EP1642522A2 - Method for treating and/or cleaning floor coverings and floor coverings and/or cleaning apparatus for applying this method - Google Patents

Abstract

The cleaner (3) has a rotary brush (4) and wheels by which the cleaner is set to a clearance from a floor transmitter (11) or floor covering (8) for optimum performance by a sensor (9) which is able to react to floor indicators to determine the optimum clearance.

Description

The invention relates firstly to a method for the care and / or cleaning of a floor covering with a floor care and / or cleaning appliance, wherein the appliance has means which enable the type and / or condition of the floor covering to be identified.

When cleaning floor coverings using vacuum cleaners or similar floor cleaning or care equipment, different parameters of the device must be adapted to the floor to be cleaned for optimum cleaning or care results. These include, among other things, the suction power of the vacuum cleaner, the speed of any tillage brushes or the pressure force of the same. In addition, depending on the type and nature of the flooring additives in the form of adapted care products needed. For this process required for the automatic identification of the traveled floor covering are known. For example, conclusions about the type of soil, such as carpet or hard floor, are drawn via a vacuum evaluation in the suction chamber. In accordance with the determined negative pressure values and optionally further parameters, such as, for example, shear resistance of the device, which is correspondingly different on different floor coverings, the corresponding parameters such as suction power, brush speed etc. are adjusted. Alternatively, methods are known in which the floor covering is scanned by means of ultrasound transmitters and receivers. By means of such methods, a differentiation of the floor covering not only by its nature, but also roughly according to its nature is possible. For example, carpets can still be distinguished between high and low pile carpets. Furthermore, hard floors, such as tiled floors, plank floors or cork floors, also differ in sound reflection.

Also, methods are known in which different classes of floor coverings can be adjusted on the floor care and / or cleaning device, whereby, for example, the suction power can be varied. However, a classification of floor coverings into classes is only possible to a limited extent. In addition, the handling or the method due to the user-to-be-done classification is error-prone.

In view of the above-described prior art, a technical problem of the invention is seen as providing a method which allows possible universal use structure of the cleaning device or the floor care device possible individual adjustment of the device with respect to the floor to be cleaned.

This problem is first and foremost solved by the subject matter of claim 1, wherein it is aimed that in the floor covering or assigned to the flooring information is stored, which relate to its nature and / or nature and that the means of the device this information Evaluate the treatment of the flooring. By means of this method according to the invention, optimum adaptation of the parameters of the device to the floor to be maintained or cleaned is achieved. The flooring itself can provide the information to uniquely identify the nature and nature of the flooring. Alternatively, the information can also be stored near the floor covering, whereby the possibility is created to retrofit a room or apartment with information carriers and to distribute them according to a performed covering analysis. The information collected is clear. The information about the type of flooring indicates whether it is a carpet or a hard floor. This coarse subdivision is differentiated according to the present method by the further information regarding the nature of the floor covering. This information may be on hard floors For example, a refined subdivision of the type of soil, such as tile floor, floorboard, parquet, laminate floor, stoneware tile floor or cork floor. Also, information about the degree of hardness of the flooring can be stored and transmitted. In the case of a carpeted floor, the information may include: pile height, pile materials, sling or velor fabrics, fixed lay-up or bridge carpets or the like. The selected unidirectional communication between the information carrier and the device requires a specific adaptation of the device parameters the flooring can be reached.

