SOIL PROCESSING EQUIPMENT WITH MULTIPLE TANKS FOR LIQUID STORAGE

Description

field of technology

[0001] The invention relates to a soil cultivation device, in particular a wet cleaning device, comprising a soil cultivation element, a plurality of tanks for storing liquid and a control device for controlling a dispensing of liquid from one or more tanks onto the soil cultivation element and / or an area to be worked, wherein the control device is configured to automatically control a dispensing of liquid depending on a soil parameter of the area to be worked, wherein the soil cultivation device has a soil sensor or a communication interface for transmitting a soil parameter to the control device.

[0002] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating a soil tillage device, wherein a soil tillage element tills an area to be tilled, and wherein a control device controls a dispensing of liquid from one or more tanks onto the soil tillage element and / or the area to be tilled, wherein the control device automatically controls a dispensing of liquid depending on a soil parameter of the area to be tilled, wherein a soil sensor or a communication interface of the soil tillage device transmits a soil parameter to the control device. State of the art

[0003] Soil cultivation devices of the aforementioned type are known, for example, from US Pat. Nos. 6,446,302 B1 and 8,719,998. These can be, for example, wet cleaning devices that clean a surface to be cleaned with a soil cultivation element while adding liquid.

[0004] For example, German utility model DE 20 2015 102 428 U1 discloses a vacuum cleaner with a fluid distributor configured to distribute cleaning fluid onto a surface to be cleaned. The vacuum cleaner may have multiple containers and a mixing system for controlling the composition of the cleaning fluid dispensed onto the surface to be cleaned. The composition of the cleaning fluid can be determined manually by specifying a ratio of cleaning fluids mixed by the mixing system.

[0005] Furthermore, US 6446302 B1 discloses a soil tillage device in which a liquid supply is controlled depending on the degree of soiling or moisture of a surface to be treated. US 8719998 B1 discloses a soil tillage device in which a liquid supply is controlled depending on a detected type of soiling present on a surface to be cleaned. Summary of the invention

[0006] Based on the above-described prior art, the object of the invention is to make a soil cultivation device more comfortable for a user.

[0007] To achieve this object, it is proposed that the floor sensor is configured to detect a floor type, differentiated between carpet and hard floor, of the area to be treated, or that the communication interface receives the floor parameters of the area to be treated either manually from a user or from an external communication device, and wherein the control device is assigned a file stored in a data memory which contains information about types of liquid and / or quantities of liquid and / or about tanks containing specific liquids required for the optimal treatment of areas having defined floor types, differentiated between carpet and hard floor.

[0008] The soil tillage implement is now equipped with a soil sensor that can detect a soil parameter of the area to be tilled. By knowing the properties of the area to be tilled, the control device can initiate targeted measures that are beneficial for optimal soil tillage. For this purpose, the control device is designed to control the dispensing of liquid from one or more tanks in such a way that one or more liquids that are particularly suitable for fulfilling the soil tillage task are selected. The control device automatically initiates the corresponding liquid dispensing without the user of the soil tillage implement having to intervene manually, in particular without the user having to select one or more suitable liquids or specify their quantities and / or mixing ratios themselves.The soil sensor can, in particular, be an optical detection device that detects properties of the surface to be worked, such as its color, gloss, structure, or the like. In particular, the soil sensor can, for example, have an image capture device that captures one or more images of the surface to be worked, which are compared by the control device with reference images in order to be able to make a decision about the current soil parameters and thus also measures regarding the required liquids. To select one or more liquids, the soil sensor of the soil cultivation device first determines the soil parameters of the surface to be worked.

[0009] Alternatively, a soil parameter can also be transmitted to the control device via a communication interface, whereby the communication interface receives the soil parameter of the area to be worked either manually from a user or from an external communication device. For example, a soil parameter can be received or retrieved from an external communication device, for example from a mobile device or another device, such as another soil cultivation device, a cloud server, a local server, or the like. Alternatively, a user can also transfer one or more soil parameters to the control device of the soil cultivation device via the communication interface of the soil cultivation device itself, for example via a keyboard.A suitable communication interface here can be a device through which a user can directly make manual inputs on the soil tillage device. Such a communication interface is, for example, a keyboard, a touchscreen, or the like. Furthermore, the communication interface can also be a WLAN module, a Bluetooth module, or the like, which receives the soil parameter from an external communication device. The soil sensor detecting the soil parameter or the communication interface receiving the soil parameter has a communication connection to the control device of the soil tillage device, so that the soil parameter can be transmitted to the control device and further processed by it.

