EP3467183B1 - Compact metering system - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for alternately supplying a rinsing medium and at least one cleaning medium by means of a dosing system for at least one laundry cleaning device, the rinsing medium being fed to the dosing system via a rinsing medium supply line connected to at least one input connection, and the dosing system with each laundry cleaning device each having a washing medium supply line with a Output connector is connected.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a cleaning device for performing the method according to the invention.

From the prior art, according to US 5 246 026 A , US 6 035 472 A , DE 10 2007 032759 A1 , or WO 96/41910 A1 , Dosing systems for laundry cleaning devices have become known, with each laundry cleaning device being assigned a metering system. If a user has several laundry cleaning devices, this means that several dosing systems must also be provided. The dosing systems serve the purpose of supplying a rinsing medium and usually several different cleaning media to the respective laundry cleaning device in a defined sequence. For this purpose, the metering systems have at least two supply lines which are connected to a laundry cleaning device, namely a rinsing medium supply line and at least one cleaning medium supply line. The cleaning medium is usually pumped to the laundry cleaning device by means of a pump. Peristaltic pumps (so-called peristaltic pumps) are often used for this purpose, which mechanically stress the cleaning medium supply line, which is a hose, and therefore require hoses that are as elastic as possible for reliable operation. Detergents that achieve the desired cleaning effect often have the unpleasant side effect of changing the composition of the hoses and thus reducing their service life. This leads to shortened maintenance intervals as well as to rising operating costs or, in the worst case, to a leak in the supply lines and, as a result, to a total failure of the laundry cleaning device. Since a plurality of cleaning media are usually used in a washing process and the cleaning media have to be supplied separately from one another in order to avoid undesirable reactions between the cleaning media, in practice a plurality of cleaning medium supply lines are required be provided with one pump each. The large number of these supply lines not only represents a considerable outlay in terms of installation and costs, but also increases the risk of failure of the laundry cleaning device or the dosing system.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a method and a device for supplying a flushing medium and at least one cleaning medium by means of a metering system, which enables reliable and inexpensive supply of the flushing medium and at least one cleaning medium, and at the same time is efficient and requires as little installation effort as possible is executable.

1. a) Erfassen eines automatisierten oder durch einen Benutzer vorgebbaren Reinigungsauftrages,
2. b) Überprüfen des Druckes in der Spülmediumszuleitung,
3. c) Zufuhr des Spülmediums an eine Wäschereinigungseinrichtung über die der Wäschereinigungseinrichtung zugeordnete Waschmediumszuleitung,
4. d) Zufuhr des zumindest einen Reinigungsmediums an die Wäschereinigungseinrichtung gemäß Schritt c),
5. e) Spülen der Dosieranlage und der Waschmediumszuleitung mit dem Spülmedium für eine vorgebbare Zeitdauer.

This object is achieved with a method according to claim 1 and a cleaning device according to claim 12. In a first aspect of the invention, the method involves the following steps:

1. a) detection of an automated cleaning order or a cleaning order that can be specified by a user,
2. b) checking the pressure in the flushing medium supply line,
3. c) supplying the rinsing medium to a laundry cleaning device via the washing medium supply line assigned to the laundry cleaning device,
4. d) supplying the at least one cleaning medium to the laundry cleaning device according to step c),
5. e) Rinsing the dosing system and the washing medium supply line with the rinsing medium for a predeterminable period of time.

Thanks to the method according to the invention, it is possible to supply a laundry cleaning device by means of a single washing medium supply line, which takes over both the supply of the washing medium and the at least one cleaning medium from the dosing system to the laundry cleaning device. As a result, the number of lines that connect the dosing system to the laundry cleaning device can be significantly reduced. In addition, the service life of the washing medium supply line is significantly longer than that of an equivalent cleaning medium supply line, since cleaning media only remain in the dosing system and the washing medium supply line during the period in which a cleaning medium is supplied to the laundry cleaning device. The subsequent rinsing with the rinsing medium, which is preferably water, considerably increases the service life of the dosing system and the washing medium supply line. In addition, the cleaning medium is preferably in step d) with the flushing medium mixed, so that the cleaning medium only reaches the washing medium supply line in diluted form. The service life of the washing medium supply line can thereby be increased further. The expression "alternate supply of rinsing and cleaning media" therefore means that a cleaning medium can also be added at the same time as a rinsing medium (this is even desirable); a simultaneous supply of several different cleaning media in a washing medium supply line is not provided.

