EP3446610B1 - Vacuum cleaner and method for operating same - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner for cleaning and maintenance of floor surfaces with a blower for generating a negative pressure for receiving dirt by means of an air flow and a separation system for cleaning the air taken from dirt, an adjusting device for adjusting the performance of the blower, the vacuum cleaner being one for has continuous operation of the vacuum cleaner via the setting device, maximum power and an intensive power that can be set for short-term operation of the vacuum cleaner via the setting device, the intensive power being higher than the maximum power. The invention also relates to a method for adjusting a blower output of a vacuum cleaner.

In private households and in trade, vacuum cleaners are used to clean surfaces such as textile floor coverings and smooth floors. A floor nozzle of the vacuum cleaner is continuously pushed back and forth on a floor surface to collect dust. In the course of the energy label for vacuum cleaners, energy classes are now specified for household vacuum cleaners in which much lower power consumption is permitted. This leads to a decrease in the aerodynamic performance of the vacuum cleaner, which is still sufficient for normal vacuuming, but can lead to a performance restriction in a location with particularly stubborn dirt, especially on smooth floors. The dust picking effectiveness of the vacuum cleaner strongly depends on the setting of the blower. In the context of reducing energy consumption in vacuum cleaners, the setting of the blowers is playing an increasingly important role. The dimensioning of vacuum cleaner blowers follows a trend towards less power, which initially leads to lower volume flows available at the floor nozzle, so that due to the continuity relationship at the floor nozzles there are generally lower flow velocities. In order to nevertheless absorb sufficient dust, the floor nozzles are adapted to the lower volume flows, in particular by means of additional lips on the suction mouths. However, these additional lips increase the pushing forces acting on the floor nozzles, making handling more difficult for the user. Another possibility is to equip the floor nozzles with agitators such as brush rollers, which actively work the floor surface and thus loosen dirt particles from the floor surface, in particular from carpet fibers. A satisfactory cleaning, especially on smooth floors, cannot be achieved with these solutions. The reduction of the volume flow leads to insufficient cleaning results when using the vacuum cleaner on smooth floors.

From the DE 10 2014 108 479 A1 and from the EP 2 842 471 A1 are vacuum cleaners of the type mentioned. A disadvantage of the solutions described here is that above the maximum power provided for the continuous operation of the vacuum cleaner, only a more intensive power level is available for short-term operation. Such a simple increase in performance is not sufficient for a satisfactory cleaning result on different floor surfaces. Especially on smooth floors and with stubborn dirt, simply increasing the blower output is not sufficient for optimal cleaning results.

The invention therefore presents the problem of specifying an improved vacuum cleaner and an improved method for setting a blower output of a vacuum cleaner.

According to the invention, this problem is solved by a vacuum cleaner with the features of patent claim 1 and a method for setting a blower output of a vacuum cleaner according to claim 6. The fact that the vacuum cleaner has a boost output that can be adjusted for a brief operation of the vacuum cleaner via the setting device, the boost output being higher than the intensive output, means that the blower output can be increased differently, so that optimal cleaning results are achieved even on smooth floors and in the case of stubborn dirt on the floor surface to be cleaned become. As a result, a floor nozzle connected to the vacuum cleaner can pick up loosened dirt particles very effectively and thus ensure effective dust pick-up, in particular on smooth floors. As a result, effective cleaning of the floor surface, in particular in the case of smooth floors, can be achieved with sufficiently high flow velocities and differentially increased blower output even with fans operating efficiently in continuous operation. With such a vacuum cleaner, the dust pick-up effectiveness - in particular on smooth floors - can be advantageously increased, so that good dust pick-up values, in particular on smooth floors, can be achieved for a short time even with low intake powers. In addition, the volume flow required in continuous operation for effective cleaning on carpets can be further reduced, so that more economical fans can be installed in the vacuum cleaner. The reduction in volume flows in continuous operation also leads to lower flow losses, particularly with bagless separators, so that further energy can be saved here, whereby a higher volume flow can be set if necessary, if stubborn dirt, particularly on smooth floors, has to be removed from the floor surface. In addition to the possibility of a brief increase in the blower output of the vacuum cleaner beyond the maximum output of the vacuum cleaner for continuous operation, the advantages which can be achieved with the invention are that the increase in output due to the additional boost output depends on the nature and the degree of contamination of the floor surface to be cleaned can be increased differentially. This allows the increase in performance to be adjusted to the needs of the user and the application. The setting device, which provides an adjustable boost output for a short-term operation of the vacuum cleaner, which is higher than the adjustable intensive output offers a better adjustment of the vacuum cleaner to the customer's needs, since the differentially adjustable performance of the blower offers optimal application possibilities on different floor surfaces.

