Self-cleaning control method

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of ground cleaning equipment, in particular to a self-cleaning control method. The floor cleaning equipment aims at solving the problems that a rolling brush of existing floor cleaning equipment is poor in self-cleaning effect, and user experience is affected. In order to achieve the purpose, the self-cleaning control method is provided and used for the ground cleaning equipment, the ground cleaning equipment comprises a base and a machine body, when the machine body is placed on the base, a splash-proof space capable of storing cleaning liquid is formed between the base and the machine body, and a rolling brush on the machine body is located in the splash-proof space. The rolling brush is controlled to operate; a dirt suction step: controlling a dirt suction fan to operate, and controlling a rolling brush to operate; wherein in at least one cleaning step, at least part of the process of the rolling brush performs positive and negative switching operation or reverse operation. By the adoption of the technical scheme, the rolling brush operates to drive the cleaning liquid to flow, and therefore cleaning of the whole link such as the rolling brush, the upper cover, the dirt suction opening and the liquid inlet is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of floor cleaning equipment technology, and more specifically to a self-cleaning control method. Background Technology

[0002] As people's living standards continue to improve and automated products become more and more common, household floor scrubbers are appearing more and more frequently in people's lives. They play a positive role in reducing the burden of housework and keeping the environment clean. In order to ensure the normal use of floor scrubbers, the maintenance and cleaning issues after the use of floor scrubbers are also receiving more and more attention.

[0003] Existing floor scrubbers have self-cleaning functions, but these generally only clean the roller brush. During the self-cleaning process, the roller brush may splash wastewater onto structures such as the top cover, resulting in stains. In addition, wastewater may also leave stains at inlets such as the water inlet, liquid inlet, and suction port, which are difficult for users to clean manually. This can lead to unpleasant odors after long-term use of the floor scrubber, thus affecting the user experience.

[0004] Accordingly, a new technical solution is needed in this field to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In order to solve at least one of the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, namely, to solve the problem of poor self-cleaning effect of the roller brush in existing floor cleaning equipment and the impact on user experience, this application provides a self-cleaning control method for floor cleaning equipment. The floor cleaning equipment includes a base and a body. When the body is placed on the base, a splash-proof space for storing cleaning liquid is formed between the base and the body. The roller brush on the body is located in the splash-proof space.

[0006] The self-cleaning control method includes a cleaning step and a vacuuming step, wherein the number of cleaning steps and vacuuming steps is equal, and the vacuuming step is performed after the cleaning step.

[0007] The cleaning steps include: controlling the injection of cleaning fluid into the splash-proof space and controlling the operation of the roller brush;

[0008] The suction step includes: controlling the operation of the suction fan and controlling the rotation of the roller brush;

[0009] In at least one of the cleaning steps, the roller brush operates in either forward or reverse rotation for at least a portion of the process.

[0010] When the above technical solution is adopted, when the splash-proof space is filled with cleaning fluid, the cleaning fluid can be driven to flow by controlling the operation of the roller brush, thereby cleaning the roller brush and the inner wall of the splash-proof space. When the roller brush is switched to forward or reverse operation, the cleaning fluid can be flushed to the top of the splash-proof space as much as possible. During the suction process, the suction pipe can be cleaned by the continuous flushing of a large amount of cleaning fluid. Therefore, during the self-cleaning process of the roller brush, the entire chain, including the roller brush, the top cover, the suction port, and the liquid inlet, can be cleaned at the same time, avoiding the presence of stains and odors in some places.

[0011] In the preferred embodiment of the above self-cleaning control method, both the cleaning step and the dirt suction step are provided in two steps, and the self-cleaning control method includes a first cleaning step, a first dirt suction step, a second cleaning step, and a second dirt suction step.

[0012] The first cleaning step includes: controlling the injection of cleaning fluid into the splash-proof space and controlling the roller brush to rotate in the forward direction;

[0013] The second cleaning step includes: controlling the injection of cleaning fluid into the splash-proof space and controlling the roller brush to switch between forward and reverse operation.

[0014] With the above technical solution, the first cleaning step can clean the roller brush. At this time, controlling the roller brush to run in the forward direction can minimize the splashing of sewage onto the splash-proof space. The second cleaning step can rinse the roller brush. During the rinsing process, the entire splash-proof space can be rinsed by controlling the roller brush to switch between forward and reverse operation.

[0015] In the preferred embodiment of the above self-cleaning control method, the first cleaning step further includes: controlling the roller brush to rotate forward at a first rotation speed;

[0016] The second cleaning step further includes: controlling the roller brush to switch between forward and reverse operation at a second rotation speed;

[0017] Wherein, the first rotational speed is less than the second rotational speed.

[0018] When the above technical solution is adopted, during the roller brush cleaning process, controlling the roller brush to operate at a lower speed can minimize the splashing of sewage generated during the cleaning process onto the upper part of the splash-proof space. During the roller brush rinsing process, controlling the roller brush to operate at a higher speed can increase the water flow height, thereby ensuring the cleaning effect on the upper part of the splash-proof space.

[0019] In the preferred embodiment of the above self-cleaning control method, the first suction step and / or the second suction step further include: controlling the roller brush to rotate forward at a third rotation speed;

[0020] The third rotational speed is greater than the second rotational speed.

[0021] With the above technical solution, controlling the high-speed forward rotation of the roller brush can speed up the drainage of sewage after cleaning, increase the suction speed, and prevent sedimentation that would leave stains at the bottom of the roller brush. Furthermore, controlling the roller brush to operate at a high speed during suction can provide a prerequisite and foundation for the subsequent drying of the roller brush.

