Patent Application
20230065131
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(a) to European Patent Application No. 21 192 054.1, filed Aug. 19, 2021, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present technology relates to a method of operating a base station for a cleaning device.
When a cleaning process is performed with a cleaning device, such as a hand-held vacuum cleaner or a self-propelled vacuum cleaner robot, material to be vacuumed is picked up and collected in the cleaning device.
In order to simplify the emptying of the cleaning devices, base stations for cleaning devices are known from the state of the art, which are designed to suck out or empty the cleaning devices, in particular automatically and/or self-actingly.
European Patent Application EP 3 033 982 A1 discloses such a base station for a hand vacuum cleaner, wherein the base station can be connected to an optional adapter module in order to connect a cleaning robot to the base station in addition to the hand vacuum cleaner.
German Patent Application DE 10 2019 004 417 A1 discloses a method for suctioning out a cleaning device by means of a base station, wherein during suctioning out a differential pressure across the container is determined by means of a plurality of pressure sensors in order to determine the filling level of the container of the base station. In order to take into account that the differential pressure varies not only with the filling level of the container, but also with the volume flow, the measured differential pressure is compared with a limit value dependent on the volume flow.
One exemplary object of the present technology is to provide an improved, in particular simplified, method for operating a base station, preferably wherein the method enables or supports a simple and/or cost-effective construction of the base station and/or a simple, reliable and/or user-friendly determination of the filling level of the container of the base station.
The problem is solved by a method as disclosed herein.
The method according to the proposal is carried out by means of a base station for a cleaning device.
A base station in the sense of the present technology is a constructive, preferably stationary or non-movable device for sucking out or emptying a preferably mobile cleaning device, such as a hand-held vacuum cleaner and/or a self-propelled vacuum cleaning robot, after a cleaning process, in particular in an automated or self-acting manner.
For this purpose, a base station in the sense of the present technology has a connection, in particular a fluidic or pneumatic connection, for the cleaning device, a container for vacuumed material and an optional blower downstream of the container, in order to convey vacuumed material from the cleaning device into the container of the base station during an extraction process or extraction operation (also referred to as emptying process/operation or suction process/operation). Optionally, the base station is equipped with a collection filter, in particular a filter bag, which is arranged in the container of the base station.
A cleaning device in the sense of the present technology is preferably a vacuum cleaner, for example a hand-held vacuum cleaner, an in particular movable floor vacuum cleaner, a vacuum cleaner with snout, a rod/stick vacuum cleaner or a (partially) autonomous or self-driving or self-flying robotic vacuum cleaner, hereinafter referred to as a cleaning robot.
However, a cleaning device within the sense of the present technology may also be any other device for cleaning and/or maintaining surfaces, in particular floors. For example, lawn mowing devices or robots are also to be understood as cleaning devices in the sense of the present technology.
A cleaning device in the sense of the present technology preferably has a chamber in which vacuumed material can be accommodated/received during a cleaning process by means of the cleaning device.
The cleaning device can be connected to the base station after use or after a cleaning process in order—in the case of a battery-operated cleaning device—to (electrically) charge the cleaning device, preferably automatically or in a self-acting manner, and/or to empty or suck out—in particular the chamber of the cleaning device—preferably automatically or in a self-acting manner during an extraction process.
Consequently, the base station is preferably designed to suck vacuumed material from a cleaning device into a container of the base station during an extraction/emptying/suction process.
With each extraction process, the container and/or the collection filter fills with vacuumed material. Therefore, the flow resistance through the container and/or the collection filter also increases with each extraction process, so that only a reduced pressure, in particular static and/or dynamic pressure, can be built up by means of the blower downstream of the container. Consequently, the pressure, in particular static and/or dynamic pressure, or the differential pressure to the (immediate) surroundings can be used as an indicator for the amount of vacuumed material in the container and/or collection filter.
With increasing filling level/decreasing differential pressure, the cleaning device is not or no longer sufficiently sucked out.
If the determined differential pressure reaches or falls below a (critical)—empirically determined and electronically stored—limit value, a predefined filling level of the container and/or a filling level of the container corresponding to the limit value is reached and/or the container and/or the collection filter is full or almost full, so that the container must be emptied and/or the collection filter changed/replaced.
It is therefore provided that the base station comprises (exactly) one pressure sensor, preferably wherein the pressure sensor is arranged in particular immediately downstream to the container and/or the collecting filter and/or the blower and/or in the flow channel between the container/the collecting filter/the blower and an outlet opening of the base station, in particular in order to measure or determine the (static) pressure, preferably the absolute pressure or the differential pressure with respect to the (immediate) surroundings, downstream of the container and/or the collection filter and/or the blower and/or in the flow channel between the container/the collection filter/the blower and the outlet opening.
Preferably, the filling level of the container determined in this way is communicated or displayed/indicated to a user—in particular during and/or after an extraction process. For example, it is possible to indicate or inform a user when the measured differential pressure reaches or falls below the limit value and/or the container is full or almost full and must be emptied or the collection filter replaced.
In the proposed method for operating the base station for a cleaning device, in particular a vacuum cleaner, vacuumed material is sucked out of the cleaning device during an extraction process—in particular by means of the blower—into the container of the base station, wherein—in particular during the extraction process and/or when the blower is switched on—downstream to the container and/or to the collection filter and/or to the blower and/or in the flow channel between the container/the collection filter/the blower and the outlet opening of the base station, by means of the pressure sensor of the base station, a differential pressure measurement is carried out and/or the differential pressure with respect to the (immediate) surroundings is determined, in order to determine the filling level of the container, in particular exclusively on the basis of the differential pressure.
The differential pressure is preferably the difference between the pressure, in particular the static and/or dynamic pressure, or the (static) absolute pressure (immediately) downstream to the container, in particular (immediately) downstream to the blower, and the ambient pressure.
The ambient pressure is preferably the (static) absolute pressure or air pressure or atmospheric pressure in the (immediate) vicinity/surroundings of the base station.
The proposed method is characterized in that when a predefined filling level of the container and/or collection filter is reached and/or when a (critical) limit value is reached or undershot, the maximum number of extraction processes still possible by means of the base station without emptying the container and/or without changing the collection filter is limited, in particular wherein the (further) operation of the base station is automatically locked/blocked/disabled when the maximum number of extraction processes with the container and/or the collection filter in the predefined filling level without emptying the container and/or without changing the collection filter is reached.
The predefined filling level is reached, for example, when more than 80% or 90% of the container and/or collection filter is filled with vacuumed material.
In this way, it is prevented that the base station is operated permanently or over a longer period of time with a full container and/or full collection filter and that the base station is contaminated or damaged.
Furthermore, by means of the proposed method, it is ensured that the suction power of the base station and thus also the cleaning power of the cleaning device is maintained.
Namely, when the cleaning device is not successfully sucked out, this can lead to a degradation/impairment of the cleaning device's performance and/or cleaning capability, which can promote device wear and reduce the life of the cleaning device.
