EP3430690A1

EP3430690A1 - Device for locking a plug on a switchable power socket

Info

Publication number: EP3430690A1
Application number: EP17706978.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kay-Uwe CLEMENS; Rafael Kirschner; Philip LAUKART
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2016-03-18
Filing date: 2017-02-20
Publication date: 2019-01-23
Anticipated expiration: 2037-02-20
Also published as: US20200295515A1; WO2017157616A1; DE102016204505A1; US10971869B2; CN108780970A; CN108780970B; EP3430690B1

Abstract

A device (200) for protecting a plug-in connection between a first power plug (211) of an electric appliance (110) and a switchable power socket (120) is described, wherein the switchable power socket (120) comprises a socket (210) for receiving the first power plug (211) and a second power plug (230) for coupling the switchable power socket (120) to an electric mains (130). The device (200) comprises a wall (310, 320, 330) which is designed, when the device is installed, to at least partially surround the switchable power socket (120) with the first power plug (211) plugged therein. The wall (310, 320, 330) comprises a plug-side recess (421, 422) in which the second power plug (230) at least partially penetrates the wall (310, 320, 330), when the device is installed. Furthermore, the wall (310, 320, 330) is designed in such a manner that said wall (310, 320, 330) at least partially covers the first power plug (211), when the device is installed, in order to prevent the first power plug (211) from being pulled out of the socket (210).

Description

Device for locking a plug to a

switch socket

The invention relates to a device for locking a mains plug of an electrical appliance to a switch socket.

Electrical equipment supplied with electrical energy from a supply network via a mains plug can be made available for common use in publicly accessible areas. This document describes by way of example a system for providing laundry care machines in multi-party buildings and / or in dedicated laundry facilities. To manage the common use of an electrical device can be indirectly coupled via a switch socket to the power grid, the switch socket can be controlled via radio to unlock the electrical device when needed for use.

In order to reliably prevent the misuse of an electrical device, a fixed lock between the power plug of the electrical device and the switch socket can be provided. For example, a barb connector may be provided for this purpose. However, such a barbed connector is disadvantageous in that typically the connection between the plug and the switch socket can no longer be released (e.g., for maintenance purposes).

The present document addresses the technical problem of providing a compact and cost-effective device for locking a power plug to a switch socket, which provides reliable protection against unplugging the power plug and still allows non-destructive release of the plug connection between the plug and switch socket when needed.

The object is solved by the subject matter of the independent patent claim. Advantageous embodiments are defined in particular in the dependent claims, described in the following description or illustrated in the accompanying drawing. According to one aspect of the invention, a device is described for protecting a plug connection between a first power plug of an electrical device (eg, a household appliance, such as a laundry care machine) and a switch socket. The switch socket comprises a socket for receiving the first power plug and a second power plug for coupling the switch socket with an electrical supply network. The first power plug and / or the second power plug may be, for example, type C, type E, type F and / or type E + F plugs. The switch socket may have, for example, a cuboid housing, wherein the socket may be located on a rear side of the housing and the second power plug on a front side opposite the housing. The switch socket is typically arranged to establish or disconnect an electrically conductive connection between the second power plug and the socket. For this purpose, the switch socket can be set up to receive a control signal via a (in particular wireless) communication connection, by means of which the production or disconnection of the electrically conductive connection can be initiated. The required electronics can be located in the housing of the switch socket.

The device comprises a wall or a wall which is designed to at least partially enclose the switch socket (in particular the housing of the switch socket) with the inserted first mains plug in an installed state. In this case, the wall has a plug-side recess on which at least partially penetrates the wall in the installed state of the second power plug. A plug-side recess causes the wall to rest against the back of the switch socket housing (without a substantial gap). In other words, the wall may be designed such that the wall when installed at least partially touches the back of the switch socket. Thus, the freedom of movement of the device along a first axis which extends between the back and the front of the switch socket can be reduced. Furthermore, the wall is designed such that the wall when installed, the first power plug at least partially hidden to prevent removal of the first power plug from the socket. In particular, the wall for this purpose the be designed type that the wall in the installed state has a distance from the front of the switch socket, which is smaller than a length of the first power plug in the direction of a contact pin of the first power plug.

