DE102020212052B3 - Collection container for a cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

A collection container (151) for a cleaning device is described, the cleaning device being set up to direct dirt into the collection container (151) by means of an air flow (140). The collection container (151) has an inlet opening (152) and a separate outlet opening (202) on the lateral surface of the collection container (151). Furthermore, the collection container (151) is formed by a rotary movement of at least part of the collection container (151) between a receiving position, in which the inlet opening (152) is open and the outlet opening (202) is closed, and a dispensing position which the exit port (202) is open and the entry port (152) is closed.

Description

The invention relates to a (dirt) collecting container, in particular a dust container, for a cleaning device, in particular for a suction device such. B. a vacuum cleaner or a cleaning or vacuum robot.

A cleaning device typically has a suction mouth, via which impurities or dirt, in particular dust particles, are sucked up from a floor to be cleaned by means of an air stream. The air flow can be effected by a fan. The air flow transports the dirt from the suction mouth into a dirt collecting container.

The emptying of the collecting container is associated with a relatively large expense for the user of a cleaning device, especially if the collecting container has a relatively small volume and therefore has to be emptied relatively frequently, as is the case with e.g. B. can be the case with a cleaning robot.

Base stations for cleaning robots are known which allow the collecting container of the cleaning robot to be emptied automatically. The collecting container can, for. B. be sucked through the suction mouth of the cleaning robot by a cleaning device of the base station, but this can lead to a cleaning brush arranged on the suction mouth being clogged relatively quickly with impurities, in particular with fibers, which stick to the cleaning brush when the collecting container is vacuumed.

the US 8,984,708 B2 discloses a cleaning system comprising a cleaning robot and an evacuation station. The cleaning robot can dock with the evacuation station to allow dirt to be evacuated from the evacuation station. The cleaning robot includes a container for storing dirt, and the container includes an opening door through which the dirt can be evacuated into the evacuation station. The evacuation station comprises a suction motor to evacuate the container of the cleaning robot.

The present document deals with the technical problem of providing a collecting container for a cleaning device which can be emptied in an efficient and automatic manner without impairing the cleaning quality of the cleaning device.

The object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are defined in particular in the dependent claims, described in the following description or shown in the accompanying drawing.

According to one aspect of the invention, a collecting container, in particular a dirt collecting container, for a cleaning device (in particular for a suction device) is described. The cleaning device is set up to guide dirt (e.g. impurities, dust, fibers, etc.) into the collecting container by means of an air stream, which then collects in the collecting container.

The (possibly cylindrical, in particular circular-cylindrical) collecting container has an inlet opening and a separate outlet opening on the outer surface of the collecting container. The openings can, for. B. each be circular. The inlet opening can be designed to allow an air flow with dirt into the collecting container. In particular, the inlet opening can be designed and / or provided to be connected to a suction mouth of the cleaning device. The inlet opening of the collecting container can thus be used for the cleaning or suction operation of the cleaning device.

The outlet opening of the collecting container can be designed to allow an air flow with dirt out of the collecting container. Furthermore, the outlet opening can be designed and / or provided to be connected to an interface of the cleaning device to a cleaning device separate from the cleaning device. The outlet opening can thus be used for emptying and / or cleaning the collecting container.

The collecting container can be formed by a rotary movement of at least part (in particular of an inner container) of the collecting container between a receiving position in which the inlet opening is open and the outlet opening is closed, and a delivery position in which the outlet opening is opened and the inlet opening is closed to switch. In the pick-up position, the collecting container can be used to pick up dirt (in particular dust). On the other hand, the collecting container can be cleaned and / or emptied in the dispensing position (dirt can thus be discharged from the collecting container).

Switching between the receiving position (with the selectively and / or individually opened inlet opening) and the delivery position (with the selectively and / or individually opened outlet opening) enables efficient and automatic emptying of the collecting container (via the outlet opening) without doing so the cleaning quality the cleaning device (as cleaning takes place via the separate inlet opening).

The outer surface of the collecting container can enclose the vertical axis of the (possibly cylindrical) collecting container. The at least one part of the collecting container, in particular an inner container of the collecting container, can then be designed for a rotary movement about the vertical axis in order to change between the receiving position and the dispensing position. This enables a particularly efficient and reliable change between cleaning operation and emptying of the collecting container.

