Liquid dispensing device for a high pressure cleaning device and method for controlling a high pressure cleaning device using the liquid dispensing device - Patents.com

Abstract

The present invention relates to a liquid dispensing device (10) for a high-pressure cleaning device, comprising a liquid inlet (34) connectable to a pump outlet of the high-pressure cleaning device via a pressure conduit for pressurized cleaning liquid, a liquid outlet (36) for dispensing cleaning liquid in the direction of an object to be cleaned, an input device (52), a display device (54) and a control unit (50) for controlling the high-pressure cleaning device, the control unit (50) comprising a memory member (62) capable of storing control parameters and capable of outputting at least one control parameter from the control unit (50) to the high-pressure cleaning device. In order to further develop the liquid dispensing device (10) to enable improved cleaning results in a simple manner, it is proposed that the liquid dispensing device (10) comprises an object detection unit (58) for contactlessly detecting an object to be cleaned, and object information corresponding to the object to be cleaned can be transmitted from the object detection unit (58) to the control unit (50) and can thereby be processed to provide at least one control parameter adapted to the object to be cleaned. The present invention also relates to a method for controlling a high-pressure cleaning device using such a liquid dispensing device (10).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid dispensing device for a high-pressure cleaning device, comprising a liquid inlet connectable to a pump outlet of a high-pressure cleaning device via a pressure conduit 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 unit for controlling the high-pressure cleaning device, wherein the control unit includes a memory member capable of storing control parameters and is capable of outputting at least one control parameter from the control unit to the high-pressure cleaning device.

[0002] The present invention also relates to a method for controlling a high pressure cleaning device using a liquid dispensing device of the aforementioned type. [Background technology]

[0003] The high pressure cleaning device includes a pump and a motor driving the pump. The cleaning liquid to be pressurized, e.g. water, can be fed to the pump via the pump inlet. The cleaning liquid can be pressurized by the pump and fed to the liquid inlet of the liquid dispensing device via the pump outlet and a pressure conduit, e.g. a pressure hose, connected to the pump outlet. The liquid dispensing device forms an accessory to the high pressure cleaning device and may be configured, e.g. as a spray gun. The pressurized cleaning liquid can be dispensed by the liquid dispensing device in the direction of the object to be cleaned via a liquid outlet in flow connection with the liquid inlet. The object to be cleaned may be, for example, a floor surface, an exterior wall of a building or a vehicle. The object to be cleaned may have a sensitive or less sensitive surface.

[0004] WO 2016 / 066209 A1 discloses a fluid dispensing device, which, in addition to a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet in flow connection with the liquid inlet, comprises an input device, a display device and a control unit for controlling a high-pressure cleaning device. The control unit comprises a memory member capable of storing control parameters that can be outputted from the control unit to the high-pressure cleaning device in order to control the high-pressure cleaning device. The control parameters make it possible to operate the high-pressure cleaning device in a predefinable manner. For example, the control parameters can be used to set the pressure of the cleaning liquid prevailing at the pump outlet or, for example, the volumetric flow rate of the cleaning liquid delivered by the high-pressure cleaning device in order to achieve the best possible cleaning result.

[0005] The respective optimum control parameters depend on which object is to be cleaned. For example, a lower pressure of the cleaning liquid should be set for objects with sensitive surfaces than for objects with less sensitive surfaces. Inexperienced users often do not fully consider the influence of the control parameters on the cleaning result, so that optimum cleaning results are not always achieved or even damage to sensitive surfaces. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] WO 2016 / 066209 A1 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] It is therefore an object of the invention to further develop a liquid dispensing device of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that it allows improved cleaning results in a simple manner. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] This object is achieved according to the present invention in that, in a general type of liquid dispensing device, the liquid dispensing device includes an object detection unit for non-contact detection of an object to be cleaned, and object information corresponding to the object to be cleaned can be transmitted from the object detection unit to the control unit and processed by the control unit to provide at least one control parameter adapted to the object to be cleaned.

[0009] The liquid dispensing device according to the present invention includes an object detection unit capable of detecting the object to be cleaned in a non-contact manner. For example, the object detection unit can detect floor surfaces, building exterior walls, vehicles, etc. in a non-contact manner. Object information corresponding to the object to be cleaned can be transmitted from the object detection unit to the control unit. The control unit is adapted to process the transmitted object information and provide the high-pressure cleaning device with at least one control parameter adapted to the object to be cleaned, preferably wirelessly. Based on the at least one control parameter thus provided to the high-pressure cleaning device, the high-pressure cleaning device can be operated so that an improved cleaning result can be achieved without the user having to have in-depth knowledge.