The cleaning order can be recorded via a user interface, for example a user terminal, which can be arranged on the dosing system. Alternatively, a cleaning order can also be transferred from external devices to the dosing system. It is also possible that the dosing system itself automatically generates orders in a manner that can be specified by the user. A cleaning order preferably contains the cleaning parameters in which the quantity and the sequence of the media to be fed to the laundry cleaning device is defined. The exposure time, the cleaning temperature or the speed of a washing drum can also be specified.

Flushing the dosing system in step e) additionally increases the service life of the dosing system or the components provided therein, for example by preventing sticking of mechanically moved or stressed parts. After the rinsing in step e) has taken place, the rinsing process is usually ended by closing at least one connection involved (input connection and / or output connection).

The method according to the invention further provides that each input connection has an input valve and each output connection has an output valve, wherein, depending on the result of the test in step b), at least one input valve and the output valve assigned to the laundry cleaning device according to step c) are opened before performing step c) , wherein after or during step c) a cleaning medium valve assigned to the respective cleaning medium is opened for a predeterminable period of time, and before step e) the opened cleaning medium valve is closed again, the flushing according to step e) in a step taking place after step e) f) is ended by closing the respective output valve and / or the input valves. The execution of the said connections as valves is particularly efficient and allows a reliable supply or

Interruption of supply of the rinsing medium or the at least one cleaning medium to the respective laundry cleaning device. The rinsing of the dosing system according to step e) of the method according to the invention has the result that valves present in the dosing system are cleaned in a simple manner, which increases their durability and functional life.

The method according to the invention further provides that different cleaning media can be supplied separately from one another by repeating steps d) to e) in an iteration following step e). In each iteration, a different cleaning medium can be fed in a single washing medium feed line to a laundry cleaning device in the respective step d) without the cleaning media coming into contact with one another within the metering system or the washing medium feed line. This allows particularly targeted and efficient cleaning as part of a comprehensive cleaning program. The amount of cleaning agents to be supplied can be specified, for example, by a correspondingly selected pumping capacity of a pump which supplies the cleaning agents and optionally the detergent.

In order to prevent faulty start-up of the dosing system and a laundry cleaning device, according to a favorable embodiment of the method according to the invention, the continuation of the cleaning job can be checked for a period of at least 5 seconds in step a). This prevents misinterpretation of faulty signals that could be misinterpreted as a cleaning job. Such faulty signals can be caused by interference or feedback, such as those that are introduced into a system under test in the course of a test for electromagnetic compatibility.

In a further advantageous variant of the invention, the flow rate of the flushing medium is recorded in step e). The amount of rinsing medium that was fed to a laundry cleaning device in the course of a washing process can thus be determined in a simple manner. If necessary, conclusions can be drawn about the pump performance of a pump involved, which means that any necessary early maintenance can be recognized at an early stage. In addition, the comparison of the pump power with the flow rate can be used to re-calibrate the pump or the time in which the flushing medium and the the cleaning media should be supplied to adapt to a changed pump capacity accordingly. This ensures that the desired amount of rinsing medium or cleaning media can be fed to a laundry cleaning device even when the pumping power changes. The detection can take place, for example, by an indirect measurement or also a direct measurement, for example by means of a measuring wheel / paddle wheel.

In a development of the method according to the invention it can be provided that the flow rate in the flushing medium supply line and in the washing medium supply line is recorded. The difference between the two flow rates can e.g. be used to assess the tightness of the dosing system.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the availability of the cleaning media is checked and, depending on the result, warning and / or empty messages are issued and / or the laundry cleaning device is stopped. The availability of the cleaning media can be checked, for example, using simple sensors that measure the fill level of containers that contain said cleaning media. Floating sensors or other level sensors are particularly suitable for this.

In order to ensure the most reliable and efficient operation of the dosing system, it can be provided that in step b) the pressure in the flushing medium supply line is measured and, if the value falls below a defined value, for example 0.7 or 0.5 bar, steps c) to e ) get abandoned. In addition, it can be provided that the metering system issues an error message when the value falls below the defined value.

To further increase the robustness and reliability of the dosing system, it can be provided that the dosing system has two hydraulically connected pumps, preferably peristaltic pumps, for introducing the flushing medium and the cleaning medium. In the event of a pump failure, the washing pump can be reliably supplied by the other pump. Alternatively, three or more pumps can of course also be provided. Only one pump could also be provided, but this would involve a significantly increased risk of failure.

