EP3451887B1 - Soil 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, the docking station comprising at least one supply line, via which the container interior is connected to the container interior when the floor treatment device is in a docking position on the docking station a liquid can be supplied.

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 floor treatment device can be transferred into a docking position at the docking station. In the docking position, liquid can be made available to the at least one liquid container. For example, a reservoir can be filled.

the DE 10 2014 105 460 A1 describes a modular self-propelled floor cleaning device and a docking station for this. In a docked position a fresh water tank of the floor cleaning device can be filled with fresh water.

A hand-held floor cleaning device with a tank flushing device is in DE 10 2015 038 422 A1 described.

A floor cleaning device with at least one cleaning roller, which can be exchanged in a simple manner, is in DE 10 2005 045 669 B3 described.

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, wherein the floor treatment device at least has a liquid container with a container wall and a container interior, the docking station comprising at least one supply line via which a liquid can be supplied to the container interior when the floor treatment device is in a docking position at the docking station, the floor treatment system comprising an opening device via which a wall section of the container wall can be released at least one container opening of the at least one liquid container can be moved into an open position, via which container opening the liquid can exit from the container interior when the floor treatment device is in the docking position, and wherein the wall section can be transferred into the open position by means of the opening device by moving the floor treatment device from a non-docking position to the docking position is.

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 being fed in. 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 supply line can be prevented. The supply line can be protected against the ingress of germs or particles that may be present in the liquid container and the liquid contained therein. This is particularly important when the docking station is connected to the supply line to a liquid supply network. The wall section can be transferred into the open position by means of the opening device, in that the floor treatment device is moved from a non-docking position into the docking position. When moving the soil treatment device to the docking station to take the docking position the wall section can be transferred into the open position 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. 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 rotatably drivable cylindrical 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 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 resetting device can be provided to reset the wall section from the open position 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, the wall section can be transferred into the open position in a structurally simple manner and without a drive. This already ensures that the at least one container opening is released during docking. The 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 if 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 the at least one liquid container is not acted upon by the liquid via the supply line. Even if 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 supply 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 soil treatment system.

At least one valve is preferably connected into the at least one supply line, wherein the at least one valve can be actuated to release and/or block the at least one 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 from a non-docking position 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. The soil treatment system thus 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 supply line is accommodated in a housing of the docking station.

It can be provided that the at least one supply line is positioned in sections in a housing section of the housing, which is arranged above the at least one container opening in the docking position of the soil treatment device. The liquid can flow via the at least one supply line from above through the container opening into the at least one liquid container.

In an advantageous embodiment of the floor treatment system, the above-mentioned stop or slide-on element is preferably arranged on the housing section. In particular, a sliding surface for the wall section can be formed on the housing section.

It is advantageous if the at least one supply line has at least one outlet opening for liquid and if the at least one outlet opening is positioned above an edge of the at least one container opening in the open position of the wall section, relative to a vertical direction. In this way, the at least one outlet opening in the open position of the wall section a distance from the edge and at least have a container opening. 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 supply line and, in the worst case, lead to contamination.

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.

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 is in 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 supply 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 by the cleaning liquid and cleaned by means of 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 supply 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 system, 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 supply line branches at a switchable valve into a first supply line section and a second supply 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 supply line branches into two supply line sections, in each of which a valve is connected.

Furthermore, it can be provided that two separate supply 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.

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; und

Figur 3:

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

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; and

Figure 3:

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

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 which at the same time forms a floor surface 16 to be cleaned.

The docking station 12 includes a supply line 18 which can be connected to a supply network. This is in particular a water supply network in order to apply water to the supply line 18 . As explained below, water is both a storage liquid and a rinsing liquid for the device 14.

The docking station 12 includes a housing 20 accommodating the supply line 18 . A valve 22 is also arranged in the housing 20 . At the valve 22, the supply line 18 branches into a first supply line section 24 and a second supply line section 26. Two individual valves can also be formed by the valve 22.