[0010] Within the scope of the invention, the floor processing device can be, in particular, a wet cleaning device, but also a combined vacuum and mop device. In addition to cleaning devices, other floor processing devices are also conceivable, for example, polishing devices, sanding devices, floor polishers, shine cleaners, or others. Furthermore, the floor processing device can be either a hand-held floor processing device operated by a user or a self-propelled floor processing device, similar to an autonomous mobile robot.

[0011] According to the invention, the floor sensor is designed to detect a floor type of the surface to be treated. Floor type is understood to mean the distinction between carpet and hard floor of the surface to be treated. Furthermore, the floor type can be differentiated according to further subgroups, for example deep-pile and low-pile carpets, hard floors such as tiled floors, parquet floors, laminate floors, stone floors, cork floors or others. In addition, the floor sensor can also be designed to detect a surface structure, a type of soiling and / or a degree of soiling of the surface to be treated. The control device can thus obtain information about, for example, a composition of dirt, in particular dust, sand, food residues or the like, as well as about an intensity of the soiling or even a state of soiling, e.g. dried or fresh soiling.Based on the knowledge of these soil parameters, the control unit can then determine appropriate measures for treating the area, in particular measures for cleaning the area, removing contamination, restoring the shine of the surface, or similar measures. The soil sensor transmits the detected soil parameters via the communication link to the control unit, which then determines one or more liquids from one or more tanks to be applied to the area to be treated.

[0012] In particular, it is proposed that the soil tillage implement have a mixing device connected to the tanks, which is configured to receive liquid from one or more tanks, mix it if necessary (if there are multiple liquids), and direct it to the soil tillage element and / or the area to be tilled. According to this embodiment, the liquid is not dispensed directly from the tank onto the area to be tilled or the soil tillage element, but is first collected in a mixing device, mixed there if necessary, if there is more than one liquid, and from there directed to the area to be tilled or the soil tillage element. The mixing device can, for example, have a motor-driven agitator, a pump, or other devices suitable for conveying and / or mixing the liquids.

[0013] According to the invention, the control device is assigned a file stored in a data memory, which contains information about the types of liquid and / or quantities of liquid required for the optimal cultivation of areas having defined soil parameters and / or about tanks containing certain liquids. Based on one or more soil parameters, the control device of the soil cultivation device determines one or more liquids using a set of rules and controls the liquid delivery in such a way that optimal soil cultivation can take place. For example, the file can contain a table in which an assignment between soil parameters and one or more types of liquid and / or quantities of liquid is made. This table can be created and / or supplemented by the user themselves and / or already stored in the data memory by the manufacturer of the soil cultivation device.The data storage device can also be an external data storage device, which the control device of the soil tillage implement can access via a communication interface. In particular, the file can be stored on a cloud server, a local server, an external communication device, such as a mobile phone, or the like. Furthermore, the stored file preferably also contains information about tanks containing specific liquids, so that the control device knows which liquid is stored in which tank.Based on the soil parameters known to the control device and the information stored in the data memory, suitable liquids can then be dispensed fully automatically onto the area to be treated, so that the user does not have to take any further steps, in particular does not have to determine a suitable cleaning agent, an optimal amount of liquid or a specific tank for dispensing the liquid.

[0014] In particular, it is proposed that a first tank contain a base liquid, in particular water, and that a second tank contain an additive, in particular a cleaning additive. According to this embodiment, the first tank can contain a solvent, to which additives are added from one or more tanks.

[0015] Furthermore, it can also be provided that a tank contains a cleaning agent, an abrasive, a polishing agent, a care product, an oil and / or a shine cleaner. A suitable mixture can then be produced from the liquids stored separately in different tanks, which enables optimal floor treatment, in particular the cleaning of a dirty surface. For example, a supply of water can be kept in one tank and various additives such as cleaning agents, polishing agents, care products or shine cleaners in the other tanks, which are then mixed with the water to form a cleaning liquid. In the same way, an abrasive, a polishing agent, a care product or similar can be mixed, in particular a mixture which, for example, contains both cleaning-active substances and a care product and / or an agent for improving the shine of the surface to be treated.

