EP3451886B1 - Floor treatment system - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a floor treatment system comprising a mobile floor treatment device and a docking station for this, the floor treatment device having at least one liquid container with a container wall and a container interior and at least one liquid line for providing a liquid for the container interior.

The floor treatment system is a floor cleaning system, for example, with the floor treatment device being designed as a floor cleaning device. This can have at least one cleaning unit for cleaning the floor surface, which can be charged with a cleaning liquid (usually water) from the at least one liquid container to increase the cleaning effect.

However, differently designed floor treatment devices and systems are also conceivable, in which a liquid can be used. Floor polishing systems in particular should be mentioned here, in which case the liquid can be a polishing agent.

The at least one liquid container can therefore in particular be a storage container for the liquid. When the level of the liquid in the liquid container falls, the soil treatment device can be transferred to the docking position at the docking station. In the docking position, liquid can be made available to the at least one liquid container via the at least one liquid line. For example, a reservoir can be filled.

the EP 1 762 165 A2 describes a robot system with a robot and a filling station. The robot can move into a filling position at the filling station and transmit a signal to a control unit of the filling station with the aim of filling a reservoir of the robot with an operating liquid. In response to the signal, in one embodiment the filling station can extend a filling line in such a way that it engages in an opening in the storage container. In another embodiment, the filling line is arranged at a distance from a filling opening of the storage container, and the operating liquid is filled into the storage container through the filling opening.

The object of the present invention is to develop a floor treatment system of the type mentioned at the outset with greater operational reliability.

This object is achieved by a floor treatment system according to the invention, comprising a mobile floor treatment device and a docking station for this, the floor treatment device having at least one liquid container with a container wall and a container interior and at least one liquid line for providing a liquid for the container interior, the docking station comprising a supply line which is fluidically connected to the at least one liquid line in a docking position of the floor treatment device at the docking station, the floor treatment system comprising an opening device via which a wall section of the container wall can be moved into an open position in order to release at least one container opening of the at least one liquid container, via which container opening in the docking position of the floor treatment device, the liquid can escape from the container interior.

In the floor treatment system according to the invention, it is provided that a wall section of the container wall can assume an open position when the floor treatment device assumes the docking position. At least one container opening of the liquid container is released in the open position. This makes it possible, for example, to vent the interior of the container when the liquid is applied. If the level of the liquid in the interior of the container rises too much, it can also be provided that liquid can escape from the interior of the container through the container opening. In this way, the pressure in the interior of the container can be limited and a stagnation of liquid and a backflow of liquid through the at least one liquid line can be prevented. The supply line of the docking station can be protected against the ingress of germs or particles that may be present in the liquid container and liquid received therein. This is particularly then important if the docking station with the supply line is connected to a liquid supply network. As a result, the floor treatment system according to the invention therefore has greater operational reliability than generic floor treatment systems.

The wall section can assume a closed position relative to the at least one liquid container, in which the at least one container opening is preferably covered and closed.

In an advantageous embodiment of the soil treatment system, the soil treatment device is advantageously self-propelled and self-steering. Autonomous processing and in particular cleaning of the floor surface can be carried out via the floor treatment device designed as a robot. The floor treatment device can seek out the docking station automatically, in particular to fill a reservoir with the liquid.

Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the floor treatment device is hand-held. A hand-held soil treatment device can be a ride-on device and/or a walk-behind device. An operator can move the floor treatment device into the docking position at the docking station, in particular for filling the liquid container. Optionally, the floor treatment device can be provided with a drive for a chassis.

Depending on the operating mode, provision can be made for the soil treatment device to be operated in a self-propelled and self-steering or hand-guided manner.

In an advantageous embodiment of the floor treatment system, the floor treatment device is preferably a floor cleaning device and has at least one cleaning unit for cleaning a floor surface. For example, the floor cleaning device is a scrubbing machine, and the cleaning unit has at least one rotationally drivable, roller-shaped or plate-shaped cleaning tool. A dirt pick-up device can be provided in order to transfer a mixture of cleaning liquid and dirt, the dirty liquid, into a dirty liquid container of the floor cleaning device.

The at least one container opening is advantageously an overflow opening. If the level of the liquid rises to the edge of the at least one container opening, the liquid can escape from the interior of the container by overflowing.

It is advantageous if an edge of the at least one container opening runs at least in sections along an outer contour of the floor treatment device, which is formed by a housing of the floor treatment device, and if the liquid can flow out on the outside of the housing. Escaping liquid can drain off the outside of the housing, and liquid can be prevented from flowing out into the interior of the soil treatment device. Any contamination or damage caused by escaping liquid can be avoided in this way.

