Autonomous cleaning device

• US 9,220,385 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2011
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jung, Hyun Soo, Han, Seung Il, Kim, Dong Won, Kim, Bo Sang, Lee, Jun Hwa
• Primary Examiner(s): REDDING, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US13/279,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20120096656A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,527 Days
• Field of Search: 153/19, 153/39, 153/403
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4052 Movement of the tools or the like perpendicular to the cleaning surface
• 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 9/0411 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0466 Rotating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0626 Rigidly anchored lips, e.g. nozzles adapted for picking up liquids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0633 with retractable brushes, combs, lips or pads

Abstract

A blade assembly of an autonomous cleaning device. The blade assembly includes a blade having a first part fixed to the main body and a second part extended from the first part toward a floor and a support member having at least a portion disposed adjacent to the second part of the blade to restrict movement of the second part of the blade to within a predetermined range.

Claims

1. An autonomous cleaning device comprising:

a main body having an opening;

a brush unit rotatably provided in the opening of the main body; and

a blade assembly to guide introduction of dust swept up by the brush unit, wherein the blade assembly comprises;

a blade having a first part and a second part extended from the first part toward a floor;

a fixing member disposed above the blade to push at least a portion of the second part of the blade so that an end of the second part of the blade remains in tight contact with the floor; and

a support member provided at a rear of the blade in a travel direction of the main body to prevent the second part of the blade from being bent in a direction opposite to the travel direction of the main body,

wherein;

the first part is fixed between the fixing member and the support member,

the second part is movable within a predetermined range between the fixing member and the support member, and

a plurality of contact portions is provided at an end of the second part so that the contact portions contact the floor.

2. The autonomous cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the support member comprises a first support part to contact the first part of the blade and a second support part which is adjacent to the second part of the blade.

3. The autonomous cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein the at least a portion of the fixing member is disposed adjacent to the second part of the blade so that an end of the second part of the blade remains in tight contact with the floor.

4. The autonomous cleaning device according to claim 3, wherein the fixing member comprises a first fixing part to contact the first part of the blade and a second fixing part which is adjacent to the second part of the blade.

5. The autonomous cleaning device according to claim 4, wherein

the second part of the blade comprises at least one moving portion,

the second support part of the support member is disposed adjacent to a lower side of the at least one moving portion, and

the second fixing part of the fixing member is disposed adjacent to an upper side of the at least one moving portion.

6. The autonomous cleaning device according to claim 4, wherein a distance between the second support part of the support member and the second fixing part of the fixing member is greater than a thickness of the second part of the blade.

7. The autonomous cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein

the second part of the blade comprises a moving portion and a tight contact portion extended from the moving portion toward the floor, and

the second support part of the support member comprises a first movement restriction portion corresponding to the moving portion and a second movement restriction portion corresponding to the tight contact portion.

8. The autonomous cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein

the second part of the blade comprises a moving portion and a tight contact portion extended from the moving portion toward the floor, and

the fixing member comprises at least one guide smoothly connected to a guide of the tight contact portion.

9. The autonomous cleaning device according to claim 8, wherein the guide of the tight contact portion and the at least one guide of the fixing member coincide with a rotational arc of the brush unit.

10. The autonomous cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein

the contact portions are simultaneously in tight contact with the floor.

11. The autonomous cleaning device according to claim 10, wherein, when at least one of the contact portions is positioned above a crevice of the floor, the remaining contact portions support the at least one of the contact portions so that the at least one of the contact portions does not fall into the crevice.

12. The autonomous cleaning device according to claim 10, wherein a front one of the contact portions in a direction of travel is formed in a quadrangular or wedge shape in section.

13. The autonomous cleaning device according to claim 10, wherein each of the contact portions comprises a first contact portion formed at a front end of the second part in a direction of travel so that the first contact portion protrudes downward and a horizontality maintaining portion to support the first contact portion so that the first contact portion is maintained horizontal even over a rugged floor.

14. The autonomous cleaning device according to claim 13, wherein the horizontality maintaining portion is formed to cover an end of the second part at a rear of the first contact portion.

15. The autonomous cleaning device according to claim 13, wherein a distance from a bottom of the first contact portion to the floor is equal to or less than a distance from a bottom of the horizontality maintaining portion to the floor.

16. The autonomous cleaning device according to claim 13, wherein the horizontality maintaining portion is formed of a flexible material.

17. An autonomous cleaning device comprising:

a main body having an opening;

a brush unit rotatably provided in the opening of the main body;

a blade to guide movement of dust swept up by the brush unit,

a fixing member to fix the blade to the main body; and

a support member to support the blade toward the fixing member;

wherein the blade comprises;

a first part fixed between the fixing member and the support member;

a second part extended from the first part toward a floor and being movable within a predetermined range between the fixing member and the support member; and

a plurality of contact portions formed at an end of the second part so that the contact portions contact the floor.

18. The autonomous cleaning device according to claim 17, wherein, when at least one of the contact portions is positioned above a crevice of the floor, the remaining contact portions support the at least one of the contact portions so that the at least one of the contact portions does not fall into the crevice.

19. The autonomous cleaning device according to claim 17, wherein the second part of the blade comprises:

a first contact portion configured to tightly contact the floor; and

a second contact portion provided at a rear end of the first contact portion in a direction of travel to support the first contact portion so that the first contact portion does not fall into valleys of a rugged floor.

20. The autonomous cleaning device according to claim 17, wherein the blade has a thickness less than a distance between the fixing member and the support member.

21. An autonomous cleaning device comprising:

a main body having an opening;

a brush unit rotatably provided in the opening of the main body; and

a blade assembly to guide movement of dust swept up by the brush unit, wherein the blade assembly comprises;

a blade having a first part fixed to the main body and a second part extended from the first part toward a floor;

a fixing member disposed above the blade to push at least a portion of the second part of the blade so that an end of the second part of the blade remains in tight contact with the floor; and

a support member spaced apart from the second part of the blade to prevent the second part of the blade from being bent in a direction opposite to a direction of travel.

22. The autonomous cleaning device according to claim 21, wherein

the second part of the blade comprises at least one moving portion and at least one tight contact portion extended from the at least one moving portion toward the floor, and

the support member comprises at least one first movement restriction portion and at least one second movement restriction portion corresponding to the second part of the blade.

23. The autonomous cleaning device according to claim 21, wherein

the blade assembly further comprises a plurality of contact portions formed at the second part of the blade so that the contact portions remain in tight contact with the floor, and

when at least one of the contact portions is positioned above a crevice of the floor, the remaining contact portions support the at least one of the contact portions so that the at least one of the contact portions does not fall into the crevice.

24. The autonomous cleaning device according to claim 21, further comprising:

a plurality of contact portions formed at the second part of the blade so that the contact portions contact the floor, wherein each of the contact portions comprises;

a first contact portion formed at a front of an end of the blade in a direction of travel so as to protrude downward so that the first contact portion tightly contacts the floor; and

a second contact portion provided at a rear end of the first contact portion in a direction of travel to support the first contact portion so that the first contact portion does not fall into valleys of a rugged floor.