Robotic vacuum cleaner having a rotating brush roller and cleaning method for a brush roller of a robotic vacuum cleaner

• US 9,648,999 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2015
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Miele & CIE KG
• Original Assignee: Miele & CIE KG
• Inventors: Uphoff, Carina, Thamm, Markus
• Primary Examiner(s): Markoff, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US14/791,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20160015233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 17/06 Devices for cleaning brushes after use
• 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 2201/02 Docking stations; Docking operations
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0455 Bearing means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0477 Rolls
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0494 Height adjustment of dust-loosening tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0606 rigidly anchored brushes, combs, lips or pads

Abstract

A robot vacuum cleaner includes a housing and a brush roller disposed at a bottom of the housing. The brush roller is configured to be rotatable about a horizontal axle. A blade is disposed above the brush roller in stationary relation with respect to the housing. The horizontal axle is adjustable in height relative to the housing. The brush roller is spaced away from the blade in a lower position and is in engagement with the blade in an upper position.

Claims

1. A robot vacuum cleaner, comprising:

a housing;

a brush roller disposed at a bottom of the housing, the brush roller being rotatable about a horizontal axle; and

a blade disposed above the brush roller in stationary relation with respect to the housing,

wherein the horizontal axle is adjustable in height relative to the housing, the brush roller being spaced away from the blade in a lower position and being in engagement with the blade in an upper position.

2. The robot vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the horizontal axle is mounted in laterally disposed bearings that are configured to be vertically movably guided in one or more guides.

3. The robot vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the brush roller is urged into the lower position by springs.

4. The robot vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the blade is configured to extend over substantially the entire width of the brush roller.

5. The robot vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the blade points obliquely downwardly.

6. A method for cleaning a brush roller of a robot vacuum cleaner, the method comprising:

the robot vacuum cleaner traveling to a charging station;

the robot vacuum cleaner moving onto a ramp of the charging station, thereby raising the brush roller relative to a housing of the robot vacuum cleaner and bringing the brush roller into engagement with a blade disposed above the brush roller in the housing; and

rotating the brush roller while it is in engagement with the blade.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising rotating the brush roller for a predetermined period of time at a speed higher than an operating speed of the brush roller during vacuuming.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising operating a suction fan of the robot vacuum cleaner while the brush roller rotates.