System and method for controlling the charging operation of a battery of a soil cultivation implement

Abstract

Method for operating a system comprising at least one soil cultivation implement (1, 2), at least two accumulators (3, 4), at least one charging device (5) for charging at least one of the accumulators (3, 4) and a control and evaluation device (6), wherein the control and evaluation device (6) controls the charging device (5) for charging an accumulator (3, 4) depending on a defined condition, characterized in that the control and evaluation device (6) controls a charging operation, in particular a charging start time and / or a charging speed, of the charging device (5) for charging a second accumulator (4) depending on an event that changes the state of charge of a first accumulator (3) and / or a spatial position of a soil cultivation implement (1, 2) having the first accumulator (3).

Description

field of technology

[0001] The invention relates to a method for operating a system comprising at least one soil cultivation device, at least two accumulators, at least one charging device for charging at least one of the accumulators and a control and evaluation device, wherein the control and evaluation device controls the charging device for charging an accumulator depending on a defined condition.

[0002] Furthermore, the invention relates to a system comprising at least one soil cultivation device, at least two accumulators, at least one charging device for charging at least one of the accumulators, and a control and evaluation device for controlling the charging device for charging an accumulator depending on a defined condition. State of the art

[0003] Systems and methods of the aforementioned type are well known in the prior art. The system can include one or more soil cultivation devices powered by a battery. These soil cultivation devices can be, for example, cleaning equipment such as vacuum cleaners, wet mops, and / or combinations thereof, or grinding and / or polishing equipment, lawnmowers, and the like. Soil cultivation devices can be handheld or self-propelled, in particular soil cultivation robots.

[0004] It is known to charge the battery of a tillage implement using a charging device, for example, a charging station and / or a power supply unit. The charging start time can be controlled according to predefined conditions.

[0005] For example, the publication JP 2004-305495 ​​A discloses a method for controlling the charging start time of a vacuum cleaner battery such that it occurs at the same time every day, for instance, to take advantage of cheaper electricity rates at night. Furthermore, it is known to start a charging process for a flooring implement's battery when the battery or the flooring implement is connected to a charging station. The charging station can, for example, be a base station that also performs other service functions on the flooring implement, such as emptying a vacuum cleaner's dust chamber or similar tasks. The defined condition under which the battery charging is started can, for example, be contact between the battery to be charged or the flooring implement containing the battery and the base station.In a particularly simple case, the charging process starts when the battery is connected to the charging device. This can be detected, for example, by a simple contact switch.

[0006] It is also known that such systems can have multiple accumulators to extend the operating time of the tillage implement by allowing the user to replace a depleted accumulator with a charged one and continue working. The system thus includes at least one accumulator and at least one spare accumulator in stock. Preferably, the accumulators are interchangeable, so that both fit into the tillage implement and can be connected to the same charging device. Summary of the invention

[0007] Based on the aforementioned prior art, the object of the invention is to further develop a aforementioned method or system in such a way that trouble-free operation of the soil cultivation device is possible, and the operating time of the soil cultivation device and / or the service life of the accumulator can be extended.

[0008] To solve this problem, it is proposed that the control and evaluation unit, depending on an event that changes the charge level of a first accumulator and / or the spatial position of a soil cultivation device having the first accumulator, controls a charging operation, in particular a charging start time and / or a charging speed, of the charging device to charge a second accumulator.

[0009] According to the invention, the accumulators of the system are controlled such that an event affecting a first accumulator of the system has an impact on the charging process of a second accumulator of the system. For example, the start time of charging the second accumulator and / or the charging rate of the second accumulator are controlled depending on an event affecting the first accumulator. This event changes the state of charge and / or the spatial position of the first accumulator and can, for example, be charging and / or discharging and / or a spatial displacement of the accumulator relative to a defined reference point, such as a fixed point of a base station suitable for charging the accumulator or for servicing a tillage implement.According to one embodiment, a change in the state of charge of the first battery can thus influence the charging operation of the second battery, for example, its charging start time and / or charging speed. In this sense, the charging and discharging processes of the system's batteries can be controlled in such a way as to extend the service life of the batteries involved, or at least of one battery, and / or to ensure, through intelligently controlled charging processes, that none of the system's batteries is charged at maximum state of charge for longer than a defined maximum period, since this is known to lead to relatively rapid battery aging, which in turn reduces the battery's typical service life.

