EP3415065A1 - System comprising two cleaning devices - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a system with at least two cleaning devices (1, 2), wherein at least one of the cleaning devices (1) relative to another cleaning device (2, 1) is displaceable. In order to be able to carry out a service on one of the cleaning devices (1, 2) particularly advantageously, it is proposed that the cleaning devices (1, 2) each have a communication connection to a common control device (3, 4), wherein the control device (3, 4 ) is set up, depending on a service requirement of a device component of a first cleaning device (1) and depending on a status of a service readiness of a second cleaning device (2) a request to perform a service treatment to the second cleaning device (2) and / or a user ( 5) of the second cleaning device (2) to transmit.

Description

Field of engineering

The invention relates to a system with at least two cleaning devices, wherein at least one of the cleaning devices is displaceable relative to another cleaning device.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating a system with at least two cleaning devices, wherein at least one of the cleaning devices is displaced relative to another cleaning device.

State of the art

Cleaning devices are well known in the art in a variety of different embodiments. The cleaning devices may be, for example, conventional household cleaning devices such as vacuum cleaners, wipers, suction wiper combinations and the like. As a cleaning equipment should also be understood here also devices that, for example, perform a tillage task such as polishing or grinding or can mow a lawn outside a household. The cleaning devices may be guided manually by a user, for example, such that a user pushes them during operation or leads in a back and forth movement over a surface. Furthermore, self-propelled cleaning devices are known, which can be designed in particular as cleaning robots such as suction robots and / or wiping robots.

Furthermore, it is known in the art that cleaning devices indicate a service need for one of their device components. The DE 10 2012 109 938 A1 discloses, for example, a self-propelled ground dust collecting device with a dust collecting container and a display means which generates a visual and / or acoustic message that the dust collecting container is to be emptied. To empty the dust collector this is connected to a suction device of another cleaning device, for example. A vacuum cleaner or a base station.

The disadvantage here is that the user must either maintain an always available base station or at the moment in which the cleaning device calls for service, remove another vacuum cleaner from a storage location and make it ready for operation.

Summary of the invention

Based on the above-described prior art, it is an object of the invention to develop a system with at least two cleaning devices so that a service on one of the cleaning devices can be performed in a particularly comfortable manner by a second cleaning device.

To achieve the above object, the invention proposes a system with at least two cleaning devices, wherein at least one of the cleaning devices relative to another cleaning device is displaceable, wherein the cleaning devices each having a communication connection to a common control device, wherein the control device is set in, in Depending on a service requirement of a device component of a first cleaning device and depending on a status of a service readiness of a second cleaning device to send a request to perform a service treatment to the second cleaning device and / or a user of the second cleaning device.

According to the invention, the two or more cleaning devices of the system are now interconnected within a communication network such that each of the cleaning devices is connected to the common control device of the communication network, so that the control device can communicate with each of the cleaning devices and via the respective communication link information about a service readiness and / or can receive information about a service requirement of a cleaning device. The common control device thus serves as a control center, which is set up to receive a service request and / or an operating status of a cleaning device and process it so that the cleaning devices of the system can advantageously interact with one another. The communication connection between a cleaning device and the common control device may preferably be designed wirelessly, in particular have a data communication via WLAN, Bluetooth, Zigbee or the like. Furthermore, in principle, however, also wired communication technologies are possible, for example. PowerLAN. If a cleaning device of the system requires a service from another cleaning device of the system, this transmits information about its service needs to the common control device, which then sends a message about the service needs to one or more cleaning devices of the system, which are capable of service needs to satisfy. For this purpose, the common control device checks the service readiness of one or more cleaning devices present in the system, so that a request for service handling is transmitted only to such a cleaning device, which is currently ready for service. In the sense of a service readiness, a state of the cleaning appliance is to be understood in which it is switched on, ie ready for operation, and has sufficient capacity for the service treatment to be carried out. In the event that the service treatment involves the emptying of a suction material collecting container, the service readiness includes, for example, a sufficient receiving capacity a sump collection container of the cleaning device and / or a sufficient battery charging capacity to move the service providing cleaning device automatically to a location of the cleaning device to be cleaned or the like. The request to carry out a service treatment can be transmitted either automatically directly to the second cleaning device and / or to a user of the second cleaning device. In the latter case, the request can for example be displayed on a display of the second cleaning device, so that the user is informed during, for example, a current use of the second cleaning device that a first cleaning device requires service. Since the user already has the second cleaning device, which is to perform the service treatment, already in operation, it requires little effort to use this cleaning device in the short term in order to carry out the service on the first cleaning device.