The valve 22 can be controlled by a control device 28 of the system 10 . The control device 28 is presently arranged in the device 14 , but it could also be positioned in the docking station 12 . Via a control line 30, which has line sections 32, 34 electrically connected to one another in a docking position of the device 14, the valve 22 can be so be switched so that liquid is optionally supplied to one or both of the supply line sections 24, 26.

The supply line sections 24 , 26 are arranged in sections in a housing section 36 downstream of the valve 22 . The housing section 36 is formed on the housing 20 at the top. The housing section 36 otherwise protrudes in relation to an end face 38 of the housing 20 . The housing section 36 can overlap the device 14 in sections in a docking position on the docking station 12, this will be discussed in more detail below.

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 floor surface 16 .

An outlet opening 40 is formed at the end on the first supply line section 24 . Via the first supply line section 24, the supply line 18 acts as a filling line 42 for filling a reservoir of the device 14.

At least one outlet opening 44 is formed on the second supply line section 26 . At least one nozzle can preferably be arranged at the outlet opening 44 in order to generate a flat or ring jet. Via the second supply line section 26, the supply line 18 acts as a flushing line 46 for flushing a dirty liquid container of the device 14.

When the respective supply line section 24 and 26 is acted upon, liquid can escape downwards at the respective outlet opening 40 and 44 in the direction of the bottom surface 16 .

The docking station 12 also includes an opening device 48. The opening device 48 is used, as explained below, for transferring a Lid of the device 14 in an open position and for holding the lid in the open position.

The opening device 48 has a slide-on element 50 which is arranged, for example, on the housing 20 or is surrounded by it. The slide-on element 50 is formed by a projection on the housing section 36 . The slide-on element 50 is wedge-shaped and includes a slide-on surface 52. In the present case, the slide-on surface 52 is oriented at an angle to a plane defined by the bottom surface 16 and points upwards. If the bottom surface 16 is assumed to be horizontal, this plane is a horizontal plane, so that the slide-on surface 52 is aligned at an angle to the horizontal.

The device 14 is designed as a floor cleaning device and comprises a housing 54 on the underside of which a chassis 56 for moving on the floor surface 16 is arranged. A cleaning unit 58 is also arranged on the housing 54 in order to clean the floor surface 16 .

The device 14 is a scrubbing machine, so that the cleaning unit 58 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 60 (in figure 3 not shown). The dirt pick-up device 60 has a squeegee 62 and a suction unit 64 for subjecting the squeegee 62 to negative pressure.

The device 14 comprises a first liquid container 66, which is a reservoir 68 for a supply liquid and in particular a cleaning liquid, specifically water. The device 14 also includes a second liquid container 70 for receiving dirty liquid, which can be rinsed with a rinsing liquid, in particular water. The second liquid container 70 is therefore a dirty liquid container 72.

The housing 54 of the device 14 comprises a so-called container-in-container concept, in which the dirty liquid container 72 is surrounded by the storage container 68 surrounding it. Accordingly, the housing 54 is double-walled with an outer wall 74 and an inner wall 76.

The reservoir 68 is delimited by a container wall 78 which includes, among other things, the outer wall 74, the inner wall 76 and a bottom wall, not shown in the drawing. The container wall 78 delimits a container interior 80. A container opening 82, which has an edge 84, is provided on the top side of the storage container 68. FIG. The edge 84 includes an edge section 86 along the outer contour of the housing 54 and an edge section 88 which faces away from the outer contour of the housing 54 .

The dirty liquid tank 72 includes a tank wall 90 which includes the inner wall 76 and a bottom wall not shown in the drawing. The container wall 90 encloses a container interior 92 . At the top, the dirty liquid container 72 has a container opening 94 which is framed by an edge 96 . The rim 96 runs mostly along the outer contour of the housing 54. A portion of the rim 96 is the rim portion 88 of the rim 84. The container opening 82 and the container opening 94 are separated by the rim portion 88 from each other.

During operation of the device 14, the cleaning liquid in the reservoir 68 can be applied to the floor surface 16, optionally and preferably with the admixture of a cleaning chemical. Dirt can be detached from the floor surface 16 by means of the cleaning unit 58 . The dirty liquid can be picked up from the bottom surface 16 via the dirt pick-up device 60 and separated in the dirty liquid container 72 .

