Self-propelled working robot

• US 20050209736A1
• Filed: 04/28/2005
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Figla Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Figla Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kawagoe, Nobukazu
• Application Number:
  US11/116,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20050209736A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/20 combined with vacuum cleaning devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4061 Steering means; Means for avoiding obstacles; Details related to the place where the driver is accommodated
• 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: G05D 1/0219 ensuring the processing of the whole working surface
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0255 using acoustic signals, e.g. ultra-sonic singals sonar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S15/93

Abstract

A self-propelled working robot according to the present invention comprises a traveling assembly (1) having a wheel (6) and first and second working assemblies (20, 50) that are detachable from the traveling assembly 81). One of the first and second working assemblies (20, 50) is selectively mounted on the traveling assembly (1). Each working assembly has a type identification means (33) that enables identification of a type of the working assembly. The traveling assembly (1) has a driving motor (5) that drives the wheel (6), a wheel controlling means (41) that controls rotation of the driving motor (5), a discriminating means (38) that discriminates which of the working assemblies is mounted and a work signal output means (39) that outputs a work signal for actuating the working assembly (20, 50) in response to a result of a discrimination.

Claims

1. A self-propelled working robot comprising:

a traveling assembly having a wheel rotating on a floor;

a first working assembly that performs a first operation with respect to the floor and is detachable from the traveling assembly; and

a second working assembly that performs a second operation with respect to the floor and is detachable from the traveling assembly, wherein

either the first working assembly or the second working assembly is selectively mounted on the traveling assembly,

each working assembly has a type identification means that enables identification of a type of the working assembly when mounted on the traveling assembly, and

the traveling assembly has a driving motor that drives the wheel, a wheel controlling means that controls rotation of the driving motor, a discriminating means that discriminates which of the working assemblies is mounted, based on the type identification means of the mounted working assembly, and a work signal output means that outputs a work signal for actuating the mounted working assembly according to the type of the mounted working assembly in response to a result of a discrimination of the discriminating means.

2. A self-propelled working robot according to claim 1, wherein

the type identification means outputs an electrical signal for identification of the type of the working assembly to the discriminating means.

3. A self-propelled working robot according to claim 2, wherein

each working assembly is equipped with a control board that controls operation of the working assembly based on the work signal from the traveling assembly.

4. A self-propelled working robot according to claim 1, wherein

the traveling assembly is a carriage supported by the wheel, and

each working assembly comprises:

a side unit that is attached to a fore side or a rear side of the carriage and is in proximity to or in contact with the floor;

a top unit including a tank mounted on a top surface of the carriage; and

a tube that connects both units with each other.

5. A self-propelled working robot according to claim 4, wherein

a cover covering the top unit in a state where the top unit is mounted on the traveling assembly is detachably provided on the carriage of the traveling assembly.

6. A self-propelled working robot according to claim 5, wherein

a storage space is provided in a top of the cover and an alarm is stored in the storage space.

7. A self-propelled working robot according to claim 4, wherein

a tank of the top unit of the first assembly stores liquid therein,

the side unit of the first working assembly includes a applying part that applies the liquid,

the side unit of the second working assembly includes a suction port that sucks dusts on the floor, and

the dusts are accumulated in the tank of the top unit of the second assembly.

8. A self-propelled working robot according to claim 4, wherein

the traveling assembly further comprises an attachment plate that slides from side to side along a slide rail, and

each working assembly further comprises an attachment fitting engaged in the attachment plate to attach the side unit to the traveling assembly.

9. A self-propelled working robot comprising:

a traveling assembly having a wheel and self-propelled on a floor;

a first working assembly that performs a first operation with respect to the floor and is detachable from the traveling assembly; and

a second working assembly that performs a second operation with respect to the floor and is detachable from the traveling assembly, wherein

either the first working assembly or the second working assembly is selectively mounted on the traveling assembly

the traveling assembly comprises;

a driving motor for driving the wheel;

a plurality of detecting means that detect a obstacle;

a recognizing means that recognizes a state of the obstacle, based on an output from the detecting means;

a determining means that determines a path where the working robot travels, according to a type of the mounted working assembly and the state of the obstacle recognized by the recognizing means; and

a wheel controlling means that controls rotation of the driving motor so that the working robot travels along the path determined by the determining means, and

each working assembly comprises a type identification means that enables identification of the type of the working assembly when mounted on the traveling assembly, and the traveling assembly further comprises a discriminating means that discriminates which of the working assemblies is mounted.

10. A self-propelled working robot comprising:

a traveling assembly having a wheel and self-propelled on a floor;

a first working assembly that performs a first operation with respect to the floor and is detachable from the traveling assembly; and

a second working assembly that performs a second operation with respect to the floor and is detachable from the traveling assembly, wherein

either the first working assembly or the second working assembly is selectively mounted on the traveling assembly and

the traveling assembly comprises;

a driving motor for driving the wheel;

a plurality of detecting means that detects a obstacle;

a recognizing means that recognizes a state of the obstacle, based on an output from the detecting means;

a determining means that determines a path where the working robot travels, according to the type of the mounted working assembly and the state of the obstacle recognized by the recognizing means; and

a wheel controlling means that controls rotation of the driving motor so that the working robot travels along the path determined by the determining means.

11. A self-propelled working robot according to claim 10, wherein

when the working robot performs the first operation, the determining means determines the path so that the wheel does not substantially pass on an area of the floor where the first operation has already been performed and

when the working robot performs the second operation, the determining means determines the path so that the second operation can be performed at an edge area of the floor with the wheel allowed to pass on an area of the floor where the second operation has already been performed.