Accessory for a cleaning device, suction wiper and method for wet cleaning a surface

Abstract

In order to improve wet cleaning by a cleaning device, in particular to improve the determination of the moisture of a cleaning element used for wet cleaning while using little outlay in terms of circuit technology, the invention proposes an accessory (2) for a cleaning device (60), a suction wiper and a method for wet cleaning a surface (58). The accessory (2) has a housing (4), a carrier element (6) for accommodating a cleaning element (8) provided for wet cleaning and two sensor electrodes (16, 18) arranged on the carrier element (6), wherein the sensor electrodes (16, 18) are configured to generate an electrical signal dependent on the moisture content in the cleaning element (8), wherein a drive device (30) is provided for moving the carrier element (6) relative to the housing (4), wherein the sensor electrodes (16, 18) are capacitively coupled with two receiving electrodes (24, 26) arranged on the housing (4) and wherein a sensor (42) is provided for determining the position of the carrier element (6) relative to the housing (4).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an accessory for a cleaning device, the accessory having a housing, a carrier element for housing a cleaning element for wet cleaning, and two sensor electrodes arranged on the carrier element, wherein the sensor electrodes are configured to generate an electrical signal depending on the moisture content in the cleaning element, and wherein a drive mechanism is provided for moving the carrier element relative to the housing. The invention also relates to a suction wiper and a method for wet cleaning surfaces. Background Technology

[0002] The attachments described at the beginning are typically used for wet cleaning of floors. Generally, the attachment housing has a connection device for attaching to cleaning equipment. This can be an autonomous, self-propelled, or manually guided cleaning device. In addition to wet cleaning, the cleaning equipment can also be configured as a vacuum cleaner. In this way, a combination vacuum and wiper can be used to vacuum and wet clean the floor.

[0003] For wet cleaning, cleaning elements, such as microfiber cloths or mops, are typically wetted periodically to ensure adequate cleaning performance throughout the process. A liquid source, such as a water tank, is usually provided on the cleaning equipment for wetting. A certain amount of liquid is automatically delivered from the liquid source to the cleaning element at regular time intervals. During wet cleaning, depending on the nature of the floor being cleaned and the force applied to the cleaning element, especially when the equipment is manually guided, the cleaning element loses liquid. Therefore, subsequent wetting at regular time intervals can easily lead to the cleaning element becoming too wet or too dry, thus failing to guarantee proper cleaning performance throughout the process. For sensitive floor coverings, such as parquet, an overly wet cleaning element can damage the floor covering. In cleaning equipment without a liquid source and without automatic wetting of the cleaning element, it is usually wetted manually, for example, by immersing the cleaning element in a container filled with liquid, such as a bucket. Even when manually wetting the cleaning element, it is difficult to select the correct time for subsequent wetting and ensure a constant humidity level within the cleaning element.

[0004] To ensure a constant humidity level within the cleaning element, it is necessary to detect the humidity at uniform intervals. It is known in the prior art that humidity is detected by means of sensors, and the cleaning element is moistened according to the detected humidity.

[0005] The robotic suction wiper disclosed in EP 2 762 051 A2 uses a capacitive sensor to detect the moisture content of the cleaning element. The capacitive sensor is integrated into the housing of the robotic wiper.

[0006] An accessory is known from DE 10 2018 128 687. This accessory has a housing with a receiving area for accommodating a cleaning element, which has a capacitive sensor for detecting the moisture content of the cleaning element attached to a base plate that moves relative to the housing. The capacitive sensor is arranged in the receiving area of ​​the base and is connected to the accessory's electronics via a radio or communication connection.

[0007] The sensitivity of a sensor is crucial for reliably detecting the moisture content of a cleaning element. The sensitivity of a capacitive sensor typically depends on its mounting location. Besides optimal humidity, the cleaning process can be improved by moving the cleaning element relative to the attachment. However, the movement of the cleaning element relative to the attachment makes the installation and operation of the sensor and associated electronics more difficult. If the sensor is mounted directly on the cleaning element, the cable routing connection is complicated and, in some cases, impossible due to the relative movement of the cleaning element. Radio technology solutions for signal transmission and power supply become complex and costly. If the sensor is mounted on the attachment itself but at a distance from the cleaning element, for example, through additional material placed between the sensor and the cleaning element, the sensor's sensitivity decreases. Typically, the distance between the sensor and the cleaning element is determined by the thickness of the base plate on which the cleaning element is attached and the air gap between the base plate and the attachment. Summary of the Invention

[0008] Therefore, the present invention is based on improving wet cleaning performed by cleaning equipment, and in particular improving the technical problem of determining the humidity of cleaning elements used for wet cleaning while using very little circuitry.

[0009] According to the first teaching, this objective is achieved by means of the appendix described at the beginning, by capacitively coupling sensor electrodes to two receiving electrodes arranged on the housing and providing a sensor for determining the position of the carrier element relative to the housing.

[0010] Within the scope of this invention, it is recognized that the use of capacitive coupling between the sensor electrode and two receiving electrodes arranged on the housing enables the determination of the humidity of the cleaning element in a technically simple manner and method.

[0011] By incorporating a sensor to determine the position of the carrier element relative to the housing, the influence of the relative position of the carrier element to the housing on capacitive coupling is taken into account, particularly in a time-dependent manner. The position of the carrier element relative to the housing significantly affects the capacitive coupling between the sensor electrodes on the carrier element and the receiving electrodes on the housing, as the capacitance of a capacitor typically depends on the relative arrangement of the capacitor plates. Therefore, a sensor for determining the position of the carrier element can improve the determination of the humidity of the cleaning element. Consequently, the cleaning element can be subsequently wetted more reliably and thus more specifically, and wet cleaning can be designed more effectively.

[0012] Furthermore, the capacitive coupling design between the sensor and the accessory electronic device enables wireless connectivity of the sensor, thereby reducing the complexity of the circuit technology.