[0022] In the preferred embodiment of the above self-cleaning control method, the first cleaning step further includes: injecting a first preset amount of cleaning liquid into the splash-proof space;

[0023] The second cleaning step further includes: injecting a cleaning fluid of a controlled preset volume into the splash-proof space;

[0024] Wherein, the first preset liquid volume is less than the second preset liquid volume.

[0025] With the above technical solution, the liquid level is lower during the roller brush cleaning process, which can further prevent sewage from splashing onto the splash-proof space during the operation of the roller brush. The liquid level is higher during the roller brush rinsing process, which can further increase the height of the water flow brought up by the roller brush during operation, thereby improving the cleaning effect on the upper part of the splash-proof space.

[0026] In the preferred embodiment of the above self-cleaning control method, the first suction step and the second suction step further include: controlling the suction fan to operate intermittently.

[0027] In the preferred embodiment of the above self-cleaning control method, the first suction step further includes: controlling the suction fan to operate intermittently with a first duty cycle;

[0028] The second suction step further includes: controlling the suction fan to operate intermittently at a second duty cycle;

[0029] Wherein, the first duty cycle is less than the second duty cycle.

[0030] With the above technical solution, the flow rate during suction can be adjusted by changing the duty cycle. When suction is performed after the roller brush has finished rinsing, the sewage can be drained as much as possible, and the inside of the pipe can be cleaned when a large flow of cleaning liquid passes through the suction pipe.

[0031] In the preferred embodiment of the above self-cleaning control method, the second cleaning step further includes:

[0032] Control the brush to rotate in the forward direction for a first preset duration;

[0033] After the second preset time, the control roller brush is reversed for a third preset time.

[0034] In the preferred embodiment of the above self-cleaning control method, the duration of the first cleaning step is shorter than the duration of the second cleaning step; and / or

[0035] The duration of the first suction step is shorter than the duration of the second suction step.

[0036] In the preferred embodiment of the above self-cleaning control method, the cleaning step includes multiple cleaning stages, the cleaning stages including:

[0037] Control the roller brush to operate in the forward direction, reverse direction, or switch between forward and reverse operation.

[0038] With the above technical solution, the roller brush can be controlled to operate in different directions in different processes within the same cleaning step. Attached Figure Description

[0039] The self-cleaning control method of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and in conjunction with the floor cleaning equipment. In the drawings:

[0040] Figure 1 This is a first-view structural diagram of the base of this application;

[0041] Figure 2 This is a structural diagram of the base of this application from a second perspective, with the splash guard side omitted in the diagram;

[0042] Figure 3 This is a structural diagram of the base of this application at the extrusion mechanism, with the cover plate omitted in the figure;

[0043] Figure 4 This is an exploded view of the base of this application at the extrusion mechanism;

[0044] Figure 5 This is an assembly drawing of the floor cleaning equipment of this application;

[0045] Figure 6 This is an internal structural diagram of the fuselage of this application, with the roller brush omitted in the diagram;

[0046] Figure 7 This is an assembly sectional view of the base and fuselage of this application;

[0047] Figure 8 This is a flowchart illustrating the main steps of a self-cleaning control method according to an embodiment of this application;

[0048] Figure 9 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps of a self-cleaning control method according to another embodiment of this application;

[0049] Figure 10 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps of a self-cleaning control method according to another embodiment of this application.

[0050] List of reference numerals

[0051] 10. Base; 11. Body; 111. Placement slot; 12. Slot; 121. Liquid inlet; 122. Second elongated hole; 123. Third elongated hole; 13. First elastic seal; 14. Second elastic seal; 15. Extrusion mechanism; 151. Extrusion component; 1511. Extrusion block; 1512. Extrusion plate; 152. Transmission component; 1521. Transmission block; 1522. Transmission rod; 16. Cover plate; 161. First elongated hole; 162. Notch; 17. Splash guard;

[0052] 20. Body; 21. Scraper bar; 22. Suction port; 23. Top cover; 24. Roller brush;

[0053] 30. Handle. Detailed Implementation

[0054] Preferred embodiments of this application are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art should understand that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the technical principles of this application and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. For example, although the floor cleaning equipment in this embodiment is described in conjunction with a floor scrubber, this is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Those skilled in the art can apply this application to other application scenarios without departing from the principles of this application. For example, this application can also be applied to robotic vacuum cleaners, etc.

[0055] It should be noted that in the description of this application, terms such as "upper," "lower," "vertical," and "horizontal," indicating directional or positional relationships, are based on the directional or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. These are merely for ease of description and do not indicate or imply that the device or element must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation; therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. Additionally, in the description of this application, "a plurality of" refers to at least two.

[0056] Furthermore, it should be noted that, in the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0057] As described in the background section, with the continuous improvement of people's living standards and the increasing popularity of automated products, household floor scrubbers are appearing more and more frequently in people's lives. They play a positive role in reducing the burden of housework and maintaining environmental cleanliness. In order to ensure the normal use of floor scrubbers, the maintenance and cleaning issues after the use of floor scrubbers are also receiving more and more attention.

[0058] Existing floor scrubbers have self-cleaning functions, but these generally only clean the roller brush. During the self-cleaning process, the roller brush may splash wastewater onto structures such as the top cover, resulting in stains. In addition, wastewater may also leave stains at inlets such as the water inlet, liquid inlet, and suction port, which are difficult for users to clean manually. This can lead to unpleasant odors after long-term use of the floor scrubber, thus affecting the user experience.

