Automatic vacuum cleaner

• US 5,095,577 A
• Filed: 02/27/1991
• Issued: 03/17/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Azurtec Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Azurtec Incorporated
• Inventors: Jonas, Bernard, Jonas, Andre
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORE, CHRISTOPHER K
• Application Number:
  US07/661,227
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• Field of Search: 15/319, 15/320, 15/340.1, 15/315
• US Class Current: 15/315
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• 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 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0009 Storing devices winding devices for electric cables A47L9/26; Supports, stands or holders
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/26 Incorporation of winding devices for electric cables devices specially adapted for repeatedly paying-out or re-storing cables B65H75/34; arrangements of electrical cables or lines between relatively-movable parts H02G11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2036 Electric differentials, e.g. for supporting steering vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/32 Auto pilot mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 9/00 Electric propulsion with power supply external to the vehicle electric propulsion for monorail vehicles, suspension vehicles or rack railways B60L13/00; in combination with batteries or fuel cells within the vehicle B60L50/53
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 9/24 fed from ac supply lines
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/33 Hollow or hose-like material
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/34 electric cords or electric power cables
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/42 attached to, or forming part of, mobile tools, machines or vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4402 Guiding arrangements to control paying-out and re-storing of the material guides per se B65H57/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A mobile cleaning apparatus device automatically follows guides such as walls or other obstacles, by engaging the guides with element and controlling the steering of the apparatus in response to the level of forces sensed by the detector.

Claims

1. An automatic cleaning apparatus comprising:

a chassis;

means for guiding said chassis along a wall;

a cleaning element mounted so as to sweep a floor strip of a predetermined width perpendicular to said wall; and

stopping and starting means for advancing the chassis over a distance at most equal to said predetermined width, stopping the chassis during the sweeping of said strip on the floor, and subsequently restarting the chassis advance.

2. An automatic cleaning apparatus comprising:

a chassis;

means for guiding said chassis along a wall;

a cleaning element mounted to as to sweep a floor strip of a predetermined width perpendicular to said wall; and

stopping and starting means for advancing the chassis over a distance at most equal to said predetermined width, stopping the chassis during the sweeping of said strip on the floor, and subsequently restarting the chassis advance,

wherein a sweeping means comprises a semirigid tube able to be wound upward in an approximately vertical plane, a reel located in said plane, and means for winding and unwinding said tube on said reel, said cleaning element being mounted at the free end of said tube.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said winding and unwinding means comprise a motorized endless belt provided with points on its outer surface, said points being designed to work with holes made in the surface of said tube.