As already explained above, the collecting container can comprise a (cylindrical, in particular a circular cylindrical) inner container for receiving dirt. Furthermore, the collecting container can comprise a casing (also referred to as a shell) which encloses the outer surface of the inner container. The inner container and the casing can be designed to be rotated relative to one another in order to effect the change between the receiving position and the dispensing position. The casing is preferably stationary (connected to the housing or the frame of the cleaning device). The inner container can then be designed to be rotated relative to the casing in order to effect the change between the receiving position and the dispensing position. By providing a collecting container with an inner container and a separate casing, the selective opening of the inlet opening or the outlet opening can be made possible in a particularly efficient manner by a rotary movement. The inner container and the casing can each have a cylindrical shape, in particular a circular cylinder shape.

The casing can have an inlet opening and a separate outlet opening, each of which is covered by the outer surface of the inner container or, alternatively, can be opened through at least one opening in the outer surface of the inner container. To open an opening in the casing, the at least one opening in the casing surface of the inner container can be arranged in alignment with the respective opening in the casing.

Alternatively or in addition, the outer surface of the inner container can comprise an inlet opening and a separate outlet opening, each of which is covered by the casing or, alternatively, can be opened through at least one opening in the casing. In order to open an opening in the outer surface of the inner container, the at least one opening in the casing can be arranged in alignment with the respective opening in the outer surface of the inner container.

By covering the individual openings and arranging the openings of the outer surface of the inner container and the casing in an aligned manner, a selective opening of the inlet opening and the outlet opening of the collecting container can be effected in a particularly efficient and reliable manner.

The casing can be designed in such a way that the casing rests in a gas-tight manner on the casing surface of the inner container. In particular, the casing can rest (possibly tightly) on the outer surface of the inner container in such a way that the inlet opening and the outlet opening of the covering are each closed in a gas-tight manner when the respective opening is covered by the outer surface of the inner container. A relatively high volume flow of air can thus be made possible in an efficient manner for the cleaning operation and for emptying the collecting container.

Both the casing and the outer surface of the inner container can each have an inlet opening and an outlet opening. The collecting container can then be designed, by a rotary movement, in particular by a rotary movement of the inner container, in a selective manner, in the receiving position to arrange the inlet opening of the casing in alignment with the inlet opening of the inner container (while the outlet openings of the casing and the inner container are not are arranged in alignment and thus the respective other surface, ie the outer surface of the inner container or the outer surface of the casing, are covered). The inlet opening of the collecting container can then be formed through the inlet openings of the casing and the outer surface of the inner container.

Furthermore, the collecting container can be designed, by a rotary movement, in particular by a rotary movement of the inner container, in a selective manner, to arrange the outlet opening of the casing in alignment with the outlet opening of the inner container in the dispensing position (while the inlet openings of the casing and the inner container are not are arranged in alignment and are thus covered by the respective other surface, ie the jacket surface of the inner container or the jacket surface of the casing). The outlet opening of the collecting container can then be formed together through the outlet opening of the casing and through the outlet opening of the outer surface of the inner container.

By providing dedicated openings in the outer surface of the inner container and in a particularly reliable selective opening of the inlet opening or the outlet opening of the collecting container can be made possible for the casing.

As already stated above, the collecting container can be designed to enable a rotary movement about the vertical axis of the collecting container. The inlet opening and the outlet opening of the casing (and the outer surface of the inner container) can then be arranged at different heights along the vertical axis. The distance between the different heights can in particular be 40% or more of the total height of the collecting container along the vertical axis. Due to the staggered arrangement of the inlet openings (the casing and the inner container) relative to the outlet openings (the casing and the inner container), reliable selective opening of the inlet opening or the outlet opening of the collecting container can be made possible even with a relatively small angle of rotation.

In an alternative example, the casing can comprise an inlet opening and a (separate) outlet opening, while the lateral surface of the inner container comprises a (common) opening for the receiving position and for the dispensing position. The inlet opening and the outlet opening of the casing can be arranged at the same height along the vertical axis of the collecting container.

