Cleaning heads and vacuum cleaners comprising same

Abstract

A cleaning head (100, 200) comprising: a suction interface; a suction network connected to the suction interface, the suction network comprising a waste collection port and a waste container (150, 250) interconnecting the suction interface and the waste collection port; a suction compartment in fluid communication with the waste collection port, the suction compartment comprising an elongate entry aperture; a roller cleaner (120, 220) mounted inside the suction compartment, the roller cleaner (120, 220) having an elongate outer surface portion protruding through the elongate entry aperture; a machine compartment (260) inside which a drive mechanism (266) and electronic circuitry (262) are mounted; a storage portion comprising a cleaning liquid container (140, 240) and the waste container (150, 250) mounted on a storage receptacle (118); a cleaning liquid applicator configured to draw cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid container (140, 240) and to apply the cleaning liquid to the roller cleaner (120, 220), and a waste remover configured to physically interact with the roller cleaner (120, 220) to remove waste therefrom.

1 ) A cleaning head comprising:
 a suction interface comprising a tubular portion configured for connection to a suction power source and an electrical interface;   a suction network connected to the suction interface, the suction network comprising a waste collection port forming an upstream end of the suction network and a waste container interconnecting the suction interface and the waste collection port;   a suction compartment in fluid communication with the waste collection port, the suction compartment comprising an elongate entry aperture having an aperture axis;   a roller cleaner mounted inside the suction compartment, the roller cleaner having a roller axis parallel to the aperture axis and an elongate outer surface portion protruding through the elongate entry aperture;   a machine compartment inside which a drive mechanism and electronic circuitry are mounted, the drive mechanism being configured to drive the roller cleaner to rotate about the roller axis to perform cleaning;   a storage portion comprising a cleaning liquid container and the waste container mounted on a storage receptacle;   a cleaning liquid applicator configured to draw cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid container and to apply the cleaning liquid to the roller cleaner; and   a waste remover configured to physically interact with the roller cleaner to remove waste therefrom;   wherein the waste collection port is configured to collect waste removed from the roller cleaner by suction and the suction network is configured to move the collected waste to the waste container.   
     
     
         2 ) The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical interface is configured for connection to an electrical power source to obtain electrical power and control signals to operate electrical parts of the cleaning head, wherein the tubular portion of the suction interface comprises a free end for attaching to a vacuum power source, and wherein the electrical interface terminates at or near the free end. 
     
     
         3 ) The cleaning head of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical interface comprises conductors extending along the tubular portion of the suction interface, the conductors comprising signal conductors which are configured to transmit control signals to the electronic circuitry of the drive mechanism. 
     
     
         4 ) The cleaning head according to  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning head has a main axis defining a rolling direction which is orthogonal to the roller axis, and wherein the suction compartment is on a first end of the main axis and the suction interface is on a second end of the main axis. 
     
     
         5 ) The cleaning head according to  claim 4 , wherein the cleaning liquid container and the waste container are disposed on two lateral sides of the main axis such that the main axis is intermediate the cleaning liquid container and the waste container. 
     
     
         6 ) The cleaning head according to  claim 4 , wherein the tubular portion of the suction interface has a tubular axis and the main axis is a center axis which intersects the tubular axis. 
     
     
         7 ) The cleaning head according to  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning head comprises a main housing which defines the suction compartment, the machine compartment and the storage receptacle; wherein the storage receptacle is intermediate the machine compartment and the suction interface; and wherein the cleaning liquid container and the waste container are detachably mounted on the storage receptacle. 
     
     
         8 ) The cleaning head according to  claim 7 , wherein the suction compartment comprises a first arm and a second arm which project away from the machine compartment and extend in a direction orthogonal to the roller axis and which cooperate to hold the roller cleaner in its operation position such that the roller axis is parallel to the aperture axis. 
     
     
         9 ) The cleaning head according to  claim 8 , wherein the main housing comprises a movable portion which is movable between an open state and a close state, wherein the movable portion in the closed state cooperates with the first arm and the second arm to define the entry aperture, and wherein the movable portion in the open state permits removal of the roller cleaner from the suction compartment. 
     
     
         10 ) The cleaning head according to  claim 9 , wherein the movable portion is movable about a pivotal axis between the open state and the closed state, the pivotal axis being parallel to the roller axis. 
     
     
         11 ) The cleaning head according to  claim 8 , wherein the suction compartment and the machine compartment share a partitioning wall, the partitioning wall extending in a direction parallel to the roller axis and between the first arm and the second arm. 
     
     
         12 ) The cleaning head according to  claim 1 , wherein the suction network comprises a riser duct portion and a suction channel interconnecting the riser duct portion and the waste collection port, and wherein the riser duct portion extends through the machine compartment and the suction channel is underneath the machine compartment. 
     
     
         13 ) The cleaning head according to  claim 12 , wherein the suction channel flares to widen on extending towards the suction compartment to define the waste collection port, and wherein the waste collection port has a width comparable to the length of the roller cleaner, the length being measured along the roller axis. 
     
     
         14 ) The cleaning head according to  claim 13 , wherein the waste collection port is slit having a slit axis which is parallel to the roller axis. 
     
     
         15 ) The cleaning head according to  claim 13 , wherein the waste container interconnects the suction interface and the riser duct portion, and wherein the riser duct portion has a duct axis which is orthogonal to the roller axis and which defines the direction of extension of the riser duct portion through the machine compartment. 
     
     
         16 ) The cleaning head according to  claim 12 , wherein the suction channel has an internal clearance which increases on extending from the waste collection port to the riser duct portion, the internal clearance being measured in a direction parallel to the direction of extension of the riser duct portion. 
     
     
         17 ) The cleaning head according to  claim 12 , wherein the suction channel and the waste collection are defined by a bottom portion of the machine compartment in cooperation with a bottom cover of the cleaning head. 
     
     
         18 ) The cleaning head according to  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning liquid applicator is configured to apply cleaning liquid to an upstream portion of the cleaning roller and the waste remover is configured to remove waste from a downstream portion of the cleaning roller. 
     
     
         19 ) A vacuum cleaner comprising a cleaning head, wherein the cleaning head comprises:—
 a suction interface comprising a tubular portion configured for connection to a suction power source and an electrical interface; 
 a suction network connected to the suction interface, the suction network comprising a waste collection port forming an upstream end of the suction network and a waste container interconnecting the suction interface and the waste collection port; 
 a suction compartment in fluid communication with the waste collection port, the suction compartment comprising an elongate entry aperture having an aperture axis; 
 a roller cleaner mounted inside the suction compartment, the roller cleaner having a roller axis parallel to the aperture axis and an elongate outer surface portion protruding through the elongate entry aperture; 
 a machine compartment inside which a drive mechanism and electronic circuitry are mounted, the drive mechanism being configured to drive the roller cleaner to rotate about the roller axis to perform cleaning; 
 a storage portion comprising a cleaning liquid container and the waste container mounted on a storage receptacle; 
 a cleaning liquid applicator configured to draw cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid container and to apply the cleaning liquid to the roller cleaner; and 
 a waste remover configured to physically interact with the roller cleaner to remove waste therefrom; 
 wherein the waste collection port is configured to collect waste removed from the roller cleaner by suction and the suction network is configured to move the collected waste to the waste container. 
 
     
     
         20 ) A vacuum cleaner according to  claim 19 , wherein the vacuum cleaner comprises an elongate body defining a handle portion on a first longitudinal end and a tubular portion at a second longitudinal end distal from the first longitudinal end, wherein a suction power source is received inside the elongate body, and wherein the tubular portion is in fluid connection with the suction interface and is pivotally movable relative to the cleaning head.