Preferably, a user is indicated or informed that the predefined filling state of the container has been reached and/or that only a certain number of extraction processes with the container without emptying and/or without changing the collection filter are possible.
In this way, the user is informed at an early stage that the container needs to be emptied and/or the collection filter needs to be changed soon, in particular without the operation of the base station being blocked as soon as this is communicated for the first time.
Preferably, when the maximum number of extraction processes with the container in the predefined filling state and/or without changing the collection filter has been reached, a new/further extraction process is only carried out by a (manual) user input. In particular, a new/further extraction process is only possible by a (manual) user release when the maximum number of extraction processes with the container in the predefined filling state has been reached and/or the operation of the base station has been (automatically) blocked. In this way, the risk of (accidentally) operating the base station with a filled container and/or collection filter is reduced.
According to a preferred method variant, after user input or release by the user, it is checked by means of the pressure sensor and/or by means of a (new/further) pressure measurement whether the container has (actually) been emptied and/or the collection filter has (actually) been changed, in particular by the differential pressure to the surroundings being (again) determined/measured and evaluated/compared with the limit value.
Preferably, the operation of the base station is automatically blocked (again) if the differential pressure is not above the limit value and/or the container has not been emptied and/or the collection filter has not been changed. It is thus provided that the user input is verified by means of the pressure sensor and/or a (new/further) pressure measurement.
When the container has been emptied and/or the collection filter has been changed, and/or the differential pressure is (again) above the limit value, the extraction process is completed or continued.
In the proposed method, preferably only or exactly one pressure sensor is used and/or exclusively the measurement results of (exactly) one pressure sensor are evaluated and/or used to determine the filling level of the container and/or the collection filter. In this way, significant cost savings can be achieved compared to filling level determination with a plurality of sensors.
A pressure sensor in the sense of the present technology is a measuring device for measuring or determining the (static) pressure in a medium, such as air. A pressure sensor can be designed as an absolute pressure sensor or a differential or relative pressure sensor.
An absolute pressure sensor measures the (static) pressure compared to a vacuum as a reference (absolute pressure), preferably wherein a vacuum is present at a pressure of less than 300 mbar.
A differential pressure sensor measures the difference between two absolute pressures (differential pressure).
A relative pressure sensor measures the (static) pressure compared to the atmosphere/surroundings/ambient or the atmospheric air pressure, preferably wherein the atmospheric air pressure is 1013 mbar. Consequently, a relative pressure sensor in the sense of the present technology is a differential pressure sensor that measures the difference of an absolute pressure to the atmospheric air pressure.
A pressure sensor in the sense of the present technology preferably has exactly one measuring location/measuring point in order to determine or measure the (static) pressure at the measuring location/measuring point.
A pressure sensor in the sense of the present technology can be designed, for example, as a piezoresistive, piezoelectric, capacitive and/or inductive pressure sensor.
In the proposed method, it is possible to measure the absolute pressure downstream of the container and/or blower and/or in the flow channel between the container or blower and the outlet opening before the extraction process and/or when the blower is deactivated and additionally during the extraction process and/or when the blower is activated, in order to subsequently determine the differential pressure. The absolute pressure downstream of the container and/or blower and/or in the flow channel between the container or blower and the outlet opening before the extraction process and/or when the blower is deactivated corresponds namely to the ambient pressure.
Alternatively, it is possible to directly measure the differential pressure to the (immediate) surroundings/ambient downstream to the container and/or in the flow channel between the container and the outlet opening by means of the pressure sensor, in particular if the pressure sensor is designed as a differential pressure sensor or relative pressure sensor.
According to a further, also independently realizable aspect of the present technology, exclusively by means of the pressure sensor, i.e. without the use of further sensors and/or other measurement technology, and/or exclusively by means of the (determined) differential pressure to the (immediate) surroundings, i.e. without additional measured values, the filling level of the container is determined/detected/identified as a (first) state/condition of the base station and additionally at least one further state/condition, in particular at least one possible malfunction, of the base station or of individual components of the base station, such as the intake tract, the outlet filter, the collection filter and/or the flap, is determined/detected/identified.
Preferably, the differential pressure determined or measured by means of the pressure sensor is compared with a limit value—in particular empirically determined and/or electronically stored—in order, on the one hand, to determine the filling level of the container and/or the collection filter and, on the other hand, to determine or identify at least one further state/condition and/or a possible malfunction of the base station.
Preferably, it is determined/detected/identified exclusively by means of the pressure sensor and/or differential pressure—as a further state/condition and/or malfunction of the base station—whether or when the intake tract of the base station and/or the flow path upstream to the container is clogged/blocked. In this case, no or no large pressure, in particular static and/or dynamic pressure, can be built up by means of the blower, so that the differential pressure is (strongly) reduced or almost zero compared to the fault-free operation of the base station.
Additionally or alternatively, it is determined/detected/identified exclusively by means of the pressure sensor and/or the differential pressure—in particular as a further state/condition of the base station and/or as a malfunction of the base station—whether or when the outlet filter is not or not correctly inserted. Also in this case, no or no large pressure, in particular static and/or dynamic pressure, can be built up by means of the blower, so that the differential pressure is reduced or almost zero compared to the fault-free operation of the base station.
Additionally or alternatively, it is determined/detected/identified exclusively by means of the pressure sensor and/or the differential pressure—in particular as a further state/condition of the base station and/or as a malfunction of the base station —whether or when the collection filter in the container is not or not correctly inserted, the flap of the container is not closed and/or the cleaning device is not or not correctly connected to the base station. In this case, the pressure, in particular static and/or dynamic pressure, built up by the blower is very high due to the lower flow resistances or the incoming additional air compared to the fault-free operation of the base station, so that the determined differential pressure is increased compared to the fault-free operation of the base station.
The aforementioned states/conditions/malfunctions are preferably each assigned at least one—in particular empirically determined and/or electronically stored—limit value, in particular two limit values or a pressure range, for example in a (digital) database.
The determination/detection/identification of the states/conditions/malfunctions is preferably performed by comparing the determined differential pressure—in particular automatically, mathematically and/or metrologically—with the limit values and/or pressure ranges and/or by assigning the determined differential pressure to a pressure range and thus to a state/condition and/or a malfunction/failure.
With a particularly accurate and sensitive pressure sensor, even small changes in differential pressure can be detected, ensuring clear identification/determination of the different states/conditions/malfunctions.
Thus, with the proposed method, it is possible to reliably identify both the filling level of the container and any faults/failures/malfunctions in the operation of the base station by means of only a single pressure sensor, i.e. with an extremely low level of equipment or metrological effort.
Preferably, the operation of the base station, in particular the extraction process, is (automatically) interrupted when a (critical) state/condition/fault has been identified, in particular to prevent contamination and/or damage to the base station due to faulty operation.
Preferably, the identified state/condition/fault is displayed or communicated to a user so that the fault can be corrected.
