METHOD FOR OPERATING A CLEANING APPLIANCE AND CLEANING APPLIANCE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE METHOD

• US 20130247938A1
• Filed: 04/02/2013
• Published: 09/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alfred Kã¤Rcher GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Alfred Kã¤Rcher GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Walz, Juergen, Schuetz, Michael, Nonnenmann, Frank, Troff, Gilles, Baeuerle, Samuel, Schaible, Dieter
• Granted Patent: US 9,220,388 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/18
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/28 Floor-scrubbing machines, motor-driven A47L11/29 takes precedence
• 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: A47L 11/4036 Parts or details of the surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2847 Surface treating elements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/30 Arrangement of illuminating devices

Abstract

A method is proposed for operating a cleaning appliance which comprises a control device as well as at least one cleaning element for cleaning a surface which has a memory element. The control device comprises a control memory member and the control device is connected to a reader for reading the memory element. In order to reduce the risk of the user unintentionally using an unsuitable cleaning element, it is suggested that characterizing data distinguishing the type of cleaning element be stored in the memory element, these data being read and evaluated in the period of time from the starting up of the cleaning appliance up to the beginning of the cleaning action of the cleaning element. In addition, a cleaning appliance for implementing the method is suggested.

Claims

1. Method for operating a cleaning appliance, in particular a floor cleaning appliance, comprising a control device and at least one cleaning element for cleaning a surface and having a local memory element, wherein the control device comprises a control memory member and the control device is connected to a reader for reading the local memory element, wherein characteristic data distinguishing the type of cleaning element are stored in the local memory element, said data being read and evaluated in the period of time from the starting up of the cleaning appliance up to the beginning of the cleaning action of the cleaning element.

2. Method as defined in claim 1, wherein the data read out are compared to information stored in the control memory member and the cleaning appliance is controlled as a function of the result of comparison.

3. Method as defined in claim 1, wherein information corresponding to the data read out is displayed on a display unit of the cleaning appliance.

4. Method as defined in claim 3, wherein the information displayed on the display unit is stored in the control memory member together with the time of the display.

5. Method as defined in claim 1, wherein in order to characterize the type of cleaning element its part number specified by the manufacturer is stored in its memory element.

6. Method as defined in claim 1, wherein in order to characterize the type of cleaning element an identification number individually distinguishing the cleaning element is stored in its memory element.

7. Method as defined in claim 1, wherein in order to characterize the type of cleaning element operating parameters required for the correct operation of the cleaning element are stored in the memory element.

8. Method as defined in claim 1, wherein the data read out are checked with respect to their admissibility for the cleaning appliance.

9. Method as defined in claim 8, wherein the data read out are compared to admissible data stored in the control memory member.

10. Method as defined in claim 1, wherein operating parameters required for the correct operation of the cleaning element are allocated to the data read out and the required operating parameters are compared with the operating parameters of the cleaning appliance currently on hand.

11. Method as defined in claim 10, wherein at least one of the operating parameters required for the correct operation of the cleaning element is displayed on a display unit of the cleaning appliance.

12. Method as defined in claim 1, wherein operating parameters of the cleaning appliance are adjusted as a function of the data read out.

13. Method as defined in claim 1, wherein the data read out are stored in the control memory member together with the time of the read-out.

14. Method as defined in claim 1, wherein the data read out are compared with user authorization data of the cleaning appliance.

15. Method as defined in claim 1, wherein ordering data of the cleaning element corresponding to the data read out are displayed on a display unit of the cleaning appliance.

16. Method as defined in claim 15, wherein the ordering data are communicated to an order acceptance facility via a telecommunication device of the cleaning appliance.

17. Method as defined in claim 1, wherein in addition or alternatively to the at least one cleaning element at least one additional component, in particular at least one of a wearing part and accessory part, is equipped with a local memory element, data characterizing at least one of the type of the component and the degree of wear of the component being stored in said memory element, said data being read and evaluated in the period of time from the starting up of the cleaning appliance up to the beginning of the cleaning action of the cleaning element.

18. Cleaning appliance for implementing the method as defined in claim 1, with a control device and with at least one cleaning element for cleaning a surface, said cleaning element having a local memory element, wherein the control device comprises a control memory member and is connected to a reader for reading the memory element, wherein characteristic data distinguishing the type of cleaning element are storable in the local memory element, said data being read and evaluated automatically in the period of time from the starting up of the cleaning appliance up to the beginning of the cleaning action of the cleaning element.

19. Cleaning appliance as defined in claim 18, wherein the cleaning appliance has a display unit for displaying information corresponding to the data read out.

20. Cleaning appliance as defined in claim 18, wherein the data read out are adapted to be checked as to their admissibility.

21. Cleaning appliance as defined in claim 18, wherein the data read out are comparable with admissible data stored in the control memory member.

22. Cleaning appliance as defined in claim 18, wherein operating parameters of the cleaning appliance are adjustable automatically as a function of the data read out.

23. Cleaning appliance as defined in claim 18, wherein the data read out are storable in the control memory member together with the time of the read-out.

24. Cleaning appliance as defined in claim 18, wherein the data read out are comparable with user authorization data.

25. Cleaning appliance as defined in claim 18, wherein the cleaning appliance has a display unit for displaying ordering data of the cleaning element corresponding to the data read out.

26. Cleaning appliance as defined in claim 25, wherein the cleaning appliance comprises a telecommunication device for communicating the ordering data to an order acceptance facility.

27. Cleaning appliance as defined in claim 18, wherein the cleaning appliance comprises a telecommunication device, with the aid of which at least one of the data read out and operating data of the cleaning appliance corresponding to them are transmittable via a telecommunication network.

28. Cleaning appliance as defined in claim 18, wherein the local memory element is integrated into a transponder.

29. Cleaning appliance as defined in claim 18, wherein the cleaning appliance has in addition or alternatively to the at least one cleaning element at least one additional component with a local memory element, in particular at least one of a wearing part and accessory part, wherein a reader connected to the control device is associated with the memory element and data characterizing at least one of the type of the component and the degree of wear of the component are storable in the memory element.