In a favorable embodiment of the invention, the delivery capacity of the pumps is measured in step f) and compared with predeterminable target values. This allows the pumps to be easily calibrated and the cleaning parameters to be adjusted. A clear deviation from setpoints can also be used to infer a faulty condition of a pump and a possibly necessary replacement.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, it can be provided that the dosing system monitors the state of the laundry cleaning devices connected to the dosing device and the availability of the rinsing and cleaning medium, and outputs an error message in the event of deviations from setpoints, which preferably also sends an electronic message to a receiving point becomes. For example, a message can be displayed on a terminal or display attached to the dosing system, or a warning light can indicate a deviation from target values. An automatic message, for example an SMS, can also be sent to a mobile phone of a user, the owner and / or a maintenance team.

In order to enable a simple digital connection of the dosing system, it can be provided that the dosing system has a module for establishing a radio connection, preferably a WiFi connection, wherein the dosing system is preferably set up to be monitored and / or controlled by means of an external communication interface to become. For example, mobile telephones, in particular smartphones, tablet computers or any other devices with a digital communication interface can be used as the external communication interface.

According to a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, at least two, preferably four, eight or more laundry cleaning devices can be connected to the dosing system via a washing medium feed line in each case. Each washing medium supply line is connected to an outlet connection of the dosing system, each outlet connection preferably having an outlet valve.

In order to further increase the operational safety of the dosing system, it can be provided in a favorable variant of the method according to the invention that the pressure in the Washing medium supply line is monitored. This can be done using conventional pressure sensors.

In a second aspect of the invention, the above object is achieved with a cleaning device for carrying out the method according to the invention according to one or any combination of the aforementioned embodiments.

According to the invention, the cleaning device has the dosing system, the flushing medium supply line, the inlet valve, the washing medium supply line and the outlet valve.

According to the invention, it is further provided that the metering system for alternately supplying a rinsing medium and at least one cleaning medium has an input distribution channel and an output distribution channel, the at least one cleaning medium being able to be introduced into the input distribution channel via a cleaning medium supply line connected to the input distribution channel and the input distribution channel additionally the flushing medium supply line is connected and the output distribution channel is connected to the washing medium supply line, the input distribution channel being connected to the output distribution channel via at least one pump, preferably via two pumps. Alternatively, three or more pumps can also be provided. The pumps can be any pumps that are suitable for conveying the flushing medium as well as the cleaning medium and the washing medium. Peristaltic pumps or peristaltic pumps are preferably used. The provision of the channels allows a simple and efficient arrangement of input and output lines, which can be switched on and off in a simple manner, preferably via valves.

According to the invention, the outlet distribution channel is connected to the flushing medium supply line. This allows a direct flushing of the outlet distribution channel without having to use the pumps which hydraulically connect the inlet distribution channel to the outlet distribution channel. As a result, the pumps and the lines assigned to the pumps, which are preferably designed as hoses, can be protected.

• Fig. 1 eine schematische Darstellung einer Dosieranlage mit mehreren Wäschereinigungseinrichtungen gemäß der Erfindung,
• Fig. 2 eine Vorderansicht der Dosieranlage gemäß der Erfindung,
• Fig. 3 eine Schnittdarstellung der Dosieranlage gemäß der Schnittlinie AA aus Fig. 2,
• Fig. 4 eine Seitenansicht der Dosieranlage gemäß Fig. 2 und
• Fig. 5 eine schematische Darstellung eines Spülmediums- und Reinigungsmediumsflusses gemäß der Erfindung.

