ROBOT CLEANER

• US 20130086760A1
• Filed: 09/27/2012
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Jun Hwa, Jang, Hwi Chan, Yoon, Sang Sik, HAN, Seung IL, Kim, Dong Won
• Granted Patent: US 9,078,552 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/49.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/24 Floor-sweeping machines, motor-driven
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/40 Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4036 Parts or details of the surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4038 Disk shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4055 for lifting the tools to a non-working position
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4058 for adjusting the height of the tool
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4061 Steering means; Means for avoiding obstacles; Details related to the place where the driver is accommodated
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4069 Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools
• 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 9/00 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 9/0488 Combinations or arrangements of several tools, e.g. edge cleaning tools

Abstract

The robot cleaner includes a main body configured to remove dust from a floor while traveling on the floor, the main body having a lateral rim defining the external appearance of a lateral surface of the robot cleaner, and at least one side brush assembly mounted to the main body to clean the corner of the floor. The side brush assembly includes a side arm pivotably coupled to the main body, the side arm moving between a first position where the side arm is inserted into the main body and a second position where the side arm protrudes outward from the lateral rim of the main body, a brush unit provided at the side arm to sweep the floor, and a rim cover coupled to the side arm to form a part of the lateral rim of the main body when the side arm is inserted into the main body.

Claims

1. A robot cleaner comprising:

a main body configured to remove dust from a floor while traveling on the floor, the main body having a lateral rim defining the external appearance of a lateral surface of the robot cleaner; and

at least one side brush assembly mounted to the main body to clean the corner of the floor,

wherein the side brush assembly includes;

a side arm pivotably coupled to the main body, the side arm moving between a first position where the side arm is inserted into the main body and a second position where the side arm protrudes outward from the lateral rim of the main body;

a brush unit provided at the side arm to sweep the floor; and

a rim cover coupled to the side arm to form a part of the lateral rim of the main body when the side arm is inserted into the main body.

2. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the side arm is pivoted when the main body comes close to the corner of the floor, thereby protruding outward from the lateral rim of the main body to the second position.

3. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the side brush assembly further includes an arm motor provided at an end of the side arm to pivot the side arm.

4. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the brush unit includes:

a rotator mounted to an end of the side arm to enable pivoting of the side arm; and

a plurality of brushes extending outward in a radial direction from the rotator.

5. The robot cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the brush unit further includes a brush motor provided at the end of the side arm to enable rotation of the rotator.

6. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein, when one side of the main body comes close to a wall, the side arm of the side brush assembly closest to the wall protrudes outward from the lateral rim of the main body to move to the second position.

7. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein, when a front end of the main body on the basis of a traveling direction comes close to a wall, the side arm of the at least one side brush assembly located at the front end of the main body protrudes outward from the lateral rim of the main body to move to the second position.

8. A robot cleaner comprising:

a main body configured to remove dust from a floor while traveling on the floor, the main body having a lateral rim defining the external appearance of a lateral surface of the robot cleaner, and an opening formed in the lateral rim; and

a plurality of side brush assemblies arranged at opposite sides of a front surface of the main body on the basis of a traveling direction,

wherein the plurality of side brush assemblies each includes;

a side arm pivotably coupled to the main body, the side arm moving through the opening of the main body between a position where the side arm is inserted into the main body and a position where the side arm protrudes outward from the lateral rim of the main body;

a brush unit provided at the side arm to sweep the floor; and

a rim cover configured to cover the opening when the side arm moves to the position where it is inserted into main body.

9. The robot cleaner according to claim 8, wherein, when the main body comes close to the corner of the floor, the side arm is pivoted to the position where the side arm protrudes outward from the lateral rim of the main body, and the rim cover opens the opening of the main body.

10. The robot cleaner according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of side brush assemblies includes a left side brush assembly provided at the left side of the front surface of the main body, and a right side brush assembly provided at the right side of the front surface of the main body.

11. The robot cleaner according to claim 10, wherein, when one side of the main body comes close to a wall, the side arm of one side brush assembly closest to the wall among the left side brush assembly and the right side brush assembly moves to the position where the side arm protrudes outward from the lateral rim of the main body.

12. The robot cleaner according to claim 10, wherein, when a front end of the main body comes close to a wall, the side arm of each of the left side brush assembly and the right side brush assembly moves to the position where the side arm protrudes outward from the lateral rim of the main body.