The floor surface can be covered by a textile floor covering such as a carpet or carpet or by a smooth floor such as. B. a wooden parquet, laminate or PVC flooring.

The vacuum cleaner has a blower for generating a negative pressure, through which the floor nozzle guided over a floor surface to be cleaned picks up dust and dirt from the floor surface. For this purpose, the floor nozzle is moved back and forth in the machining direction by the user by means of pushing and pulling movements. As a result, the floor nozzle slides over the floor surface to be cleaned. In particular in the case of long-pile carpets, the underside of the floor nozzle slides over the carpet, while the underside of smooth floors floats over these floor surfaces, possibly with spacer bristles. For this purpose, the user can, for example, handle a handle of the vacuum cleaner connected to the suction pipe. So that the cleaning and maintenance of the floor covering can be carried out as effectively as possible, the suction mouth of the floor nozzle is elongated and essentially runs transversely to the working direction. In this context, elongated means that the preferably substantially rectangular suction mouth has a greater length transversely to the machining direction than the width in the machining direction. The suction mouth is preferably between 20 and 30 cm long across the processing direction. The vacuum cleaner can also be designed as a self-driving vacuum cleaner, in particular a vacuum robot, so that the processing direction of the floor nozzle corresponds to the direction of travel of the self-driving vacuum cleaner. A vacuum cleaner housing of the vacuum cleaner can have a dust receiving chamber in which the dust picked up via the floor nozzle can be collected, for example, in a dust bag.

Advantageous refinements and developments of the invention result from the following dependent claims.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the setting device is designed to increase the blower power to the intensive power and / or the boost power using a request signal for increasing the blower power. The request signal can be an electrical signal represent. The request signal can be used to request a user or a component of the vacuum cleaner, for example a special floor nozzle, to increase the blower output via the maximum output of the continuous operation. For example, by plugging special suction accessories onto the vacuum cleaner, the blower output can be briefly increased to intensive or boost output. Thus, the request signal can be used to activate a boost function of the vacuum cleaner, in which the blower output of the vacuum cleaner can be increased briefly via the maximum output for continuous operation.

An advantageous embodiment is that a user interface is designed to receive a request signal from the user of the vacuum cleaner to increase the blower output. The user interface for receiving the request signal by the user of the vacuum cleaner can be designed as a push button switch or slider or the like. Such a user interface can be attached to a handle of the vacuum cleaner as well as to the housing of the vacuum cleaner. The signals of the user interface arranged on a handle can be transmitted by radio to the setting device in the device housing of the vacuum cleaner. For this purpose, the user interface in or on the handle preferably has its own power supply in the form of an accumulator or a battery.

A preferred embodiment provides that the setting device is designed to set the boost power using a request signal for increasing the blower power when the blower is operated at intensive power. It is provided to operate the vacuum cleaner in such a way that by generating the request signal once, a blower output increased to intensive power is called up for a first period and by generating the request signal again in the first period, the blower output is increased to boost power for a second period. As a result, the blower output can be increased simply and differentially. However, it is also possible to directly call up the boost power that can be set via the setting device via the request signal. As a result, the power levels of the blower can be quickly selected manually, so that the user can choose between intensive power and the even higher boost power.

It is also particularly advantageous that the setting device is designed to automatically switch back to the maximum power after a brief operation of the blower with intensive power and / or with boost power. With the automatic switch back to maximum power, the setting device can be used to ensure that the vacuum cleaner works in an energy-efficient manner in continuous operation, so that the short-term performance increases are not included in the evaluation of the energy label.

