ROBOT CLEANER

• US 20180296053A1
• Filed: 09/21/2016
• Published: 10/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: JANG, Jaewon, KIM, Jeongyun, KIM, Donghoon
• Granted Patent: US 10,813,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/292 having rotary tools A47L11/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4016 specially adapted for collecting fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4066 Propulsion of the whole machine
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4072 Arrangement of castors or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• 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 2201/06 Control of the cleaning action for autonomous devices; Automatic detection of the surface condition before, during or after cleaning

Abstract

Disclosed is a cleaner comprising a cleaner body, a front wheel rotatably provided in a front portion of the cleaner body, a rear wheel rotatably provided in a rear portion of the cleaner body, a first member attached to an outer circumferential surface of the front wheel and configured to contact with a cleaning object surface, a second member attached to an outer circumferential surface of the rear wheel and configured to contact with the cleaning object surface, a front motor rotating the front wheel, a rear motor rotating the rear wheel and a controller driving the front motor and the rear motor, wherein the controller controls the front motor and the rear motor to become rotated in the opposite directions while cleaning is performed.

Claims

1. A robot cleaner comprising:

a cleaner body;

at least one rotatable front wheel provided in a front portion of the cleaner body;

at least one rotatable rear wheel provided in a rear portion, of the cleaner body;

a rear motor driving the at least one rotatable rear wheel;

a first wheel cover attached to an outer circumferential surface of the front wheel and configured to contact with a cleaning surface;

a second wheel cover attached to an outer circumferential surface of the rear wheel and configured to contact with the cleaning surface;

a water tank that supplies water to the front wheel; and

a water supply pipe that guides the water from, the water tank to the front wheel,

wherein the at least one rotatable front wheel includes,

a hollow cylindrical case having a plurality of outer holes;

a first front wheel provided at a first side of the cleaner body and second front wheel provided at a second side of the cleaner body and arranged m symmetry with respect to the center of the cleaner body;

a first motor driving the first front wheel; and

a second motor driving the second front wheel,

wherein when the at least one rotatable front wheel is rotated, a centrifugal force allows water to flow to the first wheel cover via the plurality of outlet holes.

2. The robot cleaner of claim 1, further including a nozzle projected from the rotation axis toward the inside of the cylindrical case wherein the water supply pipe supplies water to the nozzle.

3. The robot cleaner of claim 1, wherein a pump is provided in the water supply pipe, and

the pump is operated to supply the water held in the water tank to the at least one rotatable front wheel via the water supply pipe.

4. The robot cleaner of claim 3, wherein

the water supply pipe includes:

an inlet pipe to guide the water from the water tank to the pump; and

first and second outlet pipes to branch the water from the pump to the first front wheel and the second front wheel, respectively, and

the first outlet pipe and the second outlet pipe are provided between the first feat wheel faces and the second front wheel.

5. The robot cleaner of claim 3, wherein the pump is operated to supply the water to the at least one rotatable front wheel while the at least one rotatable front wheel is rotated.

6. The robot cleaner of claim 1, wherein a water content percentage of thee first wheel cover is lower than a water content percentage of the second wheel cover.

7. The robot cleaner of claim 1, wherein the horizontal width of the at least one rata t able front wheel is smaller than that of the at feast one rotatable rear wheel.

8. The robot cleaner of claim 1, wherein the water tank is overlapped with the at least one rotatable front wheel, viewed from above.

10. The robot cleaner of claim 1, wherein a rotation axis of the first front wheel and a rotation axis of the second front wheel are offset by an angle of 180°

or less.

11. The robot cleaner of claim 1, wherein a rotation axis of the first front wheel and a rotation axis of the second front wheel are offset by an angle of 180°

or more.

12. The robot cleaner of claim 1, further including a case on which the cleaner body is rested, wherein the case includes a support pillar provided between the at least one rotatable front wheel and the at least one rotatable rear wheel and supporting the cleaner body.

13. The robot cleaner of claim 12, wherein wash water is held in the case and the first wheel cover and the second wheel cover are soaked in the wash water.

14. The robot cleaner of claim 12, wherein a blade is provided in the case and configured to contact with the first wheel cover or the second wheel cover.

15. The robot cleaner of claim 14, wherein a pair of blades ate provided and configured to contact with both sides of the first wheel cover or the second wheel cover.

16. The robot cleaner of claim 1, further including a battery provided in the cleaner body, wherein the battery is overlapped with the water tank, viewed from above.

9. (canceled)

17. A robot cleaner comprising:

a cleaner body;

two rotatable front wheels provided at a front of the cleaner body;

two first wheel covers provided on the two rotatable front wheels, the two first wheel covers configured to contact a cleaning surface and rotate;

together with the two rotatable front wheels; and

a second wheel cover provided at a rear of the cleaner body, the second wheel cover configured to contact the cleaning surface,

wherein the two first wheel covers are symmetrical about a center of the cleaner body.

18. The robot cleaner of claim 17, further including a first front motor and a second front motor that rotate the two rotatable front wheels respectively, wherein the two rotatable front wheel s are controlled independently and are rotatable in different directions.

19. The robot cleaner of claim 18, further including a rear motor that rotates the second wheel cover, wherein the second wheel cover is rotatably provided in the cleaner body.

20. the robot cleaner of claim 19, wherein the two first wheel covers and the second wheel cover are rotatable in different directions.