Robot cleaner

• US 8,832,902 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2009
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Sung-Guen, Shim, In-Bo, Yim, Byung-Doo, Sung, Ji-Hoon, Kim, Bong-Ju
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUNG V
• Application Number:
  US13/266,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20120090133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,904 Days
• Field of Search: 153/82, 153/83, 153/91, 153/92, 154/151, 901/11, 901/40
• US Class Current: 15/392
• 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 9/0411 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0433 Toothed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0444 for conveying motion by endless flexible members, e.g. belts
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0455 Bearing means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0488 Combinations or arrangements of several tools, e.g. edge cleaning tools

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an installation structure for an agitator installed in a dust suction unit of a robot cleaner to scatter foreign substances distributed in a working area comprises: a holder which is connected to a driving motor for providing a torque to the agitator and has a part exposed to the inside of the dust suction unit; and a fixing shaft for forming a rotation shaft of the agitator and having a shape of a polygonal pillar or a shape of a pillar including at least one projection, wherein a shaft insertion part is formed in the holder, has a dented shape corresponding to the shape of the fixing shaft, and can be engaged and rotated with the fixing shaft while the fixing shaft is inserted into and installed at the holder. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the easy separation and installation of the agitator and the enablement of simultaneous rotation of the agitator and a side brush can improve user satisfaction.

Claims

1. A robot cleaner comprising:

a main body in which a dust suction unit is disposed;

holders disposed at sides of the dust suction unit; and

an agitator installed on the holders to remove foreign substances from a working area,

wherein the agitator comprises a fixing shaft having a non-circular shape and providing a rotation center, and one of the holders comprises a shaft insertion part in which one portion of the fixing shaft is inserted,

wherein the fixing shaft is rotated together with the agitator, and

wherein another of the holders comprises a coupling hole in which another portion of the fixing shaft is inserted, the coupling hole is opened with a length corresponding to a width of the another portion of the fixing shaft.

2. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the holders are disposed on both sides of the dust suction unit.

3. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein in a state where the portion of the fixing shaft is mounted on the shaft insertion part of the one holder, the another portion of the fixing shaft passes through the coupling hole of the another of the holders.

4. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the shaft insertion part has a depth recessed corresponding to a protrusion length of the portion of the fixing shaft or greater than the protrusion length of the portion of the fixing shaft.

5. The robot cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the holders are respectively disposed at both sides of the dust suction unit, and a distance between the holders is less than a length of the agitator excluding the fixing shaft and greater than a length of agitator including the fixing shaft.

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

a pinion gear fixed to a rotation shaft of a driving motor for synchronous rotation;

a pulley coupled with the holder for synchronous rotation; and

a driving force transmitter connecting the pulley with the pinion gear,

wherein the pinion gear, the pulley, and the driving force transmitter are disposed between the driving motor and at least one of the holders.

7. The robot cleaner according to claim 6, wherein the pinion gear, the pulley, and the driving force transmitter are disposed in an inner space defined by a gear housing to which the driving motor is fixed and a housing cover coupled with the gear housing.

8. The robot cleaner according to claim 6, wherein a worm for rotation of a side brush is connected to the pulley for synchronous rotation.

9. The robot cleaner according to claim 6, wherein a worm receiver and a worm gear receiver for rotation of a side brush are disposed in the housing cover, and a worm disposed in the worm receiver is connected to the pulley and holder so that the worm has the same rotation center as those of the rotation shafts of the pulley and the holder.

10. A robot cleaner comprising:

a main body in which a dust suction unit is disposed;

holders disposed at sides of the dust suction unit; and

an agitator installed on the holders to remove foreign substances from a working area,

wherein the agitator comprises a first fixing shaft having a non-circular shape and protruded from one side thereof, and a second fixing shaft protruded from the other side of the agitator,

wherein the holders comprises a first holder provided with a shaft insertion part in which the first fixing shaft is inserted, and a second holder provided with a coupling portion in which the second fixing shaft is inserted after inserting the first fixing shaft in the shaft insertion part,

wherein the first holder is rotated together with the agitator.

11. A robot cleaner comprising:

a main body in which a dust suction unit is disposed;

holders disposed at sides of the dust suction unit; and

an agitator installed on the holders to remove foreign substances from a working area,

wherein the agitator comprises a first fixing shaft and protruded from one side thereof, and a second fixing shaft having a non-circular shape and protruded from the other side of the agitator,

wherein the holders comprises a first holder provided with a shaft insertion part in which the first fixing shaft is inserted, and a second holder provided with a coupling portion in which the second fixing shaft is inserted after inserting the first fixing shaft in the shaft insertion part,

wherein the second holder is rotated together with the agitator.