The collecting container can then be designed to selectively arrange the inlet opening of the casing in alignment with the (common) opening of the outer surface of the inner container in the receiving position by a rotary movement, in particular by a rotary movement of the inner container. The inlet opening of the collecting container can then be formed through the inlet opening of the casing and through the opening in the outer surface of the inner container. Furthermore, the collecting container can be designed to arrange the outlet opening of the casing in alignment with the opening of the inner container in a selective manner by a rotary movement, in particular by a rotary movement of the inner container, in the dispensing position. The outlet opening of the collecting container can then be formed through the outlet opening of the casing and the opening in the outer surface of the inner container. By providing a common opening (both for the receiving position and for the dispensing position) in the outer surface of the inner container, the structure of the collecting container can be further simplified.

The collecting container can comprise an operating element (for example a lever or a handle) which enables a user to manually effect the rotary movement for changing between the receiving position and the dispensing position. As an alternative or in addition, the collecting container can comprise an actuator, in particular an electric motor, which is designed to automatically bring about the rotary movement for changing between the receiving position and the dispensing position.

According to a further aspect, a cleaning device for cleaning a surface (in particular a floor) is described. The cleaning device can be designed as a suction device, as a vacuum cleaner, as a vacuum robot, as a multi-use handheld device, as a cleaning robot or as a vacuum robot.

The cleaning device comprises a collecting container described in this document. Furthermore, the cleaning device is set up to guide dirt from the surface to be cleaned into the collecting container by means of an air flow when the collecting container is in the receiving position. In addition, the cleaning device is set up to guide dirt from the collecting container into an external cleaning device by means of an air flow when the collecting container is in the dispensing position.

The cleaning device can comprise a fan (for generating a suction air flow). The fan can be arranged on an end face of the collecting container, which is in particular arranged perpendicular to the vertical axis of the collecting container. Furthermore, the cleaning device can have a rotatably mounted seal between the end face of the collecting container, in particular between the end face of the rotatable part (for example of the inner container) of the collecting container, and the fan. In this way, an air flow through the collecting container can be brought about in an efficient manner.

As already stated above, the fan can be set up to bring about a suction air flow through the inlet opening of the collecting container into the collecting container when the collecting container is in the receiving position. The fan can thus be used in the cleaning operation of the cleaning device to bring about the suction air flow.

The blower can furthermore be set up to cause a blown air flow out of the collecting container via the outlet opening of the collecting container when the collecting container is in the dispensing position. The fan can thus be used in an efficient manner, if necessary, for emptying and / or cleaning the collecting container.

It should be noted that any aspects of the collecting container described in this document and / or the cleaning device described in this document can be combined with one another in a variety of ways. In particular, the features of the claims can be combined with one another in many ways.

• 1a einen beispielhaften Saugroboter als Beispiel für eine Reinigungsvorrichtung in einer perspektivischen Ansicht;
• 1b die Unterseite eines beispielhaften Saugroboters;
• 1c eine schematische Darstellung des Verlaufs des Saug-Luftstroms durch eine Reinigungsvorrichtung;
• 2a einen beispielhaften Sammelbehälter mit separaten Eingangs- und Ausgangsöffnungen;
• 2b und 2c unterschiedliche Stellungen bzw. Zustände des Sammelbehälters;
• 2d eine perspektivische Ansicht des Sammelbehälters; und
• 3a und 3b unterschiedliche Stellungen bzw. Zustände eines Sammelbehälters mit einer gemeinsamen Eingangs- und Ausgangsöffnung am Innenbehälter des Sammelbehälters.

The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the accompanying drawing. Show:

• 1a an exemplary robot hoover as an example of a cleaning device in a perspective view;
• 1b the underside of an exemplary robotic vacuum cleaner;
• 1c a schematic representation of the course of the suction air flow through a cleaning device;
• 2a an exemplary sump with separate inlet and outlet openings;
• 2 B and 2c different positions or states of the collecting container;
• 2d a perspective view of the collecting container; and
• 3a and 3b different positions or states of a collecting container with a common inlet and outlet opening on the inner container of the collecting container.

