Wheel assembly and robot cleaner having the same

• US 20100139029A1
• Filed: 11/05/2009
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Hong Won
• Application Number:
  US12/591,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20100139029A1
• 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 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles

Abstract

Disclosed is a wheel assembly capable of preventing a floor from being contaminated due to dust or impurities existing on driving wheels that move a body case. The wheel assembly includes a driving wheel that moves a body case in at least one direction, and at least one dust separator having an inclination angle with respect to an axial center line of the driving wheel to separate dust from the driving wheel.

Claims

1. A wheel assembly comprising:

a driving wheel that moves a body case in at least one direction; and

a dust separator having an inclination angle with respect to an axial center line of the driving wheel to separate dust from the driving wheel.

2. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the dust separator is installed at the body case while making contact with the driving wheel.

3. The wheel assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one dust transfer section provided between the body case and the driving wheel to receive the dust separated by the dust separator.

4. The wheel assembly of claim 3, wherein the body case is provided with at least one dust collection section to collect the dust transferred from the at least one dust transfer section.

5. The wheel assembly of claim 4, wherein the at least one dust transfer section comprises a first dust transfer section that receives the dust from the dust separator when the driving wheel rotates in a first direction, and a second dust transfer section that receives the dust from the dust separator when the driving wheel rotates in a second direction.

6. The wheel assembly of claim 5, wherein the dust collection section comprises a first dust collection section communicating with the first dust transfer section and a second dust collection section communicating with the second dust transfer section.

7. The wheel assembly of claim 4, wherein the body case is provided with at least one dust remover section to remove the duct collected in the dust collection section.

8. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the driving wheel comprises a ground contact section making contact with a floor, and the dust separator comprises a brush having a length corresponding to an axial length of the ground contact section.

9. The wheel assembly of claim 8, wherein the brush comprises:

a brush bar coupled with the body case; and

brush bristles connected with a lower portion of the brush bar to separate dust from the ground contact section.

10. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the dust separator comprises:

a first dust separator coupled with the body case and having a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the axial center line of the driving wheel; and

a second dust separator inclined against the first dust separator about the axial center line of the driving wheel and having a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the axial center line of the driving wheel.

11. The wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the body comprises:

a fan motor generating suction force;

a filter collecting dust sucked by the fan motor; and

a connection duct that transfers the dust separated by the dust separator to the filter.

12. The wheel assembly of claim 10, wherein the first and second dust separators are installed at the body case such that the first and second dust separators are configured in a substantially triangular shape while making contact with the driving wheel.

13. A robot cleaner comprising:

a body case;

a fan motor installed at the body case to generate suction force;

a filter collecting dust sucked by the fan motor;

a suction head provided at a lower side of the body case;

a driving wheel installed at the lower side of the body case; and

at least one dust separator having an inclination angle with respect to an axial center line of the driving wheel to separate dust from the driving wheel.

14. The wheel assembly of claim 13, wherein the dust separator comprises:

a first dust separator coupled with the body case and having a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the axial center line of the driving wheel; and

a second dust separator inclined against the first dust separator about the axial center line of the driving wheel and having a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the axial center line of the driving wheel.

15. The wheel assembly of claim 13, wherein the body case comprises a connection duct that transfers the dust separated by the dust separator to the filter.

16. The wheel assembly of claim 15, wherein the connection duct comprises:

a first connection duct that transfers the dust from the dust separator to the filter when the driving wheel rotates in a first direction; and

a second connection duct that transfers the dust from the dust separator to the filter when the driving wheel rotates in a second direction.