[0016] Furthermore, it is proposed that one or more tanks and / or the mixing device and / or a flow supply line formed between a tank and the mixing device have a valve element that can be actuated by means of the control device. The control device is designed to control the valve elements such that, depending on the required mixture of a liquid to be applied to a surface to be treated, one or more tanks are opened, wherein time control can also be carried out such that a defined quantity of liquid is dispensed from the respective tank. The valve element can be arranged directly on the respective tank or in a flow supply line located between the tank and the mixing device. Furthermore, a liquid inlet of the mixing device can have a valve element that blocks or opens the supply of liquid from a specific tank.

[0017] Furthermore, it is proposed that one or more tanks be removably arranged in and / or on the soil cultivation device. In particular, one or more tanks can be disposable containers. In particular, a tank could be designed in the form of a disposable cartridge or a disposable capsule, which can be replaced particularly easily and does not need to be refilled. However, it is preferably recommended to use removable and refillable tanks, particularly with regard to avoiding waste from empty disposable containers. The respective tank could be provided with a label indicating the type of liquid to be filled in order to make filling easier for the user and, in particular, to avoid confusion when mixing a required liquid.Furthermore, it is possible for a user of the soil tillage implement to transmit information to the control unit about which tank is filled with which type of liquid. Furthermore, a liquid contained in a specific tank could also be automatically identified through the use of disposable containers, which, for example, carry a code, particularly an optical code, containing information about the contents. This information can also be used to update the file stored in the data storage device, which provides the control unit with information about which liquid is stored in which tank.

[0018] Finally, it can be provided that the control device is configured to additionally control a liquid dispensing depending on a user input containing information about a type of planned soil cultivation activity and / or a desired soil cultivation result, wherein the control device is configured, in particular, to select, depending on the information, a file stored in a data memory which contains information about required liquid types and / or liquid quantities and / or tanks. This configuration also allows the selection of a liquid depending on the type of soil cultivation, for example, wet wiping or polishing, to be taken into account in the control system for the control device.The user can make the selection directly on the soil tillage device itself or via an external communication device, such as a remote control, a mobile device, or the like. Furthermore, it is conceivable for the user to specify additional conditions for the control system of the control device. For example, a desired scent of a cleaning agent or a desired degree of shine could be selected as the soil tillage result, which would then be incorporated into the control system and influence the use of one or more liquids.

[0019] In addition to the previously described soil cultivation device, the invention further proposes a method for operating a soil cultivation device, in particular for operating a previously described soil cultivation device, wherein a soil cultivation element cultivates an area to be cultivated, and wherein a control device controls a dispensing of liquid from one or more tanks onto the soil cultivation element and / or the area to be cultivated, wherein the control device automatically controls a dispensing of liquid depending on a soil parameter of the area to be cultivated, wherein a soil sensor or a communication interface of the soil cultivation device transmits a soil parameter to the control device, that the soil parameter, namely a soil type, differentiated between carpet and hard floor, of the area to be cultivated is detected by a soil sensor of the soil cultivation device,or that the communication interface receives the floor parameters of the area to be treated either manually from a user or from an external communication device, and wherein the control device accesses a file stored in a data memory which contains information about the types of liquid and / or quantities of liquid required for the optimal treatment of areas having defined floor types, differentiated between carpet and hard floor, and / or about tanks containing certain liquids.

[0020] The previously described features and advantages of the soil tillage device also apply to the method. The method involves a soil sensor first detecting the soil type of an area to be tilled and forwarding this information to the control device, which then accesses a file stored in a data memory that, depending on the soil type(s), specifies a mixing recipe for several liquids stored in the tanks or specifies the use of just a single liquid. The control device can then control a mixing device of the soil tillage device such that, for example, several respective liquids are fed from the tanks to the soil tillage element and / or the area to be tilled, with prior mixing preferably taking place by means of a motor-driven agitator, a pump, or the like.

