LIQUID DISPENSER FOR A HIGH-PRESSURE CLEANER AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A HIGH-PRESSURE CLEANER BY MEANS OF A LIQUID DISPENSER

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a liquid dispensing device for a high-pressure cleaning device, comprising a liquid inlet which can be connected to a pump outlet of the high-pressure cleaning device via a pressure line for pressurized cleaning liquid, a liquid outlet for dispensing the cleaning liquid in the direction of an object to be cleaned, an input device, a display device and a control device for controlling the high-pressure cleaning device, wherein the control device has a memory element in which control parameters can be stored, and wherein at least one control parameter can be output to the high-pressure cleaning device by the control device.

[0002] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for controlling a high-pressure cleaning device by means of a liquid dispensing device of the type mentioned above.

[0003] High-pressure cleaning devices have a pump and a motor that drives the pump. A pressurized cleaning fluid, such as water, can be fed to the pump via a pump inlet. The cleaning fluid can be pressurized by the pump and fed to a fluid inlet of a fluid dispensing device via a pump outlet and a pressure line, such as a pressure hose, connected to the pump outlet. The fluid dispensing device is an accessory of the high-pressure cleaning device and can be designed, for example, as a spray gun. The pressurized cleaning fluid can be dispensed from the fluid dispensing device via a fluid outlet that is in flow connection with the fluid inlet, towards an object to be cleaned. The object to be cleaned can be, for example, a floor surface, a building facade, or a vehicle.The object to be cleaned can have a sensitive or less sensitive surface. WO 2018 / 171693 A1 discloses a liquid dispensing device with an object detection device for contactless detection of the object to be cleaned, in order to inform the user how far away the object to be cleaned is.

[0004] WO 2016 / 066209 A1 discloses a liquid dispensing device according to the preamble of claim 1, which, in addition to a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet in flow communication with the liquid inlet, comprises an input device, a display device, and a control device for controlling the high-pressure cleaning device. The control device comprises a memory element in which control parameters can be stored, which can be output by the control device to the high-pressure cleaning device in order to control the high-pressure cleaning device. The control parameters allow the high-pressure cleaning device to be operated in a predeterminable manner. For example, using a control parameter, the pressure of the cleaning liquid prevailing at the pump outlet or, for example, the volume flow of the cleaning liquid delivered by the high-pressure cleaning device can be adjusted in order to achieve the best possible cleaning result.

[0005] The optimal control parameters depend on the object being cleaned. For example, an object with a sensitive surface should be set to a lower cleaning fluid pressure than one with a less sensitive surface. Less experienced users often fail to adequately consider the influence of the control parameters on the cleaning result, so optimal cleaning results are not always achieved or sensitive surfaces could be damaged.

[0006] The object of the present invention is therefore to further develop a liquid dispensing device of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that it enables an improved cleaning result in a simple manner.

[0007] This object is achieved according to the invention in a generic liquid dispensing device in that the liquid dispensing device has an object detection device for contactless detection of the object to be cleaned, wherein object information corresponding to the object to be cleaned can be transmitted from the object detection device to the control device and processed by the control device to provide at least one control parameter adapted to the object to be cleaned.

[0008] The liquid dispensing device according to the invention has an object detection device with which the object to be cleaned can be detected without contact. For example, a floor surface, a building facade, or even a vehicle can be detected without contact by the object detection device. Object information corresponding to the object to be cleaned can be transmitted from the object detection device to the control device. The control device is configured to process the transmitted object information and to provide the high-pressure cleaning device, preferably wirelessly, with at least one control parameter adapted to the object to be cleaned. Due to the at least one control parameter thus provided to the high-pressure cleaning device, the high-pressure cleaning device can be operated in such a way that an improved cleaning result can be achieved without the user requiring in-depth knowledge.

[0009] It is advantageous if object information of a plurality of objects can be stored in the memory element of the control device, together with the corresponding control parameters for controlling the high-pressure cleaning device, and the object to be cleaned can be assigned by the control device to an object stored in the memory element based on the information transmitted by the object detection device, and depending on the assignment, at least one control parameter can be output by the control device to the high-pressure cleaning device. With such an embodiment of the liquid dispensing device according to the invention, object information of a plurality of objects can be stored in the memory element, for example, at the manufacturer's plant of the liquid dispensing device, together with the corresponding control parameters for controlling the high-pressure cleaning device.The detected object can then be assigned by the control device to an object stored in the memory element. To do this, the control device can check the degree of correspondence between the object to be cleaned and the objects stored in the memory element, assign the detected object to the object stored in the memory element with the greatest correspondence, and output the control parameters corresponding to the assigned object to the high-pressure cleaning device. In this way, the high-pressure cleaning device can be provided with at least one control parameter that is adapted to the object to be cleaned.

