DE102019107008A1 - Base station for an electrical household appliance and a system comprising a base station and a household appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a base station (1) with an interface (2) for docking an electrical household appliance (3), the base station (1) having an energy store (5) stored for the household appliance (3) and a charging device (7) for the energy store (5) and a displacement channel (4), the displacement channel (4) having a displacement device (6) for moving the energy store (5) along the displacement channel (4) from one of the charging of the energy store (5) to the charging device (7) the base station (1) serving first position (A) in a second position (B) suitable for transferring the energy store (5) to the household appliance (3). In order to create an alternative mechanism for changing an energy store (5), it is proposed that the displacement channel (4) have two charging devices (7, 8) which are spaced apart from one another in relation to a longitudinal extension of the displacement channel (4). A system comprising a base station (1) and an electrical household appliance (3) that can be connected to the base station (1) is also proposed.

Description

Field of technology

The invention relates to a base station with an interface for docking an electrical household appliance, the base station having an energy store stored for the household appliance, a charging device for the energy store and a shifting channel, the shifting channel having a shifting device for shifting the energy store along the shifting channel from one of the charging stations of the energy store on the charging device of the base station serving first position in a second position suitable for transferring the energy store to the household appliance.

The invention further relates to a system comprising a base station and an electrical household appliance that can be connected to the base station, the base station having an interface for docking the household appliance, an energy store stored for the household appliance, a charging device for the energy store and a displacement channel, the displacement channel having a Shifting device for shifting the energy store along the shift channel from a first position serving to charge the energy store at the charging device of the base station into a second position suitable for transferring the energy store to the household appliance, and wherein the household appliance has a second energy store and a contact device for contacting the Has energy storage.

State of the art

Base stations for household appliances are known in the prior art in different embodiments.

The disclosure document US 2005/0212478 A1 discloses, for example, a base station for a self-propelled cleaning robot. The base station stores, among other things, an accumulator for the cleaning robot and also has a charging device for charging the accumulator and a conveying mechanism for transferring the charged accumulator to the cleaning robot. The conveying mechanism consists of a rotating mechanism and a sliding mechanism. By means of the rotation mechanism, the charged accumulator is moved to the position of the cleaning robot in front of the base station. The sliding mechanism moves the accumulator into the cleaning robot after it has reached the desired rotational position.

A disadvantage of such a base station is that different mechanisms are required for rotation and sliding movement. It is also necessary to move the energy storage device out of the base station before it reaches the cleaning robot. As a result, on the one hand, a high design effort and a high manufacturing cost are necessary, and on the other hand, impairment of the environment due to noise when the energy store is transferred to the cleaning robot is to be expected.

Summary of the invention

Based on the aforementioned prior art, it is therefore the object of the invention to create a base station for a household appliance which enables a particularly simple and preferably also low-noise transfer of an energy store from the base station to the household appliance and vice versa from the household appliance to the base station.

To achieve the aforementioned object, the invention proposes that the displacement channel of the base station has two charging devices which are spaced apart from one another in relation to a longitudinal extent of the displacement channel.

According to the invention, the base station now has not just one but two charging devices. These are arranged directly in the displacement channel, so that an energy store taken over from a household appliance can be connected directly within the displacement channel to a charging device and charged there, while another energy store stored in the displacement channel can be transferred to the household appliance at the same time. Contrary to the state of the art with only one charging device, however, it is not necessary for a stored energy store to first be decoupled from the charging device or transferred to the household appliance so that a second energy store received by the household appliance can then be connected to the charging device. Rather, there are several charging points available for at least two energy stores. These are also arranged directly in the displacement channel, so that no additional second displacement mechanism is necessary in order to convey the energy store into the displacement channel or out of the displacement channel. The energy stores are always located within the shift channel, even during the charging process. Energy storage in the sense of the invention can be accumulators, tanks, fuel cells, etc. The charging devices are designed to correspond to the respective type of energy store, for example with electrical contacts for one Accumulator, a valve for filling a tank or a fuel cell. The displacement channel is preferably designed in a straight line, so that the sliding displacement of the energy stores takes place along a straight line. In principle, however, it is also possible for the displacement channel to be curved so that the energy stores simultaneously follow a circular path, for example, during a sliding movement. The two charging devices of the base station are in any case at a distance from one another in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the displacement channel, which, as mentioned above, can be straight or curved, so that several charging locations are available for two energy stores at the same time.

