Cleaning apparatus

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning apparatus, in particular to a portable hand-held cleaner, to which a working fluid can be supplied and which has a plurality of cleaning members, in particular brush-type cleaning members, which can be driven to make a cleaning movement, wherein the cleaning members are adjustable relative to one another.

1 . A cleaning apparatus having an inlet for a working fluid, a plurality of cleaning members ( 11 ), a drive for driving said cleaning members to make a cleaning movement, and means for adjusting said cleaning members ( 11 ) relative to one another. 
   
   
       2 . A cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  in the form of a hand-held cleaning apparatus. 
   
   
       3 . A cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said cleaning members comprise brushes. 
   
   
       4 . A cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning members ( 11 ) are one of components of modules and made as modules, with the modules being releasably attached to the cleaning apparatus and being adjustable relative to one another, each said module optionally including a drive device ( 41 ) in addition to the cleaning member ( 11 ). 
   
   
       5 . A cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a device for the adjustment and/or for the holding of the cleaning members ( 11 ), on the one hand, and a device for the supply of working fluid and/or cleaning fluid to the cleaning members ( 11 ), on the other hand, are different from one another. 
   
   
       6 . A cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning members ( 11 ) are adjustable relative to one another such that at least one of the separation of adjacent cleaning members ( 11 ) and the perpendicular spacings between axes of rotation of adjacent cleaning members ( 11 ), can be changed. 
   
   
       7 . A cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning members ( 11 ) can be driven by means of the working fluid. 
   
   
       8 . A cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid also serves as a cleaning fluid or a cleaning fluid can be supplied to the cleaning apparatus in addition to the working fluid. 
   
   
       9 . A cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a circuit is provided for the working fluid which is closed at least with respect to the cleaning members ( 11 ). 
   
   
       10 . A cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning members ( 11 ) can be driven to make a rotary movement. 
   
   
       11 . A cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least one drive device ( 41 ) is provided for the cleaning members ( 11 ) and can be loaded by the working fluid to set the cleaning members ( 11 ) in rotation. 
   
   
       12 . A cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a rotary drive of the cleaning members ( 11 ) is based on the impeller or turbine principle. 
   
   
       13 . A cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a central drive device ( 71 ) is provided for the cleaning members ( 11 ). 
   
   
       14 . A cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the central drive device ( 71 ) including one of a common shaft ( 73 ) and a worm gear can be set into rotation centrally and which simultaneously cooperates with all cleaning members ( 11 ). 
   
   
       15 . A cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein said cleaning members each have an associated drive gear with which said central drive device cooperates. 
   
   
       16 . A cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein an electric or a pneumatic drive device or a drive device operable by means of underpressure is provided for the cleaning members ( 11 ). 
   
   
       17 . A cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning members ( 11 ) are arranged at a common carrier ( 13 ) and can be adjusted relative to the carrier ( 13 ). 
   
   
       18 . A cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the carrier ( 13 ) has a longitudinal extent and the cleaning members ( 11 ) are arranged distributed along the carrier ( 13 ), with the cleaning members ( 11 ) being adjustable relative to one another in the longitudinal direction of the carrier ( 13 ). 
   
   
       19 . A cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning members ( 11 ) are connected to one another by at least one flexible fluid line ( 77 ) allowing an adjustment of the cleaning members ( 11 ) relative to one another. 
   
   
       20 . A cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a supply device ( 79 ) for an additional medium is associated with each cleaning member ( 11 ), with the supply device ( 79 ) being operable by the working fluid and/or a cleaning fluid in the region of the cleaning member ( 11 ). 
   
   
       21 . A cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the supply device ( 79 ) can be operated with underpressure which can be generated by means of the working fluid and/or of the cleaning fluid in the region of the cleaning member ( 11 ). 
   
   
       22 . A cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a fluid outlet ( 81 ) for the working fluid and/or a cleaning fluid is associated with each cleaning member ( 11 ), which is spatially separate from the cleaning member ( 11 ) and which is in particular made as a nozzle. 
   
   
       23 . A cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 22 , wherein a screening device ( 83 ) is provided for the fluid outlet ( 81 ) which can be adjusted between an active and an inactive position. 
   
   
       24 . A cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least one or each drive device of the cleaning members ( 11 ) includes a transmission ( 11 ) with which the speed of at least one cleaning member ( 11 ) is changed, in particular reduced and preferably halved, with respect to an input speed, with the transmission ( 49 ) in particular including a ball bearing or roll bearing ( 51 ,  53 ). 
   
   
       25 . A cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning apparatus is made as a Venetian blind cleaner. 
   
   
       26 . Use of a cleaning apparatus having an inlet for a working fluid, a plurality of cleaning members ( 11 ), a drive for driving said cleaning members to make a cleaning movement, and means for adjusting said cleaning members ( 11 ) relative to one another for the cleaning of Venetian blinds.