Patent ID: 8312592

Claim:
A cleaning apparatus for releasing and transporting particles from an area to be cleaned, comprising: a housing having a first opening that is to be positioned on an area to be cleaned; a member that is rotatable relative to and within the apparatus for generating an airflow to release and transport particles away from the area; and a particle collector that is rotatable with the member and relative to the apparatus, wherein the member comprises an airflow-generating surface arranged within the housing, said airflow-generating surface faces the area to be cleaned in the operating condition and is rotatable within the housing so as to cause a rotating airflow parallel to the area to be cleaned, wherein the airflow-generating surface is provided on a rotatable disc, and wherein the particle collector is provided for collecting the particles after their release from the area to be cleaned and comprises a chamber having a bottom wall, wherein the bottom wall comprises a flexible part, and in that a second opening is provided in the bottom wall and in the airflow-generating surface, wherein the flexible part allows a deflection of the bottom wall from a retaining position, in which the bottom wall of the chamber extends in an upward direction towards the second opening for collecting and retaining particles, into a releasing position, in which the bottom wall of the chamber extends in a downward direction towards the second opening for releasing particles.