The subjects of the further claims are explained below in relation to the subject matter of claim 1, but may also be significant in their independent formulation. Thus, it is further proposed that the device changes depending on the evaluated with respect to the flooring information setting parameters such as suction or brush speed or pressure force of the brush. Accordingly, adapted to the pad information, for example, the suction power and the associated level of negative pressure regulated. For example, a higher suction performance is required for high-pile carpets than for low-pile carpets or carpet bridges. The brush speed and / or the pressing force of the brushes on the floor to be cleaned or maintained is adjustable depending on the recorded sheet-specific information, so among other things also adapted to the surface texture or adjusted to the covering materials used adjustable. Also, depending on the information being evaluated, visual information about the nature and condition of the flooring may be forwarded to the user; In addition, care instructions regarding the detected flooring. Thus, for example, in connection with floor cleaning appliances, cleaning instructions and / or instructions for using specific care products for the detected floor covering can be transmitted. In addition, the user may also be prompted to do so will manually make changes to the configuration of the device, such as an exchange of brushes for polishing. The information in the flooring are stored in the course of the production of flooring, so for example by weaving or tufting in carpets or further example. By adhering an information carrier to a hard floor covering, for example. Below a tile or a plank. In addition, for example, there is the possibility to laminate an information carrier with laminate floors. The information is preferably stored in a transponder and / or in the form of a barcode and / or in the form of incorporated electrically conductive or magnetic materials. By incorporating or arranging a transponder in or on the floor covering or the subsequent attachment under the floor covering the device can receive information about the flooring when driving over it. For this purpose, the device has corresponding means for acquiring the transponder data. By laying, for example, electrically conductive or magnetic materials, such as, for example, in the form of woven fibers in carpets, by a corresponding sensor in the cleaning device, for example. An inductive sensor, a pattern can be detected, for a specific information on the floor covering stands. The information about the flooring is alternatively filed after laying the flooring. It is also proposed that the transfer of information takes place at the junctions between different floor coverings. Preferred is a method in which the information is available on the entire surface of the floor covering, whereby negative effects during transport of the device in the off state can be avoided. By recognizing the flooring optimal cleaning is possible. On sensitive carpets, the suction power can be automatically reduced. The speed is infinitely adjusted to an optimum value, which guarantees maximum cleaning with minimum damage to the carpet. The pressure force of the brushes can be reduced to sensitive hard floor to damage prevent. Critical floors are detected and the rotating brushes are turned off.

Even with existing floor coverings, such as carpet carpeting and / or after laying out a floor covering, which is not provided with stored information, the proposed method is applicable. In this case, for example, the information about the covering are stored outside and above the floor covering. Correspondingly, information relevant to the floor covering in question is stored in an information carrier and, if appropriate, subsequently installed outside the floor covering. Thus, for example, the information about the floor covering can further be stored in a footing bordering the floor covering, further alternatively for example in the foot region of a door frame. Also, information carriers can be arranged in particular in a hidden arrangement of furniture or decorative objects. In this regard, it proves to be advantageous if such, on the flooring related information carrier provided with a self-adhesive layer by the user individually in local proximity to the floor covering are adhered. Also, specially provided for this purpose, the corresponding information-containing decorative objects or the like. Can be positioned close to the place. To further improve the proposed method to the effect that by means of this also a care and / or cleaning of different floor coverings in a room by means of only one floor care and / or cleaning device, which makes the respective settings adapted to the different floor coverings, can be achieved It is proposed that the information for a floor covering be stored in two different information carriers, of which each one information carrier interacts only spatially limited with the floor care device. For example, first information can be stored outside and above the floor covering, in particular in a transponder assigned to a floor covering. Corresponding are in a room assigned to each floor covering a transponder, for example, provided in the area of a baseboard. These - with reference to the floor coverings - external information carriers, in particular in the form of transponders, constantly transmit the stored care information to the floor care appliance. The floor care appliance receives further information directly on the floor covering to be processed at that moment, for example in the form of a bar code and / or in the form of incorporated electrically conductive or magnetic materials. These information uniquely assigned to the floor covering serves to identify the correct external transmission information, ie associated with this floor covering. This avoids a problem of assignment, in particular in the case of a spatial superimposition of two transponder transmission areas, in particular in the case of carpets located close to each other. The information stored in the floor covering represents a second information channel which identifies the correct transponder information by a common key code. Accordingly, it is proposed that the spatially closely limited interacting with the floor care device information carrier is limited to the dimensions of the associated floor covering. As long as working on the one floor covering floor care device receives the flooring side additional information, the corresponding, stored in the transponder cleaning information is assigned. Upon a change of the floor covering and the concomitant change of, for example, optical information from the floor covering, a change in the assignment of the transponder information follows accordingly, so that the care information to be assigned to the floor to be maintained can be evaluated by the device. Such a method can also be used, for example, in so-called carpet islands or carpet runners laid on hard floors. The hard floor here can be assigned no separate care information, so that after leaving a provided with appropriate information flooring - for example, a first carpet island - and the elimination of this additional information the care device in a manual operating mode expires because this device can no longer uniquely assign any of the transponder information acting on it. There is no identification via the common key code. If the next carpet surface - for example a second carpet island placed at a distance from the first carpet island - is recognized by the care device, the matching transponder information can also be identified, read out and taken into account in an automatic mode of the device with corresponding device settings with the aid of the new key deposited in the cover , This results in a flexible application of a provided with appropriate means care and cleaning device. Thus, in a further embodiment, a room can generally be provided with a plurality of information carriers, in particular transponders, which further include, for example, transferable care information of many common floor coverings. A later laid floor covering, which contains the spatially limited limited interacting with the floor care device information carrier or provided with this before laying, leads to a clear assignment of the corresponding transponder signal and the corresponding automatic control of the care device.

