scraping guide 142, in which the cleaning roller unit 18 can then be supplied with cleaning liquid from the tank arrangement 34.

In particular, the region 146 has a length along the rotational axis 58 which corresponds at least approximately to the length of the first or second section 72, 74 of the cleaning roller unit 18, in order to be able to achieve a uniform fluid application of the cleaning roller unit 18 over its length.

In the illustrated embodiment, the cover 154 is disposed on the canister assembly 66.

Accordingly, it must be provided that a suitable connection to fluid line 40 or to fluid lines 40 is made.

With regard to the direction of rotation 158 (see fig. 5) of the cleaning roller unit 18 during the cleaning operation, the scraper guide 142 is arranged with its edge element 150 or its edge elements 150 behind the feed nozzle 144. This makes it possible to "throw" via the scraper guide 142 dirty liquid, which was previously entrained by the cleaning roller unit 18 from the surface 16 to be cleaned and transported in the direction of the scraper guide 142, into the inlet nozzle 144 and thus into the dirty liquid tank arrangement 66.

In one embodiment, the cleaning roller unit 18 is also assigned a sweeping element 160, which is used to convey coarse dirt to the cleaning roller unit 18. This coarse dirt can then be entrained by the cleaning roller unit 18.

The inlet nozzle 144 is arranged between the scraping guide 142 and the sweeping element 160.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the sweeping element 160 is arranged on the cleaning roller holder 60 at the holding region 62. The sweeping element 160 is designed in such a way that it can act on the surface 16 to be cleaned for a sweeping function at least within the angular positioning range of the surface cleaning machine 10 relative to the surface 16 to be cleaned about the longitudinal axis 20 (when the surface cleaning machine 10 is not standing steeply).

The sweeping element 160 is arranged on the cleaning roller holder 60, for example, in a pivotable manner and/or is formed in an elastic manner.

In particular, the sweeping element 160 projects into the covering 42 of the scrub roller unit 18. However, it may also be free of contact with or spaced apart from the cover 42.

With regard to the direction of rotation 158 of the cleaning roller unit 18, when it is driven in its rotary motion by the drive motor 28, the surface 16 to be cleaned is followed first by the sweeping element 160, then by the guide region 162 of the cleaning roller holder 60, which is cylindrical in its shape and is adapted to the cleaning roller unit 18, then by the feed nozzle 144, then by the scraping guide 142 with the one or more edge elements 150, and then by the covering 154, the region 156 being located between the covering 154 and the scraping guide 142.

In the embodiment shown, the surface cleaning machine 10 is designed without a suction machine. The dirty liquid entrained by the scrub roller unit 18 is not sucked into the dirty liquid tank arrangement 66 by an additional suction machine, but only the scraping guide 142 provides for feeding the dirty liquid into the dirty liquid tank arrangement 66.

In principle, however, the feed can still be supported by additional suction.

The face cleaning machine 10 operates as follows:

in the cleaning mode, the dirty liquid tank arrangement 66 is fixed in the holding position 100 on the cleaning head 14.

For the cleaning process, the surface cleaning machine 10 is simply placed on the surface 16 to be cleaned via the cleaning roller unit 18. The drive motor 28 drives the scrub roller unit 18 in a rotational movement about the (single) axis of rotation 58 in a rotational direction 158.

The cleaning roller unit 18 is loaded with cleaning liquid from the tank arrangement 34.

Dirt on the surface 16 to be cleaned is wetted when the wetted coating 42 of the cleaning roller unit 18 acts on the dirt, thereby facilitating the disengageability thereof.

The rotation of the cleaning roller unit 18 causes a mechanical action on the dirt on the surface to be cleaned 16 to obtain a better disengageability from the surface to be cleaned 16.

Possible coarse dirt can be conveyed to the cleaning roller unit 18 by means of the sweeping element 160.

Dirty liquid (dirt particles, cleaning liquid with detached dirt) is entrained by the cleaning roller unit 18 and is detached from the cleaning roller unit 18 on the scraping guide 142 and (in particular under the action of centrifugal force) guided into the inlet nozzle 144 and from there into the dirty-liquid tank arrangement 66. The scraping guide 142 causes the dirty liquid to be detached from the coating 42 of the cleaning roller unit 18 by scraping.

The feeding of the dirty liquid into the dirty liquid tank arrangement 66 is effected in particular in a suction-free manner.

A dirty liquid tank arrangement 66 is removably positioned on the cleaner head 14.