[0010] The system can, for example, consist of a tillage implement with one installed battery and at least one spare battery, or another tillage implement with one installed battery. One of the system's batteries can be designated as the master battery, which always maintains a maximum or near-maximum charge level. While this battery ages faster than the other batteries in the system, it ensures that the tillage implement always has the operating time required for a tillage operation. The spare batteries can, for example, be kept at a partial charge, meaning a charge level significantly below their maximum charge level, such as approximately 80 percent of the maximum charge level.

[0011] According to one possible procedure, it is proposed that the control and evaluation unit regulates the charging operation for the second battery depending on the start of an operation by a tillage implement containing the first battery, which in turn causes a discharge of the first battery. According to this embodiment, the start of an operation by the tillage implement containing the first battery triggers a change in the state of the second battery, namely the start of charging the second battery and / or the continuation of charging the second battery at a defined charging rate.The system's control and evaluation unit detects a decreasing charge level in the first battery, caused by the operation of the tillage implement powered by the first battery, particularly by its electrical consumers. It then starts, slows down, or accelerates the charging process of the second battery, which can then serve as a backup for the first. When the first battery is discharged, tillage operations can continue with this backup battery, either using the tillage implement powered by the first battery or a second tillage implement powered by the second battery. The event triggering the charging of the second battery is the beginning of the discharge of the first battery.This solution intelligently designs the system so that the spare batteries are only charged when it is detected that a user is operating the tillage implement equipped with the first battery, thus initiating the discharge of the first battery, which is expected to soon lead to a complete discharge of the first battery. This allows the spare batteries to be used for any subsequent necessary tillage work. It can be designed so that not only is a single charged spare battery available within the system, but additional spare batteries are also charged in response to this event, enabling the tillage work typically performed by the implement to be completed using the spare batteries.Charging a spare battery does not have to start immediately when the control and evaluation unit receives information about the triggering event. Instead, charging the second battery can be scheduled and started later. This can be determined based on the current charge level of the first and / or second battery and / or the anticipated operating time of the tillage implement. The control and evaluation unit uses the current tillage task being performed by the implement and the remaining charge of the first battery to determine how long the implement can operate with the remaining charge of the first battery.Furthermore, the control and evaluation unit determines how much charge is still needed to complete the tillage operation after the first battery has been completely discharged, and how long or at what charging rate a second battery must be charged to be available in time when the first battery is depleted. This ensures that the current tillage operation can be completed. The tillage operation can then be continued either by the first tillage implement with a second battery, or by a second tillage implement equipped with the second battery.

[0012] Furthermore, it is proposed that the control and evaluation unit regulates the charging process for the second battery depending on the removal of the tillage implement (containing the first battery) from a base station. The base station detects the position of the tillage implement using a detection device. According to this embodiment, the event controlling the charging process of the second battery is the removal of the tillage implement (containing the first battery) from the base station. This embodiment detects when a user removes the tillage implement from the base station or when the tillage implement moves away from the base station automatically to initiate tillage operation.This configuration assumes that the tillage implement is removed from the base station to commence tillage operations, which in turn discharges the first battery in the tillage implement. Alternatively, instead of removal from a base station, removal from a charging unit can also be detected, particularly if the tillage implement or its battery is disconnected from the charging unit to perform tillage operations. For this purpose, the base station or charging unit has a detection device capable of detecting the removal of the tillage implement or battery from the base station or charging unit.As an alternative to detecting a battery removal process, a user can also manually activate a button or control panel, for example on the base station, the charging unit, or via an app on an external control device, to collectively notify the system's devices that at least a second battery should be charged. Furthermore, the system's control and evaluation unit can also be configured to initiate a charging process when it detects that a specific device connected to the system's home communication network is approaching the household. For example, a mobile device that a user typically carries can trigger a charging process for one of the system's batteries when it detects that the user is approaching the household, indicating that cleaning will soon be necessary.

