阅读说明：本技术 吸头的清洁单元 (Cleaning unit for suction head ) 是由 安托万·马蒂 于 2021-04-21 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供一种清洁单元(11),其包括：旋转刷(12),其被构造成可拆卸地安装在吸头(2)的接收凹部(9)中；刷支撑件(16),其被构造成封闭设置在吸头(2)上的通道开口(14),刷支撑件(16)具有被构造成紧固到吸头(2)的主体上的塞体,旋转刷(12)相对于塞体可旋转移动地安装；旋转支撑件(28),其可旋转地牢固连接到旋转刷(12)并且通过枢轴(34)连接到塞体；以及可弹性变形的支撑元件(35),枢轴(34)安装在该支撑元件上,支撑元件(35)设置在枢轴(34)和塞体之间或者枢轴(34)和旋转支撑件(28)之间。(The invention provides a cleaning unit (11) comprising: a rotating brush (12) configured to be detachably mounted in a receiving recess (9) of the suction head (2); a brush support (16) configured to close a passage opening (14) provided on the suction head (2), the brush support (16) having a plug body configured to be fastened to a main body of the suction head (2), the rotating brush (12) being rotatably movably mounted with respect to the plug body; a rotating support (28) rotatably fixedly connected to the rotating brush (12) and connected to the plug body by a pivot (34); and an elastically deformable support element (35) on which the pivot (34) is mounted, the support element (35) being arranged between the pivot (34) and the plug body or between the pivot (34) and the rotary support (28).)

1. A cleaning unit (11) for a cleaner head (2), comprising:

-a rotating brush (12) configured to be removably mounted in a receiving recess (9) provided on the body (4) of the suction head (2) and to be driven in rotation about a rotation axis, and

-a brush support (16) configured to be fastened to a body (4) of the nozzle (2), the rotating brush (12) being rotatably movably mounted with respect to the brush support (16),

characterized in that the cleaning unit (11) further comprises:

-a rotating support (28) rotatably fixedly connected to the rotating brush (12) and supporting the rotating brush (12), the rotating support (28) being connected to the brush support (16) by a pivot (34) having a pivot axis (B) to allow the rotating support (28) to rotate around the pivot axis (B) relative to the brush support (16), and

-an elastically deformable support element (35) on which the pivot (34) is mounted, the support element (35) being arranged between the brush support (16) and the rotary support (28).

2. Cleaning unit according to claim 1, wherein the support element (35) is arranged between the brush support (16) and the pivot (34).

3. The cleaning unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the brush support (16) is configured to be detachably fastened to the body (4) of the cleaner head (2).

4. The cleaning unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the brush support (16) is a closure plug configured to at least partially close a passage opening (14) provided on the main body (4) of the nozzle (2), through which passage opening the rotating brush (12) is adapted to be introduced into and withdrawn from the receiving recess (9).

5. Cleaning unit according to the preceding claim, wherein the brush support (16) comprises a plug body (17), which plug body (17) is configured to be fastened to the main body (4) of the nozzle (2), the rotating brush (12) being mounted rotatably movable relative to the plug body (17), the rotating support (28) being connected to the plug body (17) by means of the pivot (34) to allow the rotating support (28) to rotate relative to the plug body (17) about the pivot axis (B), the support element (35) being provided between the plug body (17) and the rotating support (28), preferably between the plug body (17) and the pivot (34).

6. Cleaning unit (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support element (35) has an axial stop surface (39), the pivot (34) being supported on the axial stop surface (39).

7. Cleaning unit (11) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the pivot (34) is housed in the support element (35).

8. Cleaning unit (11) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the pivot (34) is provided between the support element (35) and the rotary support (28).

9. Cleaning unit (11) according to claim 7, wherein the support element (35) comprises a plurality of slots (42) extending substantially parallel to the pivot axis (B) and angularly offset from the pivot axis (B).

10. Cleaning unit (11) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the support element (35) is an annular support ring.

11. Cleaning unit (11) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the support element (35) is made of an elastomer.

12. Cleaning unit (11) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the rotating support (28) comprises a fastening portion (31), the fastening portion (31) being tubular and fastened to an end of the rotating brush (12).

13. Cleaning unit (11) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the rotary support (28) comprises a support portion (32), the pivot (34) being mounted on the support portion (32).