In particular, it is proposed that the loading devices are arranged on opposite sides of the displacement channel. This embodiment is particularly advantageous because two energy stores present at the same time in the displacement channel of the base station do not interfere with one another when one of the energy stores is connected to a charging device. In this case, a maximum range of motion is available for the other energy store that corresponds to almost the entire length of the displacement channel.

In particular, it is proposed that the interface of the base station intersects the displacement channel in such a way that a device section of a household appliance properly connected to the interface is arranged within the displacement channel between the charging devices and the displacement channel runs at least with respect to a longitudinal section within a housing contour of the household appliance. According to this embodiment, the base station is designed so that a household appliance can at least partially be plugged into the base station with a device section having an energy store, so that the device section protrudes into the displacement channel and an energy store is transferred from the base station to the household appliance and vice versa can without the energy store leaving the base station for the handover. This configuration enables particularly low-noise transfer of the energy store and actuation of the displacement device, in particular when the housing of the base station at least partially covers or surrounds the household appliance. As suggested, the interface is preferably located in the displacement channel, that is, superimposed on the displacement path of the energy storage device, so that an energy storage device is simultaneously moved by the household appliance connected to the interface as it moves along the displacement channel of the base station. Since the interface also intersects the displacement channel, as suggested, between the two charging devices of the base station, there are basically two partial movement paths for the energy storage device, namely a first partial movement path between a first charging device and the interface - or the associated sub-area of the household appliance - and a second partial movement path between a second charging device and the interface. This enables an energy store of the household appliance to be exchanged at the base station without hindrance. A discharged energy store can be transferred from the household appliance to a first charging device of the base station via the first partial movement path, while a charged energy store is transferred from a second charging device of the base station to the household appliance via the second partial movement path. When the household appliance is connected to the interface of the base station, the device part of the household appliance that has or receives the energy store is in alignment with the displacement channel of the base station, so that the energy store can be transferred, for example, from an energy storage slot of the household appliance to a charging device of the base station. A design of the household appliance from the energy storage shaft to an output interface of the appliance housing preferably corresponds to the course of the displacement channel of the base station.

It is further proposed that the charging devices of the base station each have at least one contact element for connecting an energy store, a contact element of a first charging device and a contact element of a second charging device facing each other in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the displacement channel. According to this embodiment, the charging devices are opposite one another in the displacement channel such that a contact element of a first charging device points in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the displacement channel to a contact element of a second charging device and vice versa. The contact elements can, for example, be electrical charging plugs, for example banana plugs, with a longitudinal extension of the charging plugs being particularly preferably oriented parallel to the longitudinal extension of the displacement channel. In particular, charging devices arranged, for example, on the end faces of the displacement channel form an end stop for an energy storage device displaced along the displacement channel, whereby when the energy storage device strikes the end stop, a plug-socket connection with the contact elements of the charging device and the contact elements of the energy storage device occurs at the same time.

According to one embodiment it can be provided that the displacement device is an inside of the displacement channel has a sliding element which is movably mounted and which is arranged on the side of the energy store facing away from the charging device in relation to an energy store connected to a charging device. The sliding element is advantageously used, on the one hand, to space two energy stores present in the displacement channel and, on the other hand, to mechanically interact between the energy stores such that a first energy store can exert a pushing force on a second energy store or transmit it to it by means of the sliding element. The sliding element acts as a displaceable spacer between the energy stores. This is particularly advantageous in order to keep the energy stores, for example, as previously suggested, in different partial movement paths of the displacement channel and / or to be spaced from one another in such a way that a contact device of the household appliance for contacting the energy stores in the displacement channel can reach between the energy stores of the base station. In addition, the sliding element can also serve to release an energy store from the household appliance, in particular from a contact device of the household appliance.

It is proposed that the displacement device of the base station have a mechanical, pneumatic and / or electromagnetic drive.