[0059] In response, this application provides a self-cleaning control method for a floor cleaning device. The floor cleaning device includes a base and a body. When the body is placed on the base, a splash-proof space is formed between the base and the body to store cleaning fluid. The roller brush on the body is located within the splash-proof space.

[0060] First refer to Figures 1 to 3 The base of this application is described below.

[0061] like Figure 1 As shown, to address the issues of poor self-cleaning performance and negative user experience associated with existing floor cleaning equipment, the base 10 of this application includes a body 11, a first elastic seal 13, a second elastic seal 14, and a pressing mechanism 15. The top surface of the body 11 forms a placement groove 111 capable of accommodating the body 20 of the floor cleaning equipment. The placement groove 111 has an opening on one side that accommodates a roller brush positioned below the body 20. The first elastic seal 13 extends along the length of the groove 12 and is disposed on the opening side of the groove 12. Two second elastic seals 14 are provided, vertically disposed on two opposing sidewalls of the groove 12, with the lower end of each second elastic seal 14 connected to one end of the first elastic seal 13. The pressing mechanism 15 includes a pressing member 151, which is slidably disposed on the sidewall of the groove 12, allowing it to move closer to or away from the second elastic seal 14.

[0062] During application, after cleaning the floor, the body 20 of the floor cleaning equipment is placed on the base 10. At this time, the bottom of the body 20 presses against the first elastic seal 13, causing the first elastic seal 13 to undergo elastic deformation, thus sealing the bottom of the body 20 with the groove 12. The side of the body 20 drives the pressing member 151 to slide towards the second elastic seal 14, thereby pressing the second elastic seal 14, causing the two second elastic seals 14 to undergo elastic deformation and abut against the two sides of the body 20, forming a seal between the sides of the body 20 and the groove 12. At this time, a water collection trough is formed between the body 20 and the bottom, and between the two sides and the groove 12, and the roller brush at the bottom of the body 20 is located in the water collection trough.

[0063] Next, the self-cleaning mode is activated. First, cleaning solution is poured into the water collection tank, and the roller brush is immersed in the cleaning solution. Then, the roller brush is started to rotate and clean itself. After cleaning, the wastewater is drained from the water collection tank. At this point, the self-cleaning of the roller brush is complete.

[0064] The base 10 of this application, by providing a groove 12 and housing a first elastic seal 13, a second elastic seal 14, and a pressing mechanism 15 within the groove 12, allows the machine body 20 to form a water collection tank with the groove 12 when placed in the placement groove 111. This allows more cleaning fluid to be stored in the water collection tank during roller brush self-cleaning, ensuring the roller brush is fully soaked and cleaned, thus improving the self-cleaning effect. The pressing mechanism 151 slides to press the second elastic seal 14, causing it to deform and abut against the side of the machine body 20, thereby improving the sealing effect and preventing cleaning fluid leakage.

[0065] The following is combined Figures 1 to 4 This application will now describe a specific embodiment of the base 10.

[0066] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, in one specific embodiment, the base 10 includes a body 11, a groove 12, a first elastic seal 13, a second elastic seal 14, a splash guard 17, a pressing mechanism 15, and a heating element (not shown in the figure).

[0067] A placement groove 111 is formed on the top of the main body 11. The placement groove 111 is generally rectangular, and the body 20 of the floor cleaning equipment can be placed in the placement groove 111. Multiple liquid inlet pipes are also provided inside the main body 11. The heating element and the multiple liquid inlet pipes are simultaneously disposed inside the main body 11. The heating element can be disposed inside the liquid inlet pipe or sleeved on a heating pipe, and is used to heat the liquid inside the liquid inlet pipe. One end of the liquid inlet pipe extends to the side wall of one end of the placement groove 111 to guide the cleaning liquid into the tank section 12. The heating element is not limited in this application and can be a PTC heater or other commonly used electric heaters.

[0068] The groove 12 is detachably disposed on one end of the placement groove 111, and one side of the groove 12 is configured as an open side. After installation, the open side of the groove 12 faces the interior of the placement groove 111. Specifically, the groove 12 is a plastic part, which includes a bottom wall and three side walls surrounding the bottom wall. A recessed structure is formed in the bottom wall for accommodating the roller brush. The three side walls are connected to each other, and the bottom of the three side walls is connected to the three sides of the bottom wall. The top of the three side walls has an outward flange. Among the three side walls, two shorter side walls are arranged opposite each other, and a longer side wall is located between the two shorter side walls and is arranged opposite to the open side of the groove 12. The extending direction of the longer side wall is consistent with the length direction of the roller brush. Further, a plurality of liquid inlets 121 are provided on the side wall opposite to the open side, and each liquid inlet 121 is arranged in correspondence with a liquid inlet pipe. In this application, four liquid inlets 121 are provided, and each liquid inlet 121 corresponds to one liquid inlet pipe. In this way, the cleaning fluid can be guided into the tank 12 through the inlet pipe, and the heating element can also heat the cleaning fluid before it enters the tank 12.

[0069] Those skilled in the art will understand that although the source of the cleaning fluid is not described in this application, this is not to confuse them. They can use common methods in the art to provide the cleaning fluid. For example, a cleaning fluid container can be installed on the base 10, and a power element such as a pump can be used to pump the cleaning fluid from the container to the tank 12. Alternatively, a clean water tank can be installed on the base 10, and a pump can be used to pump the water from the clean water tank to the tank 12 (in this case, the cleaning fluid is water). Furthermore, the water tank on the body 20 of the floor cleaning equipment and a power element can be used to transport the water from the water tank in the body 20 to the tank 12.

