Chemical Ordering Operator App

Abstract

Predicting a refill requirement for wash substances for performing a vehicle wash using a wash system for the car wash for performing the vehicle washing, wherein the control module is for providing a refill data set for predicting a refill requirement for washing substances. The control module comprises at least one measuring device for detecting current fill level data for each of the washing substances and a data link between the at least one measuring device and the control module for transmitting the detected fill level data to the control module. The control module is designed to perform a prediction function for calculating a refill data set, in which a prediction of the refill requirement is encoded, based on planning data, which represent planned vehicle washes at the washing system taking into account washing-substance-specific consumption data.

Claims

1. A method for predicting a refill requirement for washing substances for performing a vehicle wash by means of a washing system, comprising the following method steps: reading in currently detected fill level data for each of the washing substances by means of a respective measuring device, the reading in being carried out via a read-in interface; On a control module, executing a prediction function for calculating a refill data set, in which a prediction of the refill requirement is encoded, on the basis of planning data representing scheduled vehicle washes at the car wash, taking into account wash substance-specific consumption data and the acquired fill level data; and outputting the calculated refill data set for predicting a wash substance-specific refill requirement on an output device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring device is a fill level sensor that detects the level of the wash substance in a container.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the measuring device comprises or is in data exchange with an identification device, the identification device being arranged to identify the washing substance.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the identification device is a scanner that scans a digital code attached to the container for the washing substance.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein reading in the fill level data comprises directly detecting the fill levels at the washing system and optionally indirectly detecting the fill levels in a storage area of the washing system.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the consumption data for one wash substance at a time is calculated from a sensed metering setting of a digital pump used to provide the respective wash substance.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein consumption data from each or selected washes are aggregated.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the consumption data are calculated specifically for each washing plant.

9. The method according to claim 1, in which the control module matches the calculated refill data set representing a refill requirement of a respective washing substance for the washing system with a reference value determined from prediction data.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the calculated and output refill data set for predicting a refill requirement comprises an ascending alert, depending on a time interval to the upcoming refill requirement.

11. A control module for a car wash for performing a vehicle wash, the control module for providing a refill data set for predicting a refill requirement for wash substances, comprising: at least one measuring device for acquiring current fill level data for each of the washing substances; a data link between the at least one measuring device and the control module for transmitting the detected fill level data to the control module; wherein the control module is designed to perform a prediction function for calculating a refill data set, in which a prediction of the refill requirement is encoded, on the basis of planning data representing scheduled vehicle washes at the car wash, taking into account wash substance-specific consumption data and the detected fill level data, and an output device designed to output the refill data set calculated by the control module for predicting a wash substance-specific refill requirement.

12. A system for providing a refill data set for predicting a refill requirement for wash substances for a vehicle wash, comprising: a control module according to claim 11, and a car wash for carrying out the washing of the vehicle.

13. A computer program, the computer program being loadable into a memory unit of a computing unit and including program code portions for causing the computing unit to execute the method of predicting a refill requirement for wash substances for a wash system according to claim 1 when the computer program is executed in the computing unit.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein average consumption values are determined from the collected consumption data.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the consumption data are correlated with washing plant-specific historical consumption data.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the consumption data are correlated with weather data.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the consumption data are correlated with holiday data.

18. The method according to claim 9, in which the control module matches the calculated refill data set representing a refill requirement of a respective washing substance for the washing system with a reference value determined from prediction data of the washing system by means of averaging.

19. The method according to claim 1, in which the control module matches the calculated refill data set representing a refill requirement of a respective washing substance for the washing system with a reference value determined from and/or historical data of the washing system.