[0013] In particular, it is proposed that the tillage implement and / or the base station transmit information about the discharge process of the first battery and / or the removal of the tillage implement from the base station to the control and evaluation unit, with the information being transmitted wirelessly via a home communication network of the system. The tillage implements and / or batteries, as well as the charging devices and the control and evaluation unit, are networked, for example, via WLAN, with the control and evaluation unit preferably being assigned to a central device of the system. For example, the system can have a base station for one or more tillage implements, which also has one or more charging devices, as well as the control and evaluation unit, which is in communication with the tillage implements and / or the batteries.The control and evaluation unit can either receive signals directly from or send signals to the batteries, or from or to the tillage implement that houses the respective battery. This depends on whether the batteries themselves are equipped with communication modules. If the batteries are permanently installed in a tillage implement and thus connected to the charging unit via the implement during charging, it is sufficient for the tillage implement to have a communication module that receives signals for the battery and / or sends signals from the battery. The home communication network can be a so-called smart home network, in which other household devices are also automatically controlled, such as lighting, door and window locks, blinds, entertainment systems, and others.The central control and evaluation unit can, for example, be assigned to a household computer that provides an access point for the system's devices. The system's devices can communicate with each other via the home network's access point and receive control commands from the control and evaluation unit.

[0014] Furthermore, it is proposed that the primary battery in the tillage implement be kept at a partial charge during periods of inactivity when the implement is not in operation. This ensures that the battery is available for tillage tasks with a gentle partial charge, thus maximizing its service life. This is particularly advantageous when the tillage implement has a permanently installed battery that is not intended to be user-replaceable. For example, the battery charge level could be limited to a defined threshold, such as a maximum of 80 percent of the battery's maximum charge capacity.This ensures that the defined limit value is not exceeded, even during the rest phase and / or when the first battery is being charged at a charging device.

[0015] Furthermore, it is proposed that the second battery connected to the charging device be charged to a defined target charge level, in particular to the maximum achievable charge capacity of the second battery. The second battery, serving as a backup, is thus preferably charged to its maximum capacity, accepting the resulting reduction in its service life. However, this ensures that the second battery has a maximum charge capacity that can guarantee optimal and complete execution of soil cultivation operations.

[0016] The control and evaluation unit and / or the charging unit(s) and / or base station(s) of the system preferably have knowledge of a defined target charge level for the batteries in the system, so that each battery is only charged to the extent permitted by the defined limits. For example, the control and evaluation unit of the system can access a file in which the defined target charge levels and / or maximum levels are stored. A device ID can be assigned to the batteries or tillage implements, providing information about the device's identity. The device ID can be transmitted to the control and evaluation unit via a signal from the battery or tillage implement, or the respective charging unit or base station can retrieve the device ID from the battery or tillage implement.The soil cultivation equipment can be read by, for example, detecting an optical code that is attached to a housing surface.

[0017] Furthermore, it is proposed that the control and evaluation unit manages the charging operation of the charging device in such a way that the second battery reaches its defined target charge level when a defined minimum charge level of the first battery is reached. This design ensures that the two batteries can work "hand in hand," so that the second battery can provide energy as soon as the energy supply from the first battery is exhausted. In order to determine the point at which the charge level of the first battery drops to the minimum charge level, the control and evaluation unit determines the current soil cultivation activity of the tillage implement and calculates from this a time period in which the soil cultivation activity can be carried out until the energy of the first battery is exhausted.The calculated time span is then used by the control and evaluation unit to calculate and control, on the one hand, the start time of the charging process for the second battery, and, on the other hand, to calculate and control, if necessary, the charging speed for the charging operation, so that the second battery is available as precisely as possible at the time of discharge of the first battery.

[0018] Furthermore, the control and evaluation unit can be configured to initiate a forced discharge process when the second battery reaches a defined target charge level and / or a maximum achievable charge capacity and is not at least partially discharged by the operation of a tillage implement within a defined period. This design ensures that fully charged batteries do not remain unused for extended periods, as this reduces their lifespan. The discharge of a battery can occur, for example, within the tillage implement or a base station, perhaps via a loss resistor.Alternatively, the stored energy of the battery can be transferred to a separate energy storage device, such as an additional buffer battery located at a base station of the system, which can absorb the energy of one or more other batteries. Of course, a battery can also feed energy back into the household power supply.

