Cleaner system

• US 20070157415A1
• Filed: 08/09/2006
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Jun Hwa, Joo, Jae Man
• Granted Patent: US 7,779,504 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/319
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/00 Robotic cleaning machines, i.e. with automatic control of the travelling movement or the cleaning operation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/022 Recharging of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/024 Emptying dust or waste liquid containers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/225 Convertible suction cleaners, i.e. convertible between different types thereof, e.g. from upright suction cleaners to sledge-type suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/106 Dust removal
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2805 Parameters or conditions being sensed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2873 Docking units or charging stations for autonomous or robotic vacuum cleaners A47L2201/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2884 Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation
• 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

Abstract

A cleaner system having an improved connecting position and structure between a robot cleaner and a docking station for achieving an improvement in dust removal performance of the docking station. The docking station performs manual cleaning. The robot cleaner has a dust outlet at a top wall of the robot body to discharge the dust collected in the first dust collector into the docking station, and the docking station has a connection port at a position thereof corresponding to the dust outlet to receive the dust discharged from the dust outlet. The robot cleaner or docking station includes a connector to connect the dust outlet to the connection port. The docking station includes a suction part, suction pipe, and suction hole for manual operation. A channel switching member is mounted in the docking station to selectively apply power required to suck dust to the connection port or suction hole.

Claims

1. A cleaner system comprising a robot cleaner and a docking station, the robot cleaner comprising:

a robot body having an inlet to receive dust; and

a first dust collector mounted in the robot body to collect the dust received, wherein the docking station removes the dust collected in the first dust collector when it is connected with the robot cleaner,

wherein the robot cleaner comprises a dust outlet formed at a top wall of the robot body to discharge the dust collected in the first dust collector into the docking station, and

wherein the docking station comprises a connection port formed at a position thereof corresponding to the dust outlet to receive the dust discharged from the dust outlet.

2. The cleaner system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a connector mounted in the robot cleaner or the docking station to connect the dust outlet to the connection port when the robot cleaner is coupled with the docking station.

3. The cleaner system according to claim 1, wherein the dust outlet comprises an opening/closing member to close the dust outlet when the robot cleaner performs automatic cleaning.

4. The cleaner system according to claim 1, wherein the robot cleaner further comprises a rechargeable battery, and the docking station comprises a charger to be electrically connected with the rechargeable battery when the robot cleaner is coupled to the docking station, to charge the rechargeable battery.

5. The cleaner system according to claim 1, wherein the docking station further comprises a station body, and a blower and a second dust collector which are mounted in the station body to suck and collect dust.

6. The cleaner system according to claim 5, wherein the docking station further comprises a suction pipe, which is connected with the station body to enable manual cleaning using the docking station, and the station body comprises a suction hole to communicate with the suction pipe.

7. The cleaner system according to claim 6, wherein a first suction channel is defined between the suction hole and the connection port, and a second suction channel is defined between the first suction channel and the second dust collector to communicate with the first suction channel.

8. The cleaner system according to claim 7, wherein, the first suction channel is divided into a first channel portion in the proximity of the suction hole and a second channel portion in the proximity of the connection port, depending on a position where the first suction channel communicates with the second suction channel, and

wherein the first suction channel comprises a channel switching member to selectively communicate the second suction channel with one of the first and second channel portions.

9. The cleaner system according to claim 8, wherein the channel switching member is vertically movable in the first suction channel.

10. The cleaner system according to claim 9, wherein the channel switching member comprises a first connection channel to connect the first channel portion to the second suction channel when the channel switching member moves downward, and a second connection channel to connect the second channel portion to the second suction channel when the channel switching member moves upward.

11. The cleaner system according to claim 6, wherein the robot cleaner further comprises a rechargeable battery, and the docking station further comprises a charger to be electrically connected with the rechargeable battery when the robot cleaner is coupled to the docking station, to charge the rechargeable battery.

12. A cleaner system comprising a robot cleaner having a first dust collector, and a docking station to remove dust collected in the first dust collector,

wherein the robot cleaner comprises a dust outlet to discharge the dust into the docking station, and

wherein the docking station comprises:

a station body having a connection port to receive the dust discharged from the dust outlet,

a suction hole to receive dust sucked from the floor into the station body,

a second dust collector to collect the dust delivered from the connection port and the suction hole,

a blower to generate a suction force required for the suction of dust, and

a channel switching member provided in the station body to selectively apply the suction force generated by the blower to the connection port or suction hole.

13. The cleaner system according to claim 12, wherein a first suction channel is defined between the suction hole and the connection port, and a second suction channel is defined between the first suction channel and the second dust collector to communicate with the first suction channel.

14. The cleaner system according to claim 13, wherein the first suction channel is divided into a first channel portion in the proximity of the suction hole and a second channel portion in the proximity of the connection port depending on a position where the first suction channel communicates with the second suction channel, and the channel switching member selectively communicates the second suction channel with one of the first and second channel portions.

15. A cleaner system comprising:

a robot cleaner to automatically clean and collect dust, and comprising;

an inlet to receive the dust,

a first dust collector to collect the dust received via the inlet,

a dust outlet positioned on a top portion thereof, to discharge dust therefrom; and

a docking station to remove the dust from the robot cleaner, and comprising;

a protruding portion wherein the robot cleaner is received under the protruding portion and coupled with the docking station to perform a dust removal operation,

a connection port corresponding to the dust outlet of the robot cleaner and coupled with the dust outlet via a connector, to receive the dust discharged from the dust outlet, and

a second dust collector to collect the dust received via the connection port.

16. The cleaner system of claim 15, further comprising:

a suction part to be connected with the docking station, to suction dust; and

a suction pipe to connect the suction part with the docking station, and to receive the dust suctioned by the suction part, to thereby enable a user to perform manual cleaning via the docking station;

17. The cleaner system of claim 16, wherein the docking station further comprises:

a suction hole formed through the protruding portion and corresponding to the connection port, to receive the suction pipe therein;

a first suction channel formed between the suction hole and the connection port; and

a second suction channel formed between the first suction channel and the second dust collector, wherein the dust collected by the suction part travels through the suction pipe into the first suction channel, and into the second dust collector via the second suction channel.

18. The cleaner system of claim 15, wherein when the dust collected by the first dust collector of the robot cleaner while automatically cleaning and collecting dust, exceeds a predetermined level, the robot cleaner returns to the docking station for removal of the dust collected, and the docking station performs the dust removal operation.

19. The cleaner system of claim 18, wherein the robot cleaner further comprises a dust quantity sensor to sense a quantity of the dust collected in the first dust collector and to determine whether the dust collected exceeds the predetermined level.