METHOD FOR OPERATING AN ATTACHMENT DEVICE FOR A VACUUM CLEANER AND A CORRESPONDING ATTACHMENT DEVICE

• US 20100269857A1
• Filed: 04/22/2010
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Miele & CIE KG
• Original Assignee: Miele & CIE KG
• Inventors: BEHRENSWERTH, Martin, MARKS, Volker, ASSMANN, Walter, WOLF, Cornelius, ENNEN, Guenther
• Application Number:
  US12/765,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20100269857A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/6
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0411 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2831 Motor parameters, e.g. motor load or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2847 Surface treating elements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2889 Safety or protection devices or systems, e.g. for prevention of motor over-heating or for protection of the user

Abstract

A method for operating an attachment device for a vacuum cleaner includes an electrically rotatable brush roller and a motor for driving the brush roller. The method includes rotating the brush roller in a normal operational direction during operation. The method further includes rotating the brush roller in a reverse direction opposite to the normal operational direction of rotation, when the brush roller is detected to be jammed.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A method for operating an attachment device for a vacuum cleaner, the attachment device including an electrically rotatable brush roller and a motor for driving the brush roller, the method comprising:

rotating the brush roller in a normal operational direction of rotation during operation; and

rotating the brush roller in a reverse direction opposite to the normal operational direction of rotation when the brush roller is detected to be jammed.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising detecting jamming when the current consumption of the motor exceeds a predetermined or predeterminable threshold value.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the detecting jamming is performed so as to detect jamming when the current consumption exceeds the threshold value for a predetermined or predeterminable period of time.

19. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the brush roller is rotated in the reverse direction by a predetermined or predeterminable angle upon an occurrence of jamming.

20. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising stopping the motor of the brush roller upon an occurrence of jamming, and wherein the brush roller is rotated stepwise in the reverse direction by a predetermined or predeterminable angle each time a switch element is actuated.

21. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein a rotational speed at which the brush roller is rotated in the reverse direction in an event of jamming is lower than a rotational speed in the normal operational direction of rotation.

22. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising returning the brush roller to operation in the normal operational direction of rotation by an actuation of a start button.

23. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising generating, in a generator mode, a signal so as to resume operation in the normal operational direction of rotation.

24. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

adjusting, during operation, the normal operational direction of rotation of the brush roller so as to match a forward or backward movement of the attachment device, and

determining the reverse direction of rotation according to the adjusted normal operational direction of rotation.

25. An attachment device for a vacuum cleaner, comprising:

an electrically rotatable brush roller;

a motor configured to drive the brush roller; and

a monitoring device configured to detect jamming of the brush roller and emit a jamming signal so as to reverse a direction of rotation of the motor.

26. The attachment device as recited in claim 25, further comprising a current sensor configured to measure a current consumption of the motor, wherein the monitoring device is configured to emit the jamming signal when the current exceeds a predetermined or predeterminable threshold value.

27. The attachment device as recited in claim 26, further comprising a monitoring unit configured to monitor a presence of the jamming signal for a period of time exceeding a predetermined or predeterminable period of time.

28. The attachment device as recited in claim 25, further comprising a push button for rotating the brush roller in the reverse direction by a predetermined or predeterminable angle.

29. The attachment device as recited in claim 28, wherein the rotating of the brush roller in the reverse direction is stepwise.

30. The attachment device as recited in claim 25, further comprising a start button for returning the brush roller to operation in the normal operational direction of rotation.

31. The attachment device as recited in claim 30, wherein the brush roller is configured to reverse its direction of rotation during operation.

32. The attachment device as recited in claim 31, wherein the brush roller is configured to reverse its direction of rotation according to a forward or backward movement of the attachment device.