Automatic cleaner

• US 9,510,720 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2013
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jang, Jaewon
• Primary Examiner(s): REDDING, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US13/861,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20140109338A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,335 Days
• Field of Search: 153/19
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4066 Propulsion of the whole machine
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4069 Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools
• 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 9/04 with driven brushes or agitators
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0488 Combinations or arrangements of several tools, e.g. edge cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0633 with retractable brushes, combs, lips or pads
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/064 actuating means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0646 with pneumatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0653 with mechanical actuation, e.g. using a lever

Abstract

An automatic cleaner includes a casing having a suction port, a suction device disposed in the casing to suction foreign substances through the suction port, a moving device that moves the casing, and a side brush assembly movably installed on the casing. The side brush assembly includes a movable member movably disposed on the casing, a first driving device that generates power for moving the movable member, a brush rotatably mounted on the movable member, and a second driving device that generates power for rotating the brush.

Claims

1. An automatic cleaner comprising:

a casing having a suction port in a bottom portion of the casing through which foreign substances are suctioned;

a moving device that moves the casing; and

a side brush assembly movably installed on the casing,

wherein the side brush assembly comprises;

a movable member movably disposed on the casing;

a first driving device that generates power to move the movable member;

a brush rotatably mounted on the movable member;

a second driving device that generates power to rotate the brush; and

a rotation range restriction part that restricts a rotation range of the movable member.

2. The automatic cleaner of claim 1, wherein the first driving device comprises a first driving part and a decelerator that decelerates a rotation rate of the first driving part prior to driving the movable member.

3. The automatic cleaner of claim 2, wherein the first driving part comprises a motor rotatable in both directions or a solenoid rotatable in both directions within a predetermined range.

4. The automatic cleaner of claim 2, wherein the decelerator comprises a plurality of pulleys and a belt wound around the plurality of pulleys.

5. The automatic cleaner of claim 4, wherein the plurality of pulleys comprise:

a first pulley connected to the first driving part; and

a second pulley connected to a first rotation shaft disposed on the movable member,

wherein the second pulley has a diameter greater than that of the first pulley.

6. The automatic cleaner of claim 2, wherein the decelerator comprises a plurality of gears.

7. The automatic cleaner of claim 1, wherein the rotation range restriction part comprises at least one detection part that detects rotation of a portion of the power transmission part or the movable member.

8. The automatic cleaner of claim 1, wherein the movable member is stopped after the movable member is detected by the rotation range restriction part to have moved from a first position to a second position.

9. The automatic cleaner of claim 1, wherein the movable member is reciprocated between a first position and a second position based on rotation detection by the rotation range restriction part.

10. The automatic cleaner of claim 1, wherein the second driving device is disposed on the movable member and moved together with the movable member.

11. The automatic cleaner of claim 1, wherein the second driving device comprises a second driving part and a decelerator decelerating a rotating rate of the second driving part prior to driving rotation of the brush.

12. The automatic cleaner of claim 11, wherein the decelerator comprises a plurality of gears.

13. The automatic cleaner of claim 1, wherein, when the movable member is moved, a rotation shaft of the brush is moved in a horizontal direction.

14. The automatic cleaner of claim 1, wherein the movable member is received within the casing, and

when the first driving part is turned on, the movable member received within the casing protrudes laterally from the casing.

15. The automatic cleaner of claim 1, wherein the movable member is disposed under the casing, and

when the first driving part is turned on, the movable member disposed under the casing protrudes laterally from the casing.

16. An automatic cleaner comprising:

a casing having a suction port in a bottom portion of the casing through which foreign substances are suctioned;

a moving device that moves the casing; and

a side brush assembly movably installed on the casing,

wherein the side brush assembly comprises;

a movable member movably disposed on the casing;

a first driving device comprising a first driving part and a decelerator that provide power to move the movable member;

a brush rotatably mounted on the movable member; and

a second driving device comprising a second driving part and a decelerator that provide power to rotate the brush,

a rotation range restriction part, including at least one detection part that detects rotation of a portion of the movable member, that restricts a rotation range of the movable member,

wherein the casing includes a seating recess for accommodating the movable member,

wherein in a first position the movable member is accommodated in the seating recess and is fully covered by the casing,

when the first driving device drives the movable member, the movable member is protruding at least partly outside the casing to a second position.

17. An automatic cleaner comprising:

a casing having a suction port in a bottom portion of the casing through which foreign substances are suctioned;

a moving device that moves the casing; and

a side brush assembly movably installed on the casing,

wherein the side brush assembly comprises;

a movable member movably disposed on the casing;

a first driving device that generates power to move the movable member;

a brush rotatably mounted on the movable member; and

a second driving device that generates power to rotate the brush,

wherein the first driving device comprises a first driving part and a decelerator that decelerates a rotation rate of the first driving part prior to driving the movable member,

wherein the decelerator comprises a plurality of pulleys and a belt wound around the plurality of pulleys.

18. The automatic cleaner of claim 17, wherein the first driving part comprises a motor rotatable in both directions or a solenoid rotatable in both directions within a predetermined range.