US 12,256,668 B2
Method for operating a gardening appliance, and gardening appliance
Markus Kippes, Brannenburg (DE); Ingo Kugler, Waiblingen (DE); and Tobias Froehlich, Marbach (DE)
Assigned to Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG, Waiblingen (DE)
Filed by Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG, Waiblingen (DE)
Filed on Oct. 20, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/451,581.
Claims priority of application No. 20203148 (EP), filed on Oct. 21, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0117155 A1, Apr. 21, 2022
Int. Cl. A01D 34/68 (2006.01); A01D 34/00 (2006.01); A01D 69/02 (2006.01); A01D 69/08 (2006.01); A01D 69/10 (2006.01); A01D 101/00 (2006.01)
CPC A01D 34/6812 (2013.01) [A01D 34/006 (2013.01); A01D 69/02 (2013.01); A01D 69/08 (2013.01); A01D 69/10 (2013.01); A01D 2034/6837 (2013.01); A01D 2101/00 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for operating a gardening appliance,
wherein the gardening appliance has a traction drive system,
wherein the traction drive system has a clutch, an electric motor drive system and a user-triggerable signalling device,
wherein the clutch is designed to, as a result of forward rotation, automatically engage for forward drive of the gardening appliance and, as a result of backward rotation, automatically disengage for freewheeling of the gardening appliance, and
wherein the electric motor drive system is designed to effect the forward rotation and the backward rotation of the clutch,
the method comprising the steps of:
a) in a user-triggered manner by way of a change in a signal state of the signalling device, operating the electric motor drive system in a running-down and/or braking operating mode in order to lower a motor rotational speed of the forward-rotating electric motor drive system;
b) measuring whether a back electromotive force caused by the electric motor drive system or a variable based on the back electromotive force satisfies a standstill criterion, wherein the standstill criterion is characteristic of an attainment of a standstill state of the electric motor drive system; and
c) when the standstill criterion is satisfied, operating the electric motor drive system in a backward-rotation operating mode to effect the backward rotation of the electric motor drive system for the purposes of disengaging the clutch for the freewheeling of the gardening appliance.