Floor cleaning machine and method for operating a floor cleaning machine

Abstract

A floor cleaning machine is provided, comprising a suction unit device, a suction bar which is operatively connectable, or operatively connected, to the suction unit device for fluid communication therewith, a holder which releasably holds the suction bar, a fixing device for releasably fixing the suction bar at the holder, and an overload protection device which is associated with the suction bar, wherein the overload protection device comprises at least one rotational bearing by way of which the suction bar is rotatable at the holder relative to the holder when an overload situation occurs.

1 . Floor cleaning machine, comprising:
 a suction unit device;   a suction bar which is operatively connectable, or operatively connected, to the suction unit device for fluid communication therewith;   a holder which releasably holds the suction bar;   a fixing device for releasably fixing the suction bar at the holder; and   an overload protection device which is associated with the suction bar;   wherein the overload protection device comprises at least one rotational bearing by way of which the suction bar is rotatable at the holder relative to the holder when an overload situation occurs.   
     
     
         2 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one rotational bearing has an axis of rotation with at least one of the following:
 the axis of rotation is transverse to a plane of support of the suction bar on a floor to be cleaned;   the axis of rotation is transverse to a wheel axis of the floor cleaning machine;   the axis of rotation is in spaced relation to a central plane of the suction bar, which central plane lies between a first end face and a second end face of the suction bar, relative to a fixing position of the suction bar at the holder;   the axis of rotation is oriented at least approximately parallel to a central plane which lies between a first end face and a second end face of the suction bar, relative to a fixing position of the suction bar at the holder.   
     
     
         3 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the at least one rotational bearing, relative to a fixing position of the suction bar at the holder, is at least one of (i) in spaced relation to a port for a suction conduit that is arranged at the suction bar, and (ii) in spaced relation to a central plane of the suction bar which lies between a first end face and a second end face of the suction bar. 
     
     
         4 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least a first rotational bearing and a second rotational bearing are provided, which second rotational bearing is in spaced relation to the first rotational bearing, with at least one of the following:
 a first axis of rotation of the first rotational bearing and a second axis of rotation of the second rotational bearing are at least approximately parallel to one another;   a central plane of the suction bar which lies between a first end face and a second end face of the suction bar, lies between the first rotational bearing and the second rotational bearing, relative to a fixing position of the suction bar at the holder;   the first rotational bearing and the second rotational bearing are in a mirror-symmetrical arrangement about a central plane which lies between a first end face end and a second end face end of the suction bar;   a port for a suction conduit at the suction bar is located between the first rotational bearing and the second rotational bearing, relative to a fixing position of the suction bar at the holder.   
     
     
         5 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the suction bar comprises a support region for the holder and the holder comprises a contact region for the support region of the suction bar. 
     
     
         6 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the support region has a planar contact surface. 
     
     
         7 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the at least one rotational bearing comprises a wall which is arranged at the support region of the suction bar, wherein the wall defines a receptacle, and the at least one rotational bearing comprises a counter element which is arranged at the contact region of the holder, wherein, in a fixing position of the suction bar at the holder, the counter element is positioned in the receptacle. 
     
     
         8 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the following is provided:
 the receptacle is closed towards the support region of the suction bar;   the receptacle is open in a direction away from the support region;   the receptacle is bounded by the wall in a direction away from the holder with respect to a fixing position of the suction bar at the holder;   the receptacle is open towards the holder with respect to a fixing position of the suction bar at the holder;   the wall has an arcuate shape;   the wall extends in an angular range of at most 180°;   the wall has a height (H) of no more than 5 cm.   
     
     
         9 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the following is provided:
 the counter element has an arcuate shape on an end face that faces towards the wall;   the counter element is formed as a finger;   the counter element is of planar configuration on an underside thereof facing towards the support region of the suction bar;   the counter element is of planar configuration on an upper side thereof facing away from the underside;   a height of the counter element between an upper side and an underside is no more than 2 cm.   
     
     
         10 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the counter element bounds an indentation at the holder, with at least one of the following:
 a fastening element of the suction bar is positioned in the indentation when the suction bar is in a fixing position at the holder;   the indentation has an arcuate boundary;   the indentation is bounded by a web on a side thereof facing away from the counter element.   
     
     
         11 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least one tab is arranged at the suction bar for connection to the holder. 
     
     
         12 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least one tab is arranged at the suction bar for connection to the holder, and wherein the at least one tab is formed as a hand grip for holding the suction bar. 
     
     
         13 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the at least one tab is formed as a hoop. 
     
     
         14 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the at least one tab is centrally arranged with respect to outer end faces of the suction bar. 
     
