Method and apparatus for carrying out a cleaning process for a cleaning appliance, and cleaning appliance

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method for carrying out a cleaning process for a cleaning device. An additional heating signal is provided for activating an auxiliary heater during a heating process and a steam generation process. The additional heating signal is to heat the auxiliary heater to a temperature suitable for evaporating water. A supply signal is provided to a supply device during the steam generation process, wherein the supply signal causes water to be supplied to the auxiliary heater to generate steam. A heat pump signal is provided for activating the heat pump during an air washing process. A fan signal is provided for activating the fan during the air washing process in order to propel the steam for cleaning the articles to be cleaned into the treatment chamber or drum and to propel the steam from the treatment chamber or drum into the evaporator for cleaning the steam.

1 . A method for carrying out a cleaning process for a cleaning device , which has a treatment chamber for receiving articles to be cleaned, a heating device with a heat pump and an auxiliary heater, and a fan for propelling process air through a circuit leading through the treatment chamber and the heating device, wherein the method comprises:
 providing an additional heating signal for activating the auxiliary heater during a heating process and during a steam generation process following the heating process, to heat the auxiliary heater to a temperature suitable for evaporating water;   providing a supply signal to an interface to a supply device during the steam generation process, wherein the supply signal causes water to be supplied to the auxiliary heater to generate steam;   providing a heat pump signal for activating the heat pump during an air washing process following the steam generation process; and   providing a fan signal for activating the fan during the air washing process to propel the steam for cleaning the articles to be cleaned into the treatment chamber and to propel it from the treatment chamber into an evaporator of the heat pump for cleaning the steam.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat pump signal is configured to activate the heat pump during the heating process to heat the process air. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the providing the heat pump signal comprises providing the heat pump signal during the heating process to heat the process air to at least 45° C. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein, in the step of providing the supply signal, the supply signal is provided during the steam generation process to an interface to the supply device designed as a pump to pump the water to the auxiliary heater ( 106 ). 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the supply signal is provided which causes a pumping of the water at intervals during the steam generation process. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing the supply signal is performed during a reheating process taking place after the air washing process, and the step of providing the fan signal for activating the fan is performed during the reheating process to heat the articles to be cleaned. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , comprising a step of providing a fragrance signal for activating a delivery device for introducing a fragrance into the process air during the reheating process . 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claims 1 , wherein the step of providing the fan signal for activating the fan during a fan process preceding the heating process is carried out, to loosen, using the process air, solids from the articles to be cleaned. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the fan signal is provided which specifies a rotational speed or a direction of rotation of the fan. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to one of  claim 8 , wherein the fan signal during the steam generation process specifies a direction of rotation of the fan reversed with respect to the fan process. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claims 1 , comprising a step of providing a pumping signal for activating a condensate pump during a pumping process, following the air washing process, to pump off particles, filtered from the steam and condensed at the evaporator, from the circuit, after cleaning of the steam. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled). 
     
     
         13 . A cleaning device comprising:
 a treatment chamber for receiving articles to be cleaned;   a heating device with an auxiliary heater and heat pump;   a fan for propelling process air through a circuit leading through the treatment chamber and the heating device; and   a controller configured to:
 provide an additional heating signal to the heating device to activate the auxiliary heater during a heating process and during a steam generation process following the heating process of the heating device, wherein the additional heating signal is configured to heat the auxiliary heater to a temperature suitable for evaporating water; 
 provide a supply signal to a supply device during the steam generation process, wherein the supply signal is configured to cause water to be supplied from the supply device to the auxiliary heater to generate steam; 
 provide a heat pump signal configured to the heat pump, wherein the heat pump signal is configured to active the heat pump during an air washing process following the steam generation process; and 
 provide a fan signal for to the fan, wherein the fan signal is configured to activate the fan during the air washing process to propel the steam for cleaning the articles to be cleaned into the treatment chamber and to propel the steam from the treatment chamber into the evaporator of the heat pump for cleaning the steam. 
   
     
     
         14 . The cleaning device according to  claim 13 , wherein the heat pump comprises an evaporator that has a hydrophilic surface. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment chamber is a drum. 
     
     
         16 . The cleaning device of  claim 13 , wherein the treatment chamber is a drum.