The aforementioned aspects, features, method steps and method variants of the technology as well as the aspects, features method steps and method variants of the present technology resulting from the claims and the following description can in principle be realized independently of each other, but also in any combination or sequence.
Further aspects, advantages, features and characteristics of the present technology result from the claims and the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to accompanying drawings.
In the partly not to scale, only schematic figures, the same reference signs are used for the same, identical or similar parts and components, wherein corresponding, or comparable properties, characteristics and advantages are achieved, even if a repeated description is omitted.
The illustration according to
The cleaning system 1 is preferably equipped with a plurality of components.
Preferably, the cleaning system 1 has—in addition to the base station 10—at least one (mobile) cleaning device 20, 30, wherein the cleaning device 20, 30 can be coupled to the base station 10 fluidically, in particular pneumatically, and/or electrically, in particular in order to empty/suck out and/or electrically charge the cleaning device 20, 30, as will be explained in more detail below.
In the embodiment shown in
Individual or a plurality of aspects, advantages, features, properties, characteristics and method steps, which are described in the following only in connection with one of the cleaning devices 20, 30, are preferably also provided in the other one of the cleaning devices 20, 30, so that corresponding explanations also apply to the other one of the cleaning devices 20, 30, even if they are not repeated below.
The cleaning system 1 is used in particular indoors or for indoor cleaning. However, it is also possible in principle to use the cleaning system 1 in outdoor spaces/areas or to use it for cleaning outdoor spaces or areas.
As already explained at the outset, the base station 10 is designed for (electrical) charging and/or for (automated) emptying or sucking out of one or more cleaning devices 20, 30. For this purpose, the cleaning device 20, 30 is coupled to the base station 10, whereby a fluidic, in particular pneumatic, and/or electrical connection is established—preferably automatically—between the base station 10 and the cleaning device 20, 30.
The connection/coupling of the cleaning device 20, 30 to the base station 10 can be performed manually—for example, in the case of a hand vacuum cleaner—or automatically or self-actuated—for example, in the case of a cleaning robot. In the embodiments shown, it is provided that the first cleaning device 20 connects to the base station 10 automatically or in a self-acting manner after a cleaning process and the second cleaning device 30 is hooked/hung into the base station 10 manually or by a user in order to electrically charge and/or suck out the cleaning devices 20, 30 by means of the base station 10.
The base station 10 is preferably elongated/oblong and/or box-shaped or cabinet-like.
It is preferred that the base station 10 is fixed or immovably connected to the wall 2. However, the base station 10 can in principle also be designed as a free-standing and/or mobile or movable device.
Preferably, the base station 10 is mounted on the wall 2 in such a way that, when installed/mounted, the base station 10 rests on the floor 3 and lies flat against the wall 2. However, other solutions are also possible here, in particular in which the base station 10 in the installed/mounted state is arranged at a distance from the floor 3 and/or suspended from the wall 2.
The base station 10 is preferably of multi-part and/or modular construction. Especially preferably, the base station 10 has a plurality of modules or can be expanded/upgraded by one or more modules.
Preferably, the base station 10 has a bottom module 40 and/or a head module 50, in particular wherein the head module 50 is arranged (directly) above the bottom module 40 in the position of use or in the installed/mounted state.
Preferably, the bottom module 40 is configured for the electrical and/or fluidical connecting of the first cleaning device 20 and/or the head module 50 is configured for the electrical and/or fluidical connecting of the second cleaning device 30.
It is thus provided to (electrically) charge and/or to empty the first cleaning device 20 by means of the bottom module 40 and/or the second cleaning device 30 by means of the head module 50, in particular from the side, from below and/or from above.
Preferably, the base station 10 has a (first) electrical connection 40E for the (first) cleaning device 20 and/or a (second) electrical connection 50E for the (second) cleaning device 30 for electrically connecting the base station 10 to the cleaning device 20, 30 and for charging an accumulator 20A, 30A of the cleaning device 20, 30, which is only schematically indicated. Preferably, the first electrical connection 40E is located in the bottom module 40 and the second electrical connection 50E in the head module 50.
The electrical connection 40E, 50E is preferably formed by one or more electrical contacts or—in particular for wireless power transmission—by one or more coils.
The cleaning device 20, 30 has an electrical connection 20E, 30E corresponding to the electrical connection 40E or 50E, which is preferably formed by one or more electrical contacts or—in particular for wireless power transmission—by one or more coils on an outer side of the cleaning device 20, 30.
The base station 10, in particular the bottom module 40, is equipped with an optional power supply unit 10A—preferably with corresponding charging electronics—and/or a power connection 10B for connection to a power supply network or a mains/grid, which is only indicated schematically, in order to enable a power supply to the (first) cleaning device 20, in particular via the first electrical connection 40E, and/or to the (second) cleaning device 30, in particular via the second electrical connection 50E, as indicated by dash lines in
Preferably, the base station 10, in particular the bottom module 40, forms a receiving space 40A for the (first) cleaning device 20 to at least partially accommodate/receive the (first) cleaning device 20. The (first) cleaning device 20 can thus at least partially enter or drive into the bottom module 40 to thereby establish a fluidic and/or electrical connection with the base station 10 and/or the bottom module 40.
The base station 10, in particular the head module 50, is preferably designed to hold and/or partially accommodate/receive the (second) cleaning device 30. In particular, the (second) cleaning device 30 can be attached to the head module 50 and/or suspended/hung/hooked in the head module 50.
Preferably, the base station 10, in particular the head module 50, has a holder 10C for holding the (second) cleaning device 30, in particular in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner and/or above or at a distance from the floor 3.
In the embodiment shown, the holder 10C is formed by a hook, the (second) cleaning device 30 having a bracket corresponding to the hook for suspending the cleaning device 30. However, other solutions are also possible here.
The base station 10, in particular the head module 50, has an, in particular box shaped, housing 50A, preferably wherein the housing 50A has or forms the holder 10C.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the electrical connection 50E is integrated into the holder 10C.
Preferably, the electrical and/or fluidic connection between the base station 10, in particular the head module 50, and the (second) cleaning device 30 is established by or at the same time as attaching/hanging and/or mechanically coupling the cleaning device 30 to the base station 10 or the head module 50.
The base station 10 preferably has a (first) fluidic, in particular pneumatic, connection 40F for the (first) cleaning device 20 and/or a (second) fluidic, in particular pneumatic, connection 50F for the (second) cleaning device 30 in order to connect the base station 10 fluidically, in particular pneumatically, to the cleaning device 20, 30, preferably wherein the first fluidic connection 40F is arranged in the bottom module 40 and the second fluidic connection 50F is arranged in the head module 50.
The fluidic connection 40F, 50F of the base station 10 is preferably formed by a connecting piece, an opening or the like, for example in a foot part 40B of the bottom module 40 and/or on a front side 50C of the head module 50, and/or is located directly next to the electrical connection 40E, 50E.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the fluidic connection 50F of the head module 50 is integrated into the holder 10C for the (second) cleaning device 30.