[0010] It is advantageous if object information of a large number of objects can be stored in the storage member of the control unit together with control parameters corresponding to the objects for controlling the high-pressure cleaning device, and the control unit can associate the object to be cleaned with the object stored in the storage member based on the information transmitted by the object detection unit, and output at least one control parameter from the control unit to the high-pressure cleaning device in response to the association. In such a configuration of the liquid dispensing device according to the invention, object information of a large number of objects can be stored in the storage member together with control parameters corresponding to the objects for controlling the high-pressure cleaning device, for example in a manufacturing plant of the liquid dispensing device. The detected object can then be associated by the control unit with the object stored in the storage member. For this purpose, the control unit can check the degree of correspondence between the object to be cleaned and the object stored in the storage member, associate the detected object with the object stored in the storage member having the greatest degree of correspondence, and output the control parameters corresponding to the associated object to the high-pressure cleaning device. In this way, at least one control parameter adapted to the object to be cleaned can be provided to the high-pressure cleaning device.

[0011] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one control parameter comprises a transport parameter of the high-pressure cleaning device, in particular a predetermined value or a predetermined value range for the pressure of the cleaning liquid, the volumetric flow rate of the cleaning liquid and / or a dosage of a cleaning chemical that can be mixed with the cleaning liquid by the high-pressure cleaning device. Depending on which object is to be cleaned, the high-pressure cleaning device can be operated on the basis of the provision of the control parameter in the form of a transport parameter such that the high-pressure cleaning device provides the cleaning liquid with a pressure optimally adapted to the object to be cleaned and / or a volumetric flow rate optimally adapted to the object to be cleaned and / or mixes the cleaning chemical into the cleaning liquid in an optimal manner.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the object detection unit is configured in the form of a camera for capturing an image of the object to be cleaned, and image information corresponding to the object to be cleaned is transmittable to the control unit.

[0013] Preferably, the image information corresponding to the object to be cleaned can be compared by the control unit with the object stored in the memory member using an image recognition algorithm. For example, a pattern recognition method may be used for the comparison. The control unit can ascertain which object stored in the memory member has the highest degree of correspondence with the object to be cleaned. The object to be cleaned can then be associated by the control unit with the stored object having the highest degree of correspondence, and control parameters corresponding to the associated object can be output from the control unit to the high-pressure cleaning device.

[0014] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the liquid dispensing device according to the invention, the associated object can be displayed on the display device, in particular in the form of a pictogram, an image and / or a label, so that a user can easily recognize on the display device which stored object the object to be cleaned detected by the object detection unit has been associated with by the control unit.

[0015] It is advantageous if the association made by the control unit between the object to be cleaned and the object displayed on the display device can be confirmed by a user using the input device, and at least the control parameters corresponding to the displayed object can be output from the control unit to the high-pressure cleaning device after confirmation. In such an embodiment, the user can decide whether or not he agrees with the association made by the control unit between the object to be cleaned and the object displayed on the display device. If the user agrees, he can confirm the association. Then, upon confirmation, the control unit outputs at least one control parameter corresponding to the displayed object to the high-pressure cleaning device. This makes it possible to particularly reduce the risk of control parameters not being suitable for the object to be cleaned due to an incorrect association being output.

[0016] If user confirmation is not given within a pre-determined display time, the at least one control parameter corresponding to the displayed object may be automatically output by the control unit to the high pressure cleaning device. In such an embodiment of the liquid dispensing device, it is not mandatory for the user to explicitly confirm the association made by the control unit between the object to be cleaned and the object displayed on the display device. If confirmation is not given by the user within a pre-determined display time, the control unit automatically outputs the at least one control parameter corresponding to the displayed object. This makes the liquid dispensing device easier to handle.

[0017] It is advantageous if the association made by the control unit between the object to be cleaned and the object displayed on the display device can be rejected by the user using 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 does not agree with the association made by the control unit between the object to be cleaned detected by the object detection unit and the object displayed on the display device, the user can reject the association and thereby block the output of the at least one control parameter corresponding to the displayed object.

[0018] It is particularly preferred if, after rejecting the association made by the control unit between the object to be cleaned and the object displayed on the display device, a re-detection of the object to be cleaned by the object detection unit can be triggered automatically by the control unit or by the user using the input device. This allows the object to be re-detected by the object detection unit and the corresponding object information can be transmitted to the control unit, so that the control unit can make a new association with the object stored in the storage member. For example, if the object detection unit is configured as a camera, it can capture a new image of the object to be cleaned and the control unit can check based on the new image which stored object has the highest degree of correspondence with the object to be cleaned. The result of the association can then be displayed again to the user on the display device so that the user can confirm or reject the association again. The re-detection of the object to be cleaned can be triggered automatically by the control unit or by the user using the input device.

