EP3284382A2 - Service device for a wet cleaning apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a service device (1), in particular a base station, for carrying out a service treatment on a wet cleaning device (2) connectable to the service device (1), which device housing (3) has a receiving area (4) for receiving a wet cleaning device (2). having. In order to provide a further functionality of the service device (1), it is proposed that the device housing (3) has a drying device (5) associated with the receiving area (4) for drying at least a partial area of a wet cleaning device (2) arranged in the receiving area (4) ,

Description

Field of engineering

The invention relates to a service device, in particular a base station, for performing a service treatment on a connectable to the service device wet cleaning device having a device housing with a receiving area for receiving a wet cleaning device.

In addition, the invention relates to a system comprising a service device of the aforementioned type and a wet cleaning device with a cleaning element for the wet cleaning of a surface to be cleaned.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating a service device for performing a service treatment on a wet cleaning device connected to the service device, wherein the wet cleaning device is received by means of a receiving area of a device housing of the service device.

State of the art

Service facilities of the aforementioned type and methods for operating a service facility are known in the art.

The service device can be designed, for example, as a base station and perform one or more service treatments on a wet cleaning device. These include, for example, charging an accumulator of the wet cleaning device, a cleaning of the wet cleaning device or other maintenance operations.

The publication US 5,959,423 A. discloses, for example, a service device designed as a base station, which is designed to clean and disinfect a cleaning robot from the outside and to exchange consumables of the cleaning robot.

Summary of the invention

Based on the aforementioned prior art, it is an object of the invention to develop a service facility such that it provides additional benefits, in particular, can perform additional service treatments on a wet cleaning device.

To solve this problem, it is proposed that the device housing of the service device has a drying device associated with the receiving region for drying at least a portion of a wet cleaning device arranged in the receiving region.

According to the invention, the service device is now designed to dry at least a portion of the wet cleaning device. So that the wet cleaning device to be dried can be arranged in a particularly required position and orientation on or in the service facility, the service facility has a receiving area. This can be formed, for example, by a form correspondence with the wet cleaning device so that the wet cleaning device can be correctly connected to the service device only in a specific position and orientation. The correct position and orientation is characterized by the fact that the part to be dried in the effective range of Drying device is positioned. In addition, the receiving area may also have sensor means corresponding to the wet cleaning device, which navigate the wet cleaning device into or onto the receiving area. These sensor means may be, for example, optical receivers, reflective surfaces, optical markers or the like associated with a distance measuring device of the wet cleaning device. The part of the wet cleaning device to be dried may preferably be a cleaning element such as a cleaning roller or a flat carrier with a textile cleaning pad. In addition, the portion to be dried may also include a liquid tank, a liquid channel, and the like. Thus, an automatic drying can be performed on a wet cleaning device, in particular with respect to those parts of the wet cleaning device, which come into contact with fresh water and / or dirty water.

The wet cleaning device, for which the service device is designed, can basically be any device which can exclusively or among other things perform a wet cleaning. These include, on the one hand hand-held wet cleaning equipment, on the other hand, however, also automatically moving wet cleaning equipment, in particular cleaning robot. In addition, combined dry and wet cleaning devices within the meaning of the invention are meant. In addition, the wet cleaning devices can be both conventional floor cleaning equipment for cleaning a floor, as well as wet cleaning equipment for cleaning overground surfaces, for example for cleaning windows, shelves, baseboards, steps and the like.

It is proposed that the drying device of the service device is an air conveying device, in particular a fan, for conveying having an air flow to the wet cleaning device. The air conveyor thus causes a drying by the application of the part of the wet cleaning device to be dried with an air flow, which was generated by the air conveyor. The air conveyor preferably includes a fan which promotes active air exchange. The blower can either aspirate an air flow from the portion to be dried or promote an air flow to the portion to be dried out. Alternatively, an alternating flow direction of the air flow, that is, alternately a Saugbeaufschlagung and a Blasbeaufschlagung done. In addition to this actively operated air conveyor also passively operated air conveyors can generate or promote the air flow, for example, by different pressure or temperature levels are created. A passive air delivery can be done, for example, that air is heated specifically. This may optionally take place with the aid of already existing waste heat, for example the waste heat of an accumulator charging station, an engine or the like.

