METHOD FOR OPERATING A CLEANING DEVICE AS WELL AS CLEANING DEVICE AND CLEANING TOOL FOR CARRYING OUT THE METHOD

• US 20120084930A1
• Filed: 10/04/2011
• Published: 04/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alfred Kã¤Rcher GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Alfred Kã¤Rcher GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Schuetz, Michael, Duenne, Markus, Silva, Ruwantha De
• Application Number:
  US13/252,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20120084930A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/3
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/14 with rotating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/302 having rotary tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4002 Installations of electric equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a cleaning device with a drive motor which drives at least one cleaning tool. In order to develop the method further in such a manner that the degree of wear of the cleaning tool can be determined in a simple manner even when the cleaning tool is replaced, it is suggested in accordance with the invention that a wear value, which corresponds to the degree of wear of the cleaning tool present at the time the wear value is stored, be stored in a memory element of the cleaning tool and that this wear value be repeatedly updated. In addition, a cleaning device and a cleaning tool for carrying out the method are suggested.

Claims

1. Method for operating a cleaning device, in particular for cleaning a surface, comprising a drive motor driving at least one cleaning tool, wherein a wear value is stored in a memory element of the cleaning tool, said value corresponding to the degree of wear of the cleaning tool present at the time the wear value is stored, and wherein this wear value is repeatedly updated.

2. Method as defined in claim 1, wherein the wear value stored in the memory element of the cleaning tool is read out when the cleaning device is switched on.

3. Method as defined in claim 1, wherein identification characteristics clearly identifying the cleaning tool are stored in the memory element of the cleaning tool.

4. Method as defined in claim 1, wherein the current wear value is determined and stored in the memory element of the cleaning tool when the cleaning device is switched off.

5. Method as defined in claim 1, wherein the current wear value is determined at time intervals during the running operation of the cleaning device and stored in the memory element of the cleaning tool.

6. Method as defined in claim 1, wherein the wear value is determined using operating data of the cleaning device.

7. Method as defined in claim 1, wherein the motor current of the drive motor is detected for the purpose of determining the wear value.

8. Method as defined in claim 1, wherein the running time of the cleaning tool is determined for the purpose of determining the wear value.

9. Method as defined in claim 1, wherein the motor current of the drive motor is integrated over the running time of the cleaning tool for the purpose of determining the wear value.

10. Method as defined in claim 1, wherein the temporal average value of the motor current of the drive motor is integrated over the running time of the cleaning tool for the purpose of determining the wear value.

11. Method as defined in claim 1, wherein the wear value is transmitted wirelessly to the memory element of the cleaning tool and is read out wirelessly.

12. Method as defined in claim 1, wherein the current wear value is compared to a predetermined wear value and at least one operating function of the cleaning device is controlled as a function of the result of the comparison.

13. Method as defined in claim 12, wherein operating parameters of the cleaning device are controlled as a function of the result of the comparison.

14. Method as defined in claim 1, wherein the fact that a predetermined wear value has been reached or exceeded is indicated to a user of the cleaning device.

15. Method as defined in claim 14, wherein the fact that the predetermined wear value has been exceeded is indicated at repeated time intervals.

16. Method as defined in claim 14, wherein the predetermined wear value is stored in the memory element of the cleaning tool.

17. Cleaning device for carrying out the method as defined in claim 1, comprising a drive motor and at least one cleaning tool drivable by the drive motor, wherein the cleaning tool has a writable and readable memory element for the storage and read-out of a wear value corresponding to the degree of wear of the cleaning tool, and wherein a current wear value is determinable using the wear value last stored and operating data of the cleaning device and is storable in the memory element of the cleaning tool.

18. Cleaning device as defined in claim 17, wherein the memory element of the cleaning tool is writable and readable wirelessly.

19. Cleaning device as defined in claim 17, wherein the cleaning tool has a transponder comprising the memory element.

20. Cleaning device as defined in claim 17, wherein the motor current of the drive motor and the running time of the cleaning tool are determinable and the motor current is integratable over the running time of the cleaning tool.

21. Cleaning device as defined in claim 17, wherein the wear value previously stored in the memory element of the cleaning device is adapted to be updated automatically and the updated wear value automatically stored in the memory element of the cleaning tool when the cleaning device is switched off.

22. Cleaning tool for carrying out the method as defined in claim 1, wherein the cleaning tool has a memory element, identification characteristics clearly identifying the cleaning tool being stored in said memory element and a wear value corresponding to the current degree of wear of the cleaning tool being storable in said memory element.

23. Cleaning tool as defined in claim 22, wherein the cleaning tool comprises a base member, cleaning bristles projecting from said member on the outside and said member having a cavity, the memory element being arranged therein.