20. The method according to claim 19, in which the control module matches the calculated refill data set representing a refill requirement of a respective washing substance for the washing system with a reference value determined from historical data of the washing system by means of averaging.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0057] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an example of a control module for a washing system according to the invention;

[0058] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a first example of a system according to the invention with a control module and a washing system;

[0059] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a second example of a system according to the invention with a control module and a washing system;

[0060] FIG. 4 is an example of a flow chart for a method according to the invention for predicting a refill requirement for washing substances;

[0061] FIG. 5 is a second example of a flow chart for a method according to the invention for predicting a refill requirement for washing substances;

[0062] FIG. 6 is another example of a flow chart for a method according to the invention for predicting a refill requirement for washing substances.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0063] In the following, the invention is described in more detail by means of embodiment examples in connection with the figures.

[0064] The scope of protection of the present invention is given by the claims and is not limited by the features explained in the description or shown in the figures.

[0065] The present invention relates to a method, control module, system, and computer program for predicting a refill requirement for washing substances for performing a vehicle wash by means of a washing system

[0066] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an example of a control module 100 for a washing system according to the invention. In contrast to FIG. 1, the control module 100 can also be configurated as a distributed system. The control module 100 comprises a read-in interface 14. The fill level data fsd is read in via the read-in interface 14. The fill level data fsd are provided by the measuring device 12A, 12B, 12C at the read-in interface 14 of the control module 100. The measuring device 12A, 12B, 12C use the fill level data fsd to detect the current fill level of the containers 10A, 10B, 100. The containers 10A, 10B, 100 contain washing substances. The containers 10A, 10B, 100 provide various washing substances, the fill level of which is monitored by the measuring devices 12A, 12B, 12C continuously or at specific times. Although the measuring devices 12A, 12B, 12C are shown here as individual measuring devices, a central measuring device can also detect the fill level of the respective containers. Furthermore, the control module 100 can read in consumption data vds and planning data planning data pds via interfaces (not shown).

[0067] In a possible embodiment, the read-in interface 14 can be implemented, for example, via a proprietary CAN protocol (CAN: Controller Area Network) on a CAN bus. The sensors are fill level sensors with a reed chain, which are evaluated by evaluation electronics, which can preferably be arranged in the dosing pump. Alternatively, a decentralized 10 card with evaluation electronics can be used instead of a dosing pump, which then also converts the evaluation result to the CAN bus. The CAN bus or the CAN bus system can be designed with a data transmission speed of up to 1 Mbit/s for serial data exchange between sensors and/or control units. Depending on the version of the bus system, each of the networked devices (control module, dosing pump with an electronic unit and/or sensors, etc.) has a CAN interface (bus controller+bus transceiver) to be connected to the bus. The device can first check whether the data packets sent via the bus are of significance for the device. This is done via so-called identifiers, which are contained in each data packet and provide information about data content and the priority of the information. If several control units try to send information at the same time, the system checks which message has the highest priority. This message is sent first, the other messages follow in order of priority as soon as the bus is free again. The CAN bus can also detect faulty transmissions and repeat them accordingly.

[0068] The memory 18 of the control module 100 contains the implemented prediction function 16. The prediction function 16 is executed by the control module 100 to calculate a refill data set ads. In the refill data set ads, the control module 100 encodes a prediction of a refill requirement of one of the containers 10A, 10B, 10C. The control module 100 communicates the refill data set ads to a display device 19, such as a display screen.

[0069] FIG. 2 shows in a schematic representation a system 200 according to the invention with a control module 100 and a washing system 20, which is symbolized in the schematic representation by a washing system terminal of a portal washing system. The control module 100 is part of a computing unit 22, and the computing unit 22 is installed at the terminal of the car wash 20. The computing unit 22 can communicate with an output device 24, which is shown here as a mobile terminal. In the present case, wireless communication takes place. The output on the mobile terminal may be provided in various ways. For example, acoustic, optical and/or haptic signals (vibration) or a combination thereof may be output.

[0070] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a further embodiment of a system according to the invention with a control module 100 and a washing system 30. In this example, the control module 100 is implemented in a stored program controller 34 at the washing system 30. Also, the output device, which is formed here as a display screen 32, is arranged at the washing system 30.