[0013] Overall, the effectiveness of the cleaning process is improved by more reliably determining the moisture content of cleaning elements used in wet cleaning processes through the appendix of the present invention.

[0014] Within the scope of this invention, two sensor electrodes disposed on a carrier element, configured to generate an electrical signal based on the moisture content in the cleaning element, form the two electrodes of a capacitive sensor and constitute a capacitor. Generally, the capacitance of a capacitor is determined by the electric field between its two electrodes; in this case, it is the electric field between the sensor electrodes of the capacitive sensor. The functional principle of the capacitive sensor is based on the fact that when the electric field between the two sensor electrodes changes, the capacitance changes. The electric field can depend on various factors, such as the insulating material between the sensor electrodes and the properties of the dielectric. For example, if a certain volume of air is used as the dielectric between the sensor electrodes, changes in air humidity will cause a change in the capacitance of the capacitive sensor. This change in capacitance can be measured in various ways. For example, if the capacitive sensor constitutes part of a resonant circuit, a change in capacitance will cause a change in the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit.

[0015] Two sensor electrodes arranged on the carrier element are preferably in a plane, and the moisture content of the cleaning cloth affects at least a portion of the electric field between the sensor electrodes. Changes in the moisture content of the cleaning cloth cause changes in the capacitance of the capacitive sensor, thus generating an electrical signal based on the moisture content in the cleaning element. Through capacitive coupling between the sensor electrodes and a receiving electrode arranged on the housing, the signal can be transmitted to the electronic device within the housing in a technically simple manner, where it can be further analyzed. The capacitive coupling between the receiving electrode and the sensor electrodes is based on the principle of capacitors in a similar manner.

[0016] The sensor electrodes are preferably configured to apply a high-frequency AC voltage of a specific predetermined frequency and generate a signal with a frequency dependent on the capacitance value of the capacitive sensor. The frequency generated by the sensor electrodes, and therefore the sensitivity of the capacitive sensor, depends not only on the moisture content of the immediate environment of the sensor electrodes, particularly the moisture content of the portion of the cleaning element protruding into the electric field between the sensor electrodes, but also on the material and thickness of the cleaning element. For example, sensitivity can depend on the type of fabric used in the cleaning element, such as whether it is a fine-mesh or coarse-mesh cleaning cloth. The shape of the sensor electrodes and their relative arrangement can also affect the sensitivity of the capacitive sensor.

[0017] Within the scope of this invention, moisture content is particularly understood as the content of liquid or vapor. For example, moisture content can be the content of water or water vapor. Furthermore, water mixtures, especially mixtures of water and detergents, as well as other chemical solutions or waxes suitable for floor cleaning, can also be used as liquids.

[0018] Elements made of natural or synthetic fabrics, materials, sponges or foams can be used as cleaning elements, wherein the cleaning elements are preferably suitable for cleaning and / or caring for surfaces and are capable of absorbing moisture.

[0019] The capacitive coupling between the sensor electrode according to the invention and the receiving electrode of the accessory housing enables wireless operation of the capacitive sensor on the moving part of the accessory. Therefore, radio technology is not required to transmit signals from the sensor electrode to the electronic equipment arranged on the accessory housing. Consequently, the material cost of the accessory design according to the invention can be significantly reduced compared to the material cost of wireless solutions utilizing electronic circuitry technology for radio-based signal and power transmission.

[0020] By providing a drive mechanism for moving the carrier element, the carrier element can be moved relative to the housing. In this way, surfaces to be cleaned, such as floors, can be cleaned more effectively during wet wiping. Liquid, especially cleaning fluid, delivered to the floor via the cleaning element is evenly distributed on the floor by the movement of the carrier element. The position of the carrier element relative to the housing can be determined, especially over time, by means of sensors mounted on the housing, and thus the movement of the carrier element relative to the housing can be tracked. This makes it possible to consider the effect of the carrier element's movement on capacitive coupling, and thus on the determination of moisture content.

[0021] The sensor used to determine the position of the supporting element relative to the housing is preferably designed as a Hall sensor. Alternatively, the sensor can be based on other methods used for position determination; for example, the sensor can be designed as an optical sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or an infrared sensor.

[0022] Furthermore, the simple and robust construction of the accessory design according to the invention is advantageous in terms of the forces acting on the load-bearing element during acceleration. A simple and robust structure is generally resistant to wear during use. In particular, the simple structure is made possible by the capacitive coupling of the sensor electrodes and the resulting cable-based connection that eliminates the need for a separate electronic device from the sensor to the accessory.

[0023] If the carrier element is designed as a cylindrical roller, the drive unit can also cause the brush roller to rotate. The motion of the carrier element relative to the housing can be determined based on the rotation angle of the roller.

[0024] By determining the position of the load-bearing element relative to the housing, especially over time, changes in the velocity of the load-bearing element relative to the housing can also be detected. If the relative velocity of the load-bearing element changes while the drive power of the drive unit remains constant, this may indicate an increase in static friction between the floor and the load-bearing element.

[0025] It can also detect the cessation of the load-bearing element, for example, if the movement of the load-bearing element is blocked by an obstacle on the floor. If a stop is detected, further measures can be initiated, such as stopping the drive unit. For example, when the movement of the load-bearing element is stopped, overheating of the drive unit can be avoided, thereby minimizing safety risks.

[0026] For the accessory, it can be specified that the carrier element with the cleaning element is at least temporarily fixed relative to the accessory's housing or can be locked. In this way, the cleaning process can be performed without operating the drive unit, and the accessory can be operated in a power-saving manner.

[0027] According to the second teaching, the above objective is achieved by a suction wiper for wet cleaning of a surface, having a vacuum cleaner and the attachment described at the beginning, wherein the attachment is configured for connection with the vacuum cleaner.