It is preferred that the cleaning device 20, 30 connects both fluidically and electrically to the base station 10 (automatically) when it moves/drives onto the foot part 40B and/or against the base station 10, in particular the bottom module 40, and/or when it is hooked/hung into the base station 10, in particular the head module 50, and/or when it is in the connection position.
The base station 10, in particular the head module 50, preferably has a container 50G, a collection filter 50H, a fan or blower 50J and/or an outlet filter or exhaust air filter 50K, preferably wherein the fluidic connection 40F, 50F is fluidically connected to the container 50G, the collection filter 50H, the blower 50J and/or the outlet filter 50K.
The collection filter 50H is preferably a (disposable) filter bag or a (disposable) filter cartridge, which is preferably exchanged or replaced by a new collection filter or a new filter cartridge after use or when a certain filling quantity is reached.
Preferably, the collection filter 50H is arranged within the container 50G and/or attached to an inlet of the container 50G.
The outlet filter 50K is preferably a particle filter and/or suspended matter filter.
The outlet filter 50K is preferably located downstream of the container 50G, the collection filter 50H and/or the blower 50J and/or attached to an outlet opening 10L (not shown in
By connecting the cleaning device 20, 30 to the base station 10, a fluidic connection is preferably established between an only schematically indicated chamber 20C, 30C of the cleaning device 20, 30 and the base station 10 and/or the head module 50, in particular the container 50G and/or the blower 50J.
By means of the blower 50J, it is possible to convey, in particular to suck, a fluid, in particular vacuumed material or air together with vacuumed material, from the cleaning device 20, 30, in particular the chamber 20C, 30C, to the base station 10 or into its container 50G, and/or to collect or separate the vacuumed material in the container 50G and/or the collection filter 50H. Subsequently, the cleaned air is discharged/released to the surroundings via the outlet filter 50K.
In the connection position of the cleaning device 20, 30, the cleaning device 20, 30 is thus fluidically, particularly preferably both fluidically and electrically, connected to the base station 10, particularly in such a way that the chamber 20C, 30C of the cleaning device 20, 30 can be emptied and/or the accumulator 20A, 30A can be charged. In the connection position, a maintenance process, in particular an extraction process and/or charging process, of the cleaning device 20, 30 can be carried out by means of the base station 10.
For example, in the connection position and/or during a maintenance or extraction process/operation (or emptying process/operation or suction process/operation), vacuumed material can be sucked from the chamber 20C of the first cleaning device 20 via the fluidic connection 40F of the bottom module 40 and/or vacuumed material can be sucked from the chamber 30C of the second cleaning device 30 via the fluidic connection 50F of the head module 50, and the vacuumed material can be transferred (in both cases) to the (common) container 50G and/or the collection filter 50H. In this way, manual emptying of the cleaning devices 20, 30 can be omitted.
The container 50G and/or the collection filter 50H preferably has a volume that is larger than the volume of the chamber 20C, 30C of the cleaning device 20, 30, preferably by double or triple the size, so that the entire contents of the chamber 20C, 30C can be collected/received by the container 50G and/or a plurality of extraction processes can be carried out without having to empty the container 50G and/or change the collection filter 50H.
The container 50G preferably has a volume of more than 1 l or 1.5 l, especially preferably more than 2 l or 3 .
Preferably, the base station 10, in particular the head module 50, is equipped with a flap 10D to open and/or empty the base station 10, in particular the container 50G, and/or to change the collection filter 50H.
In the embodiment shown, the flap 10D is designed as a removable or pivotable cover/lid. However, it is also possible, for example, to provide the front side 50C with the flap 10D.
The container 50G and/or collection filter 50H has an inlet, wherein in the illustrated embodiment both cleaning devices 20, 30 and/or both fluidic connections 40F, 50F are connected to the inlet fluidically and/or via corresponding lines.
Preferably, the base station 10 has an optional (controlled) shut-off apparatus 10E, such as a shut-off flap or a (butterfly) valve, to control the air flow and/or the air routing/air conduction. In particular, by means of the shut-off apparatus 10E, it is possible to connect selectively the first cleaning device 20/the fluidic connection 40F or the second cleaning device 30/the fluidic connection 50F fluidically to the container 50G and/or the collection filter 50H.
The base station 10 preferably has a control device 10S which controls the (electrical) charging and/or the emptying of the cleaning device 20, 30. For this purpose, the control device 10S is preferably electrically connected to the (first) electrical connection 40E, the (second) electrical connection 50E, the power supply unit 10A, the blower 50J and/or the shut-off apparatus 10E, as indicated by dash lines in
In the following, the air routing/air guidance/air conduction of the cleaning system 1 is described in more detail with reference to
In the following, only the air guidance in the cleaning device 30 is described. However, a corresponding air guidance is also possible or provided or designed in the other cleaning device 20, as indicated in particular by corresponding symbols in
The cleaning device 30 has an intake/suction opening 30B, an intake/suction line 30D, a fluidic connection 30F, a feed/supply/inlet line 30G, a connecting line 30H, a fan or blower 30J, an outlet line 30L, an outlet opening 30N, and/or a suction/extraction/emptying line 30P.
The lines 30D, 30G, 30H, 30L, 30P are designed as air-carrying, air-guiding and/or pneumatic lines in the cleaning device 30 and enable the transport of a medium, in particular air, in the cleaning device 30.
The openings 30B, 30N are designed as apertures, openings or through holes in the housing of the cleaning device 30 and enable air exchange between the cleaning device 30, in particular the chamber 30C, and the surroundings.
In the cleaning mode of the cleaning device 30, for example when the cleaning device 30 is used for cleaning the floor 3, air and/or material to be vacuumed or air together with material to be vacuumed can be sucked from the surroundings into the cleaning device 30, in particular the chamber 30C, by means of the blower 30J via the intake/suction opening 30B and/or intake/suction line 30D.
In the chamber 30C, the vacuumed material is separated from the air in the cleaning mode of the cleaning device 30, for example by means of a filter (not shown), so that the (cleaned) air can be released back to the surroundings, in particular via the connecting line 30H, the blower 30J, the outlet line 30L and the outlet opening 30N.
Consequently, the chamber 30C is preferably fluidically arranged between the intake opening 30B/the intake line 30D on one side and the blower 30J/the outlet opening 30N/the connecting line 30H on the other side.
The air routing and/or the flow direction is changed at least partially or in sections during an extraction process or during sucking out by means of the base station 10 compared to the cleaning mode. In particular, the flow direction in the chamber 30C is reversed in extraction mode (preferably also referred to as emptying mode or suction mode) compared to cleaning mode.
In the following, a distinction is therefore made between the cleaning mode and the suction/emptying/extraction mode of the cleaning device 30. In
The cleaning mode is the mode in which the cleaning device 30 is in during cleaning and/or while performing a cleaning process.