The wall of the device can thus on the front of the housing of the switch socket cover the socket of the switch socket and plugged therein first power plug at least partially. Due to the fact that the wall on the back of the housing of the switch socket has no substantial freedom of movement, a reliable protection of the connector between the socket of the switch socket and the first power plug can be provided. In particular, a removal of the first mains plug can thus be prevented in a reliable manner.

The switch socket may include a (particularly cuboid) housing having a back side (where the second power plug is located), a front side (where the socket is located) and (typically four) connection sides between the front and back sides. In a Cartesian coordinate system, a first axis may run between the back and the front. A second and a third axis may extend perpendicular to the first axis between each two mutually parallel connection sides. The wall of the device may enclose the front, the back and at least two connection sides of the housing of the switch socket. In this case, the wall of the device in the installed state at the back and on the at least two connection sides of the housing of the switch socket abut (in particular without substantial freedom of movement). Thus, a reliable protection of the connector between the socket of the switch socket and the first power plug can be provided.

The plug-side recess may be formed such that the wall completely surrounds the second power plug in the installed state. Thus, it can be effectively effected that the device can not be withdrawn along the second or third axis from the housing of the switch socket. On the other hand, the plug-side recess may be disposed on an edge of the wall and have a U-shape. A U-shaped recess may be advantageous in order to be able to push a device with a circumferential wall, which forms a cavity for receiving the housing of the switch socket, to the socket outlet. The wall may have one or more holes through which a connection between the device and the switch socket can be made, in particular by means of one or more screws or bolts which are fixed by the one or more holes in the housing of the switch socket. Such a connection between the device and the socket can be used to prevent removal of the device from the switch socket along the second or third axis (in particular when using a U-shaped plug-side recess).

The wall may have a socket-side recess, which is arranged in the installed state, at least partially over a portion of the first power plug and the socket. A socket-side recess may cause the device to be used in conjunction with different shapes of the first power plug. For example, in a first form of the first power plug, the power cord may be routed along an axis of the contact pins of the first power plug out of the first power plug. On the other hand, in a second form of the first power plug, the power cord can be routed along an axis perpendicular to the contact pins from the first power plug. By providing a socket-side recess, a reliable protection of the connector between the socket of the switch socket and the first power plug can be provided for such different forms of the first power plug.

The socket-side recess may extend to an edge of the wall. Such a recess may be advantageous in order to be able to push a device with a circumferential wall, which forms a cavity for receiving a part of the housing of the switch socket to the socket outlet.

The device may comprise a first part with a front wall and a second part with a rear wall. In this case, the rear wall at the rear and the front wall are arranged at the front of the housing of the switch socket in the installed state. The first part and the second part can be connected to each other via coupling means, so that the wall of the device is formed, which forms a cavity for receiving a part of the housing of the switch socket. The coupling means can thereby provide a self-locking and / or positive connection, in particular a tongue and groove connection or a grid connection. In particular, the coupling means may provide some sort of "cable tie" between the first part and the second part The provision of multiple parts allows easy mounting of the device to the switch socket.

On the other hand, the wall can be a one-piece component, which forms a cavity for receiving at least part of the housing of the switch socket. In this case, the device can be pushed onto the housing of the switch socket.

The wall of the device may e.g. have a wall thickness of 2 mm or less. The wall can be made of a plastic (for example by means of an injection molding process).

According to a further aspect of the invention, an aggregate of several component parts is described. The unit includes a first power plug of an electrical device. Furthermore, the unit comprises a switch socket, which has a socket into which the first power plug is plugged, and which has a second power plug for coupling the switch socket with an electrical supply network. The first power plug and the second power plug can have the same type of plug. In addition, the unit comprises a device described in this document, which is arranged to prevent removal of the first power plug from the socket.

