ES2851249T3 - Rotating cleaning roller and sweeping device provided with this roller - Google Patents

Abstract

Rotating cleaning roller (10) with a central axis (1) and groups (2) of bristles (3) arranged on the axis (1) in at least one row, assigning to each end of groups (2) at least one core (4), the core (4) being fixed on the central axis (1) directly adjacent to a row of groups (2) and extending the same through a part of the height of the bristles (3) so that the core (4) comes into contact with the groups (2) from one side and supports them, characterized in that the core (4) is designed as a flexible core.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Rotating cleaning roller and sweeping device provided with this roller

The invention relates to a rotating cleaning roller according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention further relates to a sweeping device comprising a rotating cleaning roller according to claim 9 and to a method for manufacturing the rotating cleaning roller according to claim 10.

State of the art

Cleaning devices are known from the state of the art which can be pushed by hand over the surfaces to be cleaned. Dirt is collected during relative movement between the cleaning device and the surface to be cleaned. DE 102007 061 607 A1 describes, for example, a manual cleaning device which has, inter alia, a driven rotating brush roller. By means of the brush roller the dirt is transported to a dirt container arranged directly adjacent. The brush roll is provided with a plurality of groups of bristles distributed around the perimeter of the brush roll. It is also known to use cleaning rollers in self-propelled cleaning robots that move automatically across the surface to be cleaned. In DE 102011 014734 A1 an automatic cleaning apparatus for cleaning a floor surface is disclosed. The cleaning apparatus comprises a cleaning device which can be designed, for example, as a cleaning roller.

In the state of the art, it is common for these cleaning rollers to be configured as brush rollers provided in the area of their outer perimeter with a strip of groups of bristles that protrude radially outward. Compare, for example, EP 0653 173 A1.

If the surface to be cleaned is soiled by a plurality of long fibers, for example by hairs, there is a problem that the fibers wind up during the rotation of the cleaning roller around it and that the fibers are absorbed to the base of the groups of sows. Therefore, to maintain the cleaning ability of the cleaning device, it is necessary to periodically remove the fibers from the cleaning roller. However, if these fibers wrap tightly around the cleaning roller and penetrate deep into the bristle structures, the cleaning process of the cleaning roller becomes very complicated and the fibers can only be removed with great effort. Accordingly, it is also known from the state of the art to provide, as an alternative to brush rollers, cleaning rollers having flexible fins made of rubber or elastomer, projecting from the cleaning roller. The flexible fins can be arranged, for example, spirally around a central axis, as disclosed in DE 3933722 A1. A cleaning roller like this can easily be cleaned at regular intervals and quickly get rid of long fibers, especially hair, but the cleaning performance of the flexible finned cleaning roller leaves much to be desired. Longer fibers, especially hair, are not reliably picked up by this type of cleaning roller.

Document US 4,177,536 A shows a cleaning roller according to the preamble of claim 1. In this case, the core is not flexible, but rigid.

Document US 2015/034230 A1 discloses a sweeping device with a cleaning roller provided with a plurality of groups arranged in line.

objective

Therefore, the present invention aims to create a rotating cleaning roller that in operation allows high cleaning performance and that can be easily cleaned during breaks. Furthermore, the aim is to improve the rotating cleaning roller in such a way that long fibers, especially hair, as well as animal hair, are reliably collected.

Technical solution

This task is solved with a rotating cleaning roller with the features of claim 1.

The rotating cleaning roller has a central axis and a plurality of bristles in at least one row are arranged on the central axis. The bristles are fixed in groups on the shaft or inside on the shaft.

