AUTOMATIC CLEANER

• US 20130291331A1
• Filed: 09/21/2012
• Published: 11/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Yu, Seonil, Song, Seunghyun, Kim, Hyosung, Yang, Haeseock, Ghim, Yonggyun, Shin, Hyunseon
• Application Number:
  US13/980,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20130291331A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/339
• 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 2201/06 Control of the cleaning action for autonomous devices; Automatic detection of the surface condition before, during or after cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0411 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0472 Discs
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0477 Rolls
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0488 Combinations or arrangements of several tools, e.g. edge cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2847 Surface treating elements
• 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

An automatic cleaner, which includes a casing including a suction port through which,a foreign substance is suctioned, a moving device that moves the casing, and a side brush assembly movably installed on the casing. The side brush assembly includes a brush rotating to move a foreign substance located outside the footprint of the casing, to the suction port. A rotation shaft of the brush is moved according to a movement of the side brush assembly.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. An automatic cleaner comprising:

a casing comprising a suction port in a bottom portion of the casing through which a foreign substance is suctioned;

a moving device that moves the casing; and

a side brush assembly movably installed on the casing,

wherein the side brush assembly comprises a brush rotating to move a foreign substance located outside the footprint of the casing, to the suction port, and a rotation shaft of the brush is moved according to a movement of the side brush assembly.

22. The automatic cleaner of claim 21, wherein the side brush assembly further comprises a movable member movably installed on the casing, and

the brush is rotatably installed on the movable member.

23. The automatic cleaner of claim 22, wherein when the movable member is moved, an overlap area of the movable member and the casing is varied.

24. The automatic cleaner of claim 22, wherein when the automatic cleaner is not in a cleaning operation, the movable member is located in a first position, and

when the automatic cleaner is in a cleaning operation, the movable member is moved to a second position.

25. The automatic cleaner of claim 24, wherein while the automatic cleaner is in a cleaning operation, the movable member stays in the second position.

26. The automatic cleaner of claim 24, wherein while the automatic cleaner is in a cleaning operation, the movable member is moved between the first and second positions.

27. The automatic cleaner of claim 22, wherein when the automatic cleaner is in a cleaning operation, the movable member is moved.

28. The automatic cleaner of claim 22, wherein the brush is rotated when the automatic cleaner is in a cleaning operation, and

the movable member is moved when the casing approaches a wall with a predetermined distance.

29. The automatic cleaner of claim 22, further comprising:

a first driving member that generates driving force to move the movable member; and

a second driving member that generates driving force to rotate the brush.

30. The automatic cleaner of claim 29, wherein the first driving member and the second driving member are disposed on the casing.

31. The automatic cleaner of claim 29, wherein the first driving member is disposed on the casing, and

the second driving member is disposed on the movable member and is moved together with the movable member.

32. The automatic cleaner of claim 22, wherein the movable member is installed on the casing and is allowed to linearly move.

33. The automatic cleaner of claim 22, wherein the movable member is installed on the casing and is allowed to rotate about a rotation shaft.

34. The automatic cleaner of claim 22, wherein the side brush assembly is provided in plurality, and

when one of the side brush assemblies is adjacent to a wall, the movable member of the side brush assembly adjacent to the wall is moved.

35. An automatic cleaner comprising:

a casing comprising a suction port through which a foreign substance is suctioned;

a moving device that moves the casing;

a main brush contacting a foreign substance through the suction port and removing the foreign substance;

a main driving member that provides driving force to rotate the main brush;

a movable member movably installed on the casing;

a first driving member that provides driving force to move the movable member; and

a brush rotatably installed on the movable member to direct a foreign substance to the suction port.

36. The automatic cleaner of claim 35, wherein when the automatic cleaner is not in a cleaning operation, the movable member is located in a first position, and

when the automatic cleaner is in a cleaning operation, the movable member is moved to a second position.

37. The automatic cleaner of claim 36, further comprising a second driving member to drive the brush,

wherein the second driving member is operated when the automatic cleaner is in a cleaning operation.

38. The automatic cleaner of claim 36, further comprising:

a first sensing part to sense the first position of the movable member; and

a second sensing part to sense the second position of the movable member.

39. The automatic cleaner of claim 35, wherein the first driving member is operated when the casing approaches a wall.

40. The automatic cleaner of claim 35, wherein when the first driving member is operated, an overlap area of the movable member and the casing is varied.