The first power plug can, for example, be electrically connected to a laundry care machine (in particular to a washing machine or to a tumble dryer). The switch socket may be configured to separate or form an electrically conductive connection between the laundry care machine and an electrical supply source. Furthermore, the switch socket is set up, via a communication tion connection to receive a signal by which is made that the electrically conductive connection is formed or disconnected. By the device described in this document can thus be prevented in a reliable and efficient manner improper use of the laundry care. The switch socket may include a sensor configured to detect whether or not the wall of the device at least partially encloses the switch socket. The sensor may include, for example, a touch sensor. The sensor signal may be transmitted via the communication link to a control unit of a system for sharing an electrical device. So can be reliably determined whether a protection of the connector between the first power plug and the switch socket or not. In particular, such impermissible removal of the protective device can be detected and, if necessary, countermeasures initiated. According to a further aspect of the invention, a system for sharing a wired electrical appliance (in particular a laundry care machine) is described. The laundry care machine may in particular comprise a washing machine, a tumble dryer and / or a tumble dryer. The system comprises a control unit which is set up to determine that a user would like to use the electrical appliances (in particular the laundry care machine) in a first period of time. In this case, the control unit may include a processor, in particular a server.

The control unit is typically physically separate from the laundry care machine. For example, the laundry care machine can be arranged in a multi-party house or in a launderette. On the other hand, the control unit may be located outside the multi-storey house or the laundromat, eg in a server room. Typically, a control unit is provided for controlling a plurality of different laundry care machines, wherein the different laundry care machines may be located at different locations. The system further comprises at least one of the units described in this document with a switch socket and a device for protecting a plug connection. The switch socket can be set up to separate or form an electrically conductive connection between the electrical appliance (in particular the laundry care machine) and an electrical supply source (eg an electrical supply network). The control unit may be configured to cause the switch socket to form the electrically conductive connection for the first time period via a WAN communication link (ie via a Wide Area Network, WAN link).

The system thus enables a user to remotely activate or reserve a laundry care machine for use via a central control unit. In this case, a reliable protection of the connector between the power plug of the electrical appliance (in particular the laundry care machine) and a switch socket is ensured by the device described in this document. Thus, a comfortable and reliable shared use of a laundry care machine can be provided.

It should be understood that any aspects of the apparatus, units, and systems described herein may be combined in a variety of ways. In particular, the features of the claims can be combined in a variety of ways.

Furthermore, the invention will be described with reference to embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary system for controlling a shared laundry care machine;

Figure 2 is a side view of a connector between a power plug and a communication module;

3 shows a sketch of an exemplary device for locking the

Plug connection between a mains plug and a communication module; and Figures 4a to 4d different representations of an exemplary device for

Locking the plug connection between a mains plug and a communication module.

As set forth above, the present document is concerned with the reliable locking of a plug connection between a power plug and a switch socket, so that, if necessary, a non-destructive release of the connector is made possible. In this context, a system 100 for using a laundry care machine by a multiplicity of different users is described by way of example with reference to FIG. 1, in which a device for locking a plug-in connection can be used.

The system 100 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a central control unit 101, which is set up, via a first communication connection (in particular via a wireless WAN (Wide Area Network) communication link) 102 with a communication module 120 for a shared laundry care machine 1 10 to communicate. Furthermore, the control unit 101 is set up to communicate with an electronic device 140 (for example with a smartphone or a tablet PC) of a user via a second communication connection (in particular via a wireless WAN communication link) 103.

The electronic device 140 has an input / output module (eg with a touch-sensitive screen), via which the user can make inputs and view outputs. In particular, an SW application (a so-called app) can run on the electronic device 140, which allows a user to make a request for the use of the laundry care machine 1 10 to the control unit 101. In this case, it may be possible for a user to reserve a period for the use of the laundry care machine 1 10 via the electronic device 140. For example, the control unit 101 can maintain a digital calendar for the use of the laundry care machine 1 10, and the user can be enabled to reserve a certain period of time in the digital calendar. The control unit 101 is further configured to control the communication module 120 of the laundry care machine 1 10 in response to an input of the user. The communication module 120 may be configured to connect an electrical supply line 1 14 of the laundry care machine 1 10 to an electrical supply network 130 (or to a connection line 131 to the supply network 130) or to the electrical supply line 14 of the laundry care machine 1 10 from the electrical supply network 130 to separate. For this purpose, the communication module 120 may include a controllable switch 122 (eg, a relay) configured to make the electrical conductive connection between the supply line 14 of the laundry machine 110 and the electrical supply network 130.

