Robot cleaner with improved dust collector

• US 20080235897A1
• Filed: 03/21/2008
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Chung, Woo Ram, Hong, Jun Pyo, Kim, Yong Tae, Wee, Hoon, Kim, Dong Won
• Granted Patent: US 8,627,542 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/319
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/33 having means for storing dirt
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4013 Contaminants collecting devices, i.e. hoppers, tanks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• 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 7/02 with driven tools for special purposes with floor-polishing tools A47L11/20
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/14 Bags or the like; Rigid filtering receptacles; Attachment of, or closures for, bags or receptacles

Abstract

A robot cleaner having a configuration capable of improving an ability to collect dust, etc. is disclosed. The robot cleaner includes a suction hole to suction dust, a dust collector to receive the dust suctioned through the suction hole, and a rotating brush provided at a side of the suction hole. The robot cleaner is configured to sweep up and collect the dust into the dust collector by a drive force of the rotating brush.

Claims

1. A robot cleaner, comprising:

a suction hole to suction dust;

a dust collector to receive the dust suctioned through the suction hole; and

a rotating brush provided at a side of the suction hole,

wherein the robot cleaner is configured to sweep up and collect the dust into the dust collector by a drive force of the rotating brush.

2. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the dust collector includes a plurality of collecting regions including a first collecting region defined in a lower part of the dust collector, and a second collecting region defined in an upper part of the dust collector.

3. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising:

a blower to generate a suction force to be applied into the dust collector,

wherein the dust collector is divided into a plurality of collecting regions to receive dust, and a part of the plurality of collecting regions is not in direct communication with the blower.

4. The robot cleaner according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of collecting regions are separated from one another by vertical partitions, and include a first collecting region communicating directly with the blower and a second collecting region not communicating directly with the blower.

5. The robot cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the dust collector includes a dividing member to prevent the dust received in the second collecting region from flowing backward into the first collecting region.

6. The robot cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the first collecting region and the second collecting region communicate with each other by a vertically extending connection passage.

7. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the dust collector includes a backflow preventing member to prevent the dust in the dust collector from being discharged through the suction hole.

8. The robot cleaner according to claim 7, further comprising:

a blower to provide a drive force required to introduce the dust into the dust collector,

wherein the backflow preventing member is adapted to open or close the suction hole according to an operation of the blower.

9. The robot cleaner according to claim 8, wherein the backflow preventing member is coupled to an upper surface of the first collecting region and is pivotally rotated by a suction force of the blower.

10. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising:

a guide portion to guide the dust swept up by the rotating brush into the suction hole.

11. A robot cleaner, comprising:

a body having a suction hole to suction dust;

a blower provided in the body to generate a suction force;

a rotating brush provided at a side of the suction hole; and

a dust collector to receive the dust suctioned through the suction hole, the dust collector including at least one first collecting region to receive dust swept up by the rotating brush, and a second collecting region to receive dust introduced by interaction of the rotating brush and the blower.

12. The robot cleaner according to claim 11, wherein the dust collector includes a plurality of suction slots communicating with the suction hole, at least one suction slot not being affected by the suction force of the blower.

13. The robot cleaner according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of suction slots includes at least one first suction slot communicating with the at least one first collecting region to suction dust only by operation of the rotating brush, and a second suction slot communicating with the second collecting region to suction dust by operations of the rotating brush and the blower.

14. The robot cleaner according to claim 11, wherein the second collecting region is located above the first collecting region.

15. The robot cleaner according to claim 11, wherein the dust collector comprises a backflow preventing member to prevent the dust in the dust collector from being discharged through the suction hole.

16. The robot cleaner according to claim 11, wherein the suction hole and a lower surface of the first collecting region are provided at a bottom of the body to be located close to the floor.

17. The robot cleaner according to claim 11, further comprising:

a guide portion to guide the dust swept up by the rotating brush into the suction hole.

18. A robot cleaner, comprising:

a body including a suction hole to suction dust;

a blower provided in the body and generating a suction force to suction dust;

a rotating brush provided at the suction hole to introduce dust into the suction hole; and

a dust collector receiving the dust suctioned through the suction hole, the dust collector including at least one first collecting region directly connected to the suction hole and in communication with the rotating brush, and a second collecting region receiving dust introduced through the suction hole and in direct communication with the blower such that the dust received at the second collecting region is received through an interaction of the rotating brush and the blower.

19. The robot cleaner according to claim 18, wherein the second collecting region communicates with the first collecting region through a connecting passage.

20. The robot cleaner according to claim 18, wherein the at least one first collecting region is adjacent to and partitioned from the second collecting region.

21. The robot cleaner according to claim 20, wherein the second collecting region includes communicating slots communicating with the blower.

22. The robot cleaner according to claim 20, wherein the at least one first collecting region and the second collecting region each include a suction slot in communication with the suction hole.

23. The robot cleaner according to claim 20, wherein the second collecting region includes a dividing member inclined upward toward a rear side of the second collecting region.

24. The robot cleaner according to claim 23, wherein the second collecting region includes a lower collecting region and an upper collecting region, the dividing member dividing the lower collecting region from the upper collecting region.

25. The robot cleaner according to claim 22, wherein the at least one first collecting region and the second collecting region each include at least one wall piece having a predetermined height to prevent dust from being discharged to the outside through the suction slot.