[0070] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 The first elastic seal 13 and the second elastic seal 14 are both elastic rubber tubes, and the first elastic seal 13 and the two second elastic seals 14 are integrally formed. The first elastic seal 13 and the second elastic seal 14 can be installed in the groove 12 by means of bonding, injection molding, or snap-fit, wherein the first elastic seal 13 is located on the bottom wall near the opening side, and the two second elastic seals 14 are located on the two side walls respectively. The elastic rubber tube can be made of materials with good elasticity such as silicone, rubber, or latex.

[0071] A splash guard 17 surrounds the upper side of the groove 12 and extends towards the interior of the groove 12. Specifically, the splash guard 17 is made of elastic rubber, and its cross-section is arc-shaped. The splash guard 17 is formed by injection molding onto the outer flange at the top of the three side walls. When the body 20 of the floor cleaning equipment is placed on the base 10, the splash guard 17 covers the upper front part of the body. During the self-cleaning process, the cleaning fluid ejected by the rotating brush is blocked by the splash guard 17, preventing the cleaning fluid from splashing out.

[0072] See Figure 3 and Figure 4 The extrusion mechanism 15 includes an extrusion member 151 and a transmission member 152. Two extrusion members 151 and two transmission members 152 are provided, with each extrusion member 151 and its corresponding transmission member 152 forming a group. The two groups of extrusion members 151 and transmission members 152 are respectively disposed on the two relatively short sidewalls opposite to each other. For each group, the extrusion member 151 is slidably disposed on the sidewall of the groove 12, and the transmission member 152 is vertically slidably disposed on the sidewall of the groove 12, and the transmission member 152 abuts against the extrusion member 151. Specifically, a second elongated hole 122 and a third elongated hole 123 are provided on the sidewall of the groove 12, wherein the second elongated hole 122 extends horizontally, and the third elongated hole 123 extends vertically. The extrusion component 151 includes an integrally formed extrusion block 1511 and an extrusion plate 1512. The extrusion block 1511 is located on one side of the extrusion plate 1512, and sliders are respectively provided on both sides of the extrusion block 1511. One of the sliders is slidably disposed in the second elongated hole 122. The transmission component 152 includes a transmission block 1521 and a transmission rod 1522 connected to each other. The extrusion block 1511 and the transmission block 1521 each have inclined surfaces facing each other. The transmission rod 1522 is L-shaped. The upper end of the vertical section of the L-shape extends outward to form a sliding rib. The sliding rib passes through a through hole on the transmission block 1521 and is slidably disposed in the third elongated hole 123. The horizontal section of the L-shape extends into the groove 12. Cover plates 16 are also provided on the two oppositely arranged side walls of the groove 12. The cover plates 16 are screwed onto the transmission component 152 and the extrusion component 151. The cover plate 16 also has a vertically extending first elongated hole 161 and a horizontally set notch 162. After the cover plate 16 is connected, the horizontal section of the L-shaped transmission rod 1522 extends out from the first elongated hole 161, and the slider on the other side of the extrusion block 1511 can slide in the notch 162.

[0073] Taking a floor scrubber as an example, during the process of placing the scrubber body 20 vertically into the placement trough 111, two L-shaped transmission rods 1522 are pressed down from the bottom of the body 20. Under the downward pressure, the two L-shaped transmission rods 1522 slide downwards. During this downward sliding, due to the inclined surface cooperation between the transmission block 1521 and the extrusion block 1511, the extrusion block 1511 drives the extrusion plate 1512 to slide towards the second elastic seal 14. Ultimately, the second elastic seal 14 is squeezed by the extrusion plate 1512, causing elastic deformation and abutting against the side of the body 20, forming a side seal. When the body 20 falls to its final position, the bottom of the body 20 presses against the first elastic seal 13, causing the first elastic seal 13 to undergo elastic deformation, forming a bottom seal with the bottom of the body 20. The splash guard 17 covers the front upper cover of the body 20.

[0074] During the self-cleaning process, the cleaning fluid enters the tank 12 from the floor scrubber's water tank via the inlet pipe and inlet 121. As it passes through the inlet pipe, the cleaning fluid is heated by the heating element. After the roller brush is immersed in the cleaning fluid, it is started to rotate, agitating the cleaning fluid to clean the brush. Due to the action of the first elastic seal 13 and the second elastic seal 14, the cleaning fluid will not leak from the bottom of the machine. The splash guard 17 prevents the cleaning fluid ejected by the roller brush from leaking out and falls into the tank. After self-cleaning is complete, the floor scrubber's exhaust fan is activated to create negative pressure, drawing wastewater through the suction port (usually behind the roller brush) on the machine body 20 into the floor scrubber's wastewater tank.

[0075] After self-cleaning, when the machine body 20 is lifted, the elastic deformation of the first elastic seal 13 and the second elastic seal 14 is restored. During the deformation restoration process of the second elastic seal 14, it drives the extrusion member 151 and the transmission member 152 to move in opposite directions, thereby realizing the reset of the extrusion member 151 and the transmission member 152.