[0019] In an advantageous embodiment of the fluid dispensing device according to the invention, after rejecting the association made by the control unit, the object to be cleaned can be associated by the user with an object stored in the storage member by means of the input device, and the at least one control parameter corresponding to the object with which the user has associated the object to be cleaned can be output from the control unit to the high-pressure cleaning device. In such an embodiment of the fluid dispensing device according to the invention, in a first step, the object to be cleaned can be associated by the control unit with an object stored in the storage member, and then the object can be displayed on the display device. If the user does not agree with this association, he can reject the association made by the control unit, and in a second step he can himself associate the object to be cleaned with the object stored in the storage member. According to the association made by the user, then at least one control parameter can be output from the control unit to the high-pressure cleaning device.

[0020] The association made by the user between the object to be cleaned and an object stored in the storage member can advantageously be stored in the storage member, meaning that when an object is detected again, the control unit can be taught that the object is immediately associated with the object specified by the user.

[0021] It is preferable if, after rejecting the association made by the control unit, a suggested list of objects stored in the storage member can be displayed on the display device, and the object to be cleaned can be associated with an object selected by a user from the suggested list. In such an embodiment of the liquid dispensing device, after rejecting the association made by the control unit between the object to be cleaned and the object stored in the storage member, the user can then select an object from a suggested list that can be displayed on the display device, such that the object to be cleaned detected by the object detection unit is associated with 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 from the control unit to the high-pressure cleaning device.

[0022] Also, after rejecting the association made by the control unit, a new object not previously stored in the storage member may be specified by the user together with one or more control parameters corresponding to the new object and stored in the storage member, and then the object to be cleaned is associated with the new object, and at least one control parameter corresponding to the new object is output from the control unit to the high-pressure cleaning device. Such an embodiment gives the user the possibility to extend the memory contents of the storage member by storing a new object together with the control parameters corresponding to the new object in the storage member, and the object to be cleaned detected by the object detection unit may be associated with the new object.

[0023] It is advantageous if the association of the object to be cleaned by a user with the new object stored in the memory member can be stored, so that when a new detection is made, the object to be cleaned can be taught to the control unit by being associated with the object stored in the memory member by the user, and the control parameters corresponding to this object are output to the high-pressure cleaning device.

[0024] It is particularly advantageous if the control unit can be connected to an external data processing unit in order to update the memory contents of the memory member and / or to update the software program. For example, a server, a computer network (cloud), a smartphone, a tablet computer can be used as an external data processing unit. The external data processing unit can provide the control unit of the liquid dispensing device with information and preferably software programs in order to facilitate and / or enhance the processing of object information by the control unit. In particular, the control unit can be taught to output at least one control parameter to the high-pressure cleaning unit after detection of an object to be cleaned by the object detection unit, so that the operation of the high-pressure cleaning device can be optimally adapted to the object to be cleaned.

[0025] The liquid dispensing device forms an accessory for a high-pressure cleaning device. For example, the liquid dispensing device may be configured as a spray gun. In this case, the liquid inlet of the liquid dispensing device forms a gun inlet to which the pressure conduit, in particular a pressure hose, can be connected so that cleaning liquid pressurized by the high-pressure cleaning device can be supplied to the spray gun via the pressure conduit. In such an embodiment, the liquid outlet of the liquid dispensing device is configured as a gun outlet, which is in flow connection with the gun inlet and via which the pressurized liquid can be directed towards the object to be cleaned.

[0026] The gun outlet is preferably removably connectable to a discharge unit, which may for example be in the form of a spray lance, a spray nozzle, a washing brush or a surface cleaning device.

[0027] A particularly easy handling of the liquid dispensing device according to the invention is in a preferred embodiment achieved by the input device being combined with the display device forming a touch-sensitive screen (touch screen).

[0028] It is preferable if the control unit is able to output a control signal for starting the high pressure cleaning device. This allows a user to use the liquid dispensing device to switch the high pressure cleaning device on and off. Thus, for example, the liquid dispensing device may include an actuation element that can be activated by a user. When the actuation element is activated, a start signal can be output from the control unit to the high pressure cleaning device in order to start the high pressure cleaning device and pressurize cleaning liquid. When the user releases the actuation element, the control unit no longer provides a start signal to the high pressure cleaning device such that the high pressure cleaning device is switched off.

