CLEANING APPLIANCE

• US 20130141211A1
• Filed: 01/24/2013
• Published: 06/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alfred Kã¤Rcher GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Alfred Kã¤Rcher GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Troff, Gilles, Schaefer, Rainer, Stadelmann, Frank, Noller, Bernd
• Granted Patent: US 9,367,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.21
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4008 Arrangements of switches, indicators or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 1/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning appliance, wherein in order to access same, an access authorization stored on an authorization carrier is required, the appliance including two or more authorization carriers with access authorizations stored thereon which are linked to different authorization profiles, and a detection unit for detecting the access authorization of an authorization carrier, wherein a range of functions dependent on the authorization profile linked to the access authorization can be provided to an operator by the cleaning appliance. In order to provide such a cleaning appliance which is more user-friendly in operation, it is proposed that each authorization carrier comprises an identification device for providing an identifier which is associated with the particular authorization profile of the authorization carrier and which is perceivable by the operator using a sensory organ, wherein identifiers associated with different authorization profiles are different from one another.

Claims

1. A cleaning appliance, wherein in order to access same, an access authorization stored on an authorization carrier is required, the appliance comprising two or more authorization carriers with access authorizations stored thereon which are linked to different authorization profiles, and a detection unit for detecting the access authorization of an authorization carrier, wherein a range of functions dependent on the authorization profile linked to the access authorization is provided to an operator by the cleaning appliance, wherein each authorization carrier comprises an identification device for providing an identifier which is associated with the particular authorization profile of the authorization carrier and which is perceivable by the operator using a sensory organ, wherein identifiers associated with different authorization profiles are different from one another.

2. The cleaning appliance according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning appliance comprises a plurality of authorization carriers having the same authorization profile, and wherein the plurality of authorization carriers have identical identifiers.

3. The cleaning appliance according to claim 1, wherein the identifiers of all authorization carriers are perceivable using the same sensory organ.

4. The cleaning appliance according to claim 1, wherein at least one identification device is an optical identification device having a visually perceivable identifier.

5. The cleaning appliance according to claim 4, wherein the visually perceivable identifier is a color.

6. The cleaning appliance according to claim 1, wherein at least one identification device is a haptic identification device having an identifier which is perceivable by touch.

7. The cleaning appliance according to claim 6, wherein the identifier which is perceivable by touch comprises at least one of elevations and depressions which are formed on the authorization carrier.

8. The cleaning appliance according to claim 1, wherein the at least one identification device is a static identification device having an always perceivable identifier.

9. The cleaning appliance according to claim 1, wherein the identifier of at least one authorization carrier is situated on a surface of the authorization carrier.

10. The cleaning appliance according to claim 9, wherein the identifier extends over the entire surface of the authorization carrier.

11. The cleaning appliance according to claim 1, wherein the identifier of at least one authorization carrier is unchanging with respect to at least one of space and time.

12. The cleaning appliance according to claim 1, wherein the two or more authorization carriers are transponders, each having a memory element for the access authorization, and wherein the access authorization is detectable in each case in a contactless manner by means of the detection unit.

13. The cleaning appliance according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning appliance includes a playback device for providing authorization information which is perceivable by the operator using a sensory organ, the authorization information being associated with the authorization profile of an authorization carrier used by the operator for accessing the cleaning appliance.

14. The cleaning appliance according to claim 13, wherein the same sensory organ is responsive to the authorization information of the playback device and to the identifier of the identification device.

15. The cleaning appliance according to claim 13, wherein the playback device is an optical display unit for providing visually perceivable authorization information.

16. The cleaning appliance according to claim 15, wherein in the case of an identifier of the authorization profile of the authorization carrier based on a color, the authorization information is a display color of the display unit.

17. The cleaning appliance according to claim 16, wherein the color of the identifier and the display color match.