The communication module 120 further comprises a controller 121 (having, for example, a processor) configured to receive a control signal via the first communication link 102 from the controller 101 and to close the switch 122 in response to the control signal. For example, the control unit 101 may cause the communication module 120 to close the switch 122 during a period in which the laundry care machine 1 10 has been reserved by a user. The Wäschepflegemaschine 1 10 is then connected in this period to the electrical supply network 130 and thus can be used by the user. On the other hand, the control unit 101 may cause the communication module 120 to open the switch 122 in a period in which there is no reservation for the Wäschepflegemaschine 1 10. The Wäschepflegemaschine 1 10 is then not connected in this period to the electrical supply network 130 and thus can not be used. Thus, an improper use of the laundry care 1 10 can be avoided.

Laundry machines 1 10 are often installed in basements in which wireless communication is often limited (in particular a communication via a wireless local area network, WLAN). The communication module 120 can therefore be set up to communicate via a global system for mobile communications, GSM, in particular via the GSM data services such as GPRS and / or EDGE. Through the use of GSM, a wireless communication link can be efficiently and reliably established between a central control unit 101 (eg, with a backend server) and a plurality of distributed communication modules 120 (for a corresponding plurality of distributed laundry care machines 1 10) are provided. A communication module 120 may include a suitable antenna 124 for establishing the first communication link 102.

The communication module 120 may further include a current sensor 123 (in particular, an electricity meter) configured to detect an indicator of the amount of electrical energy received from the laundry network 130 during a reserved period of time from the laundry network 130. In particular, the amount of electricity consumed can be detected as an indicator of the amount of electrical energy. The indicator for the amount of electrical energy can be transmitted via the first communication link 102 to the central control unit 101. Furthermore, the control unit 101 can calculate the use of the laundry care machine 110 as a function of the indicator for the amount of electrical energy to the user. For example, for this purpose, an electronic billing of the use (for example, by means of stored billing data). In this way, the convenience of using a shared laundry care machine 1 10 can be increased.

The laundry machine 1 10 typically includes an input / output module 1 1 1 through which a user can control the laundry machine 1 10. In particular, the user can select a suitable operating program and / or activate or deactivate the laundry care machine 110. The laundry machine 1 10 further comprises a control 1 12, which is adapted to operate the Wäschepflegemaschine 1 10 in response to an input of the user.

The communication module 120 may be independent of the type or manufacturer of the laundry care machine 1 10. In particular, the communication module 120 may possibly only be connected to the laundry care machine 110 via the electrical supply line 14. For example, the communication module 120 may be designed as a switch socket and include a socket into which a (typically proven standardized) power plug or power plug of the electrical supply line 1 14 (eg a plug type C (CEE 6/17), a plug Type E (CEE 7/5), a type F (CEE 7/4) or E + F (CEE 7/7) type connector can be inserted. It can thus be a generic (and thus cost-efficient) communication module 120 be provided for different types of laundry care 1 10. Nevertheless, the acquisition of an indicator for the amount of electrical energy can be a precise usage-dependent and possibly operating program-dependent billing. FIG. 2 shows an exemplary, designed as a switch socket, communication module 120 in side view. The switch socket 120 comprises a socket 210, in which a first power plug 21 1 of an electrical device 1 10 (in particular a Wäschepflegemaschine 1 10) can be plugged. Furthermore, the switch socket 120 includes a second power plug 230, which can be plugged into the socket of a supply network 130 (eg to produce the connection power 131 shown in FIG. 1). The socket 210 and / or the second power plug 230 may, for example, each correspond to one of the above-mentioned types.

Fig. 2 further shows a device 200, with the withdrawal of the first power plug 21 1 can be prevented from the socket 210. In particular, it can be prevented by the device 200 that by pulling off the first power plug 21 1, the switch socket 120 is bridged, e.g. to allow improper use of the electronic device 1 10, which is connected to the first power plug 21 1. The device 200 may thus be used to reliably provide the system 100 for sharing an electrical device 110 described in connection with FIG.

