Method and control device for operating a cleaning apparatus and cleaning apparatus

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a cleaning apparatus (100), which has a mobile cleaning device (102) with a collecting container (108) and has a cleaning station (104) with a fan unit (112), wherein the method comprises a step of determining a remaining capacity of an energy supply unit (110) of the cleaning device (102) in response to a connection signal that represents an electrical and mechanical connection of the cleaning device (102) to the cleaning station (104), and also a step of comparing a capacity value of the remaining capacity with a predefined limit value that represents a minimum operating capacity for operating the fan unit (112) in order to obtain a comparison result, and a step of providing electrical energy from the energy supply unit (110) to an interface to the fan unit (112) in order to activate the fan unit (112) to empty the collecting container (108) of the cleaning device (102) if, in the comparison step (304), the comparison result indicates that the capacity value of the cleaning device (102) is the same as or greater than the limit value.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Method and control device for operating a cleaning device and cleaning device

[0003] The invention relates to a method and a control device for operating a cleaning device and to a cleaning device.

[0004] Automatic cleaning devices such as robot vacuum cleaners are popular with users because the user does not have to actively intervene, as they can clean a floor area automatically or, for example, at the push of a button.

[0005] The approach presented here aims to create an improved method and an improved control device for operating a cleaning device as well as an improved cleaning device.

[0006] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method and a control device for operating a cleaning device, as well as a cleaning device having the features of the main claims. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are set forth in the following subclaims.

[0007] The approach presented here, for example, can create a way to improve the power delivery capacity of a power supply unit. This can advantageously improve various applications for battery-powered cleaning devices, such as floor care devices, without requiring additional expenditures such as increased power supplies or blowers.

[0008] A method for operating a cleaning device is presented, which has a mobile cleaning device with a collecting container and a cleaning station with a blower unit.The method comprises a step of determining a residual capacity of a power supply unit of the cleaning device in response to a connection signal that represents an electrical and mechanical connection of the cleaning device to the cleaning station, a step of comparing a capacity value of the residual capacity with a predetermined limit value that represents a minimum operating capacity for operating the blower unit in order to obtain a comparison result, and a step of providing electrical energy of the power supply unit to an interface to the blower unit in the cleaning device in order to activate the blower unit to empty the collecting container of the cleaning device if the comparison result in the comparison step shows that the capacity value of the cleaning device is equal to or greater than the limit value.

[0009] The cleaning device can, for example, be a combination of a robot vacuum cleaner and an associated charging station. The collection container can be shaped to collect dirt particles sucked up during a vacuuming process. The blower unit can, for example, have a fan or ventilator to generate an airflow through which the collection container can be emptied. Advantageously, the blower unit can be shaped such that it takes up little space within the cleaning station. In general, this can reduce the size of the cleaning station and thus improve its appearance for a user. Advantageously, the blower unit can be powered by the power supply unit of the cleaning device. For this purpose, the connection signal can first be used to detect that the cleaning device is docking onto the cleaning station. For example, this can be detected via electrical contacts.The power supply unit of the cleaning device can advantageously be designed as an accumulator or a rechargeable battery. The residual capacity to be determined can refer to the energy stored in the power supply unit of the cleaning device, which can be used to operate the blower unit arranged in the cleaning station. The minimum operating capacity can, for example, represent the amount of energy required to operate the blower unit, which is sufficient to empty the collection container.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the method may include a step of converting a voltage provided by the power supply unit into an operating voltage of the blower unit. This step may be performed while the blower unit is active in order to compensate for a drop in the provided voltage. This can advantageously achieve this by keeping the voltage constant. This means that a suction force for emptying the collection container can advantageously be maintained.

[0011] The conversion step can advantageously be carried out using pulse width modulation (PWM). A corresponding pulse width modulation device is typically already built into cleaning devices.

[0012] Furthermore, the method may include a step of at least partially charging the power supply unit of the cleaning device prior to the provisioning step if the comparison result in the comparing step indicates that the capacity value of the cleaning device is less than the threshold value. This means that the power supply unit can, for example, be fully charged before the blower unit is activated, but at least charged sufficiently so that the blower unit can be operated.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the method may include a step of fully charging the power supply unit after the provisioning step. This advantageously allows the cleaning device, in particular the cleaning appliance, to be prepared for the next cleaning run. This increases customer satisfaction.

