Floor-cleaning machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a floor cleaning device ( 10; 110; 210; 310; 410 ), preferably a floor scrubbing device, particularly preferably a scrub vacuum floor cleaning device, comprising: a floor unit ( 12; 112; 212; 312; 412 ); a tool ( 24, 26; 124, 126 ) which is assigned to the floor unit ( 12; 112; 212; 312; 412 ) and which, in an operating state, contacts a floor surface ( 158 ); a guide member ( 14; 114; 214; 314; 414 ) for guiding the floor cleaning device ( 10; 110; 210; 310; 410 ); a joint assembly ( 16; 116 ) having a first pivot joint ( 18, 118 ) for pivoting the guide member ( 14; 114; 214; 314; 414 ) relative to the floor unit ( 12; 112; 212; 312; 412 ) about a first pivot axis (A); and a spring member ( 160; 260; 360; 460 ) for generating a spring force between the floor unit ( 12; 112; 212; 312; 412 ) and the guide member ( 14; 114; 214; 314; 414 ), wherein the first pivot joint ( 18, 118 ) has a neutral position, characterized in that the spring member ( 160; 260; 360; 460 ) is operatively connected to the floor unit ( 12; 112; 212; 312; 412 ) and the guide member ( 14; 114; 214; 314; 414 ) in such a way that, when pivoting from the neutral position in a first pivot direction (S 1 ) to a deflected position, a righting torque acting on the guide member ( 14; 114; 214; 314; 414 ) and resulting from the spring force about the first pivot axis (A) in the direction of the neutral position increases in a first angular range and decreases in a subsequent second angular range.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A floor cleaning device ( 10 ;  110 ;  210 ;  310 ;  410 ), preferably a floor scrubbing device, particularly preferably a scrub vacuum floor cleaning device, comprising:
 a floor unit ( 12 ;  112 ;  212 ;  312 ;  412 );   a tool ( 24 ,  26 ;  124 ,  126 ) which is assigned to the floor unit ( 12 ;  112 ;  212 ;  312 ;  412 ) and which, in an operating state, contacts a floor surface ( 158 );   a guide member ( 14 ;  114 ;  214 ;  314 ;  414 ) for guiding the floor cleaning device ( 10 ;  110 ;  210 ;  310 ;  410 );   a joint assembly ( 16 ;  116 ) having a first pivot joint ( 18 ,  118 ) for pivoting the guide member ( 14 ;  114 ;  214 ;  314 ;  414 ) relative to the floor unit ( 12 ;  112 ;  212 ;  312 ;  412 ) about a first pivot axis (A); and   a spring member ( 160 ;  260 ;  360 ;  460 ) for generating a spring force between the floor unit ( 12 ;  112 ;  212 ;  312 ;  412 ) and the guide member ( 14 ;  114 ;  214 ;  314 ;  414 ),   
       wherein the first pivot joint ( 18 ,  118 ) has a neutral position,
 characterized in that the spring member ( 160 ;  260 ;  360 ;  460 ) is operatively connected to the floor unit ( 12 ;  112 ;  212 ;  312 ;  412 ) and the guide member ( 14 ;  114 ;  214 ;  314 ;  414 ) in such a way that, when pivoting from the neutral position in a first pivot direction (S 1 ) to a deflected position, a righting torque acting on the guide member ( 14 ;  114 ;  214 ;  314 ;  414 ) and resulting from the spring force about the first pivot axis (A) in the direction of the neutral position increases in a first angular range and decreases in a subsequent second angular range. 
 
     
     
         2 . The floor cleaning device ( 10 ;  110 ;  210 ;  310 ;  410 ) of  claim 1 , characterized in that the spring member ( 160 ;  260 ;  360 ;  460 ) has a first mounting point ( 164 ;  264 ;  364 ;  464 ) coupled to the guide member ( 14 ;  114 ;  214 ;  314 ;  414 ) at least in the first and second angular ranges and spaced from the first pivot axis (A) on one side of the first pivot joint ( 18 ,  118 ). 
     
     
         3 . The floor cleaning device ( 10 ;  110 ;  210 ;  310 ;  410 ) of  claim 2 , characterized in that a distance to the first pivot axis (A) of a force vector (F) acting on the first mounting point ( 164 ;  264 ;  364 ;  464 ) due to the spring force decreases in the first angular range and/or in the second angular range at least at phases when pivoting in the first pivot direction (S 1 ). 
     
     
         4 . The floor cleaning device ( 10 ;  110 ;  210 ;  310 ;  410 ) of  claim 3 , characterized in that the distance is at a maximum in the neutral position. 
     
     
         5 . The floor cleaning device ( 10 ;  110 ;  210 ;  310 ;  410 ) of  claims 2 to 4 , characterized in that the first mounting point ( 164 ;  264 ;  364 ;  464 ) in the first angular range and/or second angular range at phases performs a movement along a segment of a circle about the first pivot axis (A). 
     
     
         6 . The floor cleaning device ( 10 ;  110 ;  210 ;  310 ;  410 ) of  any one of the preceding claims , characterized in that a spring length of the spring member ( 160 ;  260 ;  360 ;  460 ) increases at least at phases in the first angular range and in the second angular range when pivoting in the first pivot direction (S 1 ). 
     
