Method and apparatus for providing multiple modes of cleaning on a smart robotic cleaner

• US 9,833,116 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2015
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guangzhou Coayu Robot Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Shenzhen BONA Robot Technology Co.,Ltd.
• Inventors: Huang, Jianmin, Cao, Yibo
• Primary Examiner(s): Carlson, Marc
• Application Number:
  US14/735,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20160051108A1
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 15347, 134 18
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/06 Control of the cleaning action for autonomous devices; Automatic detection of the surface condition before, during or after cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0411 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0477 Rolls
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0488 Combinations or arrangements of several tools, e.g. edge cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2842 Suction motors or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2847 Surface treating elements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/2857 User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for providing multiple modes of cleaning on a smart robotic cleaner are disclosed. A cleaning mode of rolling brush sweeping and a cleaning mode of vacuuming are provided on the smart robotic cleaner. When different cleaning devices are replaced on the body of the smart robotic cleaner, an electronic control unit in the body may control the smart robotic cleaner to switch between the cleaning modes automatically. A mounting position may be provided in the smart robotic cleaner. A rolling brush assembly and a suction inlet assembly may be detachably mounted on the mounting position, and the rolling brush assembly and the suction inlet assembly may be replaced with each other at the mounting position.

Claims

1. A smart robotic cleaner kit for providing multiple modes of cleaning, the smart robotic cleaner kit comprising:

(a) a smart robotic cleaner body, the smart robotic cleaner body being able to move on a floor, a driving motor and an electronic control unit provided in the smart robotic cleaner body;

an air inlet, an air outlet, a dust box assembly, a filter, and a ventilation device being provided in the body;

the ventilation device configured to create a suction air flow through air inlet, then through the dust box assembly, then through the filter, and then into the ventilation device;

wherein;

a mounting position is provided at the bottom of the smart robotic cleaner body adjacent the air inlet;

(b) a rolling brush assembly, configured to interchangeably mount to the mounting position of the smart robotic cleaner in fluid communication with the suction airflow, the rolling brush assembly comprising at least one pivotally mounted sweeping brush;

(c) a suction inlet assembly, configured to interchangeably mount to the mounting position of the smart robotic cleaner in fluid communication with the suction airflow, the suction inlet assembly configured without a pivotally mounted brush, the suction inlet assembly comprising a suction inlet;

wherein the electronic control unit of the smart robotic cleaner body automatically detects when the rolling brush assembly is attached to the mounting position on the smart robotic cleaner and switches to a first cleaning mode specific to the rolling brush assembly, the first cleaning mode including at least energizing the driving motor to rotate the at least one pivotally mounted sweeping brush;

wherein the electronic control unit of the smart robotic cleaner body automatically detects when the suction inlet assembly is attached to the mounting position on the smart robotic cleaner and switching to a second cleaning mode that is different from the first cleaning mode and specific to the suction inlet assembly, the second cleaning mode including at least de-energizing the driving motor.

2. The smart robotic cleaner kit of claim 1, wherein:

a switch electrically connected to the electronic control unit is provided on the mounting position, the switch being configured to provide a first signal to the electronic control unit when the rolling brush assembly is mounted to the mounting position, the switch being configured to provide a second signal to the electronic control unit when the suction inlet assembly is mounted to the mounting position, the first signal and second signal being different;

wherein the electronic control unit is configured to switch to the first cleaning mode when the first signal is provided, and

wherein the electronics control unit is configured to switch to the second cleaning mode when the second signal is provided.

3. The smart robotic cleaner kit of claim 1, wherein:

the rolling brush assembly comprises a rolling brush holder and the at least one pivotally mounted sweeping brush pivotally connected to the rolling brush holder;

wherein during operation of the first cleaning mode, the rolling brush assembly is mounted to the smart robotic cleaner body, the pivot axis of the at least one pivotally mounted sweeping brush is set horizontally, the electronic control unit energizes the driving motor to rotate the at least one pivotally mounted sweeping brush and sweep dust or garbage into the suction airflow and into the dust box assembly of the smart robotic cleaner body.

