Method of operating a cleaning system, base station and filter apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cleaning systems lack efficient and user-friendly methods for simultaneously maintaining multiple cleaning devices, such as vacuum cleaners and robots, by automatically emptying, filling, and charging them, leading to reduced availability and increased maintenance time.
Innovation Solution
A base station with modular design and a filter apparatus that allows for simultaneous or prioritized fluidic and electrical connection of multiple cleaning devices, enabling automatic emptying, filling, and charging, with a control system to manage the prioritization and fluidic connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the base station maintains multiple cleaning devices simultaneously, then the availability and productivity of the cleaning system is improved, but the device complexity and maintenance coordination difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The base station is divided into multiple independent maintenance stations, each capable of servicing one cleaning device. Each maintenance station includes its own fluidic connection, filter apparatus, and control unit. This segmentation allows parallel processing of multiple devices while keeping each individual station relatively simple and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The base station is designed as a universal maintenance system that can service different types of cleaning devices (e.g., vacuum cleaners, cleaning robots) through standardized fluidic and electrical connections. The control unit can manage multiple device types with a single unified control architecture, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining versatility.
2Ease of operation
If automatic prioritization control is implemented, then the ease of operation and user-friendliness is improved, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit automatically detects which cleaning devices are connected to the base station and independently determines the maintenance priority and sequence without requiring user intervention. The system self-manages the coordination of multiple devices, allocating maintenance resources automatically based on detected device states and priorities, thereby simplifying user operation while implementing sophisticated control logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit continuously monitors the status of connected cleaning devices through fluidic connections and communication interfaces, receiving feedback signals about device identity, maintenance needs, and current state. Based on this real-time feedback, the control unit dynamically adjusts the maintenance sequence and priority, enabling intelligent automated decision-making without complex user input requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances the availability and user-friendliness of cleaning devices by allowing simultaneous or prioritized maintenance, reducing manual intervention and increasing efficiency in emptying, filling, and charging processes.
Implementation Method 1
a filter apparatus (70) for a base station (10), characterized in that the filter apparatus (70) has a plurality of connection openings (70E, 70F) for filling the filter apparatus (70)
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating a cleaning system with a plurality of mobile cleaning devices and a base station for the cleaning devices as well as a base station for a plurality of mobile cleaning devices are proposed, wherein the cleaning devices can be emptied by the base station and/or filled with a cleaning agent by the base station simultaneously and/or according to a prioritization. In addition, a filter apparatus for a base station is proposed which has a plurality of connection openings in order to be able to empty a plurality of cleaning devices.