Self-propelled and self-steering floor cleaning appliance and cleaning system

Abstract

A self-propelling and self-steering floor cleaning appliance is provided which includes at least one cleaning unit and a dirt collecting container having a container interior, a bottom wall, a dirt inlet opening and a dirt outlet opening formed on the bottom wall, wherein dirt particles are transferable by means of the at least one cleaning unit into the container interior. To enable easy removal of dirt particles from the dirt collecting container while achieving a simple design, the floor cleaning appliance has a valve device actuatable by air pressure and arranged at the dirt outlet opening with at least one valve body which, in a closed position, at least partially forms the bottom wall and closes the dirt outlet opening and is transferable into an open position in which the dirt outlet opening is at least partially uncovered. The invention further relates to a cleaning system.

1 . A self-propelling and self-steering floor cleaning appliance which comprises at least one cleaning unit and a dirt collecting container which comprises a container interior, a bottom wall, a dirt inlet opening and a dirt outlet opening, wherein dirt particles are transferable by means of the at least one cleaning unit into the container interior and the dirt outlet opening is formed on the bottom wall, wherein the floor cleaning appliance has a valve device arranged at the dirt outlet opening with at least one valve body which, in a closed position, at least partially forms the bottom wall and closes the dirt outlet opening and is transferable into an open position in which the dirt outlet opening is at least partially uncovered, and wherein the valve device is actuatable by air pressure for transferring the at least one valve body from the closed position into the open position. 
     
     
         2 . The floor cleaning appliance in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one valve body is transferable, in a direction away from the container interior, from the closed position into the open position. 
     
     
         3 . The floor cleaning appliance in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the valve device has a valve body which, in the closed position, entirely or substantially entirely closes the dirt outlet opening. 
     
     
         4 . The floor cleaning appliance in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the valve device has a valve body which, in the closed position, partially closes the dirt outlet opening. 
     
     
         5 . The floor cleaning appliance in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the valve device has two or more valve bodies which, in the closed position, each separately and together entirely or substantially entirely close the dirt outlet opening. 
     
     
         6 . The floor cleaning appliance in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the valve device has two valve bodies which, in the closed position, lie flatly against one another to close the dirt outlet opening. 
     
     
         7 . The floor cleaning appliance in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the valve bodies are arranged lying over one another at the dirt outlet opening. 
     
     
         8 . The floor cleaning appliance in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the valve bodies are biased relative to one another in the closed position with valve portions at least partially forming the bottom wall. 
     
     
         9 . The floor cleaning appliance in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one valve body has a flat extent, at least at a valve portion at least partially forming the bottom wall. 
     
     
         10 . The floor cleaning appliance in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one valve body is convexly arched in the direction toward the container interior. 
     
     
         11 . The floor cleaning appliance in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one valve body is made of an elastically deformable material and is deformable for transfer from the closed position into the open position. 
     
     
         12 . The floor cleaning appliance in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one valve body is transferable autonomously from the open position into the closed position. 
     
     
         13 . The floor cleaning appliance in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one valve body has a valve portion at least partially forming the bottom wall and a holding portion by means of which the at least one valve body is held on the dirt collecting container. 
     
     
         14 . The floor cleaning appliance in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the holding portion forms a frame bordering the valve portion. 
     
     
         15 . The floor cleaning appliance in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the valve device comprises a holding part with which the at least one valve body is fixed at an edge of the dirt outlet opening on the dirt collecting container. 
     
     
         16 . The floor cleaning appliance in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the holding part forms a frame which borders the dirt outlet opening. 
     
     
         17 . The floor cleaning appliance in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one valve body is arranged, relative to a side of the floor cleaning appliance facing toward a set-down surface for the floor cleaning appliance, offset on the dirt collecting container in the direction of the container interior. 
     
     
         18 . The floor cleaning appliance in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the floor cleaning appliance has a receptacle for the dirt collecting container and that the dirt collecting container is removably positioned in the receptacle. 
     