In particular, a deepest section of the edge is advantageously arranged on the outer contour of the floor treatment device.

The wall section can preferably be transferred into the open position by means of the opening device by moving the floor treatment device from a non-docking position into the docking position. When the floor treatment device is moved to the docking station in order to assume the docking position, the wall section can be transferred into the open position by the opening device automatically and preferably without a drive. This ensures that the at least one container opening is already released when the floor treatment device is docked to the docking station.

The opening device can be designed in different ways. For example, a mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic and/or magnetic opening device is provided. The opening device can be designed to be active and can comprise at least one drive or actuator in order to move the wall section. The drive or actuator can act directly or indirectly on the wall section. A restoring device can be provided in order to convert the wall section from the open position back into a closed position. The taking of the docking position at the docking station can be detected by means of at least one sensor device.

The opening device can be arranged on or comprised by the floor treatment device or the docking station. An opening device is also conceivable, the components of which are arranged on the docking station as well as on the floor treatment device or are encompassed by them.

In an advantageous embodiment of the floor treatment system, the opening device comprises a stop or slide-on element on the station and a contact element on the wall section, which couples with the stop or slide-on element when the floor treatment device is docked at the station. In this way, when moving from a non-docking position into the docking position, as explained above, the wall section can be transferred into the open position without a drive. This already ensures that the at least one container opening is released during docking. A slide-on element can have a slide-on surface, which is oriented at an angle to a docking direction of the floor treatment device on the docking station.

The slide-on element is favorably designed in the shape of a wedge. For example, the sliding element can engage in an intermediate space between the wall section and a housing section of the floor treatment device. When contacting the slide-on element, the contact element can be subjected to a force that opens the wall section.

Alternatively or additionally, it is advantageous if the slide-on element engages under the wall section for transferring into or for holding in the open position. Such a configuration is particularly advantageous when the wall section is formed or surrounded by a top wall and in particular by a cover of the at least one liquid container.

In the docking position of the floor treatment device, the wall section is advantageously held in the open position by means of the opening device.

Advantageously, the wall section is also held in the open position in the docking position of the floor treatment device when a fluid connection through the supply line and the at least one liquid line is prevented by means of at least one valve of the floor treatment system and the at least one liquid container is not acted upon by the liquid. Even when the floor treatment device is docked to the docking station, but no liquid is provided for the at least one liquid container via the at least one liquid line, the wall section can assume the open position to release the at least one container opening. Venting the interior of the container and escaping liquid is also possible in order to increase the operational safety of the floor treatment system.

At least one valve is preferably connected into the at least one liquid line and/or the supply line, wherein the at least one valve can be actuated to release and/or block the at least one liquid line and/or the supply line.

The at least one valve can preferably be released or actuated by a control device of the floor treatment system. The control device can be arranged in the floor treatment device or in the docking station.

It can be provided that the at least one valve can be actuated to release by moving the soil treatment device into the docking position. Conversely, it can be provided that the at least one valve can be actuated to block by moving the soil treatment device from the docking position into a non-docking position.

The container wall can include a top wall that includes or forms the wall section.

In an advantageous embodiment, the floor treatment device has a cover of the at least one liquid container, which covers or forms the wall section. The lid can therefore be a section of the container wall, in whole or in part. The above ceiling wall may be formed by the lid.

It is favorable if the lid can be lifted from an edge of the at least one container opening by means of the opening device, in which case the container opening can be released. Correspondingly, it is advantageous if, in a closed position, the cover rests at least in regions on the edge of the at least one container opening and covers the interior of the container.

The wall section, in particular the cover, can be pivoted and/or slidably mounted so that it can be pivoted open or pushed open by means of the opening device. The wall section is preferably mounted on a housing of the floor treatment device.

In an advantageous embodiment, the wall section is formed or encompassed by a cover which can contact a slide-on element of the opening device with a contact element when the floor treatment device moves into the docking position. The lid can be pivoted by sliding onto the docking station and the at least one container opening can thereby be released.

It is favorable if the wall section, in particular the cover, can be transferred under the influence of gravity from the open position into a closed position in which the at least one container opening is covered. As a result, the floor treatment system has a simple structural design. If the wall section is not held in the open position by means of the opening device, it automatically returns to the closed position, for example when the floor treatment device is undocked from the docking station.

As an alternative or in addition, it can be provided that the wall section, starting from the open position, can be transferred into a closed position by means of a restoring device.

