Mobile robot system having liquid supply station and liquid supply method

• US 7,891,387 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2006
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lim, Kwang-soo, Ko, Jang-youn, Jeung, Sam-jong, Lee, Ju-sang, Song, Jeong-gon
• Primary Examiner(s): Maust; Timothy L
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARNETT, NICOLAS ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US11/484,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20070051757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,686 Days
• Field of Search: 141/98, 141/198, 141/94, 700/245, 222/79, 180/167
• US Class Current: 141/98
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/026 Refilling cleaning liquid containers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2805 Parameters or conditions being sensed
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2852 Elements for displacement of the vacuum cleaner or the accessories therefor, e.g. wheels, casters or nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2884 Details of arrangements of batteries or their installation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2894 Details related to signal transmission in suction cleaners

Abstract

A robot system includes a supply station. The system further includes: a robot, a robot tank adapted to store a liquid and disposed at the robot; and a supply station configured to supply additional liquid to the tank.

Claims

1. A robot system including a supply station, the system comprising:

a robot including a dust suction unit and being adapted to travel autonomously;

a robot tank adapted to store a liquid and disposed at the robot; and

a supply station configured to supply additional liquid to the robot tank,

wherein when the robot is positioned at a supply position and a transmitting and receiving unit transmits a supply signal to the supply station, the supply station supplies additional liquid to the robot tank.

2. The robot system of claim 1, wherein the supply station comprises:

a storage tank;

a pump adapted to be in fluid communication with the storage tank;

a supply nozzle unit adapted to be in fluid communication with the pump;

a station controller configured to control the pump and the supply nozzle unit to supply the additional liquid to the robot tank.

3. The robot system of claim 2, wherein the supply nozzle unit comprises:

a supply nozzle;

a pipe configured to connect the supply nozzle and the pump; and

a nozzle drive part configured to adjust a position of the supply nozzle,

wherein when the supply nozzle moves down, a front end of the supply nozzle is configured to be inserted into an inlet port of the robot tank.

4. The robot system of claim 3, wherein:

the robot tank comprises an inlet port cap disposed at an inlet port of the robot tank, and

the inlet port cap is configured to be opened and closed by the supply nozzle.

5. The robot system of claim 1, wherein the supply station comprises:

a level sensor configured to detect a level of the liquid stored in the liquid store tank; and

a display part configured to display the detected level of the liquid.

6. A robot system including a supply station, the system comprising:

a robot including a dust suction unit and being adapted to travel autonomously using a fuel cell;

a robot tank disposed at the robot and configured to store a fuel for the fuel cell; and

a supply station including a supply nozzle adapted for reciprocating movement, the supply station being configured to supply additional fuel by moving the supply nozzle downward upon receiving a supply signal from a transmitting and receiving unit of the robot.

7. The robot system of claim 6, wherein the supply station comprises:

a station storage tank;

a pump adapted to be in fluid communication with the station storage tank;

a pipe configured to connect the pump and a supply nozzle;

a nozzle drive part configured to move the supply nozzle; and

a station controller configured to control the nozzle drive part to insert the supply nozzle into an inlet port of the robot tank.

8. The robot system of claim 7, wherein:

the robot tank comprises an inlet port cap disposed at the inlet port of the robot tank, and

the inlet port cap is configured to be opened and closed by a movement of the supply nozzle.

9. A robot system including a supply station, the system comprising:

a robot including a dust suction unit and being adapted to travel autonomously and to use water to perform a task;

a robot tank disposed at the robot and configured to store the water; and

a supply station connected to a water service pipe, the supply station being adapted to supply the robot tank fixed to the robot with additional water upon receiving a supply signal from a transmitting and receiving unit of the robot.

10. The robot system of claim 9, wherein the supply station comprises:

a station storage tank connected to the water service pipe and adapted to store water;

a pump configured to be in fluid communication with the station storage tank;

a supply nozzle unit configured to supply water from the station storage tank to the robot tank; and

a station controller configured to control the pump and the supply nozzle unit to supply the additional water.

11. The robot system of claim 10, wherein the supply nozzle unit comprises:

a supply nozzle;

a pipe configured to connect the supply nozzle and the pump; and

a nozzle drive part configured to adjust a position of the supply nozzle.

12. The robot system of claim 11, wherein:

the robot tank comprises an inlet port cap disposed in the inlet port of the robot tank, and

the inlet port cap is configured to be opened and closed by a movement of the supply nozzle.

13. The robot system of claim 9, wherein the supply station comprises:

a valve disposed at the water service pipe and configured to open and close the water service pipe;

a supply nozzle unit configured to be in fluid communication with the valve and to serve as a passage through which the additional water flows from the water service pipe to the robot tank; and

a station controller configured to control the valve and the supply nozzle unit.

14. A robot system including a supply station, the system comprising:

a robot being adapted to travel autonomously using power supplied from a fuel cell, adapted to use a liquid to complete a task, and adapted to operate a dust suction unit;

a fuel tank disposed at the robot;

a liquid tank disposed at the robot and storing water to be used for a task; and

a supply station configured to supply additional fuel and additional liquid to the fuel tank and the liquid tank upon receiving a supply signal from a transmitting and receiving unit of the robot.

15. The robot system of claim 14, wherein the supply station comprises:

a station fuel tank;

a station liquid tank;

a first pump adapted to communicate with the fuel tank;

a second pump adapted to communicate with the liquid tank;

a first supply nozzle adapted to supply fuel from the station fuel tank;

a second supply nozzle adapted to supply liquid from the station liquid tank; and

a controller configured to control supplying of fuel and liquid.