The cleaning devices of the system are registered to the common control device, so that the control device has knowledge of which cleaning devices are available in the system. The registration of the cleaning devices can be done directly on the common control device or on or by means of a cleaning device of the system. The registration can be done manually or automatically by registering each cleaning device on a different cleaning device provided for registration or the common control device. For this purpose, it is possible for the cleaning device to be registered to have, for example, an optical code which is arranged on its housing surface, in particular a barcode, QR code or the like. Furthermore, a communication between two cleaning devices involved and / or between the cleaning device to be registered and the common control device by means of a wireless radio communication such as WLAN, NFC, Bluetooth, Zigbee or the like is also possible for registration. On the basis of a transmitted device identifier, the controller can detect how the respective cleaning device is to address or how a need for service or a status of a service readiness of the respective cleaning device can be seen. The device identifier may include, for example, information about whether information is transmitted acoustically, optically, by radio communication or others. In the case of an acoustic data transmission, the device identifier could, for example, contain information about an identifiable tone assigned to the respective cleaning device. In an optical method, information can be present, for example, in the form of image information, wherein, for example, a defined movement of a cleaning device signals a need for service or a readiness for service. Corresponding to the cleaning devices of the system then the common control device is to be designed such that it is set up to receive and evaluate corresponding information from the cleaning devices. After the common control device has received information about a service requirement of a first cleaning device, it informs either a cleaning device available for a service treatment and / or a user of a relevant cleaning device about the service requirement. The request contained therein for carrying out a service treatment can, for example, be output by the cleaning appliance having the service requirement or the cleaning appliance available for a service treatment transmitting an acoustic and / or optical signal to the user. For example. For example, the cleaning device may have a display, a light-emitting diode, a loudspeaker, a vibration element or the like. Furthermore, the common control device can also have an acoustic and / or optical display means by means of which a user can be informed.

It is proposed that the control device is set up to transmit a control command for carrying out the service treatment to the second cleaning device. In this embodiment, the common causes Control means a cleaning device immediately to perform the service treatment, without any action by the user of the cleaning device is required. This embodiment thus enables a fully automatic provision of a service treatment for the first cleaning device by the second cleaning device. In this case, the common control device with the control command at the same time transmit information about a current device location of the first cleaning device, so that the second cleaning device, for example, can go to the first cleaning device. In this fully automatic control of the service treatment of the second cleaning device, it may be advisable that the second cleaning device transmits information about the execution of the service treatment to a user, so that he is informed about the operation of the first and / or second cleaning device and thus not frightened over one of the cleaning equipment stumbles or the like.

Furthermore, it is proposed that the control device is a local control device of the first or second cleaning device or a central control device of the system formed outside the cleaning devices, in particular a control device of a home automation system. According to a first embodiment, the common control device can thus be a control device which is integrated in one of the cleaning devices. Thus, this cleaning device simultaneously also forms the common control device of the system, which receives service requests of the cleaning devices of the system and generates and outputs control commands and / or requests for service handling. According to an alternative embodiment, the control device of the system may be a separate control device, which is not installed in any of the cleaning devices. The common control device is always available even when the cleaning devices are turned off. In particular, the common control device may be a control device of a home automation system. The home automation system may, for example, include a WLAN network in which the cleaning devices and the control device communicate with each other via WLAN communication modules. The controller forms in this system z. B. an AccessPoint, over which the communication between the cleaning devices is performed. In addition to the system with at least two cleaning devices, the home automation system can also have other components which are not cleaning devices, for example a heater, an air conditioning system, a lighting device, a roller shutter system, a locking device and the like.