In the case of a structurally simple configuration of the floor treatment system, it has proven to be favorable if the at least one liquid line is fixed to the wall section.

For example, it is provided that the at least one liquid line runs at least in sections through the wall section or is formed by it. The wall section, for example the cover, forms a hollow body, for example, in which the at least one liquid line runs in sections.

It is advantageous if the at least one liquid line has at least one outlet opening for liquid and if the at least one Outlet opening is positioned in the open position of the wall section above an edge of the at least one container opening, based on a vertical direction. In this way, the at least one outlet opening can be at a distance from the edge and from the at least one container opening when the wall section is in the open position. If the level of the liquid in the interior of the container rises to the edge, this ensures that the liquid does not reach the at least one outlet opening. The operational reliability of the floor treatment device is thereby increased because any particles or germs cannot get to the at least one liquid line and, in the worst case, lead to contamination of the supply line in the docking station.

Position and orientation information such as "above", "below" or the like are to be interpreted in relation to a position of use of the floor treatment system on an installation area. The at least one outlet opening is therefore positioned above the edge of the at least one container opening in the height direction, starting from the installation surface, but not necessarily directly above the edge, but above the container opening.

The at least one outlet opening is preferably positioned above a lowest position of the edge of the at least one container opening, in relation to a vertical direction, when the wall section assumes the open position.

In an advantageous embodiment of the floor treatment system, a reservoir for a consumable liquid is provided as the liquid container, and a filling line for filling the reservoir with the consumable liquid is provided as the liquid line. In the case of a floor cleaning system, the consumable liquid can be, for example, a cleaning liquid, in particular water or a cleaning chemical. The floor surface can be acted upon with the cleaning liquid and by means be cleaned at least one cleaning unit. If the level of the consumable liquid exceeds a threshold level during filling, the consumable liquid can escape from the interior of the container via the container opening.

Alternatively or additionally, in an advantageous embodiment of the floor treatment system, it can be provided that a dirty liquid container for receiving a dirty liquid is provided as the liquid container and that a flushing line for flushing the dirty liquid container is provided as the liquid line. For example, a dirty liquid container can be provided in a floor cleaning device, into which the dirty liquid is transferred after it has been picked up from the floor surface. The rinsing liquid can be used via the rinsing line, for example by a rinsing device of the floor treatment device, for rinsing the dirty liquid container. It can happen, for example, that an outlet or drain opening of the dirty liquid container is closed or blocked, so that when washing liquid is applied to the interior of the container, its level in the dirty liquid container rises. The dirty liquid can escape from the interior of the container via the at least one container opening.

The above explanations show that the soil treatment device can comprise more than one liquid container.

In an advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the at least one liquid line branches at a switchable valve into a first liquid line section and a second liquid line section, via which liquid can be made available to a respective liquid container. The valve can be controlled, for example, by the already mentioned control device of the soil treatment system. In particular, a reservoir can optionally be filled with a consumable liquid or a dirty liquid container can be rinsed with a rinsing liquid.

Alternatively, it can be provided that the at least one liquid line branches into two liquid line sections, in each of which a valve is connected.

Furthermore, it can be provided that two separate liquid lines are provided for applying liquid to a respective liquid container.

The wall section preferably releases the respective container opening of the liquid container in the open position. A wall section, in particular formed or surrounded by a cover, can be provided as part of a respective container wall for more than one liquid container. Container openings of more than one liquid container can be released by transferring only one wall section.

The container openings are preferably positioned laterally next to one another, with the wall section expediently resting in a closed position on an edge enclosing both container openings. In a closed position, the wall section, in particular the lid, can cover both container openings.

Provision can be made for the container openings of two liquid containers to have a common edge section. This edge section can be the deepest edge section of an edge of at least one container opening. This gives, for example, the possibility that liquid can escape from a first container interior via the deepest edge section and in particular overflow.

The floor treatment device can have at least one floating body, which is positioned in the interior of a liquid container and with a valve switched into the at least one liquid line is coupled to close this at a predetermined threshold level of the liquid in the liquid container. This allows a further increase in operational reliability. The valve can be closed via the floating body and further exposure of the interior of the container to the liquid can be prevented.

Advantageously, the threshold level is below an edge of the container opening. This makes it possible to ensure, for example, that liquid will only escape and, in particular, overflow via the at least one container opening if there is a malfunction in the float-valve function.