FIG. 3 shows a sketch of an exemplary protective device 200 which encloses a switch socket 120 and a first mains plug 21 1 inserted therein. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the protective device 200 is formed as a hollow cuboid with a circumferential wall 310, 320, 330, which partially encloses the housing of the switch socket 120. The peripheral wall 310, 320, 303 comprises a rear wall 320, two side walls 333 and a front wall 310. The rear wall 320 is arranged on the side of the switch socket 120 at which the second power plug 230 of the switch socket 120 is located (this side becomes also referred to in this document as the back of the switch socket 120). The front wall 310 is located on the side of the switch socket 120 where the socket 210 is located (this page is also referred to as the front of the switch socket 120 in this document). The protection device 200 encloses the switch socket 120 such that a user is prevented from pulling the first power plug 21 1 of an electrical device 1 10 from the socket of the switch socket 120. For this purpose, the front wall 310 of the protective device 200 at a distance 31 1 to the front of the switch socket 120, which is smaller than the length of the first power plug 21 1 (in the direction of the contact pins of the power plug 21 1).

The protection device 200 includes attachment means that prevent the protection device 200 from being removed from the switch socket 120. Exemplary fastening means are shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b. The protective device 200 shown in Fig. 4a comprises on the rear wall 320 a closed recess 421 for receiving the second power plug 230 of the switch socket 120. By such a closed recess 421 can be prevented that the protective device 200 along the sides of the switch socket 120 is withdrawn from the switch socket 120. By using a closed recess 421 which encloses the plug 230 of a switch socket 120, a cost-effective pull-off protection can be provided.

4b shows the back wall 320 of a protection device 200 with a (possibly open) recess 422 that is designed, e.g. partly to enclose the second power plug of the switch socket 120. Furthermore, the backplane 320 includes one or more holes 423 that may be used to secure the protection device 200, e.g. via screws and / or bolts to the housing of the switch socket 120 to attach. The holes 423 can be arranged such that the screws and / or bolts used can also serve to close the housing of the switch socket 120. Thus, efficient attachment of the protection device 200 to the switch socket 120 can be effected. The provision of an open recess 422 is advantageous because it allows the protective device 200 to be pushed onto the housing of the switch socket 120.

The front wall 310 of the protective device 200 is designed to prevent removal of a power plug 21 1 from the socket 210 of the switch socket 120. For this purpose, the front wall 310 of the protective device 200 covers the sleeve 210 of the switching device. Socket 120 and the plugged therein first power plug 21 1 in the installed state at least partially. In addition, the front wall 310 may have a (possibly open) recess 41 1, which is at least partially over the socket 210 of the switch socket 120 in the installed state of the protective device 200. The provision of such a recess 41 1 is advantageous to allow the use of different variants or shapes of first power connectors 21 1. For example, it is thus possible to use first mains plugs 21 1, in which the connecting cable 1 14 is guided in the longitudinal direction of the contact pins from the mains plug 21 1. The use of an open recess 41 1 on the front side 310 also allows sliding the protective device 200 along the sides of the switch socket 120th

The protective device 200 may be manufactured as a single part, which forms a cavity for receiving the switch socket 120 and which can be pushed onto the switch socket 120 with an inserted power plug 21 1, and can be fixed to the housing of the switch socket 120 (eg by means of one or more holes 423).

4d shows a protective device 200 in a side view, wherein the protective device 200 has a first part 431 (with the front wall 310) and a second part 432 (with the rear wall 320). The first part 431 and the second part 432 may each form a portion of the side walls 330 of the protection device 200. The respective sections of the side walls 330 can be connected to each other via coupling means 433, so that the protective device 200 encloses the sides of the switch socket 120, and so that the two parts 431, 432 of the protective device 200 only with a relatively high force again can be separated from each other. The coupling means 433 may be e.g. a Verrasterung the two parts 431, 432 allow.

The first power plug 21 1 of an electrical device 1 10 (eg a Wäschepflegema- machine 1 10) can thus be connected to the socket 210 of a switch plug or a switch socket 120. To produce the pull-out fuse, the protective device 200 can be routed via the mated pairing of the first mains plug 21 1 and the switch socket 120. Via a latching mechanism 433 (ver similar to the mechanism of a cable tie), the protective device 200 can be closed and the removal of the protective device 200 prevented. Optionally, the presence of a protection device 200 can be detected electrically by a sensor mounted on the switch socket 120. In other words, the switch socket 120 may include a sensor configured to detect whether the plug connection between the power plug 21 1 of the electrical device 110 and the socket 210 is protected by a protective device 200.

The protection device 200 may be configured such that removal of the protection device 200 requires destruction of the protection device 200. Thus, an unnoticed removal and reinstalling the protective device can be prevented. On the other hand, the power plug 21 1 and the switch socket 120 remain intact upon removal of the protection device 200, which is e.g. is beneficial for maintenance.