Furthermore, it is proposed that the device component having a service requirement is a suction material collecting container of a first cleaning device designed as a vacuum cleaner. Furthermore, it may be provided that the second cleaning device is a vacuum cleaner that can be manually guided by a user. The system according to the invention is proposed according to this embodiment as a communication system between, for example, a plurality of vacuum cleaners, wherein at least one of the cleaning devices is designed for regeneration of a suction material collecting container of the other cleaning device. The first cleaning device can be either a stationary or a self-propelled vacuum cleaner. In the sense of a vacuum cleaner, all such devices can be understood here which have a suction-blower unit. These include conventional household vacuum cleaners, but, for example, also base stations for cleaning appliances, which, for example, can carry out a regeneration of a sump collection container of another device, ie can take over, for example, a cleaning device from their cleaning device into their own sump collection container. The second cleaning device, which is designed for carrying out the service treatment, may preferably be a vacuum cleaner which can be manually guided by a user, for example a conventional vacuum cleaner, which the user manually guides over a surface to be cleaned during a cleaning operation. In the event that it is the second cleaning device is a cleaning device to be led by a user, and not a self-propelled cleaning device, it is recommended that the user of the second cleaning device is prompted by the controller to lead the manually guided cleaning device to the first cleaning device, eg. to carry or pull, or to bring the first cleaning device to the second cleaning device. Alternatively, an autonomous first cleaning device can also be controlled fully automatically to the location of the second cleaning device.

It is proposed that the control device is set up to generate a control command for moving the second cleaning device to a device location of the first cleaning device and to transmit it to the second cleaning device. Alternatively, or additionally, it can be provided that the control device is set up to generate a control command for moving the first cleaning device to a device location of the second cleaning device and to transmit it to the first cleaning device. The control device is thus designed to control a movement of the first and / or the second cleaning device so that the two cleaning devices for the service treatment are moved towards each other. The control device is designed to evaluate the known information about the cleaning devices registered in the system such that in each case a control command for advancing is transmitted only to such a cleaning device which is actually also suitable for an automatic movement.

In addition to the system described above with at least two cleaning devices and a common control device, a method for operating a system with at least two cleaning devices is further proposed, wherein at least one of the cleaning devices relative to a wherein the cleaning device communicates with a common control device via a communication link, wherein the control device in response to a service requirement of a device component of a first cleaning device and depending on a status of a service readiness of a second cleaning device a request to perform a service treatment to the second cleaning device and / or transmitted to a user of the second cleaning device. The inventive method thus includes that one of the networked in the system cleaning devices transmits a service needs of one of its device components to the common control device of the system, after which the controller checks a status of a service readiness of a second cleaning device, which would be suitable to perform a corresponding service treatment, and in in the event that the second cleaning device is ready and suitable to transmit a request to perform the corresponding service treatment to the second cleaning device and / or to a user of the second cleaning device, so that either the second cleaning device can perform the service treatment fully automatically or the user the second cleaning device performs and / or controls that this can perform the service treatment on the first cleaning device. Incidentally, the statements made with regard to the system according to the invention also apply correspondingly to the method according to the invention.