It is favorable if the floor treatment device comprises a supply line with a connection element arranged thereon, which opens into the at least one liquid line and to which connection element an external supply line for providing liquid for the at least one liquid container can be manually connected. This makes the floor treatment system more versatile. An operator can connect a separate, external supply line to the additional connection element. This allows liquid to be applied to the liquid container independently of the docking station. For example, the reservoir can be filled and/or the dirty liquid container can be rinsed. The supply line and the connection element are preferably arranged on the wall section and in particular on the cover.

Figur 1:

eine Seitenansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Bodenbehandlungssystems mit einer Andockstation und einer Bodenbehandlungsvorrichtung, die eine Nichtandockstellung einnimmt;

Figur 2:

das Bodenbehandlungssystem aus Figur 1, wobei die Bodenbehandlungsvorrichtung eine Andockstellung einnimmt;

Figur 3:

eine perspektivische (Teil-)Darstellung der Bodenbehandlungsvorrichtung aus Figur 1 mit einem eine Offenstellung einnehmenden Deckel;

Figur 4:

eine vergrößerte Darstellung, teilweise schematisch, von Detail A in Figur 2; und

Figur 5:

eine Ansicht von unten, teilweise schematisch, des Deckels der Bodenbehandlungsvorrichtung aus Figur 1.

The following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, in conjunction with the drawing, serves to explain the invention in more detail. Show it:

Figure 1:

a side view of a floor treatment system according to the invention with a docking station and a floor treatment device, which occupies a non-docking position;

Figure 2:

the floor treatment system figure 1 , wherein the soil treatment device assumes a docking position;

Figure 3:

a perspective (partial) representation of the floor treatment device figure 1 with a lid occupying an open position;

Figure 4:

an enlarged view, partly schematic, of detail A in figure 2 ; and

Figure 5:

a view from below, partly schematic, of the cover of the soil treatment device figure 1 .

figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a floor treatment system according to the invention, which is given the reference number 10 and is referred to below as system 10 for the sake of simplicity. The system 10 includes a docking station 12 and a mobile soil treatment device 14, referred to below as the device 14 for the sake of simplicity. In a position of use, the system 10 is positioned on a set-up surface 16 which at the same time forms a floor surface 18 to be cleaned.

The docking station 12 includes a supply line 20 which is connected to a supply network in a manner not shown. This is in particular a water supply network in order to apply water to the supply line 20 . As explained below, water is both a storage liquid and a rinsing liquid for the device 14 . A connection element 22 is arranged on the supply line 20 on the outlet side.

The docking station 12 also includes an opening device 24. As explained below, the opening device 24 serves to transfer a cover of the device 14 into an open position.

The opening device 24 has a slide-on element 26 which is arranged, for example, on a housing 28 of the docking station 12 or is surrounded by it. The slide-on element 26 is formed by a projection formed on the top of the housing 28 . The slide-on element 26 is wedge-shaped and includes a slide-on surface 30 . The slide-on surface 30 is oriented at an angle to a plane defined by the installation surface 16 . If the installation surface 16 is assumed to be horizontal, this plane is a horizontal plane, so that the slide-on surface 30 is aligned at an angle to the horizontal.

Position and orientation information such as "above", "below" or the like are to be interpreted in relation to the usage position of the system 10 on the installation surface 16 .

The device 14 is designed as a floor cleaning device and comprises a housing 32 on the underside of which a chassis 34 for moving on the floor surface 18 is arranged. A cleaning unit 36 is also arranged on the housing 32 in order to clean the floor surface 18 .

The device 14 is a scrubbing machine, so that the cleaning unit 36 has at least one brush-shaped or plate-shaped cleaning tool that can be driven in rotation (not shown in the drawing). Another cleaning unit is provided on the device 14 in the form of a dirt pick-up device 38 (in figure 3 not shown). The dirt pickup device 38 has a in the figures 1 and 2 shown squeegee 40 and a suction unit 42 for subjecting the squeegee 40 with negative pressure.

The device 14 comprises a first liquid container 44, which is a reservoir 46 for a storage liquid and in particular a cleaning liquid, specifically water. The device 14 also includes a second liquid container 48 for receiving dirty liquid, which can be rinsed with a rinsing liquid, in particular water. The second liquid container 48 is therefore a dirty liquid container 50.

The housing 32 of the device 14 comprises a so-called container-in-container concept, in which the dirty liquid container 50 is surrounded by the storage container 46 surrounding it. Accordingly, the housing 32 is double-walled with an outer wall 52 and an inner wall 54.

