阅读说明：本技术 具有旋转刷子的真空清洁用具 (Vacuum cleaning appliance with rotating brush ) 是由 C·M·P·施韦林 A·S·冯克 于 2018-06-27 设计创作，主要内容包括：在一种具有被布置为绕基本竖直的轴线(A)旋转的刷子(B)的真空清洁用具中,真空清洁用具设置有引导件(G),用于仅在刷子(B)的旋转的一部分期间,将刷子(B)推向待清洁的表面(S),而在旋转的另一部分期间,刷子(B)从表面(S)释放。优选地,引导件(G)具有沿引导件(G)的周缘变化的高度,以便限定旋转中的将刷子(B)推向表面(S)的部分,优选地在刷子(B)背离吸嘴(M)处,刷子(B)被布置为在刷子(B)面对吸嘴(M)处从表面(S)释放。引导件(G)的高度、或引导件(G)中的将刷子(B)推向最朝向表面(S)的至少一部分的高度可以在5mm和15mm之间,优选地不超过10mm。优选地,刷子(B)被安装为相对于竖直成角度(α),该角度(α)可以在5度和30度之间,并且优选地在15度和25度之间。真空清洁器有利地具有由这样的真空清洁器用具形成的管嘴。机器人真空清洁器(RVC)有利地由这样的真空清洁用具形成。(In a vacuum cleaning appliance having a brush (B) arranged to rotate about a substantially vertical axis (a), the vacuum cleaning appliance is provided with a guide (G) for urging the brush (B) towards a surface (S) to be cleaned only during a part of the rotation of the brush (B), while during another part of the rotation the brush (B) is released from the surface (S), preferably the guide (G) has a height that varies along the circumference of the guide (G) so as to define the part of the rotation that urges the brush (B) towards the surface (S), preferably where the brush (B) faces away from the suction nozzle (M), the brush (B) is arranged to be released from the surface (S) where the brush (B) faces the suction nozzle (M), preferably the height of the guide (G), or the height of at least a part of the guide (G) that urges the brush (B) most towards the surface (S), may be between 5mm and 15mm, preferably not more than 10mm, preferably the brush (B) is mounted at an angle to the vertical axis (B), and such a vacuum cleaner may advantageously be formed by a vacuum cleaner angle of between 5 degrees and 15 degrees (c), preferably between 3583 and 30 degrees, preferably between 15 degrees.)

1. A vacuum cleaning appliance having a brush (B) rotating about a substantially vertical axis (a), wherein the vacuum cleaning appliance is provided with a guide (G) for pushing the brush (B) towards a surface (S) to be cleaned only during a part of the rotation of the brush (B), the brush (B) being arranged to be released from the surface (S) during another part of the rotation.

2. Vacuum cleaning appliance according to claim 1, wherein the guide (G) has a height which varies along the circumference of the guide (G) so as to define the portion of the rotation which pushes the brush (B) towards the surface (S).

3. Vacuum cleaning appliance according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide (G) is arranged to push the brush (B) towards the surface (S) at a position where the brush (B) faces away from a suction nozzle (M), the brush (B) being arranged to be released from the surface (S) at a position where the brush (B) faces the suction nozzle (M).

4. A vacuum cleaning appliance according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the height of the guide (G), or of at least a portion of the guide (G) that urges the brush (B) most towards the surface (S), is between 5mm and 15mm, preferably not more than 10 mm.

5. The vacuum cleaning appliance of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the brush (B) is mounted at an angle (α) with respect to vertical.

6. A vacuum cleaning appliance according to claim 5, wherein said angle (α) is between 5 and 30 degrees, and preferably between 15 and 25 degrees.

7. A vacuum cleaner provided with a nozzle formed by a vacuum cleaner appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

8. A Robotic Vacuum Cleaner (RVC) formed by a vacuum cleaning appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaning appliance having a rotating brush which rotates about a substantially vertical axis.

Background

Side brushes, as used for example on robotic vacuum cleaners, are currently used to direct dust to the suction nozzle. In this way, the side brush increases the reach of the robotic vacuum cleaner. Side brushes are also important for removing dust near corners and edges.

DE 102015101587 discloses a robotic vacuum cleaner with a rotating brush.

US 2013/0047368 discloses an auxiliary brush assembly for a vacuum cleaner.

WO 2013/157324 discloses a self-propelled cleaner having a housing that is capable of self-traveling and has a suction port in a bottom surface of the housing, and a side brush rotatably provided at one side of the suction port in the bottom surface of the housing. The side brush is provided with a rotary brush base; and a brush bundle embedded in the brush base and having a front end portion contacting the floor surface. The housing has a side projection on a bottom surface thereof at a position in front of the side brush, the side projection projecting downward so as to be capable of contacting the brush bundle.

WO 2016/091320 discloses a side brush for a robot cleaner. The side brush is rotatable in a rotational direction about a rotational axis and includes a brush body and a plurality of linear bristles including a first bristle having a base end at the brush body and an opposite distal end. The imaginary line extends perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The first bristles extend outwardly from the brush body in a bristle direction. The bristle direction extends at a first angle to an imaginary line, seen in a top view, wherein the distal end is directed backwards with respect to the direction of rotation. The bristle direction extends at a second acute angle to the axis of rotation, pointing away from the brush body, seen in side view. Further disclosed in this publication is a robot cleaner.