     
         7 . The floor cleaning device ( 10 ;  110 ;  210 ;  310 ;  410 ) of  any one of the preceding claims , characterized in that the spring member ( 160 ;  260 ;  360 ;  460 ) is a tension spring. 
     
     
         8 . The floor cleaning device ( 10 ;  110 ;  210 ;  310 ;  410 ) of any one of  claims 1 to 5 , characterized in that a spring length of the spring member ( 160 ;  260 ;  360 ;  460 ) decreases at least at phases in the first angular range and in the second angular range when pivoting in the first pivot direction (S 1 ). 
     
     
         9 . The floor cleaning device ( 10 ;  110 ;  210 ;  310 ;  410 ) of  claim 8 , characterized in that the spring member ( 160 ;  260 ;  360 ;  460 ) is a compression spring. 
     
     
         10 . The floor cleaning device ( 10 ;  110 ;  210 ;  310 ;  410 ) of  any one of the preceding claims , characterized in that the spring member ( 160 ;  260 ;  360 ;  460 ) comprises a spring-damper member. 
     
     
         11 . The floor cleaning device ( 10 ;  110 ;  210 ;  310 ;  410 ) of  any one of the preceding claims , characterized in that the spring member ( 160 ;  260 ;  360 ;  460 ) is further operatively connected to the floor unit ( 12 ;  112 ;  212 ;  312 ;  412 ) and the guide member ( 14 ;  114 ;  214 ;  314 ;  414 ) in such a way that the righting torque at a pivot angle relative to the neutral position in the first angular range and/or in the second angular range compensates for a torque acting on the first pivot joint ( 18 ,  118 ) about the first pivot axis (A), in particular a torque resulting from the weight of the guide member ( 14 ;  114 ;  214 ;  314 ;  414 ). 
     
     
         12 . The floor cleaning device ( 10 ;  110 ;  210 ;  310 ;  410 ) of  any one of the preceding claims , characterized in that the spring member ( 160 ;  260 ;  360 ;  460 ) is further operatively connected to the floor unit ( 12 ;  112 ;  212 ;  312 ;  412 ) and the guide member ( 14 ;  114 ;  214 ;  314 ;  414 ) in such a way that the spring force and/or the righting torque in the neutral position amount to zero. 
     
     
         13 . The floor cleaning device ( 10 ;  110 ;  210 ;  310 ;  410 ) of  any one of the preceding claims , characterized in that, when pivoting in the first pivot direction (S 1 ), the second angular range is followed by a third angular range in which the righting torque has a negative sign. 
     
     
         14 . The floor cleaning device ( 10 ;  110 ;  210 ;  310 ;  410 ) of  claim 13 , characterized in that in the third angular range, the value of the righting torque increases when pivoting in the first pivot direction (S 1 ). 
     
     
         15 . The floor cleaning device ( 10 ;  110 ;  210 ;  310 ;  410 ) of  claim 13 or 14 , characterized in that the spring member ( 160 ;  260 ;  360 ;  460 ) is further operatively connected to the floor unit ( 12 ;  112 ;  212 ;  312 ;  412 ) and the guide member ( 14 ;  114 ;  214 ;  314 ;  414 ) in such a way that at the transition from the second angular range to the third angular range, a force vector (F) acting on the mounting point ( 164 ;  264 ;  364 ;  464 ) due to the spring force runs through the first pivot axis (A). 
     
     
         16 . The floor cleaning device ( 10 ;  110 ;  210 ;  310 ;  410 ) of any one of  claims 13 to 15 , characterized in that at the end of the third angular range facing away from the neutral position, the pivot angle relative to the neutral position is at least 70 degrees, preferably at least 80 degrees, particularly preferably at least 90 degrees. 
     
     
         17 . The floor cleaning device ( 10 ;  110 ;  210 ;  310 ;  410 ) of  any one of the preceding claims , characterized in that at the end of the second angular range facing away from the neutral position, the pivot angle relative to the neutral position is at least 70 degrees, preferably at least 80 degrees, particularly preferably at least 90 degrees. 
     
     
         18 . The floor cleaning device ( 10 ;  110 ;  210 ;  310 ;  410 ) of  any one of the preceding claims , characterized in that the spring member ( 160 ;  260 ;  360 ;  460 ) does not exert any spring force on the guide member ( 14 ;  114 ;  214 ;  314 ;  414 ) in a fourth angular range when pivoting from the neutral position in a second pivot direction (S 2 ) opposite to the first pivot direction (S 1 ). 
     
     
         19 . The floor cleaning device ( 10 ;  110 ;  210 ;  310 ;  410 ) of  claim 18 , characterized in that the first mounting point ( 164 ;  264 ;  364 ;  464 ) is configured on a sled ( 470 ) that can be moved in a sled guide ( 468 ) relative to the guide member ( 14 ;  114 ;  214 ;  314 ;  414 ) when pivoting from the neutral position in the second pivot direction (S 2 ). 
     
     
         20 . The floor cleaning device ( 10 ;  110 ;  210 ;  310 ;  410 ) of  claim 19 , characterized in that the sled guide ( 468 ) specifies an arc-shaped movement of the sled ( 470 ) relative to the guide member ( 14 ;  114 ;  214 ;  314 ;  414 ), the center of the circular arc shape being arranged on the first pivot axis (A).