13. A robot cleaner comprising:

a main body configured to clean a floor while traveling on the floor; and

at least one side brush assembly mounted to the main body to clean the corner of the floor,

wherein the side brush assembly includes;

an arm holder placed to rotate about a holder shaft;

a brush arm coupled to the arm holder so as to move in a radial direction relative to the holder shaft;

a brush coupled to the brush arm to sweep the floor; and

a brush guide mounted to the main body to guide movement of the brush arm, the brush guide having a rail to guide the brush arm such that the brush arm moves to protrude outward from the main body upon rotation of the arm holder.

14. The robot cleaner according to claim 13, wherein:

the rail is located to surround the holder shaft; and

a part of the rail protrudes outward from a lateral surface of the main body.

15. The robot cleaner according to claim 13, wherein:

the rail includes a peak portion farthest from the holder shaft; and

the peak portion of the rail protrudes farther outward from a lateral surface of the main body.

16. The robot cleaner according to claim 13, wherein a distance between the rail and the holder shaft varies based on a rotating direction of the arm holder.

17. The robot cleaner according to claim 13, wherein the brush guide is pivotably mounted to the main body.

18. The robot cleaner according to claim 17, wherein the brush guide is pivoted between a state in which a part of the brush guide protrudes outward from the lateral surface of the main body and a state in which the protruding part is inserted into the main body.

19. The robot cleaner according to claim 18, wherein the brush guide is pivoted and inserted into the main body even if the protruding part of the brush guide bumps into an obstacle, thereby preventing damage to the brush guide.

20. The robot cleaner according to claim 17, further comprising an elastic member to elastically bias the brush rail outward from the main body.

26. The robot cleaner according to claim 13, wherein as the brush assembly rotates the position of the brush arm changes in corresponding to the brush arm location in regards to its rotation position.

21. A robot cleaner comprising:

a main body configured to clean a floor while traveling on the floor; and

at least one side brush assembly mounted to the main body to clean the corner of the floor,

wherein the side brush assembly includes;

an arm holder placed to rotate about a holder shaft;

a brush arm coupled to the arm holder so as to move in a radial direction relative to the holder shaft;

a brush coupled to the brush arm to sweep the floor; and

a brush guide having a rail to guide the brush arm such that the brush arm moves to protrude outward from the main body upon rotation of the arm holder, and

wherein the rail includes a first arc portion located outside the lateral surface of the main body and a second arc portion located inside the main body, and the longest distance between the holder shaft and the first arc portion is greater than a distance between the holder shaft and the second arc portion.

22. A robot cleaner comprising:

a main body configured to clean a floor while traveling on the floor; and

at least one side brush assembly mounted to the main body to clean the corner of the floor,

wherein the side brush assembly includes;

an arm holder placed to rotate about a holder shaft;

a brush arm coupled to the arm holder so as to move in a radial direction relative to the holder shaft;

a brush coupled to the brush arm to sweep the floor; and

a brush guide having a rail to guide the brush arm such that the brush arm moves to protrude outward from the main body upon rotation of the arm holder, and

wherein the rail includes a first arc portion located outside the lateral surface of the main body and a second arc portion located inside the main body, and a radius of curvature of the first arc portion is less than a radius of curvature of the second arc portion.

23. A robot cleaner comprising:

a main body configured to clean a floor while traveling on the floor; and

at least one side brush assembly mounted to the main body to clean the corner of the floor,

wherein the side brush assembly includes;

a rotating plate rotatably mounted to the main body;

a brush unit having one end coupled to the rotating plate such that the brush unit sweeps dust via pivoting thereof; and

a brush guide mounted to the main body to guide movement of the brush unit, and

wherein the brush unit moves on a fanlike trajectory while sliding relative to the brush guide.

24. The robot cleaner according to claim 23, wherein the brush unit sweeps dust from the front to the rear of the main body when the other end of the brush unit reaches an outside position farthest from the main body while moving on a fanlike trajectory.

25. The robot cleaner according to claim 23, wherein:

the brush guide includes a brush guide support portion and a protrusion protruding from the support portion to guide movement of the brush unit; and

the brush unit includes a sliding region into which the protrusion is inserted to enable sliding of the brush unit.