As stated at the outset, the present document deals with the automatic emptying of the collecting container of a cleaning device. In this context shows 1a the bottom 122 a vacuum robot 100 as an example of a cleaning device. The bottom 122 is in suction mode of the robot hoover 100 facing the floor to be cleaned or the surface to be cleaned of a cleaning area, such as a room. The bottom 122 of the robot hoover 100 typically has one or more drive units 101 (with one or more drive wheels) through which the vacuum robot 100 can be moved to clean different areas of a floor. Furthermore, the vacuum robot 100 one or more guide and / or support elements 104 (e.g. non-driven wheels) that ensure stable movement of the robotic vacuum cleaner 100 over the floor to be cleaned. It also includes a robot hoover 100 typically one or more cleaning units 106 that are set up the floor under the robot hoover 100 to clean. The one or more cleaning units 106 can by one or more barrel-shaped shields 103 in the direction of movement 120 of the robot hoover 100 be shielded. Through the one or more shields 103 larger objects lying on the floor can be pushed to the side in order to avoid larger objects in a cleaning unit 106 and the cleaning unit 106 damage and / or clog.

A cleaning unit 106 can be a roller brush 102 which is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation typically parallel to the underside 122 of the robot hoover 100 is arranged. The roller brush 102 can be used to mechanically loosen dust and / or contaminants on the floor to be cleaned from the floor, so that the dust and / or contaminants get into the suction mouth with increased reliability 107 the cleaning unit 106 can be sucked.

At the top 121 of the robot hoover 100 a user interface can be arranged that is available to a user of the robotic vacuum cleaner 100 enables control inputs to be made. In addition, the vacuum robot 100 on a side wall 123 (e.g. on a side wall 123 in the front area of the robot vacuum cleaner 100 ) a shock sensor 105 which is set up to record sensor data that indicate whether the robot vacuum cleaner 100 in the direction of movement 120 has hit an obstacle. The triggering of the shock sensor 105 An obstacle can cause the robot vacuum cleaner 100 rotates around its vertical or vertical axis, which is perpendicular to the ground, and thereby the direction of movement 120 changes to avoid the obstacle.

Furthermore, a vacuum robot 100 typically one or more environment sensors 110 that are set up, environment or sensor data in relation to the environment of the vacuum robot 100 to be recorded (see 1b) . The one or more environment sensors 110 can include: one or more image cameras, one or more ultrasonic sensors, one or more tactile and / or optical distance sensors, one or more acoustic sensors, one or more temperature sensors, etc. A control module 130 of the robot hoover 100 can be set up to determine digital map information in relation to the cleaning area to be cleaned on the basis of the environment data and possibly on a storage unit 111 of the robot hoover 100 save. The vacuum robot 100 can use the digital map information to orientate oneself within the cleaning area (e.g. within a room) and / or to determine a route for cleaning the cleaning area.

1c shows in a schematic manner an exemplary course of the through the suction mouth 107 caused air flow 140 a cleaning device 100 (e.g. a vacuum robot). The airflow 140 is by a fan and / or by a suction motor 155 causes that in relation to the direction of airflow 140 (represented by the arrows) behind an air filter 154 is arranged. The airflow 140 with the sucked up (dust) particles 141 comes from the suction mouth 107 via an entrance opening 152 into a (dirt) collecting container 151 , in which the sucked up particles 141 collect. By the blower 155 a purified air stream then flows 143 (without dirt particles 141 ).

For automatic emptying, the can in the collecting container 151 trapped dirt 141 via the entrance opening 152 of the collecting container 151 and over the suction mouth 107 vacuumed by an external cleaning device. However, this can contaminate the roller brush 102 and thus to a reduced cleaning quality of the cleaning device 100 to lead. Alternatively, e.g. B. at the bottom of the collecting container 151 , a suction opening can be provided which has a (rubber) flap which is used by a cleaning device for emptying the collecting container 151 can be opened. When emptying the collecting container 151 however, dirt can collect on the flap of the suction opening so that the flap no longer closes completely. This can lead to the operation of the cleaning device 100 dirt 141 from the collecting container 151 falls on the floor to be cleaned, and thus the cleaning quality of the cleaning device 100 is affected.