     
         15 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the holder comprises a holder receptacle for the at least one tab, wherein the at least one holder receptacle is configured for providing support to the tab. 
     
     
         16 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the following is provided:
 the holder receptacle is configured for providing support to the at least one tab downwardly towards a floor to be cleaned;   the holder receptacle is configured for providing support to the at least one tab upwardly in a direction away from a floor to be cleaned;   the holder receptacle is open on an insertion side;   the holder receptacle has associated therewith an insertion ramp on an insertion side.   
     
     
         17 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the holder comprises a contact region and the suction bar comprises a support region for the contact region, wherein the contact region is in spaced relation to the holder receptacle for the at least one tab. 
     
     
         18 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a housing box is arranged at the holder, to which housing box is connected a suction conduit, and wherein the housing box, in a fixing position of the suction bar at the holder, is positioned over a port for a suction conduit at the suction bar. 
     
     
         19 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the following is provided:
 the housing box comprises a support surface for the suction bar;   the port for a suction conduit at the suction bar has an inclined surface at which a port mouth is positioned;   the housing box is in spaced relation to at least one engagement region of the fixing device;   a holder receptacle for at least one tab of the suction bar for fixing the suction bar at the holder is arranged in the region of the housing box;   the holder receptacle is spaced in height from the housing box;   in a fixing position of the suction bar at the holder, operative connection and fluid communication between a suction conduit and a port for a suction conduit at the suction bar is established;   the holder receptacle conforms to the at least one tab such that, when the suction bar is fixed at the holder with the at least one tab received in the holder receptacle, the holder is automatically positioned relative to the suction bar such that the at least one rotational bearing is formed.   
     
     
         20 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the fixing device is configured such that in a fixing position of the suction bar at the holder, a force-locking connection exists between the holder and the suction bar. 
     
     
         21 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the fixing device is configured such that in a fixing position of the suction bar at the holder, a form-locking connection exists between the holder and the suction bar. 
     
     
         22 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the fixing device is configured such that in a fixing position of the suction bar at the holder, a form-locking connection exists between the holder and the suction bar, and exists in addition to a force-locking connection. 
     
     
         23 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein the fixing device comprises at least one clamping element which is arranged at the suction bar and via which the holder is clampable against the suction bar. 
     
     
         24 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein the suction bar comprises a support region for the holder and the holder comprises a contact region for the support region of the suction bar, and wherein the at least one clamping element is configured such that the contact region of the holder is clampable between the support region and the at least one clamping element. 
     
     
         25 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein at least one of the following is provided:
 the at least one clamping element is formed as a clamping lever;   the at least one clamping element comprises a pivot element which has a clamping surface and which is pivotably mounted on a bearing element;   a bearing element of the at least one clamping element is mounted for displacement on the suction bar;   a direction of displacement of the bearing element is oriented transversely to a pivot axis of the pivot element;   the bearing element is supported on the suction bar via a spring device;   a spring force of the spring device in a clamping position of the at least one clamping element exerts a clamping force for fixing the holder and the suction bar together in a form-locking manner;   at least one of the direction of displacement of the bearing element and a direction of force of the spring device is oriented at least approximately parallel to an axis of rotation of the at least one rotational bearing.   
     
     
         26 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein at least a first clamping element and a second clamping element are provided, the second clamping element being in spaced relation to the first clamping element, with at least one of the following:
 the first clamping element and the second clamping element are arranged outside of a central plane of the suction bar which lies between a first end face and a second end face of the suction bar;   the first clamping element and the second clamping element have mirror symmetry about a central plane of the suction bar which lies between a first end face and a second end face;   a port for a suction conduit is positioned between the first clamping element and the second clamping element;   the first clamping element and the second clamping element are located between a first rotational bearing and a second rotational bearing.   
     
     
         27 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein the fixing device comprises at least one first form-locking element which is arranged at the suction bar, and at least one second form-locking element which corresponds to the first form-locking element and is arranged at the holder. 
     
     
         28 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the at least one first form-locking element and the at least second form-locking element are arranged and configured such that, in a fixing position of the suction bar at the holder, when a force-locking connection is established between the suction bar and the holder, a form-locking connection with the at least one first form-locking element and the at least one second form-locking element is also established. 
     
     
         29 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 28 , wherein the at least one first form-locking element is arranged at a support region of the suction bar for the holder. 
     
