Cleaning machine

The invention relates to a cleaning machine.

A cleaning machine is known comprising a containing body for receiving waste materials, for example detritus, dust, liquids, that are removed from a surface to be cleaned. The cleaning machine further comprises an electric motor that is supplied by an external mains power supply.

The electric motor generates a vacuum that is such as to suck and convey the waste materials inside the containing body through a suction conduit. The cleaning machine comprises an electricity supply cable, an end of which is connected to the electric motor. The electricity supply cable can be connected to the mains power supply in such a way as to supply the electric motor with alternating current at 220/230 V and 50 Hz.

A drawback of the known cleaning machine is that it does not allow cleaning operations to be conducted if the mains power supply is interrupted. In this case it is necessary to wait for the mains power supply to be restored in order to resume and terminate the current cleaning operations .

Another drawback of the known cleaning machine is that it is not able to operate in places that are not served by the external mains power supply.

An object of the invention is to improve known cleaning machines .

Another object of the invention is to provide a cleaning machine that is able to operate even if the external mains power supply is interrupted.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cleaning machine that is also able to operate in places that are not connected to the external mains power supply.

According to the invention, there is provided a cleaning machine, comprising electric motor means connectable to a mains power supply dispensing alternating current, characterised in that it further comprises electricity supplying means, said electric motor means being

alternatively suppliable by said mains power supply or by said electricity supplying means .

In an embodiment of the cleaning machine, the electricity supplying means comprises battery means which can dispense direct current, for example at 12 V, or at 24 V, and inverter means that is able to transform this direct current into alternating current, for example at 220/230 V and 50 Hz. The battery means can be recharged by electric power supplied by the mains power supply when the cleaning machine is connected to the latter.

As an alternative, or in addition, to the battery means and to the inverter means, the electricity supplying means may comprise internal-combustion electric-generating means. The cleaning machine may be, for example, a vacuum cleaner or an electric broom.

Owing to the invention, it is possible to obtain a cleaning machine that is able to perform cleaning operations even if the mains power supply is interrupted. In this case, it is not therefore necessary to wait for the mains power supply to be restored and it is possible to continue cleaning operations . The cleaning machine according to the invention is able to operate without interruptions, owing to the electricity supplying means that ensures continuous dispensing of power to the electric motor means.

Further, the cleaning machine according to the invention is also able to operate even in places that are very far from mains power supply sockets connected to the mains power supply. The invention can be better understood and implemented with reference to the attached drawings, which show an embodiment thereof by way of non-limiting example, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a cleaning machine; Figure 2 is a schematic front view of the cleaning machine in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an operating diagram of an electricity supplying system of the cleaning machine in Figure 1.

Figures 1 and 2 show a cleaning machine 1, for example a vacuum cleaner, provided with a first casing 2 that includes a containing body 3, configured for internally receiving, through a conduit (not shown) , waste materials, such as detritus, dust, liquids, and dirt in general that are sucked or brushed from a surface. The containing body 3 comprises a side wall 4 and a bottom wall 5.

The bottom wall 5 and the side wall 4 together define a containing cavity inside which the waste materials are poured that are removed by the cleaning machine 1. The cleaning machine 1 is provided with a connecting element 9 that is used to connect in a removable manner a suction conduit (not shown) to the containing body 3. The waste materials that are removed by the cleaning machine 1 from a surface to be cleaned are made to flow to the containing body 3 through the suction conduit. There are provided wheels 10 that are connected to a base 17 of the cleaning machine 1 that enable the latter to be moved easily.

The containing body 3 is closed, at an end 6 opposite the bottom wall 5, by a lid element 7 that internally closes an electric motor 11 that is suppliable by alternating current. Alternatively, the electric motor may be provided inside the containing body 3.

The electric motor 11 is configured in such a way as to drive removing means that removes the waste materials from the surface to be cleaned.

The electric motor 11 is suppliable with alternating current at 220/230 Volts and 50 Hz and is able to generate a vacuum such as to suck and convey the waste materials inside the containing body 3. The cleaning machine 1 comprises a second casing 18 inside which there is housed an electricity supplying system 19

(shown schematically in Figure 3) to supply the electric motor 11 with power.