2a shows an exemplary suction assembly 150 for a cleaning device 100 . The suction assembly 150 includes a dirt collector 151 , a filter 154 and a fan 155 . Between the collecting container 151 and the filter 154 and / or the fan 155 can be a seal 201 for sealing the air duct from the collecting container 151 to the fan 155 be arranged to enable the highest possible suction power.

The collection container 151 knows how from the 2 B until 2d can be seen, an inner container 211 and one, the inner container 211 enclosing, shell 212 (also referred to in this document as sheathing). The inner container 211 and the shell 212 can each have a cylindrical, in particular a circular cylindrical, shape. Furthermore, the inner container 211 and the shell 212 be designed to be rotated against each other (as indicated by the double arrow 205 shown). In particular, the inner container 211 be designed (in a certain angular range) with respect to the (stationary) shell 212 to be twisted. The relative twist 205 between the inner container 211 and the shell 212 can e.g. B. by a (possibly manually operable) rotating mechanism 203 be effected.

The collection container 151 points on the cover 212 an entrance opening 152 on, the z. B. with the suction mouth 107 the cleaning device 100 connected so that of the through the blower 155 caused airflow 140 with the impurities 141 into the collecting container 151 , especially in the inner container 211 of the collecting container 151 , can get. Furthermore, the shell 212 an exit port 202 on that with a cleaning device for emptying the collecting container 151 , especially the inner container 211 of the collecting container 151 , can be connected. Through the exit opening 202 can thus create a stream of air 240 for emptying the collecting container 151 be effected.

The case 212 is preferably fixed (ie immobile) in the cleaning device 100 , e.g. B. in a housing or frame of the cleaning device 100 , built in to provide reliable access to the entrance opening 152 and to the exit port 202 on the shell 212 to enable.

The inner container 211 can at least one opening 221 have which selectively, by relative rotation 205 of the inner container 211 and the shell 212 , with the entrance opening 152 or with the exit port 202 the shell 212 Can be aligned to selectively the entrance opening 152 or the exit opening 202 to open. In the in the 2a until 2d The example shown has the inner container 211 an entrance opening 221 for the corresponding entrance opening 152 the shell 212 and a separate exit port 222 for the corresponding exit opening 202 the shell 202 on. By a relative rotation 205 can either use the entrance openings 221 , 152 (please refer 2 B) or the exit openings 222 , 202 be arranged in a row to either a flow of air 140 in the inner container 211 of the collecting container 151 to allow or to provide an air flow 240 from the inner container 211 of the collecting container 151 to enable.

In the 3a and 3b an example is shown in which the inner container 211 a single opening 221 which selectively (by the relative rotation 205 ) either with the entrance opening 152 the shell 212 or with the exit port 202 the shell 212 Can be aligned to either through the entrance opening 152 an air stream 140 in the inner container 211 of the collecting container 151 to enable or through the exit opening 202 a suction stream 240 from the inner container 211 of the collecting container 151 to enable.

In the 1c , 2a until 2d and 3a until 3b a Cartesian coordinate system is shown to indicate the orientation of the various representations. The collection container 151 can be designed as a cylinder, in particular as a circular cylinder, with the z-axis as the vertical axis and with a circular base that lies in the plane spanned by the x-axis and the y-axis. The inner container 211 and the shell 212 can be designed a relative rotation 205 around the z-axis, ie around the vertical axis of the cylinder, to allow for the openings 152 , 202 the shell 212 selectively with the at least one opening 221 , 222 of the inner container 211 to be arranged in an escape.

The use of a dedicated entrance opening 221 and a dedicated exit port 222 on the inner container 211 allows the openings 221 , 211 to be arranged at different heights along the z-axis or vertical axis, as exemplified in FIG 2a shown. So can also with a relative rotation 205 with a relatively small angle a relatively large distance between the entrance opening 152 and the exit port 202 on the shell 212 be effected. The relatively large distance ensures that the individual openings close reliably 152 , 202 enables.

The case 212 around the inner container 211 is preferably on the outer surface of the inner container 211 on, so that in a reliable manner a flow of air between the inlet opening 152 and the exit port 202 the shell 212 can be avoided.