[0029] The actuation element is advantageously configured as a pivot lever, which is mounted so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis and which can be pivoted by a user starting from a non-actuated position to an actuated position against a spring elastic restoring force. By pivoting the pivot lever to the actuated position, the control unit is triggered to output a start signal for starting the high-pressure cleaning device. When the user releases the pivot lever, the pivot lever pivots to its non-actuated position under the influence of the restoring force, thereby causing the control unit to terminate the output of the start signal.

[0030] In order to ensure that cleaning liquid cannot be discharged from the liquid dispensing device when the high pressure cleaning device is switched off, it is advantageous if the liquid dispensing device comprises a check valve, which is arranged in the flow path connecting the liquid outlet to the liquid inlet. When the high pressure cleaning device is switched off, the pressure of the cleaning liquid drops at the liquid inlet and the check valve then automatically assumes its closed position, so that the high pressure cleaning device no longer provides pressurized cleaning liquid to the liquid dispensing device. When the high pressure cleaning device is switched on again, the pressure of the cleaning liquid prevailing at the liquid inlet increases and the check valve automatically assumes its open position, so that the pressurized cleaning liquid can be discharged via the liquid outlet, thereby unblocking the flow path between the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet.

[0031] The present invention also relates to a method for controlling a high-pressure cleaning apparatus using a fluid dispensing device, the fluid dispensing device comprising a liquid inlet connectable to a pump outlet of the high-pressure cleaning apparatus via a pressure conduit for pressurized cleaning fluid, the liquid dispensing device comprising a liquid outlet in flow connection with the liquid inlet for dispensing the cleaning fluid in the direction of an object to be cleaned, the liquid dispensing device comprising an input device, a display device and a control unit for controlling the high-pressure cleaning apparatus, the control unit comprising a memory member capable of storing control parameters and capable of outputting at least one control parameter from the control unit to the high-pressure cleaning apparatus, the liquid dispensing device comprising an object detection unit for contactlessly detecting the object to be cleaned, object information corresponding to the object to be cleaned can be transmitted from the object detection unit to the control unit and processed by the control unit to provide at least one control parameter adapted to the object to be cleaned, which is output to the high-pressure cleaning apparatus.

[0032] The advantages already discussed in connection with the description of the liquid dispensing device according to the invention can also be achieved using this method, and in order to avoid repetition, reference is made to the previous description in this regard.

[0033] It is preferable that object information for a large number of objects is stored in the memory member of the control unit together with control parameters corresponding to the objects for controlling the high-pressure cleaning device, and the object to be cleaned is associated by the control unit with the objects stored in the memory member.

[0034] The control unit preferably checks the degree of correspondence between the object to be cleaned and the objects stored in the memory member, associates the object to be cleaned with the object stored in the memory member which has the greatest degree of correspondence, and the control parameters corresponding to the associated object are output from the control unit to the high-pressure cleaning device.

[0035] Alternatively, the control unit may associate the detected object with an object specified by a user, and then output the control parameters corresponding to the specified object to the high-pressure cleaning apparatus.

[0036] In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the object detection unit is configured in the form of a camera, which captures an image of the object to be cleaned and transmits image information corresponding to the object to be cleaned to the control unit.

[0037] The control unit preferably processes the image information of the object to be cleaned provided by the camera by using an image recognition algorithm to compare the image information with the object stored in the storage member.

[0038] Preferably, image recognition algorithms in the form of pattern recognition methods are used.

[0039] The object associated with the object to be cleaned by the control unit is preferably displayed on the display device, in particular in the form of a pictogram, an image and / or a label. The association made by the control unit between the object to be cleaned and an object stored in the storage member can preferably be confirmed or rejected by a user.

[0040] If the user confirms the association made by the control unit, in an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the at least one control parameter corresponding to the displayed object is output from the control unit to the high-pressure cleaning device. If the association made by the control unit is rejected, the output of the at least one control parameter corresponding to the displayed object is interrupted.

[0041] In an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the present invention, after rejecting the association made by the control unit, re-detection of the object to be cleaned by the object detection unit is triggered automatically by the control unit or by the user using the input device, and after re-detection a new association of the object to be cleaned with the object stored in the memory member is made by the control unit.

[0042] In addition, after rejecting the association made by the control unit, the object to be cleaned may be associated by the user with an object stored in the memory member using the input device, and at least one control parameter corresponding to the object with which the user has associated the object to be cleaned may be output from the control unit to the high-pressure cleaning device.

[0043] For example, after rejecting the association made by the control unit, a suggested list of objects stored in the memory member may be displayed to the user on the display device, the user may select an object from the suggested list, and then the object to be cleaned may be associated with the selected object, and control parameters corresponding to the selected object may be output to the high-pressure cleaning apparatus.