The mounting of the protective device 200 can be carried out in a simple manner (possibly without tools) (for example by pushing on or by snapping in place). Possibly. For example, by using a sensor, the mounting and / or condition of the protection device 200 can be remotely checked. For example, an opening attempt can be detected remotely. The protection device 200 described in this document thus represents an efficient and inexpensive way of locking the plug connection between a power plug 21 1 and a switch socket 120.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown. In particular, it should be noted that the description and the figures are only intended to illustrate the principle of the proposed device, units and systems.

Claims

Device (200) for protecting a plug connection between a first power plug (21 1) of an electrical device (1 10) and a switch socket (120) having a socket (210) for receiving the first power plug (21 1) and a second power plug ( 230) for coupling the switch socket (120) with an electrical supply network (130), wherein

- The device (200) comprises a wall (310, 320, 330) which is designed to at least partially enclose the switch socket (120) with the inserted first power plug (21 1) in an installed state;

- The wall (310, 320, 330) comprises a plug-side recess (421, 422) on which the second power plug (230) at least partially penetrates the wall (310, 320, 330) in the installed state; and

- The wall (310, 320, 330) is designed such that the wall (310, 320, 330) in the installed state, the first power plug (21 1) at least partially hidden to a removal of the first power plug (21 1) from the To prevent socket (210).

Device (200) according to claim 1, wherein the plug-side recess (421, 422) is formed such that the wall (310, 320, 330) completely encloses the second power plug (230) in the installed state.

The device (200) of claim 1, wherein the plug-side recess (421, 422) is disposed on an edge of the wall (310, 320, 330) and has a U-shape.

Device (200) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the wall (310, 320, 330) has one or more holes (423), via which a connection between the device (200) and the switch socket (120) can be created, in particular by means of one or more screws or bolts.

5. Device (200) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the wall (310, 320, 330) has a socket-side recess (41 1), which in the installed state at least partially disposed over a portion of the first power plug (21 1) is.

The apparatus (200) of claim 5, wherein the female side recess (41 1) extends to an edge of the wall (310, 320, 330).

7. Device (200) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the wall (310, 320, 330) is designed such that the wall (310, 320, 330) in the installed state, a side of the switch socket (120) at which the second power plug (230) is arranged, touched.

8. Device (200) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the wall (310, 320, 330) is designed such that the wall (310, 320, 330) in the installed state, a distance (31 1) to one side of the switch socket (120), on which the bush (210) is arranged, which is smaller than a length of the first power plug (21 1) in the direction of a contact pin of the first power plug (21 1).

9. Device (200) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein

the device (200) comprises a first part (431) having a front wall (310) and a second part (432) having a back wall (320); and

- The first part (431) and the second part (432) can be connected to each other via coupling means (433), so that the wall (310, 320, 330) is formed, which forms a cavity for receiving the switch socket (120).

10. Device (200) according to claim 9, wherein the coupling means (433) allow a self-locking positive connection, in particular a tongue and groove connection or a grid fastener.

1 1. Device (200) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the wall (310, 320, 330) is a one-piece component. Device (200) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plug-side recess (421, 422) is designed for a second power plug of type C, type E, type F and / or type E + F.

Aggregate that includes

- a first power plug (21 1);

- A switch socket (120) having a socket (210) into which the first power plug (21 1) is inserted, and a second power plug (230) for coupling the switch socket (120) with an electrical supply network (130) ; and

- A device (200) according to one of the preceding claims, which is adapted to prevent removal of the first power plug (21 1) from the socket (210).

The assembly of claim 13, wherein the switch socket (120) comprises a sensor configured to detect whether or not the wall (310, 320, 330) of the device (200) at least partially encloses the switch socket (120).

An aggregate according to any one of claims 13 to 14, wherein

- The first power plug (21 1) is electrically connected to a Wäschepflegemaschine (1 10);

- The switch socket (120) is arranged to separate or form an electrically conductive connection between the Wäschepflegemaschine (1 10) and an electrical supply source (130); and

- The switch socket (120) is arranged to receive a signal via a communication link (102), is caused by the fact that the electrically conductive connection is formed or disconnected.