The reservoir 46 is delimited by a container wall 56 which comprises, inter alia, the outer wall 52, the inner wall 54 and a bottom wall, not shown in the drawing. The container wall 56 delimits a container interior 58. A container opening 60, which has an edge 62, is provided on the top side of the storage container 46. FIG. The edge 62 includes an edge section 64 along the outer contour of the housing 32 and an edge section 66 which faces away from the outer contour of the housing 32 .

The dirty liquid tank 50 includes a tank wall 68 which includes the inner wall 54 and a bottom wall not shown in the drawing. The container wall 68 encloses a container interior 70 . At the top, the dirty liquid container 50 has a container opening 72 which is framed by an edge 74 . The rim 74 runs mostly along the outer contour of the housing 32. A portion of the rim 74 is the rim portion 66 of the rim 62. The container opening 60 and the container opening 72 are separated by the rim portion 66 from each other.

During operation of the device 14, the cleaning liquid in the reservoir 46 can be applied to the floor surface 18, optionally and preferably with the admixture of a cleaning chemical. Dirt can be detached from the floor surface 18 by means of the cleaning unit 36 . The dirty liquid can on the dirt pick-up device 38 from the Bottom surface 18 are added and deposited in the dirty liquid container 50.

The device 14 has, as part of the housing 32, a cover for the liquid containers 44, 48. The cover is designed as a cover 76 . In the present case, the cover 76 is otherwise held on the housing 32 such that it can be pivoted about a pivot axis 78 . The cover 76 can be opened and closed by pivoting.

In the present case, the cover 76 forms a top wall both for the reservoir 46 and for the dirty liquid container 50. Accordingly, the cover 76 forms part of the container wall 56 of the reservoir 46 in the form of a wall section 80. Furthermore, the cover 76 forms a part of the container wall 68 of the dirty liquid container 50 in the form of a wall section 82.

The cover 76 has a peripheral edge 86 on an underside. The edge 86 is designed to correspond largely to the edge 74 of the container opening 72 .

In a closed position of the cover 72, the rim 86 rests against the rim 74 and the rim section 64 and in particular on these ( figure 1 ). The cover 76 covers the container opening 60 as a wall section 80 and the container opening 72 as a wall section 82. Both the reservoir 46 and the dirty liquid container 50 are closed.

By pivoting about the pivot axis 78, the cover 76 can be transferred into an open position ( figures 2 and 4 or. figure 3 with different openings). In the open position, rim 86 is raised from rim 74 and rim portion 64 and container openings 60 and 72 are exposed. This can be seen particularly well in figure 3 , but the container openings 60 and 72 are released even with a smaller pivoting angle of the lid 76 in the figures 2 and 4 illustrated open position of the lid 76.

The device 14 comprises a liquid line 88 with a connection element 90 arranged on the inlet side. The connection element 90 is arranged on a front side 92 of the device 14, and the liquid line 88 extends with a line section not shown in the drawing through the housing 32 to a pivot axis 78 defining joint 94 for the pivotable mounting of the cover 76. The liquid line 88 is passed through the joint 94.

"Front" refers to a longitudinal or primary direction of movement of the device 14. In the docking position of the device 14, the front 92 faces an end face of the docking station 12. FIG.

The lid 76 forms a hollow body 96 with a receiving space 98 between an outer wall 100 at the top of the device 14 and an inner wall 102.

As in particular from the figures 4 and 5 As can be seen, the liquid line 88 is received in the receiving space 98 downstream of the joint 94 . The receiving space 98 also accommodates a controllable valve 104 which can be actuated by a control device 106 of the device 14 ( figures 1 and 2 ). At the valve 104, the liquid line 88 branches into a first liquid line section 108 and a second liquid line section 110. Controlled by the control device 106, the valve 104 can be switched in such a way that liquid is selectively supplied to one or both of the liquid line sections 108, 110. Valve 104 can form two separate valves.

A filling line 112 for filling the reservoir 46 is formed via the liquid line section 108 and has an outlet opening 114 on the inner wall 102 ( figures 4 and 5 ).

A flushing line 116 for flushing the dirty liquid container 50 is formed via the liquid line section 110 . The rinsing line 116 comprises a ring line 118 with a plurality of outlet openings (not shown) for the rinsing liquid. The flushing line 116 is fixed to the inner wall 102 at the bottom ( figure 5 ).

The cover 76 has a projection 120 in the area of the front side 92 . An intermediate space 122 is formed between the projection 120 and the housing 32 , in particular at the edge 74 . The gap 122 is also present when the lid 76 is in the closed position.