The invention further relates to a floor covering, such as. Carpet flooring in high or niederfloriger Schlingen- or Verlourqualität, or hard flooring, as further example. Tiles, stoneware, marble, floorboards, parquet, laminate or cork flooring. In order to clearly identify a floor covering in terms of its nature and condition, an information carrier is provided which contains detectable information about its nature and / or its nature by a cleaning device. This information carrier can be a transponder here. Alternatively, the information can also be stored in the form of a barcode and / or in the form of incorporated electrically conductive or magnetic materials. The information is preferably stored in the floor covering in the course of its production, so for example by weaving or tufts. There is also the possibility of the information or the information carrier to the floor covering, so for example. Adhere to the underside of a tile or floorboard. Also, for example, be laminated in laminated floors of the information carrier. The information carrier contains information about the type of flooring, for example, whether it is a carpet or hard floor. In addition, textures of the flooring are stored, so for example. For carpets, whether they are high pile or niederflorig, loop or suede is present. In addition, information about the materials used, in particular pile material and backing material can be stored. From this, conclusions can be drawn about the sensitivity and the various possibilities of possible brushing treatments. Furthermore, it is also possible to store information about the surface condition, in particular about the surface sensitivity. Thus, plank floors differ with regard to the surface hardness of plank floors as a result of which different machining parameters are of importance.

Finally, the invention is concerned with a floor care and / or cleaning device, in particular an electric vacuum cleaner, with means which make it possible to identify the type and / or condition of the floor covering. Such devices are known. For example, vacuum cleaners occasionally have ultrasonic sensors and receivers, especially in the area of any attachments, in order to detect the type of floor covering. In order to further refine such a flooring identification, it is proposed that the means are designed as read-out means which make it possible to detect information stored separately in the floor covering. This stored information serves to identify the type and / or condition of the floor covering. This information is read out by the device-side means. Depending on the information determined, parameters such as, for example, the suction power or brush speed or the pressure force of the brushes are adapted to the floor covering to be cleaned or maintained optimally adjusted. The information is stored on the side of the cover, for example, in a transponder. Accordingly, the device has corresponding means for reading the transponder information. Alternatively, the information is stored in the form of and / or in the form of incorporated electrically conductive or magnetic materials. The device has a corresponding sensor to detect the incorporated in the floor covering pattern, which stands for a specific information on the floor covering. Such flooring identification may be both part of a conventional household vacuum cleaner as well as part of an autonomously operating suction sweeper in the manner of a vacuum robot.

Fig. 1

ein Bodenpflege- und/oder Reinigungsgerät in Form eines Handstaubsaugers mit Mitteln zur Identifizierung des zu pflegenden und/oder zu reinigenden Bodenbelages;

Fig. 2

eine Unteransicht gegen das das Mittel aufweisende Vorsatzgerät des Handstaubsaugers gemäß Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

den schematischen Schnitt gemäß der Linie III-III in Fig. 2 durch den Bereich eines Auslesemittels des Gerätes in Auslesezuordnung zu einem in einem Bodenbelag angeordneten Informationsträger;

Fig. 4

eine Ausschnittdarstellung eines Bodenbelages in Draufsicht, eine erste Ausführungsform eines Informationsträgers betreffend;

Fig. 5

eine Darstellung gemäß Fig. 4, eine zweite Ausführungsform betref- fend;

Fig. 6

in einer dritten Ausführungsform eine Darstellung gemäß Fig. 4;

Fig. 7

eine vierte Ausführungsform des in dem Bodenbelag integrierten bzw. unter dem Bodenbelag angeordneten Informationsträgers;

Fig. 8

ein Blockschaltbild zur Erläuterung des Verfahrens;

Fig. 9

in einer weiteren Ausführungsform eine Raumecke in perspektivischer Darstellung mit in einer Fußleiste abgelegten Informationsträgern;

Fig.10

eine der Fig. 9 entsprechende Darstellung, jedoch eine weitere Ausführungsform betreffend.

The invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, which only illustrates several embodiments, explained in more detail. It shows:

Fig. 1

a floor care and / or cleaning device in the form of a hand vacuum cleaner with means for identifying the floor covering to be maintained and / or cleaned;

Fig. 2

a bottom view against the means having attachment of the hand vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1;

Fig. 3

the schematic section along the line III-III in Figure 2 through the region of a read-out means of the device in Auslesezuordnung to a arranged in a floor covering information carrier.

Fig. 4

a detail view of a floor covering in plan view, a first embodiment of an information carrier concerning;

Fig. 5

4 shows a representation according to FIG. 2, a second embodiment relating to fend;

Fig. 6

in a third embodiment, a representation of FIG. 4;

Fig. 7

a fourth embodiment of the integrated in the floor covering or under the floor covering information carrier;

Fig. 8

a block diagram for explaining the method;

Fig. 9

in a further embodiment, a room corner in a perspective view with stored in a baseboard information carriers;

Figure 10

an illustration corresponding to FIG. 9, but relating to a further embodiment.

Illustrated and described is first with reference to FIG. 1, a hand vacuum cleaner 1 with a device attachment 2 as Bodenpflege- and / or cleaning device 3. The attachment 2 is both electrically and fluidly connected to the vacuum cleaner 1 in connection and is in the illustrated embodiment as a suction - / brush attachment designed for cleaning floor coverings.

Accordingly, the device 3 has two brush rollers 4 aligned transversely to the usual direction of travel, which are assigned to the frontal region of the device 3. These brushes 4 are arranged in a suction port 5 fluidly connected to the blower motor of the vacuum cleaner 1 via a suction channel, not shown, and enforce the device bottom 6 in the region of a suction mouth 7 for brushing the floor covering 8.

The device 3 has means 9 for identifying the run over flooring 8. In the illustrated embodiment, this means 9 is a device bottom side and the floor covering 8 towards readout of flooring information free read-out means 10, which depending on the nature of integrated in the floor covering 8 or is created under this arranged information carrier 11.

In the floor covering according to the embodiment in FIG. 4, patterns are deposited by, for example, electrically conductive or magnetic materials, such as, for example, woven fibers 13 woven into carpets. The device-side read-out means 10 operates in this context, for example, inductively. The pattern 12 stands for a specific information about the floor covering 8, in particular about the type (eg carpet, hard floor, etc.) and / or the nature (deep pile, low pile, wood, tile, surface texture).

The information can also be stored in the form of a barcode, which further preferably interacts electromagnetically with the read-out means 10 of the device 2. Such, provided with a bar code 14 information carrier 11 can be arranged as shown in Fig. 5 schematically below the floor covering, so for example, be glued to the floor covering. Alternatively, the bar code 14 may also be realized by woven fibers 13 in the floor covering.

FIG. 7 shows an alternative in which the information carrier 11 is a transponder 15. This can be incorporated in the floor covering, so for example in carpets in the ground fabric, for example. By weaving or tufting. Alternatively, a transponder can also be attached to the floor covering, so for example be glued on the underside. In the case of, for example, laminate floors or other multi-layer floors, such a transponder 15 can also be laminated in an intermediate layer.

By passing over the information carrier 11 by means of the device 3, the stored information on the floor covering 8 by means of the read-out means 10 are detected. Depending on the information evaluated with respect to the floor covering 8, adjustment parameters of the device 3, such as, for example, the suction power, the brushing speed or the pressing force of the brushes 4, are subsequently changed. As a result, an optimal cleaning of the flooring 8 is possible. This way, the suction power can be automatically reduced on sensitive carpets. The speed is infinitely adjusted to an optimum value, which guarantees maximum cleaning with minimum damage to the carpet. For hard floors, especially surface-sensitive hard floors, the pressure force of the brushes 4 can be reduced to prevent damage. For critical floors, which are also detected via the information transfer, for example, the rotating brush rollers 4 can be turned off.

The transfer of the information can take place at the transitions between different floor coverings 8. The information is preferably provided on the entire surface of the floor covering 8, in the form of a plurality of mutually uniformly spaced information carriers 11 or by a uniform repetition of bar code deposits in the form of electrical or magnetic fibers 13 according to the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 6.

