Cleaning robot system of satellite type

• US 8,051,527 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2007
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ba-Do Lee
• Original Assignee: Ba-Do Lee
• Inventors: Lee, Ba-Do
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Dung Van
• Application Number:
  US12/296,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20090271940A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,679 Days
• Field of Search: 153/19, 153/401, 153/39, 153/07, 153/59, 154/14, 153/23, 153/21
• US Class Current: 15/319
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/34 Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• 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 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• 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

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cleaning robot system of a satellite type. The present invention provides a cleaning robot system of a satellite type that includes a flat autonomous cleaning head, a hose assembly, and a cleaning main body. The flat autonomous cleaning head includes a suction inlet formed in a bottom thereof, a side connector communicating with the suction inlet, travel wheels provided on both side thereof, and variable speed drive motors for driving the travel wheels. The hose assembly is connected to the cleaning head and is at least partially flexible. The cleaning main body is connected to the hose assembly and includes a vacuum pump, a dust collector, a discharge air separator, a power supply, and a controller. Since the cleaning head of the cleaning robot system according to the present invention has a simple structure, it is possible to make the cleaning head thin. Further, since the cleaning robot system has high output of power and high vacuum sucking performance, it is possible to satisfactorily clean the house. Furthermore, the cleaning robot system can perform wet cleaning by ejecting steam, hot water, and wash water, unlike a disk-shaped robot cleaner. Therefore, the cleaning robot system can satisfactorily perform all kinds of cleaning options that can be performed by a manual cleaner. In addition, the cleaning robot system can have a self-washing function to perform self-washing.

Claims

1. A cleaning robot system of a satellite type, the cleaning robot system comprising:

a flat autonomous cleaning head that includes a suction inlet formed in a bottom thereof, a side connector communicating with the suction inlet, travel wheels provided on both side thereof, and variable speed drive motors for driving the travel wheels;

a hose assembly that is connected to the side connector of the cleaning head and is at least partially flexible; and

a cleaning main body that is connected to the hose assembly and includes a vacuum pump, a dust collector, a discharge air separator, a power supply, and a controller,

wherein the autonomous cleaning head moves along a travel path on the basis of control signals of the controller of the cleaning main body,

wherein the cleaning main body further comprises travel wheels and a drive motor,

wherein at least one of the autonomous cleaning head and the cleaning main body includes one or more obstacle sensors or position sensing units,

wherein the cleaning main body includes a winder for winding or unwinding the hose assembly at a lower side thereof, and

wherein the cleaning main body includes a mounting unit on a side at the lower side thereof, and winds the hose assembly so that the cleaning head is mounted on the mounting unit.

2. A cleaning robot system of a satellite type, the cleaning robot system comprising:

a flat autonomous cleaning head that includes a suction inlet formed in a bottom thereof, a side connector communicating with the suction inlet, travel wheels provided on both side thereof, and variable speed drive motors for driving the travel wheels;

a hose assembly that is connected to the side connector of the cleaning head and is at least partially flexible; and

a cleaning main body that is connected to the hose assembly and includes a vacuum pump, a dust collector, a discharge air separator, a power supply, and a controller,

wherein the autonomous cleaning head moves along a travel path on the basis of control signals of the controller of the cleaning main body,

wherein the cleaning main body further comprises travel wheels and a drive motor,

wherein at least one of the autonomous cleaning head and the cleaning main body includes one or more obstacle sensors or position sensing units,

wherein the cleaning main body includes a wash water container and/or a steam generator, the hose assembly includes a steam hose, and the cleaning head includes a water nozzle and/or a steam nozzle, and

wherein the cleaning head further includes a cleaning cloth belt, which is wound around a driving roller and a driven roller, in order to perform wet cleaning.

3. The cleaning robot system according to claim 2, wherein, the cleaning cloth belt is self-washed at a vacuum suction region in the cleaning head by using a pressure member and water or steam ejectors so that the cleaning head performs wet cleaning.

4. The cleaning robot system according to claim 3, wherein the cleaning cloth belt is pressed between the driven roller and the pressure member and nozzles are provided in the vicinity of the pressure member so as to be washed when contaminated, and

the cleaning cloth belt is made of a nonwoven fabric, a woven fabric, or foam.

5. The cleaning robot system according to claim 4, wherein when an air purification mode is selected, a suction inlet of the cleaning main body communicating with a vacuum hose of the hose assembly is closed and a separate direct suction inlet is opened so that air purification is performed.

6. The cleaning robot system according to claim 5, wherein the power supply of the cleaning main body includes a rechargeable battery.