Disclosure of Invention

It is, inter alia, an object of the invention to provide an improved vacuum cleaning appliance. The invention is defined by the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

One aspect of the invention provides a vacuum cleaning appliance having a brush arranged to rotate about a substantially vertical axis, wherein the vacuum cleaning appliance is provided with a guide for urging the brush towards a surface to be cleaned during only a part of the rotation of the brush, and for releasing the brush from the surface during another part of the rotation. Advantageously, the vacuum cleaner is provided with a nozzle formed by such a vacuum cleaner appliance, and the robotic vacuum cleaner is formed by such a vacuum cleaning appliance. The invention thus provides a system which defines the part of the brush which is in rotation in contact with the surface to be cleaned and which results in the brush being released from the surface at the desired location. This ensures that the dust is collected by the brush and stays at the desired location on the surface, from where it can be easily sucked away. The system preferably uses a curved track to guide the brushes, preferably in combination with an arrangement that places the axis of the brush assembly at an angle.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

Drawings

Figure 1 shows one embodiment of a vacuum cleaner appliance according to the present invention; and is

Fig. 2 shows a bottom view of the robotic vacuum cleaner according to the invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a vacuum cleaner appliance according to the invention, which can be used in the context of a robotic vacuum cleaner RVC having a (side) brush assembly BA with at least one rotating brush B, or a vacuum cleaner nozzle having such a (side) brush assembly BA, in which embodiment the brush assembly BA is mounted substantially vertically, with the brush axis a at a non-zero angle α with respect to the vertical, in which embodiment the angle α can be between 5 and 30 degrees, and preferably between 15 and 25 degrees, such as about 20 degrees, so that, at the right end (i.e. at the outer edge of the vacuum cleaner), dust is wiped from a surface S (e.g. a floor) to be cleaned, while at the left end, dust is released from the brush B, where it can be sucked away by the dirty air inlet (i.e. the suction nozzle M) of the (nozzle).

An advantage of mounting the brush assembly BA at an angle α to the vertical is that by letting the brush B lose its connection to the surface S, it is possible to create a moment of rotational movement for the dust out of the brush B.

According to the invention, the vacuum cleaner appliance is provided with a guide G, such as a cam or a rim at the bottom, which will contribute to a better control of the brush B. Without the guide G, the operation of the brush B is not optimized, since the brush B may be in contact with the surface S and disengage from the surface S at a different position, so that the area of the brush B swept over the surface S cannot be optimized. Merely mounting the brush assembly BA at an angle to the vertical does not fully control which part of the rotational movement of the brush B contacts the surface S. It also does not accurately define where the brush B is lifted, or how "fast" the brush is lifted from the surface S to be cleaned. The geometry of the guide G provided by the present invention provides full control and therefore does provide advantages in efficiency and effectiveness.

The guide G may also provide this effect without the need to mount the brush axis A at a non-zero angle α relative to vertical (e.g., when the bristles B are mounted on the brush assembly BA in such a way that the bristles B only contact the surface S to be cleaned as the guide G pushes the bristles B toward the surface S), but doing so increases deflection of the bristles B at lower locations, resulting in higher friction, wear, and a reduction in service life.

Fig. 2 shows a bottom view of the robotic vacuum cleaner RVC according to the invention. The robotic vacuum cleaner RVC has three wheels W, two brush assemblies BA each having three brushes B, and a suction nozzle M serving as a dirty air inlet. According to this embodiment of the invention, at each brush assembly BA the bottom of the robotic vacuum cleaner RVC has a circular guide G which pushes the brush B downwards towards the surface S to be cleaned at the outer edge of the robotic vacuum cleaner RVC. In one embodiment, at this part of the guide G (i.e. at the outer edge of the robotic vacuum cleaner RVC), the height of the guide G is between 5mm and 15mm, preferably not more than 10 mm. The height of the guide G is lower on the side of the guide G directed towards the suction nozzle M, so that there the brush B is released from the surface S to be cleaned, so that dust can leave the brush B and be sucked away at the suction nozzle M.

Embodiments of the present invention thus provide a vacuum cleaning appliance having a brush B arranged to rotate about a substantially vertical axis a, and a guide G for urging the brush B towards a surface S to be cleaned during a portion of the rotation of the brush B, preferably the guide G having a height that varies along the circumference of the guide G so as to define a portion of the rotation that urges the brush B towards the surface S, preferably at a portion of the rotation that directs the brush B away from the suction nozzle M, the height of the guide G, or the height of at least a portion of the guide G that urges the brush B towards the most facing surface S, may be between 5mm and 15mm, preferably not exceeding 10mm, preferably the brush B is mounted at an angle α relative to the vertical direction, which angle α may be between 5 degrees and 30 degrees, and preferably between 15 degrees and 25 degrees.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. For example, instead of a circular guide G with varying height as described above with reference to fig. 2, it is possible to have a guide G which is only present at the portion in rotation where it is desired to push the brush B towards the surface S to be cleaned. The brush assembly BA may have one or more discrete brushes B as shown in fig. 2 on its periphery, or a single brush B. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word "comprising" or "having" does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in a claim. The word "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. In the device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.