EP1369074B1 - Suction nozzle with scraping device - Google Patents

Abstract

The vacuum cleaner nozzle (1) has a sole plate (3) with an aspiration channel (4). Two scraping plates (5a,5b) are located on either side of the aspiration channel and attached to rods (7a,7b) which are pivoted (6a,6b) at their inner ends. For each direction of motion (F1,F2) the leading scraping blade tends to scrape and disturb dust from the pile (11) of a carpeted surface (8) An Independent claim is also included for : A vacuum cleaner which uses the nozzle

Description

The present invention relates to a dust vacuum cleaner, and more particularly to an improvement in dusting performance of carpet-type surfaces.

As shown figure 1 , it is known, by the document GB 855.613 to use a rubbing scrap rubber rule, said rule having two lips 139 and 140 articulated around a clip 121. On either side of this rule are disposed openings connecting the flow channel 120 with the suction channel 141. During the displacement of the nozzle 100 in the direction H, under the effect of friction with the surface to be cleaned, the lip 139 closes the opening 260. The air is then sucked under the edge before 132 of the nozzle.

In this way, the rule allows not only to collect and scrape the dust on the surface to be cleaned, but also to close the half-channel located at the rear of the rule relative to the direction of travel.

However, if such a nozzle is relatively effective on smooth floors, such as parquet or tiling, it is rather inefficient for cleaning carpeted floors or carpet where most of the dust is located between the pile of the carpet, or in physical connection with the carpet, so that it is difficult, with a simple flow of suction air, to dislodge this dust.

In the remainder of this document, carpet will refer to any type of surface composed of fibers and / or bristles, these surfaces being able to be carpets, wall coverings, towels, carpets, etc.

An improvement of this device has been proposed by the Applicant in the application WO 00/65979 . In this device, the suction channel of the nozzle open to the surface to be cleaned is separated in two by an articulated blade which, in the direction of movement of the nozzle takes a position which, on the one hand urges the surface to be cleaned, and, secondly, closes a portion of the internal suction channel of the nozzle, the active portion of said channel being located at the rear of the scraper blade in the direction of movement of the nozzle.

The blade thus makes it possible to solicit the fibers of the ground to dislodge the dust, immediately taken in a flow of air.

This device works to satisfaction, but the provision of scraping rule in the middle of the suction channel, thus reducing the width of said channel by two, can cause, depending on the configuration of the nozzle, a certain discomfort during the suction of waste bulky.

The present invention aims to improve the device presented on the principle of solicitation of the carpet fibers with an immediate subsequent suction dust suspended, and whatever the direction of displacement of the nozzle.

The present invention is achieved by means of a suction nozzle having at least one suction channel open to the surface to be cleaned, and aeraulically connected to a flow channel, said suction channel being substantially transverse to the direction of displacement of the nozzle, said nozzle having at least one blade capable of being in contact with the surface to be cleaned, said blade being parallel to said suction channel, characterized in that the blade is arranged close in front of the suction channel as seen relative to the direction of movement of the nozzle and in that this blade is secured to the end of an arm whose other end pivots freely about an axis parallel to said blade and located substantially in line with the suction channel.

Thus, when the nozzle is advanced, this blade is closer to the surface to be cleaned, under the effect of its weight and its friction with the surface.

The simplified device as presented keeps the specificity, during the passage of the nozzle on a carpet, a stressing by scraping the bristles of the carpet before suction, said hairs then being spaced apart by the passage of the blade to dislodge the dust, immediately taken in an air flow.

Advantageously, each of the ends of the blade is integral with a pivoting arm, which gives more rigidity to said blade.

Advantageously, the blade comprises stops for stopping its pivoting movement in order to control the scraping effect and not to bend the blade under the nozzle.

Preferably, in order to give the nozzle a symmetry of efficiency regardless of the direction of movement of the nozzle, the latter comprises two blades located in front and behind the suction channel.

Advantageously, the two blades are arranged in a frame delimiting the suction channel and a portion of the flow channel, said frame being pivotally movable about an axis parallel to the blades.

Thus, under the effect of friction with the surface to be cleaned of the blade located in front of the suction channel in the direction of displacement of the nozzle, said blade pivots towards the surface to be cleaned.

The arrangement of the scraping blades at the edges delimiting the suction channel also makes it possible, by adapting the housing of the frame, not to restrict the width of said channel at the level of the blades, which is favorable for the suction and the flow of "bulky" waste.

In addition, the proposed embodiment is as effective as the nozzle is moved, perpendicular to the scraper blades, in one direction or in the opposite direction.