[0076] In the above configuration, the first elastic seal 13 and the two second elastic seals 14 are integrally formed, which helps to improve the overall sealing effect. Using an elastic tube as the elastic seal has two advantages: firstly, it can generate a large elastic deformation to improve the sealing effect; secondly, the elastic recovery of the elastic tube can be used to reset the transmission component 152 and the extrusion component 151, reducing structural complexity. The splash guard 17 prevents cleaning fluid from splashing during the cleaning process, facilitating high-speed cleaning of the roller brush and enabling cleaning of the machine body 20, base 10, and other parts during high-speed cleaning. The splash guard 17 is injection molded on the upper side of the groove 12, which helps to improve the splash prevention effect. The heating element can heat the cleaning fluid, thereby improving the cleaning effect. The transmission component 152 can be triggered by the natural movement of the machine body 20 placed on the base 10 to drive the sliding movement of the extrusion component 151, simplifying operation and reducing the user's learning cost. By providing inclined surfaces on the transmission block 1521 and the extrusion block 1511, the extrusion member 151 can be driven to slide during the descent of the transmission block 1521, reducing sliding resistance. The cover plate 16 protects the extrusion mechanism 15, preventing damage. The transmission member 152 extends from the cover plate 16, allowing its lifting and lowering motion to be triggered by the downward pressure of the bottom of the machine body 20.

[0077] See below. Figures 5 to 7 This paper describes one specific embodiment of the floor cleaning equipment of this application.

[0078] like Figures 5 to 7 As shown, in one specific embodiment, the floor cleaning equipment is a floor scrubber. The floor scrubber includes a base 10, a body 20, and a handle 30. The body 20 is equipped with a scraper 21, a wastewater outlet 22, a top cover 23, and a roller brush 24. The body 20 is rotatably mounted at the bottom of the handle 30, which is equipped with a clean water tank and a wastewater tank. When the body 20 is placed on the base 10, the clean water tank can be connected to the inlet pipe.

[0079] The floor cleaning equipment of this application, by providing a groove 12 on the base 10, and providing a first elastic seal 13, a second elastic seal 14, and a squeezing mechanism 15 within the groove 12, allows the machine body 20 to form a water collection tank with the groove 12 when placed in the placement groove 111. This allows more cleaning fluid to be stored in the water collection tank during the self-cleaning of the roller brush 24, ensuring that the roller brush 24 is fully soaked and cleaned, thus improving the self-cleaning effect. The second elastic seal 14 is squeezed by the sliding of the squeezing member 151, causing the second elastic seal 14 to deform and abut against the side of the machine body 20, thereby improving the sealing effect and preventing cleaning fluid leakage. Furthermore, under the combined action of the splash guard 17 and the top cover 23, the cleaning fluid splashed out by the rotating roller brush 24 is blocked by the splash guard 17 and the top cover 23 and falls into the groove.

[0080] It should be noted that the above preferred embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles of this application and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Without departing from the principles of this application, those skilled in the art can adjust the above-described configurations to make this application applicable to more specific application scenarios. Furthermore, although the floor cleaning equipment in this embodiment is described in conjunction with a floor scrubber, this is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Those skilled in the art can apply this application to other application scenarios without departing from the principles of this application. For example, this application can also be applied to robotic vacuum cleaners, etc.

[0081] See below. Figure 8 The self-cleaning control method of this application is described. Figure 8 This is a flowchart illustrating the main steps of a self-cleaning control method according to an embodiment of this application.

[0082] like Figure 8 As shown, in order to solve the problem of poor self-cleaning effect of roller brushes in existing floor cleaning equipment, which affects user experience, the self-cleaning control method in this application embodiment mainly includes the following steps:

[0083] S801, Cleaning steps: Control the injection of cleaning fluid into the splash-proof space and control the operation of the roller brush.

[0084] S802, Sewage suction procedure: Control the operation of the sewage suction fan and control the operation of the roller brush.

[0085] The cleaning and vacuuming steps are set in equal numbers, with the vacuuming step running after the cleaning step. In at least one cleaning step, the roller brush alternates between forward and reverse operation for at least a portion of the process. Additionally, the cleaning solution can be water, hot water, or a mixture of water and a cleaning agent or disinfectant.

[0086] It needs to be explained that the forward rotation of the roller brush is the direction that propels the floor cleaning equipment forward, so as to... Figure 7 Taking the direction shown as an example, the roller brush 24 rotating counterclockwise is the same as the roller brush rotating in the forward direction. At this time, the front end of the roller brush 24 rotates downward. The roller brush rotating in the reverse direction is the opposite of the roller brush rotating in the forward direction, that is, the roller brush 24 rotates clockwise.

[0087] In this embodiment, in conjunction with reference to Figure 2 , Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 When the body 20 is placed on the base 10, the body 20 and the base 10 form a splash-proof space, and the roller brush 24 is located in the splash-proof space. When the roller brush 24 performs self-cleaning, cleaning fluid is first injected into the splash-proof space through the liquid inlet 121. By controlling the rotation of the roller brush 24, the cleaning fluid can be driven to flow, thereby cleaning the roller brush 24 and the inner wall of the splash-proof space. For example, when the roller brush 24 is controlled to rotate forward, the water flow brought up by the rear side of the roller brush 24 flows upward. During the flow of cleaning fluid, the scraper 21 can agitate the water flow, causing the water to flow towards the vicinity of the suction port 22 above the scraper 21, thereby cleaning the roller brush 24 and the suction port 22. When the roller brush 24 is controlled to rotate in reverse, the water flow brought up by the front side of the roller brush 24 flows upward, thereby cleaning the area above the splash-proof space, namely the splash-proof edge 17 and the top cover 23 and the liquid inlet 121. During the vacuuming process, the vacuum blower draws cleaning fluid into the vacuum pipe through the vacuum port 22. The continuous flushing with a large amount of cleaning fluid can clean the vacuum pipe. Therefore, during the self-cleaning process of the roller brush 24, compared with existing floor cleaning equipment, the entire chain, including the roller brush 24, the top cover 23, the liquid inlet 12, the vacuum port 22, and the vacuum pipe, can be cleaned simultaneously, avoiding the presence of stains and odors in some areas.