[0021] Furthermore, it can also be provided that the dispensing of liquid from one or more tanks is additionally controlled depending on a user input containing a selection of a specific soil cultivation activity and / or a desired soil cultivation result to be achieved. The user can transmit these specifications to the control device via a communication interface, whereupon the control device selects a corresponding file from a data storage device containing information on the required liquid types and / or liquid quantities and / or tank locations to fulfill the user-selected specifications. Short description of the drawings

[0022] The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments. They show: Fig. 1 shows a soil tillage device according to a first embodiment, Fig. 2 shows a soil tillage device according to a second embodiment, Fig. 3 shows a soil tillage device according to a third embodiment in communication with an external communication device and an external data memory, Fig. 4 shows a sketched mixing device of a soil tillage device in a first switching position, Fig. 5 shows the mixing device according to Figure 4 in a second switching position, Fig. 6the mixing device according to the Figures 4 and 5 in a third switching position, Fig. 7 shows a partial area of ​​a soil tillage device during the processing of different areas, Fig. 8 shows a partial area of ​​a soil tillage device with a mixing device and a soil tillage element according to a first embodiment, Fig. 9 shows a partial area of ​​a soil tillage device with a mixing device and a soil tillage element according to a second embodiment. Description of the embodiments

[0023] Figure 1 shows a soil cultivation device 1 according to a first embodiment. The soil cultivation device 1 is designed as a wet cleaning device, which here is designed as a hand-held wet cleaning device with a base device 16 and an attachment 17. The attachment 17 is detachably mounted on the base device 16. The base device 16 has a handle 18, which is designed to be telescopic, so that a user of the soil cultivation device 1 can adjust the length of the handle 18 to his body size. Furthermore, a handle 19 is arranged on the handle 18, by which the user can guide the soil cultivation device 1 during operation, i.e. over a surface 21, 22 to be cleaned (see Figure 7) can be pushed. During operation, the user usually guides the soil tillage device 1 in opposite directions of movement over the area 21, 22 to be tilled. In doing so, he alternately pushes the soil tillage device 1 away from himself and pulls it towards himself. A switch is arranged on the handle 19, which forms a communication interface 8 and serves, on the one hand, to switch a motor of the soil tillage device 1 on and off, and, on the other hand, to select a specific soil tillage activity from several possible soil tillage activities that the soil tillage device 1 can carry out, for example a vacuuming activity, wiping activity and / or polishing activity.

[0024] The attachment 17 has a floor processing element 2, which here is a cleaning roller rotating about a rotation axis and having a plurality of bristle elements 23 that can mechanically act on the surface 21, 22 to be cleaned. A floor sensor 7 is arranged on the underside of the attachment 17 facing the surface 21, 22 to be cleaned, the detection area of ​​which is directed towards the surface 21, 22. The floor sensor 7 here has an optical sensor, in particular a camera, which can detect a floor parameter of the surface 21, 22, namely a floor type of the surface 21, 22 to be cleaned, e.g., a carpet or a hard floor such as tiled floor, wooden floor, and others. The floor sensor 7 has a communication connection 9 to a control device 6 arranged in the base unit 16, which can evaluate the data detected by the floor sensor 7.For this purpose, the control device 6 accesses a data memory 11 in which reference values ​​for known areas 21, 22 are stored, for example reference images for different soil types. The attachment 17 further comprises wheels 20, which serve to drive and guide the movement of the soil tillage implement 1 over the area 21, 22 to be tilled. Furthermore, several, here three, tanks 3, 4, 5 are arranged in the base unit 16 of the soil tillage implement 1. These tanks are removably held in the soil tillage implement 1 so that they can be removed, refilled and / or cleaned. The tanks 3, 4, 5 serve to store different liquids. For example, the tank 3 can store a base liquid, here for example water. The tanks 4, 5 contain different cleaning additives, which can be added to the base liquid to increase the cleaning effect of the water.The tanks 3, 4, 5 are each connected via a flow line 12 to a mixing device 10, which can mix the liquids and direct them to the soil cultivation element 2 in order to moisten the soil cultivation element 2 or the surface 21, 22 to be cleaned. Each tank 3, 4, 5 is assigned a valve element 13 in the region of an outlet opening, which can be switched by means of the control device 6, i.e., can either be opened to discharge liquid or closed to block the flow connection.