In particular, it may be provided that the request for carrying out the service treatment is transmitted acoustically, optically and / or haptically to the user by means of a display means of the first or second cleaning device. The user can thus be informed either directly from the first cleaning device, which has the service needs, or from the second cleaning device, which he preferably currently has in operation. It can be provided that the user is currently cleaning by means of the second cleaning device while it receives the request to perform the service treatment. In particular, for example, a warning lamp of the first or second cleaning device can light up, a loudspeaker can emit a corresponding signal or, in the case of the second cleaning device, which the user is holding in his hand, also vibrate a vibrating element, so that the user receives haptically information about the service requirement , By the request, the user becomes aware of the service needs and can accordingly carry out a service treatment by means of the second cleaning device. In particular, the user can move with the second cleaning device to the first cleaning device and perform a service treatment there. Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the user fetches the first cleaning device to the device location of the second cleaning device. Possibly. can be transmitted by a display means, for example. A display, and information about the current device location of the first cleaning device, so that the user obtains knowledge of where the first cleaning device is currently.

Furthermore, it is proposed that the control device controls the second cleaning device for carrying out a service treatment on the device component of the first cleaning device. According to this procedure, the second cleaning device automatically performs a service treatment on the first cleaning device. It is not necessary for a user of the system to attack the second cleaning device to perform the service. Rather, the control device sends a control command directly to the second cleaning device, whereupon this is caused to perform a corresponding activity.

In particular, it is proposed that the control device a control command for moving the second cleaning device to a device location generated the first cleaning device and transmitted to the second cleaning device. Alternatively it can be provided that the control device generates a control command for moving the first cleaning device to a device location of the second cleaning device and transmitted to the first cleaning device. According to the first-mentioned procedure, the second cleaning device, which is to perform the service treatment, is called to the device location of the first cleaning device. The first cleaning device, which requires the service, however, can remain at his device location and wait there for the arrival of the second cleaning device. This procedure is recommended, for example, if the first cleaning device is not a self-propelled wegbewegbares cleaning device. According to the second method procedure, the control device controls the first cleaning device to the device location of the second cleaning device, which provides the service treatment. In this case, the first cleaning device is a self-propelled cleaning device, for example a cleaning robot. This is controlled by the control device to the device location of the second cleaning device, which provides the service treatment.

Finally, it is proposed with the invention that a fill level of a sump collection container of the first cleaning device is detected, a service requirement being conveyed to the sump collection container to the control device, wherein the control device determines a status of a service readiness of the second cleaning device and controls at least one of the cleaning devices such that this moves to the other cleaning device out and empties the sump collection container of the first cleaning device by means of a device of the second cleaning device. According to this embodiment, the service requirement of the first cleaning device is a requirement for emptying the suction material collecting container since, for example, it has reached a maximum fill level. The first cleaning device points in the usual way, a detection device for detecting a level of the suction material collection container. If a defined limit value for the fill level is exceeded, the first cleaning device transmits its service requirement to the common control device of the system, whereupon the control device checks whether one or more cleaning devices of the system are suitable and ready for service handling. For this purpose, the status of a service readiness of each cleaning device of the system is preferably checked, wherein, for example, regular status messages of the networked in the system cleaning devices are evaluated. If several cleaning devices are available for carrying out the service treatment, ie are switched on and / or are currently in use, the common control device can furthermore determine the cleaning device which has a shortest path to the device location of the first cleaning device and / or one which does not would have to interrupt currently performed cleaning task to perform the service treatment on the first cleaning device. As soon as the optimum cleaning device for the service treatment has been determined, either the first cleaning device, which needs the service treatment, can move to the second cleaning device, or vice versa. Which cleaning device is moved from the common control device to the respective other cleaning device, the common control device can decide not least due to the device type of cleaning devices. If only one of the cleaning devices is a mobile cleaning device, the mobile cleaning device is preferably controlled to the stationary cleaning device. Mobile cleaning devices are either cleaning robots, which can move automatically within the environment, or cleaning equipment, which can be relocated by a user. For example. usual vacuum cleaner that pulls a user behind him.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1

Ein sich selbsttätig fortbewegendes Reinigungsgerät,

Fig. 2

ein System aus einem ersten Reinigungsgerät und einem zweiten Reinigungsgerät,

Fig. 3

das in Figur 2 dargestellte System während einer Aufforderung zum Ausführen einer Servicehandlung an einen Nutzer des zweiten Reinigungsgerätes,

Fig. 4

das System gemäß den Figuren 2 und 3 während einer Servicehandlung des zweiten Reinigungsgerätes an dem ersten Reinigungsgerät,

Fig. 5

eine zweite Ausführungsform eines Systems mit zwei Reinigungsgeräten.

