Cleaning apparatus and cleaning system

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning apparatus. The cleaning apparatus includes at least one cleaning tool for cleaning an object to be cleaned, an operating unit for a user, which includes at least one operating element for operating the cleaning apparatus, a control unit for processing operating instructions, a receptacle, arranged on the operating unit, for an external accessory that can be associated with the cleaning apparatus and that has a display device with an image display, wherein the accessory is removably positionable in the receptacle in a defined position, as well as a communication unit by way of which display information for being displayed on the image display are transmittable from the cleaning apparatus to the accessory positioned in the receptacle. The invention also relates to a cleaning system.

1 . A cleaning apparatus, comprising at least one cleaning tool for cleaning an object to be cleaned, an operating unit for a user, which comprises at least one operating element for operating the cleaning apparatus, a control unit for processing operating instructions, a receptacle, arranged on the operating unit, for an external accessory adapted to be associated with the cleaning apparatus and that has a display device with an image display, wherein the accessory is removably positionable in the receptacle in a defined position, as well as a communication unit by way of which display information for being displayed on the image display are transmittable from the cleaning apparatus to the accessory positioned in the receptacle. 
     
     
         2 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle comprises or forms at least one abutment element against which the accessory abuts. 
     
     
         3 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the abutment element is of at least one of flat and planar configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle comprises or forms a shoulder for abutting the accessory. 
     
     
         5 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle defines an abutment plane that encloses an angle with the horizontal of about 0° to 90°. 
     
     
         6 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is arranged or arrangable on the operating unit in such a way that the image display of the accessory positioned in the receptacle defines an image plane substantially perpendicular to the viewing direction of the user. 
     
     
         7 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a surface normal of an abutment plane defined by the receptacle, is oriented in a vertical plane. 
     
     
         8 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle comprises at least one frictional coefficient-increasing element against which the accessory is able to abut, or wherein such a frictional coefficient-increasing element is arranged on the receptacle. 
     
     
         9 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is configured to be movable relative to the operating unit for changing a viewing angle of the user on the image display. 
     
     
         10 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the receptacle is adjustable over an angular range of at least about 45°. 
     
     
         11 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning apparatus comprises a housing that, in relation to a longitudinal direction of the cleaning apparatus, has a movable housing part arranged in front of the operating unit, said housing part being pivotable from a closed position in the direction of the operating unit into an open position and vice versa, and wherein the housing part in the open position is positioned free of contact with at least one of the receptacle and the accessory positioned therein. 
     
     
         12 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the operating unit comprises a gripping device for the user with two gripping elements arranged at a distance from one another. 
     
     
         13 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the gripping elements define a gripping plane and wherein an abutment plane defined by the receptacle defines an angle of less than about 20° with the gripping plane. 
     
     
         14 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the receptacle is arranged on the operating unit offset in a direction away from the user relative to the gripping elements. 
     
     
         15 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the offset of the receptacle is about 5 cm to 20 cm. 
     
     
         16 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the receptacle, in relation to a transverse direction of the cleaning apparatus, is arranged between the gripping elements, in a viewing direction of the user toward the image display of the accessory arranged in the receptacle. 
     
     
         17 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein an operating element for acting on a chassis of the cleaning apparatus is arranged laterally next to a respective gripping element, and wherein the receptacle is arranged between the operating elements in relation to the transverse direction. 
     
     
         18 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the gripping elements are configured as longitudinal gripping elements and the receptacle, when the hands of the user are placed with the thenar eminence against the gripping elements, is arranged substantially in a region between the base of the thumbs and the distal ends of the thumbs. 
     
     
         19 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the operating unit comprises at least one operating element that is arranged in front of the user in relation to the receptacle. 
     
     
         20 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein the operating element is a program selector switch for setting a cleaning program of the cleaning apparatus. 
     
     
         21 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the operating unit comprises an operating field, defining an operating plane, on which at least one operating element is arranged, and wherein the operating plane is arranged in front of the receptacle in relation to the user. 
     