The flip 102 provides security in the holding position 100. In the holding position 100, the inlet nozzle 144 of the dirty liquid tank arrangement 66 is aligned relative to the cleaning roller unit 18 in relation to the scraping guide 142 in such a way that the respective stripping and insertion functions are performed as described above.

The flap 102 with its function as a hold-down means provides that the edge element 150 or edge elements 150 are pressed into the covering 42 to a depth T in order to achieve an optimum release function by scraping off.

In particular, the scraper guide 142 is arranged on the dirty liquid tank arrangement 66 and can be removed together with the dirty liquid tank arrangement from the cleaning head 14.

The flap 102 is pushed with its counter element 136 and the locking element 138 arranged thereon onto the upper side 130 of the dirty liquid tank arrangement 66 and thus ensures a holding position in which the above-described relative positioning of the scraping guide 142 relative to the cleaning roller unit 18 is also achieved.

In the holding position 100, a form-locking holding of the dirty liquid tank arrangement 66 on the receiving chamber 64 is provided.

To remove the dirty liquid tank unit 66 (fig. 3, 6, 7), the lid 102 is opened. The flip pivots in the direction of the device body 12. In order to guide the locking element 138 out of the recess 132 with the side concavity 134, a corresponding elastic deformation of the counter element 136 has to be performed.

When the lid 102 is fully opened (fig. 6), the dirty liquid tank unit 66 (see fig. 3) can then be removed.

By opening the cover 124 of the dirty liquid tank arrangement 66, it can be emptied and cleaned if necessary, for example by flushing.

The dirty liquid tank arrangement 66 has a capacity of, for example, about 150 ml.

The surface cleaning machine 10 has a relatively low energy requirement, since no suction machine has to be provided and the dirty liquid is fed directly from the cleaning roller unit 18 into the dirty liquid tank arrangement 66 with a "minimum stroke".

Thus, the surface cleaning machine 10 can be operated optimally with the rechargeable battery device 44.

Wet cleaning of hard floors can be carried out with a high degree of automation by means of the surface cleaning machine according to the invention. The expenditure of force during wiping is reduced or eliminated by mechanical assistance via the driven rotating roller 18. Wetting the cleaning roller unit 18 enables the operator to perform the cleaning process without contacting the dirty liquid.

In addition, automatic cleaning of the cleaning roller unit 18 is achieved in the cleaning operation within a certain angle.

A dirty liquid tank arrangement 66 is arranged between the scrub roller unit 18 and the drive motor 28. The longitudinal extent of the inlet mouth 144 parallel to the longitudinal extent axis 116 is parallel to the rotational axis 58 of the cleaning roller unit 18 and transverse and in particular perpendicular to the motor axis 46. Furthermore, the longitudinal extension axis of the inlet mouth 144 is transverse and in particular perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 20.

It may be provided that the drive motor 28 is also used to drive one or more suction turbines which are in turn fluidly operatively connected to the interior of the dirty-tank device 66 in order to generate a negative pressure which improves the feeding of dirty liquid into the dirty-tank device.

In principle, the surface cleaning machine 10 can also be operated in mains operation.

A sweeping element 160 may also be arranged on the dirty liquid tank arrangement 66.

Overload protection may be provided. The overload protection is designed, for example, as a mechanical overload protection, which includes, for example, a slip clutch. Alternatively or additionally, an electronic overload protection can be provided, which performs, for example, an overcurrent shutdown.

In normal cleaning operation, the canister arrangement 34 is arranged above the cleaning head 14 with respect to the gravitational direction. The cleaning liquid can thus flow under the influence of gravity from the tank arrangement 34 to the cleaning head 14 without a pump, in order to load the surface 16 to be cleaned with cleaning liquid directly or indirectly via the cleaning roller unit 18.

The surface cleaning machine 10 can be designed such that the sweeping element 160 is only activated when a specific angular position is set relative to the surface 16 to be cleaned relative to the longitudinal axis 20 and, in particular, the angle between the surface 16 to be cleaned and the longitudinal axis is smaller than a maximum angle.

In the cleaning mode, the surface cleaning machine 10 is moved guided by the user over the surface 16 to be cleaned. Due to the rotational drive of the cleaning roller unit 18, no or only a small expenditure of force is required for the forward movement perpendicular to the axis of rotation 58. The change in direction is pushed by the operator via a corresponding force.

Additional examples of cleaning machines 202 (fig. 11-13) include stationary stations 204 (docking stations) and cleaning heads 206. The cleaning head 206 is configured to move and change direction.

It can automatically carry out a cleaning process and in particular a wiping process on the surface 16 to be cleaned.