14. Cleaning unit (11) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the brush support (16) comprises a mounting recess (37) in which the support element (35) is accommodated.

15. Cleaning unit (11) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the pivot (34) is formed by an annular plain bearing.

16. Cleaning unit (11) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the pivot (34) is formed by a rolling bearing.

17. A suction head (2) comprising:

-a main body (4) having a receiving recess (9) open at a bottom face of the main body (4), the receiving recess being configured to face a surface to be cleaned, an

-a cleaning unit (11) according to any of the preceding claims, the rotating brush (12) being detachably mounted in the receiving recess (9), the brush support (16) being fastened to the body (4) of the suction head (2).

18. A nozzle (2) according to the preceding claim and claim 4 or 5, wherein the body (4) comprises a passage opening (14) which opens in the receiving recess (9), and the brush support (16) is detachably fastened to the body (4) of the nozzle (2) and at least partially closes the passage opening (14).

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of vacuum cleaners equipped with a suction head for suctioning dirt and small-particle waste present on a surface to be cleaned.

Background

Vacuum cleaners equipped with a cleaner head are well known in the market, which allow cleaning of surfaces by suction to remove dust and small particulate waste that has settled on the surface. The surface to be sucked may be, for example, a tile, parquet, laminate, carpet or rug.

In a known manner, a cleaner head comprises a main body which includes a sole plate having a sole surface and a suction opening which opens at the sole surface of the sole plate. The underside of the sole plate is intended to be positioned adjacent the surface to be suctioned during use of the cleaner head.

In order to improve the cleaning performance of a cleaner head, it is known to equip the cleaner head with a cleaning unit comprising:

a rotating brush which is rotatably movable about a rotation axis and is mounted in a detachable manner in a receiving recess defined by the body of the suction head, an

A closing plug configured to at least partially close a passage opening provided on the body, through which the rotating brush is adapted to be introduced into and withdrawn from the receiving recess.

A first end of the rotating brush is connected to the main body of the cleaner head by a first pivotal connection to allow the rotating brush to rotate relative to the main body about a rotational axis, and a second end of the rotating brush is connected to the closure plug by a second pivotal connection to allow the rotating brush to rotate relative to the closure plug about a pivotal axis.

This construction generates vibrations and noise which are detrimental to the comfort of use of such a cleaner head. For example, vibrations may be generated due to misalignment between the rotational axis and the central axis of the brush.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention aims to remedy all or part of these disadvantages.

In particular, the technical problem underlying the present invention is to provide a tip cleaning unit that provides a higher level of comfort for the user.

To this end, the invention relates to a tip cleaning unit comprising:

a rotating brush configured to be detachably mounted in a receiving recess provided on the body of the suction head and to be driven in rotation about a rotation axis, an

A brush support configured to be fastened to the body of the suction head, the rotating brush being mounted rotatably movable relative to the brush support.

The cleaning unit further includes:

-a rotary support rotatably fixedly connected to the rotary brush and supporting the rotary brush, the rotary support being coupled to the brush support by a pivot connection having a pivot axis to allow the rotary support to rotate relative to the brush support about the pivot axis, an

An elastically deformable support element on which the pivot is mounted, the support element being arranged between the brush support and the rotary support.

The presence of such a support element makes it possible to filter and limit the transmission of vibrations from the rotating brush to the suction head and to limit the generation of noise that may affect the comfort of the user. Thus, this configuration of the cleaning unit according to the invention provides greater comfort for the user.

The cleaning unit may also have one or more of the following features, alone or in combination.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support element is arranged between the brush support and the pivot.

In an alternative embodiment to the just mentioned embodiment, the support element is arranged between the pivot and the rotary support.

Advantageously, the brush support is configured to be releasably secured to the body of the cleaner head.

Advantageously, the brush support is a closure plug configured to at least partially close a passage opening provided on the body of the suction head, through which passage opening the rotating brush is adapted to be introduced into and withdrawn from the receiving recess.