In the case of a mechanical drive, this can preferably have at least one linear drive acting against the energy store in the longitudinal extent of the displacement channel. The linear drive can for example be a spindle drive or a rack and pinion drive. Particularly preferably, the displacement device has two linear drives, so that energy stores can be separated from both the one and the other charging device of the displacement channel, which requires forces to act in different, in particular opposite, directions. In the case of a pneumatic drive, this can preferably have a fan that acts on the displacement duct in the longitudinal direction with an air flow. The fan can for example be a fan that is already used for other service tasks by the base station, for example a fan by means of which suction material is sucked into a suction material collecting chamber of the base station from a household appliance designed as a suction cleaning device. Alternatively, however, the fan can also be provided specifically only for the function of the displacement device. The force acting on the energy storage device takes place essentially through overpressure or underpressure in the displacement channel, with a pulse of the air flow that hits at least one of the energy storage devices supporting a displacement of the energy storage device. By reversing the direction of rotation of the fan, the effective direction of the displacement device can also be reversed. Furthermore, the drive of the displacement device could also be a fan of the household appliance, an air flow being diverted from the household appliance into the displacement channel of the base station. In the case of an electromagnetic drive, it can preferably have at least one electromagnet, the magnetic force of which acts in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the displacement channel. In particular, two electromagnets are recommended, so that each of the charging devices of the shift channel is assigned its own electromagnet. In this case, the energy stores preferably have a permanent magnet, which can either be attracted or repelled by a magnetic force of the electromagnet. Depending on the direction of the switchable magnetic field of the electromagnet, the energy store can thus be drawn to a charging device or separated from it. With all of the aforementioned drive variants, it would also be possible for the drive for the displacement device not to be arranged in the base station, but rather to be arranged in the household appliance. Accordingly, the air pressure for relocating an energy store could also - as described above - be generated by a fan of the household appliance. A linear drive or an electromagnet of the household appliance could also move the energy storage device within the displacement channel of the base station. In these cases, it must be ensured that the household appliance is never completely de-energized when an energy storage device is replaced, since otherwise the drive for the displacement device would also not work. The constant supply of energy for the drive could take place in that the displacement device is designed such that one of the energy stores exchanged for one another is always connected to a contact device of the household appliance. It is also conceivable that the base station, in particular in the area of the interface, provides a contact for the household appliance, via which energy can be transmitted from the base station to the household appliance.

In addition to the base station described above, the invention also proposes a system comprising a base station and an electrical household appliance that can be connected to the base station, the base station having an interface for docking the household appliance, an energy store stored for the household appliance, a charging device for the energy store and a Has displacement channel, wherein the displacement channel has a displacement device for moving the energy store along the Shift channel from a first position serving to charge the energy store on the charging device of the base station to a second position suitable for transferring the energy store to the household appliance, and wherein the household appliance has a second energy store and a contact device for contacting the energy store, and wherein the base station is designed according to one of the embodiments described above. The system thus also has a base station, the displacement channel of which has two charging devices which are spaced apart from one another in relation to a longitudinal extension of the displacement channel. The household appliance has, corresponding to the energy store, a contact device for making contact. The contact device preferably has easily locking contact elements. According to one possible embodiment, an electrical contact device has, for example, electrical contacts for at least two batteries, with electrical contact elements pointing in different, in particular opposite, directions in order to be able to make electrical contact with batteries displaced from opposite directions within the displacement channel of the base station in the direction of the contact device.

The further features and advantages of a base station designed according to one of the previously described embodiments also apply accordingly to the proposed system comprising a base station and a household appliance that can be connected to it via the interface. To avoid repetition with regard to the system, reference is therefore also made to the preceding description of the base station.

In particular, it is proposed that the contact device of the household appliance is mounted displaceably in the household appliance. For example, the contact device can be mounted displaceably on a housing section of the household appliance. A guide device, such as a guide link, a rail or the like, guides the movement of the contact device in a defined direction which, when the base station and household appliance is connected, preferably corresponds to the alignment of the longitudinal extension of the displacement channel of the base station. The contact device as well as the energy storage device can thus be shifted in opposite directions of the displacement channel. The displacement movement preferably follows a straight line, although an arc-shaped movement path is also possible. However, it is essential that a displacement path of the contact device at least partially corresponds to a displacement path of the energy storage device, i.e. H. either runs parallel to this or covers it. This makes it possible for the displacing device of the base station not only to displace an energy store, but rather also the contact device that is mechanically operatively connected to it. Two particular advantages can be achieved through the displaceability of the contact device. On the one hand, the contact device can be relocated in such a way that it takes into account the structural conditions of the household appliance and the space requirements of an energy store connected to the contact device. The contact device can thereby always be relocated in such a way that there is space for a connected energy store within the housing of the household appliance or within an energy storage slot formed therein, regardless of the direction from which the energy store is docked to the contact device. The release of an energy storage device connected to the contact device is then made possible in that the displaced contact device finally moves against an end stop. In this case, the contact device strikes the end stop, as a result of which the energy store which is further displaced by means of the displacement device is released from the contact device and is further displaced to a charging device of the base station. On the other hand, the displaceable contact device can also act as a counterweight to the displaced energy store. By moving the contact device, a position of the center of gravity of the household appliance can preferably always be kept constant. In the case of a household appliance that moves automatically, such as a soil cultivation robot, exploration robot or the like, wheels can thus be evenly loaded. In the case of a food processor or a similar, usually stationary device, it can be achieved that, for example, vibrations caused by a motor do not cause the device to rock and, in the worst case, to topple over.

