Mobile robot system having liquid supply station and liquid supply method

• US 20070051757A1
• Filed: 07/12/2006
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lim, Kwang-soo, Ko, Jang-youn, Jeung, Sam-jong, Lee, Ju-sang, Song, Jeong-gon
• Granted Patent: US 7,891,387 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/630
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/026 Refilling cleaning liquid containers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2805 Parameters or conditions being sensed
• 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 9/2884 Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2894 Details related to signal transmission in suction cleaners

Abstract

A robot system includes a supply station. The system further includes: a robot, a robot tank adapted to store a liquid and disposed at the robot; and a supply station configured to supply additional liquid to the tank.

Claims

1. A robot system including a supply station, the system comprising:

a robot;

a robot tank adapted to store a liquid and disposed at the robot; and

a supply station configured to supply additional liquid to the tank.

2. The robot system of claim 1, wherein the supply station comprises:

a storage tank;

a pump adapted to be in fluid communication with the storage tank;

a supply nozzle unit adapted to be in fluid communication with the pump;

a station controller configured to control the pump and the supply nozzle unit to supply the additional liquid to the robot tank.

3. The robot system of claim 2, wherein the supply nozzle unit comprises:

a supply nozzle;

a pipe configured to connect the supply nozzle and the pump; and

a nozzle drive part configured to adjust a position of the supply nozzle,

wherein when the supply nozzle moves down, a front end of the supply nozzle is configured to be inserted into an inlet port of the robot tank.

4. The robot system of claim 3, wherein:

the robot tank comprises an inlet port cap disposed at an inlet port of the robot tank, and

the inlet port cap is configured to be opened and closed by the supply nozzle.

5. The robot system of claim 1, wherein the supply station comprises:

a level sensor configured to detect a level of the liquid stored in the liquid store tank; and

a display part configured to display the detected level of the liquid.

6. A robot system including a supply station, the system comprising:

a robot including a fuel cell;

a robot tank disposed at the robot and configured to store a fuel for the fuel cell; and

a supply station configured to supply additional fuel based at least in part on a signal from the robot.

7. The robot system of claim 6, wherein the supply station comprises:

a station storage tank;

a pump adapted to be in fluid communication with the station storage tank;

a pipe configured to connect the pump and a supply nozzle;

a nozzle drive part configured to move the supply nozzle; and

a station controller configured to control the nozzle drive part to insert the supply nozzle into an inlet port of the robot tank.

8. The robot system of claim 7, wherein:

the robot tank comprises an inlet port cap disposed at the inlet port of the robot tank, and

the inlet port cap is configured to be opened and closed by a movement of the supply nozzle.

9. A robot system including a supply station, the system comprising:

a robot adapted to use water to perform a task;

a robot tank disposed at the robot and configured to store the water; and

a supply station adapted to supply the robot tank with additional water.

10. The robot system of claim 9, wherein the supply station comprises:

a station storage tank adapted to store water;

a pump configured to be in fluid communication with the station storage tank;

a supply nozzle unit configured to supply water from the station storage tank to the robot tank; and

a station controller configured to control the pump and the supply nozzle unit to supply the additional water.

11. The robot system of claim 9, wherein the supply station comprises:

a valve disposed at a water service pipe and configured to open and close the water service pipe;

a supply nozzle unit configured to be in fluid communication with the valve and to serve as a passage through which the additional water flows from the water service pipe to the robot tank; and

a station controller configured to control the valve and the supply nozzle unit.

12. The robot system of claim 10, wherein the supply nozzle unit comprises:

a supply nozzle;

a pipe configured to connect the supply nozzle and the pump; and

a nozzle drive part configured to adjust a position of the supply nozzle.

13. The robot system of claim 12, wherein:

the robot tank comprises an inlet port cap disposed in the inlet port of the robot tank, and

the inlet port cap is configured to be opened and closed by a movement of the supply nozzle.

14. A robot system including a supply station, the system comprising:

a robot including fuel cell and adapted to use a liquid to complete a task;

a fuel tank disposed at the robot;

a liquid tank disposed at the robot; and

a supply station configured to supply additional fuel and additional liquid.

15. The robot system of claim 14, wherein the supply station comprises:

a station fuel tank;

a station liquid tank;

a first pump adapted to communicate with the fuel tank;

a second pump adapted to communicate with the liquid tank;

a first supply nozzle adapted to supply fuel from the station fuel tank;

a second supply nozzle adapted to supply liquid from the station liquid tank; and

a controller configured to control supplying of fuel and liquid.

16. A supply method for a robot, the method comprising:

determining if the robot needs additional liquid;

positioning the robot at a supply position of a supply station when additional liquid is required; and

supplying the robot with the additional liquid.

17. The supply method of claim 16, wherein the supplying comprises:

inserting a supply nozzle of the supply station into an inlet port of the robot;

supplying liquid from the supply station to the robot through the supply nozzle; and

removing the supply nozzle from the inlet port when the supplying is completed.

18. The supply method of claim 16, wherein the determining includes detecting a level of the liquid in a tank positioned at the robot.

19. The supply method of claim 17, wherein the liquid is at least one of a fuel and a fluid used to perform a desired task.