Surface Cleaning Machine and Method for Adjusting the Position of a Sweeping Roller in a Surface Cleaning Machine

Abstract

A surface cleaning machine is provided, including a chassis, at least one sweeping roller which is held on the chassis via a swing arm device, an adjusting device for adjusting a position of the at least one sweeping roller relative to a floor/ground, a sensor device which determines one or more quantities characterizing the relative position of the at least one sweeping roller to the floor/ground, and a control device which controls the relative position of the at least one sweeping roller to the floor/ground, wherein the adjusting device acts on the swing arm device, wherein a position of the at least one sweeping roller relative to the floor/ground is adjusted via a pivotal position of or at the swing arm device, and wherein the sensor device is associated with the swing arm device and detects floor/ground contact of the at least one sweeping roller via the swing arm device.

1 . A surface cleaning machine, comprising:
 a chassis;   at least one sweeping roller which is held on the chassis;   an adjusting device for adjusting a position of the at least one sweeping roller relative to a floor/ground to be cleaned;   a sensor device which determines one or more quantities characterizing the relative position of the at least one sweeping roller to the floor/ground to be cleaned; and   a control device which controls the relative position of the at least one sweeping roller to the floor/ground to be cleaned;   wherein the at least one sweeping roller is held on the chassis via a swing arm device;   wherein the adjusting device acts on the swing arm device, wherein a position of the at least one sweeping roller relative to the floor/ground to be cleaned is adjusted via a pivotal position of or at the swing arm device; and   wherein the sensor device is associated with the swing arm device and detects floor/ground contact of the at least one sweeping roller via the swing arm device.   
     
     
         2 . The surface cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sweeping roller is associated with a rotary drive for operation thereof in a sweep mode. 
     
     
         3 . The surface cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sweeping roller is held on the chassis for pivotal motion about a pivot axis. 
     
     
         4 . The surface cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a sweeping roller housing is arranged on the chassis, said sweeping roller housing being open towards the floor/ground to be cleaned and having the at least one sweeping roller positioned therein. 
     
     
         5 . The surface cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the adjusting device is at least one of (i) fixed to and (ii) supported on the sweeping roller housing. 
     
     
         6 . The surface cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the sweeping roller housing has, at opposing end faces thereof, openings through which articulation elements of the swing arm device extend and hold the at least one sweeping roller. 
     
     
         7 . The surface cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting device comprises an actuator having at least one movable actuator element, said actuator element being articulated to the swing arm device. 
     
     
         8 . The surface cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the at least one actuator element is linearly displaceable. 
     
     
         9 . The surface cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the actuator has associated with it a position measuring device which determines a position of the at least one actuator element. 
     
     
         10 . The surface cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the control device comprises a diameter determining device for the at least one sweeping roller which, by way of a position at the actuator measured by the position measuring device, determines the diameter of the at least one sweeping roller upon floor/ground contact thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The surface cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the control device comprises an annunciating device which provides an annunciating signal when the determined diameter of the at least one sweeping roller is below a threshold value. 
     
     
         12 . The surface cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the sensor device is or comprises a switch which provides a switch signal upon floor/ground contact of the at least one sweeping roller. 
     
     
         13 . The surface cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the at least one actuator element and the swing arm device are connected via a rotational-translational guide, wherein for adjusting a position of the at least one sweeping roller, a pivotal position of or at the swing arm device is adjustable, and a displacement is capable of being performed at the rotational-translational guide upon floor/ground contact of the at least one sweeping roller. 
     
     
         14 . The surface cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the sensor device is associated with the rotational-translational guide and checks for displacement at the rotational-translational guide. 
     
     
         15 . The surface cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the swing arm device comprises a lever element which is pivotable relative to the chassis and upon which the adjusting device acts. 
     
     
         16 . The surface cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein a pivot axis of the lever element is at least approximately parallel to an axis of rotation of the at least one sweeping roller. 
     
     
         17 . The surface cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein the at least one actuator element of the adjusting device is articulated to the lever element. 
     
     
         18 . The surface cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein relative displacement between the at least one actuator element and the lever element is capable of being performed in a region of articulation therebetween upon floor/ground contact of the at least one sweeping roller. 
     
     
         19 . The surface cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein the sensor device monitors relative displacement between the lever element and the at least one actuator element in the region of articulation therebetween. 
     
     
         20 . The surface cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the rotational-translational guide comprises a receptacle for a connecting element between the at least one actuator element and the lever element, wherein the connecting element is relatively pivotable and displaceable in the receptacle. 
     
     
         21 . The surface cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the receptacle is configured as an elongated hole or comprises one or more elongated holes. 
     
     
         22 . The surface cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the connecting element is spring-biased. 
     
     
         23 . The surface cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 22 , wherein a spring device is provided which is articulated to the connecting element and the lever element. 
     
     
         24 . The surface cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein the rotational-translational guide has a second stop opposite a first stop, wherein the connecting element, assisted by the spring force of the spring device, is displaceable between the first stop and the second stop upon floor/ground contact of the at least one sweeping roller. 
     
     
         25 . The surface cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the sensor device provides a switch signal when the connecting element is positioned at or near the second stop. 
     
     
         26 . The surface cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the swing arm device comprises spaced holders which have the at least one sweeping roller held therebetween. 
     
     
         27 . The surface cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein the holders are located on a rod on which the lever element is arranged. 
     
     
         28 . The surface cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the rod is translationally fixed and pivotable relative to the chassis, wherein a pivoting actuation of the lever element causes pivoting of the rod. 
     
     
         29 . The surface cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a capability for adjusting one or more different sweeping patterns of the at least one sweeping roller is provided. 
     
     
         30 . The surface cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the surface cleaning machine is of self-propelled configuration. 
     
     
         31 . A method for adjusting the position of a sweeping roller in a surface cleaning machine, comprising:
 holding the sweeping roller on a swing arm device, wherein a pivotal position of or at the swing arm device determines a position of the sweeping roller relative to the floor/ground to be cleaned;   adjusting a pivotal position at the swing arm device via an actuator;   determining floor/ground contact of the sweeping roller at the swing arm device via a sensor device; and   measuring a position at the actuator upon floor/ground contact of the sweeping roller.   
     
     
         32 . The method in accordance with  claim 31 , wherein a diameter of the sweeping roller is calculated from the measured position at the actuator upon floor/ground contact of the sweeping roller. 
     
     
         33 . The method in accordance with  claim 32 , wherein, with knowledge of the diameter, a predetermined sweeping pattern is adjusted via the actuator. 
     
     
         34 . The method in accordance with  claim 31 , wherein the sensor device determines a quantity at the swing arm device that characterizes a lift of the sweeping roller upon floor/ground contact thereof. 
     
     
         35 . The method in accordance with  claim 31 , wherein relative displacement between the actuator and the swing arm device takes place upon floor/ground contact of the sweeping roller, said relative displacement being detectable by the sensor device. 
     
     
         36 . The method in accordance with  claim 31 , wherein the actuator is articulated to the swing arm device via a rotational-translational guide, wherein the actuator effects pivotal movement of or at the swing arm device via the rotational guide part of the rotational-translational guide and wherein floor/ground contact of the sweeping roller is detected via the translational part of the rotational-translational guide.