     
         30 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the at least one first form-locking element and the at least one second form-locking element are configured to conform to one another such that, in a fixing position of the suction bar at the holder, a movement of the suction bar away from the holder in a blocking direction is blocked by a form lock, with at least one of the following:
 the blocking direction is at least approximately parallel to a plane of support of the suction bar on a floor to be cleaned;   the blocking direction is at least approximately parallel to a direction of insertion of at least one tab of the suction bar into a holder receptacle of the holder;   the blocking direction is transverse to an axis of rotation of the at least one rotational bearing;   the blocking direction is at least approximately parallel to a chassis axis of the cleaning machine;   the blocking direction is at least approximately parallel to a support region of the suction bar for the holder;   the blocking direction is transverse to a wheel axis;   the blocking direction is a unidirectional direction away from the holder.   
     
     
         31 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein, when a sufficiently large force is applied to the suction bar, the at least one second form-locking element is releasable from the at least one first form-locking element. 
     
     
         32 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the at least one first form-locking element is formed by an elevation at the suction bar and wherein the at least one second form-locking element is a nose at the holder. 
     
     
         33 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the at least one second form-locking element has a blocking region for the at least one first form-locking element, with which blocking region the second form-locking element is in contact against the first form-locking element when in a form-locking connection, and wherein the at least one second form-locking element has an inclined plane for overriding the at least one first form-locking element. 
     
     
         34 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein in an overload event, the suction bar at least one of (i) rotates relative to the holder and (ii) falls off the holder. 
     
     
         35 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a checking device is provided to check for blockage at a suction path. 
     
     
         36 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 35 , wherein at least one pressure sensor is provided which is arranged at the suction path. 
     
     
         37 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 36 , wherein the pressure sensor is arranged at a pressure conduit which is connectable, or is connected, to the suction bar. 
     
     
         38 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 37 , wherein a port for a suction conduit at the suction bar comprises a port for the pressure conduit. 
     
     
         39 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 37 , wherein the pressure conduit is connected to a suction conduit. 
     
     
         40 . Floor cleaning machine, comprising:
 a chassis;   a suction unit device;   a suction bar which is operatively connectable, or operatively connected, to the suction unit device for fluid communication therewith; and   a holder which is connected to the chassis and which holds the suction bar;   wherein the holder has associated therewith a pivot joint via which the suction bar is pivotable relative to the chassis; and   wherein a locking device is provided via which an adjusted pivot position of the suction bar relative to the chassis is lockable in place.   
     
     
         41 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 40 , wherein at least one of the following is provided:
 a pivot axis of the pivot joint is oriented at least approximately parallel to a plane of support of the suction bar on a floor to be cleaned;   the pivot axis is oriented at least approximately parallel to a wheel axis;   the pivot axis is oriented transversely to a direction of forward travel.   
     
     
         42 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 40 , wherein the holder is formed of multi-part configuration and the pivot joint is integrated in the holder. 
     
     
         43 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 40 , wherein the holder comprises a first part and a second part, wherein the second part comprises a contact region for the suction bar, the second part is connected to the first part via the pivot joint, and the second part is lockably pivotable relative to the first part. 
     
     
         44 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 43 , wherein the locking device is connected to the first part and the second part. 
     
     
         45 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 43 , wherein the holder comprises a fastening part which is fixed at the chassis, and comprises an intermediate part which comprises the first part, wherein the intermediate part is oriented at an angle to the fastening part, the intermediate part is in spaced relation to the chassis, and an engagement region at the locking device for an operator is above an upper side or above an underside of the intermediate part. 
     
     
         46 . Floor cleaning machine in accordance with  claim 43 , wherein the locking device comprises at least one pin element which is in spaced relation to a pivot axis of the pivot joint and is connected to the first part and the second part, wherein a height position of the at least one pin element locks a pivot position of the second part relative to the first part, with at least one of the following:
 the at least one pin element is formed as an adjusting screw;   the at least one pin element is at least one of (i) guided by at least one of the first part and the second part via threads and (ii) provided with a counter nut;   a compression spring device is located between the first part and the second part in the region of the at least one pin element and is supported on the first part and the second part.   
     
     
         47 . Method for operating a floor cleaning machine; comprising:
 a suction unit device;   a suction bar which is operatively connectable, or operatively connected, to the suction unit device for fluid communication therewith;   a holder which releasably holds the suction bar;   a fixing device for releasably fixing the suction bar at the holder; and   an overload protection device which is associated with the suction bar;   wherein the overload protection device comprises at least one rotational bearing by way of which the suction bar is rotatable at the holder relative to the holder when an overload situation occurs;   the method comprising:   rotating the suction bar which is held to a holder relative to the holder via the at least one rotational bearing when an overload event occurs.