A cleaning process or cleaning operation in the sense of the present technology is preferably a process/operation in which cleaning is performed by means of the cleaning device 30 and/or in which the cleaning device 30 cleans and/or vacuums a surface, such as the floor 3.
Usually, in the cleaning mode and/or during a cleaning process, the cleaning device 30 is not connected to and/or is spaced from the base station 10.
In particular, in the cleaning mode of the cleaning device 30, the blower 30J is activated or switched on, in particular so that air flows from the intake opening 30B to the outlet opening 30N. Particularly preferably, in the cleaning mode, air flows from the intake opening 30B via the intake line 30D and/or the feed line 30G into the chamber 30C and from the chamber 30C via the connecting line 30H and the blower 30J to the outlet line 30L and/or outlet opening 30N.
Thus, the intake opening 30B and the intake line 30D form the intake tract of the cleaning device 30 in the cleaning mode.
The extraction mode is the mode in which the cleaning device 30 is in during emptying/extracting/sucking out by means of the base station 10 and/or during a maintenance process or extraction process.
A maintenance process or maintenance operation in the sense of the present technology is preferably a process/operation in which the cleaning device 30 is maintained by means of the base station 10. A maintenance process may be an extraction process and/or a charging process. In particular, the cleaning device 30 can be at least partially, preferably completely, emptied/sucked out by a maintenance process and/or an extraction process, and the cleaning device 30 can be at least partially, preferably completely, charged by a maintenance process and/or a charging process.
In the maintenance mode and/or extraction mode and/or during a maintenance process, the cleaning device 30, in particular the fluidic connection 30F and/or the electrical connection 30E of the cleaning device 30, is connected to the base station 10, in particular the fluidic connection 40F and/or the electrical connection 40E of the base station 10.
In particular, in the maintenance mode and/or extraction mode and/or during a maintenance process of the cleaning device 30, the blower 30J of the cleaning device 30 is deactivated or switched off.
During an extraction process, the blower 50J of the base station 10 is activated or switched on.
Sucking out/emptying/extracting is preferably performed via the fluidic connection 30F and/or the extraction/suction/emptying line 30P of the cleaning device 30. In particular, it is possible to empty/suck out the chamber 30C by means of the base station 10 via the fluidic connection 30F and/or the extraction line 30P.
The fluidic connection 30F is preferably formed by a connection piece, an opening or the like in the cleaning device 30, in particular in the housing of the cleaning device 30.
Preferably, the fluidic connection 30F is fluidically connected to the chamber 30C via the extraction line 30P.
In the embodiment shown, the extraction line 30P is fluidically connected to the chamber 30C via the feed line 30G. However, other solutions are also possible, for example in which the extraction line 30P opens directly into the chamber 30C.
Preferably, the cleaning device 30 has a suction/emptying/extraction valve 30Q to control and/or change the air flow and/or the air routing/guidance in the cleaning device 30, in particular to change/switch between the cleaning mode and the extraction mode.
Preferably, by means of the extraction valve 30Q, selectively the intake opening 30B or the connection 30F is fluidically connectable to the chamber 30C.
In the cleaning mode, the intake opening 30B is fluidically connected to the chamber 30C to allow air to be drawn in from the surroundings and/or to be fed/conducted/directed into the chamber 30C via the feed line 30G. Preferably, the connection 30F is fluidically separated from the chamber 30C in the cleaning mode.
In the extraction mode, the connection 30F is fluidically connected to the chamber 30C to direct/conduct air and/or vacuumed material from chamber 30C and the optional feed line 30G to the connection 30F/base station 10. Preferably, the intake opening 30B is fluidically separated from the chamber 30C in the extraction mode.
Preferably, (ambient) air flows from the outlet opening 30N to the fluidic connection 30F during emptying/sucking out and/or in extraction mode.
Particularly preferably, in the extraction mode, air flows into the chamber 30C via the outlet line 30L, the blower 30J and/or the connecting line 30H, and from the chamber 30C via the feed line 30G and the extraction line 30P through the cleaning device 30 and/or to the fluidic connection 30F and/or into the base station 10.
Consequently, the outlet opening 30N and the outlet line 30L form the intake tract of the cleaning device 30 in the extraction mode.
The extraction valve 30Q can be designed, for example, as a shut-off flap, butterfly valve, directional valve or switching valve.
The cleaning device 30 preferably comprises a control apparatus 30S, a data processing apparatus 30R and/or a communication apparatus 30K, preferably wherein the control apparatus 30S, the data processing apparatus 30R, the communication apparatus 30K, the blower 30J and/or the extraction valve 30Q are electrically connected to each other, as indicated by dash lines in
The control apparatus 30S is preferably designed to control the blower 30J, in particular to activate or deactivate it and/or to adjust the power of the blower 30J.
In addition, the control apparatus 30S is preferably configured to control the extraction valve 30Q, in particular to adjust the switch position of the extraction valve 30Q.
The chamber 30C is preferably equipped with a filter (not shown) to separate vacuumed material, such as dust, from the air in the chamber 30C and/or in the filter during cleaning or in cleaning mode.
The base station 10 has a feed/supply/inlet line 10G, a blower/fan line 10H, an outlet line 10J and/or an outlet opening 10L, preferably wherein the container 50G is fluidically connected via the feed line 10G to the fluidic connection(s) 40F and/or 50F and/or via the blower line 10H and/or the outlet line 10J to the outlet opening 10L.
In the illustrated embodiment, the base station 10 has a first connection line 10N and a second connection line 10P, wherein the first fluidic connection 40F is fluidically connected or connectable to the feed line 10G and/or the container 50G via the first connection line 10N and the second fluidic connection 50F is fluidically connected or connectable to the feed line 10G and/or the container 50G via the second connection line 10P.
The lines 10G, 10H, 10J, 10N and/or 10P are designed as air-carrying, air-guiding and/or pneumatic lines in the base station 10 and enable the transport of a medium, in particular air, in the base station 10.
Consequently, the fluidic connection(s) 40F and/or 50F, the connection line(s) 10N, 10P and the feed line 10G form the intake tract of the base station 10.
The outlet opening 10L is designed as an opening, aperture or through hole in the housing of the base station 10 and allows air exchange between the base station 10, in particular the container 50G, and the surroundings. Preferably, the outlet filter 50K (not shown in
As already explained, by means of the optional shut-off apparatus 10E, selectively the fluidic connection 40F or the fluidic connection 50F is fluidically connectable to the container 50G.
The blower 50J is preferably fluidically connected via the blower line 10H to the container 50G and/or via the outlet line 10J to the outlet opening 10L and/or the surroundings. In particular, the blower 50J is arranged (directly) downstream to the container 50G and/or fluidically between the container 50G and the outlet opening 10L.
Preferably, the feed line 10G is connected or attached to an inlet of the container 50G and the blower line 10H is connected or attached to an outlet of the container 50G.