[0071] FIG. 4 shows an example of a flowchart for a method 400 according to the invention for predicting a refill requirement for washing substances. The method is executed by the control module 100 described above. When the method is executed (START), a sequence of steps may be executed, in particular steps S1 to S5 onwards. In a first step S1, the currently detected fill level data fsd are read in for each of the washing substances in the containers 10A, 10B, 100. The fill level data fsd are provided by the measuring devices 12A, 12B, 12C. The fill level data fsd are read in via the read-in interface 14 of the control module 100.

[0072] In step S3, the control module 100 executes the prediction function 16 stored in a memory 18 of the control module 100. The prediction function 16 is used to calculate the refill data set ads, in which a prediction of the refill requirement is end-coded, in step S4. The refill data set ads represents the refill requirement based on planning data, the planned vehicle washes at the car wash, and takes into account wash substance-specific consumption data and the recorded fill level data fsd.

[0073] In step S5, the method 400 provides for outputting the calculated refill data set to the output device 20 for predicting a wash substance-specific refill requirement. This may be done, for example, on the mobile terminal 24 of FIG. 2 or the screen 32 of FIG. 3. The method may end here or branch back to step S1 and be executed one or more further times there. In this embodiment example, only steps S1, S3 and S5 are executed.

[0074] FIG. 5 is a second example of a flow diagram for a method 500 according to the invention for predicting a refill requirement for washing substances. Compared to the method 400, this method provides in particular at least one further step S2a. In step S2a, the fill levels in the storage containers are read in directly at the washing system 20,30. This can be done via a set of—sometimes different—fill level sensors. Cumulatively, a step S2b can be executed in which the fill levels in the respective storage containers are read in, which are not directly or not yet currently connected to the washing system 20, 30, but are located, for example, in a storage area.

[0075] In another embodiment not shown, a further step S1a may be performed. In step S1a, an identification device of the measuring device is used to identify one of the washing substances. For this purpose, a scanner may be formed, for example, which scans a digital code attached to the container for the washing substance.

[0076] FIG. 6 is another example of a flow chart for a method according to the invention for predicting a refill requirement for washing substances. Compared to the method 400, this method in particular provides for a further step S7. In step S7, the control module 100 compares the calculated refill data set representing a refill requirement of a respective washing substance for the washing system with a reference value. The reference value is determined from forecasts and/or historical data of the washing system, in particular by means of averaging.

[0077] Methods 500 of FIGS. 5 and 600 of FIG. 6 can also be combined.

[0078] Finally, it should be noted that the description of the invention and the embodiments are in principle not to be understood restrictively with respect to any particular physical realization of the invention. All features explained and shown in connection with individual embodiments of the invention may be provided in different combinations in the subject matter according to the invention in order to simultaneously realize their advantageous effects.

[0079] The scope of protection of the present invention is given by the claims and is not limited by the features explained in the description or shown in the figures.

[0080] It is particularly obvious to a person skilled in the art that the invention can be applied not only to the sensor data mentioned, but also to other metrologically recorded variables from which a refilling requirement of the washing substances can be determined.

[0081] List of Reference Signs

[0082] 100 Control module

[0083] 10A, 10B, 10CB Vessel with washing substance

[0084] 12A, 12B, 12C Measuring device

[0085] fsd Fill Level data

[0086] vds Consumption data

[0087] pds Planning data

[0088] ads refill data set

[0089] 14 Read-in interface

[0090] 16 Prediction function

[0091] 18 Memory

[0092] 19 Output device

[0093] 200 System with a control module and a washing system

[0094] 20 Car wash

[0095] 22 Calculation unit

[0096] 24 Output device

[0097] 30 Car wash

[0098] 32 Output device

[0099] 34 Programmable logic controller

[0100] 400, 500, 600 Method according to the invention

[0101] S1 to S7 Process steps