It is particularly preferred that the contact device of the household appliance - based on a state of the household appliance properly connected to the interface of the base station - is arranged in the displacement channel of the base station between a first charging device and a second charging device of the base station. As a result of this configuration, the contact device is thus located directly in the displacement path of the energy storage device, so that an energy storage device displaced within the displacement channel is simultaneously shifted either towards the contact device or away from the contact device. An energy storage shaft of the household appliance that has the contact device is thus in alignment with the displacement channel of the base station, so that the energy storage device is preferably straightened without further measures Line can be transferred out of the shift channel into the energy storage shaft, or vice versa.

Finally, it is proposed that the base station and the household appliance are designed to correspond to one another in such a way that the first energy store connected to the first charging device of the base station can be separated from the first charging device by the action of force of the displacement device and can thus be displaced in the direction of the second charging device along the longitudinal extension of the displacement channel that the first energy store is connected to the contact device of the household appliance and the second energy store is separated from the contact device of the household appliance and connected to the second charging device of the base station. The corresponding design of the base station and household appliance thus makes it particularly easy to exchange an energy store in the household appliance. The discharged energy store of the household appliance, which is still connected to the contact device of the household appliance, is separated from the contact device by the charged replacement energy store of the base station, on which a force of the displacement device acts, pushed out of the household appliance and then connected to a charging device of the base station. to be recharged. The displacement device thus acts not only on the replacement energy store arranged in the base station, but indirectly - via the replacement energy store - also on the energy store of the household appliance to be replaced. The relocation of both energy stores takes place in a temporally overlapping manner within the relocation channel of the base station. As described above, a sliding element which is mounted displaceably within the base station and which allows a mechanical interaction between two energy stores that are located on different sides of the contact device of the household appliance can also be provided between the energy stores. The replacement energy store of the base station can push the discharged energy store arranged on the other side of the contact device out of the household appliance by means of the sliding element and separate it from the contact device.

Figure list

• 1 ein System aus einer Basisstation und einem Haushaltsgerät,
• 2 das System gemäß 1 mit in einem Querschnitt dargestellter Basisstation,
• 3 das System bei Verlagerung eines Energiespeichers der Basisstation,
• 4 das System bei fortgeführter Verlagerung des Energiespeichers,
• 5 das System bei weiter fortgeführter Verlagerung des Energiespeichers,
• 6 das System bei umgekehrter Verlagerungsrichtung,
• 7 ein System gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform mit einem ersten Verlagerungszustand der Energiespeicher,
• 8 das System gemäß 7 mit einem zweiten Verlagerungszustand der Energiespeicher,
• 9 ein System gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform mit einem ersten Verlagerungszustand der Energiespeicher,
• 10 das System gemäß 9 mit einem zweiten Verlagerungszustand der Energiespeicher,
• 11 ein System gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform,
• 12 ein weiteres System aus einer Basisstation und einem Haushaltsgerät.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments. Show it:

• 1 a system consisting of a base station and a household appliance,
• 2 the system according to 1 with base station shown in a cross section,
• 3 the system when an energy storage device of the base station is relocated,
• 4th the system with continued relocation of the energy storage system,
• 5 the system if the energy storage system continues to be relocated,
• 6th the system in the opposite direction of displacement,
• 7th a system according to a further embodiment with a first displacement state of the energy storage,
• 8th the system according to 7th with a second shift state of the energy storage,
• 9 a system according to a further embodiment with a first displacement state of the energy storage,
• 10 the system according to 9 with a second shift state of the energy storage,
• 11 a system according to a further embodiment,
• 12th another system consisting of a base station and a household appliance.

