Surface cleaning apparatus having a brushroll

#Vacuum cleaners can include an agitator for agitating debris on a surface to be cleaned so that the debris is more easily ingested into the vacuum cleaner. In some cases, the agitator comprises a brushroll that rotates within a base or floor nozzle. Such brushrolls can be rotatably driven by a motor, a turbine fan or a mechanical gear train, for example.

#According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a vacuum cleaner comprises a base comprising an agitator chamber and a suction nozzle opening in fluid communication with the agitator chamber, an upright body pivotally mounted to the base and comprising a main support section supporting a cyclonic collection system comprising a cyclone separator, a suction source in fluid communication with the cyclonic collection system, and a brushroll positioned within the agitator chamber for rotational movement about a central rotational axis, the brushroll comprising a brush dowel configured to be mounted for rotation about the central rotational axis, which extends longitudinally through the brush dowel, and comprising opposing bristle supports defining first mounting surfaces, opposing sweeper supports defining second mounting surfaces, and a shroud surface extending between the opposing bristle supports and the opposing sweeper supports, and a plurality of bristle tufts fastened to each of the opposing bristle supports and projecting from one of the first mounting surfaces, and a sweeper fastened to each of the opposing sweeper supports and projecting from one of the second mounting surfaces.

#According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a vacuum cleaner comprises a base comprising an agitator chamber and a suction nozzle opening in fluid communication with the agitator chamber, an upright body pivotally mounted to the base and comprising a main support section supporting a cyclonic collection system comprising a cyclone separator, a suction source in fluid communication with the cyclonic collection system, a brushroll positioned within the agitator chamber for rotational movement about a central rotational axis and comprising a brush dowel configured to be mounted for rotation about the central rotational axis, which extends longitudinally through the brush dowel, and a floor type sensor configured to provide a sensor output indicative of a type of floor beneath the vacuum cleaner, wherein the sensor output indicative of the type of floor determines a speed at which the brush dowel is rotated about the central rotational axis.

#In the drawings:

#FIG. 1 is a schematic cross section of a conventional brushroll for a vacuum cleaner.

#FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the conventional brushroll during operation.

#Brushrolls typically have a generally cylindrical dowel that can include multiple sweeping features or elements, such as multiple bristle tufts extending radially from the dowel. In operation, debris on a surface to be cleaned is swept up by the brushroll. In some cases, elongated debris, such as hair, may become wrapped around the brushroll and must be removed by a user by manually pulling or cutting the hair off the brushroll. Further, such brushrolls can include features that may optimize the performance of the brushroll in sweeping up debris from a specific type of surface to be cleaned. For example, some brushrolls can be designed to be more effective at sweeping up debris from soft surfaces, such as carpeted floors, rugs, or upholstered surfaces, while other brushrolls include sweeping features or elements that optimize the brushroll instead for sweeping up debris from hard surfaces, such as bare floors, wood floors, tile, linoleum, or the like. However, this can result in brushrolls designed for use on either soft or hard surfaces that are, in turn, not as effective at sweeping up debris from other types of surfaces.

#The present disclosure relates to a surface cleaning apparatus having a rotatable brushroll. An aspect of the disclosure relates to vacuum cleaner or accessory tool for a vacuum cleaner having a rotatable brushroll. In particular, the present disclosure relates to an improved brushroll design which reduces tangling, such as hair wrap, about the brushroll and is also adapted for multi-surface use, such as to sweep up debris from both soft surfaces and hard surfaces. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a brushroll includes a dowel, a plurality of bristles protruding from the dowel, at least one elastomeric sweeping element protruding from the dowel, and a shroud surface which is positioned relative to the bristles to minimize hair wrap. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a brushroll includes a dowel, a plurality of bristles protruding from the dowel, and at least one elastomeric sweeping element protruding from the dowel, wherein at least one of the plurality of bristles or the at least one elastomeric sweeping element protruding from the dowel are provided in a single chevron pattern or shape on the dowel. According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a brushroll includes concave curved tufting surfaces to which bristle tufts and/or at least one elastomeric sweeping element are mounted or secured to minimize hair wrap.

#According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a vacuum cleaner includes a plurality of headlights that are configured to function as a status indicator system for providing a visual indication of an operational status or characteristic for at least one component of the vacuum cleaner.