As can be seen from the block diagram in FIG. 8, the information stored in the information carrier 11 is transmitted to the receiver or retrieved by the read-out means 10. This pad information is supplied to a circuit 16, in which these are compared with stored in a memory module values. Based on a likewise stored table Thus, the required parameters can be assigned and transmitted to a control electronics 17 for adjusting the cleaning parameters.

Fig. 9 shows a further embodiment in which the information carrier 11 is arranged in the form of a transponder 15 outside and above the associated floor covering, so in the range of a baseboard 20. Accordingly, the device 3 has not shown means for receiving and evaluating the Transponder signals to set the device-side processing parameters.

Also, as shown in Fig.10, for example, along a baseboard 20 a plurality of transponder 15 may be arranged, each associated with a floor covering 8, for example in the form of illustrated rug islands 8. These rug islands are in the illustrated embodiment each other distanced to a hard floor covering 8 'and placed have different structure; require correspondingly different care. The respective care information is stored in the footrest side information carriers 11 '.

If necessary, the transponder transmission areas are also superimposed in the area of a floor covering 8, according to which the care appliance 1 that drives this floor covering 8 initially can not recognize a clear assignment. In order to filter out the correct transponder information for the floor covering 8, the floor covering 8 is provided with a further information carrier 11, for example in the form of a bar code 14 or optically detectable fibers. This information carrier 11 in the floor covering 8 forms a second information channel. The correct transponder information is identified by a common key code and filtered out.

The care device 1 has, according to this arrangement, two separate means for receiving the information, such as a bottom-side means for detecting the information stored in the floor covering 8 and a further means for receiving the transponder signals.

As long as the device operating on a floor covering 8, for example a carpet island, receives the additional information from the lining-side information carrier 11, the corresponding cleaning information from one of the transponders 15 is assigned. Are different floor coverings 8 as shown spaced from each other, for example, on a hard floor 8 ', which hard floor 8' has no additional information in the form of an information carrier 11, the device changes when leaving one of the floor coverings 8 because of the omission of additional information in a manual operating mode, since no additional assignment of the various transponder information acting on the device 2 takes place without the additional information. If the next floor covering, for example a second carpet island, is recognized by the device, the matching transponder information is again identified, read out and taken into account in the automatic mode with corresponding device settings with the aid of the new key stored in the covering information carrier 11.

All disclosed features are essential to the invention. The disclosure of the associated / attached priority documents (copy of the prior application) is hereby also incorporated in full in the disclosure of the application, also for the purpose of including features of these documents in claims of the present application.

Claims (13)

Method for cultivating and / or cleaning a floor covering (8) with a floor care and / or cleaning appliance (3), wherein the appliance (3) has means (9) which identify the type and / or condition of the floor covering (8) permit, characterized in that in the floor covering (8) or assigned to the floor covering (8) information is stored, which relate to its nature and / or nature and that the means (9) of the device (3) this information for the treatment of the floor covering (3) evaluate. Method according to Claim 1 or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the device (3) changes adjustment parameters such as suction power or brush speed or pressure force of the brushes (4) as a function of the information evaluated with respect to the floor covering (8). Method according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the information in the floor covering (8) in the course of the production of the floor covering (8) are stored. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the information is stored in a transponder (15) and / or in the form of a barcode (14) and / or in the form of incorporated electrically conductive or magnetic materials. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the information about the floor covering (8) after laying the floor covering (8) are stored. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the information about the floor covering (8) are deposited outside and above the floor covering (8). Method according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the information about the floor covering (8) in a the floor covering (8) delimiting skirting board (20) are stored. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the information for a floor covering (8) in two different information carriers (11, 11 ') are stored, of which in any case an information carrier (11) only limited in space with the floor care device (3) cooperates. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the spatially closely limited with the floor care device (3) cooperating information carrier (11) is limited to the dimensions of the associated floor covering (8). Floor covering (8), characterized by an information carrier (11) containing by a cleaning device (3) detectable information about its nature and / or its nature. Floor covering according to claim 10 or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the information in the floor covering (8) in the course of the production of the floor covering (8) are stored. Floor covering according to one or more of claims 10 to 11 or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the information is stored in a transponder (15) and / or in the form of a bar code (14) and / or in the form of incorporated electrically conductive or magnetic materials. Floor care and / or cleaning device (3), in particular an electric vacuum cleaner (1), with means (9) which make it possible to identify the type and / or condition of the floor covering (8), characterized in that the means (9) are designed as read-out means (10), which make it possible to detect separately stored information in the floor covering (8).

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