The invention together with further refinements and advantages is explained in more detail below on the basis of an exemplary, non-restrictive embodiment, which is illustrated in the figures. Here shows

• Fig. 1 1 shows a schematic illustration of a dosing system with several laundry cleaning devices according to the invention,
• Fig. 2 a front view of the dosing system according to the invention,
• Fig. 3 a sectional view of the dosing system according to the section line AA Fig. 2 ,
• Fig. 4 a side view of the dosing system Fig. 2 and
• Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of a flushing medium and cleaning medium flow according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a metering system 1 according to the invention (or of the method according to the invention), which is equipped with four laundry cleaning devices 2a to 2d, each via a washing medium supply line 23a to 23d (see Fig. 5 ) connected is. As an alternative to this, a single washing medium supply line could also be provided for supplying a plurality of laundry cleaning devices 2a to 2d, the laundry cleaning devices 2a to 2d then being to be equipped with additional connection valves, so that a targeted supply is possible. The metering system 1 has two pumps 3a and 3b, which are preferably arranged within the metering system 1. In addition, the metering system 1 is connected to two external pumps 4a and 4b, which can be provided to increase the pump output or as redundant pumps. According to the representation Fig. 1 the dosing system 1 is connected to a computer 5, by means of which cleaning orders can be transmitted to the dosing system 1. The dosing system 1 also has a user interface 6, which can have, for example, a display, preferably an LCD display. The display can also be designed as a touch screen, as a result of which entries can be made particularly easily by a user. The dosing system 1 is equipped with at least one cleaning medium Fig. 1 with eight cleaning media 24a to 24h (see Fig. 5 ) via eight cleaning medium connections 7a to 7h, each assigned to a cleaning medium 24a to 24h, and optionally, for example, with a further eight cleaning media 24k to 24p are connected via a further eight cleaning media connections 7i to 7p, the cleaning media 24a to 24p of the metering system 1 being connected via one in each Fig. 1 Cleaning medium supply line 8a to 8h or 8p (not shown) (see Fig. 5 ), which are connected to the cleaning medium connections 7a to 7h or 7p associated hose connections 7a 'to 7h' or 7p '. The cleaning medium connections 7a to 7h or 7p have valves (cleaning medium valves), which are preferably designed as solenoid valves. A flushing medium unit 9 can be connected to the metering system 1 via a flushing medium feed line 10, water being preferably used as the flushing medium. The flushing medium unit 9 can comprise, for example, a closable connection, for example a water tap with a water connection.

Fig. 2 shows a front view of the metering system 1 according to the invention, the metering system 1 comprising a power supply unit 11 for supplying power to the metering system 1, a computing unit 12, two drive units 13a and 13b, each preferably having an electric motor (which can be connected, for example, to a gearbox), as well as various connections, which are described in more detail below.

The drive units 13a and 13b are set up to drive the pumps 3a and 3b. The pumps 3a and 3b are preferably designed as peristaltic pumps. The computing unit 12 is set up to store cleaning orders and to control or regulate components involved in a metering or cleaning process. In order to enable a compact and robust construction of the dosing system 1, the computing unit 12, the drive units 13a and 13b and the valves assigned to the cleaning medium connections 7a to 7h are located essentially within a housing 14 Fig. 2 Dosing system 1 shown has two input connections (a first input connection 15a (see Fig. 3 ) and a second input connection 15b, which in Fig. 3 ), which are set up for this purpose, the flushing medium in distribution channels connected to the respective input connection 15a or 15b (input distribution channel 16 and output distribution channel 17, see Fig. 3 ) to bring. In a lower left section of the metering system 1 according to Fig. 2 A first pump input connection 18a assigned to an input of the first pump 3a is shown, which is connected to the input distribution channel 16. In a lower right section of the metering system 1 opposite the pump inlet connection 18a, an outlet of the second pump 3b is assigned Second pump output connection 19b shown, which is connected to the output distribution channel 17. The interaction of the pumps 3a and 3b with the associated connections is described in the following Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 discussed.

Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of the dosing system 1 according to the section line AA Fig. 2 . An input distribution channel 16 can be seen therein, which preferably extends horizontally through a lower section of the metering system 1. The input distribution channel 16 is connected to the first and a second pump input connection 18a and 18b. The cleaning medium connections 7a to 7h (or additionally the cleaning medium connections 7i to 7p) are arranged along the input distribution channel 16 such that through an opening of a respective cleaning medium connection (preferably via a valve) a continuous connection of the input distribution channel 16 to the cleaning medium supply line 8a respectively assigned to the cleaning medium connection until 8h or 8p. The input distribution channel 16 is connected to the output distribution channel 17 via the two pump input connections 18a and 18b via the first and the second pumps 3a and 3b. For this purpose, a connecting line 20, which is preferably designed as a hose line, connects the pump input connection 18a to the pump 3a, an output of the pump 3a in turn being connected via a further connecting line 20 to a first pump output connection 19a. The connection of the input distribution channel 16 to the output distribution channel 17 via the second pump 3b is basically carried out in an analogous manner. However, since the second pump 3b is arranged reversed, an additional connecting line 21, which is preferably designed as a hose line, is provided in order to connect the second pump outlet connection 19b to the outlet distribution channel 17. This allows the use of pumps of the same type with the same pumping direction. The output distribution channel 17 preferably extends parallel to the input channel 16 and, in the embodiment shown, is connected to four output connections 22a to 22d, the output connections 22a to 22d preferably each having a valve, particularly preferably a solenoid valve, and by opening one of the valves a continuous one Connection of the output distribution channel 17 of the washing medium supply line 23a to 23d assigned to the respective output connection 22a to 22d is established.

