Comparison cleaning Machines

Classic cleaning machines (not robots) in our time can be of the following types: street sweepers, sweeper-suction machines, floor scrubbers, as well as window cleaning devices (“ window vacuum cleaners ”). In addition, special cleaning robots are produced - for windows, for cleaning the pool. Here's a more detailed description of each of these options:

– Sweeper. Machines that operate on the broom principle: moving brushes sweep away debris from the floor, sidewalk or other surface, collecting it in a special container. Such units are extremely simple, most of them generally have a mechanical drive (see below). And from the simplicity of the design comes such advantages as low weight, low cost, reliability and ease of maintenance/repair. On the other hand, in terms of cleaning efficiency, such equipment is inferior to the same sweeping and suction devices. We emphasize that most models in this category are designed for large open spaces, including outdoors; for small cleaning volumes and with an abundance of hard-to-reach places, it is better to use the household version of sweepers (see below)

— Sweeping and suction. Machines that combine sweeping and suction in operation, in other words, they work simultaneously as a broom and a vacuum cleaner: debr...is and dust are collected by brushes, then, due to the flow of air, the collected material is drawn into the garbage container. This increases the cleaning efficiency compared to “pure sweeping” units, but the machines themselves are heavier and more expensive, and a mechanical drive is not applicable to them - an engine is required to operate the suction system.

– Floor scrubber. Machines for wet cleaning of non-carpeted floors (linoleum, laminate, marble, etc.). A classic scrubber dryer works as follows: water with detergent is supplied to the floor through a sprayer at the front of the unit, the moistened surface is brushed, after which the dirty water is collected by a special device (suction beam) at the rear of the device and drawn into a separate tank. Thus, a clean, quickly drying floor is immediately left behind the machine. In addition, this category also includes so-called floor polishers - devices designed to treat the floor mainly using rotating brushes. Such units may provide the ability to supply water or detergent to the brush, but there is no suction system; So floor polishers were originally intended for relatively simple cleaning, as well as rubbing and polishing non-carpet surfaces. At the same time, it is worth noting that some of these devices are very versatile; they can be equipped with various additional attachments and accessories - including discs for cleaning carpets and even a vacuum cleaner module that turns the floor polisher into a sweeper-suction machine (see above).

– For windows. Devices for manual window cleaning, reminiscent of compact vacuum cleaners. This type of washing is carried out as follows: liquid detergent is applied to the glass from a spray bottle, then the liquid along with dirt is collected from the glass using this “window vacuum cleaner”. The sprayer is often built-in, but in some models it is a separate container with a sprayer supplied in the kit.

— Robot for windows. Automatic window cleaning devices: the robot attaches to the glass and moves along it, wiping the glass in the process. Such a device greatly simplifies the cleaning process, and for residents of high-rise buildings it can be a real salvation: with the help of a robot, you can easily wipe the windows from the outside on any floor, without the risk of falling out of the window and without calling industrial climbers. True, such devices can leave dirt around the edges and corners of the frame - however, eliminating these shortcomings is easier than washing the entire glass.

— Robot for swimming pools. Specialized units for automatic cleaning of swimming pools. As a rule, they are designed for use under water and do not require emptying the pool for cleaning; Often the design provides not only the ability to clean surfaces, but also water filtration. Robots, as a rule, have programs for self-cleaning - however, in addition to this, it is often possible to force the unit to be sent to one or another part of the pool, or even completely manual control. Many advanced devices in this category are capable of moving not only along the bottom, but also along the walls, rising to the very surface and thereby providing effective cleaning of the waterline.
We emphasize that although robots of this type are usually designed for maximum safety, you cannot use the pool while cleaning. It is also worth noting that such devices are usually powered from the mains - through a power supply and a special waterproof cable. Among other things, this design allows you to pull the unit out of the water directly by the wire in an emergency (although under normal conditions this should not be done).

— Network. Connection to a regular household outlet. The advantage of this option is its almost unlimited operating time. On the other hand, the power cord limits mobility and does not allow you to move away from sockets, and in their absence the device becomes useless. In addition, in some cases, the power cord can interfere with operation - for example, it will be clearly unnecessary for a heavy machine with a steering wheel and an operator's seat.

— Battery. Battery-powered devices are extremely mobile: they do not depend on sockets and do not have a wire that limits movement. In addition, the absence of a wire has a positive effect on the overall convenience of work - it “doesn’t fit into your hand.” On the other hand, the continuous operation time of such a device is limited by the battery charge, and the machines themselves are heavier, bulkier and more expensive than similar mains-powered models. However, in some cases, the described advantages have a decisive advantage over the disadvantages: in particular, scrubber-drying robots (see “Type”), as well as heavy professional machines with steering control (see below), are powered by a battery.

— Network/battery. Devices that can operate both from the mains and from a built-in battery. The features of these types of nutrition are described in detail above; and their combination is used quite rarely. In particular, this method of power...supply is provided in some window robots: the device uses a battery as standard, but if it is possible to run a wire, you can connect it to the network, saving battery power.

Working power of the machine for suction.