4. The smart robotic cleaner kit of claim 1, wherein:

the suction inlet assembly comprises a suction inlet holder and the suction inlet formed on the suction inlet holder;

wherein during operation of the second cleaning mode, the suction inlet assembly is mounted to the smart robotic cleaner body, the electronic control unit de-energizes the driving motor and the suction inlet directs dust or garbage into the suction airflow and into the dust box assembly of the smart robotic cleaner body.

5. The smart robotic cleaner kit of claim 1, wherein:

the filter of the dust box assembly in the body comprises a coarse filter and a fine filter; and

the suction airflow flows through the coarse filter and the fine filter in turn.

6. The smart robotic cleaner kit of claim 1, wherein:

the ventilation device comprises a centrifugal fan, and the electronic control unit is capable of changing the rotating speed of the centrifugal fan between the first and second cleaning modes.

7. A method for providing multiple modes of cleaning on a smart robotic cleaner, the method comprising:

providing a smart robotic cleaner comprising an electronic control unit, a driving motor, a mounting position, an air inlet, a dust box assembly, and a filter, the smart robotic cleaner configured to create a suction airflow through the air inlet, then through the dust box assembly, and then through the filter;

providing a rolling brush sweeping assembly, configured to detachably mount to the mounting position, the rolling brush sweeping assembly comprising at least one pivotally mounted sweeping brush;

providing a suction inlet assembly, configured to detachably mount to the mounting position, the suction inlet assembly configured without a pivotally mounted brush, the suction inlet assembly comprising a suction inlet;

attaching one of the rolling brush sweeping assembly or the suction inlet assembly to the mounting position on the smart robotic cleaner to be in fluid communication with the suction airflow;

automatically detecting, with the electronic control unit of the smart robotic cleaner, that the one of the rolling brush sweeping assembly or the suction inlet assembly is attached to the mounting position on the smart robotic cleaner and switching to a first cleaning mode specific to the one of the rolling brush sweeping assembly or the suction inlet assembly that is attached;

removing the one of the rolling brush sweeping assembly or the suction inlet assembly from the mounting position on the smart robotic cleaner;

attaching an other of the one of the rolling brush sweeping assembly or the suction inlet assembly to the mounting position on the smart robotic cleaner to be in fluid communication with the suction airflow;

automatically detecting, with the electronic control unit of the smart robotic cleaner, that the other of the one of the rolling brush sweeping assembly or the suction inlet assembly is attached to the mounting position on the smart robotic cleaner and switching to a second cleaning mode that is different from the first cleaning mode and specific to the other of the one of the rolling brush sweeping assembly or the suction inlet assembly that is attached;

wherein the electronic control unit energizes the driving motor to rotate the at least one pivotally mounted sweeping brush when the rolling brush sweeping assembly is attached to the mounting position on the smart robotic cleaner; and

wherein the electronic control unit de-energizes the driving motor when the suction inlet assembly is attached to the mounting position on the smart robotic cleaner.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein:

when the rolling brush sweeping assembly is mounted on the smart robotic cleaner, the smart robotic cleaner automatically detects the rolling brush sweeping assembly;

after the smart robotic cleaner is started, a centrifugal fan inside the smart robotic cleaner creates the suction airflow directed through the rolling brush sweeping assembly, then through the air inlet, then through the dust box assembly, then through the filter, and then into the centrifugal fan, and the at least one pivotally mounted sweeping brush of the rolling brush sweeping assembly rotates and sweeps dust or garbage into the smart robotic cleaner; and

the dust or the garbage is collected in the dust box assembly of the smart robotic cleaner.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein:

when the suction inlet assembly is mounted on the smart robotic cleaner, the smart robotic cleaner automatically detects the suction inlet assembly;

after the smart robotic cleaner is started, a centrifugal fan inside the smart robotic cleaner rotates at a high speed to create the suction airflow directed through the suction inlet assembly, then through the air inlet, then through the dust box assembly, then through the filter, and then into the centrifugal fan, and a suction inlet of the suction inlet assembly is configured to direct dust or garbage into the suction airflow of the smart robotic cleaner; and

the dust or the garbage is collected in the dust box assembly of the smart robotic cleaner.