According to the invention, each row of groups is assigned at least one flexible core, the core being attached to the shaft so that it protrudes radially. The fixation can be carried out in form-dragging or in bonding of materials, for example, by providing a groove in the roller or by adhesion. The web is arranged directly adjacent to a row of groups and extends only through part of the height of the bristles, so that the web is in contact with the groups and supports them, especially in their lower part, from a side. In other words: the bristles protrude radially from the web. Since the web conforms to the groups of bristles, the bristles are pushed in a row so that they are next to each other and a continuous strip of bristles is formed with a continuous sweep line. In this way it is advantageously ensured that the bristles fit directly against each other and that dirt fragments cannot pass between the bristles. Thus, the bristles safely retain dirt particles. It is also advantageous that no long fibers, for example hair, can be inserted between the base of the bristles, that is to say in the area where they are attached to the central axis, and the upper edge of the flexible core. Longer fibers are inserted up to the upper edge of the flexible core and can be withdrawn easily from the rotating cleaning roller by lifting or cutting motion. In this way, the rotating cleaning roller can be cleaned easily and quickly during a break.

In an advantageously improved embodiment variant of the rotating cleaning roller according to the invention, each row of bristles is assigned another flexible core connected to the central axis so that it protrudes radially and extends only over part of the height of the bristles, so that the row of groups of bristles is surrounded on both sides by flexible webs. In this embodiment of the rotating cleaning roller, the groups of bristles are particularly well supported, specifically in their lower part, but in their upper part they still maintain a high degree of flexibility. In this way, a particularly good sweeping behavior is achieved.

In an advantageous embodiment variant of the rotating cleaning roller, at least two rows of groups are provided, a flexible radially projecting sweeping lip being arranged on the axis, respectively between the rows of groups. The flexible sweeping lip can be made of an elastomer or a rubber. The arrangement of this flexible wiping lip between two rows of groups of bristles advantageously contributes to the fact that the dirt particles, that is to say the longer fibers, do not wind up during the rotation of the rotating cleaning roller around it. In an improved embodiment of the rotating cleaning roller, the at least one row of groups and / or at least one web essentially extend along the width of the roller. In this way there are no interspaces through which dirt particles could pass.

According to the invention, it has been found advantageous to arrange the at least one row of groups, the core, at least one, and optionally the flexible sweeping lip, provided that similar is provided on the axis in the form of a spiral. to a helical line with a low clearance height.

In another improved embodiment, provision can be made for the at least one row of groups, the core, at least one, and optionally the flexible sweeping lip, provided that it is provided, are divided in two along the width of the roller. and having different pitches, that is to say, similar to that of a helical shape, the first part is applied to the shaft with a right thread and the second part with a left thread. The advantage of the spiral arrangement of the cleaning elements is that, instead of short scrubbing movements, continuous and efficient sweeping movements can be carried out.

The invention also relates to the use of a cleaning roller, as described above, for the removal of hair, especially animal hair, from a surface, for example a floor.

The invention further relates to a sweeping device, in particular a cleaning robot, comprising a cleaning roller as described above.

The object of the invention is also a process for the manufacture of a cleaning roller as described with the following steps:

In a first step, the groups of bristles are inserted and fixed, for example, glued, in cavities provided for this purpose on an axis, that is, a roller body, for the formation of at least one row of groups of cards . In a second, at least one flexible web is fixed per row of groups on the shaft, the web being arranged directly adjacent to the row of groups, so that the web comes into contact with the groups and supports them. The fixation can be carried out in a form-dragging and / or material bonding. In this way, a particularly simple process is described which can also be applied to the known manufacturing processes of brushes and brush rollers.

The invention described and the advantageously improved embodiments of the invention also represent advantageously improved embodiments of the invention when combined with one another, provided that this is technically convenient.

With regard to other advantages, and from a constructive and functional point of view of advantageous embodiments of the invention, the dependent claims are pointed out, as well as the description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached figures.

Realization example

The invention will be explained in more detail in view of the figures. Corresponding elements and components are identified in the figures with the same reference numbers. To make the figures clearer, a scale representation is dispensed with.

