KR-102963734-B1 - Autonomous surface treatment device

KR102963734B1KR 102963734 B1KR102963734 B1KR 102963734B1KR-102963734-B1

Abstract

An autonomous surface cleaning device is provided. The autonomous surface cleaning device comprises a main body, a drive system housed in the main body, and a cleaning assembly disposed at the front of the main body. The cleaning assembly comprises a housing defining a suction chamber and a suction channel extending from the suction chamber to a suction channel opening provided on a first side of the cleaning assembly, and a side suction nozzle mounted on an extension and retraction assembly arranged to allow the side suction nozzle to move between an extension position and a retraction position. The side suction nozzle comprises a first elastic blade and a second elastic blade, wherein the first elastic blade is arranged such that one surface of the first elastic blade faces substantially forward, and the second elastic blade is arranged such that one surface of the second elastic blade faces substantially downward.

Inventors

젠, 스튜어트
콕스, 로버트
스텁스, 매튜

Assignees

다이슨 테크놀러지 리미티드

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20211214
Priority Date: 20210122

Claims (14)

In an autonomous surface cleaning device, entity; A driving system housed in the above main body and configured to move the autonomous surface cleaning device across the surface; and It includes a cleaning assembly positioned at the front of the main body, and The above cleaning assembly is, A housing defining a suction chamber having a suction chamber opening on the bottom surface of the cleaning assembly and a suction channel extending from the suction chamber to a suction channel opening provided on a first side of the cleaning assembly; and A side suction nozzle mounted on an extension and retraction assembly—the extension and retraction assembly is arranged to allow the side suction nozzle to move between an extended position and a retracted position in which the side suction nozzle extends away from the suction channel opening—and The above-described side suction nozzle comprises a first resilient blade and a second resilient blade, wherein the first resilient blade is arranged such that one surface of the first resilient blade is substantially facing forward, and the second resilient blade is arranged such that one surface of the second resilient blade is substantially facing downward. Autonomous surface cleaning device.
In Article 1, When in the above retracted position, the side suction nozzle is retracted into the cleaning assembly, Autonomous surface cleaning device.
In Article 1, The first elastic blade mentioned above is substantially flat, Autonomous surface cleaning device.
In Article 1, The first elastic blade has a straight lower edge and an upper edge that meets the lower edge at one point as it bends at least partially [i.e., has the shape of a straight back blade], Autonomous surface cleaning device.
In Article 1, The above-mentioned second elastic blade is in a corrugated form, Autonomous surface cleaning device.
In Article 5, The second elastic blade is arranged such that the ridge and groove of the second elastic blade extend from the root/base/proximal end of the blade to the tip/distal end, Autonomous surface cleaning device.
In any one of paragraphs 1 to 6, The first elastic blade and the second elastic blade are arranged such that the transverse axis of the first elastic blade is perpendicular to the transverse axis of the second elastic blade. Autonomous surface cleaning device.
In any one of paragraphs 1 to 6, The above-described side suction nozzle further includes a nozzle base to which the first elastic blade and the second elastic blade are attached, and The first elastic blade and the second elastic blade are connected to the extension and retraction assembly through the nozzle base. Autonomous surface cleaning device.
In Article 8, The first elastic blade is connected to the second elastic blade only through the nozzle base, Autonomous surface cleaning device.
In any one of paragraphs 1 to 6, The above extension and retraction assembly includes an extension arm movably connected to the cleaning assembly, and The above suction nozzle is attached to the distal end of the above extension arm, Autonomous surface cleaning device.
In Article 10, The extension arm is arranged to move laterally relative to the cleaning assembly. Autonomous surface cleaning device.
In Article 10, The extension and retraction assembly comprises a motor arranged to drive a driving member, and a driven member arranged to be driven by the driving member to move the extension arm laterally relative to the cleaning assembly. Autonomous surface cleaning device.
In Article 12, The above driving member includes a pinion mounted on the shaft of the motor, and The above-mentioned passive member includes a rack provided on the extension arm, and The rack on the extension arm is arranged to engage with the pinion. Autonomous surface cleaning device.
In any one of paragraphs 1 to 6, The cleaning assembly further comprises a door, said door being arranged to move between a closed position when the suction nozzle is in the retracted position and an open position when the suction nozzle is in the extended position. Autonomous surface cleaning device.