[0028] By using a suction wiper with a vacuum cleaner and the accessories described at the beginning, floors can be cleaned more effectively because it can both vacuum and effectively wet-clean the floor. The capacitive coupling between the capacitive sensor and the accessory's housing improves the overall mobility of the accessory's movable parts, eliminating the need for complex radio technology or cable wiring that restricts mobility. Therefore, not only is the wet cleaning process itself improved, but the increased mobility also improves the vacuuming process using the suction wiper according to the invention.

[0029] Furthermore, the capacitive coupling between the capacitive sensor and the housing allows for more flexible design of the carrier element, as there is no need to provide a component for connecting the capacitive sensor to the housing.

[0030] By incorporating a sensor for determining the position of the carrier element relative to the housing of the accessory, the position of the carrier element relative to the vacuum cleaner of the suction wiper can also be determined, at least indirectly. Therefore, even when vacuuming using the suction wiper according to the invention, the movement of the carrier element relative to the housing of the accessory and relative to the vacuum cleaner can be taken into account, and vacuuming can be performed more efficiently.

[0031] For vacuum cleaners, it can be specified that an attachment with a carrying element containing a cleaning element, which is at least temporarily fixed or lockable relative to the housing, can move relative to the vacuum cleaner. This allows for vacuuming without operating the attachment's drive mechanism, in addition to wet cleaning, and enables energy-efficient operation of the vacuum cleaner.

[0032] According to the third teaching, the above-mentioned objective is achieved by a method for wet cleaning a surface, wherein a cleaning element is fixed to a carrier element and wherein the carrier element is arranged in a housing, wherein the surface is wet cleaned by the cleaning element, wherein the carrier element moves relative to the housing during wet cleaning, wherein the position of the carrier element relative to the housing is determined, wherein two sensor electrodes arranged on the carrier element generate an electrical signal based on the moisture content of the cleaning element, and wherein the generated electrical signal is transmitted via capacitive coupling to two receiving electrodes arranged on the housing.

[0033] In this way, wet cleaning of surfaces can be implemented in a technically simple manner, because the signal generated based on the moisture content of the cleaning element is transmitted to the housing via capacitive coupling, and complex radio transmission is not required. Furthermore, by improving the detection and transmission of moisture content, the wet cleaning of surfaces can be improved.

[0034] Furthermore, the method according to the invention enables efficient wet wiping of surfaces to be cleaned, such as floors, through the movement of the carrier element relative to the housing during wet cleaning. Consequently, the liquid transferred to the floor by the cleaning element can be evenly distributed on the floor. Additionally, the removal of dirt adhering to the surface to be cleaned can be simplified.

[0035] Furthermore, determining the position of the carrier element relative to the housing allows for taking into account the movement of the carrier element when transmitting the signal generated by the sensor electrodes based on the moisture content of the cleaning element to the receiving electrodes of the housing. This achieves more reliable signal transmission and thus improves wet cleaning. In particular, the position of the carrier element relative to the housing can be determined based on time. This position is preferably determined using a Hall sensor.

[0036] In this way, changes in the movement of the cleaning element can be detected. For example, if a slowdown in the movement of the supporting element is detected while the power of the drive mechanism causing the movement remains constant, this indicates an increase in static friction between the supporting element and the floor. For instance, at the location where a slowdown in movement is detected on the floor, the increase in static friction may be caused by sticky dirt. Therefore, this area of ​​the floor covered with sticky dirt can be cleaned particularly intensely, that is, cleaned over a longer period of time or at an increased speed of movement.

[0037] Furthermore, during this method, active electronic components, wireless power supply, and the resulting circuitry complexity can be avoided on the carrier element that moves relative to the housing.

[0038] The following describes different embodiments of the attachments, suction wipers, and methods, each of which applies to the attachments, suction wipers, and methods. Furthermore, these embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0039] In the first embodiment of the appendix, two coupling electrodes are provided on the side of the carrier element away from the sensor electrode, wherein one of the coupling electrodes is capacitively coupled to one of the receiving electrodes and is electrically connected to one of the sensor electrodes.

[0040] In this way, the capacitive coupling between the capacitive sensor and the receiving electrode of the accessory can be improved, thereby reducing potential interference to the signal generated by the capacitive sensor and transmitted to the accessory electronic device, and improving the sensitivity of the capacitive sensor. The signal generated by the capacitive sensor can be transmitted from the sensor electrode to the conductively connected coupling electrode. Preferably, one of the coupling electrodes is capacitively coupled to one of the receiving electrodes, thereby forming a capacitor with one of the receiving electrodes. This preferably achieves a series connection of three capacitors: a capacitor formed by one of the receiving electrodes and one of the coupling electrodes, a capacitor formed by the two sensor electrodes, and a capacitor formed by the other of the receiving electrodes and the other of the coupling electrodes. In this case, the capacitance value of the middle capacitor of the three series-connected capacitors, i.e., the capacitance value of the capacitor formed by the two sensor electrodes, is affected by the moisture content of the cleaning element attached to the carrier element.

[0041] By incorporating coupling electrodes, the sensitivity of capacitive sensors is significantly increased. Furthermore, the sensor electrodes of capacitive sensors can be directly mounted on clean components.

[0042] In addition to the electrodes already mentioned, additional electrodes can be provided, such as additional sensor electrodes, additional coupling electrodes, and / or additional receiving electrodes. For example, the number of sensor electrodes, coupling electrodes, and receiving electrodes can be doubled, so that the series connection of the additional three capacitors can be used for signal transmission of the signal generated by the capacitive sensor based on the moisture content of the cleaning element. The redundant series connection of the additional capacitors improves the reliability and accuracy of the humidity measurement of the cleaning element.

[0043] Alternatively, one can simply increase the number of sensor electrodes, coupling electrodes, or receiving electrodes. If a large number of measurements are available, an average measurement can be determined from them, thereby improving measurement accuracy.