Fig. 4 shows a side view of the dosing system 1 according to the Fig. 2 , wherein the dosing system 1 therein with in Fig. 2 Connection lines 20, not shown, is equipped. The first pump 3a is therein via the connecting lines 20 to the first pump input connection 18a as well as the first pump output connection 19a and set up to pump a cleaning medium 24a to 24p from the input distribution channel 16 into the output distribution channel 17 or into subsequent washing medium supply lines 23a to 23d. In this case, the connecting line 20 which connects the pump 3a to the pump outlet connection 19a is of a length which preferably exceeds a minimum length necessary for the connection. This minimum length is preferably exceeded by 10%, 20%, 30% or 40%, so that this connecting line 20 extends at least in sections from the first pump 3a to the pump outlet connection 19a. This is advantageous since this connecting line 20 is squeezed and moved when the first or second pumps 3a or 3b are designed as a peristaltic pump. A generous dimensioning of this connecting line 20 therefore prevents the risk of slipping off the pump outlet connection 19a. In addition, the increased freedom from bending reduces the extent of the curvature of the connecting line 20, as a result of which its service life can be additionally increased (this applies analogously to the connecting elements 20 of the second pump 3b).

In Fig. 5 a schematic representation of a flushing medium and cleaning medium flow according to the invention is shown. This shows the flushing medium supply line 10 (typically a line leading to a water connection), which also has a closable or openable connection 27, preferably a conventional water main tap and a system or pipe separator 28 (to avoid backflows into the flushing medium supply line 10) is connected to the first input terminal 15a and the second input terminal 15b. A pressure sensor 29 is provided within the input distribution channel 16, which measures the pressure in the input distribution channel 16 and feeds the measured values to the computing unit 12. In addition, a flow rate meter 25 is provided, which can be designed as a measuring wheel, in particular as a paddle wheel, which can be used to measure the amount of flushing medium supplied to the inlet distribution channel 16.

If the dosing system 1 is given a cleaning order, the dosing system 1 opens that outlet (or outlet connection 22a, 22b, 22c or 22d) or that outlet valve which has to be opened for connection to the desired laundry cleaning device 2a to 2d in accordance with the cleaning order. In addition, an inlet or inlet valve is opened, which is typically first the second inlet connection 15b (assuming an opened connection 27), so that flushing medium directly via the output distribution channel 17, the respective output connection 22a, 22b, 22c or 22d via the respective washing medium supply line 23a to 23d into the laundry cleaning device 2a to 2d assigned to the respective washing medium supply line 23a to 23d. After a predefinable period of time or quantity of flushing medium, the second input connection 15b is closed and the first input connection 15a is opened, as a result of which the input distribution channel 16 is supplied with flushing medium. In addition, at least one of the pumps 3a, 3b, 4a or 4b is put into operation and a cleaning medium connection 7a (to 7p) is opened, so that one of the cleaning media 24a to 24p mixes with the flushing medium in the inlet distribution channel 16 and via at least one of the pumps 3a, 3b, 4a or 4b is pumped into the outlet distribution channel 17 and from there reaches a laundry cleaning device 2a to 2d in the manner described above. The rinsing medium mixes with the supplied cleaning medium 24a to 24j, which reduces the chemical load on the lines involved in the supply to the respective laundry cleaning device 2a to 2d. As an alternative to this, the first input connection 15a could also remain closed and the cleaning medium 24a to 24j in pure form can be pumped into the respective laundry cleaning device 2a to 2d. After the cleaning medium 24a to 24j has been supplied, the input channel is flushed with the flushing medium by closing the cleaning medium connection assigned to the previously supplied cleaning medium 24a to 24j and feeding the flushing medium via the input distribution channel 16 and the previously involved pumps to the laundry cleaning device 2a to 2d . Another (or the same) cleaning medium connection can then be opened and the supply to the laundry cleaning device 2a to 2d continued in an analogous manner. The flushing of the input distribution channel 16 or the downstream output distribution channel 17 and the washing medium supply line 23a to 23d enables the cleaning media 24a to 24j to react with one another only in the laundry cleaning device 2a to 2d and thus prevents undesirable reactions occurring in the supply lines. After all the desired cleaning media 24a to 24j have been supplied, the inlet channel 16, the outlet channel 17 and the washing medium supply line are rinsed with the rinsing medium in the manner already described. Should a higher amount of rinsing medium be supplied to the laundry cleaning device 2a to 2d than is necessary for the said rinsing (the amount of rinsing required is the amount that must necessarily be supplied to a laundry cleaning device 2a to 2d in order to dispense the metering system 1 and the respective washing medium supply line 23a up to 23d largely free of cleaning medium residues), the first input connection 15a can again can be closed and the second input connection 15b can be opened, which means that no pump now has to be involved in the flushing medium supply and thus the energy consumption can be reduced and the service life of the pumps can be increased. The metering system and the lines to the laundry cleaning devices 2a to 2d are largely free of cleaning media residues after the rinsing has been carried out.