[0010] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one control parameter comprises a delivery parameter of the high-pressure cleaning device, in particular a default value or default value range for the pressure of the cleaning fluid, the volume flow of the cleaning fluid, and / or the dosage of a cleaning chemical that can be mixed into the cleaning fluid by the high-pressure cleaning device. Depending on the object to be cleaned, the high-pressure cleaning device can be operated based on the provision of the control parameter in the form of a delivery parameter in such a way that it provides cleaning fluid at a pressure optimally adapted to the object to be cleaned and / or at a volume flow optimally adapted to the object to be cleaned and / or optimally mixes a cleaning chemical into the cleaning fluid.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the object detection device is designed in the form of a camera for recording an image of the object to be cleaned, and image information corresponding to the object to be cleaned can be transmitted to the control device.

[0012] It is advantageous if the image information corresponding to the object to be cleaned can be compared by the control device with the objects stored in the memory using image recognition algorithms. For example, a pattern recognition method can be used for the comparison. The control device can check which object stored in the memory has the greatest degree of similarity with the object to be cleaned. The object to be cleaned can then be assigned by the control device to the stored object with the greatest degree of similarity, and control parameters corresponding to the assigned object can be output by the control device to the high-pressure cleaning device.

[0013] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the liquid dispensing device according to the invention, the assigned object can be displayed on the display device, in particular in the form of a pictogram, an image, and / or a label. The user can thus easily identify on the display device which stored object the object to be cleaned, detected by the object recognition device, has been assigned to by the control device.

[0014] It is advantageous if the assignment of the object to be cleaned to the object displayed on the display device, as made by the control device, can be confirmed by the user using the input device, wherein the at least one control parameter corresponding to the displayed object can be output to the high-pressure cleaning device by the control device after confirmation. With such an embodiment, the user can decide whether they agree with the assignment of the object to be cleaned to the object displayed on the display device, as made by the control device. If they agree, they can confirm the assignment. The confirmation then causes the control device to output at least one control parameter corresponding to the displayed object to the high-pressure cleaning device.The risk that control parameters are output due to incorrect assignment that are not adapted to the object to be cleaned can thus be kept particularly low.

[0015] It can be provided that the at least one control parameter corresponding to the displayed object can be automatically output to the high-pressure cleaning device by the control device if user confirmation is not received within a predetermined display time. With such a configuration of the liquid dispensing device according to the invention, it is not absolutely necessary for the user to expressly confirm the assignment of the object to be cleaned to the object displayed on the display device, as made by the control device. If no confirmation is received from the user within a predetermined display time, the control device automatically outputs the at least one control parameter corresponding to the displayed object. This facilitates the handling of the liquid dispensing device.

[0016] It is advantageous if the assignment of the object to be cleaned, made by the control device, to the object displayed on the display device can be rejected by the user via the input device, and the output of the at least one control parameter corresponding to the displayed object to the high-pressure cleaning device can be blocked. If the user disagrees with the assignment made by the control device of the object to be cleaned and detected by the object detection device to the object displayed on the display device, they can reject the assignment and thereby block the output of the at least one control parameter corresponding to the displayed object.

[0017] It is particularly advantageous if, after the control device has rejected the assignment of the object to be cleaned to the object displayed on the display device, a new detection of the object to be cleaned by the object detection device can be triggered automatically by the control device or by the user using the input device. The object detection device can thus detect the object to be cleaned again and transmit corresponding object information to the control device so that the control device can make a new assignment to an object stored in the memory element. For example, a new image of the object to be cleaned can be taken if the object detection device is designed as a camera, and the control device can use the new image to check which stored object has the greatest match with the object to be cleaned.The result of the assignment can then be displayed to the user again on the display device, allowing them to accept or reject the assignment. The re-detection of the object to be cleaned can be triggered automatically by the control device or by the user using the input device.

[0018] In an advantageous embodiment of the liquid dispensing device according to the invention, the object to be cleaned can be assigned by the user via the input device to an object stored in the memory element after the user has rejected the assignment made by the control device, and the at least one control parameter corresponding to the object to which the user has assigned the object to be cleaned can be output by the control device to the high-pressure cleaning device. In such an embodiment of the liquid dispensing device according to the invention, the object to be cleaned can be assigned by the control device in a first step to an object stored in the memory element, which can then be displayed on the display device.If the user disagrees with this assignment, they can reject the assignment made by the control unit and, in a second step, assign the object to be cleaned to an object stored in the memory element. Depending on the assignment made by the user, the control unit can then output at least one control parameter to the high-pressure cleaning device.