[0044] Alternatively, additional electrodes, such as additional sensor electrodes, can be placed at a spatially different location on the cleaning element away from the existing sensor electrodes, and additional coupling electrodes and / or receiving electrodes can be provided for capacitively coupling the capacitive sensor to the accessory housing. In this way, the moisture content at different locations on the cleaning element can be determined, thereby improving the spatial resolution of moisture measurement on the cleaning element. Therefore, the moisture content of the cleaning element can be determined more reliably, especially when using large-area cleaning elements.

[0045] The carrier element can preferably be designed as a plate. Furthermore, the sensor electrodes can be disposed on the lower side of the carrier element, i.e., the side facing the floor to be cleaned, where the cleaning element is also disposed, and the coupling electrodes can be disposed on the upper side of the carrier element, i.e., the side facing the attachment. Alternatively, the coupling electrodes can also be disposed on the side of the carrier element.

[0046] The carrier element can also be designed as a roller, and the cleaning element can be arranged on the circumferential side of the roller. Sensor electrodes can be arranged at both ends of the roller, preferably between the cleaning element and the main body of the roller, such that the electric field between the two sensor electrodes is at least partially affected by the moisture in the cleaning element.

[0047] Overall, by setting a coupling electrode on the side of the carrier element away from the sensor electrode in addition to the sensor electrode, the design of the carrier element can be more flexible, especially the movement of the carrier element relative to the housing.

[0048] In another embodiment of the annex, the sensor electrodes are in direct contact with the cleaning element.

[0049] In this way, the sensitivity of the cleaning element can be significantly improved because the sensor electrode can move with the cleaning element, thus ensuring a constant distance between the sensor electrode and the cleaning element. Besides the moisture content of the cleaning element, the capacitance value of a capacitive sensor is typically affected by the characteristics of other objects in the electric field between the sensor electrodes. For example, if an air gap or part of a carrier element exists in the electric field between the sensor electrodes, the moisture content of the air in the air gap, as well as the thickness and properties of the carrier element material, will affect the capacitance value. As the thickness of the carrier element and the size of the air gap increase, the electrical signal generated by the capacitive sensor, which depends on the moisture content of the cleaning element, becomes weaker. If the sensor electrode is in direct contact with the cleaning element, preferably without an air gap between them, the effect of the moisture content of the cleaning element on the capacitance value increases significantly compared to interference caused by, for example, the presence of an air gap or a portion of the carrier element protruding into the electric field of the sensor electrode.

[0050] In another embodiment of the annex, a control unit is provided and the control unit is configured to determine the humidity of the cleaning element based on the signal generated by the sensor electrodes.

[0051] By determining the humidity of the cleaning element, information about the cleaning process performed by the element can be obtained without the user needing to manually control the humidity. For example, the user can be informed of the cleaning element's humidity level. This information can be displayed to the user.

[0052] The humidity of the cleaning element can be determined, for example, based on the cleaning element used, such as its thickness or material properties. Information about the amount of liquid transferred to the floor during the cleaning process can also be obtained from the determined humidity.

[0053] By configuring a control unit, measures can be automatically triggered when a change in the movement of the load-bearing element is detected, such as when the drive unit stops or when an unplanned change in the movement of the load-bearing element occurs, without user intervention. For example, the drive unit can be stopped. The power of the drive unit can also be increased to maintain a constant speed of movement of the load-bearing element, for example, on a particularly dirty or sticky floor.

[0054] Additionally or alternatively, unplanned changes in the movement of the carrier element can be communicated to the user. Typically, it can be configured to notify the user of the movement of the carrier element detected by sensors, for example, by displaying information about the speed of movement of the carrier element via a display or other means.

[0055] In another embodiment of the annex, a wetting device with a liquid source and a controllable valve is provided for wetting the cleaning element, and a control unit is configured to adjust the wetting of the cleaning element by the wetting device according to the humidity.

[0056] This method triggers automatic wetting of the cleaning element, eliminating the need for manual intervention by the user. The accessory can continue operating without interrupting the cleaning process for subsequent wetting. For example, the determined humidity can be compared to a reference value, and the valve used to wet the cleaning element can be controlled accordingly. For instance, if the determined humidity is below the reference value, the valve is preferably opened to subsequently wet the cleaning element. Conversely, if the determined humidity exceeds the reference value, the valve is preferably kept closed, and the cleaning element is not subsequently wetted. Even when the determined humidity is very low compared to the reference value, the valve can be opened for a longer period and / or a larger liquid flow rate can be achieved compared to when the determined humidity is only slightly below the reference value.

[0057] In a corresponding embodiment of the method, the humidity of the cleaning element is determined by an electrical signal, the humidity is compared with a reference value, and the cleaning element is subsequently wetted based on the comparison result.

[0058] This allows for targeted adjustment of the amount of liquid delivered to the cleaning element. In this way, the cleaning process can be performed automatically through the subsequent wetting of the cleaning element, eliminating the need for manual wetting by the user.

[0059] Alternatively, the user may be informed of the comparison between the determined humidity and a reference value, for example, via a display or another signal such as an audio signal. For instance, the user may be notified that the humidity is too low. In this way, the user can continue the cleaning process until the humidity of the cleaning element drops below a certain level.

[0060] In particular, it allows for continuous subsequent wetting of the cleaning element, for example, by persistently and slightly opening the valve. If a specific reference value for humidity is exceeded, the control unit can close the valve.

[0061] The reference value can be set by the user through the control unit. It can also be retrieved from external memory, for example, via wireless communication. The reference value can also be retrieved by the control unit from other devices, such as mobile phones or computers, or from an external server. For retrieving external information, wireless communication, such as WLAN or Bluetooth connections, is preferred.

[0062] In another preferred embodiment of the appendix, a memory can be provided. For example, the memory can have different reference values ​​for different floor coverings. In this way, humidity can be selectively chosen for specific floor coverings, thereby preventing damage to sensitive floor coverings, for example, from being cleaned using cleaning elements with excessively high humidity. Different reference values ​​can also be set for different types of cleaning elements. For example, reference values ​​can be set for mops and microfiber cloths. Different reference values ​​can also be set for cleaning elements with different material thicknesses.