It thus becomes a mechanism for automatically emptying a dirt container 151 a first cleaning device 100 (ie a cleaning device) described by a second cleaning device. In particular, a collecting container 151 with a rotatable inner container 211 (to absorb dirt 141 ) described, which is located within a casing or shell 212 turns.

The inner container 211 can have two openings 221 , 222 , in particular an entrance opening 221 and an exit port 222 , have (on the outer surface of the inner container 211 ). The sheath 212 can also have two openings 152 , 202 , in particular an entrance opening 152 and an exit port 202 , exhibit. The sheath 212 is preferably fixed to the frame with the cleaning device 100 connected and thus does not perform any relative movements.

The rotatable inner container 211 (to absorb dirt 141 ) can have a lid that connects to the inner container 211 can be non-positively or positively connected, and thus also with the inner container 211 can rotate. An opening for the fan can be found inside the cover 155 the cleaning device 100 be arranged. Inside this opening to the fan 155 can the filter 154 be arranged to prevent dirt 141 into the blower 155 is sucked.

The blower 155 is preferably in alignment with the inner container 211 , in particular with an end face of the inner container 211 , arranged to provide the shortest possible air path with as few changes in direction as possible (and an associated throttling effect), thereby increasing the suction power of the cleaning device 100 can be increased. The blower 155 is typically also fixed to the frame. With a rotatable seal 154 between the inner container 211 and the fan 155 can be caused by the blower 155 generated airflow 140 reliably in the inner container 211 is directed and that a reliable storage of the rotatably mounted inner container 211 opposite the frame-mounted fan 155 is formed.

In the cleaning mode of the cleaning device 100 generates the fan 155 an air stream 140 which is the dirt particles on the floor to be cleaned 141 captured and the inner container 211 feeds. For this purpose, the inner container 211 aligned and / or rotated in such a way that the entrance opening 152 the sheath 212 and the entrance opening 221 of the inner container 211 are arranged in a line (the collecting container 151 is then in a recording position). As a result of the different arrangement of the inlet and outlet openings 152 , 202 on the sheath 212 is the exit opening in this position 222 of the inner container 211 through the sheath 212 shaded. The one by the fan 155 caused airflow 140 therefore cannot use the exit opening 222 of the inner container 211 escape.

When the inner container 211 cleaned and from the collected dirt 141 should be released, the fan can 155 be switched off. Then the inner container 211 be rotated by a certain angle. This creates the exit opening 222 of the inner container 211 and the exit port 202 the sheath 212 aligned one above the other, while at the same time the entrance openings 152 , 221 the sheath 212 and the inner container 211 be shaded (the collecting container 151 is then in the delivery position). It can then be passed through a cleaning device at the exit opening 202 , 222 a suction stream 240 caused to the inner container 211 to be cleaned and / or emptied. Alternatively or in addition, the fan can be used if necessary 155 (in the opposite direction to the cleaning operation) are operated to the air flow 240 for cleaning and / or emptying the inner container 211 to effect. As a result of the shading of the Entrance openings 152 , 221 any annoying secondary air valves are closed.

The rotation 205 of the inner container 211 showing either the entrance or the exit opening 152 , 202 shaded, can be done manually, e.g. B. by turning a lever 203 between two positions. Alternatively or in addition, the rotation 205 of the inner container 211 be made by means of an actuator, e.g. B. by using a motor-gear-sensor arrangement (also referred to as a servo motor).

The described mechanism for automatically emptying a dirt container 151 a cleaning device 100 by a cleaning device can be used in particular in a cleaning robot. The emptying of the robot-side dirt container 151 be effected by means of a cleaning device located in the base station. The dirt collector is used to reduce the manual work of the user 151 , especially the inner container 211 , preferably rotates automatically by means of an actuator. The mechanism for automatically emptying a dirt container 151 but can also be used with a vacuum cleaner, such as the so-called multi-use handheld devices or the 1-in-1 and 2-in-1 devices. The described cleaning of a dirt collecting container 151 , 211 is particularly suitable for allergy sufferers, as the user deals with the dirt 141 inside the (possibly bagless) dirt collecting container 151 , 211 does not come into contact.