[0019] The user's assignment of the object to be cleaned to an object stored in the memory element can advantageously be stored in the memory element. This allows the control device to be trained by immediately assigning this object to the object specified by the user upon subsequent detection of the same object to be cleaned.

[0020] It is advantageous if, after the assignment made by the control device has been rejected, a suggested list of objects stored in the memory element can be displayed on the display device, and the object to be cleaned can be assigned to an object selected by the user from the suggested list. With such a configuration of the liquid dispensing device, the user can, after having rejected an assignment made by the control device of the object to be cleaned to an object stored in the memory element, select an object from a suggested list that can be displayed on the display device, so that the object to be cleaned and detected by the object detection device is then assigned to the object selected by the user. The control parameters corresponding to the object selected by the user from the suggested list can then be output by the control device to the high-pressure cleaning device.

[0021] It can also be provided that, following rejection of the assignment made by the control device, a new object not previously stored in the memory element can be specified by the user, along with one or more control parameters corresponding to the new object, and stored in the memory element. The object to be cleaned can be assigned to the new object, and at least one control parameter corresponding to the new object can be output by the control device to the high-pressure cleaning device. Such an embodiment gives the user the option of expanding the memory content of the memory element by storing a new object in the memory element along with this corresponding control parameter, and the object to be cleaned and detected by the object detection device can be assigned to the new object.

[0022] It is advantageous if the assignment of the object to be cleaned to the new object stored by the user in the memory element can be saved. This allows the control unit to be trained by assigning the object to be cleaned to the object stored by the user in the memory element upon subsequent detection, and the control parameters corresponding to this object are output to the high-pressure cleaning device.

[0023] It is particularly advantageous if the control device can be connected to an external data processing device for updating the memory content of the storage element and / or for updating a software program. A server, a computer network (cloud), a smartphone, or a tablet computer can be used as an external data processing device, for example. The external data processing device can provide information and preferably also software programs to the control device of the liquid dispensing device in order to facilitate and / or expand the control device's processing of object information.In particular, the control device can be taught to output at least one control parameter to the high-pressure cleaning device after the object to be cleaned has been detected by the object detection device, so that the operation of the high-pressure cleaning device can be adapted as optimally as possible to the object to be cleaned.

[0024] The fluid dispensing device forms an accessory for a high-pressure cleaning device. For example, the fluid dispensing device can be designed as a spray gun. In this case, the fluid inlet of the fluid dispensing device forms a gun inlet to which a pressure line, in particular a pressure hose, can be connected, so that cleaning fluid pressurized by the high-pressure cleaning device can be supplied to the spray gun via the pressure line. In such a design, the fluid outlet of the fluid dispensing device is designed as a gun outlet, which is in flow communication with the gun inlet and via which the pressurized fluid can be directed onto an object to be cleaned.

[0025] Preferably, the gun outlet is detachably connectable to a discharge device. The discharge device can be configured, for example, in the form of a spray lance, a spray nozzle, a washing brush, or a surface cleaning device.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment, particularly simple handling of the liquid dispensing device according to the invention is achieved in that the input device in combination with the display device forms a touch-sensitive screen (touch screen).

[0027] It is advantageous if the control device can output control signals for activating the high-pressure cleaning device. This allows the user to switch the high-pressure cleaning device on and off using the fluid dispensing device. For example, the fluid dispensing device can be provided with an operating element that can be operated by the user. Upon actuation of the operating element, the control device can output activation signals to the high-pressure cleaning device to activate the high-pressure cleaning device, thereby pressurizing the cleaning fluid. If the user releases the operating element, the control device no longer provides activation signals to the high-pressure cleaning device, so that the high-pressure cleaning device is switched off.

[0028] The operating element is advantageously designed as a pivoting lever that is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis and can be pivoted by the user from an inoperative position into an operating position against a spring-elastic restoring force. Pivoting the pivoting lever into the operating position causes the control device to issue activation signals to activate the high-pressure cleaning device. If the user releases the pivoting lever, it is pivoted into its inoperative position under the effect of the restoring force, thereby causing the control device to stop issuing the activation signals.

[0029] To prevent the unintentional discharge of cleaning fluid from the fluid dispenser when the high-pressure cleaning device is switched off, it is advantageous if the fluid dispenser has a check valve located in a flow path connecting the fluid outlet to the fluid inlet. When the high-pressure cleaning device is switched off, it no longer supplies pressurized cleaning fluid to the fluid dispenser, causing the pressure of the cleaning fluid at the fluid inlet to drop, and the check valve automatically returns to its closed position.When the high-pressure cleaning device is switched on again, the pressure of the cleaning fluid at the fluid inlet increases and the check valve automatically opens, thereby clearing the flow path between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet so that the pressurized cleaning fluid can be discharged via the fluid outlet.