The effort with which the unit draws in pollution during operation directly depends on this indicator. The greater this effort, the higher the quality of cleaning and the more effective cleaning. On the other hand, even in the heaviest and most performant models, the suction power does not exceed 1200 W — it simply does not make sense to increase it further. In addition, we note that with an increase in the width of the grip, the suction power must also be increased, otherwise, the efficiency will decrease. It means that only models of the same type with the same or almost the same working width can be compared in terms of suction power.

Suction width provided by the unit. It is indicated mainly for floor scrubbers and window vacuums (see "Type"). In the first case, it refers to the width of the suction beam; in the second — the width of the working nozzle.

The width of the suction beam in scrubber dryers is usually slightly larger than the overall working width — it allows one to collect the water used in cleaning effectively. The size of the suction beam in some models of this type reaches 75 cm. In turn, in window vacuum cleaners the suction width corresponds to the actual working width. Most often, this figure is about 28 – 29 cm. it is believed that such values give an optimal ratio between performance and dimensions/weight of the unit. However, there are also more miniature models — in some devices, the width of the nozzle does not exceed 17 cm.

The volume of the waste solution tank installed in the harvester.

Such tanks are equipped exclusively with floor scrubbers (including household ones) and window models (see "Type"): we recall that both of them are designed for suction of the solution from the treated surface. In general, the larger the tank, the less often it will have to be emptied, but the larger the dimensions and weight of the unit. Therefore, manufacturers usually choose this indicator taking into account the type and characteristics of the application of the machine. So, in devices for windows, which are held in the hands during operation, the capacity of the tanks for the spent solution is small — usually about 150 – 200 mL; this is quite enough, taking into account the format of application, and at the same time, such additional weight does not create inconvenience during work. In turn, scrubbing machines use containers of several liters or even tens of liters; usually, a specific volume directly depends on the overall “weight category” and the performance of the machine.

The type of battery used in the car with the appropriate power supply (see above). The type is indicated by the technology used to manufacture the battery.

- Ni-Cd. One of the oldest modern technologies. Such elements are capable of operating at high discharge currents, which is especially important for heavy and powerful equipment with high energy consumption. In addition, they charge fairly quickly, can withstand cold work and temperature changes without any problems, and are relatively inexpensive. One of the main disadvantages of nickel-cadmium batteries is the so-called. memory effect - a decrease in capacity if charging was carried out until completely discharged. However, this disadvantage can be compensated for by using high-quality chargers and following operating rules. But the clear disadvantage of this variety is environmental unsafety in production and disposal; It is precisely this that limits the use of Ni-Cd batteries in modern technology.

- Ni-Mh. A technology created in an attempt to improve the performance of the nickel-cadmium batteries described above. The attempt was quite successful: while maintaining the main advantages of their predecessors, nickel-metal hydride elements are at the same time less susceptible to the memory effect and more environmentally friendly. Their disadvantages include slightly increased cost and specific rules for long-term storage.

— Li-Ion. Lithium-ion batteries are notable primarily for their hig...h charge density - in other words, they have high capacity with small dimensions and weight. This is especially important for compact devices such as robots or manual window cleaners (see “Type”). In addition, such batteries are practically not subject to the “memory effect”. Among the disadvantages of this technology, in addition to cost, it is worth mentioning sensitivity to high and low temperatures, as well as the likelihood of “accidents” in abnormal conditions: failure of the built-in controller with overcharge or overdischarge, overheating or short circuit can lead to swelling, electrolyte leakage and even fire.

- Li-Po. A type of lithium-ion battery (see above), in which a polymer (gel) electrolyte is used instead of a liquid electrolyte. This design provides additional advantages over the original Li-Ion technology: lithium-polymer batteries have an even greater charge density, and the likelihood of “accidents” with explosions and fires in them is noticeably reduced. The main disadvantages of such power supplies are their rather high cost and the requirement to maintain optimal temperature conditions.

— Gel. In this case, we are usually talking about gel lead-acid batteries, similar to those used in cars. Such batteries are significant in weight, so they are used exclusively in heavy harvesting equipment, where several kilograms of battery weight are unnoticeable against the background of the weight of the machine itself. Among the practical advantages of such batteries, it is worth noting good capacity, durability, the ability to easily withstand deep discharge, as well as resistance to low temperatures and temperature changes.

The voltage of the battery used in the machine with the corresponding type of power supply. This parameter is not key when choosing; it may only be needed when looking for a third-party charger or a replacement/spare battery, as well as for specific calculations related to capacity (see below).

Operating time of a battery-powered cleaning machine on one charge of a standard battery.

This parameter itself is quite approximate: it is most often indicated for standard operating modes and simple conditions. However, the actual autonomy is usually not very different from the stated one; so, based on the stated operating time, it is quite possible to both evaluate the capabilities of different models and compare them with each other.

The time required to fully charge the battery of cleaning machine (see "Power supply").

The larger the battery, the longer it may take to charge it. On the other hand, this moment also depends on the type of battery. In addition, special technologies are being used to speed up the process. So two machines with a similar battery capacity can differ in charging times.