The invention can be modified in any manner known to the person skilled in the art and is not restricted to the embodiment shown. Individual aspects of the invention can also be taken up and largely combined with one another. What is essential are the ideas on which the invention is based, which in view of this teaching can be carried out in a variety of ways by a person skilled in the art and are nevertheless maintained as such, according to the following claims. Reference list (not part of the application) 1 Dosing system 16 Input distribution channel 2a to 2d Laundry cleaning facility 17th Output distribution channel 3a, 3b pump 18a, 18b first / second pump input connection 4a, 4b external pumps 5 computer 19a, 19b first / second pump outlet connection 6 User interface 7a to 7p Cleaning media connections 20th Connecting line 7a 'to 7p' Hose connections 21 additional connecting line 8a to 8p Cleaning medium supply line 22a to 22d Output connections 9 Flushing medium unit 23a to 23d Washing medium supply 10th Flushing medium supply line 24a to 24j Cleaning media 11 power adapter 25th Flow meter 12 Arithmetic unit 27th lockable connection 13a, 13b Drive units 28 Pipe separator 14 casing 29 Pressure sensor 15a, 15b first / second input connection

Claims (12)

1. A method for alternately feeding a flushing medium and at least one cleaning medium (24a to 24j) by means of a metering system (1) for at least one laundry cleaning device (2a,...2d), wherein the flushing medium is fed to the metering system (1) via a flushing medium feed line (10) connected to at least one inlet connection (15a, 15b), and the metering system (1) is connected with an outlet connection (22a to 22d) to each laundry cleaning device (2a,...2d) via a respective washing medium feed line (23a to 23d), wherein the following steps are carried out:

   a) detection of an automated cleaning task or a cleaning task which can be specified by a user,

   b) checking the pressure in the flushing medium feed line (10),

   c) feeding of the flushing medium to the laundry cleaning device (2a,...2d) via the washing medium feed line (23a to 23d) assigned to the laundry cleaning device (2a,...2d),

   d) feeding of the at least one cleaning medium (24a to 24j) to the laundry cleaning device (2a,...2d) according to step c),

   e) flushing of the metering system (1) and the washing medium feed line (23a to 23d) with the flushing medium for a predefinable period of time,