     
         19 . The floor cleaning appliance in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the floor cleaning appliance has an undercarriage with two drive wheels, and wherein the dirt collecting container is positioned on the floor cleaning appliance so that the dirt outlet opening is arranged, in the transverse direction of the floor cleaning appliance, between the drive wheels and, in the longitudinal direction thereof, at the level or approximately at the level of the drive wheels. 
     
     
         20 . The floor cleaning appliance in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein as a cleaning unit, at least one of a roller brush with which dirt particles are sweepable from a floor surface to be cleaned and a suction unit for applying negative pressure to the container interior is provided. 
     
     
         21 . A cleaning system comprising a self-propelling and self-steering floor cleaning appliance in accordance with  claim 1  and a suction station which comprises a suction unit, a dirt collecting container to which negative pressure is applicable by said suction unit, and a suction opening which is arranged on the dirt collecting container or on a suction channel connected thereto, wherein the dirt outlet opening aligns in a suction position of the floor cleaning appliance at the suction station at least partially with the suction opening, wherein negative pressure is applicable to the at least one valve body by activating the suction unit of the suction station and said valve body is transferable from the closed position into the open position. 
     
     
         22 . The cleaning system in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein the suction station comprises or forms an approach region for the floor cleaning appliance, and wherein the suction opening is formed in the approach region. 
     
     
         23 . The cleaning system in accordance with  claim 22 , wherein the floor cleaning appliance has an undercarriage with at least one wheel and wherein the approach region comprises at least one wheel recess in which the at least one wheel is arranged in the suction position of the floor cleaning appliance. 
     
     
         24 . The cleaning system in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein the floor cleaning appliance lowers in the direction toward the suction opening when moving into the wheel recess and makes contact at an edge of the suction opening. 
     
     
         25 . The cleaning system in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein the approach region has two wheel recesses in each of which a drive wheel of the floor cleaning appliance is arranged in the suction position of the floor cleaning appliance. 
     
     
         26 . The cleaning system in accordance with  claim 25 , wherein the suction opening is arranged between the wheel recesses. 
     
     
         27 . The cleaning system in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein the suction station comprises at least one sealing element which is arranged at an edge of the suction opening and which contacts an edge of the dirt outlet opening when the floor cleaning appliance assumes the suction position. 
     
     
         28 . The cleaning system in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the at least one sealing element extends along the whole edge of the suction opening. 
     
     
         29 . The cleaning system in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the at least one sealing element comprises a sealing lip which, in a state not contacted by the floor cleaning appliance, protrudes from the suction opening and is curved by the floor cleaning appliance assuming the suction position and is deformed in the direction toward the suction station. 
     
     
         30 . The cleaning system in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein the suction unit of the suction station is activated when the floor cleaning appliance assumes the suction position. 
     
     
         31 . The cleaning system in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein the suction unit is activated for a predeterminable duration. 
     
     
         32 . The cleaning system in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein the suction station comprises at least one actuating element which is actuated by the floor cleaning appliance assuming the suction position in order to activate the suction unit. 
     
     
         33 . The cleaning system in accordance with  claim 32 , wherein the suction station comprises two actuating elements which are configured as electrical contact elements and cooperate with electrical contact elements on the floor cleaning appliance for supplying electrical energy to at least one rechargeable battery of the floor cleaning appliance. 
     
     
         34 . The cleaning system in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein the suction station comprises a suction channel having the suction opening which opens into the dirt collecting container of the suction station. 
     
     
         35 . The cleaning system in accordance with  claim 34 , wherein the suction channel extends at least partially beneath an approach region of the suction station for the floor cleaning appliance and comprises a suction channel cover which is releasably connectable to the approach region. 
     
     
         36 . The cleaning system in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein the suction station comprises at least one guide element for guiding the floor cleaning appliance when said floor cleaning appliance moves into the suction position. 
     
     
         37 . The cleaning system in accordance with  claim 36 , wherein the guide element is a guide projection which is contacted by the floor cleaning appliance on moving into the suction position and along which the floor cleaning appliance moves. 
     
     
         38 . The cleaning system in accordance with  claim 36 , wherein the suction station comprises two guide elements between which an approach region of the suction station for the floor cleaning appliance is arranged.