Advantageously, the closure plug comprises a plug body configured to be fastened to the body of the suction head. Then, the rotating brush is rotatably movably mounted with respect to the plug body. The rotating support is connected to the plug body by a pivot connection to allow the rotating support to rotate relative to the plug body about a pivot axis. The support element is arranged between the plug body and the rotary support, preferably between the plug body and the pivot.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the rotating brush is configured to be detachably mounted in the receiving recess along a mounting direction which extends transversely and preferably perpendicularly to the moving direction of the suction head.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the pivot axis substantially coincides with the central axis of the rotatable brush.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the rotating brush comprises a brush body having a substantially tubular shape. Advantageously, the brush body is cylindrical with a circular cross-section.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the rotating support is at least partially arranged inside the brush body.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the support element comprises an axial stop surface against which the pivot abuts.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the support element comprises a shoulder defining an axial stop surface.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the shoulder is annular.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pivot is accommodated in a support element. This arrangement makes the cleaning unit more compact.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the shoulder is provided on an inner surface of the support element when the pivot is received in the support element. For example, in an alternative embodiment where the pivot would be disposed about the support element, the shoulder may be disposed on an outer surface of the support element.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the support element comprises a mounting ramp configured to facilitate mounting of the pivot shaft to the support element. In particular, these arrangements facilitate fastening of the brush support, advantageously the plug body, to the brush body of the rotating brush, for example after removal or replacement of the rotating brush.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the mounting ramp is located at an end of the support element facing away from the brush support, advantageously away from the plug body.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mounting ramp is provided on an inner surface of the support element when the pivot is received in the support element.

In an alternative embodiment to the just mentioned embodiment, the mounting ramp is arranged on the outer surface of the support element when the pivot is arranged, for example, around the support element.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pivot is arranged between the support element and the rotary support.

In an alternative embodiment to the just mentioned embodiment, the pivot is arranged between the support element and the brush support.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the support element comprises a plurality of slots extending substantially parallel to the pivot axis and angularly offset with respect to the pivot axis. The presence of such a groove increases the elasticity of the support element and thus further limits the generation of vibrations and noise during operation of the cleaning unit.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the groove is provided on an inner surface of the support element when the pivot is received in the support element.

In an alternative embodiment to the previous embodiment, the groove is provided on the outer surface of the support element when the pivot is provided, for example, around the support element.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the grooves are evenly distributed around the pivot axis.

Advantageously, the grooves form ribs therebetween which radially retain the pivot. Advantageously, the ribs also provide an axial stop surface against which the pivot is supported.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the support element is an annular support ring.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the support element is made of an elastomer.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the pivot is press-fit mounted to the support element.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the pivot is slidably mounted with respect to the support element.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the rotary support comprises a fastening portion, which is tubular and fastened to an end of the rotary brush and is advantageously connected to an end of the brush body of the rotary brush.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the rotary support comprises a support part on which the pivot is mounted.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the support portion is substantially coaxial with the fastening portion.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the fastening portion extends around the support portion.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the support part is substantially coaxial with the pivot axis.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the pivot shaft extends around the support portion. Advantageously, the pivot is mounted on an outer surface of the support portion.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the rotary support comprises a bottom wall extending transversely to the pivot axis and, for example, substantially perpendicularly to the pivot axis, and comprising a first face facing the brush support, advantageously the plug body, and a second face opposite the first face, the support portion and the fastening portion extending from the first face of the bottom wall.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the brush support, advantageously the plug body, comprises a mounting recess in which the support element is accommodated.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the brush support, advantageously the plug body, comprises a tubular mounting portion, the mounting recess being externally defined by the mounting portion. Advantageously, the mounting portion is substantially coaxial with the pivot axis.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the fastening portion provided on the rotary support extends around the mounting portion of the brush support, advantageously around the plug body.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the mounting portion extends around a support portion provided on the rotary support.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the mounting portion extends into an annular inner volume defined by the fastening portion and the support portion.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the support member is press-fitted in the mounting recess. Advantageously, the outer surface of the support element is substantially cylindrical and has an outer diameter substantially the same as the inner diameter of the mounting portion.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the mounting recess is provided in the brush body of the rotary brush. Advantageously, the brush body extends around the mounting portion.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the pivot is formed by a bearing.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the pivot is formed by an annular sliding bearing.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the plain bearing comprises a plain bearing ring, which may for example be made of teflon (registered trade mark).

