Pad changer, cleaner and cleaner system having the same

• US 9,717,388 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2014
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Min Jae, Jeong, Jae Youl, Lee, Dong Hun, Park, Heum Yong, Lee, Dong Hyun
• Primary Examiner(s): GUIDOTTI, LAURA COLE
• Application Number:
  US14/575,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20150182089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/28 Floor-scrubbing machines, motor-driven A47L11/29 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4036 Parts or details of the surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4038 Disk shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/02 Docking stations; Docking operations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/1845 Plural matrices

Abstract

A pad changer capable of automatically replacing a pad used to wipe out dust on a floor, a cleaner and a cleaner system having the pad changer are provided. The pad changer to replace a pad mounted to a cleaner includes a replacement unit. The replacement unit includes a separation cartridge to separate the pad from the cleaner and receive the separated pad therein, and a mounting cartridge to receive a pad therein and mount the pad to the cleaner.

Claims

1. A pad changer to replace a pad mounted to a cleaner, comprising:

a replacement unit including a separation cartridge to separate the pad from the cleaner and receive the separated pad therein, and a mounting cartridge to receive a pad therein and mount the pad to the cleaner, and

a case,

wherein the replacement unit further includes a base configured to rotate with respect to the case, on which the separation cartridge and the mounting cartridge are seated.

2. The pad changer according to claim 1, wherein the separation cartridge includes a pad separation device configured to move up and down in the separation cartridge and separate the pad from the cleaner.

3. The pad changer according to claim 1, wherein the mounting cartridge includes a mounting plate on which the pad is seated and that is configured to move up and down in the mounting cartridge.

4. The pad changer according to claim 1, wherein the case is formed with an opening at a portion thereof, through which the separation cartridge and the mounting cartridge are inserted into the case.

5. The pad changer according to claim 4, wherein the separation cartridge is seated on a separation holder to be inserted into the case, and the mounting cartridge is seated on a mounting holder to be inserted into the case.

6. The pad changer according to claim 4, wherein the opening of the case is provided with a guide protrusion at an inner side surface thereof, and the separation cartridge or the mounting cartridge is formed with a guide recess that extends in a forward and backward direction and into which the guide protrusion is inserted.

7. The pad changer according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plate unit on which the cleaner is seated and that is configured to move between the front of the case and a portion of the case corresponding to a position of the replacement unit.

8. The pad changer according to claim 7, wherein the plate unit includes a frame, a first plate, a second plate and a third plate,

and wherein the first plate, the second plate and the third plate are connected to the frame.

9. The pad changer according to claim 8, wherein the frame is provided with fixing protrusions to support the cleaner.

10. The pad changer according to claim 8, wherein the case is provided with a rack gear, and the plate unit is provided with a pinion gear tooth-engaged with the rack gear.

11. The pad changer according to claim 10, further comprising:

a connection unit that is connected to the third plate and is formed with a guide slot into which a rotating shaft of the pinion gear is inserted.

12. The pad changer according to claim 11, wherein the guide slot is formed in a gradual curve.

13. A cleaner system comprising a cleaner having a pad assembly and a pad changer to replace a pad mounted to the pad assembly, wherein

the pad assembly includes a pad unit and a locking member to which the pad unit is coupled,

the pad changer includes a replacement unit including a separation cartridge to separate the pad unit from the locking member and receive the separated pad unit therein and a mounting cartridge to receive a pad unit therein and mount the pad unit to the locking member,

wherein the pad unit includes a pad and a pad mounting part, the pad being removably mounted to a bottom surface of the pad mounting part, and

the pad mounting part is provided with locking protrusions that have locking parts formed at tops thereof.

14. The cleaner system according to claim 13, wherein the pad assembly further includes locking member accommodation parts to accommodate the locking member therein, and the locking member has free ends, by which the locking member is elastically deformed.

15. The cleaner system according to claim 14, wherein the locking member and the locking member accommodation parts are formed with locking holes through which the locking protrusions are inserted, and the locking holes of the locking member accommodation parts partially interfere with the locking member.

16. The cleaner system according to claim 15, wherein the separation cartridge includes a separation device configured to move up and down in the separation cartridge,

and wherein the separation device pushes the locking member upward to release interference of the locking protrusions with the locking member.

17. The cleaner system according to claim 15, wherein the mounting cartridge includes a mounting plate on which the pad unit is seated and that is configured to move up and down in the mounting cartridge,

and wherein the mounting plate moves upward so that the locking protrusions of the pad unit interfere with the locking member, thereby mounting the pad unit to the locking member.

18. A cleaner system comprising a cleaner having a pad assembly and a pad changer to replace a pad mounted to the pad assembly, wherein

the pad assembly includes a pad unit and a locking member to which the pad unit is coupled,

the pad changer includes a replacement unit including a separation cartridge to separate the pad unit from the locking member and receive the separated pad unit therein and a mounting cartridge to receive a pad unit therein and mount the pad unit to the locking member,

the pad changer further includes a plate unit to support the cleaner above the replacement unit, and

the cleaner is provided with guide protruding parts at side surfaces thereof, and the plate unit is provided with fixing protrusions to support the guide protruding parts of the cleaner.

19. The cleaner system according to claim 18, wherein the pad changer further includes a case to receive the replacement unit therein,

and wherein the plate unit is configured to move between the front of the case and a portion of the case corresponding to a position of the replacement unit.