The device 14 can be a self-propelled and self-steering floor cleaning device (a floor cleaning robot) with which the floor surface 18 can be cleaned autonomously. The control device 106 can control the movements of the device 14 by controlling a drive for the chassis 34 and also the cleaning units.

Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the device 14 is hand-held and guided over the floor surface 18 by an operator. A drive for the chassis 34 can be provided. The operator can act on the device 14 via a handle 124 shown schematically in the drawing, which in particular comprises a gripping device.

The device 14 can be docked onto the docking station 12 in order to fill the reservoir 46 and flush the dirty liquid container 50 . The device 14 is moved from a non-docking position ( figure 1 ) into a docking position ( figure 2 ) emotional. In the docking position, the connection elements 22 and 90 in particular couple to one another in order to form a flow connection from the supply line 20 to the liquid line 88 .

When docking and when the docking position is assumed, the opening device 24 is effective in order to move the cover 76 and thus the wall sections 80, 82 of the container walls 56 and 68 from the closed position into an open position and to hold them in this position. The slide-on element 26 engages in the intermediate space 122 during docking (and also in the docking position). A contact element 126 formed by the projection 120 contacts the slide-on surface 30 of the slide-on element 26. When the device 14 is docked in a docking direction 128, here parallel to the installation surface 16 and thus horizontally, the contact element 126 slides onto the slide-on element 26. The cover 76 and thus the wall sections 80, 82 are subjected to an opening force for pivoting about the pivot axis 78. The rim 86 is lifted from the rim 74 and the rim portion 64 and the container openings 60 and 72 are exposed. The wall sections 80, 82 assume an open position.

In the open position of the wall sections 80, 82, the outlet opening 114 is arranged at a distance from the container opening 60 ( figure 4 ). The outlet openings of the flushing line 116 are arranged at a distance from the container opening 72 in a corresponding manner. This means in particular that the outlet opening 114 or the outlet openings of the flushing line 116 are at a respective distance from the edge 62 or 74 and thus from a respective liquid level which can reach up to the edges 62 or 74 .

The system 10 according to the invention has increased operational reliability.

If the device 14 assumes the docking position, the reservoir 46 in particular can be filled with the reservoir liquid when the valve 104 is switched accordingly. There is a flow connection through the supply line 20 and the liquid line 88 as filling line 112. The outlet opening 114 is spaced relative to the rim 62 and the reservoir 46 is filled via a free path running through the air and through the tank opening 60.

The container opening 60 released in the open position of the wall section 80 allows the reservoir 46 to be vented during filling to limit the pressure. The pressure in the reservoir 46 is limited as a result, and this is protected against bursting, for example. A backup of the liquid in the supply line 20 is avoided. The liquid level can rise until the stored liquid emerges from the container interior 58 at the edge 62 . The outlet opening 114 is at a distance from the maximum liquid level. This avoids a possible risk of contamination of the liquid line 88 and the supply line 20 by particles and/or germs in the liquid in the reservoir 46.

The tank opening 60 is an overflow opening. The liquid can overflow over the lower edge section 66 compared to the edge section 64 , with overflowing stored liquid being caught in the container interior 70 of the dirty liquid container 50 . This prevents overflowing storage liquid from entering the interior of the housing 32 and contaminating or damaging it.

The valve 104 can also be switched so that the dirty liquid container 50 is flushed with flushing liquid. Preferably, the dirty liquid contained in the container interior 70 is removed beforehand through a drain or drain opening, not shown in the drawing; for example, the dirty liquid is drained to the docking station 12 .

When the dirty liquid container 50 is flushed, the container interior 70 is exposed to the flushing liquid. If the drain or drain opening is closed or blocked, the liquid level in the interior of the container can be 70 increase. This liquid level can also rise from the reservoir 46 due to overflowing storage liquid, as mentioned.

In the open position of the wall section 82, the container opening 72 is released for venting in order to prevent a pressure increase in the container interior 70, a backflow of the liquid into the supply line 20 and a bursting of the dirty liquid container 50.

The reservoir opening 72 is also an overflow opening. If the liquid level in the container interior 70 reaches the edge 74, the liquid can escape from the container interior 70 and, in particular, overflow. It is advantageous that the liquid can run off the outer contour of the housing 32 and thus does not get into the interior of the housing 32 .

When the wall section 82 is in the open position, the flushing line 116 is arranged with the outlet openings at a distance from the edge 74 . Therefore, contact of the flushing line 116 with liquid in the container interior 70 that is contaminated by any particles and/or germs can be avoided. In this case, too, contamination of the supply line 20 is prevented.