The cleaning head 206 comprises a cleaning roller unit 208 (see fig. 13), a drive motor 210 for the cleaning roller unit 208, a battery arrangement 212 for supplying electrical power to the drive motor 210, a dirty-liquid tank arrangement 214 for containing dirty liquid, and a tank arrangement 216 for cleaning liquid.

The dirty liquid tank arrangement 214 and/or the tank arrangement 216 for cleaning liquid are arranged in particular in a removable manner on the cleaning head 206.

The fixed-site station 204 may be capable of satisfying various tasks, such as storage (storage) of the cleaning head 206 in non-cleaning operation; charging the rechargeable battery device 212; discharging or partially discharging the battery device 212 after the cleaning operation is completed; emptying the dirty tank arrangement 214 after the cleaning operation has ended; filling the tank arrangement 216 for cleaning liquid; cleaning of the cleaning roller unit 208 after completion of the cleaning operation.

In particular, means are provided which enable the cleaning head 206 to be returned to the stationary station 204 "on demand", as, for example, in the event of a detection of a lower threshold for charging the battery device 212 and/or an upper threshold for the liquid level of the dirty liquid tank device 214 and/or a lower threshold for the filling tank device 216.

In one embodiment, an interface is arranged on the cleaning head 206, via which the stationary station 204 can act on the cleaning head 206, for example for charging (or discharging) the battery arrangement 212, or for emptying the dirty liquid tank arrangement 214, or for filling the tank arrangement 216.

In this case, a single interface 218 with different sub-interfaces may be provided, or a correspondingly separate interface may be provided.

The cleaning head 206 has a body 220 on which a cleaning roller unit 208, a drive motor 210, a battery unit 212, a dirty liquid tank unit 214, and a tank unit 216 for cleaning liquid are respectively arranged.

In an embodiment (fig. 13), the scrub roller unit 208 of the scrub head 206 includes a first scrub roller 222 having a first orientation 224 of respective axes of rotation and a second scrub roller 226 having a second orientation 228 of axes of rotation.

First orientation 224 and second orientation 228 are at an angle different from 0 ° and 180 ° to each other, that is, they are not coaxial with each other. This results in a wedge-shaped structure having a virtual or imaginary wedge-shaped tip 230 at the front end of the cleaning head 206 (see fig. 12).

It is provided that the first cleaning roller 222 and the second cleaning roller 226, which have axes of rotation with a first orientation 224 and a second orientation 228, are driven by the same drive motor 210. For this purpose, a corresponding gear is provided.

In principle, however, it is also possible to provide each cleaning roller with its own drive motor.

In particular, each cleaning roller 222, 226 of the cleaning roller unit 208 in turn has a sub-roller 232a, 232b, the sub-rollers 232a, 232b being arranged on a shaft 234 and the region of action (or of the respective gear) for the drive motor 210 being arranged on the shaft 234 in relation to the respective sub-roller 232a, 232b on an intermediate region of the respective first cleaning roller 222 or 226. An intermediate action is then achieved for each of the scrub rollers 222, 226.

In particular, it is possible, for example, via a corresponding design of the gear, for the first cleaning roller 222 and the second cleaning roller 226 to be able to be operated at different rotational speeds and, if appropriate, in different rotational directions.

The traveling drive of the cleaning head 206 is realized by the corresponding rotation of the cleaning roller unit 208. The direction change is achieved by different rotational speeds and/or rotational directions for the first and second scrub rollers 222 and 226.

Otherwise, the cleaning head 206 operates as described above.

In a cleaning operation, the cleaner head 206 travels over the surface 216 to be cleaned. The cleaning rollers 222, 226 of the cleaning roller unit 208 are "wetted" by the cleaning liquid of the tank arrangement 216.

Dirt dislodged from the surface 16 to be cleaned is entrained by the cleaning rollers 222, 226, dislodged from the wiper, which may be securely attached to the dirty-tank arrangement 214, and carried into the dirty-tank arrangement 214.

The cleaning head 206 can automatically perform cleaning tasks and in particular wiping tasks as a "wiping robot" by its self-traveling and self-steering configuration.

A further embodiment of a cleaning head 240 (fig. 14, 15) of a surface cleaning machine according to the invention comprises a body 242. A wiping roller unit 246 which can be driven in rotation about the axis of rotation 224 is arranged on the machine body. A corresponding drive motor (not shown in fig. 14) is provided.