[0014] In the step of providing electrical energy, the electrical energy can be provided with a voltage of less than 30V and a current of less than 20A. Advantageously, the blower unit can be designed as a low-voltage blower, so that the low voltage is sufficient to operate the blower unit. Advantageously, this eliminates the need to regulate the blower unit down, allowing costs to be reduced by eliminating the need for corresponding control electronics. This advantageously allows a smaller power plug to be used at the cleaning station, thus saving costs.Advantageously, the low-voltage blower and its associated values ​​allow the cleaning system to be offered universally in a variety of different countries without having to implement different versions of the cleaning system with different voltage values ​​and currents required for operation. This means that the cleaning system can advantageously be implemented uniformly, which can further reduce costs.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the steps of the method can be carried out in units of the cleaning device and additionally or alternatively the cleaning station.

[0016] The approach presented here further provides a control device configured to perform, control, or implement the steps of a variant of a method presented here in corresponding devices. This embodiment of the invention in the form of a device also allows the problem underlying the invention to be solved quickly and efficiently.

[0017] The control device can be designed to read in input signals and to determine and provide output signals using the input signals. An input signal can, for example, represent a sensor signal that can be read in via an input interface of the control device. An output signal can represent a control signal or a data signal that can be provided at an output interface of the control device. The control device can be designed to determine the output signals using a processing rule implemented in hardware or software. For example, the control device can comprise a logic circuit, an integrated circuit, or a software module and can, for example, be implemented as a discrete component or be comprised of a discrete component.

[0018] Also advantageous is a computer program product or computer program with program code that can be stored on a machine-readable carrier or storage medium such as a semiconductor memory, a hard disk memory, or an optical memory. If the program product or program is executed on a computer or a control device, the program product or program can be used to carry out, implement, and / or control the steps of the method according to one of the embodiments described here.

[0019] Furthermore, a cleaning device is presented, which comprises a cleaning device with a collecting container for collecting particles and a power supply unit for providing electrical energy, as well as a cleaning station having a blower unit configured to empty the collecting container when the cleaning device is connected to the cleaning station. Furthermore, the cleaning device comprises a control device in a previously mentioned variant.

[0020] The cleaning device can advantageously be connected to a household appliance, but also to a professional device. The cleaning device can be designed, for example, as a vacuum cleaner, advantageously as a robot vacuum cleaner. The cleaning station can, for example, be designed to charge the cleaning device and, advantageously, also to empty the cleaning device's collection container. This can advantageously extend an action cycle for a user. The action cycle can relate to emptying the collection container or a container of the cleaning station. The collection container can therefore be designed to advantageously collect dirt during a cleaning process. The power supply unit can advantageously be designed as a battery in which electrical energy for the cleaning process can be stored.The control device can be arranged, for example, in the cleaning device or in the cleaning station.

[0021] Advantageously, the cleaning device can have electrical contacts, and the cleaning station can have electrical mating contacts. The electrical contacts and the electrical mating contacts can be designed to establish an electrical connection between the cleaning device and the cleaning station. This advantageously allows charging of the power supply unit. Furthermore, the electrical contacts and the mating contacts can be dimensioned according to the currents required to operate the cleaning device.

[0022] An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. It shows

[0023] Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a cleaning device according to an embodiment;

[0024] Figure 2 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a cleaning station; and

[0025] Figure 3 is a flow chart of a method for operating a cleaning device.

[0026] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a cleaning device 100 according to one exemplary embodiment. The cleaning device 100 comprises a cleaning device 102, a cleaning station 104, and a control device 106, which can be arranged in the cleaning device 102 or alternatively in the cleaning station 104. According to this exemplary embodiment, the control device 106 is arranged in the cleaning station 104. The control device 106 is designed, for example, to control or carry out a method for operating the cleaning device 100 in corresponding units. The method is described in more detail in Figure 3.

[0027] The cleaning device 102 is designed, for example, as a robot vacuum cleaner, which optionally also includes an additional wiping function. The cleaning device 102 has a collecting container 108 for collecting particles, for example dirt particles, and a power supply unit 110 for providing electrical energy. The cleaning station 104 has a blower unit 112, which is designed to empty the collecting container 108 when the cleaning device 102 is connected to the cleaning station 104. For example only, the cleaning device 102 has electrical contacts, which can be electrically connected, for example, to electrical mating contacts of the cleaning station 104. The electrical contacts and the electrical mating contacts are optionally dimensioned according to the currents required to operate the cleaning device.For example, a charging process of the energy supply unit 110 is possible by means of the electrical contacts and counter contacts.

