Vacuum cleaner robot

• US 10,736,478 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2015
• Issued: 08/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eurofilters Holding N.V. (De Meijerij BV)
• Original Assignee: Eurofilters Holding N.V. (De Meijerij BV)
• Inventors: Sauer, Ralf, Schultink, Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): Keller, Brian D
• Application Number:
  US15/543,929
• Publication Number:
  US 20180008109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,705 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 5/22 with rotary fans
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/362 of the horizontal type, e.g. canister or sledge type
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/009 Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/02 Nozzles suction nozzles for fluid transport B65G51/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0477 Rolls
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/066 with adjustably mounted brushes, combs, lips or pads; Height adjustment of nozzle or dust loosening tools for suction cleaners with handles and nozzles fixed on the casing A47L5/34
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 19/003 Multidirectional wheels
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/024 in combination with a laser lasers per se H01S
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0248 in combination with a laser lasers per se H01S
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0255 using acoustic signals, e.g. ultra-sonic singals sonar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S15/93
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0257 using a radar radar systems designed for anti-collision purposes between land vehicles or between land vehicle and fixed obstacles G01S13/931
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0295 by at least one leading vehicle of the fleet

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner robot comprising a floor nozzle supported on wheels and a dust collection unit, wherein the floor nozzle comprises a driving device for driving at least one of the wheels of the floor nozzle, wherein one of the wheels, a plurality of or all of the wheels of the floor nozzle are omnidirectional wheels, wherein the floor nozzle comprises a base plate with a base surface, which, when the vacuum cleaner robot is in operation, faces the surface to be cleaned, the base plate having provided therein an air flow channel, which extends parallel to the base surface and through which air to be cleaned enters the floor nozzle, and wherein the floor nozzle comprises a rotating means for rotating the air flow channel about an axis perpendicular to the base surface.

Claims

1. A vacuum cleaner robot comprising a floor nozzle supported on wheels and a dust collection unit,

wherein the floor nozzle comprises a driving device for driving at least one of the wheels of the floor nozzle,

wherein one of the wheels, a plurality of or all of the wheels of the floor nozzle are omnidirectional wheels,

wherein the floor nozzle comprises a base plate with a base surface, which, when the vacuum cleaner robot is in operation, faces the surface to be cleaned, the floor nozzle comprising a rotary disk positioned entirely within an outer circumference of the base plate, the rotary disk having provided therein an air flow channel comprising an aperture, which extends parallel to the base surface and through which air to be cleaned enters the floor nozzle, and

wherein the floor nozzle comprises a rotating member for rotating the air flow channel about an axis perpendicular to the base surface, the rotary disk being part of the rotating member, the rotary disk being rotatable relative to the base plate about an axis perpendicular to the base surface of the base plate.

2. The vacuum cleaner robot according to claim 1, wherein the rotating member is configured for orienting the air flow channel perpendicular to a direction of movement of the floor nozzle.

3. The vacuum cleaner robot according to claim 1, wherein the rotary disk is supported such that it is rotatable about the axis perpendicular to the base surface of the base plate and which has the air flow channel formed therein.

4. The vacuum cleaner robot according to claim 1, comprising a rotation control unit for controlling the rotating member, wherein the rotation control unit is coupled to the driving device of the floor nozzle.

5. The vacuum cleaner robot according to claim 1, wherein the air flow channel has, in a transverse direction, a dimension of at least 90% of a width of the floor nozzle.

6. The vacuum cleaner robot according to claim 1,

wherein the dust collection unit is supported on wheels separately from the floor nozzle and is in fluidic communication with the floor nozzle via a suction hose, wherein the dust collection unit comprises a driving device for driving at least one of the wheels of the dust collection unit.

7. The vacuum cleaner robot according to claim 6, wherein the dust collection unit is supported on wheels separately from the floor nozzle, and wherein one of the wheels, a plurality of or all of the wheels of the dust collection unit are omnidirectional wheels.

8. The vacuum cleaner robot according to claim 1, further comprising a motor fan unit for sucking in a flow of air through the floor nozzle.

9. The vacuum cleaner robot according to claim 8, wherein the motor fan unit is arranged between the floor nozzle and the dust collection unit such that a flow of air sucked in through the floor nozzle will pass through the motor fan unit and flow into the dust collection unit.

10. The vacuum cleaner robot according to claim 8, wherein the motor fan unit comprising in particular a radial fan.

11. The vacuum cleaner robot according to claim 1, wherein the dust collection unit is in fluidic communication with the floor nozzle via a suction hose, and wherein the motor fan unit is arranged between the suction hose and the dust collection unit such that the flow of air sucked in through the floor nozzle will pass through the suction hose and flow into the motor fan unit, and pass through the motor fan unit and flow into the dust collection unit.

12. The vacuum cleaner robot according to claim 11, wherein the dust collection unit comprises a housing and a dust collector arranged within said housing, the motor fan unit being arranged on, at or in said housing.

13. The vacuum cleaner robot according to claim 11, comprising an exhaust filter.

14. The vacuum cleaner robot according to claim 11, wherein the vacuum cleaner robot is a bag-type vacuum cleaner.

15. The vacuum cleaner robot according to claim 11, comprising a control and navigation unit for an automatic movement of the floor nozzle or of the dust collection unit or comprising one or a plurality of position determination members.

16. The vacuum cleaner robot according to claim 11, wherein the air flow channel has, in a transverse direction, a dimension of at least 90% of a width of the base plate or of the rotary disk.