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EP-4740825-A2 - STATION FOR ROBOT CLEANER

EP4740825A2EP 4740825 A2EP4740825 A2EP 4740825A2EP-4740825-A2

Abstract

There is disclosed a robot cleaner station including a housing comprising a pair of outer walls facing each other; a mop washing unit disposed within the housing, and configured to wash a mop of a robot cleaner; and a fitting portion disposed on a side of the housing, and the mop washing unit may include a wash water nozzle configured to discharge water for washing the mop; a wastewater inlet configured to suck in water used for washing the mop, and the fitting portion may be connected to the wash water nozzle and the wastewater inlet.

Inventors

  • LEE, KOOKHAENG
  • RYU, JUNGWAN
  • LEE, SUNGJUN

Assignees

  • LG Electronics Inc.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251106

Claims (13)

  1. A robot cleaner station (100) comprising: a housing (110) comprising a pair of outer walls (111c, 111d) facing each other; a mop washing unit (160) disposed within the housing (110) and configured to wash a mop (242) of a robot cleaner (200); and a fitting portion (192) disposed on a side of the housing (110), wherein the mop washing unit (160) comprises: a wash water nozzle (161a) configured to discharge water for washing the mop (242); a wastewater inlet (164c) configured to suck in water used for washing the mop (242), and characterized in that the fitting portion (192) is configured to be connected to the wash water nozzle (161a) and the wastewater inlet (164c).
  2. The robot cleaner station (100) of claim 1, wherein the outer wall (111) comprises a left outer wall (111c) positioned on the left; and a right outer wall (111d) positioned on the right, when looking forward from inside the robot cleaner station (100), with the direction in which the robot cleaner (200) is introduced being forward, the fitting portion (192) is formed on each of the left outer wall (111c) and the right outer wall (111d), and the wash water nozzle (161a) and the wastewater inlet (164c) are selectively connected to one of the pair of fitting portions (192).
  3. The robot cleaner station (100) of claim 2, further comprising: a flow path connection module (165) through which water supplied to the wash water nozzle (161a) and water sucked into the wastewater inlet (164c) pass, respectively; a water supply connection pipe (161f) configured to supply water from an external water source to the flow path connection module (165); and a drain connection pipe (164f) through which water discharged from the flow path connection module (165) passes; wherein the water supply connection pipe (161f) and the drain connection pipe (164f) are configured to be pivotally connected to the flow path connection module (165).
  4. The robot cleaner station (100) of claim 3, wherein the water supply connection pipe (161f) and the drain connection pipe (164f) are configured to be detachably connected to one of the pair of fitting portions (192).
  5. The robot cleaner station (100) of claim 3, wherein the diameter of the drain connection pipe (164f) is larger than the diameter of the water supply connection pipe (161f).
  6. The robot cleaner station (100) of claim 3, wherein the mop washing unit (160) comprises: an elbow fitting (166) having a bent shape and configured to change the direction of internal fluid flow, and the elbow fitting (166) has one end pivotally connected to the flow path connection module (165), and the other end positioned so as to face the left or right outer wall (111c, 111d) of the housing (110).
  7. The robot cleaner station (100) of claim 3, further comprising: a power supply terminal disposed within the housing (110) and configured to be coupled to the robot cleaner (200) and supply power; a power line configured to supply power to the power supply terminal from the outside, wherein the power line is detachably connected to one of the pair of fitting portions (192).
  8. The robot cleaner station (100) of claim 7, wherein each of the pair of fitting portions (192) comprises a water supply connection pipe coupling portion (192a) to which the water supply connection pipe (161f) is coupled, a drain connection pipe coupling portion (192b) to which the drain connection pipe (164f) is coupled, and a power connection portion (192d) to which the power line is connected.
  9. The robot cleaner station (100) of claim 2, further comprising: a drawer that is drawn out from the housing (110) and comprising a mounting unit (120) on which the robot cleaner (200) is mounted, wherein the drawer is coupled to the pair of fitting portions (192).
  10. The robot cleaner station (100) of claim 3, wherein the flow path connection module (165) comprises: a first space (165a) through which water supplied to the wash water nozzle (161a) passes; and a second space (165b) partitioned from the first space (165a) through which water sucked into the wastewater inlet (164c) passes, and the second space (165b) is larger than the first space (165a).
  11. The robot cleaner station (100) of claim 10, wherein the first space (165a) is arranged above the second space (165b).
  12. The robot cleaner station (100) of claim 3, further comprising: an accommodating space disposed within the housing (110), and configured to accommodate at least a portion of the robot cleaner (200); and an air discharge unit (170) configured to discharge air from the accommodating space, wherein the air discharge unit (170) comprises: an air suction hole in communication with the accommodating space; and an air discharge pipe (172c) configured to discharge air sucked in from the air suction hole, and the air discharge pipe (172c) branches out to the left and right sides and is coupled to each of the pair of fitting portions (192).
  13. A robot cleaner station (100) comprising: a housing (110); a washing plate (122) disposed below a mop (242) of a robot cleaner (200) and used to clean the mop; a water supply connection pipe (161f) disposed within the housing (110) and configured to supply fluid from an external water source to the washing plate (122); a drain connection pipe (164f) disposed within the housing (110) and used to discharge fluid passing through the washing plate (122); and a flow connection module (165) connected to the water supply connection pipe (161f) and the drain connection pipe (164f), characterized in that the water supply connection pipe (161f) and the drain connection pipe (164f) are pivotally connected to the flow path connection module (165).

