Method and Apparatus for Providing Multiple Modes of Cleaning On a Smart Robotic Cleaner

• US 20160051108A1
• Filed: 06/10/2015
• Published: 02/25/2016
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 9,833,116 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 method for providing multiple modes of cleaning on a smart robotic cleaner, comprising:

providing two cleaning modes of rolling brush sweeping and vacuuming on one smart robotic cleaner; and

switching, by an electronic control unit of the smart robotic cleaner, between the two cleaning modes automatically according to different cleaning devices replaced on the smart robotic cleaner.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

when a rolling brush assembly is mounted on the smart robotic cleaner, the smart robotic cleaner is switched to a cleaning mode of rolling brush sweeping by the electronic control unit;

after the smart robotic cleaner is started, a rolling brush of the rolling brush assembly rotates and sweeps garbage into the smart robotic cleaner; and

dust is drawn into a dust box of the smart robotic cleaner through the suction of a centrifugal fan.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

when a suction inlet assembly is mounted on the smart robotic cleaner, the smart robotic cleaner is switched to a cleaning mode of vacuuming by the electronic control unit;

after the smart robotic cleaner is started, a centrifugal fan rotates at a high speed, and a high speed airflow generated thereof causes pressure difference between the inside of an air duct system and the external atmospheric pressure;

certain suction is generated in the vicinity of a suction inlet of the suction inlet assembly, and

garbage is drawn into a dust box of the smart robotic cleaner.

4. An apparatus for providing multiple modes of cleaning on a smart robotic cleaner, comprising:

a body being able to move on the ground, and an electronic control unit provided in the body;

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

the air inlet being connected to the air outlet through the air duct;

the air duct flowing through the dust box assembly;

the ventilation device being arranged on the air duct and being able to draw the air in the air duct to the air outlet;

wherein;

a mounting position is provided at the bottom of the body;

a rolling brush assembly and a suction inlet assembly may be detachably mounted on the mounting position;

the rolling brush assembly and the suction inlet assembly could be replaced with each other at the mounting position; and

the air inlet is provided at the mounting position and corresponds to the rolling brush assembly or the suction inlet assembly.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

a switch electrically connected to the electronic control unit is provided on the mounting position, and the electronic control unit may switch between the different cleaning modes by opening or closing the switch.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

when the rolling brush assembly or the suction inlet assembly is mounted on the mounting position, the rolling brush assembly or the suction inlet assembly may abut and enable the switch, so that the body is switched to a cleaning mode of rolling brush sweeping or a cleaning mode of vacuuming;

in the cleaning mode of rolling brush sweeping, the rolling brush assembly works; and

in the cleaning mode of vacuuming, the suction inlet assembly works.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

the rolling brush assembly comprises a rolling brush holder detachably mounted on the mounting position and a rolling brush pivotally connected to the rolling brush holder;

the pivot axis of the rolling brush is set horizontally;

the air inlet corresponds to the rolling brush; and

the rolling brush could sweep garbage into the body as it rotates.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

the suction inlet assembly comprises a suction inlet holder detachably mounted on the mounting position and a suction inlet formed on the suction inlet holder;

the air inlet docks with the suction inlet; and

the suction inlet could draw the garbage in the vicinity of the suction inlet into the body in the mode of vacuuming.

9. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

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

an airflow of the air duct flows through the coarse filter and the fine filter in turn.

10. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

the ventilation device comprises a centrifugal fan, and the rotating speed of the centrifugal fan may vary in accordance with the switching of the cleaning modes of the body.