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 va...cuum cleaner: debris 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).

— Mains. Connection to a regular household outlet. The advantage of this option is the almost unlimited operating time. On the other hand, the power cord restricts 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 work — for example, it will be redundant for a heavy machine with a steering wheel and a seat for the operator.

— Battery. Battery-powered devices are as mobile as possible: they do not depend on outlets and do not have a wire that restricts movement. In addition, the absence of a wire has a positive effect on the overall convenience of work. On the other hand, the continuous operation time of such a device is limited by battery charge, and the machines themselves are heavier, bulkier and more expensive than similar models powered by the mains. However, in some cases, the described advantages outweigh the disadvantages: in particular, battery-powered floor cleaning robots (see "Type"), as well as heavy professional machines with steering wheel (see below).

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

Rated power of the motor installed in the machine.

Most often, in this paragraph, it is the total motor power that is given. However, in units with suction functions, such as scrubber dryers (see "Type"), only the power transmitted to the brushes can be indicated here. In such cases, the total power can be determined by adding the motor power and the suction power (see below). These details should be clarified separately. Also note that in self-propelled models (see above), part of the motor power is spent on moving the unit, which is why the useful power of such machines is lower than that of similar non-self-propelled vehicles. Thus, only models with the same movement format can be directly compared by this parameter— only self-propelled or only non-self-propelled.

In general, higher motor power results in higher efficiency and productivity. However, there is no rigid dependence here, and devices with similar motor specs can differ markedly — productivity, working width, etc. So when choosing, it makes sense to pay attention primarily to these characteristics — especially since for some units (in particular, many robots) the motor power may not be given at all. As for specific power values, in the most modest equipment — in particular, household scrubbers — it does not exceed 600 W; 600 – 1200 W can be called an average, 1200 – 1800 W is abo...ve average, and more solid values are found in powerful heavy units.

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 width of the additional nozzle provided with the device.

Additional attachments are mainly supplied with window models (see "Type"). Such a nozzle is usually made narrower than the main one — it makes it easier to work on small glasses and in hard-to-reach places. However, there is also the opposite option: a small capture width in the device itself, increased by using an additional nozzle.

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 machine with the appropriate power supply (see above). The type is indicated by the technology by which the battery is made.

— 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 power consumption. In addition, they charge quickly enough, endure work in the cold and temperature fluctuations 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 it was completely discharged. However, this disadvantage can be compensated by the use of high-quality chargers and compliance with the operating rules. But the unequivocal disadvantage of this variety is the environmental insecurity in production and disposal; it 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 turned out to be quite successful: while retaining the main advantages of their predecessors, nickel-metal-hydride cells are at the same time less susceptible to the memory effect and more environmentally friendly. Their disadvantages include a slightly increased cost and specific rules for long-term storage.

— Li-Ion. Lithium-ion batteries are rema...rkable primarily for their high charge density — in other words, they have a high capacity with small dimensions and weight. It is especially important for compact devices such as robots or handheld 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 the cost, it is worth mentioning the sensitivity to high and low temperatures, as well as the likelihood of “accidents” during abnormal modes: failure of the built-in controller with overcharging or overdischarging, 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 higher charge density, and the likelihood of "accidents" with explosions and fires in them is noticeably reduced. The main disadvantages of such power supplies are the rather high cost and the exactingness of maintaining the optimal temperature regime.

— Gel. In this case, we are usually talking about gel lead-acid batteries, similar to those used in cars. Such batteries are distinguished by their considerable weight. Therefore they are used exclusively in heavy cleaning equipment, where several kilograms of the battery weight is invisible against the weight of the machine itself. Of the practical advantages of such batteries, it is worth noting good capacity, durability, the ability to tolerate deep discharge without problems, as well as resistance to low temperatures and temperature extremes.

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

The capacity of the battery installed in the cleaning machine with the appropriate power supply.

Theoretically, a higher capacity allows you to work longer on a single charge, but everything is not so simple. Firstly, battery life is also affected by the power consumption of the machine, and it is determined mainly by the motor power (see above). Secondly, the actual amount of energy stored in the battery depends not only on the capacity in amp-hours but also on the operating voltage in volts. Therefore, only batteries with the same voltage can be compared with each other in terms of capacity in Ah (or convert ampere-hours to watt-hours using a special formula and compare the results). And it is best to evaluate the battery life of the unit according to the directly claimed autonomy time (see below).