Spaced apart from the wiping roller unit 246, a cleaning unit 250 is arranged on the machine body 242, which can be driven in a rotating manner about the axis of rotation 248. The sweeping unit 250 and the wiping roller unit 246 form a cleaning roller unit 252 of the cleaning head 240.

The cleaning roller unit 250 may include its own drive motor, or a drive motor for the wiping roller unit 246 may be provided for driving the cleaning roller unit 250.

Especially when separate driving motors for the wiping roller unit 246 and the cleaning roller unit 252 are provided, the devices for driving the wiping roller unit 246 and the cleaning roller unit 250 are provided at the same rotational speed.

A removable dirty liquid tank device 254 is disposed on the body 242. In an embodiment, the dirty liquid tank arrangement 254 includes a container 256 (tank) for holding dirty liquid.

The container 256 is arranged in such a way that "wet" dirty liquid from the wiping roller unit 246 can be accommodated in the container 256.

The scraper 258 (scraper guide 258) is assigned in particular to the wiping roller unit 246, which provides for a corresponding stripping of the dirty liquid from the coating of the wiping roller unit 246 and transport thereof to the container 256.

In an embodiment, the wiper 258 is securely attached to the container 256.

The container 256 of the dirty liquid tank arrangement 254 is arranged in such a way that it can also receive the cleaning material from the cleaning roller unit 250; the sweep is "dry" dirty fluid provided by the sweep roller unit 250.

The sweeping roller unit 250 is associated with a sweeping edge 262, the sweeping edge 262 being formed in a ramp-like manner. Sweeping edge 262 provides for the transport of the swept material to receptacle 256.

As described above, in particular, the container 256 can be released from the cleaning head 240.

In this case, it is provided in particular that the dirty liquid tank arrangement 254 and in this case in particular the container 256 are positioned between the wiping roller unit 246 and the sweeping roller unit 250. It forms a common receptacle for the dirty liquid of the cleaning roller unit 252 and here of the wiping roller unit 246 and the sweeping roller unit 250.

A tank arrangement 260 for cleaning liquid is arranged on the body 242. From the tank arrangement, cleaning liquid can be supplied to the wiping roller unit 246, in particular "from above".

When the cleaning head 240 is accurately placed on the surface 16 to be cleaned, the canister arrangement 260 is positioned above the receptacle 256 relative to the surface 16 to be cleaned.

In the exemplary embodiment, it is provided that the cleaning head 240 is supported on the surface 16 to be cleaned via the cleaning roller unit 252 and in this case not only via the wiping roller unit 246 but also via the sweeping roller unit 250.

The sweeping roller unit 250 forms a further support device for supporting on the surface 16 to be cleaned, relative to the wiping roller unit 246.

The at least partial travel drive of the cleaning head 240 for the surface 16 to be cleaned (see below) is effected via a rotary movement of the wiper roller unit 246 and/or the sweeping function unit 250.

A corresponding deviator for deviator can be provided.

In the cleaning head 240, the dirty liquid tank arrangement 254 has a common receptacle 256 for dirty liquid from the wiper roller unit 246 and the sweeping roller unit 250.

In an additional embodiment of the cleaning head 270 (fig. 16), the cleaning roller unit 272 includes a wiping roller unit 274 and a sweeping roller unit 276. The wiping roller unit 274 and the cleaning roller unit 276 are arranged opposite one another and, in particular, in contact with one another in such a way that the dirty liquid tank device 278 comprises a common receptacle 280 for dirty liquid from the wiping roller unit 274 and the cleaning roller unit 276.

The contact between the cleaning roller unit 276 and the wiping roller unit 274 in this case causes, in particular, the brushes of the cleaning roller unit 276 to be embedded in the coating of the wiping roller unit 274.

A scraper 282 is provided which disengages the dirty liquid from the wiping roller unit 274 and enables transport into the receptacle 280.

In this case, it can be provided that the cleaning roller unit 276 is arranged relative to the wiping roller unit 274 in such a way that dirty liquid is transferred from the cleaning roller unit 276 to the wiping roller unit 274, and then the "common" dirty liquid is removed by the wiper 282 and conveyed into the dirty liquid tank 278.

In other aspects, the cleaning head 270 operates as described above.

In particular, the cleaning head is designed to be self-traveling and self-changing in direction.

In an alternative or combined embodiment of the cleaning head 290 (fig. 17), a further support device 292 is provided opposite the wiping roller unit 246 in the cleaning head 240 with the associated dirty liquid tank device 256. The additional support 292 is used to support the cleaning head 290 on the surface 214 to be cleaned.