The invention furthermore relates to a method for setting a blower output of a vacuum cleaner for cleaning and care of floor surfaces which has already been described in more detail below, the vacuum cleaner having a maximum power intended for continuous operation of the vacuum cleaner and an intensive power provided for short-term operation of the vacuum cleaner, wherein the intensive output is higher than the maximum output, a boost output provided for a brief operation of the vacuum cleaner being activated, the boost output being higher than the intensive output. With this method, the blower output of a vacuum cleaner can be increased differentially, so that optimal cleaning results are achieved even on smooth floors and with stubborn dirt on the floor surface to be cleaned. The process ensures effective dust absorption, especially on smooth floors. A fan that works efficiently in continuous operation at maximum output can enable an effective cleaning of the floor surface, in particular in the case of smooth floors, with sufficiently high flow rates due to a differentially increased fan output. At otherwise low absorption rates in continuous operation, the short-term activation of the boost output can achieve good dust absorption values, especially on smooth floors. If required, a higher volume flow can be achieved by activating the boost output if stubborn dirt, especially on smooth floors, has to be removed from the floor surface. The boost output that can be activated for a short-term operation of the vacuum cleaner, which is higher than the intended intensive output, offers suitable setting options for the blower output to the respective application situation of the vacuum cleaner operated in this way.

A further advantage of the embodiment of the method is that the blower power is set using a request signal to increase the blower power to the intensive power and / or the boost power. The request signal can represent an electrical signal. With the request signal, a boost function of a vacuum cleaner operated in this way can be activated, in which the blower output of the vacuum cleaner can be briefly increased via the maximum output for continuous operation in several output ranges.

An advantageous embodiment of the method provides that the request signal is activated by the user via a user interface. The request signal can be triggered by the user of the vacuum cleaner via the user interface. It is provided to operate the vacuum cleaner in such a way that a blower output which is gradually increased compared to the maximum output in continuous operation is called up by actuating the user interface.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the method, it is provided that the boost power is set using a request signal to increase the blower power when the intensive power is set. For this purpose, the setting of the blower is provided, by generating the request signal once to set a blower output increased to intensive power for a first period and, when the request signal is generated again, to increase the blower output to the boost output for a second period. The blower output can be increased easily and differentially. Another option is the direct selection of the intended power via the generated request signal, so that the user can choose directly between the intensive power and the even higher boost power.

A preferred embodiment of the method provides that after a brief operation with intensive power and / or with boost power, the system automatically switches back to the maximum power. The automatic switch back to maximum power ensures that the vacuum cleaner operated in this way works energy-efficiently in continuous operation and requested increases in performance do not permanently increase the consumption of the vacuum cleaner.

Figur 1

Erfindungsgemäßer Staubsauger mit Bodendüse,

Figur 2

Leistungsdiagramm zur Gebläseleistung.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention result from the following description and from the drawings. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown purely schematically in the following drawings and are described in more detail below. Corresponding objects or elements are provided with the same reference symbols in all figures. It shows

Figure 1

Vacuum cleaner according to the invention with a floor nozzle,

Figure 2

Blower performance diagram.