The device 14 has, as part of the housing 54, a cover for the liquid containers 66, 70. The cover is designed as a cover 98 . In the present case, the cover 98 is otherwise held on the housing 54 such that it can be pivoted about a pivot axis 100 . The cover 98 can be opened and closed by pivoting.

In the present case, the cover 98 forms a top wall for both the reservoir 68 and the dirty liquid container 72. Accordingly, the cover 98 forms part of the container wall 78 of the reservoir 68 in the form of a wall section 102. The cover 98 also forms a part of the container wall 90 of the dirty liquid container 72 in the form of a wall section 104.

The cover 98 has a peripheral edge 106 on an underside. The edge 106 is designed to correspond largely to the edge 96 of the container opening 94 .

In a closed position of the lid 98, the edge 106 rests against the edge 96 and the edge section 86 and in particular on these ( figure 1 ). The cover 98 covers the container opening 82 as a wall section 102 and the container opening 94 as a wall section 104. Both the reservoir 68 and the dirty liquid container 72 are closed.

By pivoting about the pivot axis 100, the cover 98 can be transferred into an open position ( figures 2 and 3 with different openings). In the open position, rim 106 is raised from rim 96 and rim portion 86 and container openings 82 and 94 are exposed. This can be seen particularly well in figure 3 , but the container openings 82 and 94 are released even with a smaller pivoting angle of the lid 98 in the in figure 2 illustrated open position of the cover 98.

In the area of a front side 108 of the device 14, the cover 98 has a wedge-shaped projection 110 which is arranged on the cover 98 at the top. Between the projection 110 and the housing 54, in particular at the edge 96, a gap 112 is formed. The gap 112 is also present when the lid 98 is in the closed position.

"Front" refers to a longitudinal or primary direction of movement of the device 14. In the docking position of the device 14, the front 108 faces an end face of the docking station 12. FIG.

The device 14 can be a self-propelled and self-steering floor cleaning device (a floor cleaning robot) with which the floor surface 16 can be cleaned autonomously. The control device 28 can control the movements of the device 14 by controlling a drive for the chassis 56 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 16 by an operator. A drive for the chassis 56 can be provided. The operator can act on the device 14 via a handle 114 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 68 and flush the dirty liquid container 72 . The device 14 is moved from a non-docking position ( figure 1 ) at a distance from the docking station 12 into a docking position ( figure 2 ) emotional.

When docking and when the docking position is assumed, the opening device 48 is effective in order to close the cover 98 and thus the wall sections 102, 104 of the container walls 78 and 90 from the closed position into an open position transfer and keep in this. The slide-on element 50 engages in the intermediate space 112 during docking (and also in the docking position). A contact element 116 formed by projection 110 contacts slide-on surface 52 of slide-on element 50 with a corresponding slide-on surface 118.

When the device 14 is docked in a docking direction 120, in the present case parallel to the bottom surface 16 and thus horizontally, the contact element 116 slides onto the slide-on element 50 as a result. The cover 98 and thus the wall sections 102 , 104 are subjected to an opening force for pivoting about the pivot axis 100 . The rim 106 is lifted from the rim 96 and the rim portion 86 and the container openings 82 and 94 are exposed. The wall sections 102, 104 assume an open position.

The housing section 36 partially overlaps the device 14 in the area of the container opening 82 and the container opening 94 . The outlet opening 44 of the flushing line 46 is arranged at a distance from the container opening 94 in a corresponding manner. This means in particular that, in relation to a vertical direction, the outlet openings 40, 44 are at a respective distance from the edge 84 or 96 and thus from a respective liquid level which can reach up to the edges 84 or 96, respectively.

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

If the device 14 assumes the docking position, the storage container 68 in particular can be filled with the storage liquid when the valve 22 is correspondingly switched by the control device 28 . The supply line 18 acts as a fill line 42 via the supply line portion 24. The exit port 40 is spaced relative to the rim 84 and the reservoir 68 is over fills a free path through the air and through the container opening 82 .