The further support device 292 is located, in particular, spaced apart from the wiping roller unit 246.

For example, a container 256 for dirty liquid is positioned between the further support device 292 and the wiping roller unit 246.

A further support device 292 is used in conjunction with the wiping roller unit 246 (and optionally the sweeping roller unit 250) to support the cleaning head 290 on the surface 16 to be cleaned.

For example, the additional support 292 may include one or more sliding elements, such as sliding plates.

It is also possible that the additional support 292 may comprise one or more rollers.

In principle, the further support device 292 can be driven in such a way that it supports at least the travel drive of the cleaning head 290 over the surface to be cleaned.

In one exemplary embodiment, the additional support 292 is formed in a variable manner. This is indicated in fig. 17 by reference numeral 294.

In particular, the controllable adjustability is achieved, for example, via one or more direction-changing rollers, wherein the respective direction-changing drive 296 is in particular provided with an electric motor.

The self-redirecting cleaning head 290 may be redirected by a direction-redirecting actuator 296.

For example, the additional support device 292 with the direction-changing drive 296 can also be implemented on the cleaning head 240 with the wiping roller unit 246 and the sweeping roller unit 250 or on the cleaning head 270 with the wiping roller unit 274 and the cleaning roller unit 272.

In principle, this can also be implemented on the cleaning head 206.

List of reference numerals

10-surface cleaning machine

12 apparatus body

14 cleaning head

16 side to be cleaned

18 cleaning roller unit

20 longitudinal axis

22 holding rod device

24 holding rod

26 handle

28 drive motor

30 casing

32 holder

34 tank arrangement for cleaning liquid

36 can container

38 valve device

39 filter device

40 fluid line

42 cover

44 cell device

46 motor axis

48 axis of oscillation

50 double arrow

52 inner sleeve

54 outer sleeve

56 oscillating bearing

58 axis of rotation

60 scrub roller retainer

62 holding area

64 accommodating chamber

66 dirty liquid tank device

68 transmission device

70 shaft

72 first part

74 second part

76 middle region

78 sleeve

80 first end side

82 second end side

84 bottom

86 accommodating chamber wall portion

88 accommodating cavity

Side 90

92 removal/insertion direction

94 wall region

96 steps

98 fixing device

100 remain in position

102 flip cover

104 axis of oscillation

106 oscillating bearing

108 direction

110 first chamber

112 second chamber

114 recess

116 longitudinal extension axis

118 first outer end portion

120 second outer end portion

122 crossover

124 cover plate

126a oscillating bearing

126b rocking bearing

128 lower side

130 upper side

132 recess

134 side concave surface

136 mating element

138 locking element

140 steps

142 scraping guide device

144 input nozzle

146 first part

148 second part

150 edge element

151 rounded portion, chamfered portion

152 wall portion

154 covering member

156 region

158 direction of rotation

160 sweeping element

162 guide area

202 cleaning machine

204 fixed site station

206 cleaning head

208 cleaning roller unit

210 drive motor

212 battery device

214 dirty liquid tank device

216 tank arrangement for cleaning liquids

218 interface

220 body

222 first cleaning roller

224 first orientation

226 second cleaning roller

228 second orientation

230 wedge tip

232a sub-roller

232b sub-roller

234 axle

240 cleaning head

242 body

244 axis of rotation

246 wiping roller unit

248 axis of rotation

250 cleaning roller unit

252 cleaning roller unit

254 dirty liquid tank device

256 container

258 scraping device

260 tank arrangement for cleaning liquids

262 sweeping edge

270 cleaning head

272 cleaning roller unit

274 wiping roller unit

276 cleaning roller unit

278 dirty liquid tank device

280 accommodating part

282 scraping device

290 cleaning head

292 additional support devices

294 "variable Direction"

296 steering driver

Claims (65)

1. A surface cleaning machine comprising a cleaning head (14; 206; 240; 270; 290) having a driven cleaning roller unit (18; 208; 252; 272) with a rotational axis (58; 244, 248), wherein, in a cleaning operation, the surface cleaning machine is supported on a surface (16) to be cleaned via the cleaning roller unit (18; 208; 252; 272) and a further support device (292), the surface cleaning machine further comprising a drive motor (28; 210) for the cleaning roller unit (18; 208; 252; 272) and a dirty-liquid tank device (66; 214; 254; 278) which is arranged in a removable manner on the cleaning head (14; 206; 240; 270; 290), wherein the further support device (292) is a roller unit having one or more cleaning rollers.

2. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning roller unit (252) comprises a wiping roller unit (246).

3. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning roller unit (252; 270) comprises a wiping roller unit (246; 274) and a sweeping roller unit (250; 276).

4. A surface cleaning machine as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that in the cleaning operation the surface cleaning machine is supported on the surface (16) to be cleaned via the wiping roller unit (246; 274) and the sweeping roller unit (250; 276).

5. Face cleaning machine as in claim 3, characterized in that the dirty-liquid tank device (278) comprises a common receptacle for the sweeping material from the sweeping roller unit (276) and for the dirty liquid from the wiping roller unit (274).

6. Face cleaning machine as in claim 3, characterized in that the dirty-liquid tank device (254) comprises separate receptacles for the sweepings from the sweeping roller unit (250) and for the dirty liquid from the wiping roller unit (246).

7. The surface cleaning machine as claimed in claim 5 or 6, characterized in that one or more containers (256) for dirty liquid of the dirty-liquid tank device (254) are positioned in a releasable manner on the cleaning head (240) between the sweeping roller unit (250) and the wiping roller unit (246).

8. Surface cleaning machine according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the further support device (292) comprises at least one roller and/or the further support device comprises at least one sliding element.

9. The surface cleaning machine according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the cleaning roller unit (208) comprises one or more cleaning rollers (222, 226) or sub-cleaning rollers driven by the same drive motor (210), wherein different cleaning rollers (222, 226) or sub-cleaning rollers have the same or different oriented axes of rotation (224, 228).

10. The surface cleaning machine according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a longitudinally extending axis (116) of the dirty-liquid tank arrangement (66) is oriented parallel to the rotational axis (58) of the cleaning roller unit (18).

11. The surface cleaning machine according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a motor axis (46) of the drive motor (28) is oriented transversely to a longitudinal extension axis (116) of the dirty-liquid tank arrangement (66).

12. The surface cleaning machine according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the dirty-liquid tank arrangement (66) is arranged between the cleaning roller unit (18) and the drive motor (28).

13. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 12, characterized by a transmission (68) for torque transmission, which is arranged between the drive motor (28) and the cleaning roller unit (18), the dirty-liquid tank device (66) having an upper side (130) and a lower side (128), wherein the lower side (128) faces the cleaning roller holder (60) of the cleaning roller unit (18) and the upper side (130) faces away from the lower side (128), and the transmission (68) is guided past the lower side (128) or the upper side (130) of the dirty-liquid tank device (66).

14. Machine as in claim 13, characterized in that the dirty-liquid tank device (66) has a recess (114) in which at least one partial region of the gear mechanism (68) is positioned when the dirty-liquid tank device (66) is fastened to the cleaning head (14).

15. Surface cleaning machine according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by an apparatus body (12) on which the cleaning head (14) is arranged, wherein at least one of the following means is positioned on the apparatus body (12): a tank arrangement (34) for cleaning liquid; a valve arrangement (38) for delivering cleaning liquid to the cleaning head (14); battery means (44) for said drive motor (28); a holding bar arrangement (22) for holding and/or guiding the surface cleaning machine; a filtering device (39) for the cleaning liquid; at least a portion of the drive motor (28).

16. The surface cleaning machine as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the drive motor (28) is arranged at least partially between the appliance body (12) and the cleaning head (14).

17. The surface cleaning machine as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the cleaning head (14) is pivotable about a pivot axis (48) relative to the drive motor (28) and/or the machine body (12).

18. The surface cleaning machine according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the cleaning roller holder (60) comprises a receiving chamber (64) with a receiving chamber (88) for the dirty liquid tank arrangement (66).

19. Machine according to claim 18, characterized in that a fastening device (98) is associated with the receiving chamber (64), by means of which the dirty-liquid tank device (66) can be fastened to the receiving chamber (64), wherein the fastening device (98) is designed to be releasable for the removability of the dirty-liquid tank device (66) from the cleaning head (14).

20. Machine as in claim 19, characterized in that said fixing means (98) comprise at least one flap (102) which can oscillate.

21. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 20, characterized in that the pivot axis (104) of the at least one flap (102) is oriented at least approximately parallel to the rotational axis (58) of the cleaning roller unit (18).

22. Machine according to claim 20, characterized in that the at least one flap (102) acts on an upper side (130) of the dirty-liquid tank device (66) facing away from a lower side (128), wherein the lower side (128) of the dirty-liquid tank device (66) faces the bottom (84) of the receiving chamber (64) when the dirty-liquid tank device (66) is fastened to the cleaning head (14).

