U.S. patent application number 10/887840 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-27 for dust receptacle of robot cleaner and a method for removing dust collected therein.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG GWANGJU ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Kim, Ki-man, Song, Jeong-gon.
Application Number | 20050015920 10/887840 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32775315 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050015920 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim, Ki-man ; et
al. |
January 27, 2005 |
Dust receptacle of robot cleaner and a method for removing dust
collected therein
Abstract
A dust receptacle comprises a receptacle body having an air
inlet and an air outlet, and detachably mounted in a dust
collecting chamber of a robot cleaner, a cover fit in the
receptacle body to open and close the air outlet, and a dust outlet
formed in the receptacle body. Accordingly, the dust collected in
the robot cleaner can be thoroughly and conveniently removed.
Inventors: |
Kim, Ki-man; (Gwangju-city,
KR) ; Song, Jeong-gon; (Gwangju-city, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BLANK ROME LLP
600 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG GWANGJU ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
|
Family ID: |
32775315 |
Appl. No.: |
10/887840 |
Filed: |
July 12, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/352 ;
15/319 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/149 20130101;
A47L 2201/00 20130101; A47L 9/1409 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/352 ;
015/319 |
International
Class: |
A47L 009/10; A47L
009/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 24, 2003 |
KR |
2003-51143 |
May 14, 2004 |
KR |
2004-34150 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A dust receptacle comprising: a receptacle body having an air
inlet and an air outlet, and detachably mounted in a dust
collecting chamber of a robot cleaner; a cover fit in the
receptacle body to open and close the air outlet; and a dust outlet
formed in the receptacle body.
2. The dust receptacle of claim 1, wherein the cover fit in the
receptacle body comprises a filter to prevent the collected dust
from flowing out through the air outlet.
3. The dust receptacle of claim 1, wherein the receptacle body
further comprises an air inlet pipe unit which inwardly protrudes
from the air inlet, and a handle unit disposed adjacent to the dust
outlet.
4. The dust receptacle of claim 2, wherein the receptacle body
further comprises an air inlet pipe unit which inwardly protrudes
from the air inlet, and a handle unit disposed adjacent to the dust
outlet.
5. The dust receptacle of claim 4, wherein a valve member is formed
at an opening of the air inlet pipe unit to cover the opening by
its own weight, the valve member being opened by pressure of an air
flowed in through the air inlet.
6. The dust receptacle of claim 1, wherein a sealing member is
provided with the dust outlet.
7. The dust receptacle of claim 6, wherein the sealing member is
made of an elastic material so as to be tightly fit into the dust
outlet.
8. The dust receptacle of claim 6, wherein the sealing member has a
flanged handle for easy separation from the dust outlet.
9. A method for removing dust collected in a robot cleaner,
comprising the steps of: collecting dust from an air drawn in
through the air inlet, in the dust receptacle of the dust
collecting chamber, and discharging the air through the discharge
port; and removing the dust collected in the dust receptacle by
tightly contacting an air inlet of a separate discharge unit to the
dust outlet of the dust receptacle.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Application
No. 2004-34150, filed May 14, 2004, in the Korean Intellectual
Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a dust receptacle of a
robot cleaner. More particularly, the present invention relates to
a detachable dust receptacle mounted in a dust collecting chamber
of a robot cleaner that automatically travels and cleans dust, and
a method for removing dust collected therein.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In general, dust and an air are sucked into a robot cleaner
together. Then, the dust is collected in a dust collecting chamber,
and only the air is discharged to the outside. To remove the dust
collected in the dust collecting chamber, a user has to open a door
exposed outside of the robot cleaner, or take out a dust receptacle
which is separately mounted in the dust collecting chamber.
[0006] However, such conventional way of removing the collected
dust is inconvenient since all the processes are manually performed
by the user. If the robot cleaner does not have the dust
receptacle, the user has to overturn the robot cleaner to remove
the dust collected inside, and if the robot cleaner has the dust
receptacle, the user should attach and detach the dust receptacle.
Both cases are troublesome.
[0007] In addition, to make the robot cleaner compact and light,
the dust receptacle of the robot cleaner is designed smaller than a
dust receptacle or a paper bag of a general vacuum cleaner.
