Cleaner and path controlling method thereof

• US 9,084,519 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2012
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chi-Mou Chao
• Original Assignee: Chi-Mou Chao
• Inventors: Chao, Chi-Mou
• Primary Examiner(s): SCRUGGS, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US13/495,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20130037050A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 1/02 Power-driven machines or devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 57/024 specially adapted for moving on inclined or vertical surfaces endless-track vehicles for ascending or descending stairs B62D55/075; hand-carts with provision for travelling up or down stairs B62B5/02
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0212 with means for defining a desired trajectory involving a plurality of land vehicles G05D1/0287

Abstract

A cleaner includes at least one cleaning component, a pump module, a driving module and a control system. The at least one cleaning component and the plate delimit at least one space. The pump module is connected to the at least one space to pump air out of the at least a space to form a negative air pressure in the at least one space so that the cleaner is sucked on the plate. The driving module is connected to the at least a cleaning component to drive the at least a cleaning component. The control system is coupled to the pump module and the driving module and controls the driving module to cause the at least one driven cleaning component to make a movement on the plate.

Claims

1. A cleaner for cleaning particles on a plate, comprising:

at least one cleaning component, wherein the at least one cleaning component and the plate delimits at least one space;

a pump module connected to the at least one space for pumping air out of the at least one space to form a negative air pressure in the at least one space so that the cleaner is sucked on the plate;

a driving module connected to the at least one cleaning component for driving the at least one cleaning component; and

a control system coupled to the pump module and the driving module for controlling the driving module to cause the at least one driven cleaning component to make a movement on the plate,

wherein the at least one space comprises a first space and a second space,

wherein the at least one cleaning component comprises;

a first cleaning component, wherein the first cleaning component and the plate delimit the first space; and

a second cleaning component, wherein the second cleaning component and the plate delimit the second space;

wherein the pump module is connected to the first space and the second space to form a first negative air pressure in the first space and a second negative air pressure in the second space,

wherein the driving module comprises a link arm connected between the first cleaning component and the second cleaning component and causes at least one of the first cleaning component and the second cleaning component to rotate, and

wherein, in a first period of time, the driving module causes the second cleaning component to rotate along a first rotation direction to generate a first torque between the second cleaning component and the link arm so that the link arm swings toward a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction by the first torque.

2. The cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the driving module causes the first cleaning component substantially not to rotate and exerts a second torque between the first cleaning component and the link arm so that the link arm swings toward the second rotation direction.

3. The cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the pump module comprises:

a first vacuum pump connected to the first space for forming the first negative air pressure in the first space; and

a second vacuum pump connected to the second space for forming the second negative air pressure in the second space, wherein the control system controls the first vacuum pump and the second vacuum pump to cause the first negative air pressure to be greater than the second negative air pressure.

4. The cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the pump module comprises:

a first air valve;

a second air valve; and

a vacuum pump connected to the first space through the first air valve and to the second space through the second air valve,

wherein the control system controls the first air valve and the second air valve to cause the first negative air pressure to be greater than the second negative air pressure.

5. The cleaner according to claim 2, wherein, in a second period of time, the driving module causes the first cleaning component to rotate along the second rotation direction to generate a third torque between the first cleaning component and the link arm, and the driving module causes the second cleaning component substantially not to rotate and exerts a fourth torque between the second cleaning component and the link arm so that the link arm swings toward the first rotation direction by the third torque and the fourth torque.

6. The cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the driving module further comprises:

a first driving device connected to the first cleaning component for causing the first cleaning component to rotate; and

a second driving device being connected to the second cleaning component for causing the second cleaning component to rotate.

7. The cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the control system comprises a level sensor for sensing a horizontal angle of the cleaner, and wherein the control system controls the driving module according to the horizontal angle.

8. The cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising:

a machine casing; and

a safety lifting lug disposed on the machine casing and configured to be tied with a safety rope, wherein the safety rope is used to be tied between the safety lifting lug and a fixed point.

9. The cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising:

a machine casing; and

at least one sensor disposed on the machine casing and electrically connected to the control system for sensing whether the cleaner is close to a foreign object or an edge of the plate.

10. The cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising:

a battery module electrically connected to the pump module, the driving module and the control system for providing a power source.

11. The cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the control system comprises a remote control receiver for receiving a remote control signal, and wherein the control system controls the driving module according to the remote control signal.

12. A method of controlling a cleaner path, applied in a cleaner moving on a plate, the cleaner comprising a first cleaning component, a second cleaning component and a link arm, the link arm connected to the first cleaning component and the second cleaning component, the method comprising:

forming negative air pressures in a first space and a second space, wherein the first cleaning component and the plate delimit the first space, and the second cleaning component and the plate delimit the second space; and

causing the second cleaning component to rotate along a first rotation direction to generate a first torque between the second cleaning component and the link arm so that the link arm swings toward a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction by the first torque.

13. The path controlling method according to claim 12, further comprising:

causing the first cleaning component substantially not to rotate; and

exerting a second torque between the first cleaning component and the link arm so that the link arm swings toward the second rotation direction.

14. The path controlling method according to claim 12, further comprising:

causing the negative air pressure in the first space to be greater than the negative air pressure in the second space.