It becomes a vacuum cleaner 100 , in particular a vacuum robot, with a rotatably mounted dust collection box 151 , 211 described between a first (recording) position for the suction operation, in which a first opening 152 opens to dust 141 take up, and a second (delivery) position for emptying (z. B. in a base station), in which a second opening 202 is opened while the first opening 152 is sealed to dust 141 out of the box 151 , 211 to remove, can be pivoted. It can use a rotating mechanism 203 caused that only one of the two openings 152 , 202 is released for suction operation or for emptying.

The measures described in this document can cause the dirt picked up 141 not through the same opening when emptying 152 is emptied through which the dirt 141 in the dirt container 151 , 211 has arrived. This can result in double soiling of the bristle roller 102 a cleaning device 100 , in particular soiling with fibers, can be avoided. The blocking of the inlet or outlet opening 152 , 222 and thus the guidance of the respective air flow 140 , 240 takes place in an efficient and reliable manner via rotation 205 .

Through a tangential arrangement of the dirt inlet opening 152 on the shell 212 enables the design of a dust box described in this document 151 , 211 the consideration of flow-relevant construction criteria, which ensure the efficiency of the dirt absorption. The described mechanism for the automatic emptying of a dirt collecting container 151 , 211 An external cleaning device can be used in a flexible manner with multi-use handsticks and / or cleaning robots, and also enables the use of a BLDC (Brushless DC) motor.

The present invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments shown. In particular, it should be noted that the description and the figures only illustrate the principle of the proposed cleaning device 100 and / or the proposed collection container 151 to illustrate.

List of reference symbols

100

Cleaning device

101

Drive unit

102

Brush roller

103

shielding

104

Guide and / or support element

105

Shock sensor

106

Cleaning unit

107

Suction mouth

110

Environment sensor

111

Storage unit

120

Direction of movement

121

Top

122

bottom

123

Side wall

130

Control module

140

Airflow

141

Particles

143

Air flow (filtered)

150

Suction assembly

151

Collection container

152

Inlet opening (casing)

154

filter

155

fan

201

poetry

202

Outlet opening (casing)

203

Lever / handle

205

rotation

211

Inner container

212

Sheath / sheathing

221

Inlet opening (inner container)

222

Outlet opening (casing)

240

Airflow

Claims (15)