[0019] In addition to the previously described method for operating a system, the invention further proposes a system comprising at least one soil cultivation implement, at least two accumulators, at least one charging device for charging at least one of the accumulators, and a control and evaluation device for controlling the charging device to charge an accumulator depending on a defined condition, wherein the system is configured and designed to execute a method of the aforementioned type. In particular, a central control and evaluation device of the system can be configured to control the charging processes of the accumulators and to detect an event that changes the state of charge and / or the spatial position of a first accumulator in order to then, for example, determine or control a charging start time and / or a charging speed of the charging device for charging a second accumulator.The features and advantages previously described in relation to the method according to the invention also apply to the system according to the invention. To avoid repetition, reference is made to the preceding statements.

[0020] Furthermore, it is proposed that the charging device and the control and evaluation device are parts of a base station that accommodates a tillage implement, wherein the base station has a detection device for detecting the presence of the tillage implement at the base station and / or a communication interface for communicating with a tillage implement. The detection device can, in particular, comprise a contact switch, a motion sensor, a light barrier, and / or a charging current sensor, which detects charging activity of the respective charging device. When the tillage implement, which includes the first accumulator, or even an accumulator itself, is removed from the base station, the removal from the base station or its charging device is detected by the detection device and reported to the control and evaluation device. For the purposes of the invention, the removal from the base station or its charging device is...The charging device detects an event that can trigger the start of a charging process for a second battery. Brief description of the drawing

[0021] The invention will now be explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment. It shows: Fig. 1 a system according to the invention comprising two soil cultivation devices and several accumulators. Description of the embodiments

[0022] Fig. Figure 1 shows a system consisting, by way of example, of two soil cultivation devices 1 and 2, and two loading devices 5, one of which is assigned to a first soil cultivation device 1 and the other to a second soil cultivation device 2. The first soil cultivation device 1 is designed as a hand-held cleaning device, specifically a vacuum cleaner, which has a floor nozzle 11, a dust chamber 12, a motor 13, and a blower 14 driven by the motor 13. When the motor 13 or the blower 14 is operated, a vacuum is created at the floor nozzle 11, so that dust and dirt on the floor to be cleaned can pass through the floor nozzle 11 into the dust chamber 12. The operation of the motor 13 or the blower 14 is started by a switch 17, which is located on a handle 16 of the soil cultivation device 1.When switch 17 is activated, the motor 13 starts and, by means of the blower 14, generates the vacuum required for the operation of the soil cultivation device 1. Switch 17 is located on the handle 16, which the user typically grips during operation to guide the soil cultivation device 1 in a back-and-forth motion over the area to be cleaned. This is usually done by the user alternately pushing the soil cultivation device 1 away from them and then back towards them. The handle 16 is also attached to a shaft 15, which is preferably telescopic, so that the user can advantageously adjust the length of the shaft 15 to their height.

[0023] The soil cultivation device 1 also has a battery 3 for operating the motor 13 and, if applicable, other electrical consumers, for example, motors for mechanical cleaning elements of the soil cultivation device 1, electronic displays, or similar. In the situation according to Fig. In this case, the tillage implement 1 is docked to a charging device 5, which serves to charge the accumulator 3. The charging device 5 has a detection device 9 for detecting the presence of the tillage implement 1 at the charging device 5. The detection device 9 has sliding, in particular spring-loaded, contact pins which are pushed into the charging device 5 when the tillage implement 1 makes contact with it, so that the presence of the tillage implement 1 at the charging device 5 can be inferred from the movement of the contact pins. Other types of detection devices 9 are also possible; for example, a charging current sensor can also be used, which, in the event of a current flow from the charging device 5 to the accumulator 3, indicates that the tillage implement 1 is properly docked at the charging device 5.The tillage implement 1 also has a communication interface 10. Here, the communication interface 10 is, for example, in the form of a WLAN module. Using the communication interface 10, the tillage implement 1 can communicate with other tillage implements 2 or accumulators 4 of the system. For this purpose, the tillage implement 1 is integrated into a home communication network 7, which here is, for example, a WLAN network. The second tillage implement 2 also belongs to this home communication network 7, as does a base station 8, which, in the illustrated embodiment, accommodates the second tillage implement 2, as well as several accumulators 4, here, for example, a total of three. The base station 8 can be configured to perform one or more service tasks for one or more accumulators 3, 4 or tillage implements 1, 2.For example, the base station 8 can collect material from a dust chamber 12 of a soil cultivation device 1, 2, or similar. Here, the base station 8 is equipped with a charging unit 5, which serves to charge the batteries 4 connected to the base station 8. These batteries 4 include, on the one hand, the battery 4 of the soil cultivation device 2 and, on the other hand, the separate batteries 4.