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

Fig. 1

A self-propelled cleaning device,

Fig. 2

a system comprising a first cleaning device and a second cleaning device,

Fig. 3

this in FIG. 2 illustrated system during a request to perform a service treatment to a user of the second cleaning device,

Fig. 4

the system according to the Figures 2 and 3 during a service treatment of the second cleaning device on the first cleaning device,

Fig. 5

a second embodiment of a system with two cleaning devices.

Description of the embodiments

FIG. 1 shows a cleaning device 1, which is designed here as a vacuum robot. The cleaning device 1 has motor-driven wheels 7, with the help of which it can move within an environment. Furthermore, the cleaning device 1 cleaning elements 8, namely a side brush, which protrudes beyond a device housing of the cleaning device 1, and a bristle roller which rotates about a substantially horizontal axis and thereby acts on a surface to be cleaned. Next, the cleaning device 1 in the area of the cleaning elements 8 a not further Suction port shown, via which acted upon with suction air can be sucked by means of a motor-blower unit in the cleaning device 1. For the electrical supply of the electrical components of the cleaning device 1, in particular for the drive of the wheels 7 and the cleaning elements 8 and beyond further provided electronics, the cleaning device 1 to a rechargeable battery, not shown. The cleaning device 1 is further equipped with a detection device 9, which here, for example, has a triangulation measuring device. The detection device 9 measures distances to obstacles 16 (see, for example, FIG. FIG. 2 In detail, the detection device 9 has a laser diode whose emitted light beam is led out of a housing of the cleaning device 1 via a deflection device and is rotatable about a rotation axis perpendicular to the orientation of the cleaning device 1, in particular with a measuring angle of 360 degrees. As a result, an all-around distance measurement around the cleaning device 1 is possible. With the aid of the detection device 9, the surroundings of the cleaning device 1 can be measured in a preferably horizontal plane, ie in a plane parallel to the surface to be cleaned. As a result, the cleaning device 1, while avoiding a collision with obstacles 16, in particular furniture and walls, moved in the area. The measured data recorded by means of the detection device 9, which here represent distances to obstacles 16 in the environment, are used to create an environment map. The environment map serves a control device 3 of the cleaning device 1 for navigation and self-localization within the environment. Here, the environment map is further displayed on a display means 6 of the cleaning device 1, namely on a display of the cleaning device 1. This gives a user of the cleaning device 1 knowledge of the environment from the perspective of the cleaning device 1, namely the obstacles 16, the intrinsic position of the cleaning device. 1 in the environment and possibly additionally within the environment existing further cleaning equipment 2. Furthermore, the cleaning device 1 may have, for example, an odometry sensor, not shown, which measures a distance traveled by the cleaning device 1 based on a rotation of the wheels 7. Furthermore, it is also possible for the cleaning device 1 to have, for example, contact sensors or the like.

The cleaning device 1 further has a local memory (not shown) which is associated with the control device 3 of the cleaning device 1. The local memory is used to store the environment map or at least a portion of the area map. To carry out navigation and self-localization calculations, the control device 3 of the cleaning device 1 accesses this memory.