[0030] The invention also relates to a method for controlling a high-pressure cleaning device by means of a liquid dispensing device, wherein the liquid dispensing device comprises a liquid inlet which can be connected to a pump outlet of the high-pressure cleaning device via a pressure line for pressurized cleaning liquid, and wherein the liquid dispensing device comprises a liquid outlet which is in flow connection with the liquid inlet for dispensing the cleaning liquid towards an object to be cleaned, and wherein the liquid dispensing device comprises an input device, a display device and a control device for controlling the high-pressure cleaning device, wherein the control device has a memory element in which control parameters can be stored, wherein at least one control parameter can be output to the high-pressure cleaning device by the control device,and wherein the liquid dispensing device comprises an object detection device for contactless detection of the object to be cleaned, wherein object information corresponding to the object to be cleaned is transmitted from the object detection device to the control device and processed by the latter to provide at least one control parameter adapted to the object to be cleaned, which is output to the high-pressure cleaning device.

[0031] The advantages already outlined in connection with the explanation of the liquid dispensing device according to the invention can also be achieved using the method. To avoid repetition, reference is made to the above explanations in this regard.

[0032] It is advantageous if object information of a plurality of objects is stored in the memory element of the control device together with the corresponding control parameters for controlling the high-pressure cleaning device and the object to be cleaned is assigned by the control device to an object stored in the memory element.

[0033] Preferably, the control device checks the degree of correspondence between the object to be cleaned and the objects stored in the memory element and assigns the object to be cleaned to the object stored in the memory element with the greatest correspondence, and the control parameters corresponding to the assigned object are output by the control device to the high-pressure cleaning device.

[0034] Alternatively, it can be provided that the control device assigns the detected object to an object specified by the user and then outputs the control parameters corresponding to this specified object to the high-pressure cleaning device.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the object detection device is designed in the form of a camera and takes an image of the object to be cleaned and transmits image information corresponding to the object to be cleaned to the control device.

[0036] Preferably, the control device processes the image information of the object to be cleaned provided by the camera by comparing this image information with the objects stored in the storage element using image recognition algorithms.

[0037] Advantageously, image recognition algorithms in the form of pattern recognition methods are used.

[0038] The object assigned by the control device to the object to be cleaned is advantageously displayed on the display device, in particular in the form of a pictogram, an image, and / or a designation. Preferably, the assignment of the object to be cleaned by the control device to an object stored in the memory element is either confirmed or rejected by the user.

[0039] If the user confirms the assignment made by the control device, then, in an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the at least one control parameter corresponding to the displayed object is transmitted from the control device to the high-pressure cleaning device. If the assignment made by the control device is rejected, the output of the at least one control parameter corresponding to the displayed object is blocked.

[0040] In an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, after the assignment made by the control device has been rejected, a renewed detection of the object to be cleaned by the object detection device is triggered by the control device automatically or by the user by means of the input device, and after renewed detection, a renewed assignment of the object to be cleaned to an object stored in the memory element is carried out by the control device.

[0041] It can also be provided that the object to be cleaned is assigned by the user by means of the input device to an object stored in the memory element after he has rejected the assignment made by the control device, and the at least one control parameter corresponding to the object to which the user has assigned the object to be cleaned is output by the control device to the high-pressure cleaning device.

[0042] For example, it can be provided that a suggested list of objects stored in the memory element is displayed to the user on the display device after the user has rejected the assignment made by the control device, and the user selects an object from the suggested list, and the object to be cleaned is then assigned to the selected object and control parameters corresponding to the selected object are output to the high-pressure cleaning device.

[0043] It can also be provided that, after the user has rejected the assignment made by the control device, he stores a new object not previously stored in the memory element together with one or more control parameters corresponding to the new object in the memory element, wherein the object to be cleaned is then assigned to the new object and at least one control parameter corresponding to the new object is output by the control device to the high-pressure cleaning device.

[0044] It is particularly advantageous if the control device is connected to an external data processing device, for example to a server, a computer network (cloud), a smartphone or a tablet computer, in order to update the memory content of the memory element and / or to update a software program.

[0045] The following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, in conjunction with the drawings, serves to explain the invention in more detail. They show: Figure 1: a first perspective view of a liquid dispenser for a high-pressure cleaning device; Figure 2: a second perspective view of the liquid dispenser from Figure 1 ; Figure 3: a longitudinal sectional view of the liquid dispenser of Figure 1 ; Figure 4: an enlarged view of detail X from Figure 3 .

[0046] The drawing schematically shows an advantageous embodiment of a liquid dispensing device according to the invention, which is designated overall by the reference numeral 10.