Furthermore, it is proposed that the drying device has a heat dissipating means of convection and / or heat conduction and / or radiation heater. The heater can thus dissipate heat in different physical ways to dry the portion of the wet cleaning device. In this case, a convective heat output which dries the partial area of the wet cleaning appliance to be dried with the aid of a heated air stream is particularly preferred. For example, the heating device may have one heating resistor or a plurality of heating resistors, to which a fan is assigned, which conveys the heat emitted by the heating elements to the wet cleaning device. A convection of the heated air from the heater takes place basically alone due to the temperature differences, but can also in addition a previously proposed blower be supported. This blower can on the one hand be a blower of the service device, but on the other hand also a blower of the wet cleaning device itself, which can act on the receiving area of the service facility via a suitable flow guidance. In the sense of a heating device which dissipates heat by means of heat conduction, provision can be made, for example, for the heating device to be assigned heat-conducting elements, for example heat-conducting plates or heat pipes, which conduct the heat emitted by the heating device to the receiving region. It can be provided, for example, that the receiving area is partially formed by the heat conducting elements and / or the wet cleaning device can be placed particularly advantageous on it. Of course, the types of heat transfer do not exist exclusively separate from each other, but interact in such a way that, in practice, possibly changing proportions of several types of transmission are present.

In particular, it is proposed that the drying device has a radiant heater and / or a heating resistor. In this way, the receiving area is heated particularly advantageous in order to bring about a drying of the wet cleaning device. The radiant heater and / or heating resistors are particularly comfortable and inexpensive to integrate into the service facility.

Furthermore, it is proposed that the service device has a receiving plate for placing a wet cleaning device thereon. The receiving plate may preferably be formed as a heating plate. The receiving plate preferably forms a partial region of the receiving region and is placed within the receiving region such that the moist cleaning device correctly connected to the service device is placed with its portion to be dried above the receiving plate. The receiving plate serves, for example, on the one hand as a base plate of the service facility to protect a floor from moisture and on the other to form the receiving area for the wet cleaning device. In addition, the receiving plate also particularly preferably forms a cover for components of the drying device arranged inside the service device, namely, for example, an air conveying device and / or heating device. Particularly advantageously, the receiving plate may be formed simultaneously as a heat-conducting element, for example as a heat-conducting metal plate, so that it supports the drying process of the wet cleaning device.

In addition, it is proposed that the drying device has at least one air guide means, in particular an air guide channel and / or an air outlet opening, for guiding an air flow to the receiving area. The air outlet openings may be arranged, for example, within the previously proposed receiving plate of the receiving area, so that the air flow is directed from the air conveyor and / or heater directed to the part to be dried of the wet cleaning device. In addition, the receiving area may also have air ducts, which allow a directed air flow. It is also conceivable that the air ducts are variable. Particularly advantageously, the air ducts are at least partially formed by, for example, movable elements of the service device and / or the wet cleaning device. The movable elements may be, for example, sealing elements such as sealing lips, bristle strips and the like, which form displaceable walls of an air duct. The air ducts of the service device can also be formed of a thermally conductive material and also have air outlet openings for targeted flow guidance.

In addition, it is proposed that the device housing, in particular the receiving plate, has a hygroscopic material. The hygroscopic material may in particular be pulp and / or silica gel and / or another desiccant. These water-attracting materials can advantageously be integrated into the material of the receiving region, in particular into the receiving plate. As a result, the drying process is accelerated and also directed the air flow in the receiving area. In this context, it can also be provided that during the drying process, a hygroscopic substance is applied to the cleaning element of the wet cleaning device, which again removed after completion of the drying, in particular aspirated.

In addition to the previously proposed service device, a system of such a service device and a wet cleaning device with a cleaning element for wet cleaning of a surface to be cleaned is also proposed, wherein the device housing of the service device is designed corresponding to the wet cleaning device so that the cleaning element in the connected state of service device and wet cleaning device a drying device is assigned, wherein the cleaning element is arranged in particular in an air flow of an air conveying device, in particular an air flow of a blower. Within this system, the service device and the wet cleaning device according to the invention are now correspondingly designed so that the portion of the wet cleaning device to be dried corresponds locally with the drying device, so that the portion can be dried very effectively. The partial area to be dried may in particular be the cleaning element of the wet cleaning device, in particular a rotating cleaning roller or even a flat carrier with a cleaning cloth. In addition, however, the portion to be dried may also or alternatively be a liquid channel, tank or the like of the wet cleaning device. The air conveyor can, as explained above with respect to the service facility, promote an air flow, namely in the form of either a suction air flow or a blast air flow. Incidentally, the features previously proposed with respect to the service facility also apply analogously to the system which includes such a service facility and a wet cleaning appliance. This relates in particular to the air conveying device and also the heating device and the formation of the receiving area for the wet cleaning device.