[0063] In corresponding embodiments of the suction wiper, a memory is provided on the attachment. The memory or an additional memory can also be provided on the vacuum cleaner itself. Typically, a control unit can also be provided on the vacuum cleaner. If the control unit is provided on the vacuum cleaner, the attachment's construction can be made more compact.

[0064] A wetting device with a liquid source can be installed on the accessory. Furthermore, a cleaning agent source, containing, for example, a high concentration of cleaning agent, can be installed on the wetting device. If a cleaning agent source is installed, a flow connection can be provided to a flow connection that connects the liquid source to the cleaning element. Thus, a certain amount of cleaning agent can be delivered to the cleaning element, for example, based on humidity and controlled by a control unit. This allows control over the concentration of cleaning agent in the cleaning element. For example, if the floor to be cleaned contains particularly stubborn dirt or a specific type of dirt, the user can specify a higher concentration of cleaning agent in the cleaning element.

[0065] If a slowdown in the movement of the load-bearing element is detected while the power of the drive unit remains constant, a stronger follow-up wetting of the cleaning element can be initiated, for example, by the control unit, and / or an increase in the amount of cleaning agent added from the cleaning agent source. This allows for more effective cleaning of particularly dirty areas on the floor.

[0066] In a corresponding embodiment of the suction wiper, a wetting device with a liquid source is provided on the attachment. The wetting device may also have an additional cleaning agent source. Alternatively, a wetting device with a liquid source can be provided on the vacuum cleaner itself. This allows for a more compact design of the attachment. Furthermore, a cleaning agent source can also be provided on the vacuum cleaner.

[0067] In another embodiment of the annex, the control unit is configured to determine a signal in a specific spatial position of the carrying element relative to the housing.

[0068] This method allows for more reliable determination of the moisture content of the cleaning element. Besides the medium penetrated by the electric field between the electrodes, the shape of the electrodes and their relative positions to each other also typically affect the capacitance value of the capacitor formed by the electrodes. If the signal is determined in a specific spatial position of the carrier element relative to the housing, the effect of the relative displacement of the electrodes on the capacitive coupling from the electrodes of the carrier element to the electrodes of the accessory can be minimized. For example, the effect of changes in the relative position of the sensor electrodes relative to the receiving electrodes on capacitive coupling can be minimized.

[0069] For example, by incorporating a coupling electrode, the effect of changes in the relative position of the coupling electrode to the receiving electrode on capacitive coupling can be minimized. Overall, the sensitivity and measurement accuracy of capacitive sensors can be improved in this way.

[0070] In a corresponding embodiment of the method, the humidity of the cleaning element is determined at a specific position of the carrying element relative to the housing.

[0071] In this way, the moisture content of the cleaning element can be determined independently of its movement. The effects of the relative movement of the carrier element with respect to the accessory's housing can be minimized, and therefore the influence of the electrodes involved in the capacitive coupling between the accessory and the housing on the determination of humidity can be minimized.

[0072] In another embodiment of the annex, the control unit is configured to adjust such that the cleaning element is wetted by a wetting device at at least one specific position of the carrying element relative to the housing.

[0073] By wetting the cleaning element at specific locations or several specific locations on the carrying element, the wetting of the cleaning element and the wet cleaning of the floor can be made more uniform.

[0074] In a corresponding embodiment of the method, the cleaning element is subsequently wetted at at least one specific location of the carrier element relative to the housing.

[0075] It can also be specified that cleaning agent is added from the cleaning agent source or that the amount added is increased at specific locations on the carrier element. This allows for a more uniform distribution of the cleaning agent within the cleaning element.

[0076] In another embodiment of the method, time and the position of the carrying element relative to the housing are assigned to a determined humidity, and the determined humidity, the time, and the position are stored in a memory.

[0077] In this way, changes in humidity over time can be tracked. This also allows for the detection of changes in the movement of the carrier element relative to the housing over time in relation to a given humidity level. Based on the development of humidity over time, for example, changes in the hygroscopicity of the cleaning element and the release of moisture from the cleaning element to the floor being cleaned can be detected. For example, if the humidity drops faster than in previous cleaning processes, this may indicate wear and tear on the cleaning element. For instance, the material of the cleaning element wears down with each cleaning cycle. The cleaning cloth used as the cleaning element becomes thinner after frequent use, thus losing liquid more quickly. A reduction in the material thickness of the cleaning element negatively impacts the sensor's sensitivity because, in this case, the cleaning element has less influence on the electric field between the sensor electrodes.

[0078] In particular, this method can be used to determine the wear of cleaning components, so as to notify the user that the cleaning components need to be replaced. For example, the control unit can provide information about the status of the cleaning components through a display device. Typically, subsequent wetting of the cleaning components can also be matched to the condition of the cleaning components.

[0079] For example, the frequency of subsequent wetting can be increased. The display device can also serve as an input device, allowing the user to control the control unit; for instance, the user can specify a reference value through the input device.

[0080] Preferably, a memory is included in the accessories to store the determined humidity, time, and location. Alternatively, the memory can be located on the vacuum cleaner itself, or it can be an external memory, such as an external server. Typically, the memory used to store the determined humidity, time, and location can be the same memory, which stores humidity reference values ​​for different floor coverings. In addition to reference values ​​for floor coverings, different reference values ​​for different cleaning elements can also be stored in the memory.

[0081] Furthermore, by mapping the determined positions of the support elements to different times, the evolution of motion over time and the resulting changes in motion can be stored in memory. Different speeds can also be determined for different floor coverings, and these mappings can be stored in memory. For example, a user can select a floor covering via an input device or an external device through communication with the control unit. Then, based on the selected floor covering, the control unit can set reference values ​​for the movement speed of the support element and the humidity in the cleaning element corresponding to that floor covering.