In the figures, designated by the reference number 1, a vacuum cleaner 1 with a floor nozzle 5 is shown purely schematically. The representation according to Figure 1 shows a vacuum cleaner 1 according to the invention with a floor nozzle 5 connected to the vacuum cleaner 1. The vacuum cleaner 1 shown in the exemplary embodiment is a so-called canister vacuum cleaner. The floor nozzle 5 is connected here via its connecting piece 6 to a suction pipe 7 which is preferably designed to be telescopic. Furthermore, the floor nozzle 5 in this exemplary embodiment shown has its own housing 9 which is independent of the vacuum cleaner housing 8, 8a. The telescopic suction pipe 7 merges into a handle 10 to which a suction hose 11 is connected, which is connected to the vacuum cleaner housing 8, 8a. A blower of the vacuum cleaner 1 (not shown) integrated in the vacuum cleaner housing 8 is connected via an electrical connection cable 12 Electricity operated to create a vacuum. By means of this negative pressure, dirt and grime are absorbed from the floor surface 30 to be cleaned by an air flow via the suction mouth of the floor nozzle 5 and transported away into the housing 8, 8a of the vacuum cleaner 1 via the suction pipe 7 and the suction hose 11. Provided in this housing 8 is a separation system 2, which in the exemplary embodiment is designed as a dust bag. This separation system 2 is located in a dust space 13 formed by the housing parts 8, 8a and the vacuum cleaner 1. This dust space 13 is accessible and opened by a folding mechanism between the vacuum cleaner housing parts 8 and 8a, so that the separation system 2 is visible and removable. For the operation of the vacuum cleaner 1, the dust chamber 13 is closed and a negative pressure is generated. The air flow generated by the negative pressure is freed of dirt and grime in the separating system 2 and led out of the vacuum cleaner 1 via an exhaust air grille 14. To switch the vacuum cleaner 1 on and off, it has a user interface 4 in the form of a kick switch 4. This kick circuit 4 comprises switches which are large enough so that a user can operate them with their foot. The kick switch 4 usually also has a switch for actuating the automatic winder (not shown) for the connecting cable 12 integrated in the vacuum cleaner housing 8, 8a. On the handle 10 there is also a user interface 3 in the form of a manual circuit 3 with which functions of the vacuum cleaner 1 can be activated. In addition, the vacuum cleaner 1 can be switched on and off via the manual switch 3 and power levels of the blower (not shown) can be selected. Via the user interface 4 on the vacuum cleaner housing 8, 8a and via the user interface 3 on the handle 10, a request signal D1, D2 ( Figure 2 ) to increase the fan power P ( Figure 2 ) on intensive care B ( Figure 2 ) or boost power C ( Figure 2 ) generated by the user. For this purpose, the vacuum cleaner 1 has an adjusting device (not shown) for adjusting the power P ( Figure 2 ) of the vacuum cleaner fan, which is connected to the user interfaces 3, 4. This setting device can be used to set a maximum power A (for continuous operation) Figure 2 ) intended. Below this adjustable maximum power A ( Figure 2 ) for continuous operation, further weaker power levels can be provided for continuous operation. These further stages can also be selected via the user interfaces 3, 4 on the handle 10 and vacuum cleaner housing 8, 8a. For short-term operation, an intensive output can be set using the setting device. This intensive power B ( Figure 2 ) briefly provides a fan power P ( Figure 2 ) that are higher than the maximum power A ( Figure 2 ) for continuous operation. In addition, a boost power C (intended for short-term operation Figure 2 ) enableable. With boost power C ( Figure 2 ) the fan is set to a power P ( Figure 2 ) that are even higher than the intensive power B ( Figure 2 ) is. After a brief operation of the blower in the Intensive care B ( Figure 2 ) or the boost power C ( Figure 2 ) the setting device of the vacuum cleaner 1 switches the blower power P ( Figure 2 ) automatically into the maximum power A ( Figure 2 ) for continuous operation. A user of the vacuum cleaner 1 can grasp the handle 10 and thus push the floor nozzle 5 back and forth in a processing direction 15 identified by a double arrow in a pushing and pulling movement in order to clean the floor surface 30. Here, the floor nozzle 5 slides over the floor surface 30 to be cleaned. Particularly in the case of carpets with long pile, the underside of the floor nozzle 5 slides over the floor surface 30, while the underside of hard floors hovers over these floor surfaces 30, possibly by spacer bristles. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the floor nozzle 5 also has support elements 16 in the form of wheels, which ensure a defined distance from the underside to the floor surfaces 30 to be cleaned and simple handling when pushing the floor nozzle 5 back and forth. With the additional boost power C ( Figure 2 ), especially smooth floors can be effectively cleaned of stubborn dirt.

The Figure 2 shows a performance diagram for the blower power P of a vacuum cleaner 1 designed according to the invention and operated according to the proposed method ( Figure 1 ). The power P of the blower is plotted on the ordinate in the diagram shown, while the abscissa indicates the time course t. With the large plus 17, a switch 17 of a user interface 3, 4 ( Figure 1 ) shown, which generates a request signal D1 to increase the blower output when actuated by the user. As can be seen from the power curve E shown, the vacuum cleaner 1 is operated in continuous operation via the setting device at a set maximum power A of 400 W, for example. After the user generates a request signal D1 to increase the blower power P, the blower power P is used for a brief operation of the vacuum cleaner 1 ( Figure 1 ) increased to, for example, 650 W via the setting device. The increase in fan power P from maximum power A to intensive power B should preferably be approximately 50% compared to maximum power A. After a brief operation of the blower at intensive power B, the setting device automatically switches back to maximum power A. The intensive power B is preferably set over a time interval of 2 to 30 minutes, more preferably 5 to 10 minutes, before the setting device automatically switches the blower back to maximum power A. In the example shown here, the user issues a further request signal D2 via the user interface 3 or 4 to increase the blower power P while the blower is operated at intensive power B. This second request signal D2 leads to an increase in the blower power P by the adjusting device to a boost power C which is 900 W higher than the intensive power B, for example. The boost power C should be increased by approximately 50% compared to the intensive power B or compared to the Maximum power A by about 125%. Via the user interface 3, 4, it is also possible to reduce the blower power P, which is possible by actuating the switch 19 indicated by minus 19. This generates a reduction signal F for lowering the blower power P. In the following time course t it is indicated that the boost power C which can be set via the setting device can be activated by actuating the request signal D1, D2 twice via the plus switch 18. After a brief operation of the blower at boost power C, the setting device automatically switches back to maximum power A, as shown in Figure 2 can be seen. The short-term operation in the boost power C should include an interval of approximately 30-60 seconds. The proposed solution sees an activation of the two power levels, intensive power B and boost power C, from the maximum power A by pressing the indicated plus button 18 or another switch or controller on a user interface 3, 4 ( Figure 1 ) in front. First of all, the intensive power B is activated and from this the boost power C if a second request signal D2 is generated via the indicated plus button 18 during operation of the blower at intensive power B. By pressing the plus button 18 again, the setting device jumps back from the power levels B, C for short operation to the maximum power A for continuous operation. If the vacuum cleaner 1 ( Figure 1 ) restarted, the blower is always operated in the last selected power level, unless the vacuum cleaner was switched off during short-term operation at intensive power B or boost power C. In this case, the fan is operated at maximum output A when it is switched on again.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment. Further configurations are possible without leaving the basic idea. The floor nozzle can also be designed as part of a self-propelled vacuum cleaner.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