[0044] In addition, after rejecting the association made by the control unit, the user may store a new object not previously stored in the memory member together with one or more control parameters corresponding to the new object in the memory member, and then the object to be cleaned is associated with the new object, and at least one control parameter corresponding to the new object is output from the control unit to the high-pressure cleaning apparatus.

[0045] It is particularly advantageous if the control unit is connectable to an external data processing unit, e.g. a server, a computer network (cloud), a smartphone or a tablet computer, in order to update the memory contents of the memory member and / or to update software programs.

[0046] The following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, taken together with the drawings, serves to further explain the invention. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0047] [Figure 1] 1 shows a perspective view of a liquid dispensing device for a high pressure washer. [Diagram 2] 2 shows a second perspective view of the liquid dispensing device of FIG. 1; [Diagram 3] 2 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the liquid dispensing device of FIG. 1; [Figure 4] 4 shows an enlarged view of detail X of FIG. 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0048] 1 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a liquid dispensing device according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a liquid dispensing device according to the invention; FIG.

[0049] In the illustrated embodiment, the liquid dispensing device 10 is configured in the form of a spray gun 12 and includes a housing 14 having a front housing region 16 and a rear housing region 18. A handle 20 projects from the rear housing region 18 and is adjacent to the handle 20 with a protective bracket 22. The protective bracket 22 combines with the handle 20 and the rear housing region 18 to enclose a handle opening 24 that may be engaged by a user's fingers when the user grasps the handle 20.

[0050] A spring-loaded check valve 26 is arranged in the rear housing region 18, into whose valve housing 28 an inlet conduit 30 opens and into which an outlet conduit 32 connects. The free end of the inlet conduit 30 forms a liquid inlet 34, and the free end of the outlet conduit 32 forms a liquid outlet 36. In the valve housing 28 a closure member 38 is biased by a closure spring 40 into a closed position in which the closure member sealingly abuts against a valve seat 42, thereby blocking the flow connection between the liquid inlet 34 and the liquid outlet 36. The closure member 38 can be moved against the closing force of the closure spring 40 into an open position in which the closure member 38 is spaced from the valve seat 42, thereby unblocking the flow connection between the liquid inlet 34 and the liquid outlet 36.

[0051] A pressure conduit for the pressurized cleaning fluid can be connected in the usual way to the liquid inlet 34 so that the spray gun 12 can be supplied with pressurized cleaning fluid by the high-pressure cleaning device, and via this connection the fluid inlet 34 can be connected to the pump outlet of the high-pressure cleaning device, which is known per se and is therefore not shown in the figures to achieve a better overview. Under the action of the pressurized cleaning fluid, the closing member 38 of the check valve 26 automatically moves to its open position, so that the cleaning fluid can be discharged in the direction of the object to be cleaned via the outlet conduit 32 and the liquid outlet 36. Also, a discharge device, for example a spray lance, a spray nozzle, a washing brush or a surface cleaning device, can be connected to the liquid outlet 36, so that the pressurized cleaning fluid can be applied to the object to be cleaned.

[0052] High pressure cleaning devices capable of pressurizing a cleaning fluid are known to those skilled in the art and include a motor, a pump driven by the motor, and control electronics.

[0053] The spray gun 12 includes an electric unit 44 that is partially contained by the rear housing section 18 with a raised portion 46 of the electric unit 44 protruding from an upper surface 48 of the rear housing section 18 .

[0054] The electrical unit 44 is of a waterproof construction in the form of a pre-mountable unit which can be inserted into the housing 14 .

[0055] The electronics unit 44 includes a control unit 50 for controlling the high pressure washer, the pump outlet of which is, as already mentioned, in flow connection with the liquid inlet 34 via a pressure conduit. The control unit 50 is arranged to communicate wirelessly, in particular by electromagnetic waves, with the control electronics of the high pressure washer in order to control the high pressure washer.

[0056] Furthermore, the electronic unit 44 includes an input device 52 and a display device 54. The input device 52 combines with the display device 54 to form a touch-sensitive screen (touch screen) 56.

[0057] The electronic unit 44 also includes an object detection unit 58, which in the illustrated embodiment is configured as a camera 60. The camera 60 can be used to detect an object to be cleaned that is placed in front of the spray gun 12. To achieve this, the camera 60 can capture an image of the object to be cleaned.

[0058] The camera 60 is electrically connected to the control unit 50 via connecting lines, not shown, known per se. The control unit 50 includes a memory member 62.