The base station 10 preferably comprises the control device 10S, a data processing device 10R, a communication device 10K and/or a pressure sensor 10M, in particular exactly one pressure sensor 10M, preferably wherein the control device 10S, the data processing device 10R, the communication device 10K, the pressure sensor 10M, the shut-off apparatus 10E and/or the blower 50J are electrically connected to each other.
By means of the pressure sensor 10M, it is possible to determine or measure the (static) (absolute) pressure and/or a pressure change in the base station 10, in particular in the outlet line 10J.
Preferably, the base station 10, in particular the pressure sensor 10M, has (exactly) one (pressure) measuring location, namely in the outlet line 10J and/or downstream to the container 50G and/or the blower 50J.
In particular, it is provided that only the base station 10 is equipped with a pressure sensor 10M, i.e., the cleaning device 30 does not have a pressure sensor, since this is not necessary for the proposed method, as will be explained in more detail below.
As already explained at the beginning, the pressure sensor 10M is designed as an absolute pressure sensor or differential pressure sensor/relative pressure sensor and/or is designed to measure the absolute pressure and/or the relative pressure or the differential pressure to the environment/surroundings at the measuring location and/or in the outlet line 10J.
Consequently, the pressure sensor 10M is preferably designed to measure the pressure compared to vacuum as a reference (absolute pressure) or the pressure compared to the (prevailing) atmospheric air pressure as a reference (differential pressure to the environment/surroundings) at the measuring point.
The pressure sensor 10M is preferably electrically connected to the control device 10S, the data processing device 10R and/or the communication device 10K, in particular to process and/or evaluate the measured values and/or to transmit the measured (or processed/evaluated) values to the cleaning device 30 and/or another device.
In the following, the proposed method for operating the base station 10 or the cleaning system 1 is described in more detail with reference to
The proposed method is preferably carried out by means of the cleaning system 1 or the base station 10, in particular the pressure sensor 10M, the data processing device 10R, the control device 10S and/or the blower 50J.
In the proposed method for operating the base station 10 or the cleaning system 1, it is provided to determine the filling level of the container 50G and/or the collection filter 50H during an extraction process and/or when the blower 50J is switched on, in particular (exclusively) by one or more pressure measurements in the base station 10, particularly preferably downstream of the container 50G and/or the collection filter 50H and/or the blower 50J and/or in the outlet line 10J, as will be explained in more detail below.
The method is preferably multi-stage or multi-step. In particular, the method has a plurality of method steps.
The method is preferably initiated by connecting or docking the cleaning device 20, 30 to the base station 10.
Preferably, in a first method step/process A1, the cleaning device 20, 30 is fluidically connected to the base station 10—in particular manually or self-actingly or automatically — in order to perform an extraction process and/or to suck vacuumed material from the cleaning device 20, 30 into the container 50G and/or the collection filter 50H. However, it is also possible in principle to carry out the proposed method without a connected cleaning device 20, 30 and/or exclusively with the base station 10.
Preferably, it is checked—initially or in a further method step or by means of a first branching D1—whether the base station 10 or the operation of the base station 10 is locked/blocked/disabled. In the method, it is namely preferably provided that the operation of the base station 10 is automatically locked/blocked/disabled when a (fixed/defined) maximum number imax of extraction processes with the container 50G and/or the collection filter 50H in a predefined filling level is reached without (intermediate) emptying of the container 50G and/or without (intermediate) changing of the collection filter 50H, as will be explained in more detail below.
In the event that the base station 10 is locked, the user is notified or informed that the container 50G must be emptied and/or the collection filter 50H must be changed, in particular by means of a corresponding output/message U4.
In particular, if the base station 10 is not locked, then—if the pressure sensor 10M is designed as an absolute pressure sensor—the ambient pressure/atmospheric air pressure is first or in a further or second method step/process A2 measured by means of the pressure sensor 10M and/or in the outlet line 10J and is (electronically) stored, preferably before starting the extraction process and/or activating the blower 50J.
Namely, when the blower 50J is deactivated, the pressure in the base station 10, in particular in the outlet line 10J, corresponds to the ambient pressure/atmospheric air pressure, so that the pressure sensor 10M can directly measure the ambient pressure/atmospheric air pressure.
Subsequently and/or in a further method step/process A3, the blower 50J is preferably (automatically) activated and/or the extraction process is started.
Subsequently and/or in a further method step/process A4, in particular immediately after the start of the extraction process, a (new/further) pressure measurement is preferably carried out by means of the pressure sensor 10M and/or the differential pressure to the surroundings downstream to the container 50G and/or the collection filter 50H and/or the blower 50J and/or in the outlet line 10J is determined.
Preferably, the absolute pressure is measured by means of a (new/further) pressure measurement during the extraction process and/or with the blower 50J switched on and in particular by means of the data processing device 10R the differential pressure with respect to the surroundings is determined/calculated.
To determine the differential pressure with respect to the surroundings, preferably the (absolute) difference is formed between the (static) ambient pressure measured before the extraction process and the pressure, in particular the static and/or dynamic pressure, measured during the extraction process and/or with the blower 50J switched on, preferably the difference being formed by means of the data processing device 10R.
In this way, the differential pressure to the surroundings is calculated/measured and preferably subsequently (electronically) stored, for example in a memory of the data processing device 10R.
However, it is also possible that the differential pressure to the environment/surroundings is measured directly by means of the pressure sensor 10M during the extraction process or with activated blower 50J, in particular if the pressure sensor 10M is designed as a differential pressure sensor.
As explained at the beginning, the differential pressure to the environment/surroundings correlates with the filling level of the container 50G and/or of the collection filter 50H.
When the container 50G and/or the collection filter 50H fills with vacuumed material, the flow resistance increases so that the blower 50J (at the same blower power) builds up a reduced pressure, in particular static and/or dynamic pressure, compared to an empty container 50G and/or an empty collection filter 50H.
To determine the filling level, the measured and/or determined differential pressure is compared with a threshold/limit value, preferably by means of the data processing device 10R. If the measured and/or determined differential pressure reaches or falls below the limit value, the container 50G and/or the collection filter 50H is full or nearly full, for example 80% or 90% full, and/or the predetermined filling level has been reached.
The corresponding limit value and/or the relationship between the differential pressure and the filling level is preferably determined experimentally and/or empirically and is preferably stored or saved electronically, for example in the data processing device 10R.
It is preferred that the determined differential pressure is compared with a plurality of—in particular empirically determined and/or electronically stored—limit values and/or is assigned to different pressure ranges in order to determine or identify the filling level of the container 50G and/or the collection filter 50H and/or additionally at least one further state/condition/fault or failure/malfunction of the base station 10.
Preferably, the container 50G and/or the collection filter 50H is full or nearly full, for example 80% or 90% full, and/or the predefined fill level is reached when the differential pressure is less than 2 hPa, in particular less than 1.5 hPa, and/or is in the range of 1 hPa to 2 hPa.
Preferably, the container 50G and/or the collection filter 50H is partially filled, in particular less than 80% filled, when the differential pressure is more than 2 hPa, in particular more than 2.5 hPa, and/or less than 5 hPa, in particular less than 4 hPa.