23. Machine as in claim 20, characterized in that the at least one flap (102) is configured as a hold-down holder which positions the dirty-liquid tank arrangement (66) in a defined manner relative to the cleaning roller unit (18) and/or in the receiving chamber (88).

24. Machine according to claim 22, characterized in that the at least one flap (102) is spring-loaded and/or is elastically designed to hold the dirty-liquid tank arrangement (66) with pretension in the receiving space (88).

25. Machine as in claim 22, characterized in that at least one recess (132) is arranged on an upper side (130) of the dirty-liquid tank device (66) and in that the at least one flap (102) has at least one counter-element (136) for sinking into the at least one recess (132).

26. Machine according to claim 25, characterized in that the at least one recess (132) has at least one lateral recess (134) and the at least one counter element (136) has a locking element (138) matching the at least one lateral recess (134), which prevents the movability of the dirty-liquid tank arrangement (66) in the direction (92) away from the bottom (84) of the receiving chamber (64) with the at least one flap (102) closed.

27. Machine as in claim 19, characterized in that the receiving chamber (64) and the dirty-liquid tank device (66) are configured to be matched to one another such that the movability of the dirty-liquid tank device (66) transversely to a vertical line of a floor (84) of the receiving chamber (64) is prevented in a holding position (100) of the dirty-liquid tank device (66) at the receiving chamber (64).

28. The surface cleaning machine as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the dirty-liquid tank arrangement (66) has one or more cover plates (124).

29. The surface cleaning machine as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the dirty liquid tank arrangement (66) is constructed as a unit.

30. The surface cleaning machine according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the cleaning roller unit (18) is designed in two parts with a first part (72) and a second part (74), wherein the first part (72) of the cleaning roller unit (18) is assigned to the first chamber (110) of the dirty liquid tank arrangement (66) and the second part (74) of the cleaning roller unit (18) is assigned to the second chamber (112) of the dirty liquid tank arrangement (66).

31. The surface cleaning machine as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by a scraping guide (142; 258) for dirty liquid, which acts on the cleaning roller unit (18; 252) and which is arranged at an inlet nozzle (144) of the dirty liquid tank device (66; 254).

32. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 31, characterized in that the scraping-off guide device (142; 258) is arranged and configured such that the dirty liquid entrained by the cleaning roller unit (18; 252) is detached from the cleaning roller unit (18; 252) by scraping off and is guided towards the inlet mouth (144) of the dirty-liquid tank device (66; 254).

33. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 31, characterized in that the scraper guide (142; 258) is configured such that dirty liquid is guided into the dirty liquid tank device (66; 254) without a suction machine by the scraper guide (142; 258) at an inlet nozzle (144) of the dirty liquid tank device (66; 254).

34. The surface cleaning machine as claimed in claim 31, characterized in that the scraping guide (142; 258) is arranged behind the inlet nozzle (144) with respect to the direction of rotation (158) of the cleaning roller unit (18; 252).

35. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 31, characterized in that the scraping guide (142; 258) protrudes into the covering (42) of the cleaning roller unit (18; 252).

36. The surface cleaning machine as claimed in claim 35, characterized in that the scraping guide (142; 258) is rounded or chamfered at the edge which projects into the covering (42) and faces the feed mouth (144).

37. Face cleaning machine according to claim 35, characterized in that for wet clothing (42) the scraping guide (142; 258) projects into the clothing (42) with a depth (T) of at least 5% of the thickness (D) of the clothing (42).

38. Face cleaning machine as in claim 31, characterized in that the scraping guide (142; 258) is arranged on the dirty-liquid tank device (66; 254) and can be removed from the cleaning head (14; 240) together with the dirty-liquid tank device (66; 254).

39. The surface cleaning machine as claimed in claim 31, characterized in that the scraping guide (142; 258) is formed by one or more edge elements (150).

40. The surface cleaning machine according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one sweeping element (160) is arranged on the cleaning head (14), by means of which coarse dirt can be conveyed to the cleaning roller unit (18) for entrainment by the cleaning roller unit (18).

41. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 39, characterized in that at least one sweeping element (160) is arranged on the cleaning head (14), by means of which coarse dirt can be conveyed to the cleaning roller unit (18) for entrainment by the cleaning roller unit (18), wherein an input mouth (144) of the dirty-liquid tank arrangement (66) is positioned between the scraping guide (142) and the at least one sweeping element (160).

42. Surface cleaning machine according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by a battery device (44) for supplying the drive motor (28; 210) with electrical energy.