[0025] During operation of the soil cultivation device 1, the soil sensor 7 detects the soil type of the area 21, 22 to be cleaned. An image captured by the soil sensor 7 is compared with the reference images stored in the data memory 11. Depending on the detected soil type, the control device 6 then controls the valve elements 13 such that one or more liquids from the tanks 3, 4, 5 reach the mixing device 10, are mixed there if necessary, and are finally delivered by the mixing device 10 to the soil cultivation element 2. To control the valve elements 13, the control device 6 accesses the data memory 11, in which a file with a set of rules is stored which, based on the known soil type, specifies an optimal cleaning additive for the base liquid water.For this purpose, the data storage 11 can, for example, contain a table that contains a mapping between defined soil types and preferred liquids. This table can be created by a user of the soil cultivation device 1 or can be defined and saved in advance by the manufacturer of the soil cultivation device 1. Alternatively, the table can also be retrieved from an external data storage 11, for example a cloud server, a local server, or another external device. In addition, the user can specify a desired operating mode using the switch arranged on the handle 19 of the soil cultivation device 1, which represents a communication interface 8, here, for example, a wipe-cleaning of the soil cultivation device 1. The control device 6 then selects a specific file containing specifications for wipe-cleaning.Additional files can be created, for example, for simple vacuum cleaning, polishing, a glossy finish for the surface 21, 22, or other purposes. Furthermore, it is conceivable for the user to specify additional parameters for the control device 6. This could, for example, be a desired fragrance of a liquid used or a desired gloss level for the surface 21, 22 after completion of the soil cultivation. The desired soil cultivation activity specified by the user and / or the desired soil cultivation result then determine a file to be selected from the data storage 11, which then contains a corresponding set of rules for selecting liquids that allow the desired goal to be achieved.

[0026] Figure 2shows a second embodiment of a soil tillage device 1, which here provides a flat soil tillage element 2. The soil tillage element 2 is a cleaning cloth arranged on a flat support plate. The cleaning cloth is preferably elastic, in particular a microfiber cloth. This can be attached to corresponding fastening means of the support plate using fastening elements, for example Velcro fasteners. The soil tillage element 2 is arranged on the support plate such that an active side of the soil tillage element 2 faces the area 21, 22 to be worked. The support plate, in turn, is attached to an oscillating plate (not shown), which preferably performs an eccentric oscillating movement around a center of rotation. The oscillating plate can, for example, be driven at an oscillation frequency of 1000 rpm up to 2000 rpm.This oscillating movement of the oscillating plate and thus also of the soil tillage element 2 occurs relative to a housing of the soil tillage device 1 and is superimposed during operation with a displacement of the soil tillage device 1 over the surface 21, 22 to be cleaned. Both movements, ie both the manual displacement movement and the oscillating movement of the soil tillage element 2, occur in mutually parallel planes.

[0027] Figure 3shows a third embodiment of a soil tillage device 1 according to the invention, which is designed as a self-propelled cleaning robot. The autonomous soil tillage device 1 has a plurality of motor-driven wheels 20 for moving the soil tillage device 1 within an environment. Furthermore, the soil tillage device 1 has a navigation device with a distance measuring device 14, which here is designed, for example, as an optical triangulation measuring device. The distance measuring device 14 measures distances to obstacles present in the environment, such as furniture, walls, and / or people. A control device 6 of the soil tillage device 1 creates a map of the environment from the distance measurement data, which map the soil tillage device 1 can use to orient itself during movement.The soil tillage device 1 has several soil tillage elements 2, including a motor-driven cleaning roller that rotates and sweeps over a surface 21, 22. Alternatively, other types of soil tillage elements 2 are of course also possible, in particular flat plates equipped with a cleaning coating, rotating pads, or the like. Here, too, a tank system (not shown) comprising several tanks 3, 4, 5, as well as a mixing device 10 (not shown), are assigned to the soil tillage element 2. The arrangement can be as shown in FIGS. Figures 1 and 2 The control device 6 of the soil cultivation device 1 is further configured to open valve elements 13 in order to introduce liquid from one or more tanks 3, 4, 5 into a mixing device 10 and from there to discharge it onto the soil cultivation element 2 or onto the surface 21, 22 to be cleaned.