Finally, the production of a subassembly consisting of a frame pivotally mounted and whose edges constitute the scraping blades allows to have only one piece which can be mounted easily in the suction channel, this which reduces manufacturing costs.

Advantageously, the frame has abutments for stopping its pivoting movement, which makes it possible to adjust the desired effect of driving the blades into the carpet, while avoiding, by excessive rotation, that the blades do not lift. too much the nozzle, which would reduce its suction efficiency.

Advantageously, such stops also perform the airtightness of the nozzle at this level, in order to force the air sucked to pass under the scraping blades.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the blade is protruding from a height of between one and five millimeters when the frame pivots against the stops. Such values can solicit carpet deep without increasing the ground clearance of the nozzle at the suction channel, which could be detrimental to the effectiveness of the nozzle. This height may be different on each of the blades to differentiate the effect according to the direction of movement of the nozzle.

According to one embodiment, the axis of the frame is arranged vertically above the suction channel, which allows the blades to have a more penetrating rotational movement in the surface to be cleaned.

Advantageously, the axis of the frame is arranged in the median plane of the suction channel. This symmetrical arrangement provides the desired effect in a similar manner as the nozzle is moved in one direction or the other, in a direction perpendicular to the scraping blades.

According to an alternative embodiment, the nozzle has means for modifying its ground clearance, according to the direction of movement of said nozzle. This dissymmetry makes it possible to have a level of depression of the blade in the carpet different according to the direction of movement of the nozzle, in order to cause a force of displacement of the nozzle by the user different in the direction of displacement.

This level, or ground clearance, can be obtained by an axis of rotation of the eccentric frame relative to the median plane of the suction channel.

According to an improved version of the invention, the frame has at least one injection channel open to the surface to be treated. It is indeed interesting, so to increase the efficiency of the nozzle, to be able to dislodge dust from the pile of the carpet with a localized air flow.

Advantageously, the injection channel is located at the front of at least one of the blades in the direction of movement of the nozzle, which allows to best combine the effect of the airflow with the sleeping effect hairs by the action of the blade on said hairs. The air is thus blown between the hairs spread by the blade.

This effect is reinforced by the use of blower means connected to the injection channel. This provides, when the vacuum is turned on, an air inlet into the surface to be cleaned in the form of an air jet.

Alternatively or in addition, the injection channel may be connected to a container containing treatment products, such as a detergent.

Advantageously, the injection channel opens in the form of slots or holes regularly distributed on a substantially horizontal wall and adjacent along the blade, said wall being located towards the inside of the nozzle relative to the end of the nozzle. the blade.

The production of slots or holes regularly distributed along the blade ensures the homogeneity of the air injection, which is also accelerated to the passage of the holes or slots, to improve the effectiveness of stalling dust of hair carpeting.

According to one of the versions envisaged, the nozzle has, advantageously, a mechanism for adjusting the height of the frame in the flow conduit and / or suction.

This mechanism makes it possible, on the one hand, to adjust the height of the blades in the factory according to the types of carpet frequently encountered in the various countries, and, on the other hand, it allows the user to adapt his nozzle to the different types. carpet that he may have in his possession, in order to make the most of his device.

According to alternative embodiments, the end of the blades can be shaped so as to cause different stresses depending on the case encountered, or even within the same nozzle. The end can be either beveled and / or crenellated and / or provided with bristles.

Advantageously, the suction nozzle according to the invention comprises at least one sealing lip, located at the front and / or rear of the nozzle and / or located at the front and / or at the rear of the suction channel, depending on the direction of movement of the nozzle, which increases its efficiency. Such a flap can be made of elastomer or made of very soft bristles.

In addition to the suction channel provided with blades as previously defined, the nozzle also has a suction opening open to the surface to be cleaned and connected aeraulic to an air flow channel. sucked, said suction opening being free of blades, thereby allowing the nozzle to increase the suction area.

Another object of the present invention is also to provide a dust vacuum cleaner comprising in particular a motor unit capable of generating an air suction flow in ducts terminated by a nozzle open towards the surface to be cleaned, said nozzle conforming to one of the previously stated characteristics.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en coupe latérale d'un suceur de l'art antérieur,
• la figure 2 représente le principe de fonctionnement de la présente invention, dans une vue en coupe symbolique,
• les figures 3 et 4 représentent le principe de fonctionnement d'une variante de la présente invention, dans une vue schématique selon une coupe latérale,
• la figure 5 est une vue schématique d'un suceur d'aspirateur conforme à une variante de réalisation de la présente invention, dans une vue de dessous,
• la figure 6 est une vue isolée du cadre et des lames présentés en figure 5, dans une vue de dessous.