43. Surface cleaning machine according to claim 42, characterized in that the drive motor (28; 210) is arranged between the battery device (44) and the cleaning head (14; 206).

44. The surface cleaning machine as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by a tank arrangement (34; 260) for the cleaning liquid.

45. A surface cleaning machine as claimed in claim 44, characterized in that the tank arrangement (34; 260) for cleaning liquid is positioned above the cleaning roller unit (18; 252) with respect to the direction of gravity when the surface cleaning machine is operated in a cleaning operation with a defined placement of the cleaning roller unit (18; 252) on the surface (16) to be cleaned.

46. The surface cleaning machine according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the inlet nozzle (144) of the dirty-liquid tank arrangement (66) has a longitudinal extension which is oriented parallel to the axis of rotation (58) of the cleaning roller unit (18).

47. A surface cleaning machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by the configuration of the surface cleaning machine being of the manually operated or manually guided type.

48. Surface cleaning machine according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the cleaning head (206; 240; 270; 290) is designed to be self-traveling and self-deflecting.

49. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 48, characterized by having the cleaning head (206; 240; 270; 290) and a stationary station (204), relative to which the cleaning head (206; 240; 270; 290) is movable, wherein the stationary station (204) is provided for at least one of:

-storing the cleaning head (206; 240; 270; 290) in a non-cleaning operation of the cleaning head (206; 240; 270; 290);

-charging a battery arrangement (212) arranged on the cleaning head (206; 240; 270; 290);

-a defined or partial discharge of a battery arrangement (212) arranged on the cleaning head (206; 240; 270; 290);

-cleaning a cleaning roller unit (208; 252; 272) of the cleaning head (206; 240; 270; 290);

-emptying the dirty liquid tank arrangement (214; 254; 278);

-filling the tank arrangement (216; 260) for the cleaning liquid with the cleaning liquid.

50. Machine according to claim 48, characterized in that there is a travel drive of the cleaning head (206; 240; 270; 290) via the cleaning roller unit (208; 252; 272) and/or the further support device (292).

51. A surface cleaning machine as claimed in claim 48, characterized by having a variable directionality to the cleaning head (206; 240; 270; 290) via the cleaning roller unit (208; 252; 272) and/or by the further support device (292).

52. The surface cleaning machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that one or more cleaning rollers (222, 226) of the cleaning roller unit (206) are rotationally driven in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction via the drive motor (210).

53. The area cleaning machine according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the cleaning roller unit (208) comprises at least one first cleaning roller (222) having a first orientation (224) of the axis of rotation and a second cleaning roller (226) having a second orientation (228) of the axis of rotation, wherein the first orientation (224) and the second orientation (228) are at an angle different from 0 ° and 180 ° to each other.

54. A surface cleaning machine as claimed in claim 53, characterized by a wedge-shaped arrangement of the first cleaning roller (222) and the second cleaning roller (226).

55. A surface cleaning machine as claimed in claim 53, characterized in that the rotation of the first cleaning roller (222) and the rotation of the second cleaning roller (226) can be driven independently of one another.

56. The surface cleaning machine according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the motor axis (46) of the drive motor (28) is oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal extension axis (116) of the dirty-liquid tank arrangement (66).

57. The surface cleaning machine as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that the drive motor is arranged partially in the appliance body (12).

58. Machine according to claim 17, characterized in that the pivot axis (48) is oriented parallel or coaxial to a motor axis (46) of the drive motor (28).

59. Face cleaning machine as in claim 19, characterized in that the fixing device (98) is configured to hold the dirty-liquid tank device (66) at the receiving chamber (64) in a holding position (100) by form-locking.

60. Machine according to claim 20, characterized in that the at least one flap (102) is configured as a hold-down holder which presses the dirty-tank device (66) against the bottom (84) of the receiving chamber (64) in a holding position (100).

61. Machine as in claim 30, characterized in that said drive motor (28) acts on an intermediate zone between said first portion (72) and said second portion (74).

62. A surface cleaning machine as claimed in claim 39, characterized in that an edge element (150) forms at least partially a wall of the inlet nozzle (144).

63. Surface cleaning machine according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by rechargeable battery means (44) for supplying the drive motor (28; 210) with electrical energy.

64. A surface cleaning machine as claimed in claim 54, characterized in that a wedge-shaped tip (230) is located in the region of the front end of the cleaning head (206).

65. The surface cleaning machine of claim 55, wherein the change in direction of the cleaning head (206) is effected by respective actuation of the first cleaning roller (222) and the second cleaning roller (226).

Images