The electricity supplying system 19 comprises an electric cable 12 that may be removably connected to a mains power supply socket to draw electric power to be supplied to the electric motor 11.

The electricity supplying system 19 further comprises an electricity supply source 13 inside the cleaning machine that is able to supply, for a certain period, the electric motor 11 even if the mains power supply is not available or if the cleaning machine 1 has to operate in zones far from the mains power supply socket .

The electricity supply source 13 comprises a battery 14, or a plurality of batteries, able to dispense direct current having, for example, voltage equal to 12 V, or equal to 24 V. The electricity supply source 13 further comprises an inverter device 15 that is connected to the battery 14. The inverter device 15 receives direct current dispensed by the battery 14 to transform it into alternating current, for example having voltage equal to 220-230 V and frequency equal to 50 Hz.

In this way, the inverter device 15 enables an alternating current to be obtained that is suitable for supplying the electric motor 11. The inverter device 15 is provided with an indicating panel 21, positioned on the external surface of the second casing 18, that provides information on the operating status of the inverter device 15.

The inverter device 15 is connected by a switch 20, which may be automatic, to the electric motor 11. The switch 20 acts in such a way as to disconnect or connect operationally the inverter device 15 from or to the electric motor 11, depending on whether the electric motor 11 requires electric power from the battery 14. In other words, the switch 20 permits switching - in particular automatic switching - from a supply mode in which the electric motor 11 is supplied by the mains power supply to a further supply mode in which the

electric motor 11 is supplied by the battery 14 and the inverter device 15, and vice versa. In this way, the cleaning machine 1 can operate without sudden interruptions even in the event of possible problems with the mains power supply, such as blackout, voltage drops, etc.

The switch 20 is in turn connected to a master switch 22 to which the electric cable 12 is connected. The master switch 22 acts in such a way as to connect selectively the cleaning machine 1 to the mains power supply socket . There is further provided a battery-charger device 23. The battery-charger device 23 is interposed between the battery 14 and the master switch 22. The battery-charger device 23 is used to recharge the battery 14 by using the mains power supply . In an embodiment of the cleaning machine 1, the supply source 13 comprises, alternatively to the battery 14 and to the inverter device 15, an internal-combustion electric generator. The internal-combustion electric generator comprises an endothermic engine and an electric alternator. The electric alternator, driven by a rotating shaft of the engine, is able to produce electric power. In particular, the electric alternator is able to produce alternating current, for example having voltage equal to 220-230 V and frequency equal to 50 Hz. Similarly to what is disclosed with reference to the battery 14 and to the inverter device 15, the switch 20 enables switching - in particular automatic switching - from a supply mode in which the electric motor 11 is supplied by the mains power supply to a further supply mode in which the electric motor 11 is supplied by the internal-combustion electric generator. In this way, the internal-combustion electric generator can supply the electric motor 11 in the event of power cuts or non-avallability of the mains power supply. In an embodiment of the cleaning machine 1, the supply source 13 comprises both the internal-combustion electric generator and the battery 14 and the inverter device 15. It

is possible to choose selectively whether, in the event of the unavailability of the mains power supply, it is desired to supply the electric motor 11 using the internal- combustion electric generator or using the battery 14 and the inverter device 15. In particular, the internal- combustion electric generator, can be activated, for example automatically, when the battery 14 is exhausted and is no longer able to supply power to the electric motor 11. The supply source 13 that is thus configured enables the cleaning machine 1 to operate for a long period without a supply of power from the mains power supply.

The supply source 13 may be activated rapidly as soon as the mains power supply is interrupted, in such a way that the cleaning machine 1 can operate continuously without cleaning operations being interrupted. Once the mains power supply has been restored, the electricity supply source 13 is deactivated in such a way that the electric motor 11 is supplied with the power taken from the mains power supply. In particular, the electricity supply source 13 is deactivated automatically by the switch 20.

Further, if it is desired to use the cleaning machine 1 in zones that are far from mains power supply sockets or which are devoid of mains power supply sockets it is possible to supply the electric motor 11 by selectively activating the electricity supply source 13.

The battery 14 may be recharged by using the power of the mains power supply whilst the cleaning machine 1 is in use, or when the cleaning machine 1 is not in use and has been put back in place .