The present invention will be better understood from the description which follows, with reference to the appended figures, among which:

• the figure 1 is a schematic side sectional view of a nozzle of the prior art,
• the figure 2 represents the operating principle of the present invention, in a symbolic sectional view,
• the Figures 3 and 4 represent the operating principle of a variant of the present invention, in a schematic view according to a lateral section,
• the figure 5 is a schematic view of a vacuum nozzle according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, in a view from below,
• the figure 6 is an isolated view of the frame and the blades presented in figure 5 , in a view from below.

With reference to the figure 2 , the nozzle 1 according to the present invention comprises a sole 3 having an opening defining a suction channel 4. The usual displacement of the nozzle is carried out according to F1 or F2. The direction of movement F1 can be considered as a usual displacement of the nozzle forward, the direction F2 as a displacement of the nozzle backwards. One of the main features of the invention is to have a scraping rule at the outer edge of the suction channel 4. By way of example, the nozzle of the figure 2 has two scraping rules 5a, 5b located on either side of the suction channel 4.

These rules are connected by an oblique arm, respectively 7a, 7b, to a pivot axis 6a, 6b, the rotational movement of the rules being effected according to the circular arcs shown in dashed lines in the figure.

The shafts 6a, 6b of rotation of the blades are preferably located near the median plane of the suction channel so that the pivoting of the blades is carried out in a race that penetrates frankly the hairs of the carpet.

Thus, in operation, when the nozzle is moved in the direction F1, the blade 5a, located in front of the suction channel according to the displacement of the nozzle, under the effect of friction with the bristles 11 of the ground 8, pivots around the axis 6a by sinking into the pile of the carpet according to the indicated arrow. This causes scratching of the bristles which promotes the extraction of dust immediately driven by the suction flow in the suction channel.

When the nozzle is moved in the direction F2, the blade 5b pivots in turn, in a manner similar to the blade 5a as previously explained.

It is preferable to provide pivoting stops of the blades so that they do not sink too much into the pile of the carpet, which could cause a tilting of the blade under the suction channel.

The Figures 3 and 4 schematically illustrate the general principle of an alternative embodiment of the invention. The nozzle 10, shown partially, has walls 12a and 12b defining a flow channel 14 opening into a suction channel 16 open to the surface to be cleaned.

The surface 8 to be cleaned is of the carpet type and comprises bristles 11 inlaid with dust 13.

More particularly according to the invention, a frame 24 is arranged inside the flow channel 14, so as to have two walls 26a, 26b forming a funnel and defining the suction channel 16.

The end of the walls 26a, 26b respectively form a scraper blade 27a, 27b in contact with the pile of the carpet. The lower edge of the blades 27a, 27b can be beveled if it is desired to have a strong whip effect on the bristles, or rounded to protect the floor to be cleaned.

The frame 24 is rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis 18 parallel to the blades 27a, 27b. According to the proposed example, this axis is substantially on the median plane of the suction channel. It may, however, be shifted to one of the walls 26a, 26b if it is desired that the action of the blades on the ground is different in the direction of movement of the nozzle.

Stops 30a, 30b, 32a, 32b make it possible to limit the rotation of the frame. The stops 30a, 30b are advantageously configured to cooperate respectively with a baffle 34a, 34b formed in the corresponding walls 26a, 26b to ensure the sealing, at this level, of the suction channel.

The baffles 34a, 34b and / or the stops 30a, 30b may be lined with a foam, a felt or a flexible seal to improve this seal. It is also possible to overmold a soft plastic portion at the end of the stops 30a, 30b.

The height of the blades inside the nozzle can be adjusted in a prior manner, during the assembly of the nozzle, and / or by the user during the handling of said nozzle, so that the blade brushes the bristles slightly. or more vigorously, being located, during the rotation of the frame, for example half-height of the hairs, choice also depending on the type of carpet.

Moreover, this convenience also makes it possible to make up for the wear of the blade as well as to be able to mount plates of different length while preserving the same nozzle.

It may also be provided, by extension, to further raise the blades inside the nozzle in such a way as to retract them and make them inactive. Such a configuration may be desired when the nozzle is used on smooth ground. The mechanisms of entry and exit of a brush, widely common on many suckers, can advantageously be used to achieve such a function. This operation is also facilitated by the fact that the blades are integral with the frame which can then be easily adjusted in height inside the nozzle.