Description of the embodiments

1 shows a possible embodiment of a system according to the invention comprising a base station 1 and a household appliance 3 . The household appliance 3 is designed here, for example, as an automatically moving cleaning robot, but could also, as for example later with reference to 12th described - a household appliance operated manually by a user 3 be. domestic appliances 3 Within the meaning of the invention, any type of household appliance 3 be. The household appliance exemplified as a cleaning robot 3 according to 1 has wheels in the usual way for automatic movement over a floor surface to be cleaned. Furthermore, the cleaning device has, for example, a blower, an electric motor for driving the blower and a suction chamber, into which suction material can be picked up from a floor surface to be cleaned by means of the blower. The household appliance has the power to supply the electric motor and, if necessary, other electrical components 3 via an energy store 22nd , here for example an accumulator. Alternatively, the household appliance could 3 can also be operated with other energy stores, for example fuel cells or the like.

The base station 1 assigns an interface 2 for connecting the household appliance 3 with the base station 1 on. the interface 2 is part of the housing of the base station 1 assigned and corresponding to a housing contour 14th of a device sub-area 12th of the household appliance 3 trained so that the base station 1 the device section 12th can take in. The household appliance 3 can thus with the device section 12th into the base station 1 be shifted into it.

The 2 to 11 show in detail the base station 1 with the household appliance arranged thereon 3 . The household appliance 3 has, as explained above, the energy store 22nd , which with a contact device 23 of the household appliance 3 connected is. The contact device 23 serves here to establish an electrical connection between the energy store 22nd and the electrical consumers of the household appliance 3 . The contact device 23 can be moved on a guide element 24 stored and with the energy storage 22nd connected via a slightly locking contact. The guide element 24 thus serves on the one hand as a guide for a displacement movement of the contact device 23 relative to a chassis or housing of the household appliance 3 , and on the other hand has end stops 27 on which the contact device 23 when relocating - as in the 2 and 4th shown - can hit. The contact elements 11 the contact device 23 enable, as explained above, an easily detachable connection between the energy store 22nd and the contact device 23 . The contact elements can particularly preferably 11 be banana plugs according to the design described here, but it is also possible to use the contact elements 11 to be designed as electrical poles without a plug-in function, with a holding force between the energy store 22nd and the contact device 23 can be made for example via magnetic elements.

The base station 1 points in the area of the interface 2 a shift channel 4th on, of an energy storage 5 includes, which as a spare energy storage for the household appliance 3 is stored. The relocation channel 4th is in the area of the interface 2 designed so that the device section 12th of the household appliance 3 with the contact device 23 into the shift channel 4th protrudes, namely in such a way that the displacement channel 4th and on the contact device 23 exhibiting part of the household appliance 3 are in flight. This means that the contact device 23 so within the shift channel 4th located that the energy storage 5 when moving with the contact elements 11 the contact device 23 can be connected to transmit energy. The trajectories of the on the guide element 24 displaceably mounted contact device 23 and the energy storage 5 and 22nd from base station 1 and home appliance 3 are on the same, here straight, trajectory.

The relocation channel 4th has two charging devices 7th , 8th for the energy storage 5 , 22nd of the system, namely a first charging device 7th (shown on the right in the figures) and a second charging device 8th (shown in the figures on the left). The charging facilities 7th , 8th are on opposite sides 9 , 10 of the relocation channel 4th , wherein the first charging device 7th a first position A. for the energy storage 5 determined, and the second charging device 8th a corresponding second position B. for the energy storage 22nd . The charging facilities 7th , 8th point to the energy storage 5 , 22nd corresponding contact elements 11 on. In relation to the longitudinal extent of the displacement channel 4th are the charging facilities 7th , 8th who have favourited energy storage 5 , 22nd and the contact device 23 of the household appliance 3 on a line so that each of the energy storage 5 , 22nd when properly with the interface 2 the base station 1 connected household appliance 3 from a charger 7th , 8th to the contact device 23 of the household appliance 3 can be passed and vice versa. For that is within the shift channel 4th a longitudinal section 13 provided in which the corresponding device sub-area 12th of the household appliance 3 can be introduced.

The base station 1 furthermore has a displacement device 6th to relocate the energy storage 5 , 22nd to which according to the in the 2 to 6th illustrated embodiment a pneumatic drive 17th with a blower 20th belongs, as well as a sliding element 15th which is displaceable in the displacement channel 4th the base station 1 is stored and the energy storage 5 the base station 1 from the energy storage 22nd of the household appliance 3 spaced. The sliding element 15th intervenes within the shift channel 4th either at the contact device 23 of the household appliance 3 past, or through this, the contact device 23 and the sliding element 15th are mounted freely displaceable relative to one another and there is no frictional connection between them.