[0024] The soil cultivation device 2 connected to the base station 8 is exemplified as a self-propelled cleaning robot. The soil cultivation device 2 has at least one cleaning element 19, here, for example, in the form of a rotating brush roller. In the usual manner, the soil cultivation device 2 also has driven wheels 18, with which it can move across the floor to be cleaned. The soil cultivation device 2 preferably also has a distance measuring device (not shown), for example, a triangulation measuring device, which measures distances to obstacles and serves to navigate the soil cultivation device 2 within its environment. For this purpose, the soil cultivation device 2 can, for example, have a self-generated map of its surroundings, which contains the detected obstacles.Using this environmental map, the tillage implement 2 can locate itself in its surroundings and avoid collisions with obstacles. The tillage implement 2 also has a communication interface 10 to communicate with the home communication network 7 and / or other tillage implements 1.

[0025] The base station 8 shown also has a communication interface 10, in this case in the form of a WLAN module, through which the base station 8 is also integrated into the home communication network 7. In addition, the base station 8 has a control and evaluation unit 6, which controls the operation of the charging unit 5, in particular the charging processes for charging the batteries 4 connected to the charging unit 5, namely, on the one hand, the battery 4 of the soil cultivation device 2, and on the other hand, the batteries 4 connected separately to the base station 8.

[0026] To ensure optimal operation of the tillage implements 1, 2 and to operate the batteries 3, 4 intelligently, ensuring gentle charging and discharging and maximizing their service life, the batteries 3, 4 used in the tillage implements 1, 2 are only partially charged, so that their maximum charging capacity is not reached. Specifically, the batteries 3, 4 of the tillage implements 1, 2 are always only partially charged, to a maximum of 80 percent of their maximum possible charging capacity. In contrast, the batteries 4 connected directly to the base station 8, which are not currently used in a tillage implement 1, 2, can be charged to their maximum possible charge level – either all of them or only some of them – although it is accepted that this will reduce the service life of these batteries 4.By fully utilizing the charge level of individual batteries 4, it is possible to provide sufficient energy even for long-term soil cultivation activities with high energy demands. If a battery 3, 4 of the respective soil cultivation implement 1, 2 is depleted, a fully charged battery 4 can be removed from the base station 8 and inserted into the respective soil cultivation implement 1, 2, whereupon the soil cultivation activity can be continued and successfully completed.

[0027] Preferably, the accumulators 3, 4 have an individual identifier linked to information about the maximum charge level to which each accumulator 3, 4 may be charged. This identifier can preferably be read by a sensor (not shown) of the charging devices 5 or the base station 8, so that the maximum charge level intended for each accumulator 3, 4 is not exceeded. The identifier can, for example, be an optically readable code, such as a barcode, QR code, or similar. Alternatively, the identifier of each accumulator 3, 4 can also be transmitted wirelessly via a communication interface 10 of the tillage implement 1, 2 or of the accumulator 3, 4. In the illustrated embodiment according to Fig.Figure 1 shows different types of accumulators 4 at the base station 8, namely those which have their own communication interface 10 and those which do not have a communication interface 10, but instead have, for example, a code printed on the housing of the accumulator 4.