As can be seen from the Figures 3 and 4 , the frame, when the nozzle is moved in the direction F1 or F2, pivots about the axis 18, guided by the stops 30a, 30b. The effect of friction of the blades conjugated to the position of the pivot axis 18 of the frame, causes, in the direction of displacement F1 or F2 of the nozzle, respectively a rotation of the frame along G1 and G2 to come against the stops respective 32b, 32a. This rotation causes a depression of the blade located at the front of the suction channel in the direction of movement of the nozzle. The hairs of the carpet are then shaken by the blade of scraping which promotes the extraction of dust behind this blade scraping. These dusts are then immediately recovered by aspiration.

Such an effect occurs whether the nozzle is moved in the direction F1 or in the direction F2.

According to a feature of the present invention, the rotation of the frame 24 around the pivot axis 18 may be symmetrical or asymmetrical in order to obtain a different scraping effect in the direction of movement of the nozzle. This dissymmetry can be achieved by a judicious positioning or dimensioning of the stops and / or a decentering of the axis of rotation of the frame in the suction and / or flow channel. Devices allowing such an effect are widely presented in the document WO 00/65979 in the name of the Applicant.

According to an alternative embodiment presented to Figures 5 and 6 , the nozzle comprises at least one air injection channel open to the surface to be treated by means of holes.

The particular embodiment of the invention illustrated figure 5 is arranged, for example, on a nozzle 40 of triangular shape, having a front suction mouth 42, extended by two lateral channels 44 and 46. A suction channel 43 located at the rear of the nozzle is defined by a frame 54 as previously described, and whose axis 58 is rotatably mounted in a bearing part 60. In this figure are also visible the locations 48 for strips tears son, the zone 50 for receiving a sliding shoe, and the housing 52 for the displacement wheels of the nozzle.

We find in box 54, as detailed figure 6 , the walls 56a, 56b mainly delimiting the suction channel and whose respective ends 57a, 57b constitute the scraping blades as previously characterized. Such a frame comprises, moreover, at the level of the blade 57a, a conduit 62 for injecting air and / or treatment product, oriented towards the outside of the frame and extending over the entire length of the blade.

This injection pipe is connected to an injection circuit formed inside the nozzle. It opens in the form of slots or holes 64 regularly distributed, said holes being located near the scraper blade 57a.

This feature allows a jet effect where the air takes a speed directed parallel to the axis of the holes. The air penetrates deeper into the heart of the carpet and can reach the bottom of the carpet, which is a difficult place to access, and therefore difficult to clean.

In addition, the air flow is oriented in a direction established by the position of the blade which allows to direct the air intake in a less restrictive manner and up to the vertical.

The choice of the shape (single or multiple air inlet, several holes ...) and the passage section of this air intake can channel aeraulic energy acting at the scraper blade, but can act also in the bottom of the carpet to take off the dust.

It is important to note that the present device can be associated with a so-called "conventional" suction, that is to say without scraping blade, and represented by the opening 42 presented to the figure 5 .

This combination creates a synergy between a suction surface, able to rid the surface of the carpet of the most bulky waste and the most accessible, while allowing a deep action by the device presented.

The injection channel may be connected, in a first configuration, outside the nozzle. Thus, the nozzle has air inlet ports for injecting air taken outside the nozzle in the surface to be cleaned.

According to a second embodiment, the injection channel is connected to a container containing treatment products, either wholly or in combination with an external air inlet, as previously described. The treating products used can be in liquid or powder form, or in the form of aerosols, etc. It is then possible to combine a mechanical action of air supply and a physicochemical action with the product dealing with the carpet.

It is quite possible, without departing from the scope of the present invention, to bring hot air through this channel, air can be generated by blower means may include a specific heating circuit. It is therefore interesting, in this case, to collect the air at the motor output. This air allows, for example, to dry a carpet.

In addition, the shape of the channel as well as that of the openings of said channel towards the surface to be treated can be adapted so that the air exits in the form of a blade of air, which makes it possible to have a better efficiency in the drying of the carpet and / or detachment of the dust embedded in the fibers of the carpet.