Preferably, the container 50G and/or the collection filter 50H is empty and/or less than 20% full when the differential pressure is more than 5 hPa, in particular more than 6 hPa, and/or less than 7 hPa, in particular less than 6.5 hPa.
Preferably, it is checked—by means of a second and/or further branching D2 and/or by means of the data processing device 10R—whether the container 50G and/or the collection filter 50H is full or almost full and/or the predefined filling level has been reached. For this purpose, it is provided that the differential pressure is compared with the limit value which corresponds to the predefined filling level and/or has been defined as value for an imminent emptying of the container 50G and/or a necessary change of the collection filter 50H and/or the reaching of which limits the number of still possible extraction processes, as will be explained in more detail below.
Preferably—subsequently and/or by means of a further branching D3 and/or by means of the data processing unit 10R—it is checked whether a fault or malfunction is present. In particular, at least one further state/condition of the base station 10 is determined on the basis of the differential pressure and/or by means of the pressure sensor 10M in addition to the filling level determination.
In particular, the determined differential pressure is also used to determine or detect a (further) state/condition/fault or malfunction of the base station 10 or individual components of the base station 10.
In fact, it has been found that certain faults or malfunctions have an effect on the differential pressure, so that based on the differential pressure (also) further state/conditions/faults of the base station 10 can be reliably detected or determined, as will be explained in more detail below.
If the maximum or predefined filling level has not yet been reached and/or there is no fault/error or malfunction, the extraction process is continued or completed.
Preferably, the extraction process is carried out for a specific or predefined period of time, for example 10 or 20 seconds.
Subsequently, the extraction process is terminated by deactivating the blower 50J in a further method step/process A6.
A user is preferably notified or indicated when the extraction process is completed, preferably by means of an output/message U1.
If the maximum and/or predefined filling level is reached and/or if there is a fault or malfunction, the extraction process is preferably aborted (prematurely).
According to a preferred method variant, when the predefined filling level is reached or exceeded (for the first time) and/or when a corresponding limit value is reached or undershot, the maximum number imax of still possible extraction processes by means of the base station 10 without (intermediate/interim) emptying of the container 50G and/or without (intermediate/interim) changing of the collection filter 50H is limited.
Particularly preferably, a maximum of six or five further extraction processes are possible without emptying the container 50G and/or changing the collection filter 50H when the predefined filling level has been reached and/or a corresponding limit value has been reached or fallen below.
When the predefined filling level is reached/exceeded and/or when a corresponding limit value for the differential pressure is reached/undershot/fallen short of, it is preferably checked—subsequently and/or in a further method step and/or by means of a further branching D4—whether the maximum number imax of extraction processes has already been reached.
For this purpose, the base station 10, in particular the data processing device 10R, has an internal (electronic) counter corresponding to the number i of (started) extraction processes without (interim) emptying the container 50G and/or without (interim) changing the collection filter 50H. In particular, it is provided in the method that the counter counts the number i of extraction processes after the predefined filling level has been reached or exceeded for the first time without emptying the container 50G and/or changing the collection filter 50H.
If the maximum number imax has not been reached, the counter is preferably incremented by one value subsequently and/or in a further method step/process A7.
In this case, the extraction process is continued or carried out completely and completed in a further method step/process A8, in particular by deactivating the blower 50J.
The full/successful completion of the extraction process is preferably displayed or communicated to a user, in particular by means of an output/message U2.
If the maximum number imax of extraction processes with the container 50G and/or the collection filter 50H in the predefined filling state has been reached, the extraction process is aborted in a further method step/process A9 and/or the operation of the base station 10 is disabled/blocked/locked.
Preferably, the reaching of the maximum number imax of extraction processes with the container 50G and/or the collection filter 50H in the predefined filling state is indicated or communicated to a user, preferably by means of a corresponding output/message U3.
In this case, the user is preferably prompted to empty the container 50G and/or to change the collection filter 50H, in particular by means of the output/message U3.
It is preferred that a new extraction process is only carried out by a user input and/or that the base station 10 is only unlocked by a user input.
For this purpose, it is checked—in particular in a further method step and/or by means of a further branching D5—whether there is a corresponding confirmation by the user.
If the user does not confirm that the container 50G has been emptied and/or the collection filter 50H has been changed, preferably in a further method step/process A10 the operation of the base station 10 is stopped.
When the user's confirmation/release has been received, preferably in a further method step/process A11 the base station 10 is unlocked and the method can be started again from the beginning, optionally (again) measuring the ambient pressure, starting a (new) extraction process and determining the differential pressure, as already explained.
Thus, it is preferably checked and/or verified whether the container 50G has actually been emptied and/or the collection filter 50H has actually been changed.
If the check and/or verification shows that the container 50G has actually been emptied and/or the collection filter 50H has actually been changed, the counter is preferably reset or set to zero, preferably in a further method step/process A5.
Thus, in the proposed method, it is provided to prevent the permanent operation of the base station 10 with filled container 50G and/or collection filter 50H. In this way, it is ensured that the cleaning device 20, 30 is always completely sucked out, so that the operational capability of the cleaning system 1 is maintained.
In addition, the user is informed at an early stage of the need to empty the container 50G and/or change the collection filter 50H, without the operation of the base station 10 being stopped immediately when the predefined filling level is reached or exceeded for the first time.
As already explained, it is checked by means of the data processing device 10R—in particular immediately after the start of the extraction process—whether a fault, error or malfunction is present. In particular, (exclusively) on the basis of the determined differential pressure and/or by means of the pressure sensor 10M, at least one further state/condition of the base station 10 is additionally determined and/or a fault of the base station 10 is detected.
Namely, the differential pressure to the surroundings/environment correlates not only with the filling level of the container 50G and/or the collection filter 50H, but also with other states/faults/errors/malfunctions of the base station 10.
To determine the further state, in particular to detect a fault, the measured and/or determined differential pressure is compared with at least one threshold/limit value, preferably by means of the data processing device 10R. If the measured and/or determined differential pressure reaches, falls below or exceeds the limit value, the further state, in particular a fault or a malfunction of the base station 10, is present.
The corresponding limit value and/or the relationship between the differential pressure and the state/fault is preferably determined experimentally and/or empirically and preferably stored or saved electronically, for example in the data processing device 10R.
It is preferred that the determined differential pressure is compared with a plurality of—in particular empirically determined and/or electronically stored—limit values and/or assigned to different pressure ranges in order to determine or identify the filling level of the container 50G and/or the collection filter 50H and/or additionally at least one further state/fault or malfunction of the base station 10.
The determination and/or identification of the further state/fault or of a malfunction is preferably carried out sequentially and/or after the determination of the filling level of the container 50G and/or the collection filter 50H, as shown by branching D3 in
The (mathematical) relationships, equations, tables, diagrams and/or limit values for determining the filling level and/or further states/conditions of the base station 10, in particular for identifying/detecting malfunctions of the base station 10, are preferably stored or saved electronically—for example as functional equations or tables—in the data processing device 10R, particularly preferably a memory of the data processing device 10R.