[0059] The electric unit 44 includes a battery 64 for supplying energy. Furthermore, the electric unit 44 includes an electronic switch 66, which is electrically connected to the control unit 50. A switch plunger 68 of the electronic switch 66 can be activated by a user with an actuation element, which in the illustrated embodiment is configured as a pivot lever 70, which is biased by a restoring spring 72 to a non-actuated position, in which the pivot lever 70 protrudes into the handle opening 24. The user can pivot the pivot lever 70 to an actuated position with his index finger against the force of the restoring spring 72. As a result, the pivot lever 70 activates the electronic switch 66 via the switch plunger 68, which then transmits a switching signal to the control unit 50. The switching signal causes the control unit 50 to continuously and repeatedly transmit a start 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 liquid is provided to the spray gun 12. The high pressure washer remains switched on until the user releases the switch lever 70 so that it assumes its inoperative position under the action of the restoring spring 72. The selection of the inoperative position by the pivot lever 70 is detected by the electronic switch 66, which then ceases to send a switching signal to the control unit 50, after which the control unit 50 no longer provides a start signal to the control electronics of the high pressure washer, so that the high pressure washer is switched off by the control electronics.

[0060] As already mentioned, the camera 60 can be used to capture an image of the object to be cleaned, positioned in front of the spray gun. The camera 60 transmits the corresponding image information, i.e. the captured image, to the control unit 50. In the storage member 62 of the control unit 50, object information in the form of images of a multitude of objects is stored together with at least one respective control parameter corresponding to each object of the high-pressure cleaning device. The control parameter is selected so that each object can be optimally cleaned by the high-pressure cleaning device. The control unit 50 compares the image of the object to be cleaned provided by the camera 60 with the objects stored in the storage member 62 using an image recognition algorithm, in particular using a pattern recognition method. The control unit 50 thereby ascertains which of the stored objects has the greatest degree of correspondence with the object to be cleaned. The object to be cleaned is then associated by the control unit 50 with the object stored in the storage member with which it has the greatest degree of correspondence.

[0061] In a further step, the stored objects associated with the object to be cleaned are then displayed in the form of pictograms, labels and / or images on the touch-sensitive screen 56. This allows the user to recognize on the touch-sensitive screen 56 which stored objects the control unit 50 has associated with the object to be cleaned.

[0062] The user can then confirm or reject the association made by the control unit 50 by touching a corresponding screen field on the touch-sensitive screen 56 .

[0063] If the user confirms the association made by the control unit, the control unit 50 outputs at least one control parameter to the high pressure cleaning device, which corresponds to the object displayed on the screen 56. The at least one control parameter is wirelessly transmitted to the control electronics of the high pressure cleaning device. For this purpose, the control unit 50 as well as the control electronics of the high pressure cleaning device include corresponding wireless components. 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.

[0064] The at least one control parameter may, for example, include a predetermined value or a predetermined value range for the delivery parameters of the high pressure cleaning device, in particular the pressure of the cleaning liquid, the volumetric flow rate of the cleaning liquid, and / or the dosage of the cleaning chemical that can be mixed with the cleaning liquid by the high pressure cleaning device. The control parameters are selected to allow optimal cleaning of the respective object. Thus, once the object to be cleaned is correctly associated with the object stored in the memory member 62, the high pressure cleaning device operates in such a way that an optimal cleaning result can be achieved.

[0065] If the user rejects the association made by the control unit 50, at least one control parameter corresponding to the displayed object is not output by the control unit 50 to the control electronics of the high-pressure cleaning device. The control unit 50 instead automatically triggers a new detection of the object to be cleaned by the camera 60 recapturing an image of the object to be cleaned. Alternatively, the user may trigger a redetection of the object to be cleaned by touching a corresponding screen field on the screen 56 after rejecting the association made by the control unit 50. The captured image of the object to be cleaned is then reassociated by the control unit 50 with the object stored in the storage member 62, and the object is then redisplayed on the touch-sensitive screen 56.

[0066] The user also has the option to prompt the control unit 50 to display on the screen 56 a suggested list of objects stored in the storage member 52 by touching a corresponding screen field of the screen 56. The user can then select a stored object from the suggested list. The object to be cleaned detected by the camera 60 is then associated with the selected object, and at least one control parameter corresponding to the selected object is output from the control unit 50 to the high-pressure cleaning device.

[0067] Further, the user has the option of storing a new object not previously stored in the memory member 62 in the memory member 62 along with one or more control parameters corresponding to the new object, which control parameters corresponding to the new object are then output from the control unit 50 to the high-pressure cleaning apparatus.

[0068] The association made by the user between the object to be cleaned detected by the camera 60 and the new object is stored in the memory member 52 so that when the object to be cleaned is redetected by the camera 60, the currently stored association can be made automatically by the control unit 50.

