阅读说明：本技术 湿式清洁设备 (Wet type cleaning equipment ) 是由 A·R·梅乌伦迪杰科斯 M·A·A·沙尔里格 于 2019-08-01 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种湿式清洁设备(WCD)包括：拖拭单元(MU),用于对表面进行湿式清洁；以及装置(ST),用于借助于抽吸增加拖拭单元(MU)对表面的压力。装置包括在拖拭单元(MU)的一侧处的软管,软管具有用于向表面施加抽吸的开口。软管可以存在于拖拭单元(MU)的相对侧。备选地,软管可以存在于拖拭单元(MU)的周围。优选地,装置的抽吸功率是可控制的。优选地,抽吸功率能够取决于污渍的检测、湿式清洁设备(WCD)的速度、和/或表面的类型被控制。如果湿式清洁设备(WCD)是由扫地机器人真空吸尘器形成,则用于装置(ST)的抽吸有利地是用于真空清洁所生成的抽吸的一部分。(A Wet Cleaning Device (WCD) comprising: a Mopping Unit (MU) for wet cleaning a surface; and means (ST) for increasing the pressure of the Mopping Unit (MU) against the surface by means of suction. The device comprises a hose at one side of the Mopping Unit (MU), the hose having an opening for applying suction to the surface. Hoses may be present on opposite sides of the Mopping Unit (MU). Alternatively, a hose may be present around the wiper unit (MU). Preferably, the suction power of the device is controllable. Preferably, the suction power can be controlled depending on the detection of stains, the speed of the Wet Cleaning Device (WCD), and/or the type of surface. If the Wet Cleaning Device (WCD) is formed by a sweeping robot vacuum cleaner, the suction for the apparatus (ST) is advantageously part of the suction generated for vacuum cleaning.)

1. A Wet Cleaning Device (WCD), comprising:

a Mopping Unit (MU) for wet cleaning a surface; and

-means (ST) for increasing the pressure of the mopping unit against the surface by means of suction, wherein the means (ST) comprise a hose at one side of the Mopping Unit (MU), the hose having an opening for applying suction to the surface.

2. A Wet Cleaning Device (WCD) according to claim 1, wherein the hoses are present on opposite sides of the wiper unit (MU).

3. A Wet Cleaning Device (WCD) according to claim 1, wherein the hose is present around the wiper unit (MU).

4. Wet Cleaning Device (WCD) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the suction power of the apparatus (ST) is controllable.

5. A Wet Cleaning Device (WCD) according to claim 4 wherein the suction power can be controlled in dependence on the detection of a stain.

6. A Wet Cleaning Device (WCD) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the suction power can be controlled in dependence on the speed of the wet cleaning device.

7. A Wet Cleaning Device (WCD) according to claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein the suction power can be controlled depending on the type of the surface.

8. A Wet Cleaning Device (WCD) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the wet cleaning device is formed by a sweeping robot vacuum cleaner, the suction for the apparatus being part of the suction generated for vacuum cleaning.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a wet type cleaning apparatus.

Background

Traditionally, hard floor cleaning has been accomplished by first vacuuming the floor and then by mopping the floor. Vacuum sweeping removes coarse dirt, while wiping removes stains. There are more and more appliances on the market today that vacuum sweeping and mopping can be done in one go. Robotic vacuum cleaners also provide a solution for vacuum cleaning and mopping floors. For this purpose, a water tank with a mop is attached towards the (vacuum cleaning) robot.

US2014033468 discloses a floor tool in the context of a vacuum cleaning apparatus, which floor tool has a dual function. Firstly, the floor tool provides a suction cleaning function, and secondly, the floor tool has the ability to carry a cleaning element, preferably in the form of a wiping blade, for wiping the floor surface whilst vacuuming the floor surface. The suction nozzle (nozzle) is configured to float relative to the attachment neck of the floor tool, which provides several benefits. First, the downward force applied to the user via the neck is transmitted directly to the support member, rather than to the suction nozzle, and the downward pressure enhances the cleaning performance of the wiping blade carried on the support member. Secondly, due to the low downward force applied to the suction nozzle, the suction nozzle can walk lightly across the floor surface, which is beneficial to the pick-up performance of the suction nozzle.

US2017367552 discloses a self-moving floor treatment apparatus comprising a machine body base and a water tank. The cleaning cloth is attached to the bottom of the water tank, and the water tank is connected to the bottom surface of the base of the machine body in a floating manner up and down. By mounting the water tank on the base of the machine body in a floating manner so as to leave a certain gap therebetween, the water tank and the cleaning cloth can float up and down within a certain spatial range. Because the force actually acting on the floor is only the gravity of the water tank and the cleaning cloth and does not include the gravity of the machine, compared with a common product, the floor cleaning machine has the advantages that the friction force between the cleaning cloth and the floor is reduced, the phenomenon that the machine slips on the floor with water can be effectively avoided, the floor cleaning efficiency is improved, and the barrier penetrating capacity of the machine and the water tank is improved.

