DE102008064211A1 - Electric motor-driven, hand-guided surface processing device i.e. hand vacuum cleaner, has conductor lying freely on surface, and sensor formed for effecting suction force and/or drive of unit in dependence of detection of cable - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a mains cable (5), machining mouth (11) and a rotatory driven unit (10) e.g. brush roller, arranged in the machining mouth for treatment of a surface (14), where extraction of the surface to be machined takes place by the machining mouth. A sensor (13) assigned to the machining mouth detects an electrical conductor in form of a cable. The electrical conductor lies freely on the surface, and the sensor is formed for effecting suction force and/or drive of the unit in dependence of sensor-moderate detection of the cable.

Description

The The invention relates to an electric motor operated, hand-guided Surface treatment device, in particular for the household area, with a power cord and a processing mouth and optionally arranged in the processing mouth, for example rotationally driven surface treatment means, where further optionally via the processing mouth a Extraction of the surface to be processed takes place.

Surface preparation equipment the type in question are known. These may be appropriate for the construction of the surface treatment required Saugluftstromes, eg. When forming the surface treatment device as Saugerat, in particular as a vacuum cleaner, a suction fan motor, the electrically operated via a device-side power cord is supplied. In the course of surface treatment, the generated Saugluftströmung over the processing mouth on the surface to be processed, for example. Soil. Possibly is the surface treatment further supported by a rotationally driven means, such as a brush or polishing pad, which is further preferably arranged in the processing mouth is. Also, it is known, these powered means alone or in a suction device without simultaneous Saugluftbeaufschlagung to use, in which case the suction fan is turned off in this case.

in the With regard to the known prior art is a technical Problem of the invention seen therein, a surface treatment device of at issue in terms of increased safety for the user, further in terms of reliability to improve.

These The problem is first and foremost through the The subject matter of claim 1 solved, where it is turned off is that assigned to the processing mouth a sensor for detecting a optionally overrun by the machining mouth and freely lying on the surface electrical conductor in the form a cable is arranged and that the sensor in dependence the sensor-based detection of the cable for action on the suction force and / or acting on the drive of the agent is trained. As a result of this embodiment is a suction and / or a mechanical incorporation via the agent a free to be processed, in particular to be cleaned Face lying cable counteracted, causing damage the same and / or the surface treatment device is prevented in the area of the processing mouth or means in particular a possible short circuit. The sensor this may be, for example, a mechanical button or the like., the presence of a lying on the surface, in detects the area of the processing mouth reaching cable. Further preferred is an inductive or capacitive sensor for detection the cable provided, further in particular for detecting a current-carrying Cable. Regardless of the design of the sensor causes a corresponding cable capture a the suction or the mechanical Incorporation of the cable prevents influence on the suction force and / or the middle movement. Accordingly, the over the sensor detected signal converted into a control value for the blower or for the drive of the agent. The sensor is further designed so that in particular below the work surface laid lines, such as an electric underfloor heating or metallic components As carpet strips are not detected, so that accordingly also no effect on the suction power and / or on the drive for the agent. The sensorial Detecting a cable can be an immediate influence the suction power and / or the drive for the agent lead. Alternatively or in combination, the sensor-based Detection also be designed differentiated, such that, for example, in corresponding detection of a cable in the processing mouth still spaced hazard area initially an optical and / or Acoustic pre-warning is made for the user to do this should initiate the device according to the detected cable to move away. If, however, the distance falls below the recorded Cable to the processing mouth a specified minimum value, this leads directly to the measures described above.

For the purposes of the invention, the surface treatment device refers to manually guided devices, especially for the household sector, which are designed as directly guided by hand, stalk guided or movable on the ground devices, so on, for example. In the manner of a suction and / or sweeping device , In stalk guided devices in the case of a vacuum cleaner to the vacuum cleaner base unit of the surface treatment serving and the processing mouth (suction mouth) having attachment arranged directly. Alternatively, as with the floor-mobile devices, the attachment in vacuum cleaner via a hand-guided suction hose to the base unit both fluidly and optionally electrically connected. In addition, the invention relates to all known devices for surface treatment, including wet surface processing, especially for floor care and / or surface treatment in the overground area, such as. For absorbent and / or brushing treatment of upholstery or mattresses, which devices optionally in addition to a suction processing additionally or alternatively provide a wet processing and / or mechanical processing of the surface, so for example by means of brushes, brush whale zen or polishing or polishing wheels. Such devices or Handstaubsauger are, for example, from the DE 10 2007 054 500 A1 . EP 0 630 604 B1 . EP 0 785 745 B1 . EP 0 758 208 B1 . EP 0 755 214 B1 . EP 1 214 902 B1 . DE 19731 272 B4 . DE 10 235 123 A1 . DE 43 40 367 C2 or DE 10 2006 022 945 A1 known.