[0069] The storage contents of the storage member 62 as well as the software programs of the control unit 50 can be updated and supplemented. For this purpose, the control unit 50 can be connected to an external data processing unit, for example to a server, a computer network (cloud), a smartphone or a tablet computer. This not only allows the object information of a large number of objects to be stored in the storage member 62 at the manufacturing plant of the spray gun 12 together with the corresponding control parameters for controlling the high-pressure cleaning device, but also allows further object information and control parameters to be stored later by establishing a connection to an external data processing unit. Furthermore, the software programs, in particular the pattern recognition methods, used to process the object information provided by the object detection unit 50 can be updated.

[0070] The detection of the object to be cleaned by the object detection unit 58, in particular by the camera 60, has the advantage that the best possible cleaning of the object to be cleaned can be performed without the user having to have in-depth knowledge for this purpose. The object to be cleaned is associated with the object, and control parameters for optimal cleaning of said object can be stored in the memory member 62 and output from the control unit 50 to the high-pressure cleaning device. This makes it possible to easily set the operation of the high-pressure cleaning device in order to perform the best possible cleaning of the object to be cleaned.

Claims

1. A liquid dispensing device for a high pressure cleaning device, comprising a liquid inlet (34) connectable to a pump outlet of a high pressure cleaning device via a pressure conduit for pressurized cleaning liquid, a liquid outlet (36) for dispensing said cleaning liquid in the direction of an object to be cleaned, an input device (52), a display device (54) and a control unit (50) for controlling said high pressure cleaning device, The control unit (50) includes a storage member (62) capable of storing control parameters; At least one control parameter can be output from the control unit (50) to the high pressure cleaning device. In a liquid dispensing device, The liquid dispensing device (10) is characterized in that it includes an object detection unit (58) for non-contact detection of the object to be cleaned, and object information corresponding to the object to be cleaned can be transmitted from the object detection unit (58) to the control unit (50) and processed by the control unit (50) to provide at least one control parameter adapted to the object to be cleaned.

2. A liquid dispensing device as described in claim 1, characterized in that object information of a large number of objects can be stored in the memory member (62) of the control unit (50) together with control parameters corresponding to the object information for controlling the high-pressure cleaning device, the object to be cleaned can be associated with the object stored in the memory member (62) by the control unit (50), and at least one control parameter can be output from the control unit (50) to the high-pressure cleaning device in accordance with the association.

3. 3. A liquid dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one control parameter comprises a predetermined value or a predetermined value range for a transport parameter of the high-pressure cleaning device, in particular the pressure of the cleaning liquid, the volumetric flow rate of the cleaning liquid and / or the dosage of a cleaning chemical that can be mixed with the cleaning liquid by the high-pressure cleaning device.

4. A liquid dispensing device as described in claim 1, 2, or 3, characterized in that the object detection unit is configured in the form of a camera for capturing an image of the object to be cleaned, and image information corresponding to the object to be cleaned can be transmitted to the control unit (50).

5. 5. The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the image information corresponding to the object to be cleaned can be compared by the control unit (50) with objects stored in the memory member (62) using an image recognition algorithm.

6. A liquid dispensing device as described in any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the object associated with the object to be cleaned by the control unit (50) can be displayed on the display device (54), particularly in the form of an emoji, an image and / or a label.

7. In the liquid dispensing device described in claim 6, the association made by the control unit (50) between the object to be cleaned and the object displayed on the display device can be confirmed by a user using the input device (52), and 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.

8. The liquid dispensing device of claim 7, characterized in that if user confirmation is not performed within a predetermined display time, 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.

9. A liquid dispensing device as described in claims 6, 7, or 8, characterized in that the association made by the control unit (50) between the object to be cleaned and the object displayed on the display device (54) can be rejected by a user using the input device (52), and the output of at least one control parameter corresponding to the displayed object to the high-pressure cleaning device can be blocked.

10. A liquid dispensing device as described in claim 9, characterized in that after rejecting the association made by the control unit (50) between the object to be cleaned and the object displayed on the display device (54), re-detection of the object to be cleaned by the object detection unit (58) can be triggered automatically by the control unit (50) or by the user using the input device (52).

11. A liquid dispensing device as described in claim 9, characterized in that after rejecting the association made by the control unit (50), a user can use the input device to associate the object to be cleaned with an object stored in the memory member (62), and at least one control parameter corresponding to the object with which the user has associated the object to be cleaned can be output from the control unit (50) to the high-pressure cleaning device.

12. A liquid dispensing device as described in claim 11, characterized in that the association made by a user between the object to be cleaned and the object stored in the memory member (62) can be stored in the memory member (62).