[0047] In the illustrated embodiment, the liquid dispensing device 10 is designed in the form of a spray gun 12 and has a housing 14 with a front housing portion 16 and a rear housing portion 18. A handle 20 protrudes from the rear housing portion 18, to which a protective bar 22 is connected. The protective bar 22, in combination with the handle 20 and the rear housing portion 18, surrounds a grip opening 24 into which the user can engage with their fingers when grasping the handle 20.

[0048] A spring-loaded check valve 26 is arranged in the rear housing area 18, into the valve housing 28 of which an inlet line 30 opens and to which an outlet line 32 is connected. The free end of the inlet line 30 forms a liquid inlet 34 and the free end of the outlet line 32 forms a liquid outlet 36. In the valve housing 28, a closing member 38 is pretensioned by a closing spring 40 into a closed position, in which it bears sealingly against a valve seat 42 and thereby interrupts a flow connection between the liquid inlet 34 and the liquid outlet 36. Against the closing force of the closing spring 40, the closing member 38 can be moved into an open position, in which it assumes a distance from the valve seat 42 and thereby releases the flow connection between the liquid inlet 34 and the liquid outlet 36.

[0049] A pressure line for pressurized cleaning fluid can be connected to the fluid inlet 34 in the usual way, via which the fluid inlet 34 can be connected to the pump outlet of a high-pressure cleaning device known per se and therefore not shown in the drawing for the sake of clarity, so that cleaning fluid pressurized by the high-pressure cleaning device can be made available to the spray gun 12. Under the action of the pressurized cleaning fluid, the closing member 38 of the check valve 26 automatically changes to its open position, so that the cleaning fluid can be discharged via the outlet line 32 and the fluid outlet 36 in the direction of an object to be cleaned.It can also be provided that a discharge device can be connected to the liquid outlet 36, for example a spray lance, a spray nozzle, a washing brush or a surface cleaning device, with the aid of which the object to be cleaned can be subjected to pressurized cleaning liquid.

[0050] High-pressure cleaning devices, which can be used to pressurize a cleaning fluid, are familiar to those skilled in the art. They consist of a motor, a motor-driven pump, and control electronics.

[0051] The spray gun 12 has an electrical unit 44 which is partially received by the rear housing portion 18, with a raised portion 46 of the electrical unit 44 protruding from a top surface 48 of the rear housing portion 18.

[0052] The electrical unit 44 is splash-proof in the form of a pre-assembled unit that can be inserted into the housing 14.

[0053] The electrical unit 44 has a control device 50 for controlling the high-pressure cleaning device, the pump outlet of which, as already mentioned, is in fluid communication with the liquid inlet 34 via a pressure line. The control device 50 is configured to communicate wirelessly, in particular via radio, with the control electronics of the high-pressure cleaning device in order to control the high-pressure cleaning device.

[0054] In addition, the electrical unit 44 has an input device 52 and a display device 54. The input device 52, in combination with the display device 54, forms a touchscreen 56.

[0055] The electrical unit 44 also has an object detection device 58, which in the illustrated embodiment is configured as a camera 60. Using the camera 60, an object to be cleaned, which is arranged in front of the spray gun 12, can be detected. For this purpose, the camera 60 can capture an image of the object to be cleaned.

[0056] The camera 60 is electrically connected to the control device 50 via a known connecting line (not shown in the drawing). The control device 50 has a memory element 62.

[0057] The electrical unit 44 has a battery 64 for power supply. In addition, the electrical unit 44 has an electronic switch 66 which is electrically connected to the control device 50. A switching plunger 68 of the electronic switch 66 can be actuated by the user by means of an operating element which, in the illustrated embodiment, is designed as a pivoting lever 70. The pivoting lever 70 is pretensioned by means of a return spring 72 into an inoperative position in which it projects into the handle opening 24. The user can pivot the pivoting lever 70 with their index finger against the force of the return spring 72 into an operating position. As a result, the pivoting lever 70 actuates the electronic switch 66 via the switching plunger 68, which then transmits a switching signal to the control device 50.The switching signal causes the control device 50 to continuously transmit an activation signal to the control electronics of the high-pressure cleaning device, so that the high-pressure cleaning device is switched on by the control electronics and pressurized cleaning fluid is supplied to the spray gun 12. The high-pressure cleaning device remains switched on until the user releases the switching lever 70, so that it assumes its inoperative position under the action of the return spring 72. The assumption of the inoperative position of the pivoting lever 70 is detected by the electronic switch 66. The electronic switch 66 then stops transmitting a switching signal to the control device 50, which then no longer provides an activation signal to the control electronics of the high-pressure cleaning device, so that the high-pressure cleaning device is switched off by the control electronics.