The following is the mode of operation of the displacement device 6th the base station 1 based on the embodiment according to 2 to 6th explained in more detail.

2 shows an initial situation in which the household appliance 3 straight to the interface 2 the base station 1 has docked. The energy storage 22nd of the household appliance 3 is with the contact device 23 of the household appliance 3 connected. The base station 1 stores the energy storage 5 as a replacement for the energy storage 22nd of the household appliance 3 . The energy storage provided as a replacement 5 is located at the first charger 7th , namely at the first position A. within the shift channel 4th the base station 1 . The sliding element 15th is located within the displacement channel 4th in an initial position, namely in Contact with the energy storage 5 the base station 1 , the sliding element 15th at the contact device 23 of the household appliance 3 passes by. The household appliance 3 is with the device section 12th into the shift channel 4th the base station 1 introduced so that the energy storage 5 , 22nd along the length of the displacement channel 4th are on a line and can be exchanged for each other by a sliding shift along the longitudinal extension. To the energy storage 22nd now from the household appliance 3 slide out and through the energy storage 5 the base station 1 Replacing will be the blower 20th operated in such a way that an air flow is created through the displacement duct 4th - related to the figure representation - interspersed from right to left, ie from the first position A. of the energy storage 5 towards the second position B. that are currently not yet of an energy storage 5 , 22nd is occupied, flows. On the one hand by the negative pressure and on the other hand by the force of the air flow on the energy store 5 becomes the energy storage 5 from the first charger 7th Cut. The energy storage 5 is thereby in the direction of the in the displacement channel 4th protruding device section 12th of the household appliance 3 pushed, in which the energy storage to be exchanged 22nd at the contact device 23 of the household appliance 3 is located. The energy store pushes when it is moved 5 the sliding element 15th ahead of you. This also becomes the second energy store 22nd towards the second position B. pushed, namely in the direction of the second loading device 8th of the relocation channel 4th . The displacement of the second energy store 22nd is due to the sliding bearing of the contact device 23 on the guide element 24 of the household appliance 3 enables. The contact device 23 is thus also shifted and hits the end stop 27 of the guide element 24 . This situation is in 4th shown. The contact device 23 is through the end stop 27 of the guide element 24 stopped while the energy storage 22nd of the household appliance 3 still through the first energy storage 5 or the sliding element 15th further towards the second position B. is relocated. This results in a separation of the second energy store 22nd from the contact device 23 of the household appliance 3 . The first energy storage 5 the base station 5 is by means of the fan 20th the relocation facility 6th shifted further until this in turn against the contact device 23 abuts and with the contact elements 11 the contact device 23 is connected. By means of the sliding element 15th becomes the second energy store at the same time 22nd against the contact elements 11 the second charging device 8th at the second position B. pressed. At the second charger 8th can the discharged energy storage 22nd of the household appliance 3 thus being charged while the freshly charged energy store 5 , which was previously with the first charger 7th the base station 5 was connected, now with the contact device 23 of the household appliance 3 is connected and electrical consumers of the household appliance 3 can provide energy.

The household appliance 3 can the base station 1 then left again and is available for a new cleaning operation. Although it's now in the home appliance 3 located energy storage 5 on the opposite side of the contact device 23 is arranged than previously the energy storage 22nd was, the energy storage also fits 5 due to the displaceability of the contact device 23 in the device section 12th of the household appliance 3 inside. In addition, the sliding bearing of the contact device has 23 also the function of balancing the weight of the shifted energy store 5 , 22nd of the household appliance 3 to act. The contact device 23 thus takes on the function of a counter mass. The center of mass of the household appliance 3 thereby preferably remains relative to the housing of the household appliance 3 constant. In relation to the cleaning device shown, this has the advantage, for example, that its wheels are evenly loaded and the automatic movement of the cleaning device is not hindered.

If the now according to 5 in the household appliance 3 used energy storage 5 is finally also discharged, the household appliance can 3 again at the interface 2 the base station 1 dock and the energy storage 5 back to the base station 1 passed while the then charged energy storage 22nd back into the home appliance 3 can be used. For this purpose the blower is used 20th the relocation facility 6th as in 6th shown operated in the opposite direction of rotation, namely in to the 2 to 5 reverse direction of rotation. Thereby the direction of the air flow is within the displacement duct 4th now based on the illustration from left to right, so that the energy storage 22nd the energy storage 5 by means of the sliding element 15th towards the first charger 7th , ie to the position A. shifts. Otherwise, the rest of the functionality is the same as above in relation to the 2 to 5 explained.