According to an embodiment of the invention, the pivot is formed by a rolling bearing, for example a ball bearing.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the rolling bearing is fastened to the rotary support.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the cleaning unit comprises a fastening member, for example a fastening washer, fastened to the rotary support and configured to axially fix the rolling bearing with respect to the rotary support. The fastening member is, for example, screw-fastened to the rotary support.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the rotating brush comprises a coupling device configured to be rotatably coupled with a drive device belonging to the suction head.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the coupling means are arranged in the brush body.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the rotating brush comprises a first end supported by the rotating support and a second end opposite the first end, on which second end coupling means are provided.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the coupling means are configured to couple with complementary coupling means belonging to the drive means and rotatably coupled to an output shaft of a drive motor belonging to the drive means.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the brush body defines a motor recess in which the drive motor is intended to be at least partially accommodated.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the second end at least partially defines a motor recess.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the closure plug comprises a locking device configured to lock the plug body to the main body.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the rotating brush includes bristles disposed on an outer surface of a brush body. Advantageously, the rotatable brush comprises at least one row of bristles arranged on an outer surface of the brush body.

The invention also relates to a suction head comprising:

a main body having a receiving recess opening in a bottom surface of the main body, the bottom surface being configured to face a surface to be cleaned, an

According to the cleaning unit of the invention, the rotating brush is detachably mounted in the receiving recess, and the brush support is fastened to the body of the suction head.

Advantageously, the body comprises a passage opening which opens in the receiving recess, and the brush support is a closing plug as previously described.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the closure plug is detachably fastened to the body of the suction head and at least partially closes the passage opening.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the suction head comprises a drive device configured to drive the rotatable brush in rotation about a rotation axis substantially coaxial with the pivot axis.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the drive means comprises a drive motor comprising an output shaft substantially aligned with the pivot axis.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the cleaning unit is connected to the main body of the cleaner head by a pivotal connection allowing the rotating brush to rotate relative to the main body about a rotational axis. Advantageously, the pivotal connection is realized by a drive motor.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the drive means comprise complementary coupling means rotatably coupled to the output shaft of the drive motor and provided in the brush body, the complementary coupling means being configured to rotatably couple with coupling means provided on the rotating brush.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the passage opening is provided on a side face of the body.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the main body comprises a sole plate provided with a floor face configured to face a surface to be cleaned, and a suction opening which opens in the floor face. Advantageously, the receiving recess opens in the underside of the sole plate via the suction opening.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the suction opening has an elongated shape and extends transversely, for example perpendicularly, to the direction of movement of the cleaner head.

Drawings

The invention will be best understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of non-limiting example, embodiments of such a suction head.

Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a cleaner head according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a top perspective view of the cleaner head of figure 1, showing the cleaning unit of the cleaner head partially removed.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the cleaner head of figure 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a detail of fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a partial perspective view of a closure plug and base plate of the cleaner head of figure 1.

Fig. 6 is a rear view of the closure of fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the closure of fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the closure of fig. 5.

Detailed Description

Figures 1 to 8 show a cleaner head 2 comprising a connecting sleeve 3 to which a joint of rigid or flexible tubing is designed to be connected, the rigid or flexible tubing itself being connected to a suction system of a vacuum cleaner (not shown). There are a variety of different models of vacuum cleaner available on the market and which can be used with a cleaner head 2 according to the invention; these different models are not described in detail in this patent application, since they are known to the person skilled in the art.

The cleaner head 2 comprises a body 4, the body 4 being configured to move over a surface to be cleaned. Advantageously, the connecting sleeve 3 is pivotally mounted relative to the main body 4 so as to allow the main body 4 to pivot forwards and backwards when the cleaner head 2 is moved in the direction of movement D1.

The main body 4 includes a bottom plate 5, the bottom plate 5 being provided with a bottom surface 6, the bottom surface 6 being configured to face a surface to be cleaned, and a suction opening 7 opening on the bottom surface 6. The suction opening 7 communicates with the connecting sleeve 3, in particular via a connecting channel which is formed at least in part, for example, by a flexible connecting tube. The suction opening 7 may, for example, have an elongate shape and extend transversely, for example perpendicularly, to the direction of movement D1 of the cleaner head 2.

The main body 4 further includes a receiving recess 9, and the receiving recess 9 is opened in the bottom surface of the bottom plate 5 via the suction port 7 and is fluidly connected with the connection passage. Thus, according to the embodiment shown in the figures, the receiving recess 9 forms a suction chamber.