It is shown in schematic representation in the:

Figure 1 a view of a cleaning roller according to the invention;

Figure 2a a section of a first embodiment of a cleaning roller according to the invention;

Figure 2b a section of a second embodiment of a cleaning roller according to the invention;

Figure 2c a section of a third embodiment of a cleaning roller according to the invention;

Figure 2d a section of a fourth embodiment of a cleaning roller according to the invention;

Figure 2e a section of a fifth embodiment of a cleaning roller according to the invention;

FIG. 3a a view of a first variant embodiment of the cleaning roller according to the invention before assembling the bristles and webs;

Figure 3b is a view of a second embodiment variant of the cleaning roller according to the invention before assembling the bristles and webs.

In figure 1 a rotating cleaning roller 10 is shown in a view and in a partial section. The rotating cleaning roller 10 is housed by means of support elements 9 in a sweeping device, not shown in detail. To clean a surface, the cleaning roller 10 is activated to rotate. The rotating cleaning roller 10 is composed of a first roller part 7 and a second roller part part 8. Both parts of the roller 7, 8 extend across the width B of the roller 10. At the central axis 1 have fixed several strips of bristles 5 formed by groups 2 of individual bristles 3. That is, several bristles 3 together form a group of bristles 2. Each strip of bristles 5 forms a continuous sweep line. This is achieved by means of flexible webs 4, which are arranged directly adjacent to a row of groups of bristles 2 and fixed on the central axis 1. Additionally, between the rows of groups 2, respectively a flexible sweep lip 6 could be fixed at the central axis 1. All the bristle strips 4 of the row of bristle groups 2, as well as the flexible webs 4 and the flexible sweeping lips 6, are arranged on the axis in a spiral shape and present in the two parts of roller 7, 8 different steps. In other words, in the first roller part 7, as well as in the second roller part 8, the bristle stripes 4, the flexible webs 5 and the flexible sweep lips 6 have a twisted shape similar to that of a helical line. with reduced pitch, the steps being reversed in the first roller part 7 and in the second roller part 8.

Alternatively, the rotating cleaning roller 10 may also have a single roller part.

Alternatively, the bristle stripes 4, the flexible webs 5 and the flexible sweep lips 6 could also be arranged on the central axis 1 without being spiral shaped.

The more detailed configuration of the rotating cleaning roller 10 results from the cuts of different embodiments of Figures 2a, 2b and 2c. In the variant embodiment shown in FIG. 2a of the rotating cleaning roller 10, the bristles 3 are fixed on the central axis 1. The bristles 3 respectively form groups 2 arranged in a row. Directly adjacent to a row of groups 2, a flexible web 4 is arranged and fixed on the central axis 1, which supports the groups 2. The flexible web 4 extends only through a part of the height of the bristles 3, whereby the core 4 comes into contact with the bottom of the groups 2 from the side and supports them. While in figure 2a only one row of groups 2 is fixed on the central axis 1, it would also be possible to fix several rows of groups of bristles 2, for example two, three or four, on the central axis.

In the variant embodiment of FIG. 2b, the row of groups 2 is supported, unlike in the variant embodiment according to FIG. 2a, by means of flexible webs 4 from both sides. Here again, the flexible webs 4 extend only over a part of the height of the bristles 3. Whereas in the representation of FIG. 2b only one row of groups of bristles 2 is attached to the central axis 1, they could fix here also several of these rows of groups 2 supported on axis 1.

In the variant embodiment shown in FIG. 2c, in addition to the groups 2, flexible sweeping lips 6 are also fixed on the central axis 1. By combining the groups 2 of bristles 3 with the flexible sweeping lips 6, the cleaning performance of the rotating cleaning roller 10 can be improved. While in the illustration of figure 2c two rows of groups 2 and two flexible sweeping lips 6 are respectively provided, it is also possible to fix a different number of them on the central axis 1.

In the variant embodiment according to FIG. 2d, the row of groups 2 is also supported from one side by means of a flexible core 4. The flexible core 4 extends only over part of the height of the bristles 3. Furthermore of the flexible web 4 that supports the row of groups 2, two other webs are also oriented radially. All the webs 4 are formed by an element in a single piece, so they can be quickly coupled to the central axis 1. In the upper example of figure 2d, the web element 4 has been glued on the central axis 1. In the variant shown below, the element with the webs 4 has a spring that can engage in a groove X of the central axis 1. The groove and the spring complement each other, which allows a particularly fast sliding assembly of the element with the webs. 4 on the central axis 1. While in the representation of figure 2d only one row of groups of bristles 2 has been fixed on the central axis 1, several of these groups supported 2 on the axis 1 can also be arranged.