[0088] It should also be explained that the scraper 21 is not essential, and cleaning of part of the inner wall of the splash-proof space can be achieved by controlling the roller brush 24 to rotate forward or backward. However, considering the cleaning effect on the suction port 22, setting the scraper 21 is a better choice. Of course, without the scraper 21, due to factors such as the internal structure of the body 20, the cleaning effect on the area above the splash-proof space, namely the splash guard 17 and the cover plate 23, is also better when the roller brush 24 is reversed, due to the influence of factors such as the internal structure of the body 20. In addition, although the splash-proof function of the splash-proof space is achieved by the splash guard 17 and the cover plate 23 in this embodiment, their setting is not essential. Those skilled in the art can adjust them according to their needs, for example, setting the splash-proof space as a completely sealed space.

[0089] See below. Figure 9 , Figure 9 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps of a self-cleaning control method according to another embodiment of this application.

[0090] like Figure 9 As shown, in one possible implementation, both the cleaning step and the vacuuming step are provided in two steps. Specifically, the self-cleaning control method includes the following steps:

[0091] S901, First cleaning step: Control the injection of cleaning fluid into the splash-proof space and control the roller brush to rotate in the forward direction;

[0092] S902, First suction step: Control the operation of the suction fan and control the rotation of the roller brush;

[0093] S903, Second cleaning step: Control the injection of cleaning fluid into the splash-proof space and control the roller brush to switch between forward and reverse operation;

[0094] S904, Second suction step: Control the operation of the suction fan and control the operation of the roller brush.

[0095] In this embodiment, when the roller brush is heavily soiled, the first cleaning step cleans the roller brush. Controlling the roller brush to rotate in the forward direction helps prevent wastewater from splashing onto the splash-proof space. After cleaning the roller brush, all wastewater inside the splash-proof space is drained. The second cleaning step rinses the roller brush. During rinsing, switching the roller brush's forward and reverse rotation allows for the use of a cleaner cleaning solution to flush the entire splash-proof space, including the inlet and suction port. Afterward, all wastewater is drained, and the cleaner cleaning solution is used to rinse the suction pipe, thus completing the cleaning of the roller brush and the entire system.

[0096] It should be explained that the above cleaning method is not static. In one alternative embodiment, those skilled in the art can adjust the number of cleaning and suction steps as needed. For example, when the roller brush is only lightly soiled, it can be cleaned only once; when it is heavily soiled, it can be cleaned three times. In another alternative embodiment, those skilled in the art can change the operation mode of the roller brush in the cleaning steps as needed. For example, in the second cleaning step, the roller brush is first controlled to rotate forward for a certain period of time, and then controlled to rotate in reverse for the remaining time; or, in the second cleaning step, the roller brush is continuously controlled to rotate in reverse.

[0097] Furthermore, in some embodiments, step S901, the first cleaning step further includes: controlling the roller brush to operate forward at a first rotational speed. Step S903, the second cleaning step further includes: controlling the roller brush to switch between forward and reverse operation at a second rotational speed. The first rotational speed is less than the second rotational speed.

[0098] In this embodiment, the first rotational speed is set to 100 r / min, and the second rotational speed is set to 200 r / min. In the first cleaning step, i.e., during the roller brush cleaning process, controlling the roller brush to operate at a lower rotational speed can minimize the splashing of wastewater into the upper part of the splash-proof space, thus reducing the cleaning difficulty. In the second cleaning step, i.e., during the roller brush rinsing process, controlling the roller brush to operate at a higher rotational speed can increase the water flow height, thereby ensuring effective cleaning of the upper part of the splash-proof space.

[0099] It should be noted that the above-described method of controlling the operation of the roller brush is not mandatory. Those skilled in the art can change the rotation speed of the roller brush as needed. In one alternative embodiment, the roller brushes in both the first and second cleaning steps operate at the same rotation speed. In another alternative embodiment, the first rotation speed can be set to 100 r / min, and the second rotation speed can be set to 300 r / min.

[0100] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the first suction step and / or the second suction step further include: controlling the roller brush to operate forward at a third rotational speed. The third rotational speed is greater than the second rotational speed.

[0101] In this embodiment, the second rotation speed is set to 300 r / min and the third rotation speed is set to 400 r / min. During the process of draining sewage inside the splash-proof space, controlling the high-speed forward rotation of the roller brush can accelerate the drainage of sewage, increase the suction speed, and prevent sedimentation that would cause stains to remain at the bottom of the roller brush. In addition, when the sewage is basically drained, the roller brush continues to rotate at high speed to achieve spin drying of the roller brush, thereby avoiding the sewage being carried into the next cleaning process or preparing for the drying process after the roller brush has been cleaned.

[0102] It should be explained that the above-described method of controlling the roller brush operation is not mandatory. Those skilled in the art can change the roller brush rotation speed as needed. In one alternative embodiment, the roller brush rotation speed in the first suction step can be lower than that in the second suction step. For example, the roller brush rotation speed in the first suction step can be set to 300 r / min, and the roller brush rotation speed in the second suction step can be set to 400 r / min. Furthermore, those skilled in the art can change the roller brush operation method as needed. For example, the roller brush can be controlled to switch between forward and reverse rotation during the suction step. However, considering the cleaning effect inside the splash-proof space, controlling the roller brush to rotate forward is a preferred choice.

[0103] Furthermore, in some embodiments, step S901, the first cleaning step further includes: injecting cleaning fluid of a controlled first preset volume into the splash-proof space. In step S903, the second cleaning step further includes: injecting cleaning fluid of a controlled second preset volume into the splash-proof space. The first preset volume is less than the second preset volume.