[0028] The cleaning station 104 has, for example, a particle container 114 that is designed to hold the particles sucked out of the collection container 108. The particle container 114 is designed, for example, to be removable from the cleaning station 104 and reinsertable, so that a user can empty it independently. The particles are sucked out, for example, using the blower unit 112. This means that the blower unit 112 is controlled by the control device 106 to activate it. For example, depending on the direction of rotation of a fan of the blower unit 112, an air flow or a vacuum is generated to transport the particles into the particle container 114. For example, the particle container 114 is designed larger than the collection container 108, so that the particle container 114 can hold particles from multiple cleaning processes, for example.

[0029] Advantageously, the blower unit 112, also referred to as a blower, is powered from a vacuum cleaner's own accumulator, which is referred to here as the power supply unit 110.

[0030] For a battery-operated vacuum cleaner, meaning the cleaning device 102, in particular a robot vacuum cleaner, an autonomous suction station can be implemented, which is described here as a cleaning station 104. The collection container 108 of the cleaning device 102, also referred to as a dust collection container, is emptied by operating the blower unit 112, and the contents are transferred into a larger, stationary dust chamber or dust bag, which is described here as a particle container 114. This saves the customer the hassle of emptying the collection container 108 of the cleaning device 102, which is frequently necessary due to its size.

[0031] Against this background, according to this exemplary embodiment, it is possible to use DC motors, blowers, or BLPM motors as the blower unit 112 for operation in the cleaning station 104, which are ideally also used in the associated mobile cleaning device 102. This eliminates the need for oversized power supplies for short-term operation.

[0032] This eliminates the need for fans typically provided in extraction stations to achieve the required air flow in the form of series-wound machines (RSM) designed for a mains voltage, which are usually regulated down to the required power by means of phase control.

[0033] According to one exemplary embodiment, the associated power supply unit for the battery-operated, mobile cleaning device 102 supplies a relatively low current in the range of 0.2 A to 1.0 A, which is primarily required to charge the energy supply unit 110. A significantly higher current cannot be used technically effectively by the batteries to be charged, which is why the power supply unit is designed to be relatively small, lightweight, and inexpensive. The amount of energy required in a vacuum operation is achieved, for example, by a relatively long charging time. According to this exemplary embodiment, it is proposed that the blower unit 112 arranged in the cleaning station 104 be designed as a low-voltage blower with the same or lower nominal voltage as a blower used in the mobile cleaning device 102.

[0034] Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a cleaning station 104. The cleaning station 104 shown here corresponds, for example, to the cleaning station 104 described in Figure 1. The cleaning station 104 can therefore be implemented as part of the cleaning device as shown and described by way of example in Figure 1. According to this embodiment, the cleaning station 104 has a body 200 and a coupling section 202 connected to the body 200. The particle container 114 is arranged in the body 200. The coupling section 202 is shaped, for example, as a surface or, alternatively, for example, like a ramp, so that the cleaning device can drive onto the coupling section 202.According to this exemplary embodiment, the coupling section 202 has a discharge opening 204 through which the particles are discharged, for example, from the collecting container of the cleaning device and transported into the particle container 114.

[0035] Figure 3 shows a flowchart of a method 300 for operating a cleaning device. The method 300 is carried out, for example, for and / or in a cleaning device as described, for example, in Figure 1. The method 300 is carried out, for example, in units of the cleaning device and / or the cleaning station, which are only optionally formed as part of the control device described in Figure 1. The method 300 comprises a step 302 of determining a residual capacity of a power supply unit of the cleaning device in response to a connection signal that represents an electrical and mechanical connection of the cleaning device to the cleaning station. This means that the determining step 302 is carried out when the cleaning device docks to the cleaning station.Furthermore, the method 300 comprises a step 304 of comparing a capacity value of the remaining capacity with a predetermined limit value, which represents a minimum operating capacity for operating the blower unit, in order to obtain a comparison result. In a step 306 of providing, electrical energy from the energy supply unit is provided to an interface to the blower unit in order to activate the blower unit to empty the collecting container of the cleaning device if the comparison result in the step of comparing indicates that the capacity value of the cleaning device is equal to or greater than the limit value. This means that the blower unit is controlled to generate an air flow if the energy supply unit still has sufficient energy available.According to this exemplary embodiment, in step 306 of providing, the electrical energy is provided with a voltage value of less than 30V and a current of less than 20A, so that the blower unit can be implemented, for example, as a low-voltage blower. Optionally, the method 300 additionally comprises a step 308 of at least partially charging the power supply unit of the cleaning device before step 306 of providing if the comparison result in step 304 of comparing indicates that the capacitance value of the cleaning device is less than the limit value. Furthermore, the method 300 comprises a step 310 of converting a voltage provided by the power supply unit into an operating voltage of the blower unit while the blower unit is active in order to compensate for a drop in the provided voltage.This ensures that the voltage remains constant during operation of the blower unit and that the collection container is completely emptied. In other words, this ensures, for example, a suction force to transport the particles into the particle container. In this conversion step 310, pulse width modulation (PWM) is performed for this purpose, for example. Further optionally, the method 300 also includes a step 312 of fully charging the power supply unit after the provisioning step 306 in order to immediately make the cleaning device ready for use again.