In the variant embodiment of figure 2e, a similar element is provided comprising the flexible webs 4. While the flexible web 4 of the element supports a first row of groups 2 from the right side, another flexible web 4 of the element supports the next group row 2 from the left side. If the central axis 1 is provided, for example, with four rows of groups 2, four of the elements with flexible webs 4 can be fixed on the central axis 1 to support the respective rows of groups 2 from both sides.

As already explained in view of FIG. 1, the rows of groups of bristles 2, the flexible webs 4 and, where appropriate, the flexible sweeping lips 6 can be fixed on the shaft in the form of a spiral. In order to allow a quick and easy mounting of the flexible webs 4 on the central axis 1, a groove XXX can be provided which extends along the width B of the cleaning roller 10 and which is also arranged in a spiral in the central axis 1. A XXX groove like this is shown in figure 3a. If it is desired that the flexible webs 4 and, where appropriate, the flexible scanning lips 6 are not mounted in a spiral on the axis 1, but rather have a straight arrangement, the corresponding groove XXX can also be straight, as shown in Figure 3b. From the cuts of axis 1 in position B, it follows that four grooves XXX are provided uniformly distributed on the perimeter of central axis 1. Therefore, it is also possible that four flexible webs 4 or, according to FIGS. 2d and 2e, elements of a single piece provided with flexible webs 4, they are coupled to the central axis 1.

List of references

1 Central axis

2 Groups

3 sows

4 Flexible soul

5 Strip of bristles

6 Flexible sweeping lip

7 First part of the roller

8 Second part of the roller

9 Support element for mounting the roller in a sweeping device

10 Rotating cleaning roller

B Roller width

X Groove in the shaft

XXX Groove across shaft width

Claims (10)

1. Rotating cleaning roller (10) with a central axis (1) and groups (2) of bristles (3) arranged on the axis (1) in at least one row, assigning to each end of groups (2) at least a core (4), the core (4) being fixed on the central axis (1) directly adjacent to a row of groups (2) and extending it through a part of the height of the bristles (3) of such that the core (4) comes into contact with the groups (2) from one side and supports them, characterized in that the core (4) is designed as a flexible core. Rotating cleaning roller according to claim 1, characterized in that the bristles (3) of a row of groups (2) form a continuous strip of bristles (5). Rotating cleaning roller according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each row of groups (2) is assigned another flexible web core (4), so that the row of groups (2) is surrounded from both sides by respectively a flexible core (4). Rotating cleaning roller according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two rows of groups (2) are provided, a flexible wiper lip (6) being fixed respectively between two rows of groups (2) on the shaft ( 1). Rotary cleaning roller according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one row of groups (2) and / or at least one core (4) essentially extend across the width (B) of the roller ( 10). Rotating cleaning roller according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one row of groups (2) and at least one web (4) are fixed in a spiral on the shaft (1). Rotating cleaning roller according to claims 5 and 6, characterized in that the at least one row of groups (2) and / or at least one web (4) are divided in two along the width (B) of the roller (10) and have different steps. Rotating cleaning roller according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a thermoplastic elastomer is used as material for the core (4) (4). Sweeping device, especially robot cleaner, with a rotating cleaning roller (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 8. Method for the production of a rotating cleaning roller (10), in particular according to one of claims 1 to 8, with the following steps: a) insertion of the groups (2) of bristles (3) on a shaft (1) for the formation of at least one row of groups (2), b) fixation of at least one flexible core (4) for each row of groups (2) on the shaft (1), the web (4) being arranged directly adjacent to the row of groups (2) and the web (4) coming into contact with the groups (2) to support them.