[0104] In this embodiment, the first preset liquid volume is set to 100ml, and the second preset liquid volume is set to 150ml. In the first cleaning step, i.e., during the roller brush cleaning process, the liquid level is relatively low, which further prevents wastewater from splashing onto the upper part of the splash-proof space during roller brush operation. Furthermore, using less cleaning fluid for the initial rough cleaning of the roller brush avoids waste of cleaning fluid. In the second cleaning step, i.e., during the roller brush rinsing process, the liquid level is relatively high. This ensures the cleaning effect of the roller brush and further increases the height of the water flow generated by the roller brush operation, thereby improving the cleaning effect on the upper part of the splash-proof space.

[0105] In some embodiments, steps S902 and S904, the first suction step and the second suction step further include: controlling the suction fan to operate intermittently.

[0106] Further, in step S902, the first suction step further includes: controlling the suction fan to operate intermittently with a first duty cycle. In step S904, the second suction step further includes: controlling the suction fan to operate intermittently with a second duty cycle. Wherein, the first duty cycle is less than the second duty cycle.

[0107] In this embodiment, the first duty cycle is set to 60%, and the second duty cycle is set to 90%. Since the suction speed and flow rate can be adjusted by regulating the duty cycle of the suction fan, thereby improving the degree of sewage discharge, a large flow of cleaning liquid can pass through the suction pipe during the second suction process, thus ensuring the cleaning effect of the suction pipe. Furthermore, the dryness of the roller brush and splash guard after the second suction process is higher than that after the first suction process, which prepares for the subsequent drying process of the roller brush.

[0108] It should be explained that the above-described operation mode of the suction fan is not static. Those skilled in the art can change the duty cycle of the suction fan in each suction step according to requirements. In one alternative embodiment, the suction fan can be controlled to run continuously, but considering energy saving, intermittent operation of the suction fan is a better choice. In another alternative embodiment, the duty cycle of the suction fan in each suction step can be kept equal.

[0109] In some embodiments, step S903, the second cleaning step further includes:

[0110] Control the brush to rotate in the forward direction for a first preset duration;

[0111] After the second preset time, the control roller brush is reversed for a third preset time.

[0112] In this embodiment, the first preset duration is set to 10 seconds, the second preset duration is set to 2 seconds, and the third preset duration is set to 8 seconds. That is, during the control of the brush's forward and reverse rotation, each cycle lasts a total of 20 seconds. In each cycle, the brush first rotates forward for 10 seconds, waits for 2 seconds, and then rotates in reverse for 8 seconds. However, this setting is not mandatory; those skilled in the art can change the switching frequency of the brush's forward and reverse rotation as needed, as long as it does not impede the normal functioning of this application.

[0113] In some implementations, the duration of the first cleaning step is shorter than the duration of the second cleaning step, and the duration of the first vacuuming step is shorter than the duration of the second vacuuming step.

[0114] In this embodiment, the first cleaning step lasts 30 seconds, the second cleaning step lasts 100 seconds, the first suction step lasts 10 seconds, and the second suction step lasts 30 seconds. In the first cleaning step, the roller brush performs a preliminary rough wash, which removes easily soluble stains from the roller brush surface. This process is relatively short. In the second cleaning step, the roller brush is rinsed, simultaneously cleaning the inner wall of the splash-proof space, the liquid inlet, and the suction port. This process is longer. In the first suction step, it is only necessary to roughly empty the splash-proof space to avoid affecting the subsequent cleaning effect. In the second suction step, the longer suction time ensures the effective emptying of the splash-proof space, and the continuous operation of the roller brush allows for spin-drying, thus providing a prerequisite for the subsequent drying of the roller brush. However, this configuration is not mandatory. Those skilled in the art can change the duration of each step as needed, as long as it does not impede the normal functioning of this application.

[0115] In some implementations, the cleaning steps include multiple cleaning stages, which include:

[0116] Control the roller brush to run in the forward direction, reverse direction, or switch between forward and reverse operation.

[0117] In this embodiment, within the same cleaning step, those skilled in the art can divide the roller brush operation process into multiple stages as needed, and control the roller brush to operate in different ways in each stage. For example, in the first stage, the roller brush is controlled to operate forward; in the second stage, the roller brush is controlled to operate in reverse; and in the third stage, the roller brush is controlled to switch between forward and reverse operation. Alternatively, the roller brush can be controlled to operate in reverse in the first stage, and then switch between forward and reverse operation in the second stage. However, this setup is not mandatory. In an alternative process, the roller brush can be controlled to operate continuously in the same way within the same cleaning step.

[0118] See below. Figure 10 , Figure 10 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps of a self-cleaning control method according to another embodiment of this application.

[0119] like Figure 10 As shown, in one possible implementation, the self-cleaning control method includes the following steps:

[0120] S1001, First cleaning step: The cleaning fluid of the first cleaning liquid volume is injected into the splash-proof space, and the roller brush is controlled to rotate in the forward direction at the first speed.

[0121] S1002, First suction step: Control the suction fan to run intermittently at the first duty cycle, and control the roller brush to rotate forward at the third speed;

[0122] S1003, Second cleaning step: Control the second preset amount of cleaning fluid to inject into the splash-proof space, and control the roller brush to switch between forward and reverse rotation at the second speed;

[0123] S1004, Second suction step: Control the suction fan to run intermittently at the second duty cycle, and control the roller brush to run forward at the third speed.