[0058] As already mentioned, an image of an object to be cleaned, which is positioned in front of the spray gun, can be taken by means of the camera 60. The camera 60 transmits corresponding image information, namely the captured image, to the control device 50. The memory element 62 of the control device 50 stores object information in the form of images of a plurality of objects, together with at least one control parameter for the high-pressure cleaning device corresponding to the respective object. The control parameters are selected such that the respective object can be optimally cleaned by the high-pressure cleaning device. Using image recognition algorithms, in particular with the aid of a pattern recognition method, the control device 50 compares the image of the object to be cleaned provided by the camera 60 with the objects stored in the memory element 62.The control device 50 checks which of the stored objects has the greatest degree of similarity with the object to be cleaned. The control device 50 then assigns the object to be cleaned to the object stored in the memory element with the greatest degree of similarity.

[0059] In a further step, the stored object assigned to the object to be cleaned is then displayed on the touch-sensitive screen 56 in the form of a pictogram, a label, and / or an image. The user can thus identify on the touch-sensitive screen 56 which stored object the control device 50 has assigned to the object to be cleaned.

[0060] The user can then either confirm or reject the assignment made by the control device 50 by touching corresponding screen fields of the touch-sensitive screen 56.

[0061] If the user confirms the assignment made by the control device, the control device 50 outputs the at least one control parameter corresponding to the object displayed on the screen 56 to the high-pressure cleaning device. The at least one control parameter is transmitted wirelessly to the control electronics of the high-pressure cleaning device. For this purpose, the control device 50, like the control electronics of the high-pressure cleaning device, has a corresponding radio element. After receiving the at least one control parameter, the control electronics controls or regulates the operation of the high-pressure cleaning device according to the at least one control signal.

[0062] The at least one control parameter can, for example, comprise a delivery parameter of the high-pressure cleaning device, in particular a preset value or a preset range for the pressure of the cleaning fluid, the volume flow of the cleaning fluid, and / or the dosage of a cleaning chemical that can be mixed into the cleaning fluid by the high-pressure cleaning device. The control parameter is selected such that it enables optimal cleaning of the respective object. Thus, if the object to be cleaned is correctly assigned to an object stored in the storage element 62, the high-pressure cleaning device is operated such that an optimal cleaning result can be achieved.

[0063] If the user rejects the assignment made by the control device 50, the at least one control parameter corresponding to the displayed object is not output by the control device 50 to the control electronics of the high-pressure cleaning device. Instead, the control device 50 automatically triggers a new detection of the object to be cleaned by the camera 60 again taking an image of the object to be cleaned. Alternatively, it can be provided that the user, after rejecting the assignment made by the control device 50, triggers a new detection of the object to be cleaned by touching a corresponding screen field on the screen 56. The image of the object to be cleaned subsequently captured is then again assigned by the control device 50 to an object stored in the memory element 62, which is then again displayed on the touch-sensitive screen 56.

[0064] The user also has the option of causing the control device 50 to display a suggested list of objects stored in the memory element 52 on the screen 56 by touching a corresponding screen field on the screen 56. The user can then select a stored object from the suggested list. The object to be cleaned and captured by the camera 60 is then assigned to the selected object, and the at least one control parameter corresponding to the selected object is output by the control device 50 to the high-pressure cleaning device.

[0065] In addition, the user has the option of storing a new object not previously stored in the memory element 62 together with one or more control parameters corresponding to the new object in the memory element 62, wherein the control parameters corresponding to the new object are then output to the high-pressure cleaning device by the control device 50.

[0066] The assignment made by the user of the object to be cleaned, which is detected by the camera 60, to the new object is stored in the memory element 52, so that when the object to be cleaned is detected again by means of the camera 60, the now stored assignment can be carried out automatically by the control device 50.

[0067] The memory content of the memory element 62 can be updated and supplemented in the same way as a software program of the control device 50. For this purpose, the control device 50 can be connected to an external data processing device, for example, to a server, a computer network (cloud), a smartphone, or a tablet computer. This allows not only object information of a large number of objects, along with corresponding control parameters for controlling the high-pressure cleaning device, to be stored in the memory element 62 at the manufacturer's factory of the spray gun 12, but also allows additional object information and control parameters to be stored in the memory element 62 at a later time by establishing a connection to the external data processing device.In addition, the software program used to process the object information provided by the object detection device 58, in particular pattern recognition methods, can be updated.