The cleaning device 1 has a suction material collecting container 11 for receiving suction material, which was received by means of the motor-blower unit of the cleaning device 1 of the surface to be cleaned. The suction material collecting container 11 is assigned a filling level indicator 10, which indicates a current filling level of the suction material collecting container 11. For measuring the filling level, the suction material collecting container 11 is associated with a measuring device (not shown). This can measure a filling level of the suction material collecting container 11, for example via a differential pressure measurement or the like. The control device 3 of the cleaning device 1 is furthermore designed to detect a service requirement of a device component, such as, for example, the suction material collecting container 11 and to issue a request for carrying out a service treatment, namely here the emptying of the suction material collecting container 11, by means of a display means 6. The display means 6 can be here, for example, the display of the cleaning device 1, on which in particular a written message to a user 5 of the cleaning device 1 can be displayed, or designed as a display means 6 speaker for output an acoustic signal. Furthermore, the cleaning device 1 has a communication module 18, by means of which a service requirement can be transmitted by the control device 3 to a user 5 or another cleaning device 2 by radio. In this case, the communication module 18 is, for example, a WLAN module which can communicate with another WLAN module. In particular, the communication module 18 of the cleaning device 1 serves for transmitting a request for emptying the suction material collecting container 11 to a user 5 or another cleaning device 2.

FIG. 2 shows a room situation in which the cleaning device 1 cooperates with another cleaning device 2 within a system. The second cleaning device 2 is here a hand-held by a user 5 cleaning device, namely a vacuum cleaner, which the user 5 pulls during a cleaning operation behind him. The cleaning device 2 has wheels 7, which allow a slight displacement of the cleaning device 2 on a surface to be cleaned. Furthermore, the cleaning device 2 is equipped in a conventional manner with a hand-held by the user 5 floor nozzle 12, which is connected via a stem 13 and a hose 15 with the cleaning device 2. On the stem 13, a handle 14 is further arranged, which serves for gripping by the user 5. In the region of the handle 14, the handle 13 together with the floor nozzle 12 is separable from the cleaning device 2, so that the handle 14 in a suction nozzle 17 (see FIG. 4 ) ends with a smaller opening cross-section. This suction nozzle 17 is, for example. Used to perform cleaning tasks in cavities, confined surrounding areas or the like. Furthermore, the second cleaning device 2 also has a communication module 18, namely here also a WLAN communication module, by means of which the second cleaning device 2 can communicate with the first cleaning device 1 of the system.

In the in FIG. 2 the user 5 performs a cleaning task by means of the second cleaning device 2. He pushes the floor nozzle 12 in front of him and performs a reciprocating motion over the surface to be cleaned. The first cleaning device 1 is here, for example, in an adjacent room or part of the space of a home of the user 5. The first cleaning device 1 can perform a cleaning task in the illustrated situation, the first cleaning device 1 moves automatically within the room. Alternatively, the first cleaning device 1 in the illustrated situation, however, also dormant, but are operational in the room.

Here, the method will first be described on the basis of a stationary, ready-to-operate first cleaning device 1. The first cleaning device 1 has previously carried out, for example, a cleaning activity and thereby added suction material in its suction material collecting container 11. It was taken in so much suction that the amount of collected material exceeds a defined limit. The control device 3 of the first cleaning device 1, which is here the common control device 3 of the two cleaning devices 1, 2 system, checks whether currently other cleaning devices 2 are active within the system and for emptying the suction container 11 of the first cleaning device 1 for To be available. For this purpose, the common control device 3, which here is the local control device 3 of the first cleaning device 1, via information about the other cleaning devices 2 of the system, namely here on the second cleaning device 2. The information known to the controller 3 information about the second cleaning device 2 include, for example a device identification of the second cleaning device 2 a communication protocol to be used for communication between the corresponding communication modules 18 as well as information about a current status of a service readiness of the second cleaning device 2, which the second cleaning device 2 previously has transmitted to the first cleaning device 1. The status of service readiness can be transmitted either continuously, at intervals, or only when there is a change in status.

