Robot cleaner, automatic exhaust station and robot cleaner system having the same

• US 20120102670A1
• Filed: 10/14/2011
• Published: 05/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Jung, Hyun Soo, Lee, Jun Hwa, Jang, Hwi Chan, Kim, Dong Won
• Granted Patent: US 9,060,666 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/347
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/33 having means for storing dirt
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4025 Means for emptying
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4072 Arrangement of castors or wheels
• 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 2201/024 Emptying dust or waste liquid containers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/1463 specially adapted for rigid filtering receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/149 Emptying means; Reusable bags

Abstract

A robot cleaner provided with a shutter to open or close an inlet of a dust box when the dust box is separated from a body of the robot cleaner. Another robot cleaner, which docks with an automatic exhaust station, is also disclosed, together with the automatic exhaust station. The latter robot cleaner includes a shutter to be automatically opened by air discharged from the automatic exhaust station in a docked state of the robot cleaner to exhaust dust from the dust box, in order to allow even heavy dust to be easily exhausted.

Claims

1. A robot cleaner comprising:

a body;

a dust box separably mounted to the body, the dust box including a dust box inlet;

a first shutter rotatably coupled to the dust box; and

a second shutter rotatably coupled to the dust box to open or close a portion of the dust box inlet,

wherein the first shutter opens or closes a remaining portion of the dust box inlet.

2. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the first shutter includes a shutter rotating shaft arranged at the dust box inlet while extending in a longitudinal direction of the first dust box inlet.

3. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the first shutter is pivotally coupled to outer side surfaces of the dust box, to rotate vertically.

4. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the first shutter is opened when the first shutter is pressed by the body.

5. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the first shutter is closed by gravity when a pressing force applied from the body to the first shutter is removed.

6. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising:

a lever to rotate the first shutter.

7. The robot cleaner according to claim 6, wherein the body includes a guide to press the lever, thereby opening the first shutter.

8. The robot cleaner according to claim 7, wherein the guide includes an inclined portion to cause the guide to gradually press the lever.

9. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising:

a magnet mounted to the first shutter to keep the first shutter closed.

10. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising:

a brush cleaning member formed at an end of the first shutter.

11. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the second shutter includes a shutter rotating shaft arranged at the dust box inlet while extending in a longitudinal direction of the first dust box inlet.

12. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the second shutter is rotatably coupled to the body at a position inwardly spaced apart from the dust box inlet by a predetermined distance.

13. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the second shutter is opened by a pressure of air blown to the second shutter.

14. The robot cleaner according to claim 13, wherein the second shutter is closed by gravity when the air pressure is removed.

15. The robot cleaner according to claim 13, wherein the air pressure is generated by exhaust air discharged from an automatic exhaust station, with which the body docks.

16. The robot cleaner according to claim 13, wherein the air pressure is prevented from being applied to the second shutter when the first shutter is closed.

17. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising:

a stopper to limit a rotation range of the second shutter.

18. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising:

a magnet mounted to the second shutter to keep the second shutter closed.

19. A robot cleaner comprising:

a body;

a dust box separably mounted to the body, the dust box including a dust box inlet;

a first shutter rotatably coupled to the dust box such that the first shutter is opened when the dust box is mounted to the body while being closed when the dust box is separated from the body; and

a second shutter rotatably coupled to the dust box such that the second shutter is opened when dust from the dust box is exhausted to an automatic exhaust station while being closed when the exhaust is completed.

20. A robot cleaner comprising:

a body;

a dust box separably mounted to the body, the dust box including a dust box inlet;

a shutter rotatably coupled to the dust box to open or close the dust box inlet; and

a magnet mounted to the shutter to keep the shutter closed.

21. The robot cleaner according to claim 20, wherein the dust box includes a backflow preventing member to prevent dust collected in the dust box from flowing backwards.

22. A robot cleaner comprising:

a body;

a dust box separably mounted to the body, the dust box including a dust box inlet; and

a shutter rotatably coupled to the dust box to be rotated by a pressure of air blown to the shutter, thereby opening or closing the dust box inlet.

23. The robot cleaner according to claim 22, wherein the shutter prevents dust collected in the dust box from flowing backwards in a closed state of the second shutter.

24. A robot cleaner system including a robot cleaner, and an automatic exhaust station, with which the robot cleaner docks,

wherein the robot cleaner comprises a body, a dust box separably mounted to the body, the dust box including a dust box inlet, and a shutter rotatably coupled to the dust box to be rotated by a pressure of air blown to the shutter, thereby opening or closing the dust box inlet.

25. The robot cleaner system according to claim 24, wherein:

the automatic exhaust station includes a discharge duct and a suction duct; and

the shutter is rotated by air discharged from a discharge portion of the discharge duct, and dust from the dust box is sucked into a suction port of the suction duct by air sucked toward the suction port of the suction duct.