[0028] The control and evaluation unit 6 of the base station 8 is designed to charge one or more of the accumulators 4 in an event-controlled manner. For this purpose, the control and evaluation unit 6 receives information via the communication interface 10 of the base station 8 indicating that other participants in the home communication network 7, for example, the tillage implement 1, are starting tillage work. According to one possible method of the invention, the detection unit 9 of the charging unit 5 associated with the hand-held tillage implement 1 detects when the tillage implement 1 is removed from the charging unit 5. The movable contact elements of the detection unit 9, which spring forward when the spatial position of the tillage implement 1 or its accumulator 3 changes, indicate that a user presumably intends to use the tillage implement 1 for tillage work.The communication interface 10 of the charging unit 5 then sends a signal via the home communication network 7 to the control and evaluation unit 6 of the base station 8, or rather to its communication interface 10. The signal contains information about the removal of the soil cultivation device 1 from the charging unit 5. Depending on predefined functional relationships, for example in the form of if-then conditions, the control and evaluation unit 6 of the base station 8 then controls the charging of one of the accumulators 4 connected to the charging unit 5 of the base station 8.The charging start time of the accumulator 4 can be set with a time delay, so that the base station 8 does not control the charging process ad hoc, but rather plans a later charging start time depending on calculated conditions, in particular depending on a calculated time at which the tillage implement 1 is expected to have an additional energy requirement. In addition to the charging start time, the control and evaluation unit 6 can also control the charging speed of the charging unit 5. Furthermore, it can be provided that an accumulator 4, which is already being charged upon receipt of the signal, is then charged at a higher charging speed in order to be available to the tillage implement 1 in time when its own accumulator 3 is depleted.The control and evaluation unit 6 controls the charging operation of the charging unit 5 for one of the accumulators 4 such that this accumulator 4 reaches a defined target charge level when the energy of the accumulator 3 of the tillage implement 1 is depleted or has dropped to a defined minimum charge level. This ensures that the accumulator 4 is sufficiently charged precisely when the tillage implement 1 requires it. To determine the time at which the replacement accumulator 4 is needed, the control and evaluation unit 6 takes into account information received from the tillage implement 1 regarding its current energy demand and the typical duration of the tillage activity currently being performed.Based on this information, the control and evaluation unit 6 can determine when the energy currently stored in the accumulator 3 of the tillage implement 1 will be depleted and how much energy is still required for the successful completion of the current tillage operation. Based on this information, the control and evaluation unit 6 then determines the charging rate and charge level required for the accumulator 4 to ensure that the tillage implement 1 has sufficient energy available at the required time. The control and evaluation unit 6 then sets the charging start time and charging rate for the charging unit 5 of the base station 8. When the accumulator 3 of the tillage implement 1 is then discharged, or...Once the battery is discharged to a defined residual charge level, a user of the soil cultivation device 1 exchanges the discharged battery 3 for the fully charged battery 4 in order to continue the soil cultivation activity.

[0029] Instead of detecting the removal of the tillage implement 1 from the charging device 5, a change in the charge level of the tillage implement's battery 3 can also be determined. This change in charge level can be caused by a discharge process of the battery 3, for example, by a component of the tillage implement 1 drawing energy from the battery 3. Here, energy is drawn from the battery 3, for example, by the motor 13 of the tillage implement 1 when the tillage implement 1 is currently performing a tillage operation and requires energy for this purpose. In the first described embodiment, the removal of the tillage implement 1 from the charging device 5 was used to infer that a tillage operation was about to occur.When the change in the charge level of the battery 3 is detected, the communication interface 10 of the tillage implement 1 immediately transmits information to the base station 8 when the user starts the motor 13. The control and evaluation unit 6 then determines, as described above, the expected time for the required battery replacement and controls the charging unit 5 assigned to the base station 8 accordingly to charge one or more of the docked batteries 4.

[0030] Furthermore, according to a modified embodiment, it can also be provided that the control and evaluation unit 6 charges the accumulator 4 used in the second tillage implement 2 to a required charge level, and that the second tillage implement 2 replaces the first tillage implement 1 to continue the tillage activity when the energy reserves of the accumulator 3 of the first tillage implement 1 are exhausted. Within the framework of the embodiments according to the invention, it can also be provided that one of the accumulators 4 located at the base station 8 is designated as a main accumulator (master accumulator), which is always charged to the maximum possible charge level, while all other accumulators 3, 4 of the system always have only a partial charge to conserve energy and extend their service life.