If the control device 3 determines at the moment of the occurrence of the service requirement regarding the emptying of the suction material container 11 of the first cleaning device 1 that the second cleaning device 2 is currently not active, ie here, for example. Off, the first cleaning device 1 waits until a change in status of the service readiness is to be noted that the user 5 takes the second cleaning device 2 in operation. For this purpose, the cleaning device 1 rests, for example, in a partial area of the room while the control device 3 monitors the status messages emitted by the second cleaning device 2. If, in addition to the second cleaning device 2, further cleaning devices 2 are located in the system, status messages can also be monitored by these further cleaning devices 2. As soon as the user 5 puts the second cleaning device 2 into operation, the second cleaning device 2 transmits its status "Active" to the control device 3 or here the first cleaning device 1. The status message is transmitted between the two communication modules 18. This situation is in FIG. 2 shown. The common control device 3 of the system, ie the local control device 3 of the first cleaning device 1 processes the status of the second cleaning device 2 and transmits a request to perform a service treatment to the user 5 of the second cleaning device 2. This situation is in FIG. 3 shown. The request here includes, for example, an acoustic message "Please empty", which is output by means of the display means 6, namely here the speaker, the first cleaning device 1. The user 5 is aware of the first cleaning device 1 by the acoustic request and manually guides the second cleaning device 2 to the device location of the first cleaning device 1.

FIG. 4 Finally, Fig. 3 shows the execution of the service treatment by the second cleaning apparatus 2. The user 5 has removed the stem 13 and the floor nozzle 12 from the second cleaning apparatus 2, so that the suction nozzle 17 with a smaller opening diameter forms a free end portion of the hose 15. The suction nozzle 17 is inserted into the suction material collecting container 11 so that a motor-blower device of the second cleaning device 2 can transfer the dust and dirt located in the suction material collecting container 11 of the first cleaning device 1 into a separate suction material collecting container (not shown) of the second cleaning device 2. During the service treatment, the control device 3 checks the fill level of the suction material collecting container 11 and preferably sends an acoustic message to the user 5 as soon as the suction material collecting container 11 is completely emptied.

Although the embodiment according to the FIGS. 2 to 4 Here, starting from a situation has been explained in which the second cleaning device 2 is still off and is not in operation, it is of course also possible that the cleaning device 2 is turned on and its status on the service readiness of the first cleaning device 1 and communicated common control device 3 of the system.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the invention, which has a system with two cleaning devices 1, 2 and an external, outside the cleaning devices 1, 2, arranged, central control device 4. The control device 4 is here, for example, at the same time a control device 4 of a home automation system to which at the same time other devices of the household can be connected, for example. A lighting, heating, shutters, a locking system and the like. The cleaning devices 1, 2 are here, for example, as before with respect to the embodiment according to the FIGS. 2 to 4 explained, wherein the first cleaning device 1 here but no common Control device 3 of the system. Rather, the common control device 4 of the system is now attached to a wall of the room external control device 4th

During the operation of the second cleaning device 2, the second cleaning device 2 transmits a status about its readiness for service to the separate control device 4. Furthermore, the first cleaning device 1 transmits information about a service requirement of one of its device components, namely, here, for example, the suction material collection container 11 to the common Control device 4. The control device 4 then checks which cleaning device 2 of the system has currently reported active service readiness. In the embodiment according to FIG. 5 this is the second cleaning device 2. Depending on the signaled service needs of the first cleaning device 1 and the active status of a service readiness of the second cleaning device 2, the common control device 4 then generates a request to perform a service treatment and transmits it to the second cleaning device 2. This request here includes, for example, a haptic signal for the user, which manifests itself by vibration of the second cleaning device 2. Furthermore, the control device 4 sends a control command for moving the first cleaning device 1 to the first cleaning device 1, wherein the control command simultaneously displays the current position of the second cleaning device 2 within the environment. Thereafter, the first cleaning device 1 moves to the location of the second cleaning device 2, where the user 5 is currently performing a cleaning by means of the second cleaning device 2. As soon as the user 5 notices the first cleaning device 1, he can perform the service treatment on the first cleaning device 1, namely, suck the suction material collecting container 11 of the first cleaning device 1 by means of the suction nozzle 17 of the second cleaning device 2.