The 7th and 8th show a further embodiment of a base station according to the invention 1 . The base station 1 has a displacement device 6th on that via a mechanical drive 16 with two linear drives 19th has, of which a first linear drive 19th the first charging device 7th is assigned and a second linear drive 19th the second charging device 8th assigned. The linear drive 19th can for example be a spindle drive or a rack and pinion drive. Using the Linear drives 19th can the energy storage 5 , 22nd of the system within the relocation channel 4th be pushed back and forth. In 7th presses that of the first charger 7th assigned linear drive 19th against the energy storage 5 , then the previously in relation to the 2 to 6th movement chain described is triggered and finally that previously in the household appliance 3 located energy storage 22nd with the second charging device 8th the base station 1 connected is. 8th then shows in the opposite direction of action one through that of the second charging device 8th assigned linear drive 19th triggered displacement movement from left to right, with the contact device 23 of the household appliance 3 connected energy storage 5 to the first position A. within the shift channel 4th is moved and the previously with the second loading device 8th connected energy storage 22nd freshly charged with the contact device 23 of the household appliance 3 is connected.

The 9 and 10 show a further embodiment of a base station according to the invention 1 . This base station 1 has a displacement device 6th with an electromagnetic drive 18th on. The electromagnetic drive 18th contains two electromagnets 21st which the sides 9 , 10 of the relocation channel 4th are assigned and their magnetic field the first position A. and the second position B. within the shift channel 4th interspersed. The energy storage 5 , 22nd of the system from the base station 1 and home appliance 3 have corresponding permanent magnets 25th depending on the current pole direction of the electromagnet 21st be attracted or repelled. In the in 9 The situation shown is that of the first charging device 7th associated electromagnet 21st adjusted so that it is the permanent magnet 25th of the first energy storage 5 repels. That of the second charger 8th associated electromagnet 21st on the other hand is switched so that it is the permanent magnet 25th of the energy storage 22nd attracts who is currently still at the contact device 23 of the household appliance 3 is located. The changing mechanism of the displacement device 6th to replace the energy storage 22nd of the household appliance 3 against the energy storage 5 the base station 1 then takes place as previously explained with the aid of the sliding element 15th . The sliding element 15th essentially has the task of storing energy 22nd of the household appliance 3 and the contact device 23 to decouple. On the sliding element 15th but could also be dispensed with if the magnetic forces of the displacement device 6th are big enough to store energy 22nd from the contact device 23 to solve. In the present example according to the 9 and 10 could the contact elements 11 the energy storage 5 , 22nd and the contact device 23 For example, electrical poles that create an energy-transferring connection by simply touching them without the use of plugs. The contact elements 11 could, for example, be equipped with a relatively low magnetic force through additional permanent magnets. The contact can then be made by simply touching the contact elements 11 and can be easily separated again.

11 Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of the invention in which the base station 1 a blower 20th having an associated deflection device for the air flow generated. The deflection device here has valves 26th on, which can be designed as solenoid valves, for example. The valves 26th can be switched so that a first valve 26th is open while a second valve 26th closed is. This sets the direction of air flow through the displacement duct 4th given. In 11 is the valve shown on the right 26th opened while the valve shown on the left 26th closed is. This causes the air to flow from the fan 20th to that side 9 of the relocation channel 4th at which the first charging device 7th is trained. As a result, the air flow presses the energy storage device arranged there 5 to the left in the direction of the contact device 23 of the household appliance 3 or via the sliding element 15th the one at the contact device 23 arranged energy storage 22nd towards the second charging device 8th . By switching the valves 26th the flow direction of the air flow can be switched so that the air flow from the left into the displacement duct 4th is inserted and in one direction from the second charger 8th to the first charger 7th flows.

12th finally shows a further embodiment of a system comprising a base station 1 and a home appliance 3 . The household appliance 3 is designed there as a cordless screwdriver, but is also representative of other household appliances 3 , for example other power tools such as staplers, hot glue guns, punching devices or the like. The exchange of the energy storage 22nd of the household appliance 3 takes place according to the in 12th illustrated arrangement of the base station 1 in the vertical direction.

As an alternative to the in 12th vertical change direction shown and the horizontal change direction according to the 2 to 11 are also other orientations of the shift channel 4th possible, for example diagonal arrangements or free-form courses of the displacement channel 4th .

