Driving apparatus for a robot cleaner

• US 7,004,269 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2003
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Jeon, Kyong-Hui, Kim, Ki-Man, Lee, Ju-Sang, Ko, Jang-Youn, Song, Jeong-Gon
• Primary Examiner(s): LUBY, MATTHEW D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Royal, Jr., Paul
• Application Number:
  US10/457,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20040195012A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 180/8.1, 180/6.5, 180/6.48, 180 651- 655, 180167-169
• US Class Current: 180/6.5
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0038 the motor moving together with the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0092 the motor axle being coaxial to the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0007 the motor being electric

Abstract

Disclosed is a driving apparatus for a robot cleaner enabling drive wheels to be in contact with a floor all the time. The driving apparatus for a robot cleaner includes a robot cleaner main body, driving motors mounted in the robot cleaner main body, and for transferring power to drive wheels, driving motor housings hinged with the robot cleaner main body, and for accommodating the driving motors therein, and pressure members disposed between the robot cleaner main body and the driving motor housings, and for pressing the driving motor housings. Accordingly, the driving motor housings are mounted to rotate about the center of the rotation hinges so that the drive wheels come in contact with the floor all the time, preventing the drive wheels from being lifted over the floor and making lost rotations due to curved portions of the floor or obstacles.

Claims

1. A driving apparatus for a robot cleaner, comprising:

a robot cleaner main body comprising a lower frame and support brackets, the lower frame forming a bottom part of the robot cleaner and the support brackets being connected with the lower frame;

driving motors mounted in the robot cleaner main body, and for transferring power to drive wheels;

driving motor housings hinged with the robot cleaner main body, and for accommodating the driving motors therein, the support brackets rotatably supporting the driving motor housings; and

pressure members disposed between the robot cleaner main body and the driving motor housings, and for pressing the driving motor housings.

2. The driving apparatus for a robot cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support brackets comprises hinge support members which are formed at position corresponding to hinge members of the driving motor housings, for supporting the hinge members toward the bottom part.

3. The driving apparatus for a robot cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving motor housings each comprise an upper housing and a lower housing and wherein there is provided a rotation hinge protruded from the upper and lower housings respectively in a vertical direction with respect to the drive wheels and parallel with the bottom part.

4. The driving apparatus for a robot cleaner as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rotation hinges are cylindrical protrusions which are formed as semi-circular protrusions formed at upper and lower housings are engaged with each other.

5. The driving apparatus for a robot cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure members are coil springs.

6. The driving apparatus for a robot cleaner as claimed in claim 5, wherein the coil springs are fixed with one ends thereof to first seat parts formed on the lower sides of the support brackets, and accommodated with the other ends thereof in second seat parts formed on the outer circumferential faces of the driving motor housings.

7. The driving apparatus for a robot cleaner as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first seat parts each have:

a guide groove formed in a cylindrical shape having a space defined therein and for preventing the coil spring from being released; and

a coupling protrusion protruded on a central portion of the guide groove and having an outer circumferential face of a size corresponding to an inner circumferential face of the coil spring.

8. The driving apparatus for a robot cleaner as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second seat parts are each formed in a hollow cylinder shape, and have a seat groove having an inner circumferential face of a size corresponding to an outer circumferential face of the coil spring.