Although not shown in the aforementioned embodiments, it will be understood that the cleaning devices 1, 2 may also be other cleaning devices, for example a stationary base station for one of the cleaning devices 1, 2, a combined suction-wiping cleaning device, two Cleaning robot, two exclusively by a user 5 manageable cleaning equipment and the like. Depending on the mobility of the cleaning devices 1, 2 present in the system, the process is carried out either analogously to the first or the second illustrated embodiment. In addition, of course, combinations of the aforementioned embodiments are possible.

List of reference numbers

1

cleaner

2

cleaner

3

control device

4

control device

5

user

6

display means

7

wheel

8th

cleaning element

9

detection device

10

level indicator

11

Sauggutsammelbehälter

12

floor nozzle

13

stalk

14

Handle

15

tube

16

obstacle

17

suction nozzle

18

communication module

Claims (10)

System with at least two cleaning devices (1, 2), wherein at least one of the cleaning devices (1, 2) relative to another cleaning device (2, 1) is displaceable, characterized in that the cleaning devices (1, 2) each have a communication link to a common control device (3, 4), wherein the control device (3, 4) outside the cleaning devices (1, 2) formed, the central control device (4) of the system, to which the cleaning devices (1, 2) are registered and which is also available when the cleaning devices (1, 2) are switched off, wherein the control device (3, 4) is further set, depending on a service needs of a device component of a first cleaning device (1) and in dependence on a status of a service standby a second cleaning device (2) a request to perform a service treatment to the second cleaning device (2) and / or a user (5) d to transmit it to the second cleaning device (2). System according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device (3, 4) is arranged to transmit a control command for carrying out the service treatment to the second cleaning device (2). System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control device (3, 4) is a control device (4) of a home automation system. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the service component having a device component suction collecting container (11) of a trained as a vacuum cleaner first Cleaning device (1) is and / or that the second cleaning device (2) is a manually by a user (5) feasible vacuum cleaner. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (3, 4) is set up to generate a control command for moving the second cleaning device (2) to a device location of the first cleaning device (1) and to the second cleaning device (2). to transmit, and / or to generate a control command for moving the first cleaning device (1) to a device location of the second cleaning device (2) and to transmit to the first cleaning device (1). Method for operating a system having at least two cleaning devices (1, 2), wherein at least one of the cleaning devices (1, 2) is displaced relative to another cleaning device (2, 1), characterized in that the cleaning devices (1, 2) a common, outside the cleaning devices (1, 2) formed, the central control device (3, 4) of the system are registered, and that the cleaning devices (1, 2) each communicate via a communication link with the common control device (3, 4) the control device (3, 4) in response to a service requirement of a device component of a first cleaning device (1) and depending on a status of a service readiness of a second cleaning device (2) a request to perform a service treatment to the second cleaning device (2) and / or transmitted to a user (5) of the second cleaning device (2), wherein the control device (3, 4) for e Communication is available when the cleaning devices (1, 2) are switched off. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that the request acoustically, visually and / or haptically by means of a display means (6) of the first or second cleaning device (1, 2) to the user (5) is transmitted. A method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the control device (3, 4) controls the second cleaning device (2) for performing a service treatment on the device component of the first cleaning device (1). Method according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the control device (3, 4) generates a control command for moving the second cleaning device (2) to a device location of the first cleaning device (1) and transmitted to the second cleaning device (2), and / or a control command for moving the first cleaning device (1) to a device location of the second cleaning device (2) and transmitted to the first cleaning device (1). Method according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that a filling level of a suction material collecting container (11) of the first cleaning device (1) is detected, wherein a service requirement for the suction material collecting container (11) to the control device (3, 4) is transmitted, wherein the control device (3, 4) determines a status of a service readiness of the second cleaning device (2) and controls at least one of the cleaning devices (1, 2) so that it moves to the other cleaning device (2, 1) and the suction material collecting container (11) of the first cleaning device (1) by means of a device of the second cleaning device (2) is emptied.

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