[0036] In other words, the method 300 is performed as follows:

[0037] After completing a cleaning process, the battery-operated cleaning device, regardless of whether the cleaning device is configured as a robot vacuum cleaner or a cordless handheld vacuum cleaner, is moved to the cleaning station. There, the remaining capacity of the battery pack or, for example, the residual voltage of the mobile cleaning device is first determined in step 302 of determining. If sufficient energy is still available in the batteries, the battery voltage of the mobile cleaning device is fed, for example, via the contacts (also referred to as charging contacts) and / or counter contacts to the blower unit of the cleaning station in order to vacuum the particles out of the collection container for a few seconds of operation in step 306 of providing.Preferably, the voltage is kept constant in step 310 of conversion using a pulse width modulation system already included in the mobile cleaning device or an inverter for a BLPM motor in order to compensate for the falling battery voltage and ensure constant suction power. If the battery voltage and thus the extractable energy content of the power supply unit is no longer sufficient to operate the blower unit in the cleaning station, the power supply unit is first charged using the power supply unit in step 308 of at least partial charging. After full or at least partial charging, the voltage is available for the cleaning station. After the cleaning station has been powered, the battery pack is fully recharged in step 312 of full charging in order to be fully charged for the next mobile use.

[0038] For an output of, for example, 300 W over a period of max. 30 s at a nominal voltage of, for example, 20 V, a current of approximately 15 A is required. 18650 cells with approximately 5 to 8 C easily achieve this value. The energy required of approximately 2.5 Wh for one vacuuming process therefore corresponds to only approximately 5% of the total battery capacity (6S / 2.5 Ah). According to this embodiment, the voltage at the blower unit is kept at a constant value using PWM in order to always provide the same power to the cleaning station regardless of the discharge or charge level of the battery pack. The electrical contacts and / or counter contacts between the mobile cleaning device and the cleaning station are dimensioned, for example, according to the required currents.

Claims

Patent claims 1. A method (300) for operating a cleaning device (100) comprising a mobile cleaning device (102) with a collecting container (108) and a cleaning station (104) with a blower unit (112), the method (300) comprising the following steps: Determining (302) a residual capacity of a power supply unit (110) of the cleaning device (102) in response to a connection signal representing an electrical and mechanical connection of the cleaning device (102) to the cleaning station (104); Comparing (304) a capacity value of the remaining capacity with a predetermined limit value representing a minimum operating capacity for operating the blower unit (112) to obtain a comparison result; and Providing (306) electrical energy from the power supply unit (110) to an interface to the blower unit (112) to activate the blower unit (112) to empty the collecting container (108) of the cleaning device (102) if, in step (304) of comparing, the comparison result indicates that the capacity value of the cleaning device (102) is equal to or greater than the limit value.

2. The method (300) according to claim 1, comprising a step (310) of converting a voltage provided by the power supply unit (110) into an operating voltage of the blower unit (112) while the blower unit (112) is active in order to compensate for a drop in the provided voltage.

3. The method (300) of claim 2, wherein the step (310) of converting is performed using pulse width modulation.

4. Method (300) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a step (308) of at least partially charging the power supply unit (110) of the cleaning device (102) before the step (306) of providing, if in the step (304) of comparing the comparison result indicates that the capacity value of the cleaning device (102) is less than the limit value.

5. Method (300) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a step (312) of fully charging the power supply unit (110) after the step (306) of providing.

6. The method (300) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in the step (306) of providing the electrical energy, the electrical energy is provided with a voltage value of less than 30V and a current intensity of less than 20A.

7. Method (300) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the steps (302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312) of the method (300) are carried out in units of the cleaning device (102) and / or the cleaning station (104).

8. Control device (106) which is designed to carry out and / or control the steps (302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312) of the method (300) according to one of the preceding claims in corresponding units.

9. Computer program product with program code for carrying out the method (300) according to one of claims 1 to 7, when the computer program product is executed on a control device (106) according to claim 8.

10. A cleaning device (100) having the following features: a cleaning device (102) having a collecting container (108) for collecting particles and a power supply unit (110) for providing electrical energy; a cleaning station (104) having a blower unit (112) configured to empty the collecting container (108) when the cleaning device (102) is connected to the cleaning station (104); and a control device (106) according to claim 8.

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