Self-propelled cleaning device and charger using the same

• US 20040255425A1
• Filed: 03/04/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Home & Life Solutions, Inc. (Hitachi, Ltd.), Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Home & Life Solutions, Inc. (Hitachi, Ltd.), Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Arai, Yutaka, Tanaka, Hirofumi, Hattori, Makoto, Egawa, Saku, Yamamoto, Wataru, Hosoda, Yuuji, Tajima, Taiji, Sadamori, Hiroyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,418,762 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/300.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/022 Recharging of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/28 Suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casings, e.g. wheeled suction cleaners with steering handle A47L5/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/00 Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/106 Dust removal
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2805 Parameters or conditions being sensed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2821 Pressure, vacuum level or airflow
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2852 Elements for displacement of the vacuum cleaner or the accessories therefor, e.g. wheels, casters or nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2873 Docking units or charging stations for autonomous or robotic vacuum cleaners A47L2201/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2889 Safety or protection devices or systems, e.g. for prevention of motor over-heating or for protection of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2894 Details related to signal transmission in suction cleaners

Abstract

A self-propelled cleaning device having a cylindrical side cover has a suction body capable of moving transversely to the forward direction. The side cover is held by a base via a suspension. When cleaning corners of a room, the suction body moves by a wall and as the suction body moves to a corner, the movement amount of the suction body is changed. When an obstacle touches the cleaning device, the side cover moves, and the article touches a side cover switch, and the direction of the article is detected.

Claims

1. A self-propelled cleaning device loaded with a power source capable of automatically moving comprising a circular side cover and a suction body which can be stored in said cylindrical cover and can move transversely to the forward direction, wherein said suction body can move over the maximum width of said cleaning device.

2. A self-propelled cleaning device according to claim 1, further comprising a base for holding said power source, a suspension for elastically supporting said side cover by said base, and detection means which are mounted at a base position corresponding to a plurality of parts in the peripheral direction of said side cover so as to detect the movement direction of said side cover.

3. A self-propelled cleaning device according to claim 1, further comprising a fan which is arranged in said cleaning device and sucks in air including dust from said suction body, a first dust collection case for collecting dust in air which is sucked by said fan, a switchable shutter installed on the outer wall of said dust collection case, and guide means for connecting said first dust collection means and a second dust collection means arranged outside said cleaning device, wherein dust collected in said first dust collection means can be moved to said second dust collection means.

4. A self-propelled cleaning device according to claim 3, further comprising charging terminals for supplying power from an external power source on said power source, wherein dust can be moved from said first dust collection means to said second dust collection means during charging said power source.

5. A self-propelled cleaning device comprising a suction body for sucking in dust, a dust collection case for collecting dust sucked from said suction body, detection means for detecting an article around said cleaning device, and control means for controlling the moving direction of said cleaning device on the basis of output of said detection means, wherein said suction body can be stored in said cleaning device and moving means for moving said suction body transversely to the forward direction and air tight means for holding said dust collection case air tightly even if said suction body is moved by said moving means are installed.

6. A self-propelled cleaning device according to claim 5, wherein said suction body is formed in said dust collection case so as to be freely slidden.

7. A self-propelled cleaning device according to claim 5, wherein said moving means, when moving said cleaning device by a wall, can move said suction body over the width of said cleaning device and said control means controls said suction body so as to move at a predetermined distance from said wall or in contact with said wall on the basis of said output of said detection means.

8. A self-propelled cleaning device according to claim 5, wherein said moving means, when moving said cleaning device by said wall, can move said suction body over the width of said cleaning device and means for returning said moved suction body on the side of said cleaning device is installed.

9. A charger for a self-propelled cleaning device comprising power supply means for supplying power from a commercial power source to a power source loaded in said self-propelled cleaning device, a first contact for electrically connecting said power supply means and said self-propelled cleaning device, guide means for guiding said self-propelled cleaning device when connecting a second contact of said self-propelled cleaning device to said first contact, and additionally input means for inputting an operation instruction to said self-propelled cleaning device and means for transferring said operation instruction inputted from said input means to said self-propelled cleaning device.

10. A charger for a self-propelled cleaning device comprising power supply means for supplying power from a commercial power source to a power source loaded in said self-propelled cleaning device, a first contact for electrically connecting said power supply means and said self-propelled cleaning device, guide means for guiding said self-propelled cleaning device when connecting a second contact of said self-propelled cleaning device to said first contact, and suction means and dust collection means for moving dust collected in a dust collection case possessed by said self-propelled cleaning device.

11. A charger for a self-propelled cleaning device according to claim 10, further comprising control means for controlling said suction means, wherein said control means controls said suction means so as to operate when said power supply means is in operation.

12. A charger for a self-propelled cleaning device according to claim 10, further comprising a storage unit for storing said self-propelled cleaning device, means for detecting entry of said self-propelled cleaning device into said storage unit, and transmission means for transmitting said entry to said cleaning device.