[0124] In this embodiment, the first preset liquid volume is 100ml, the second preset liquid volume is 150ml, the first rotation speed is set to 100r / min, the second rotation speed is set to 200r / min, the third rotation speed is set to 400r / min, the first duty cycle is set to 60%, and the second duty cycle is set to 90%. In the first cleaning step, the roller brush is first roughly washed. The liquid level in the splash-proof space is low, and when the roller brush rotates forward at the first rotation speed, it can prevent sewage from splashing to the upper part of the splash-proof space. In the first suction step, the sewage is emptied by the intermittent operation of the suction fan, and when the roller brush rotates forward at the third rotation speed, it can assist in the emptying of sewage while simultaneously drying the roller brush, reducing sewage residue and avoiding affecting the subsequent cleaning effect of the roller brush. In the second cleaning step, the roller brush is rinsed. The liquid level in the splash-proof space is high. When the roller brush rotates forward and backward at the second rotation speed, the cleaning fluid can be driven by the roller brush to clean the interior of the splash-proof space, including the liquid inlet and the suction port. In the second sewage suction step, the sewage suction fan runs at the second duty cycle to ensure that the sewage is discharged as much as possible, and the roller brush can be spun dry when it runs at the third speed, which provides the premise and foundation for the subsequent drying of the roller brush.

[0125] It should be noted that the order of the above steps is not fixed. Those skilled in the art can change the order of the steps or delete some steps as needed, as long as it does not affect the achievement of the purpose of this application. In one alternative embodiment, three cleaning steps and three suction steps can be set. In another alternative embodiment, those skilled in the art can change the operation mode of the roller brush in each step. In addition, those skilled in the art can also change the settings of the above values ​​as needed, as long as it does not hinder the normal functioning of this application.

[0126] Those skilled in the art will understand that although some embodiments described herein include certain features included in other embodiments but not others, combinations of features from different embodiments are intended to be within the scope of this application and form different embodiments. For example, any of the claimed embodiments in the claims of this application can be used in any combination.

[0127] The technical solutions of this application have been described above with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the scope of protection of this application is obviously not limited to these specific embodiments. Without departing from the principles of this application, those skilled in the art can make equivalent changes or substitutions to the relevant technical features, and the technical solutions after these changes or substitutions will all fall within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A self-cleaning control method for a floor cleaning device, characterized by, The ground cleaning device comprises a base and a machine body, when the machine body is placed on the base, a splash-proof space capable of storing cleaning liquid is formed between the base and the machine body, and a rolling brush on the machine body is located in the splash-proof space; The self-cleaning control method comprises a cleaning step and a dirt-suction step, the number of the cleaning step and the dirt-suction step is equal, and the dirt-suction step is executed after the dirt-suction step; The cleaning step comprises: controlling cleaning liquid to be injected into the splash-proof space, and controlling the rolling brush to be operated; The dirt-suction step comprises: controlling a dirt-suction fan to be operated, and controlling the rolling brush to be operated; In at least one of the cleaning steps, the rolling brush is operated in a forward-reverse switching mode or a reverse mode at least in part of the time.

2. The self-cleaning control method of claim 1, wherein, The cleaning step and the dirt-suction step are both provided in two, and the self-cleaning control method comprises a first cleaning step, a first dirt-suction step, a second cleaning step and a second dirt-suction step; The first cleaning step comprises: controlling cleaning liquid to be injected into the splash-proof space, and controlling the rolling brush to be operated in a forward mode; The second cleaning step comprises: controlling cleaning liquid to be injected into the splash-proof space, and controlling the rolling brush to be operated in a forward-reverse switching mode.

3. The self-cleaning control method of claim 2, wherein, The first cleaning step further comprises: controlling the rolling brush to be operated in the forward mode at a first rotating speed; The second cleaning step further comprises: controlling the rolling brush to be operated in the forward-reverse switching mode at a second rotating speed; The first rotating speed is less than the second rotating speed.

4. The self-cleaning control method of claim 3, wherein, The first dirt-suction step and / or the second dirt-suction step further comprises: controlling the rolling brush to be operated in the forward mode at a third rotating speed; The third rotating speed is greater than the second rotating speed.

5. The self-cleaning control method of claim 2, wherein, The first cleaning step further comprises: controlling a first preset liquid amount of cleaning liquid to be injected into the splash-proof space; The second cleaning step further comprises: controlling a second preset liquid amount of cleaning liquid to be injected into the splash-proof space; The first preset liquid amount is less than the second preset liquid amount.

6. The self-cleaning control method of claim 2, wherein, The first dirt-suction step and the second dirt-suction step further comprises: controlling the dirt-suction fan to be operated intermittently.

7. The self-cleaning control method of claim 6, wherein, The first dirt-suction step further comprises: controlling the dirt-suction fan to be operated intermittently at a first duty cycle; The second dirt-suction step further comprises: controlling the dirt-suction fan to be operated intermittently at a second duty cycle; The first duty cycle is less than the second duty cycle.

8. The self-cleaning control method of claim 2, wherein, The second cleaning step further comprises: controlling the rolling brush to be operated in the forward mode for a first preset time length; controlling the rolling brush to be operated in a reverse mode for a third preset time length after a second preset time length.

9. The self-cleaning control method of claim 2, wherein, The first cleaning step has a time length less than that of the second cleaning step; and / or The first dirt-suction step has a time length less than that of the second dirt-suction step.

10. The self-cleaning control method of claim 1, wherein, The cleaning step comprises a plurality of cleaning phases, and the cleaning phases comprise: controlling the rolling brush to be operated in a forward mode, a reverse mode or a forward-reverse switching mode.

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