[0028] The soil tillage device 1 further comprises a communication interface 8, which in this case is part of a WLAN module. Furthermore, the soil tillage device 1 has a display, namely a touchscreen, which represents a communication interface 8 for manual inputs from a user on the soil tillage device 1. In the embodiment shown, the soil tillage device 1 communicates with an external communication device 15, which in this case is a user's mobile device, for example, a mobile phone or a tablet computer. The external communication device 15 has a display 24 and a communication interface 25, via which the external communication device 15 can communicate with the soil tillage device 1.

[0029] The soil tillage implement 1 is further connected via the communication interface 8 to an external data storage device 11, here, for example, a cloud server, which contains files with soil-type-dependent information about the types of liquid required for tilling areas 21, 22, the amounts of liquid required, and the location of the tanks 3, 4, 5 containing a required liquid. A file can, for example, contain a table that provides information on the liquids to be used, assigned to a specific soil type. To control the valve elements 13 assigned to the tanks 3, 4, 5, as well as the mixing device 10, the control device 6 accesses the external data storage device 11.

[0030] The soil tillage implement 1 according to the Figure 3does not have its own soil sensor 7 for detecting a soil type or other soil parameters such as surface structure, type of soiling, or degree of soiling, but instead obtains information about one or more soil parameters of the area 21, 22 to be worked from the external communication device 15, which in turn has previously received corresponding information about the soil type through a user input. The information about the soil type is transmitted from the external communication device 15 via the communication interfaces 25 and 8 to the control device 6 of the soil cultivation device 1, whereupon the control device 6 switches the valve elements 13 accordingly to provide a liquid mixture that is fed to the soil cultivation element 2 or the area 21, 22 to be cleaned.

[0031] The Figures 4 to 6show, by way of example, a system with three tanks 3, 4, 5, a mixing device 10 and flow supply lines 12 formed between the tanks 3, 4, 5 and the mixing device 10. The mixing device 10 has a valve element 13 which, depending on a current switching position, can connect a specific tank 3, 4, 5 to a chamber of the soil tillage device 1 (not shown) in order to first guide a liquid from the corresponding tank 3, 4, 5 into the chamber and mix it there with liquids from other tanks 3, 4, 5, before the liquid mixture is then finally guided to the soil tillage element 2 or the area 21, 22 to be cleaned. Figures 4 to 6 show different switching positions of the valve element 13 of the mixing device 10, whereby in Figure 4 the tank 3 containing a base liquid is connected to the chamber, wherein Figure 5 the tank 4 containing a cleaning additive is connected to the chamber and wherein Figure 6 The tank 5 containing a different cleaning additive is connected to the chamber. The liquids are first stored within the chamber of the soil cultivation device 1 and, if necessary, mixed by means of an agitator or the like before the entire liquid mixture is discharged from the chamber. For this purpose, a valve element 13, which is arranged at an outlet of the chamber, is preferably also opened.

[0032] Figure 7shows a working operation of the floor cultivation device 1 on different surfaces 21, 22. Here, the floor cultivation device 1 is initially located on a surface 21 which corresponds to a tiled floor. Next to it is an area 22 which is a carpet. The floor sensor 7 of the floor cultivation device 1 detects the floor type of the surface 21, namely the tiled floor, and transmits the detection result to the control device 6 of the floor cultivation device 1, which can then mix a liquid using the mixing device 10, which enables optimal cleaning of the tiles 21. As soon as the floor sensor 7 is located above the surface 22, i.e. above the carpet, the control device 6 stops the dispensing of liquid and, for example, only vacuum cleaning of the surface 22 takes place.

[0033] The Figures 8 and 9show sketches of different possibilities for moistening a soil cultivation element 2. Figure 8 shows a soil cultivation element 2 designed as a cleaning roller, to which liquid is applied from the outside. Here, the soil cultivation element 2 is sprayed from the outside via two outlet nozzles 26. Figure 9 In contrast, FIG. 1 shows a design in which the soil cultivation element 2 is a cleaning roller moistened from the inside. The liquid is introduced into the soil cultivation element 2 via appropriate supply lines from the mixing device 10, from where the liquid can reach the surface through a permeable material of the soil cultivation element 2. List of reference symbols