Therefore, the user needs to empty the dust receptacle of the robot
cleaner frequently.
[0008] Especially, the general conventional vacuum cleaner has a
very narrow dust outlet compared to a size of dust collecting
space. Therefore, it is hard to remove the dust, and the dust often
remains in the dust collecting space even after emptying the dust
receptacle. Such remaining dust may gradually increase adhering
inside and getting hard to be removed. As a result, a suction
efficiency is deteriorated. Therefore, the user should shake hard
the robot cleaner or the dust receptacle to effectively remove the
dust although the dust are not completely removed by this way.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] An aspect of the present invention is to solve at least the
above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the
advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present
invention is to provide a dust receptacle of a robot cleaner which
can be facilely emptied, and a method for removing dust collected
therein.
[0010] In order to achieve the above-described aspects of the
present invention, there is provided a dust receptacle comprising a
receptacle body having an air inlet and an air outlet, and
detachably mounted in a dust collecting chamber of a robot cleaner,
a cover fit in the receptacle body to open and close the air
outlet, and a dust outlet formed in the receptacle body.
[0011] The cover fit in the receptacle body comprises a filter to
prevent the collected dust from flowing out through the air outlet.
By existence of the filter, suction efficiency can be improved, and
further, the dust does not flow into a suction motor disposed
behind a discharge port.
[0012] The receptacle body further comprises an air inlet pipe unit
which inwardly protrudes from the air inlet, and a handle unit
disposed adjacent to the dust outlet.
[0013] A valve member is formed at an opening of the air inlet pipe
unit to cover the opening by its own weight, the valve member being
opened by pressure of an air flowed in through the air inlet. A
user can conveniently mount or separate the dust receptacle using
the handle unit. Further, by inwardly protruding the air inlet pipe
unit and providing the valve member, the drawn-in air including
dust is prevented from flowing back.
[0014] A sealing member is provided with the dust outlet.
[0015] The sealing member is made of an elastic material so as to
be tightly fit into the dust outlet.
[0016] The sealing member has a flanged handle for easy separation
from the dust outlet.
[0017] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a
method for removing dust collected in a robot cleaner, comprising
the steps of collecting dust from an air drawn in through the air
inlet, in the dust receptacle of the dust collecting chamber, and
discharging the air through the discharge port, and removing the
dust collected in the dust receptacle by tightly contacting an air
inlet of a separate discharge unit to the dust outlet of the dust
receptacle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0018] The above aspect and other features of the present invention
will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary
embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawing figures,
wherein;
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a robot cleaner applying a
dust receptacle according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of main
parts of FIG. 1, specifically showing the structure of the dust
receptacle removable from a dust collecting chamber;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the robot cleaner
with the dust receptacle of FIG. 2 received in the dust collecting
chamber thereof,
[0022] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the dust
receptacle;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a method for removing
the dust collected in the robot cleaner, according to an embodiment
of the present invention; and
[0024] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a dust receptacle
according to another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0025] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing
figures.
[0026] In the following description, same drawing reference
numerals are used for the same elements even in different drawings.
The matters defined in the description such as a detailed
construction and elements are nothing but the ones provided to
assist in a comprehensive understanding of the invention. Thus, it
is apparent that the present invention can be carried out without
those defined matters. Also, well-known functions or constructions
are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention
in unnecessary detail.
[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a robot cleaner applying a
dust receptacle according to the present invention. The robot
cleaner 20 has an upper casing 41. In a center of the upper casing
41, an image-capturing unit exposure hole 42 (FIG. 2) is formed,
and at one side of the upper casing 41, a display window 43 and a
plurality of indication lamp exposure holes 45 are formed.
[0028] FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the main
parts of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an assembled sectional view of FIG.
2, specifically showing the structure of the robot cleaner.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the robot cleaner 20 comprises a dust
suction unit 21 for drawing in an external air with dust, and a
load driving unit 31 for driving and cleaning. The robot cleaner 20
has an image-capturing unit 35 and a transceiving unit (not shown)
so that it is able to check positions thereof and obstacles during
the driving.