Claims (25)

1. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (1, 10, 40) having at least one suction channel (4, 16, 43) open towards the surface (8) to be cleaned, and connected in an aeraulic manner to a flow channel (14), said suction channel (4, 16, 43) being substantially transversal to the direction of displacement of the nozzle (1, 10, 40), said nozzle comprising at least one blade (5a, 5b, 27a, 27b, 57a, 57b) able to be in contact with the surface (8) to be cleaned, said blade being parallel to said suction channel (4, 16, 43), characterised in that the blade (5a, 5b, 27a, 27b, 57a, 57b) is arranged in the vicinity before the suction channel (4, 16, 43) such as is seen in relation to the direction of displacement of the nozzle and in that this blade is integral with the end of an arm of which the other end pivots freely around an axis (6a, 6b, 18, 58) parallel to said lame (5a, 5b, 27a, 27b, 57a, 57b) and located substantially perpendicular to the suction channel (4, 16, 43).
2. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (1, 10, 40) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that each of the ends of the blade (5a, 5b) is integral with a pivoting arm (7a, 7b).
3. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (1, 10, 40) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the blade (5a, 5b, 27a, 27b, 57a, 57b) comprises bump stops (30a, 30b, 32a, 32b) for its pivoting movement.
4. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (1, 10, 40) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that it comprises two blades (5a, 5b, 27a, 27b, 57a, 57b) located in front of and behind the suction channel (4, 16, 43).
5. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (10, 40) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the two blades (27a, 27b, 57a, 57b) are arranged in a frame (24, 54) delimiting the suction channel (16, 43) and a portion of the flow channel (14), said frame (24, 54) being mobile in pivoting around an axis (18, 58) parallel to the blades (27a, 27b, 57a, 57b).
6. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (10, 40) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the frame (24, 54) comprises bump stops (30a, 30b, 32a, 32b) for its pivoting movement.
7. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (10, 40) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the blade (27a, 27b, 57a, 57b) is protruding by a height between one and five millimetres when the frame (24, 54) pivots against the bump stops (30a, 30b, 32a, 32b).
8. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (10, 40) according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterised in that the axis (18, 58) of the frame (24, 54) is arranged perpendicular to the suction channel.
9. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (10, 40) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the axis (18, 58) of the frame (24, 54) is arranged in the median plane of the suction channel (16, 43).
10. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (10, 40) according to one of claims 5 to 9, characterised in that it has means for modifying the ground clearance of the nozzle (10, 40), according to the direction of displacement (F1, F2) of said nozzle.
11. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (10, 40) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the means for modifying the ground clearance are carried out by the decentring of the axis of rotation (18, 58) of the frame (24, 54) in relation to the median plane of the suction channel (16, 43).
12. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (40) according to one of claims 5 to 11, characterised in that the frame (54) has at least one injection channel (62) open towards the surface to be treated.
13. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (40) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the injection channel (62) is located before at least one of the blades (57a) according to the direction of displacement of the nozzle (40).
14. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (40) according to one of claims 12 or 13, characterised in that the injection channel (62) is connected to means of blowing, procuring, when the vacuum cleaner is turned on, an entry of air in the surface to be cleaned.
15. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (40) according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterised in that the injection channel (62) is connected to a container containing treatment products.
16. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (40) according to one of claims 12 to 15, characterised in that the injection channel exits in the form of slots or holes (64) distributed regularly over a substantially horizontal wall and is adjoining along the blade (57a), said wall being located set back towards the interior of the nozzle (40) in relation to the end of the blade (57a).
17. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (10, 40) according to one of claims 5 to 16, characterised in that it has a mechanism making it possible to adjust the height of the frame in the flow (14) and/or suction (16, 43) conduit.
18. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (1, 10, 40) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the surfaces of contact with the surface to be cleaned of the two blades (5a, 5b, 27a, 27b, 57a, 57b) are substantially different from another.
19. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (1, 10, 40) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the end of the blades (5a, 5b, 27a, 27b, 57a, 57b) is bevelled.
20. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (1, 10, 40) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the end of the blades (5a, 5b, 27a, 27b, 57a, 57b) is notched.
21. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (1, 10, 40) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the end of the blades (5a, 5b, 27a, 27b, 57a, 57b) is provided with bristles.
22. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (1, 10, 40) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises at least one sealing flap, located to the front and/or to the rear of the nozzle and/or located to the front and/or to the rear of the suction channel (4, 16, 43), according to the direction of displacement of the nozzle (1, 10, 40).
23. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (1, 10, 40) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the flap is made of elastomer or comprised of very flexible bristles.
24. Vacuum cleaner nozzle (1, 10, 40) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it has, furthermore, a suction opening (42) opened towards the surface to be cleaned and connected in an aeraulic manner to a suction channel, said suction opening (42) being devoid of blades.
25. Dust vacuum cleaner comprising in particular a power unit able to generate an air suction flow in conduits terminating with a nozzle (1, 10, 40) opened towards the surface to be cleaned (8), characterised in that this nozzle (1, 10, 40) is compliant with one of claims 1 to 24.

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