List of reference symbols

1

Base station

2

interface

3

Home appliance

4th

Shift channel

5

Energy storage

6th

Relocation facility

7th

First charging device

8th

Second charging device

9

page

10

page

11

Contact element

12

Device section

13

Longitudinal section

14th

Housing contour

15th

Sliding element

16

Mechanical drive

17th

pneumatic drive

18th

Electromagnetic drive

19th

linear actuator

20th

fan

21st

Electromagnet

22nd

Energy storage

23

Contact facility

24

Guide element

25th

Permanent magnet

26th

Valve

27

End stop

A.

First position

B.

Second position

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• US 2005/0212478 A1 [0004]

Claims (12)

Base station (1) with an interface (2) for docking an electrical household appliance (3), the base station (1) having an energy store (5) stored for the household appliance (3), a charging device (7) for the energy store (5) and has a displacement channel (4), the displacement channel (4) having a displacement device (6) for moving the energy store (5) along the displacement channel (4) from one of the charging of the energy store (5) to the charging device (7) of the base station (1) ) serving first position (A) is assigned to a second position (B) suitable for transferring the energy store (5) to the household appliance (3), characterized in that the displacement channel (4) has two charging devices (7, 8) which are spaced from one another based on a longitudinal extension of the displacement channel (4). Base station (1) Claim 1 , characterized in that the loading devices (7, 8) are arranged on opposite sides (9, 10) of the displacement channel (4). Base station (1) Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the interface (2) intersects the displacement channel (4) in such a way that a device sub-area (12) of a household appliance (3) properly connected to the interface (2) within the displacement channel (4) between the charging devices (7, 8 ) is arranged and the displacement channel (4) runs at least with respect to a longitudinal section (13) within a housing contour (14) of the household appliance (3). Base station (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the charging devices (7, 8) each have at least one contact element (11) for connecting an energy storage device (5), one contact element (11) a first charging device (7) and a contact element (11) of a second charging device (8) face one another in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the displacement channel (4). Base station (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the displacement device (6) has a sliding element (15) which is movably mounted within the displacement channel (4) and which, based on an energy store (5) connected to a charging device (7, 8) ) is arranged on the side of the energy store (5) facing away from the charging device (7, 8). Base station (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the displacement device (6) has a mechanical, pneumatic and / or electromagnetic drive (16, 17, 18). Base station (1) Claim 6 , characterized in that the mechanical drive (16) has at least one linear drive (19) acting in the longitudinal extension of the displacement channel (4) against the energy store (5), and / or that the pneumatic drive (17) connects the displacement channel (4) in Has a longitudinal extent with an air flow acting fan (20), and / or that the electromagnetic drive (18) has at least one electromagnet (21), the magnetic force of which acts in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the displacement channel (4). Base station (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the energy store (5) is an accumulator. System comprising a base station (1) and an electrical household appliance (3) that can be connected to the base station (1), the base station (1) having an interface (4) for docking the household appliance (3), an energy store stored for the household appliance (3) (5), a charging device (7) for the energy store (5) and a displacement channel (4), wherein the displacement channel (4) has a displacement device (6) for moving the energy store (5) along the displacement channel (4) from one of the Charging of the energy store (5) on the charging device (7) of the base station (1) serving first position (A) in a second position (B) suitable for transferring the energy store (5) to the household appliance (3) is assigned, and wherein the Household appliance (3) has a second energy store (22) and a contact device (23) for contacting the energy store (5, 22), characterized in that the base station (1) according to one of the Claims 1 to 7th is trained. System according to Claim 9 , characterized in that the electrical contact device (23) of the household appliance (3) is mounted displaceably in the household appliance (3). System according to Claim 9 or 10 , characterized in that the contact device (23) of the household appliance (3) based on a properly connected to the interface (2) of the base station (1) state of the household appliance (3) in the displacement channel (4) of the base station (1) between a first charging device (7) and a second charging device (8) of the base station (1) is arranged. System according to Claim 11 , characterized in that the base station (1) and the household appliance (3) are designed to correspond to one another so that the with the first charging device (7) the first energy store (5) connected to the base station (1) can be separated from the first charging device (7) by the action of the force of the displacement device (6) and can be displaced along the length of the displacement channel (4) in the direction of the second charging device (8), that the first energy store (5) is connected to the contact device (23) of the household appliance (3) and the second energy store (22) is separated from the contact device (23) of the household appliance (3) and with the second charging device (8) of the base station ( 1) is connected.

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