[0029] The dust suction unit 21 comprises a dust collecting chamber
23 which is open upward, a door 25 for covering the opening of the
dust collecting chamber 23, and a dust receptacle 51 according to
an embodiment of the present invention, which is detachably mounted
in the dust collecting chamber 23. At one side of the dust
collecting chamber 23 is mounted a suction motor 27 for generating
a suction force. The air suction unit 21 also comprises a suction
brush unit (not shown) for drawing in the air including external
dust to the dust collecting chamber 23.
[0030] The dust collecting chamber 23 has an air suction port 22 in
a bottom, and an air discharge port 24 in a sidewall thereof. The
air suction port 22 comprises a port rib 22' protruded upward into
the dust collecting chamber 23. A hook hole (not shown) may be
formed in the opening of the upper part of the dust collecting
chamber 23. The door 25 has a hook for engagement with a hook
groove formed at the dust collecting chamber 23 so as to openably
fix the door 25 at the upper opening of the dust collecting chamber
23. The suction brush unit is mounted at a lower part of the dust
collecting chamber 23.
[0031] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the dust
receptacle of FIG. 2. The dust receptacle 51 comprises a receptacle
body 53 for forming a space for collecting the dust, and a cover 55
removably attached to the receptacle body 53. One sidewall of the
receptacle body 53 is formed as an opening 54 corresponding to a
wall of the dust collecting chamber 23 where the air discharge port
24 is formed. The cover 55 is assembled with the opening 54, and an
air outlet 56 is formed at one side of the cover 55 corresponding
to the air discharge port 24. A filter 91 is connected to the air
outlet 56 of the cover 55.
[0032] The receptacle body 53 has an air inlet 61 (FIG. 3) on a
bottom thereof. The air inlet 61 is open corresponding to the air
suction port 22 of the dust collecting chamber 23, and sized
sufficiently to receive the port rib 22' of the air suction port
22. Accordingly, the dust-laden air is flowed into the dust
receptacle 53 through the air suction port 22. In the air inlet 61
of the receptacle body 53, an air inlet pipe 63 is upwardly
protruded. A valve member 65 (FIG. 3) is openably mounted at an
open end of the air inlet pipe 63. The valve member 65 covers the
open end of the air inlet pipe 63 by pivoting downward by its own
weight, and opens by an air pressure flowed into the receptacle
body 53 from the outside.
[0033] The receptacle body 53 also has a dust outlet 67 open at one
side of an upper plate thereof. The dust outlet 67 is exposed when
the door 25 of the dust collecting chamber 23 is open. In this
state, the user tightly contacts a suction unit of the general
vacuum cleaner (not shown) or a handy cleaner (not shown) to the
dust outlet 67, and thereby, the dust collected inside can be
discharged. Therefore, it is preferable that the vacuum cleaner or
the handy cleaner comprises a suction inlet at the suction unit,
corresponding to the dust outlet 67 of the dust receptacle 51 of
the present invention.
[0034] A longitudinal groove is annularly extended around the dust
outlet 67 of the receptacle body 53. Size of the groove corresponds
to size of the suction inlet of the vacuum cleaner or the handy
cleaner. A gasket 69 may be mounted between the groove and the
suction inlet of the vacuum cleaner or the handy cleaner, for
airtightness therebetween.
[0035] The upper plate of the receptacle body 53 also includes a
handle unit 71 in the center. The handle unit 71 is also exposed
when the door 25 of the dust collecting chamber 23 is open.
Grasping the handle unit 71, the user can attach and detach the
dust receptacle 51. The handle unit 71 is dented on the upper
plate, and can be integrally formed with the receptacle body 53
simply by an injection molding. The receptacle body 53 may be made
of a transparent material so that the user can observe an amount of
the dust collected therein.
[0036] The cover 55 can be formed in various manners that the cover
55 can be facilely mounted and detached with respect to the
receptacle body 53. For example, a connection projection may be
formed at the circumference of the cover 55 while a connection
groove 52 is formed at the receptacle body 53. In addition, a
separation projection 57 is formed at an upper part of the cover 55
to separate the cover 55 from the receptacle body 53. A gasket 93
may be formed inside the receptacle body 53 along the circumference
thereof for airtightness with the receptacle body 53.