Description

Autonomous surface treatment device The present invention relates to the field of autonomous surface cleaning devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to robotic vacuum cleaners. Various proposals have been made regarding autonomous surface cleaning devices that operate automatically and do not require the user to push them along the surface to be cleaned. Basically, these devices include a body or chassis supported on wheels or tracks powered by an on-board battery pack and are guided by a control system that navigates the device indoors to clean floors or flooring. Additionally, for cleaning functions, these devices are typically integrated with a vacuum head having a suction port that communicates with a dirt or dust collection device, allowing them to suck up dust from the surface to be cleaned and store it in a disposal container. When such autonomous surface cleaners clean surfaces, it can be difficult for the cleaner to move close enough to the wall to thoroughly clean the edges of the surface with the cleaner head. To improve edge cleaning capabilities, many autonomous surface cleaners are equipped with one or more rotating side brushes with bristles that extend beyond the perimeter of the device to sweep dust or debris from the edges into the cleaner head passage. An example of such a device is illustrated in US2010037418A1. However, relying on the sweeping motion of these side brushes is not a particularly effective approach for edge cleaning, as dust and debris can often bypass them. As an alternative to side brushes, some autonomous surface cleaning devices are equipped with one or more suction nozzles that project beyond the periphery of the device to capture dust or debris at edges using the device's suction. An example of such a device is illustrated in WO2016021808. While applying a suction function can improve the effectiveness of capturing small dust and debris during edge cleaning, it is generally difficult for these suction nozzles to effectively capture large debris without an agitator. Additionally, these suction nozzles generally cannot approach the edges of walls or other vertical surfaces as effectively as using brush bristles. The present invention was devised based on the background described above. Now, embodiments of the present invention will be described for illustrative purposes only with reference to the accompanying drawings, and in the drawings: FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of an autonomous surface cleaning device according to the present invention approaching an interconnected docking station. FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the device of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the underside of the device of FIG. 1. Figure 4 is a bottom view of the device of Figure 1. FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 in which the outer shell and bumper are separated from the main body of the device. FIG. 6 is a top view of the device of FIG. 1 with the outer shell of the device removed. FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the bottom surface of the suction nozzle of the device of FIG. 1. Figure 8 is a front view of the suction nozzle of the device of Figure 1. FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the suction nozzle of the device of FIG. 1 in the retracted position. FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of the suction nozzle of the device of FIG. 1 in an extended position. FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 in which the container is separated from the main body of the device. FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of the rechargeable battery system of the device of FIG. 1. FIG. 13 schematically illustrates the control system of the device of FIG. 1. FIG. 14 is an exploded view of the front corner sensor assembly of FIG. 1. Hereinafter, an autonomous surface cleaning device that offers various advantages over conventional autonomous surface cleaning devices is described. FIGS. 1 to 4 are external perspective views of embodiments of such an autonomous surface cleaning device (1000) [hereinafter referred to as "device (1000)"]. In this embodiment, the device (1000) is illustrated in the context of a robotic vacuum cleaner, but it should be understood that this is not essential to the invention and the invention is applicable to any autonomous surface cleaning device used in a home environment or other environments. FIG. 1 shows a rear perspective view of the device (1000) approaching an connected docking station, FIG. 2 shows a front perspective view of the device (1000), FIG. 3 shows a rear perspective view of the bottom of the device (1000), and FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the device (1000). As illustrated in FIG. 1, the device (1000) has a longitudinal axis ( X1 ) extending between the front and rear of the device (1000), a transverse axis (Y1) extending laterally between the left (L) and right (R) of the device ( 1000 ), and a vertical axis ( Z1 ) extending substantially perpendicularly to the surface on whi