   wherein each inlet connection (15a, 15b) has an inlet valve and each outlet connection (22a to 22d) has an outlet valve, wherein, depending on the result of the check in step b), at least one inlet valve and the outlet valve assigned to the laundry cleaning device (2a,...2d) according to step c) are opened before step c) is carried out, wherein a cleaning medium valve assigned to the respective cleaning medium (24a to 24j) is opened for a predefinable period of time after or during step c), and the opened cleaning medium valve is closed again before step e), wherein the flushing according to step e) is ended in a step f) taking place after step e) by closing the respective outlet valve and/or the inlet valves, wherein different cleaning media (24a to 24j) can be fed separated from one another, in that steps d) to e) are again repeated in an iteration following step e), wherein the metering system (1) for alternately feeding the flushing medium and the at least one cleaning medium (24a to 24j) comprises an inlet distribution channel (16) connected to the respective inlet connection (15a, 15b) and an outlet distribution channel (17) connected to the respective outlet connection (22a to 22d), and the inlet distribution channel (16) is thus connected to the flushing medium feed line (10), wherein the at least one cleaning medium (24a to 24j) can be introduced into the inlet distribution channel (16) in each case via a cleaning medium feed line (8a to 8p) connected to the inlet distribution channel (16), and the outlet distribution channel (17) is connected to the at least one washing medium feed line (23a to 23d), wherein the inlet distribution channel (16) is connected to the outlet distribution channel (17) via at least one pump (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b), preferably via two pumps (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b), wherein the outlet distribution channel (17) is connected to the flushing medium feed line (10) via a second inlet connection (15b).
2. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that in step a) the continued presence of the cleaning task is checked for a period of at least 5 seconds.
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the flow rate of the flushing medium is detected in step c).
4. The method according to claim 3, characterised in that the flow rate in the flushing medium feed line (10) and in the washing medium feed line (23a to 23d) is detected.
5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the availability of the cleaning media (24a to 24j) is checked and, depending on the result, warning and/or empty messages are outputted and/or the laundry cleaning device (2a to 2d) is stopped.
6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that in step b) the pressure in the flushing medium feed line (10) is measured and, if it falls below a defined value, for example 0.7 or 0.5 bar, steps c) to e) are skipped, wherein the metering system (1) preferably outputs an error message if the value falls below the defined value.
7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the metering system (1) comprises two pumps (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b) connected hydraulically in parallel, preferably peristaltic pumps, for the introduction of the flushing medium and the cleaning medium (24a to 24j), wherein the delivery rate of the pumps (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b) is measured in particular in step f) and compared with predefinable setpoint values.
8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the metering system (1) monitors the state of the laundry cleaning devices (2a to 2d) connected to the metering system (1) and the availability of the flushing and cleaning medium (24a to 24j) and, in the event deviations from setpoint values, outputs an error message which is preferably also communicated as an electronic message to a receiving point.
9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the metering system (1) comprises a module for producing a radio connection, preferably a W-Lan connection, wherein the metering system (1) is preferably set up to be monitored and/or controlled by means of an external communication interface.
10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that at least two, preferably four, eight or more laundry cleaning devices (2a to 2d) are connected to the metering system (1) in each case via a washing medium feed line (23a to 23d) .
11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the pressure in the washing medium feed line (23a to 23d) is monitored.
12. A cleaning device for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the cleaning device comprises the metering system (1), the flushing medium feed line (10), the at least one inlet connection (15a, 15b), the at least one washing medium feed line (23a to 23d) and at least one outlet connection (22a to 22d), characterised in that the metering system (1) comprises an inlet distribution channel (16) connected to the respective inlet connection (15a, 15b) and an outlet distribution channel (17) connected to the respective outlet connection (22a to 22d) for alternately feeding a flushing medium and at least one cleaning medium (24a to 24j), wherein the at least one cleaning medium (24a to 24j) can be introduced into the inlet distribution channel (16) in each case via a cleaning medium feed line (8a to 8p) connected to the inlet distribution channel (16) and the inlet distribution channel (16) is also connected to the flushing medium feed line (10), and the outlet distribution channel (17) is connected to the at least one washing medium feed line (23a to 23d), wherein the inlet distribution channel (16) is connected to the outlet distribution channel (17) via at least one pump (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b), preferably via two pumps (3a, 3b, 4a, 4b), wherein the outlet distribution channel (17) is connected to the flushing medium feed line (10) via a second inlet connection (15b), wherein each inlet connection (15a, 15b) has an inlet valve and each outlet connection (22a to 22d) has an outlet valve, wherein the metering system (1) is set up, depending on the result of the check in step b), to open at least one inlet valve and the outlet valve assigned to the laundry cleaning device (2a,...2d) according to step c) before step c) is carried out, and to open a cleaning medium valve assigned to the respective cleaning medium (24a to 24j) for a predefinable period of time after or during step c), and to close the opened cleaning medium valve again before step e), and to end the flushing according to step e) in a step f) taking place after step e) by closing the respective outlet valve and/or the inlet valves, and to feed different cleaning media (24a to 24j) separated from one another, in that steps d) to e) are again repeated in an iteration following step e).

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