Although the invention according to the preamble of claim 1 refers to devices with a power cord. However, the proposed invention can also find application in surface processing equipment, the principle without its own power cord, eg. Driven device-side batteries edit the area, for example. In the form of self-sufficient devices, further example. In the form of automatically movable suction and / or sweeping robot, such as for example, from the DE 102 42 257 A1 are known.

Further Features of the invention are below, also in the figure description, often in their preferred assignment to the subject of the claim 1 or explained features of further claims. But they can also be in an assignment to only individual Features of claim 1 or the respective further claim or each independently.

So is in a preferred embodiment of the subject invention provided that in case of detection of the cable, a shutdown the drive for the agent takes place, so the danger a mechanical incorporation eg. Brushing the himself extending below the processing mouth, on the surface, For example, met on the floor lying cable. In a further preferred embodiment If the cable is detected, the reduction of the Suction, this particular by appropriate, more preferably electronic Regulation of the suction power performing suction fan to a suction force that is designed to be on the Surface lying cables are not sucked into the processing mouth can. Further, by sensor-based detection the cable also a complete shutdown of the suction fan respectively. Is in the processing mouth, for example, a rotationally driven Means, for example. Provided a brush continues to be in preferred Embodiment in case of detection of the cable both a shutdown drive for the medium as well as a reduction the suction power. In a further embodiment, after elimination of the sensor signal, d. H. after removing the cable lying on the surface from the sensor area of the drive for the agent automatically switched back on and / or the suction on the before detection the cable specified suction force can be increased again.

Of the Sensor is further preferred for detecting an electromagnetic Field formed a current-carrying conductor of the cable. Such a sensory detection is preferably hand-guided Line locators in the home installation area known. This sensor is now part of the electric motor operated, hand-held surface treatment device, especially household vacuum cleaner to clear on the surface to detect lying lines. That by the current-carrying Conductor generated electromagnetic field is preferably contactless from the vacuum cleaner side, especially in the area of the processing mouth arranged sensor for triggering the above Measures recorded.

Preferably, the sensor is further configured to detect a predetermined signal modulated on the electrical conductor. If appropriate, the modulated signal is additionally evaluated in addition to the electromagnetic field, as a result of which the current-carrying cable can be clearly identified in a preferred manner. The detection of the modulated signal and / or the corresponding evaluation takes place, for example, according to one of DE 4103234 C2 known method, wherein in the aforementioned patent this method is applied to a line finder for non-contact searching and identifying electrical lines.

In more preferred embodiment is the modulated signal in created the surface processing device itself. For this Furthermore, a corresponding transmitter (modulator) is preferably provided. In this context, it proves to be further advantageous if the signal on the power cord of the surface treatment device modulated, whereby this imprinted a preferred digital code is.

according to This configuration is a secure detection of their own connection line allows. The detection reliability of the vacuum cleaner's own line is thereby increased.

below the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, which only one embodiment represents, closer explained. It shows:

1 in perspective view, a surface processing device in the form of an electric motor operated hand vacuum cleaner;

2 the processing mouth region of the hand vacuum cleaner in a schematic longitudinal sectional view along the line II-II in 1 ;

3 a flowchart.

Shown and described is first with reference to 1 an electromotive operated surface treatment device 1 in the form of a hand vacuum cleaner, in particular household dust Suction, which is designed as a hand-held handle. This first has a base unit 2 on, with a not shown suction / blower unit 3 , which is operated by an electric motor. On the base unit 2 is a intended for receiving the sucked dust good filter chamber 4 docked.

The power supply in the base unit 2 integrated electric motor for the suction / blower unit 3 via a power cable 5 ,

Next has the base unit 2 a gooseneck-shaped extension, which extends over the region of the filter chamber 4 extends. In the area of the free end of this extension forms a plug-in receptacle for a stem 6 of the vacuum cleaner 1 out. In the area of the free end of the stalk 6 is an operating handle 7 intended. This has a thumb actuatable actuator 8th in the form of a slide switch over which the power in the base unit 2 absorbed suction / blower unit 3 is adjustable.