Disclosure of Invention

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

One aspect of the present invention provides a wet type cleaning apparatus, including: a wiping unit for wet cleaning a surface; and means for increasing the pressure of the wiping unit against the surface by means of suction. The device comprises a hose at one side of the wiper unit, the hose having an opening for applying suction to the surface. The hoses may be present on opposite sides of the wiper unit. Alternatively, a hose may be present around the wiper unit. Preferably, the suction power of the device is controllable. Advantageously, the suction power can be controlled depending on the detection of the stain, the speed of the wet cleaning device, and/or the type of surface. If the wet cleaning apparatus is formed by a sweeping robot vacuum cleaner, the suction for the device is advantageously part of the suction generated for vacuum sweeping.

The present invention is based on the recognition that wet cleaning devices like robotic vacuum cleaners are preferably not very heavy so that they can be easily picked up by a user. For mopping surfaces (e.g. floors) it is often necessary to apply a certain pressure to the surface in order to be able to remove hard stains. Here we encounter a contradiction. Wet cleaning apparatuses need to be lightweight for easy handling, but on the other hand wet cleaning apparatuses provide sufficient pressure on the floor to enable the wet cleaning apparatus to properly wipe the surface. To overcome this conflict, it is necessary to provide a method of applying force to a floor without making the wet cleaning apparatus heavy.

One aspect of the present invention will enable a wet cleaning apparatus to add pressure to a floor when mopping, while maintaining a light weight. Embodiments of the present invention provide an under-pressure area around the wiper unit so that the wiper unit will suck itself onto the floor. In an embodiment of the robotic vacuum cleaner, the underpressure may advantageously be created in a tube system around the mop by guiding a part of the airflow of the vacuum cleaner.

These and other aspects of the invention are apparent from and will be elucidated with reference to the embodiment(s) described hereinafter.

Drawings

Figure 1 shows a bottom view of an embodiment of a wet cleaning device according to the present invention; and

fig. 2 shows a cross-section of the embodiment of fig. 1.

Detailed Description

The embodiments of fig. 1 and 2 relate to a wet cleaning device WCD formed by a sweeping robot vacuum cleaner. Typically, the sweeping robot vacuum cleaner has wheels W, a nozzle N with optional rotating brushes B and a wiping unit MU. The mop unit MU has a liquid tank (not shown) and a (replaceable) cleaning cloth. According to the present invention, the suction tool ST is provided at one side of the wiping unit MU. In the illustrated embodiment, the suction tool ST is formed by a hose having a plurality of openings around the wiping unit MU. Alternatively, the hose may have a slit-shaped opening. The hose may be made of rubber or some suitable plastic or other suitable material. The hose may be glued to the wiper unit MU.

As shown in fig. 2, typically for a vacuum cleaner, dirty air from the nozzle N is directed to a dirt separation and collection unit DC, through which an airflow is generated by a fan F. According to an embodiment of the invention, part of the air flow generated by the fan F is used to generate suction for the suction means ST. A valve V is present to control how much air flow is available to the suction tool ST. The valve V may be formed by means of a clamp around the hose: if the hose is compressed by the clamp, the suction available to the suction tool ST is reduced. Advantageously, the amount of suction available to the suction tool ST depends on the detection of soiling (presence of more suction), the speed of the wet cleaning device WCD (speed too low > reduced suction), and/or the type of surface. To control the valve, a processor (present anyway in the robot cleaner) receives data (e.g. from a camera (not shown)) and has software that is able to determine the presence of stains and the type of surface from the camera image. The software may involve artificial intelligence based on a trained neural network. The speed of the wheel may be derived, for example, from the amount of current drawn by the motor that rotates the wheel W: if the current is relatively high, the motor must work harder, so that it makes sense to reduce the suction for the suction tool to reduce the friction.

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. In the above example, a rectangular robotic vacuum cleaner having a rectangular mopping device MU has been shown. Obviously, the wet cleaning device may have different shapes (e.g. circular) and the same is true for the wiping unit MU, which may for example have the shape shown in US 2017367552. In the embodiment shown, the mopping unit MU is surrounded by the suction tool ST, but in other embodiments the suction tool ST is present only on one side or the other of the mopping unit MU. The suction tool ST need not be along one side, i.e. need not have an elongated shape, as long as it causes the wiping unit MU to exert an increased pressure on the surface. The wet cleaning device of the present invention may also be arranged for cleaning (vertical) surfaces, such as windows or walls. The wet type cleaning apparatus of the present invention does not need to have a vacuum cleaner function. And if the wet cleaning apparatus does have vacuum cleaner functionality, it may or may not be possible to use the vacuum cleaner fan F to generate suction to increase the pressure of the mop unit against the surface, a separate low power fan may be used for this purpose, and this may have the advantage that a better control of the mop pressure independent of the cleaning activity may be achieved. Wet cleaning apparatuses with vacuum cleaner functionality can have different modes of operation: (1) vacuum cleaning only; (2) only wet cleaning; and (3) both vacuum cleaning and wet cleaning. In the second mode, the use of a separate pumping unit to generate the underpressure may bring the advantage of consuming less energy. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word "comprising" 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. The invention can be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements. In the device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The measures listed in mutually different dependent claims may advantageously be used in combination.