13. A liquid dispensing device as described in claim 11 or 12, characterized in that after rejecting the association made by the control unit (50) between the object to be cleaned and the object displayed on the display device (54), a suggestion list of objects stored in the memory member (62) can be displayed on the display device (54), and the object to be cleaned can be associated with an object selected by the user from the suggestion list.

14. A liquid dispensing device as described in claim 9, characterized in that after rejecting the association made by the control unit (50) between the object to be cleaned and the object displayed on the display device (54), a new object not previously stored in the memory member (62) can be specified by the user together with one or more control parameters corresponding to the new object and stored in the memory member (62), 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.

15. 15. The liquid dispensing apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the association between the object to be cleaned and the new object is storable in the memory member (62).

16. A liquid dispensing device as described in any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the control unit (50) is connectable to an external data processing unit, in particular a server, a computer network, a smartphone or a tablet computer, in order to update the memory contents of the memory member (62) and / or to update software programs.

17. 17. A liquid dispensing device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the liquid dispensing device (10) is configured as a spray gun (12).

18. 18. A liquid dispensing device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the input device (52) in combination with the display device (54) forms a touch-sensitive screen (56).

19. 1. A method for controlling a high pressure washer using a liquid dispensing device, comprising: the liquid dispensing device (10) includes a liquid inlet (34) connectable to a pump outlet of the high pressure cleaning device via a pressure conduit for pressurized cleaning liquid; the liquid dispensing device includes a liquid outlet (36) for dispensing the cleaning liquid toward an object to be cleaned; The liquid dispensing device includes an input device (52), a display device (54), and a control unit (50) for controlling the high-pressure cleaning device; The control unit (50) includes a storage member (62) capable of storing control parameters; At least one control parameter can be output from the control unit (50) to the high pressure cleaning device; The liquid dispensing device (10) includes an object detection unit (58) for detecting the object to be cleaned in a non-contact manner; Object information corresponding to the object to be cleaned is transmitted from the object detection unit (58) to the control unit (50) and processed by the control unit (50) to provide at least one control parameter adapted to the object to be cleaned, which is output to the high pressure cleaning device. method.

20. The method of claim 19, characterized in that object information of a plurality of objects is stored in the memory member (62) of the control unit (50) together with control parameters corresponding to the object information for controlling the high-pressure cleaning equipment, the object to be cleaned is associated by the control unit (50) with the object stored in the memory 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 equipment.

21. The method according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that the object detection unit (58) is configured in the form of a camera (60) for capturing an image of the object to be cleaned and transmitting image information corresponding to the object to be cleaned to the control unit (50).

22. 22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that the image information provided by the camera (60) is compared by the control unit (50) with the objects stored in the memory member (62) using an image recognition algorithm.

23. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that the object associated with the object to be cleaned by the control unit (50) is displayed on the display device (54), in particular in the form of a pictogram, a label and / or an image.

24. The method of claim 23, characterized in that the association made by the control unit (50) between the object to be cleaned and the object displayed on the display device (54) is confirmed or rejected by a user, and 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 equipment, and in the case of rejection, the output of the at least one control parameter corresponding to the displayed object to the high-pressure cleaning equipment is blocked.

25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that after rejecting the association made by the control unit (50) between the object to be cleaned and the object displayed on the display device (54), 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 using the input device (52), and after re-detection, a new association is made by the control unit (50) between the object to be cleaned and the object stored in the memory member (62).

26. 25. The method of claim 24, the object to be cleaned is associated by a user with an object stored in the storage member (62) after rejecting the association made by the control unit (50); and at least one control parameter corresponding to the object with which the user has associated the object to be cleaned is output from the control unit (50) to the high pressure cleaning device; The method comprising:

27. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the association made by a user between the object to be cleaned and an object stored in the storage member (62) is stored in the storage member (62).

28. 25. The method of claim 24, after rejecting the association made by the control unit (50), a suggested list of objects stored in the storage member (62) is displayed to the user on the display device (54); and a user selecting an object from the suggestion list, and then the object to be cleaned is associated with the selected object, and control parameters corresponding to the selected object are output to the high pressure cleaning device; The method comprising:

29. The method of claim 24, characterized in that after a user rejects the association made by the control unit (50), a new object not previously stored in the storage member (62) is stored in the storage member (62) together with one or more control parameters corresponding to the new object, and then the object to be cleaned is 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 apparatus.

30. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the association between the object to be cleaned and the new object is stored in the storage member (62).

31. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 30, characterized in that the control unit (50) is connected to an external data processing unit for updating the memory contents of the memory member (62) and / or for updating software programs.

Images