     
         22 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is configured for the arrangement of accessories having at least one of the following:
 having a width of at least about 15 cm;   having a diagonal of the image display up to at least about 10 inches.   
     
     
         23 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the operating unit, in relation to a longitudinal direction of the cleaning apparatus, is arranged on the rear side of said cleaning apparatus. 
     
     
         24 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning apparatus comprises a charging device for providing electrical energy for the accessory, and wherein the accessory is able to be applied with electrical energy when arranged in the receptacle. 
     
     
         25 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the charging device is an inductive charging device for contactlessly acting on the accessory. 
     
     
         26 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the charging device comprises at least one of the following:
 at least one electrical connecting element that is fixedly arranged on the receptacle and that couples to a corresponding electrical connecting element of the accessory;   a connector socket for connecting a charging cable for the accessory;   a charging cable with a connecting element for connecting to an electrical connecting element of the accessory.   
     
     
         27 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning apparatus comprises an integrated display device, arranged on the operating unit, for displaying status information. 
     
     
         28 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the display device is at least partially covered by the accessory when same is arranged in the receptacle. 
     
     
         29 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the display device is switched off when the accessory is arranged in the receptacle and is activatable or activated when the accessory is removed from the receptacle. 
     
     
         30 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the communication unit is configured to transmit display information in a contact-based or contactless manner. 
     
     
         31 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the communication unit is automatically activated to transmit the display information upon the accessory being positioned in the receptacle and/or is automatically deactivated upon the accessory being removed from the receptacle. 
     
     
         32 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein display information relating to at least one of the following is transmittable to the accessory:
 information relating to the use of at least one cleaning tool;   information relating to the consumption, the supply, or the state of at least one consumable component used for the operation;   information relating to at least one of an elapsed usage time an a remaining usage time of the cleaning apparatus;   information relating to at least one of a preceding usage type and a remaining usage type of the cleaning apparatus;   instructions for the user for assisting in cleaning.   
     
     
         33 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least one of status information and operational information relating to the operation of the cleaning apparatus is transmittable by the communication unit to the accessory for at least one of storage and forwarding to an external data processing device. 
     
     
         34 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning apparatus is operable without a separate authentication device, or wherein an authentication device is required to operate the cleaning apparatus. 
     
     
         35 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein an emergency cleaning operation is performable with the cleaning apparatus in the absence of an authentication device or a valid authentication. 
     
     
         36 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein associated with the cleaning apparatus is at least one authentication device, by means of which an access authorization required for the operation of the cleaning apparatus is providable to the same. 
     
     
         37 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 36 , wherein the access authorization of the cleaning apparatus is transmittable contactlessly or in a contact-based manner. 
     
     
         38 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 36 , wherein the cleaning apparatus comprises a receptacle in which the authentication device is releasably arrangable. 
     
     
         39 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 36 , wherein the access authorization is saved in a storage unit or physically stored on the authentication device. 
     
     
         40 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 36 , wherein the access authorization is inputtable by the user on the authentication device by means of an input device and is transmittable to the cleaning apparatus. 
     
     
         41 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 34 , wherein the accessory comprises or forms an authentication device. 
     
     
         42 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 34 , wherein an authorization means formed separate from the accessory comprises or forms an authentication device. 
     
     
         43 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 42 , wherein the authorization means is configured as a transponder. 
     
     
         44 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 44 , wherein a user profile is provided. 
     
     
         45 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 45 , wherein an authorization profile is provided, wherein two or more different authorization profiles are provided, wherein different functional scopes are providable to a user by the cleaning apparatus in dependence on the authorization profile. 
     
     
         46 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 44 , wherein a least one of a user profile and authorization profile is/are associated with the access authorization. 
     
     
         47 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 45 , wherein hierarchical authorization levels are provided. 
     