Furthermore, it is proposed that the air conveying device of the system can have a rotating cleaning element and / or a motor of the wet cleaning device. The components of the air conveyor are thus not assigned exclusively to the service facility, but rather also the wet cleaning device itself. This can be used in an advantageous manner, a rotating cleaning element and / or a motor of the wet cleaning device to a stream of air to be dried part of the wet cleaning to promote. The rotating cleaning element, namely, for example, a cleaning roller, generates anyway an air flow due to the rotational movement, which can be advantageously used for drying. The motor of the wet cleaning device may for example be a motor for operating a fan or a drive motor for driving the Verfahrräder the wet cleaning device. The engine heats up during its operation, so that the heat generated thereby can be used to promote the air flow. As a result, the system can be formed without further active air conveying devices.

Finally, the invention also proposes a method for operating a service device for carrying out a service treatment on a wet cleaning device connected to the service device, wherein the wet cleaning device is received by means of a receiving area of a device housing of the service device, and wherein at least a portion of the wet cleaning device is dried by means of a drying device of the service device, wherein the sub-area is acted upon in particular by an air flow. The advantages achieved thereby arise as previously explained with respect to the service facility or the system from the service facility and the wet cleaning appliance.

In addition, all features mentioned in relation to the service device or the system also apply analogously to the proposed method for operating the service device. In particular, this relates to the drying of the sub-area with the aid of an air conveyor and / or a heater, and the air duct with the aid of an air guide means, in particular an air duct and / or an air outlet opening and the support of the drying process using a hygroscopic material.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1

eine Serviceeinrichtung mit einem angedockten Feuchtreinigungsgerät,

Fig. 2

die Serviceeinrichtung mit dem Feuchtreinigungsgerät in nicht angedocktem Zustand,

Fig. 3

einen Längsschnitt des Systems gemäß Fig. 1,

Fig. 4

eine Serviceeinrichtung gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform mit einem Feuchtreinigungsgerät,

Fig. 5

eine Serviceeinrichtung gemäß einer dritten Ausführungsform mit einem Feuchtreinigungsgerät,

Fig. 6

die Serviceeinrichtung gemäß Fig. 5 in einer teilweisen Explosionsdarstellung,

Fig. 7

ein System aus einer Serviceeinrichtung und einem Feuchtreinigungsgerät gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail by means of exemplary embodiments. Show it:

Fig. 1

a service facility with a docked wet cleaning device,

Fig. 2

the service facility with the wet cleaning device in undocked condition,

Fig. 3

a longitudinal section of the system according to Fig. 1 .

Fig. 4

a service device according to a second embodiment with a wet cleaning device,

Fig. 5

a service device according to a third embodiment with a wet cleaning device,

Fig. 6

the service facility according to Fig. 5 in a partially exploded view,

Fig. 7

a system of a service device and a wet cleaning device according to another embodiment.

Description of the embodiments

Fig. 1 shows a system of a service device 1 and a wet cleaning device 2. The wet cleaning device 2 is completely received in the illustrated state in a receiving area 4 of the service device 1. The device housing 3 fits into the receiving area 4 of the service device 1 in the form of a corresponding shape. A part of a bottom area of the receiving area 4 is formed by a receiving plate 8, over which a partial area of the wet cleaning device 2 is arranged. The receiving plate 8 may be a glass plate or the like (as in an electric cooker).