The cleaner head 2 further comprises a cleaning unit 11 with a rotating brush 12. The rotatable brush 12 includes a brush body 13, the brush body 13 being generally tubular and extending along a central axis a. The brush body 13 is rotatably mounted in the receiving recess 9 about a rotational axis which is substantially coaxial with the central axis a of the brush body 13. Advantageously, the brush body 13 is detachably mounted in the receiving recess 9 and is configured to be introduced into and removed from the receiving recess 9 in the mounting direction D2. Advantageously, the mounting direction D2 extends transversely, preferably perpendicularly, to the direction of movement D1 of the cleaner head 2.

According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the main body 4 has a passage opening 14, a passage opening 13 opening in the receiving recess 9, through which passage opening 13 the brush body 13 can be introduced into the receiving recess 9 and removed from the receiving recess 9. Advantageously, the passage opening 14 is provided on the side of the body 4.

In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the brush body can be removed through a removable portion of the base plate 5 in a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface 6 of the base plate 5.

According to the embodiment shown in the drawings, the rotating brush 12 has bristles 15 provided on the outer surface of the brush body 13. Advantageously, the brush body 13 is substantially cylindrical with a circular cross-section, and the rotating brush 12 comprises a plurality of rows of bristles, for example extending helically around a central axis a of the brush body 13. According to an alternative embodiment, not shown in the figures, the rows of bristles may be replaced by resiliently deformable lamellae or foam cleaning sleeves.

The cleaning unit 11 further comprises a brush support configured to be fastened to the body 4 of the cleaner head 2. The rotating brush 12 is rotatably movably mounted with respect to the brush support. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the brush support is a closing plug 16 configured to at least partially close the passage opening 14 when the brush body 13 is mounted in the receiving recess 9. The closure plug 16 comprises a plug body 17, which plug body 17 is configured to be detachably fastened to the main body 4 of the suction head 2. Advantageously, the closure plug 16 comprises locking means configured to lock the plug body 17 to the main body 4.

The suction head 2 further comprises a drive device 18 configured to drive the brush body 13 in rotation about a rotation axis. More specifically, the drive means 18 comprise a drive motor 19, preferably an electric motor, comprising an output shaft 21. In the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, the output shaft 18 forms a drive shaft that is substantially aligned with the rotational axis of the brush body 13. The drive motor 19 is accommodated in a motor chamber 22 defined by the main body 4, and the motor chamber 22 and the drive motor 19 are disposed in a motor recess 23 defined by the brush body 13.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the drive motor 19 is arranged in the suction head outside the rotating brush 12. According to this alternative embodiment, the output shaft 21 of the drive motor 19 extends parallel to a drive shaft which is aligned with the rotational axis of the brush body 13. The output shaft 21 of the drive motor 19 is then coupled to the drive shaft, for example by means of a gear train or a belt, for example of the toothed type.

More specifically, the rotating brush 12 comprises a coupling means 24, the coupling means 24 being provided in the brush body 13 and being configured to be rotatably coupled with a complementary coupling means 25, the complementary coupling means 25 belonging to the drive means 18 and being rotatably coupled to the output shaft 21 of the drive motor 19. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the coupling means 24 comprise a coupling portion 26, which coupling portion 26 is rotationally fast with the brush body 13 and can, for example, be made in one piece with the brush body 13, and the complementary coupling means 25 comprise a coupling member 27, which coupling member 27 is rotationally coupled to the output shaft 21 and is configured to cooperate with the coupling portion 26. The coupling member 27 may be made of plastic, for example.

More specifically, the brush body 13 comprises a first end 13.1 and a second end 13.2, the first end 13.1 being rotatably movably mounted with respect to the plug body 17, the second end 13.2 being located adjacent the drive means 18 and defining a motor recess 23. Advantageously, the coupling portion 26 is provided on the second end 13.2 of the brush body 13, and the second end 13.2 of the brush body 13 is connected to the main body 4 of the suction head 2 by means of a pivotal connection formed directly by the drive motor 19.

The cleaning unit 11 further comprises a rotary support 28, the rotary support 28 being rotatably fixedly connected to the rotary brush 12 and supporting the rotary brush 12. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the rotary support 28 is substantially coaxial with the axis of rotation of the brush body 13 and is at least partially arranged inside the brush body 13. The rotary support 28 comprises a bottom wall 29 extending substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the brush body 13. The bottom wall 29 comprises a first face 29.1 facing the plug body 17 and a second face 29.2 opposite the first face 29.1.