vacuum cleaner

2

Separating

3

Manual control (user interface)

4

Kick switching (user interface)

5

floor nozzle

6

spigot

7

suction tube

8th

8a vacuum cleaner housing

9

Housing (floor nozzle)

10

handle

11

suction

12

connection cable

13

dust chamber

14

Abluftgitter

15

machining direction

16

support elements

17

Switch (plus)

18

Switch (minus)

30

floor area

A

maximum power

B

intensive performance

C

boost performance

D1

first request signal

D2

second request signal

e

power curve

F

reduction signal

P

fan power

Claims (10)

1. Vacuum cleaner (1) for cleaning and maintaining floor surfaces (30), comprising a fan for generating negative pressure in order to receive dirt by means of an air flow, a separation system (2) for removing dirt from the received air, and a setting device for setting the power (P) of the fan, the vacuum cleaner (1) having a maximum power (A) for a continuous operation of the vacuum cleaner (1) that can be set by means of the setting device and an intensive power (B) for a short-term operation of the vacuum cleaner (1) that can be set by means of the setting device, the intensive power (B) being greater than the maximum power (A), characterised in that the vacuum cleaner (1) has a boost power (C) for a short-term operation of the vacuum cleaner (1) that can be set by means of the setting device, the boost power (C) being greater than the intensive power (B).
2. Vacuum cleaner (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the setting device is designed to increase the fan power (P) using a request signal (D1, D2) to increase the fan power (P) to the intensive power (B) and/or to the boost power (C).
3. Vacuum cleaner (1) according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that a user interface (3, 4) is designed to receive a request signal (D1, D2) from the user of the vacuum cleaner (1) to increase the fan power (P).
4. Vacuum cleaner (1) according to either claim 2 or claim 3, characterised in that the setting device is designed to set the boost power (C) using a request signal (D2) to increase the fan power (P) when the fan is operated at intensive power (B).
5. Vacuum cleaner (1) according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the setting device is designed to automatically switch back to the maximum power (A) after a short-term operation of the fan at intensive power (B) and/or at boost power (C).
6. Method for setting a fan power (P) of a vacuum cleaner (1) for cleaning and maintaining floor surfaces (30), the vacuum cleaner (1) having a maximum power (A) provided for a continuous operation of the vacuum cleaner (1) and an intensive power (B) provided for a short-term operation of the vacuum cleaner (1), the intensive power (B) being greater than the maximum power (A), characterised in that a boost power (C) provided for a short-term operation of the vacuum cleaner (1) is activated, the boost power (C) being greater than the intensive power (B).
7. Method according to claim 6, characterised in that the fan power (P) is set using a request signal (D1, D2) to increase the fan power (P) to the intensive power (B) and/or to the boost power (C).
8. Method according to claim 7, characterised in that the request signal (D1, D2) is activated by the user via a user interface (3, 4).
9. Method according to either claim 7 or claim 8, characterised in that the boost power (C) is set using a request signal (D1, D2) to increase the fan power (P) when the intensive power (B) has been set.
10. Method according to any of claims 6 to 9, characterised in that, after a short-term operation at intensive power (B) and/or at boost power (C), the power is automatically switched back to the maximum power (A).

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