[0082] In another embodiment of the annex, the drive unit is designed as an eccentric drive.

[0083] By using a drive mechanism in the form of an eccentric actuator, the carrier element can perform eccentric movement relative to the housing. It has been found that, in this way, wet wiping of the floor can be designed particularly effectively, and the liquid delivered to the floor by the cleaning element is distributed particularly evenly on the floor.

[0084] By using sensors mounted on the housing, the position of the carrier element relative to the housing can be determined, especially over time, and thus the eccentric movement of the carrier element relative to the housing can be tracked. By taking into account the effect of the eccentric movement of the carrier element on capacitive coupling, the moisture content can be determined.

[0085] The cleaning element preferably moves in an eccentric motion along a closed curved path. If the signal is determined in a specific spatial position of the carrying element relative to the housing, the signal can be determined at a specific point on the closed curved path of the cleaning element.

[0086] In a corresponding embodiment of the method, during wet cleaning, the carrier element moves eccentrically relative to the housing, wherein the position of the carrier element relative to the eccentric axis is determined and wherein the humidity of the cleaning element is determined at a specific position of the cleaning element relative to the motion axis, especially the eccentric axis.

[0087] Through eccentric motion, the liquid and cleaning agent delivered to the floor via the cleaning element during wet cleaning can be evenly distributed across the floor. Furthermore, it simplifies the removal of dirt adhering to the surface to be cleaned.

[0088] Determining the position of the carrier element relative to the eccentric shaft allows for taking into account the eccentric movement of the carrier element when transmitting the signal generated by the sensor electrode based on the moisture content of the cleaning element to the receiving electrode of the housing. In particular, the position of the carrier element relative to the eccentric shaft can be determined based on time.

[0089] This method allows for the detection of changes in the eccentric motion of the cleaning element. For example, if a slowdown in the movement of the supporting element is detected while the power of the drive mechanism causing the eccentric motion remains constant, this indicates an increase in static friction between the supporting element and the floor. For instance, at locations where a slowdown in eccentric motion is detected on the floor, the increase in static friction may be due to sticky dirt. Therefore, the area of ​​the floor covered with sticky dirt can be cleaned particularly intensely, that is, cleaned over a longer period of time or at an increased eccentric motion speed.

[0090] Furthermore, the moisture content of the cleaning element can be determined in this way, independent of the eccentric movement of the cleaning element. Attached Figure Description

[0091] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. In the drawings:

[0092] Figure 1 A first embodiment of an accessory for cleaning equipment is shown in a schematic side sectional view.

[0093] Figure 2 A first embodiment of an accessory for cleaning equipment is shown in a schematic bottom view.

[0094] Figure 3 An embodiment of a suction wiper for wet cleaning of surfaces is shown in a schematic side sectional view.

[0095] Figure 4 Examples of measurement signals generated by a capacitive sensor with and without capacitive coupling between the sensor electrodes and a receiving electrode disposed on the housing are shown.

[0096] Figure 5 An example of an accessory for a prior art cleaning device is shown in a schematic side sectional view. Detailed Implementation

[0097] In the following description of various embodiments of the invention, the same parts have the same reference numerals, even though the parts in the various embodiments may differ in size or shape.

[0098] Figure 5 An example of accessory 2 for a prior art cleaning device is shown. Accessory 2 has a housing 4 with a support element in the form of a base plate 6. The base plate 6 may be designed to be movable relative to the housing 4, for example, to be oscillating. Casters 12 are provided on the housing 4, by means of which accessory 2 can be moved on the floor. The housing 4 also has a connecting element 10 for connection with a cleaning device. A cleaning element in the form of a cleaning cloth 8 is fixed to the base plate 6. Furthermore, a capacitive sensor is provided on the housing 4 of accessory 2.

[0099] The capacitive sensor has a first sensor electrode 16 and a second sensor electrode 18. Sensor electrodes 16 and 18 are connected to a control unit 14 disposed on the housing 4 of accessory 2. Sensor electrodes 16 and 18 are not electrically connected to each other, and the capacitance value of the capacitive sensor is affected by the electric field existing between the sensor electrodes. The electric field is affected by the liquid content of the cleaning cloth 8. If a high-frequency AC voltage is applied to sensor electrodes 16 and 18, the sensor electrodes 16 and 18 generate a signal in response, the frequency of which depends on the object located within the electric field region, and particularly on the liquid content of the cleaning cloth 8.

[0100] Besides the cleaning cloth 8, other objects located in the electric field region, such as the base plate 6 and the air gap between the sensor electrodes 16, 18 and the base plate 6, also affect the capacitance value of the capacitive sensor. As the distance between the sensor electrodes 16, 18 and the cleaning cloth 8 increases, the sensitivity of the capacitive sensor decreases. The relative movement of the cleaning cloth 8 with respect to the sensor electrodes 16, 18, such as the oscillating motion of the base plate 6 during cleaning, also leads to a decrease in the sensitivity of the capacitive sensor.

[0101] Figure 1 A first embodiment of Annex 2 for a cleaning device according to the present invention is now shown in a schematic side sectional view. (As with the prior art...) Figure 5 In the example shown, Annex 2 has a housing 4 with a supporting element in the form of a base plate 6. A drive mechanism, in this case in the form of an eccentric actuator 30, is provided on the housing 4 for moving the base plate 6 relative to the housing 4. In particular, the base plate 6 can be driven relative to the housing 4 in the form of an eccentric movement about an eccentric shaft 32.

[0102] The housing 4 is provided with casters 12 for moving the attachment 2 on the floor. For example, the attachment 2 can be pushed on the floor by a user via the casters 12, or it can be driven by a separate drive device (not shown) in a self-propelled manner. The housing 4 also has a connecting element 10 for connecting to cleaning equipment. A cleaning element in the form of a cleaning cloth 8 is fixed to the base plate 6.