The container opening 82 released when the wall section 102 is in the open position allows the reservoir 68 to be vented during filling to limit the pressure. The pressure in the reservoir 68 is limited as a result, and this is protected against bursting, for example. A backup of the liquid in the supply line 18 is avoided. The liquid level can rise until the stored liquid emerges from the container interior 80 at the edge 84 . The outlet opening 40 is at a distance from the maximum liquid level. This avoids a possible risk of contamination of the supply line 18 by particles and/or germs in the liquid in the reservoir 68.

The reservoir opening 82 is an overflow opening. The liquid can overflow over the edge section 88 lying lower than the edge section 86 , with overflowing storage liquid being caught in the container interior 92 of the dirty liquid container 72 . This prevents overflowing storage liquid from entering the interior of the housing 54 and contaminating or damaging it.

The valve 22 can also be switched in such a way that the dirty liquid container 72 is flushed with flushing liquid. The supply line 18 acts as a rinsing line 46 via the supply line section 26 .

When the dirty liquid container 72 is flushed, the container interior 92 is exposed to the flushing liquid. When the drain or drain opening is closed or blocked, the liquid level in the interior of the container can be 92 increase. This liquid level can also rise from the reservoir 68 due to overflowing storage liquid, as mentioned.

When the wall section 104 is in the open position, the container opening 94 is released for venting in order to prevent a pressure increase in the container interior 92, a backflow of the liquid into the supply line 18 and the dirty liquid container 72 bursting.

The reservoir opening 94 is also an overflow opening. If the liquid level in the container interior 92 reaches the edge 96, the liquid can escape from the container interior 92 and, in particular, overflow. It is advantageous that the liquid can run off the outer contour of the housing 54 and thus does not get into the interior of the housing 54 .

When the wall section 104 is in the open position, the outlet opening 44 is arranged at a distance from the edge 96 . Therefore, contact of the flushing line 46 with liquid in the container interior 92 that is contaminated by any particles and/or germs can be avoided. In this case, too, contamination of the supply line 18 is prevented.

The cover 98 and thus the wall sections 102, 104 can automatically be transferred from the open position back into the closed position. When the device 14 is undocked from the docking station 12, the lid 98 pivots again under the influence of gravity about the pivot axis 100 until the edge 106 rests on the edge 96 and the edge section 86 and both liquid containers 66, 70 close.

Reference sign

10

floor treatment system

12

docking station

14

contraption

16

floor space

18

supply line

20

Housing

22

Valve

24

supply line section

26

supply line section

28

control device

30

control line

32

line section

34

line section

36

housing section

38

face

40

exit port

42

filling line

44

exit port

46

purge line

48

opening device

50

sliding element

52

sliding surface

54

Housing

56

landing gear

58

cleaning unit

60

dirt pick-up device

62

squeegee

64

suction unit

66

liquid container

68

reservoir

70

liquid container

72

dirty liquid container

74

outer wall

76

inner wall

78

container wall

80

container interior

82

container opening

84

edge

86

edge section

88

edge section

90

container wall

92

container interior

94

container opening

96

edge

98

lid

100

pivot axis

102

wall section

104

wall section

106

edge

108

front

110

head Start

112

space

114

handle

116

contact element

118

sliding surface

120

docking direction

Claims (15)

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 (66, 70) with a container wall (78, 90) and a container interior (80, 92), wherein the docking station (12) comprises at least one supply conduit (18) through which, in a docked position of the floor treatment apparatus (14) on the docking station (12), a liquid is suppliable to the container interior (80, 92), characterized in that the floor treatment system (10) comprises an opening device (48) by way of which a wall portion (102, 104) of the container wall (78, 90) is movable into an open position, for clearing at least one container opening (82, 94) of the at least one liquid container (66, 70), and in the docked position of the floor treatment apparatus (14) the liquid can exit from the container interior (80, 92) through the container opening (82, 94), and in that the wall portion (102, 104) is transferable into the open position by the opening device (48) by moving the floor treatment apparatus (14) from a non-docked position into the docked position.
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 (58) for cleaning a floor surface (16).
3. A floor treatment system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one container opening (82, 94) is an overflow opening and/or in that a rim (84, 96) of the at least one container opening (82, 94) runs at least in certain regions along an external contour of the floor treatment apparatus (14), formed by a housing (54) of the floor treatment apparatus (14), and in that the liquid can flow out at the outside of the housing (54).
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 (48) is provided.
5. A floor treatment system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opening device (48) comprises an abutment or slide element (50) on the docking station (12), and a contact element (116) on the wall portion (102, 104), wherein the contact element (116) couples to the abutment or slide element (50) when the floor treatment apparatus (14) is docked to the docking station (12), wherein preferably at least one of the following applies:

   - the slide element (50) takes the form of a wedge shape and/or engages below the wall portion (102, 104) for transferring it into or keeping it in the open position;

   - in the docked position of the floor treatment apparatus (14) the wall portion (102, 104) is kept in the open position by the opening device (48).
6. A floor treatment system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one valve (22) is positioned in the at least one supply conduit (18), and in that the at least one valve (22) is actuatable for clearing and/or blocking the at least one supply conduit (18), wherein preferably at least one of the following applies:

   - the at least one valve (22) is clearable or actuatable by a control device (28) of the floor treatment system (10);

   - the at least one valve (22) is actuatable for clearing by moving the floor treatment apparatus (14) into the docked position.
7. A floor treatment system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container wall (78, 90) comprises a cover wall that comprises or forms the wall portion (102, 104) and/or in that the floor treatment apparatus (14) has a cover (98) of the at least one liquid container (66, 70), which comprises or forms the wall portion (102, 104).
8. A floor treatment system in accordance with claim 7, characterized in that the cover (98) is raiseable away from a rim (84, 96) of the at least one container opening (82, 94) by the opening device (48), and in that, in a closed position, the cover (98) abuts against the rim (84, 96) of the at least one container opening (82, 94), at least in certain regions, and covers over the container interior (80, 92).
9. A floor treatment system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the following applies:

   - the wall portion (102, 104) is mounted pivotally and/or displaceably for being pivoted open or slid open by the opening device (48), respectively;

   - the wall portion (102, 104) is transferable under the effect of gravity from the open position into a closed position in which the at least one container opening (82, 94) is covered over;

   - the wall portion (102, 104) is transferable from the open position into a closed position using a restoring device.
10. A floor treatment system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one supply conduit (18) is received in a housing (20) of the docking station (12) and/or in that the at least one supply conduit (18) is positioned, at least in certain regions, in a housing portion (36) of the housing (20) that is arranged above the at least one container opening (82, 94) when the floor treatment apparatus (14) is in the docked position.
11. A floor treatment system in accordance with claim 10 in conjunction with claim 5, characterized in that the abutment or slide element (50) is arranged on the housing portion (36).
12. A floor treatment system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one supply conduit (18) has at least one outlet opening (40, 44) for liquid, and in that, in the open position of the wall portion (102, 104), the at least one outlet opening (40, 44) is positioned above a rim (84, 96) of the at least one container opening (82, 94), in relation to a height direction.
13. A floor treatment system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there is provided as the liquid container (66) a reservoir (68) for a consumable liquid, and in that there is provided as the supply conduit (18) a filling conduit (42) for filling the reservoir (68) with the consumable liquid and/or in that there is provided as the liquid container (70) a dirty liquid container (72) for receiving a dirty liquid, and in that there is provided as the supply conduit (18) a rinsing conduit (46) for rinsing the dirty liquid container (72).
14. 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 (66, 70).
15. A floor treatment system in accordance with claim 14, characterized in that at least one of the following applies:

    - the at least one supply conduit (18) branches at a switchable valve (22) into a first supply conduit portion (24) and a second supply conduit portion (26) through which liquid is providable to a respective liquid container (66, 70);

    - in the open position the wall portion (102, 104) clears the respective container opening (82, 94) of the liquid containers (66, 70);

    - the container openings (82, 94) are positioned laterally next to one another, wherein in a closed position the wall portion (102, 104) abuts against a rim (96) that encloses both container openings (82, 94).

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