[0068] Detecting the object to be cleaned by means of the object detection device 58, in particular by means of the camera 60, has the advantage that the object to be cleaned can be cleaned as optimally as possible without the user requiring in-depth knowledge. The object to be cleaned is assigned to an object, with control parameters for optimal cleaning of this object being stored in the memory element 62 and being able to be output to the high-pressure cleaning device by the control device 50. This allows the operation of the high-pressure cleaning device to be easily adjusted such that the object to be cleaned can be cleaned as optimally as possible.

Claims

1. Liquid dispensing device for a high pressure cleaning device, comprising a liquid inlet (34), which is connectable to a pump outlet of the high pressure cleaning device by way of a pressure conduit for pressurized cleaning liquid, a liquid outlet (36) for dispensing the cleaning liquid in the direction of an object to be cleaned, an input apparatus (52), a display apparatus (54), and a control unit (50) for controlling the high pressure cleaning device, wherein the control unit (50) comprises a storage member (62) in which control parameters can be stored, and wherein at least one control parameter can be output from the control unit (50) to the high pressure cleaning device, characterized in that the liquid dispensing device (10) comprises an object detection unit (58) for contactlessly detecting the object to be cleaned, wherein object information corresponding to the object to be cleaned is transmittable from the object detection unit (58) to the control unit (50) and is processable by the control unit (50) for providing at least one control parameter adapted to the object to be cleaned.

2. Liquid dispensing device in accordance with Claim 1, characterized in that object information of a multitude of objects together with control parameters corresponding thereto for controlling the high pressure cleaning device are storable in the storage member (62) of the control unit (50), and the object to be cleaned can be associated by the control unit (50) with an object stored in the storage member (62) and, in dependence on the association, at least one control parameter can be output from the control unit (50) to the high pressure cleaning device.

3. Liquid dispensing device in accordance with Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one of the following applies: - the at least one control parameter comprises a conveying parameter of the high pressure cleaning device, in particular a predetermined value or predetermined value range for the pressure of the cleaning liquid, the volume flow of the cleaning liquid, and / or the dosing of a cleaning chemical that can be admixed to the cleaning liquid by the high pressure cleaning device; - the object detection unit is configured in the form of a camera for capturing an image of the object to be cleaned, wherein image information corresponding to the object to be cleaned is transmittable to the control unit (50), wherein the image information corresponding to the object to be cleaned is comparable with objects stored in the storage member (62) by the control unit (50) preferably by means of image recognition algorithms.

4. Liquid dispensing device in accordance with Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the object associated with the object to be cleaned by the control unit (50) is displayable on the display apparatus (54), in particular in the form of a pictogram, an image, and / or or a label.

5. Liquid dispensing device in accordance with Claim 4, characterized in that the association made by the control unit (50) of the object to be cleaned with the object displayed on the display apparatus is confirmable by the user by means of the input apparatus (52), wherein the at least one control parameter corresponding to the displayed object can be output from the control unit (50) to the high pressure cleaning device after confirmation.

6. Liquid dispensing device in accordance with Claim 5, characterized in that the at least one control parameter corresponding to the displayed object can be automatically output from the control unit (50) to the high pressure cleaning device if user confirmation does not occur within a predetermined display time.

7. Liquid dispensing device in accordance with Claim 4, 5, or 6, characterized in that the association made by the control unit (50) of the object to be cleaned with the object displayed on the display apparatus (54) is rejectable by the user by means of the input apparatus (52) and the output of the at least one control parameter corresponding to the displayed object to the high pressure cleaning device is blockable.

8. Liquid dispensing device in accordance with Claim 7, characterized in that after rejecting the association made by the control unit (50) of the object to be cleaned with the object displayed on the display apparatus (54), a re-detection by the object detection unit (58) of the object to be cleaned is triggerable automatically by the control unit (50) or by the user by means of the input apparatus (52).

9. Liquid dispensing device in accordance with Claim 7, characterized in that the object to be cleaned can be associated with an object stored in the storage member (62) by the user by means of the input apparatus after rejecting the association made by the control unit (50), and in that the at least one control parameter that corresponds to the object with which the user associated the object to be cleaned can be output from the control unit (50) to the high pressure cleaning device, and preferably in that the association made by the user of the object to be cleaned with an object stored in the storage member (62) is storable in the storage member (62).

10. Liquid dispensing device in accordance with Claim 9, characterized in that after rejecting the association made by the control unit (50) of the object to be cleaned with the object displayed on the display apparatus (54), a suggestion list of objects stored in the storage member (62) is displayable on the display apparatus (54) and the object to be cleaned can be associated with an object selected from the suggestion list by the user.

11. Liquid dispensing device in accordance with Claim 7, characterized in that after rejecting the association made by the control unit (50) of the object to be cleaned with the object displayed on the display apparatus (54), a new object not previously stored in the storage member (62) together with one or more control parameters corresponding to the new object is specifiable by the user and storable in the storage member (62), wherein the object to be cleaned can be associated with the new object and at least one control parameter corresponding to the new object can be output from the control unit (50) to the high pressure cleaning device, and preferably in that the association of the object to be cleaned with the new object is storable in the storage member (62).