[0103] A control unit 14, comprising a memory 38, a microprocessor 40, and a communication device 36, is disposed on Annex 2. Execution of commands stored in the memory 38 causes control of the electrical components of Annex 2 connected to the control unit 14 on the microprocessor 40. The control unit 14 is also connected to a sensor 42 for determining the position of the base plate 6 relative to the housing 4. The sensor 42 is preferably designed as a Hall sensor and detects the movement of a magnet 44 arranged on the base plate 6.

[0104] A wetting device 46, comprising a liquid source 48 and a cleaning agent source 52, is provided within Annex 2. The cleaning cloth 8 can be wetted with liquid from the liquid source 48 via a flowable connector in the form of a supply line 54 connected to the wetting device 46 and by means of a controllable valve 50. Furthermore, cleaning agent from the cleaning agent source 52 can be added to the liquid. The valve 50, as well as the liquid source 48 and the cleaning agent source 52, can be controlled by the control unit 14 via the wetting device 46.

[0105] Two sensor electrodes 16 and 18 are disposed on the side of the base plate 6 facing the cleaning cloth 8. Sensor electrodes 16 and 18 are in direct contact with the cleaning cloth 8. One of the sensor electrodes 16 and 18 is electrically connected to one of two coupling electrodes 20 and 22 disposed on the side 28 of the base plate 6 opposite to the cleaning cloth 8. One of the two coupling electrodes 20 and 22 is capacitively coupled to one of two receiving electrodes 24 and 26, which are disposed on the side of the housing 4 of accessory 2 facing the base plate 6.

[0106] Receiving electrodes 24 and 26 are connected to control unit 14. In the current configuration, one of the two coupling electrodes 20 and 22 forms a capacitor with one of the two receiving electrodes 24 and 26, respectively. Together with the capacitor formed by the capacitive sensors (sensor electrodes 16 and 18), there are thus three capacitors connected in series. In the current configuration, the capacitance value of the capacitive sensors is affected by the electric field existing between sensor electrodes 16 and 18. This electric field is affected by the liquid content of the cleaning cloth 8.

[0107] If a high-frequency AC voltage 5 is applied to the sensor electrodes 16 and 18 via the control unit 14 in Annex 2, the sensor electrodes 16 and 18 generate a signal in response, the frequency of which depends on the liquid content of the cleaning cloth 8. Figure 5Compared to the arrangement of capacitive sensors, interference from other objects near sensor electrodes 16 and 18 is significantly reduced because there is direct contact between sensor electrodes 16 and 18 and cleaning cloth 8. Based on the change in the signal frequency generated by the capacitive sensor, control unit 14 can determine the humidity of cleaning cloth 8. Microprocessor 40 can compare the humidity with a reference value retrieved from memory 38. Based on the comparison, control unit 14 can trigger subsequent wetting of cleaning cloth 8 via wetting device 46. With the help of Hall sensor 42, the humidity of cleaning cloth 8 can be determined at a specific position of base plate 6 relative to housing 4, thereby improving the sensitivity of capacitive sensor.

[0108] Users can control the control unit 14 using the display and input devices on the handheld component (not shown) of the cleaning equipment. The control unit 14 can also be controlled via a communication device 36, such as a mobile phone. For example, users can specify different reference values ​​for the permissible humidity of different floor coverings and purposefully influence the amount of liquid from the liquid source 48 used for subsequent wetting, as well as the amount of cleaning agent supplied via the cleaning agent source 52.

[0109] Figure 2 A schematic bottom view is shown. Figure 1 The embodiment shown is of accessory 2 for cleaning equipment. Accessory 2 has a housing 4 with a support element in the form of a base plate 6 that is movable relative to the housing 4. Casters 12 are provided on the housing 4 for moving accessory 2 on the floor. The housing 4 also has a connecting element 10 for connecting to the cleaning equipment.

[0110] A receiving area 34 for the cleaning element 8 is provided on the side of the base plate 6 facing away from the housing 4. A capacitive sensor is arranged in the receiving area 34, having two sensor electrodes 16 and 18: a circular outer electrode 16 with an inner radius RA1 and an outer radius RA2, and a circular inner electrode with a radius RI arranged at the center of the outer electrode, where RI is less than RA1, thus creating a positive distance between the two circular sensor electrodes 16 and 18. In the design shown in Annex 2, the sensor electrodes 16 and 18 are in direct contact with the cleaning cloth (not shown).

[0111] The receiving area 34 also has a magnet 44. With the aid of the magnet 44, the position of the base plate 6 relative to the housing 4 can be determined by a Hall sensor (not shown) located on the housing 4 of the accessory 2.

[0112] Figure 3 A schematic side sectional view shows a vacuum cleaner 60 and such Figure 1 and Figure 2 An embodiment of the suction wiper for wet cleaning surface 58 shown in Annex 2.

[0113] Attachment 2 has a housing 4, a connecting element 10 for connection with a vacuum cleaner 60, and a supporting element in the form of a base plate 6 on which a cleaning element 8 is arranged. A capacitive sensor with sensor electrodes 16, 18 is arranged on the base plate 6. The capacitive sensor is capacitively coupled to Attachment 2 via coupling electrodes 20, 22 provided on a side 28 of the base plate 6 opposite to the sensor electrodes 16, 18, and receiving electrodes 24, 26 provided on the housing 4 of Attachment 2. A roller 12 is provided on Attachment 2 for moving Attachment 2 on the surface 58 to be cleaned.

[0114] A control unit 14 is disposed within the vacuum cleaner 60 and is configured to determine the humidity corresponding to the moisture content in the cleaning element 8 based on a signal generated by a capacitive sensor and transmitted via a communication connection 56. A wetting device 46, comprising a liquid source 48, a cleaning agent source 52, and a controllable valve 50, is also provided, and this wetting device is configured to be controlled by the control unit 14 based on the determined humidity. The cleaning element 8 can be subsequently wetting via the wetting device 46 through a flow-through connector 54.