The wet cleaning device 2 is designed here as a self-propelled wet cleaning device 2, namely as a wiping robot. The wet cleaning device 2 has a navigation system, which can perform a self-localization of the wet cleaning device 2 by means of continuous distance measurements. By means of this navigation system, the wet cleaning device 2 can be controlled in the receiving area 4, so that a service treatment can be performed. For movement, the wet cleaning device 2 Verfahrräder 18 on. So that the wet cleaning device 2 can be moved particularly easily into the receiving area 4, the service facility 1 has a ramp 13, which can drive up the moist cleaning device 2 in order to reach the receiving area 4. In the docked position shown, the service facility can perform one or more service treatments on the wet cleaning device 2. For example, the service device 1 can have an accumulator charging station, by means of which an accumulator of the moist cleaning device 2 can be charged. Furthermore, the service device 1 is designed to dry a portion of the wet cleaning device 2. For this purpose, the service device 1 has a drying device 5, which is explained in more detail with reference to the other figures. A service treatment of the service device 1 can for example be started manually by a user of the service device 1, here for example by a switch 14 arranged on the service device 1 being actuated. As a result, for example, the drying device 5 can be started, while the charging of the accumulator of the wet cleaning device 2, for example, can be done automatically when docking the wet cleaning device 2 to the service device 1.

Fig. 2 shows the system Fig. 1 in a separate state of service device 1 and wet cleaning device 2. In the receiving area 4, an electrical connection 16 is arranged, which produces an electrical contact to a battery charging station of the service device 1. This electrical connection 16 is positioned within the receiving area 4 such that a corresponding connection of the wet cleaning device 2 is automatically connected to the electrical connection 16 when the wet cleaning device 2 is fully retracted into the service device 1. The receiving area 4 further has, in the bottom area, the drying device 5, which contains a heating device 7. The heating device 7 here has a plurality of heating elements 15, which meander-shaped connected to each other are. The heating elements 15 are here, for example, heating resistors, which release heat mainly by convection to the environment. The heating elements 15 are covered with the receiving plate 8 designed as a glass plate. In the in Fig. 1 shown docked state of the wet cleaning device 2 is a cleaning element 11 to be dried (see Fig. 6 ) of the wet cleaning device 2 placed directly above the heater 7, so that the hot air flow generated by the heating elements 15, for example, the glass plate flows directly in the direction of the cleaning element 11 and causes a drying there.

Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal section of the system according to Fig. 1 , The service device 1 has the receiving area 4, in which the wet cleaning device 2 is positioned with the cleaning element 11 above the heating device 7, so that the heating elements 15 designed as heating resistors are arranged below the cleaning element 11. The receiving plate 8 arranged between the heating elements 15 and the cleaning element 11 is warmed up by means of the heating elements 15 and in turn delivers the heat to the cleaning element 11. The heating device 7 can be switched on and off by means of the switch 14 of the service device 1.

The wet cleaning device 2 further has a device housing 3, in which an air conveyor 6 in the form of a blower and a motor 12 for operating the fan are arranged. Furthermore, the wet cleaning device 2 has an accumulator 20, which is connected here via the electrical connection 16 to a charging station of the service device 1. Below the wet cleaning device 2, that is, between the wet cleaning device 2 and the bottom portion of the receiving area 4, an air duct 9 is formed, through which a generated by the air conveyor 6 air flow is conveyed to the cleaning element 11. Of the Air duct 9 is closed by a sealing element 19, here in the form of a sealing lip, so that the air flow can not escape between the wet cleaning device 2 and the service device 1, but rather is directed to the cleaning element 11 after sweeping the receiving plate 8. The air flow is additionally heated by means of the heating elements 15 and the receiving plate 8. As a result, a targeted and rapid drying of the cleaning element 11 is effected.

Although not shown in the drawing, for example, the receiving plate 8 may additionally comprise a hygroscopic material. This hygroscopic material may be, for example, silica gel. As a result, either the cleaning element 11 directly or the surrounding the cleaning element 11 air flow moisture removed, which additionally accelerates the drying.

Fig. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of a service device 1, in which the service device 1 is not as in the FIGS. 1 and 2 is designed as a base station, but rather as a service device 1, which solves only one drying task, but does not perform any other service operations such as charging an accumulator. The service device 1 also has again a receiving area 4, in which the wet cleaning device 2 can enter via a ramp 13. At the receiving area 4, a positioning aid 17 is arranged, which in conjunction with, for example, a navigation device of the wet cleaning device 2 allows a correct docking of the wet cleaning device 2 in the receiving area 4. The drying device 5 is as before with respect to Fig. 2 explained, formed, wherein the drying device 5 comprises a plurality of heating elements 15 which are connected to each other meandering.

Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment of a service device 1. The heater 7 is here covered by a receiving plate 8 with a plurality of air outlet openings 10. The receiving plate 8 can also be made of a thermally conductive material, in particular a metal. In particular, a copper plate is suitable here. In addition, a training of glass, ceramics and other materials is possible. The heated by means of the heating elements 15 air flows starting from the heater 7 through the air outlet openings 10 of the receiving plate 8 and from there (in the docked state of the wet cleaning device 2) directly under the cleaning element 11 of the wet cleaning device 2, which is to be dried.

Fig. 6 shows an exploded view of the drying device 5 of the service device 1. In detail, the drying device 5, two air conveyors 6, here blowers, and a motor 12 for the operation of the air conveyors 6. In addition, the drying device 5 is arranged with the heating elements 15 and in turn about the receiving plate 8 with the air outlet openings 10. The invention now works so that the motor 12, the air conveyors 6 drives. At the same time designed as heating resistors heating elements 15 are energized, so that they heat up. The heat of the heating elements 15 as well as the heat of the motor 12 itself is conveyed by the air conveyors 6 in the direction of the receiving plate 8 and from there through the air outlet openings 10 under or in the device housing 3 of the wet cleaning device 2, in which the cleaning element to be dried 11 is arranged.

Fig. 7 Finally, shows a further embodiment of a system comprising a service device 1 and a wet cleaning device 2. The wet cleaning device 2 is designed here as a manually operated wiper device, which has a base unit 21 and an attachment 22. The attachment 22 carries a surface trained cleaning element 11, which may be arranged for example on a swinging support plate. On the base unit 21, a handle 23 is formed with a handle 24. The handle 23 is designed here telescopically, for example, so that a user of the wet cleaning device 2 can adjust the length of the stem 23 to its body size.

To dry the cleaning element 1, a user sets the wet cleaning device 2 manually on the receiving plate 8 of the receiving area 4 of the service device 1. The service device 1 can, for example, according to Fig. 6 be formed, that is, a heater 7 and an air conveyor 6 have. Incidentally, the functionality of the service device 1 explained above with reference to the further figures results.

List of reference numbers

1

service facility

2

Wet cleaning device

3

device housing

4

reception area

5

drying device

6

Air conveyor

7

heater

8th

mounting plate

9

Air duct

10

Air outlet opening

11

cleaning element

12

engine

13

ramp

14

switch

15

heating element

16

Electrical connection

17

Positionierungshilfe

18

Verfahrrad

19

sealing element

20

accumulator

21

basic unit

22

header

23

stalk

24

handle

Claims (10)

Service device (1), in particular base station, for carrying out a service treatment on a wet cleaning device (2) which can be connected to the service device (1) and which has a device housing (3) with a receiving area (4) for receiving a wet cleaning device (2), characterized that the device housing (3) the receiving portion (4) associated with drying means (5) arranged to dry at least a portion of a in the receiving area (4) wet-cleaning device (2). Service device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the drying device (5) has an air conveying device (6), in particular a fan, for conveying an air flow to the wet cleaning device (2). Service device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the drying device (5) has a means of convection and / or heat conduction and / or radiation heat emitting heater (7). Service device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drying device (5) has a radiant heater and / or a heating resistor. Service device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a receiving plate (8), in particular heating plate, for arranging thereon a wet cleaning device (2). Service device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drying device (5) has at least one air guidance device, in particular an air duct (9) and / or an air outlet opening (10) for guiding an air flow to the receiving area (4). Service device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device housing (3), in particular the receiving plate (8), a hygroscopic material, in particular pulp and / or silica gel having. System comprising a service device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7 and a wet cleaning device (2) with a cleaning element (11) for the wet cleaning of a surface to be cleaned, characterized in that a device housing (3) of the service device (1) corresponding to the Moist cleaning device (2) is designed so that the cleaning element (11) is associated with a connected state of service device (1) and wet cleaning device (2) a drying device (5), wherein the cleaning element (11) in particular in an air flow of an air conveyor (6) , in particular an air flow of a blower, is arranged. System according to claim 8, characterized in that the air conveying device (6) has a rotating cleaning element (11) and / or a motor (12) of the wet cleaning device (2). Method for operating a service device (1) for performing a service treatment on a wet cleaning device (2) connected to the service device (1), wherein the wet cleaning device (2) by means of a receiving area (4) of a device housing (3) of the service device (1) is received, characterized in that at least a portion of the wet cleaning device (2) by means of a drying device (5) of the service device (1) is dried, wherein the portion of a particular Air flow is applied.

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