Preferably, by means of the differential pressure, it is determined as a further state of the base station 10 whether the intake tract of the base station 10 is clogged. If the intake tract of the base station 10 is clogged, the (determined) differential pressure to the surroundings/environment is zero or nearly zero and/or the differential pressure is less than 1 hPa.
In a particularly preferred method variant, the differential pressure is determined both during an extraction process and/or with cleaning device 20, 30 connected and/or with blower 50J activated and additionally before and/or after an extraction process and/or with cleaning device 20, 30 separated from the base station 10, but with blower 50J activated, in order to localize the clogging/blockage and/or assign it to the cleaning device 20, 30 or the base station 10.
In particular, it is possible that after identification of a clogging/blockage, the cleaning device 20, 30 is manually or automatically fluidically disconnected from the base station 10 and subsequently a new pressure measurement is carried out with the blower 50J activated. If the determined differential pressure is zero or nearly zero and/or the determined differential pressure is (still) less than 1 hPa, a clogging/blockage is present in the base station 10. However, if the determined differential pressure is increased compared to the differential pressure with the cleaning device 20, 30 connected and/or if the determined differential pressure is more than 1 hPa, a clogging/blockage is present in the cleaning device 20, 30.
Additionally or alternatively, it can be determined or detected by means of the differential pressure as a further state/fault of the base station 10 whether the outlet filter 50K is not inserted or not inserted correctly.
If the outlet filter 50K is not inserted or not inserted correctly, only a reduced pressure, in particular static and/or dynamic pressure, and thus a reduced differential pressure can be generated compared to the fault-free state due to the lower flow resistance.
It is also possible to determine by means of the differential pressure as a further state/fault of the base station 10 whether the collection filter 50H is not or not correctly inserted in the container 50G, whether the container 50G or the flap 10D is not or not completely closed and/or whether the cleaning device 20, 30 is not or not correctly connected.
If the collection filter 50H is not or not correctly inserted into the container 50G, the flap 10D is not or not completely closed and/or the cleaning device 20, 30 is not or not correctly connected, a lower flow resistance has to be overcome compared to the fault-free state due to the air flowing past and/or the additional air flowing in, so that an increased pressure, in particular static and/or dynamic pressure, and thus an increased differential pressure is generated by means of the blower 50J (with constant blower power) compared to the fault-free state.
If the (determined) differential pressure is greater than 8 hPa and/or the (determined) differential pressure is in the range between 8 hPa and 10 hPa, the collection filter 50H is not or not correctly inserted, the flap 10D is not or not completely closed and/or the cleaning device 20, 30 is not or not correctly connected.
By means of the proposed method, it is thus possible, with only one pressure sensor 10M and/or only one differential pressure measurement, not only to determine the filling level of the container 50G and/or of the collection filter 50H, but also to reliably identify further states/conditions/faults/errors/malfunctions of the base station 10.
Preferably, the extraction process is automatically interrupted depending on the determined state, in particular upon identification of a state/condition/fault, preferably in a further method step/process A12.
The identified state/condition/fault and/or the interruption of the extraction process is preferably communicated or indicated to a user, in particular by means of a corresponding output/message U5.
Individual aspects, features, method steps and method variants of the present technology can be implemented independently, but also in any combination and/or sequence.
In particular, the present technology relates also to any one of the following aspects which can be realized independently or in any combination, also in combination with any aspects described herein.
1. Method of operating a base station 10 for a cleaning device 20, 30,
wherein the base station 10 is adapted to suck vacuumed material from the cleaning device 20, 30 into a container 50G of the base station 10 during an extraction process, and
wherein the differential pressure to the surroundings downstream to the container 50G is determined by means of a pressure sensor 10M of the base station 10 to determine the filling level of the container 50G,
characterized
in that the filling level of the container 50G as a state of the base station 10 and additionally a further state of the base station 10 are determined exclusively by means of the differential pressure, and/or
in that when a predefined filling level is reached, the maximum number of extraction processes still possible without emptying the container 50G is limited.
2. Method according to aspect 1, characterized in that the absolute pressure downstream to the container 50G is measured by means of the pressure sensor 10M before and during the extraction process to determine the differential pressure to the surroundings, or in that the differential pressure to the surroundings is measured directly by means of the pressure sensor 10M.
3. Method according to aspect 1 or 2, characterized in that the differential pressure is compared with a limit value to determine the filling level of the container 50G and/or the further state of the base station 10.
4. Method according to one of the preceding aspects, characterized in that exclusively by means of the pressure sensor 10M and/or the differential pressure it is determined as a further state of the base station 10 whether an intake tract of the base station 10 is clogged.
5. Method according to one of the preceding aspects, characterized in that during an extraction process and/or with connected cleaning device 20, 30 and additionally before or after an extraction process and/or without connected cleaning device 20, 30, the differential pressure is determined by means of the pressure sensor 10M in order to locate a blockage.
6. Method according to one of the preceding aspects, characterized in that exclusively by means of the pressure sensor 10M and/or the differential pressure it is determined as a further state of the base station 10 whether an outlet filter 50K downstream of the pressure sensor 10M is not or not correctly inserted.
7. Method according to one of the preceding aspects, characterized in that exclusively by means of the pressure sensor 10M and/or the differential pressure it is determined as a further state of the base station 10 whether a collection filter 50H is not or not correctly inserted in the container 50G and/or whether the container 50G is not closed.
8. Method according to one of the preceding aspects, characterized in that exclusively by means of the pressure sensor 10M and/or the differential pressure it is determined as a further state of the base station 10 whether the cleaning device 20, 30 is not or not correctly connected to the base station 10.
9. Method according to one of the preceding aspects, characterized in that the extraction process is automatically interrupted and/or the operation of the base station 10 is automatically blocked depending on the determined state, in particular upon identification of a state of the base station 10.
10. Method according to one of the preceding aspects, characterized in that the operation of the base station 10 is automatically blocked when the maximum number of extraction processes with the container 50G in the predefined filling level without emptying the container 50G is reached.
11. Method according to one of the preceding aspects, characterized in that a user is notified of the identified state and/or the reaching of the predefined filling level.
12. Method according to one of the preceding aspects, characterized in that, depending on the determined state, in particular upon identification of a state of the base station 10 and/or upon reaching the maximum number of extraction processes with the container 50G in the predefined filling level, a new extraction process is performed only by a user input.
13. Method according to aspect 12, characterized in that after the user input it is checked by means of the pressure sensor 10M whether the container 50G has been emptied.
14. Method according to aspect 13, characterized in that the operation of the base station 10 is automatically blocked again if the container 50G has not been emptied.
15. Method according to aspect 13 or 14, characterized in that the extraction process is carried out completely when the container 50G has been emptied.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 192 054.1 | Aug 2021 | EP | regional |