[0031] If, contrary to expectations, the accumulators 3, 4 charged according to the invention, or a soil cultivation device 1, 2 comprising a charged accumulator 3, 4, are not required, the current charge level of the accumulator 3, 4 may be too high to be stored during prolonged periods of non-use without negatively impacting its service life. Therefore, it may be provided that the accumulator 3, 4 in question is discharged in this case. Such a forced discharge can, for example, be carried out within the soil cultivation device 1, 2 or in the accumulator 3, 4 itself via a loss resistor. Alternatively, it is possible that the excess charge is transferred to other accumulators 3, 4 or other energy storage devices that still have a corresponding storage capacity available. Finally, it may also be provided that the excess energy of an accumulator 3, 4 is fed back into the household power grid. List of reference symbols 1 soil cultivation implement 2 Soil cultivation equipment 3 Accumulator 4 Accumulator 5 Charging device 6 Control and evaluation unit 7 Home communication network 8 Base station 9 Detection device 10 Communication interface 11 Floor nozzle 12 Dust chamber 13 Engine 14 blowers 15 stem 16 handle 17 switches 18-inch wheel 19 Cleaning element

Claims

[1] Method for operating a system comprising at least one soil cultivation implement (1, 2), at least two accumulators (3, 4), at least one charging device (5) for charging at least one of the accumulators (3, 4) and a control and evaluation device (6), wherein the control and evaluation device (6) controls the charging device (5) for charging an accumulator (3, 4) depending on a defined condition, characterized by , that the control and evaluation unit (6) controls a charging operation, in particular a charging start time and / or a charging speed, of the charging unit (5) for charging a second accumulator (4) depending on an event that changes the charge state of a first accumulator (3) and / or a spatial position of a soil cultivation device (1, 2) having the first accumulator (3). [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by, that the control and evaluation unit (6) controls the charging operation for charging the second accumulator (4) depending on a start of a working operation of a soil cultivation device (1, 2) having the first accumulator (3) which causes a discharge process of the first accumulator (3). [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the control and evaluation unit (6) controls the charging operation for charging the second accumulator (4) depending on the removal of the soil cultivation device (1, 2) having the first accumulator (3) from a base station (8) receiving the soil cultivation device (1, 2), wherein the base station (8) detects a position of the soil cultivation device (1, 2) by means of a detection device (9). [4] Method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by, that the tillage implement (1, 2) and / or the base station (8) transmits information about the discharge process of the first accumulator (3) and / or the removal of the tillage implement (1, 2) from the base station (8) to the control and evaluation unit (6), the information being transmitted in particular wirelessly via a home communication network (7) of the system. [5] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the first accumulator (3) located in the soil cultivation device (1, 2) is always kept with only a partial charge during a rest phase in which the soil cultivation device (1, 2) is not in operation. [6] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the second accumulator (4) connected to the charging device (5) is charged to a defined target charge level, in particular a maximum achievable charge capacity of the second accumulator (4). [7] Method according to claim 6, characterized by , that the control and evaluation unit (6) controls the charging operation of the charging unit (5) in such a way that the second accumulator (4) reaches the defined target charge level when a defined minimum charge level of the first accumulator (3) is reached. [8] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the control and evaluation unit (6) initiates a forced discharge process when the second accumulator (4) has reached a defined target charge level and / or a maximum achievable charge capacity and is not at least partially discharged within a defined period of time by the operation of a soil cultivation device (1, 2). [9] System comprising at least one soil cultivation implement (1, 2), at least two accumulators (3, 4), at least one charging device (5) for charging at least one of the accumulators (3, 4) and a control and evaluation device (6) for controlling the charging device (5) for charging an accumulator (3, 4) depending on a defined condition, characterized by that the system is set up and configured to execute a method according to one of the preceding claims. [10] System according to claim 9, characterized by , that the charging device (5) and the control and evaluation device (6) are parts of a base station (8) receiving a soil cultivation device (1, 2), wherein the base station (8) has a detection device (9) for detecting the presence of the soil cultivation device (1, 2) at the base station (8) and / or a communication interface (10) for communicating with a soil cultivation device (1, 2). [11] System according to claim 10, characterized by , that the detection device (9) includes a contact switch, a motion sensor, a light barrier and / or a charging current sensor.

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