The cover 76 and thus the wall sections 80, 82 can automatically be transferred from the open position back to the closed position. When the device 14 is undocked from the docking station 12, the lid 76 pivots again under the influence of gravity about the pivot axis 78 until the edge 86 rests on the edge 74 and the edge section 64 and both liquid containers 44, 48 close.

Like in particular figure 5 As can be seen, the device 14 comprises a supply line 130 on the cover 76. The supply line 130 opens into the liquid line 88 in the receiving space 98 upstream of the valve 104. A connecting element 132 is arranged on the end of the supply line 130, which is designed here as a hose nipple.

An external supply line, not shown in the drawing, can be connected to the connection element 132 by an operator in order to apply liquid, in particular water, to the supply line 130 . The liquid flows into valve 104 and from there either into one of the liquid line sections 108, 110 for filling the reservoir 46 and/or rinsing the dirty liquid tank 50. It is conceivable that the operator can use an operating device 134 of the device 14 to specify which liquid line section 108 , 110 is enabled or disabled.

A self-locking valve arranged in the connection element 90 ensures that when the external supply line is connected and the device 14 is undocked, no liquid escapes from the liquid line 88 .

In addition to the possibility of filling or rinsing the reservoir 46 and the dirty liquid container 50 with the means of the docking station 12, such a filling or such a rinsing process can be carried out by connecting the external supply line to the supply line 130.

A self-locking valve and/or a closure element 136 can also be provided on the connection element 132 so that no liquid escapes via the supply line 130 when fluid is applied to the liquid line 88 by the docking station 12 . figure 5 shows the closure element 136 in a state detached from the connection element 132 .

The arrangement of the connecting element 132 and the course of the supply line 130 can also be different. For example, connector 132 is positioned to be accessible by an operator without opening cover 76 . However, the integration of the supply line 130 at least partially in the cover 76 and the arrangement of the connection element is advantageous 132 on the cover 76 in such a way that it can be opened to connect the supply line, thereby ensuring venting.

Reference sign

10

floor treatment system

12

docking station

14

contraption

16

footprint

18

floor space

20

supply line

22

connection element

24

opening device

26

sliding element

28

Housing

30

sliding surface

32

Housing

34

landing gear

36

cleaning unit

38

dirt pick-up device

40

squeegee

42

suction unit

44

liquid container

46

reservoir

48

liquid container

50

dirty liquid container

52

outer wall

54

inner wall

56

container wall

58

container interior

60

container opening

62

edge

64

edge section

66

edge section

68

container wall

70

container interior

72

container opening

74

edge

76

lid

78

pivot axis

80

wall section

82

wall section

86

edge

88

liquid line

90

connection element

92

front

94

joint

96

hollow body

98

recording room

100

outer wall

102

inner wall

104

Valve

106

control device

108

liquid line section

110

liquid line section

112

filling line

114

exit port

116

purge line

118

loop line

120

head Start

122

space

124

handle

126

contact element

128

docking direction

130

supply line

132

connection element

134

operating device

136

closure element

Claims (14)

1. A floor treatment system, comprising a mobile floor treatment apparatus (14) and a docking station (12) therefor, wherein the floor treatment apparatus (14) has at least one liquid container (44, 48) with a container wall (56, 68) and a container interior (58, 70), characterized in that the floor treatment apparatus (14) has at least one liquid conduit (88) for providing a liquid for the container interior (58, 70), wherein the docking station (12) comprises a supply conduit (20) which, in a docked position of the floor treatment apparatus (14) on the docking station (12), is in fluidic connection with the at least one liquid conduit (88), wherein the floor treatment system (10) comprises an opening device (24) by way of which a wall portion (80, 82) of the container wall (56, 68) is movable, for clearing at least one container opening (60, 72) of the at least one liquid container (44, 48), into an open position, and in the docked position of the floor treatment apparatus (14) the liquid can exit from the container interior (58, 70) through the container opening (60, 72).
2. A floor treatment system in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the following applies:

   - the floor treatment apparatus (14) is self-propelling and self-steering;

   - the floor treatment apparatus (14) is guided manually;

   - the floor treatment apparatus (14) is a floor cleaning apparatus and has at least one cleaning unit (36) for cleaning a floor surface (18).
3. A floor treatment system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the following applies:

   - the at least one container opening (60, 72) is an overflow opening;

   - a rim (62, 74) of the at least one container opening (60, 72) runs at least in certain portions along an external contour of the floor treatment apparatus (14), formed by a housing (32) of the floor treatment apparatus (14), wherein the liquid can flow out at the outside of the housing (32);