     
         48 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 45 , wherein at least one of the user profile and authorization profile:
 is stored or saved in or on the authentication device;   is saved in a storage unit of the cleaning apparatus;   is saved in a storage unit of a data processing device arranged externally to the cleaning apparatus, wherein by means of at least one of the authentication device and the cleaning apparatus, a data connection to the data processing device being establishable for reading out and transmitting at least one of the the user profile and the authorization profile directly or indirectly to the cleaning apparatus.   
     
     
         49 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 45 , wherein in dependence on the user profile
 display information with corresponding image contents are providable to the image display;   a presetting of at least one functional unit of the cleaning apparatus is performed.   
     
     
         50 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 45 , wherein in dependence on the authorization profile
 at least one of access authorizations, user profiles, and authorization profiles are created or deleted;   at least one of an adaptation of user profiles and of authorization profiles are performed;   a report on the usage of the cleaning apparatus are created;   usage data of the cleaning apparatus are evaluated.   
     
     
         51 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning apparatus is a floor cleaning apparatus. 
     
     
         52 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning apparatus is a hand-guided cleaning apparatus or a ride-on or stand-on cleaning apparatus. 
     
     
         53 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning apparatus is configured as a self-propelled and self-steering cleaning apparatus. 
     
     
         54 . The cleaning apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning apparatus is a cleaning apparatus that cleans with a cleaning jet. 
     
     
         55 . A cleaning system, comprising a cleaning apparatus and at least one external accessory, the cleaning apparatus comprising at least one cleaning tool for cleaning an object to be cleaned, an operating unit for a user, which comprises at least one operating element for operating the cleaning apparatus, a control unit for processing operating instructions, a receptacle, arranged on the operating unit, for the at least one accessory adapted to be associated with the cleaning apparatus and that has a display device with an image display, wherein the at least one accessory is removably positionable in the receptacle in a defined position, the cleaning apparatus further comprising a communication unit by way of which display information for being displayed on the image display are transmittable from the cleaning apparatus to the at least one accessory positioned in the receptacle. 
     
     
         56 . The cleaning system in accordance with  claim 55 , wherein the accessory is a smartphone or a tablet computer, and/or wherein the accessory comprises a touch-sensitive display device for accepting operating instructions of the user. 
     
     
         57 . The cleaning system in accordance with  claim 55 , wherein executably saved on the accessory is a user application program by way of which operating instructions for the cleaning apparatus are providable by the user, wherein the operating instructions are transmittable from the accessory to the communication unit. 
     
     
         58 . The cleaning system in accordance with  claim 57 , wherein the operating instructions comprise at least one of the following:
 settings of at least one operating parameter of a functional unit of the cleaning apparatus;   at least one of creating and changing access authorizations, user profiles, and authorization profiles for users.   
     
     
         59 . The cleaning system in accordance with  claim 57 , wherein by way of the user application program, at least one digital operating element is providable on the display device for accepting operating instructions. 
     
     
         60 . The cleaning system in accordance with  claim 55 , wherein by way of the user application program, at least one digital operating element is providable on the display device for accepting operating instructions, wherein the operating unit comprises no corresponding physical functionally identical operating element. 
     
     
         61 . The cleaning system in accordance with  claim 55 , wherein by way of at least one of the accessory and the communication unit, a communicative connection with an externally arranged data processing device is established. 
     
     
         62 . A cleaning system, comprising a cleaning apparatus and at least one authentication device by way of which an access authorization is providable to the cleaning apparatus, the cleaning apparatus comprising at least one cleaning tool for cleaning an object to be cleaned, an operating unit for a user, which comprises at least one operating element for operating the cleaning apparatus, a control unit for processing operating instructions, a receptacle, arranged on the operating unit, for an external accessory that is adapted to be associated with the cleaning apparatus and that has a display device with an image display, wherein the accessory is removably positionable in the receptacle in a defined position, as well as a communication unit by way of which display information for being displayed on the image display are transmittable from the cleaning apparatus to the accessory positioned in the receptacle.