Description

BACKGROUND [Technical Field] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a station for a robot cleaner, more particularly, a built-in robot cleaner station that may collect dust from a robot cleaner's dustbin, wash a robot cleaner's mop, and dry the mop, when coupled to the robot cleaner. [Background of the Disclosure] With recent advancement of industrial technology, robot cleaners (or robot cleaners) are being developed that can move around and clean areas required to be cleaned without user intervention. Such a robot cleaner includes a sensor configured to recognize the space to be cleaned, an agitator configured to sweep and clean the floor, and a mop configured to wipe the floor, and may move while sucking up dust on the floor in the space recognized by the sensor and wiping it with the mop, etc. Robot cleaners are classified into dry robot cleaners that can suck up and remove foreign substances scattered on the floor, and wet robot cleaner that can wipe out the floor with a moist mop to effectively remove foreign substances attached to the floor. Such a dry robot cleaner is provided with a dust bin and configured to suck up foreign substances on the floor by using the suction power of a suction motor. Such a wet robot cleaner is provided with a water tank and the water contained in the water tank is supplied to a mop so that the mop can wipe out the floor while containing moisture, effectively removing foreign substances attached to the floor. Charging stands of robot cleaner stations are devices where a robot cleaner having finished cleaning is docked and power is supplied to a battery installed in the robot cleaner to charge the battery. The charging stand may include a power supply module inside. The charging stand includes a charging terminal connected to the power supply module, and the robot cleaner includes a corresponding terminal. When the charging terminal and the corresponding terminal make contact, power is supplied to the battery and it is charged. Meanwhile, if the robot cleaner station is placed inside a building, it will occupy a certain area of the indoor space. In this case, the indoor space efficiency might be deteriorated. In addition, there is a risk that a user or pet might collide with the robot cleaner while passing by, resulting in injury to the user or pet as well as damage to the robot cleaner. In the case of a station with an added dust collection function for a robot cleaner, there is a limit to how much damage it can do to the interior of a room due to the increased volume it occupies. Meanwhile, CN 218922468 U discloses a cleaner station in which a robot cleaner is connected with the lower part of a washing machine to charge the robot cleaner, collect dust, and wash the mop of the robot cleaner. However, the above-mentioned cleaner station has an open space formed at the bottom of the washing machine into which a robot cleaner can enter, a detergent and water supply mechanism for washing a mop is provided at a vertical upper side of the space into which the robot cleaner enters. A dust bag is placed on the side of the space into which the robot cleaner enters. In this arrangement, the overall height of the cleaner station is high so that there is a limitation in that it cannot be installed using the space underneath the furniture, including the sink. In addition, since the above-mentioned cleaner station must be installed at the bottom of the washing machine, a space for installing the washing machine must be provided. There is a limit in that an installation space with a height exceeding the heigh of the cleaner station must be provided, considering not only the height of the cleaner station but also the height of the washing machine itself. Meanwhile, Chinese Utility Model Registration No. CN 219846382 U discloses a cleaner station that is coupled to the lower part of a washing machine, and that charges a robot cleaner, collects dust, and washes the robot cleaner's mop. The cleaner station includes a water storage box and a detergent box for cleaning the mop. Furthermore, the water storage box and detergent box are configured to be removable. However, the cleaner station has the limitation that the water storage box and detergent box must be replaced periodically when their contents are exhausted. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Problem] Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to solve the above-noted disadvantages of the prior art, and to provide a robot cleaner station that may be built into the bottom of a kitchen cabinet without requiring a separate installation space. Another object of the present invention is to provide a robot cleaner station that may accommodate a robot cleaner in the lower space of a kitchen cabinet with a certain height restriction. A further object of the present invention is to provide a robot cleaner station that may automatically collect dust inside a robot cleaner's dust bin, when combined with a robot cle