[0034] 1 Soil cultivation equipment 26 Outlet nozzle 2 Soil cultivation element 3 tank 4 tank 5 tank 6 Control device 7 floor sensor 8 Communication interface 9 Communication connection 10 Mixing device 11 Data storage 12 Flow supply line 13 valve element 14 Distance measuring device 15 Communication device 16 Base unit 17 Attachment 18 stalk 19 handle 20 wheel 21 Area 22 Area 23 Bristle element 24 Display 25 Communication interface

Claims

1. Floor treatment apparatus (1), in particular a wet cleaning apparatus, comprising a floor treatment element (2), a plurality of tanks (3, 4, 5) for storing liquid, and a control unit (6) for controlling the dispensing of liquid from one or more of the tanks (3, 4, 5) onto the floor treatment element (2) and / or onto a floor surface (21, 22) to be treated, wherein the control unit (6) is configured to automatically control a liquid dispensing operation depending on a floor parameter of the floor surface (21, 22) to be treated, wherein the floor treatment apparatus (1) comprises a floor sensor (7) or a communication interface (8) for transmitting a floor parameter to the control unit (6), characterized in that the floor sensor (7) is configured to detect a floor type of the floor surface (21, 22) to be treated, distinguished between carpet floor and hard floor, or the communication interface (8) receives the floor parameter of the floor surface either manually from a user or from an external communication device, and wherein the control unit (6) is associated with a file stored in a data memory (11), which file contains information regarding liquid types and / or liquid quantities required for the optimal treatment of floor surfaces (21, 22) of defined floor types, distinguished between carpet floor and hard floor, and / or information regarding tanks (3, 4, 5) containing specific liquids.

2. Floor treatment apparatus (1) according to claim 1, characterized by a floor sensor (7) configured to detect a type of contamination and / or a contamination level of the floor surface (21, 22) to be treated.

3. Floor treatment apparatus (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by a mixing device (10) connected to the tanks (3, 4, 5), which is configured to receive liquid from one or more of the tanks (3, 4, 5), optionally to mix said liquids, and to supply them to the floor treatment element (2) and / or to the floor surface (21, 22) to be treated.

4. Floor treatment apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a first tank (3, 4, 5) contains a base liquid, in particular water, and that a second tank (3, 4, 5) contains an additive, in particular a cleaning additive.

5. Floor treatment apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a tank (3, 4, 5) contains a cleaning agent, an abrasive agent, a polishing agent, a care agent, an oil, and / or a gloss cleaner.

6. Floor treatment apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more of the tanks (3, 4, 5) and / or the mixing device (10) and / or a flow supply line (12) formed between a tank (3, 4, 5) and the mixing device (10) comprises a valve element (13) that can be actuated by the control unit (6).

7. Floor treatment apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more of the tanks (3, 4, 5) are removably arranged in and / or on the floor treatment apparatus (1), in particular are formed as disposable containers.

8. Floor treatment apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (6) is configured to additionally control a liquid dispensing operation depending on a user input, which comprises information regarding a type of a planned floor treatment activity and / or a desired floor treatment result, wherein the control unit (6) is in particular configured to select, depending on the user input, a file stored in a data memory (11), which contains information regarding required liquid types and / or liquid quantities and / or tanks (3, 4, 5).

9. Method for operating a floor treatment apparatus (1), in particular a floor treatment apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a floor treatment element (2) treats a floor surface (21, 22) to be treated, and wherein a control unit (6) controls the dispensing of liquid from one or more tanks (3, 4, 5) onto the floor treatment element (2) and / or onto the floor surface (21, 22) to be treated, wherein the control unit (6) automatically controls a liquid dispensing operation depending on a floor parameter of the floor surface (21, 22) to be treated, wherein a floor sensor (7) or a communication interface (8) of the floor treatment apparatus (1) transmits a floor parameter to the control unit (6), characterized in that the floor parameter, namely a floor type, distinguished between carpet floor and hard floor, of the floor surface (21, 22) to be treated, is detected by a floor sensor (7) of the floor treatment apparatus (1), or the communication interface (8) receives the floor parameter of the floor surface either manually from a user or from an external communication device, and wherein the control unit (6) accesses a file stored in a data memory (11), which file contains information regarding liquid types and / or liquid quantities required for the optimal treatment of floor surfaces (21, 22) of defined floor types, distinguished between carpet floor and hard floor, and / or information regarding tanks (3, 4, 5) containing specific liquids.