12. Liquid dispensing device in accordance with any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that at least one of the following applies: - the control unit (50) is connectable to an external data processing unit, in particular to a server, a computer network, a smartphone, or a tablet computer, for updating the storage content of the storage member (62) and / or for updating a software program; - the liquid dispensing device (10) is configured as a spray gun (12); - the input apparatus (52) in combination with the display apparatus (54) forms a touch-sensitive screen (56).

13. Method for controlling a high pressure cleaning device by means of a liquid dispensing device, wherein the liquid dispensing device (10) comprises a liquid inlet (34), which is connectable to a pump outlet of the high pressure cleaning device by way of a pressure conduit for pressurized cleaning liquid, and wherein the liquid dispensing device (10) comprises a liquid outlet (36) for dispensing the cleaning liquid in the direction of an object to be cleaned, and wherein the liquid dispensing device (10) comprises an input apparatus (52), a display apparatus (54), and a control unit (50) for controlling the high pressure cleaning device, wherein the control unit (50) comprises a storage member (62) in which control parameters are storable, and wherein at least one control parameter can be output from the control unit (50) to the high pressure cleaning device, characterized in that the liquid dispensing device (10) comprises an object detection unit (58) for contactlessly detecting the object to be cleaned, wherein object information corresponding to the object to be cleaned is transmitted from the object detection unit (58) to the control unit (50) and is processed by the control unit (50) for providing at least one control parameter adapted to the object to be cleaned, which is output to the high pressure cleaning device.

14. Method in accordance with Claim 13, characterized in that object information of a multitude of objects together with control parameters corresponding thereto for controlling the high pressure cleaning device are stored in the storage member (62) of the control unit (50), and the object to be cleaned is associated by the control unit (50) with an object stored in the storage member (62) and at least one control parameter corresponding to the associated object is output from the control unit (50) to the high pressure cleaning device.

15. Method in accordance with Claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the object detection unit (58) is configured in the form of a camera (60) and captures an image of the object to be cleaned and transmits image information corresponding to the object to be cleaned to the control unit (50), wherein the image information provided by the camera (60) are compared by the control unit (50) with the objects stored in the storage member (62) preferably by means of image recognition algorithms.

16. Method in accordance with Claim 14, characterized in that the object associated by the control unit (50) with the object to be cleaned is displayed on the display apparatus (54), in particular in the form of a pictogram, a label, and / or an image.

17. Method in accordance with Claim 16, characterized in that the association made by the control unit (50) of the object to be cleaned with the object displayed on the display apparatus (54) is either confirmed or rejected by the user, wherein in the case of confirmation the at least one control parameter corresponding to the displayed object is output from the control unit (50) to the high pressure cleaning device, and wherein in the case of rejection the output of the at least one control parameter corresponding to the displayed object to the high pressure cleaning device is blocked.

18. Method in accordance with Claim 17, characterized in that one of the following applies: - after rejecting the association made by the control unit (50) of the object to be cleaned with the object displayed on the display apparatus (54), a re-detection of the object to be cleaned by the object detection unit (58) is triggered automatically by the control unit (50) or by the user by means of the input apparatus (52), and after re-detection a new association of the object to be cleaned with an object stored in the storage member (62) is made by the control unit (50); - the object to be cleaned is associated with an object stored in the storage member (62) by the user after rejecting the association made by the control unit (50), and at least one control parameter that corresponds to the object with which the user associated the object to be cleaned is output from the control unit (50) to the high pressure cleaning device, and preferably the association made by the user of the object to be cleaned with an object stored in the storage member (62) is stored in the storage member (62); - a suggestion list of objects stored in the storage member (62) is displayed to the user on the display apparatus (54) after rejecting the association made by the control unit (50), and the user selects an object from the suggestion list, wherein the object to be cleaned is then associated with the selected object and control parameters corresponding to the selected object are output to the high pressure cleaning device; - the user, after rejecting the association made by the control unit (50), stores a new object, which was not previously stored in the storage member (62), together with one or more control parameters corresponding to the new object in the storage member (62), wherein the object to be cleaned is then associated with the new object and at least one control parameter corresponding to the new object is output from the control unit (50) to the high pressure cleaning device, and preferably the association of the object to be cleaned with the new object is stored in the storage member (62).

19. Method in accordance with any one of Claims 13 to 18, characterized in that the control unit (50) is connected to an external data processing unit for updating the storage content of the storage member (62) and / or for updating a software program.