Method for operating a floor cleaning machine

Abstract

A method for operating a floor cleaning machine on a floor surface. The floor cleaning machine includes a cleaning-liquid container, a dirty-liquid container, a chassis for moving the floor cleaning machine over the floor surface, a cleaning means and a dirty-liquid take-up means. The method includes: sensing an amount of cleaning liquid supplied from the cleaning-liquid tank to the cleaning means within a first time interval while moving the floor cleaning machine; sensing an amount of dirty liquid being removed from the dirty-liquid take-up means to the dirty-liquid container within a second time interval while moving the floor cleaning machine; comparing the sensed amount of cleaning liquid against a first threshold value; comparing the sensed amount of dirty liquid against a second threshold value; outputting a first fault signal if the sensed amount of cleaning liquid is greater than the first threshold value and the sensed amount of dirty liquid is less than the second threshold value.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for operating a floor cleaning machine ( 1 ) on a floor surface ( 7 ), the floor cleaning machine ( 1 ) comprising a cleaning-liquid container ( 17 ), a dirty-liquid container ( 33 ), a chassis ( 5 ) for moving the floor cleaning machine ( 1 ) over the floor surface ( 7 ), a cleaning means ( 9 ) and a dirty-liquid take-up means ( 47 ), the cleaning means ( 9 ) having cleaning elements ( 11 ) configured to engage with the floor surface ( 7 ), the cleaning means ( 11 ) being connected to the cleaning-liquid container ( 17 ) for the purpose of supplying cleaning liquid to the cleaning means ( 11 ) and being configured to apply cleaning liquid to the floor surface ( 7 ) to be cleaned, the dirty-liquid take-up means ( 47 ) that is connected to the dirty-liquid container ( 33 ) and configured to transmit dirty liquid from the floor surface ( 7 ) to the dirty-liquid container ( 33 ), the method comprising:
 moving the floor cleaning machine ( 1 ) over the floor surface ( 7 ),   sensing, as it moves, the amount of cleaning liquid being supplied from the cleaning-liquid tank ( 17 ) to the cleaning means ( 11 ) within a first time interval,   sensing, as it moves, the amount of dirty liquid being removed from the dirty-liquid take-up means ( 47 ) to the dirty-liquid container ( 33 ) within a second time interval,   comparing the sensed amount of cleaning liquid against a first threshold value,   comparing the sensed amount of dirty liquid against a second threshold value,   outputting a first fault signal if the sensed amount of cleaning liquid is greater than the first threshold value and the sensed amount of dirty liquid is less than the second threshold value.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , the floor cleaning machine ( 1 ) comprising a suction-extraction means ( 35 ) that applies negative pressure to the dirty-liquid tank ( 33 ) and comprises an electric drive motor ( 37 ) that, in operation, is supplied with a voltage of a predefined magnitude, such that a supply current flows through the drive motor ( 37 ),
 the intensity of the supply current being sensed in a third time interval,   the sensed intensity of the supply current being compared against a third threshold value,   the sensed amount of dirty liquid being compared against a fourth threshold value, and   a second fault signal being output if the sensed intensity of the supply current is less than the third threshold value and the sensed amount of dirty liquid is less than the fourth threshold value.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , the floor cleaning machine ( 1 ) comprising a means designed to sense the amount of cleaning liquid supplied from the cleaning-liquid tank ( 17 ) to the cleaning means ( 11 ) within a first time interval, and
 the floor cleaning machine ( 1 ) comprising a means designed to sense the amount of dirty liquid removed from the dirty-liquid take-up means ( 47 ) to the dirty-liquid container ( 33 ) within a second time interval.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , the floor cleaning machine ( 1 ) comprising a means designed to sense the intensity of the supply current in a third time interval. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the chassis ( 5 ) of the floor cleaning machine ( 1 ) comprises a drive ( 8 ) configured to drive the chassis in order to move the floor cleaning machine ( 1 ) over the floor surface ( 7 ), and
 the drive ( 8 ) being switched off if the first or the second fault signal is present.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , the floor cleaning machine ( 1 ) being designed as an autonomous floor cleaning machine ( 1 ). 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning-liquid container ( 17 ) and the cleaning means ( 9 ) are connected by a cleaning-liquid pipe ( 15 ) for the purpose of supplying cleaning liquid, and
 a flow sensor ( 21 ) is provided, in the cleaning-liquid pipe ( 15 ), as a means for sensing the amount of cleaning liquid supplied in the first time interval.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning-liquid container ( 17 ) and the cleaning means ( 9 ) are connected by a cleaning-liquid pipe ( 15 ) for the purpose of supplying cleaning liquid, and
 a cleaning-liquid pump ( 23 ) being provided, in the cleaning-liquid pipe ( 15 ), that is designed to sense the amount of cleaning liquid supplied to the cleaning means ( 11 ) in the first time interval, such that the pump ( 23 ) acts as a means for sensing the amount of cleaning liquid supplied from the cleaning-liquid container ( 17 ) to the cleaning means ( 11 ) within a first time interval.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , a first means ( 27 ,  29 ) being provided for the purpose of sensing the level ( 25 ) in the cleaning-liquid container, and
 the amount of cleaning liquid supplied in the first time interval being sensed, by the first means, by sensing of a change in the level ( 25 ) in the cleaning-liquid container ( 17 ) in the first time interval.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , the first means ( 27 ,  29 ), for the purpose of sensing the level ( 25 ) in the cleaning-liquid container ( 17 ), comprises a float ( 29 ), the change in the position of the latter in the first time interval being sensed in order thereby to sense the amount of cleaning liquid supplied in the first time interval. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , a second means being provided, for the purpose of sensing the level ( 43 ) in the dirty-liquid container ( 33 ), and
 the amount of cleaning liquid supplied in the first time interval being sensed, by the second means, by sensing of a change in the level ( 43 ) in the dirty-liquid container in the second time interval.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , the second means, for the purpose of sensing the level ( 43 ) in the dirty-liquid container, being designed as a pressure sensor ( 39 ,  41 ). 
     
     
         13 . A floor cleaning machine designed to execute the method according to  claim 1 .