For soil cultivation is the basic device 2 fluidly and electrically with a header 9 connected. This has a means rotating about a horizontal axis 10 in the form of a brush roll, in the area of the device bottom open processing mouth 11 of the attachment 9 is arranged. The machining mouth 11 is inside the attachment 9 via a suction channel 12 fluidly to the base unit 2 provided suction / blower unit 3 tethered. The electrical supply of the brushing roller (means 10 ) driving and in the header 9 provided, not shown electric motor via an electrical interface between the base unit 2 and the attachment 9 ,

Assigned to the machining mouth 11 , preferably in the usual direction of travel r of the vacuum cleaner 1 or attachment 9 in front of the processing mouth 11 , is an inductive or capacitive sensor 13 intended. This is down towards the front of the attachment 9 to be cared for area 14 directed, which surface 14 in the case of the illustrated and described vacuum cleaner in the usual way is a floor.

The sensor 13 serves to detect any of the machining mouth 11 run over and free on the surface 14 lying electrical conductor, in particular the vacuum cleaner side power cord 5 ,

For this is on the electrical conductor of the power cord 5 modulated a predetermined signal. This is in the vacuum cleaner (surface treatment device 1 ) itself, what this preferably in the range of the base unit 2 a modulator 15 having. It is modulated according to a signal that allows unambiguous detection of their own connection line.

The sensor 13 acts under appropriate evaluation of the detected signal while passing through a demodulator 16 with appropriate detection of the vacuum cleaner side power cord 5 on the controller 17 the suction / blower unit 3 and / or on the controller 18 the drive for the brush roller, such that the suction power and thus the suction force in the field of Bearbeitungsmundes 11 reduced and / or the drive of the brushing roller (means 10 ) is switched off, so that in the area of the processing mouth 11 free over the area 14 extending power cord 5 not in the processing mouth 11 can be sucked or brushed.

Is the power cord 5 from the immediate area of the processing mouth 11 removed, which can be achieved for example by the usual vacuum cleaner movement, and is therefore the power cord 5 out of the detection range of the sensor 13 spent, it is preferably an automatic re-insertion of the brush drive or an automatic increase in the suction force on the previously on the actuator 8th Preset suction performance achievable, thus corresponding to the vacuum cleaner without user intervention resumes the usual tillage. In this context, it is preferred that, after a sensor-related shutdown, a switch-off of the device first carried out by the user results 1 about the actuator 8th takes place, after which the device 1 again via the actuator 8th can be turned on. This ensures that the user detects the cause of the sensor-related shutdown and eliminates it before the device 1 can be operated again.

All disclosed features are essential to the invention (in itself). In the disclosure of the application is hereby also the disclosure content of the attached / attached priority documents (Copy of the advance notice) fully included, too for the purpose, features of these documents in claims present Registration with.

1

Surface machining unit

2

basic unit

3

Suction / blower unit

4

filter chamber

5

power cable

6

stalk

7

operating handle

8th

actuator

9

header

10

medium

11

processing mouth

12

suction

13

sensor

14

area

15

modulator

16

demodulator

17

control

18

control

r

traversing

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• - DE 102007054500 A1 [0005]
• - EP 0630604 B1 [0005]
• - EP 0785745 B1 [0005]
• EP 0758208 B1 [0005]
• EP 0755214 B1 [0005]
• - EP 1214902 B1 [0005]
• - DE 19731272 B4 [0005]
• - DE 10235123 A1 [0005]
• - DE 4340367 C2 [0005]
• DE 102006022945 A1 [0005]
• - DE 10242257 A1 [0006]
• - DE 4103234 C2 [0010]

Claims (7)

Electromotive operated, hand-held surface treatment device ( 1 ), in particular for household use, with a power cable ( 5 ) and a processing mouth ( 11 ) and possibly one in the processing mouth ( 11 ), for example rotationally driven means ( 10 ) for surface processing, wherein further optionally via the processing mouth ( 11 ) an extraction of the surface to be processed ( 14 ), characterized in that associated with the machining mouth ( 11 ) a sensor ( 13 ) for detecting an optionally from the processing mouth ( 11 ) run over and free on the surface ( 14 ) lying in the form of a cable ( 5 ) and that the sensor ( 13 ) depending on the sensor-related detection of the cable ( 5 ) for acting on the suction force and / or for acting on the drive of the agent ( 10 ) is trained. Vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 or in particular according thereto, characterized in that in case of detection of the cable ( 5 ) a shutdown of the drive for the agent ( 10 ) he follows. Vacuum cleaner according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that in the event of detection of the cable ( 5 ) there is a reduction in the suction power. Hand vacuum cleaner according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the sensor ( 13 ) is designed to detect an electromagnetic field of a current-carrying conductor. Hand vacuum cleaner according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the sensor ( 13 ) is configured to detect a predetermined modulated on the electrical conductor signal. Vacuum cleaner according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the modulated signal in the surface treatment device ( 1 ) is self-generated. Vacuum cleaner according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the signal on the power cord ( 5 ) of the surface processing device ( 1 ) is modulated.