Collection container (151) for a cleaning device (100), which is set up to guide dirt (141) into the collection container (151) by means of an air flow (140); whereby - The collecting container (151) has an inlet opening (152) and a separate outlet opening (202) on a lateral surface of the collecting container (151); and - The collecting container (151) is formed by a rotary movement (205) at least a part of the collecting container (151) between a receiving position in which the inlet opening (152) is open and the outlet opening (202) is closed, and - to change a dispensing position in which the outlet opening (202) is open and the inlet opening (152) is closed. Collection container (151) according to Claim 1 - The jacket surface of the collecting container (151) encloses a vertical axis of the collecting container (151); and - the at least part of the collecting container (151), in particular an inner container (211) of the collecting container (151), is designed for a rotary movement (205) around the vertical axis in order to change between the receiving position and the dispensing position. A collecting container (151) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein - The collecting container (151) comprises an inner container (211) for receiving dirt (141); - The inner container (211) has a lateral surface; - The collecting container (151) comprises a casing (212) which encloses the outer surface of the inner container (211); and - The inner container (211) and the casing (212) are designed to be rotated relative to one another in order to effect the change between the receiving position and the dispensing position. Collection container (151) according to Claim 3 - The casing (212) has an inlet opening (152) and an outlet opening (202) which are each covered by the outer surface of the inner container (211) or through at least one opening (221, 222) in the outer surface of the inner container (211) can be opened; and / or - the outer surface of the inner container (211) comprises an inlet opening (221) and an outlet opening (222) which are each covered by the casing (212) or opened through at least one opening (152, 202) in the casing (212) can be. Collection container (151) according to one of the Claims 3 until 4th wherein - the casing (212) comprises an inlet opening (152) and an outlet opening (202); - The jacket surface of the inner container (211) comprises an inlet opening (221) and an outlet opening (222); and - the collecting container (151) is formed by the rotary movement (205), in particular by the rotary movement (205) of the inner container (211), in a selective manner, - in the receiving position, the inlet opening (152) of the casing (212) to be arranged in alignment with the inlet opening (221) of the inner container (211); and in the dispensing position to arrange the outlet opening (202) of the casing (212) in alignment with the outlet opening (222) of the inner container (211). Collection container (151) according to Claim 5 wherein - the collecting container (151) is designed to enable the rotary movement (205) about a vertical axis of the collecting container (151); - The inlet opening (152, 221) and the outlet opening (202, 222) of the casing (212) are arranged at different heights along the vertical axis; and - a distance between the different heights is in particular 40% or more of a total height of the collecting container (151) along the vertical axis. Collection container (151) according to one of the Claims 3 until 4th wherein - the casing (212) comprises an inlet opening (152) and an outlet opening (202); - The jacket surface of the inner container (211) comprises an opening (221); and - the collecting container (151) is formed by the rotary movement (205), in particular by the rotary movement (205) of the inner container (211), in a selective manner, in the receiving position to arrange the inlet opening (152) of the casing (212) in alignment with the opening (221) of the inner container (211); and in the dispensing position to arrange the outlet opening (202) of the casing (212) in alignment with the opening (221) of the inner container (211). Collection container (151) according to Claim 7 wherein - the collecting container (151) is designed to enable the rotary movement (205) about a vertical axis of the collecting container (151); and - the inlet opening (152, 221) and the outlet opening (202, 222) of the casing (212) are arranged at the same height along the vertical axis. Collection container (151) according to one of the Claims 4 until 8th - The casing (212) rests in a gas-tight manner on the outer surface of the inner container (211); and / or - the casing (212) rests on the casing surface of the inner container (211) in such a way that the inlet opening (152) and the outlet opening (202) of the casing (212) are each closed gas-tight when the respective opening (152, 202 ) is covered by the outer surface of the inner container (211). Collection container (151) according to one of the Claims 3 until 9 wherein - the casing (212) is stationary; and - the inner container (211) is designed to be rotated with respect to the casing (212) in order to bring about the change between the receiving position and the dispensing position. A collecting container (151) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein - The collecting container (151) comprises an operating element (203) which enables a user to manually effect the rotary movement (205) for changing between the receiving position and the dispensing position; and or - The collecting container (151) comprises an actuator, in particular an electric motor, which is designed to automatically bring about the rotary movement (205) for changing between the receiving position and the dispensing position. A collecting container (151) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein - The inlet opening (152) is designed to allow an air flow (140) with dirt (141) into the collecting container (151); and or - The inlet opening (152) is designed to be connected to a suction mouth (107) of the cleaning device (100); and - The outlet opening (202) is designed to allow an air flow (240) with dirt (141) out of the collecting container (151); and or - The outlet opening (202) is designed to be connected to an interface of the cleaning device (100) to a cleaning device separate from the cleaning device (100). Cleaning device (100) for cleaning a surface; whereby - The cleaning device (100) comprises a collecting container (151) according to one of the preceding claims; - The cleaning device (100) is set up to guide dirt (141) from a surface to be cleaned into the collecting container (151) by means of an air stream (140) when the collecting container (151) is in the receiving position; and - The cleaning device (100) is set up to guide dirt (141) from the collecting container (151) into an external cleaning device by means of an air stream (240) when the collecting container (151) is in the dispensing position. Cleaning device (100) according to Claim 13 wherein - the cleaning device (100) comprises a fan (155); - The fan (155) is arranged on an end face of the collecting container (151), which is in particular arranged perpendicular to a vertical axis of the collecting container (151); and - the cleaning device (100) has a rotatably mounted seal (201) between the end face of the collecting container (151), in particular the rotatable part of the collecting container (151), and the fan (155). Cleaning device (100) according to one of the Claims 13 until 14th wherein - the cleaning device (100) comprises a fan (155); and - the blower (155) is set up to bring about a suction air flow (140) via the inlet opening (152) of the collecting container (151) into the collecting container (151) when the collecting container (151) is in the receptacle- Position is located; and / or to bring about a blown air flow (240) via the outlet opening (202) of the collecting container (151) out of the collecting container (151) when the collecting container (151) is in the dispensing position.

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