[0115] Figure 4 An example of a measurement signal generated by a capacitive sensor is shown, with and without capacitive coupling between the sensor electrodes and the receiving electrodes 24, 26 disposed on the housing 4.

[0116] exist Figure 4 The graph shown illustrates the effect of capacitive sensors, such as..., during the cleaning process. Figure 1 As shown, in the case where sensor electrodes 16 and 18 are capacitively coupled to receiving electrodes 24 and 26 arranged on housing 4 via coupling electrodes 20 and 22, and for example as... Figure 5 The diagram shows the trend of sensor frequencies measured over time using sensor electrodes 16 and 18 attached to Annex 2 without capacitive coupling. In addition to the trends of the measured sensor frequencies 62 and 72, the trends of the average values ​​64 and 74 of the measured sensor frequencies 62 and 72 are also shown. At the start of the measurement, at time t = 0 seconds, the cleaning cloth 8 contained 60g of water. At the end of the measurement, at t = 120 seconds, the cleaning cloth 8 contained 30g of water.

[0117] During the cleaning process, the liquid content in the cleaning cloth 8 decreases from 60g to 30g. This reduction in water content causes a change in the capacitance value of the capacitive sensor, resulting in a change in the frequency of the signals 62 and 72 generated by the capacitive sensor. When the water content in the cleaning cloth 8 decreases from 60g to 30g due to the cleaning process, based on the absolute frequency 66 at t=0 seconds, the relative frequency change of the capacitive sensor, expressed as an average value 64, is 14% when the sensor electrodes are capacitively coupled via the coupling electrodes. In contrast, when the water content in the cleaning cloth 8 decreases from 60g to 30g due to the cleaning process, based on the absolute frequency 76 at t=0 seconds, the relative frequency change of the capacitive sensor without capacitive coupling, expressed as an average value 74, is only 1%. Through capacitive coupling of the capacitive sensor, especially by setting the coupling electrodes 20 and 22, the sensitivity of the capacitive sensor can therefore be significantly increased.

Claims

1. An accessory (2) for cleaning equipment, said accessory having - Shell (4), - A carrier element (6) for accommodating a cleaning element (8) for wet cleaning and - Two sensor electrodes (16, 18) are arranged on the carrier element (6). - The sensor electrodes (16, 18) are configured to generate electrical signals that depend on the moisture content in the cleaning element (8). - A drive unit (30) is provided for moving the load-bearing element (6) relative to the housing (4). Its features are, - The sensor electrodes (16, 18) are capacitively coupled to two receiving electrodes (24, 26) arranged on the housing (4) and - A sensor (42) is installed to determine the position of the bearing element (6) relative to the housing (4).

2. The appendix according to claim 1, Its features are, - Two coupling electrodes (20, 22) are provided on the side (28) of the carrier element (6) opposite to the sensor electrodes (16, 18). - wherein one of the coupling electrodes (20, 22) is capacitively coupled to one of the receiving electrodes (24, 26) and - wherein one of the coupling electrodes (20, 22) is electrically connected to one of the sensor electrodes (16, 18).

3. The appendix according to claim 1 or 2, Its features are, The sensor electrodes (16, 18) are in direct contact with the cleaning element (8).

4. The appendix according to claim 1, Its features are, - Set the control unit (14) and - The control unit (14) is configured to determine the humidity of the cleaning element (8) based on the signals generated by the sensor electrodes (16, 18).

5. The appendix according to claim 4, Its features are, - A wetting device (46) with a liquid source (48) and a controllable valve (50) is provided for wetting the cleaning element (8), and - The control unit (14) is configured to adjust the wetting of the cleaning element (8) by the wetting device (46) according to the humidity.

6. The appendix according to claim 4, Its features are, - The control unit (14) is configured to determine the signal in a specific spatial position of the carrier element (6) relative to the housing (4).

7. The appendix according to claim 1, Its features are, The drive unit (30) is designed as an eccentric drive.

8. A suction wiper for wet cleaning of surfaces (58), the suction wiper having - Vacuum cleaner (60), and - Annex (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, - The accessory (2) therein is constructed for connection with the vacuum cleaner (60).

9. A method for wet cleaning surfaces (58), - Wherein the cleaning element (8) is fixed to the carrier element (6) and wherein the carrier element (6) is arranged in the housing (4), - In the method, the surface (58) is wet-cleaned by the cleaning element (8). - In the method, the carrier element (6) moves relative to the housing (4) during wet cleaning. - In the method, the position of the bearing element (6) relative to the housing is determined. - In the method, two sensor electrodes (16, 18) arranged on the carrier element (6) generate an electrical signal based on the moisture content of the cleaning element (8), and - In the method, the generated electrical signal is transmitted via capacitive coupling to two receiving electrodes (24, 26) arranged on the housing (4).

10. The method according to claim 9, - In the method, the humidity of the cleaning element (8) is determined by the electrical signal. - In the method, the humidity is compared with a reference value, and - In the method, the cleaning element (8) is subsequently wetted according to the result of the comparison.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, - In the method, the humidity of the cleaning element (8) is determined at a specific position of the carrier element (6) relative to the housing (4).

12. The method according to claim 11, - In the method, time and the position of the bearing element (6) relative to the housing (4) are assigned to a defined humidity level, and - In the method, the determined humidity, the time, and the location are stored in a memory (38).

13. The method according to claim 11, - In the method, during wet cleaning, the carrier element (6) moves eccentrically relative to the housing (4). - In the method, the position of the bearing element (6) relative to the eccentric shaft (32) is determined, and - In the method, the humidity of the cleaning element (8) is determined at a specific position of the cleaning element (8) relative to the motion axis.

14. The method according to claim 13, - In the method, the humidity of the cleaning element (8) is determined at a specific position of the cleaning element (8) relative to the eccentric shaft (32).

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