   - the wall portion (80, 82) is transferable into the open position by the opening device (24), by moving the floor treatment apparatus (14) from a non-docked position into the docked position.
4. A floor treatment system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic and/or magnetic opening device (24) is provided.
5. A floor treatment system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening device (24) comprises an abutment or slide element (26) on the docking station (12), and a contact element (126) on the wall portion (80, 82), wherein the contact element (126) couples to the abutment or slide element (26) when the floor treatment apparatus (14) is docked to the docking station (12), preferably in that the slide element (26) takes the form of a wedge shape and/or engages below the wall portion (80, 82) for moving it into or keeping it in the open position.
6. A floor treatment system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the following applies:

   - in the docked position of the floor treatment apparatus (14) the wall portion (80, 82) is kept in the open position by the opening device (24);

   - the wall portion (80, 82) is mounted pivotally and/or displaceably for being pivoted open or slid open by the opening device (24);

   - the wall portion (80, 82) is transferable under the effect of gravity from the open position into a closed position in which the at least one container opening (60, 72) is covered over;

   - the wall portion (80, 82) is transferable from the open position into a closed position using a restoring device.
7. A floor treatment system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one valve (104) is positioned in the at least one liquid conduit (88) and/or the supply conduit (20), and in that the at least one valve (104) is actuable for clearing and/or blocking the at least one liquid conduit (88) and/or the supply conduit (20), wherein preferably at least one of the following applies:

   - the at least one valve (104) is clearable or actuable by a control device (106) of the floor treatment system (10);

   - the at least one valve is actuable for clearing by moving the floor treatment apparatus into the docked position.
8. A floor treatment system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container wall (56, 68) comprises a cover wall that comprises or forms the wall portion (80, 82) and/or in that the floor treatment apparatus (14) has a cover (76) of the at least one liquid container (44, 48) which cover (76) comprises or forms the wall portion (80, 82).
9. A floor treatment system in accordance with claim 8, characterized in that the cover (76) is raisable away from a rim (62, 74) of the at least one container opening (60, 72) by the opening device (24), and in that, in a closed position, the cover (76) abuts against the rim (62, 74) of the at least one container opening (60, 72), at least in certain regions, and covers over the container interior (58, 70).
10. A floor treatment system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the following applies:

    - the at least one liquid conduit (88) is fixed to the wall portion (80, 82);

    - the at least one liquid conduit (88) runs, at least in certain regions, through the wall portion (80, 82) or is formed thereby;

    - the at least one liquid conduit (88) has at least one outlet opening (114) for liquid, wherein, in the open position of the wall portion (80, 82), the at least one outlet opening is positioned above a rim (62, 74) of the at least one container opening (60, 72).
11. A floor treatment system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there is provided as the liquid container (44) a reservoir (46) for a consumable liquid, wherein there is provided as the liquid conduit (88) a filling conduit (112) for filling the reservoir (46) with the consumable liquid and/or in that there is provided as the liquid container (48) a dirty liquid container (50) for receiving a dirty liquid, wherein there is provided as the liquid conduit (88) a rinsing conduit (116) for rinsing the dirty liquid container (50).
12. A floor treatment system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the floor treatment apparatus (14) comprises more than one liquid container (44, 48), wherein preferably one of the following applies:

    - the at least one liquid conduit (88) branches at a switchable valve (104) into a first liquid conduit portion (108) and a second liquid conduit portion (110) through which liquid is providable to a respective liquid container (44, 48);

    - in the open position the wall portion (80, 82) clears the respective container opening (60, 72) of the liquid containers (44, 48);

    - the container openings (60, 72) are positioned laterally next to one another, wherein in a closed position the wall portion (80, 82) abuts against a rim (74) that encloses both container openings.
13. A floor treatment system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the floor treatment apparatus (14) has at least one floating body that is positioned in the container interior (70) of a liquid container (48) and is coupled to a valve connected into the at least one liquid conduit, in order to close this valve if there is a predeterminable threshold level of liquid in the liquid container (48), preferably in that the threshold level lies below a rim (72) of the container opening (74).
14. A floor treatment system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the floor treatment apparatus (14) comprises a supply conduit (130) having a connection element (132) arranged thereon, wherein the supply conduit (130) opens into the at least one liquid conduit (88), and an outside mains supply conduit is connectable to the connection element (132) manually for providing liquid for the at least one liquid container (44, 48).

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