The rotary support 28 further comprises a fastening portion 31 extending from the first face 29.1 of the bottom wall 29. The fastening portion 31 is tubular and is fastened to the end 13.1 of the brush body 13, for example by gluing or clipping or by any other means. Advantageously, the outer diameter of the fastening portion 31 is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the first end 13.1 of the brush body 13.

The rotary support 28 further comprises a support portion 32, the support portion 32 extending from the first face 29.1 of the bottom wall 29 and being coaxial with the fastening portion 31. Advantageously, the fastening portion 31 extends around the support portion 32, and the fastening portion 31 and the support portion 32 define an annular inner volume 33.

The rotary support 28 is connected to the plug body 17 by a pivot 34, the pivot 34 having a pivot axis B substantially coinciding with the central axis a of the brush body 13, thereby allowing the rotary support 28 to rotate relative to the plug body 17 about the pivot axis B and thus allowing the brush body 13 to rotate about the rotation axis.

The cleaning unit 11 further comprises an elastically deformable support member 35, the pivot 34 being mounted on the support member 35. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the support element 35 is arranged between the pivot 34 and the plug body 17, and the pivot 34 is arranged between the support element 35 and the support portion 32. Advantageously, the support element 35 is made of elastomer and is formed as an annular support ring.

According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the plug body 17 comprises a mounting portion 36, the mounting portion 36 being tubular and defining a mounting recess 37, the support element 35 being housed in the mounting recess 37. Advantageously, the mounting portion 36 is substantially coaxial with the pivot axis B and extends into the annular internal volume 33 defined by the fastening portion 31 and the support portion 32. The support member 35 may be press-fitted in the mounting recess 37, for example, and the outer surface of the support member 35 may be substantially cylindrical, for example, and have substantially the same outer diameter as the inner diameter of the mounting portion 36.

According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the support element 35 comprises a shoulder 38, which shoulder 38 is advantageously annular and defines an axial stop surface 39 on which the pivot 34 is supported. Advantageously, the shoulder 38 is provided on the inner surface of the support element 35 and the pivot 34 is housed in the support element 35.

The support member 35 further includes a mounting ramp 41, the mounting ramp 41 configured to facilitate mounting the pivot 34 to the support member 35, and more specifically, into the support member 35. Advantageously, the mounting ramp 41 is located at the end of the support element 35 facing away from the plug body 17 and is provided on the inner surface of the support element 35.

According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the support element 35 has a plurality of slots 42, the slots 42 extending substantially parallel to the pivot axis B and being evenly distributed around the pivot axis B. Advantageously, the groove 42 is provided on the inner surface of the support element 35, so that the axial stop surface 39 is discontinuous. However, according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, not shown in the figures, the groove 42 may be provided on the outer surface of the support element 35. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the grooves 42 form between them ribs 52 (fig. 4 and 7) that radially retain the pivot. The rib 52 also provides an axial stop surface 39 against which the pivot 34 bears.

According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the pivot 34 is formed by a bearing, more particularly a ball bearing, and is fastened to the outer surface of the support portion 32 so as to extend around the support portion 32. Advantageously, the cleaning unit 11 comprises a fastening member 43, for example a fastening washer, the fastening member 43 being fastened to the rotary support 28, more specifically to the support portion 32, and the fastening member 43 being configured to axially fix the pivot 34 with respect to the rotary support 28. The fastening member 43 is fastened to the rotary support 28, for example by means of a screw thread.

The pivot 34 is preferably press fit into the support member 35. Advantageously, however, the support element 35 can be detached from the pivot 34 by exerting, for example, on the plug body 17, a pulling force greater than the friction force acting between the support element 35 and the pivot 34, and more specifically between the support element 35 and the ball bearing forming the pivot 34. However, according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the pivot 34 may be slidably mounted with respect to the support element 35.

According to an alternative embodiment, not shown in the figures, a support element 35 may be provided between the pivot 34 and the rotary support 28.

According to another alternative embodiment, not shown in the figures, the pivot 34 may extend around the support element 35, and the pivot 34 may be arranged between the support element 35 and the plug body 17.

According to a further alternative embodiment, not shown in the figures, the pivot 34 may be formed by a plain bearing with a sliding bearing ring, which may be made of teflon (registered trade mark), for example.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown, which are provided as examples only. Modifications are possible, particularly in respect of the construction of the various elements or by substitution of equivalent techniques, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the invention.