[0037] The filter 91, removably mounted in the air outlet 56 of the
cover 55, has a plurality of filter windows on a circumferential
surface. On the surface of the filter windows, a porous filtering
member is attached. By the above structure, fine dust included in
the air which is discharged through the air outlet 56 can be
filtered.
[0038] Hereinbelow, a method for removing dust collected in the
robot cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention
will be described in detail with reference to a flowchart of FIG.
5.
[0039] When a cleaning command is applied, the robot cleaner 20
starts running for a cleaning work (S1). The robot cleaner 20
travels about within a cleaning area, communicating with a control
unit (not shown). While running, the robot cleaner 20 diverts from
obstacles in front impromptu, according to a general running
pattern which has been suggested by the present applicant. During
the running, the robot cleaner 20 drives the vacuum generator
mounted therein to perform the cleaning work (S2).
[0040] When the vacuum generator is driven, first, an external air
is drawn in through the air suction port 22. The drawn-in air moves
along the air inlet pipe 63 of the dust receptacle 51, and flows
into the dust receptacle 51 pushing the valve member 65 which
blocks in the air flowing direction. Then, the air is discharged to
the outside through the air outlet 24. At this time, dust in the
discharged air is filtered by the filter 91, and thus, the dust is
collected in the dust receptacle 51.
[0041] As time goes, the amount of the dust gradually increases in
the dust receptacle 51. The cleaning work is stopped as the robot
cleaner 20 or the vacuum generator stops driving. At this time, the
valve member 65 of the dust receptacle 51 covers the open end of
the air inlet pipe 63 by pivoting downward by its own weight.
Accordingly, the filtered dust is prevented from flowing back to
the air suction port 22. The user can check the amount of the dust
collected in the dust receptacle 51 by opening the door 25 of the
dust collecting chamber 23. Also, the door 25 can be made of a
transparent material for the user to easily check the collected
dust without having to open the door 25.
[0042] The present invention suggests two methods for removing the
dust collected in the dust receptacle 51 (S3). One is withdrawing
the dust receptacle 51, and the other is using the vacuum cleaner
or the handy cleaner without withdrawing the dust receptacle 51.
Either of them is selected (S4). When the dust are removed by the
handy cleaner (S6), the door 25 of the dust collecting chamber 23
should be open. Next, the handy cleaner is driven, in a state that
a suction port 11 of the handy cleaner is aligned with the dust
outlet 67 of the dust receptacle 51. Therefore, the dust in the
dust receptacle 51 can be clearly removed in a short time.
[0043] However, when the handy cleaner is not charged with
electricity, or out of order, for instance, dust can be removed by
separating the dust receptacle 51 (S5). The dust receptacle 51 is
withdrawn from the dust collecting chamber 23 simply by grasping
the handle unit 71 formed on the upper cover thereof. By opening
the cover 55 of the dust receptacle 51, the dust in the dust
receptacle 51 can be easily emptied (S7). By reassembling the cover
55 and remounting the dust receptacle 51 in the dust collecting
chamber 23 (S8), the cleaning work can be performed anew through
the above process.
[0044] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a dust receptacle according
to another embodiment of the present invention.
[0045] The dust receptacle 51 comprises a sealing member 100 for
sealing or opening the dust outlet 67 formed on the receptacle body
53.
[0046] The sealing member 100 has a flanged handle 110 for handy
use of the sealing member 100. The sealing member 100 is tightly
fit to the outer circumference of the dust outlet 67, thereby
sealing the dust outlet 67. For this, the sealing member 67 is
preferably made of an elastic material such as rubber.
[0047] While the robot cleaner 20 is in work, the sealing member
100 tightly closes the dust outlet 67. Therefore, the dust
collected in the dust receptacle 51 is prevented from contaminating
inside of the dust collecting chamber 23 (FIG. 2) by flowing out
through the dust outlet 67. Additionally, loss of suction force due
to the dust outlet 67 is also prevented. To remove the dust
collected in the dust receptacle 51, the user opens the sealing
member 100 using the flanged handle 110, and connects a suction
port of a vacuum cleaner (not shown) or a handy cleaner to draw in
the collected dust, thereby cleaning the dust receptacle 51.
[0048] As shown in FIG. 6, the sealing member 100 may be tightly
fit to the outer circumference of the dust outlet 67 to seal the
dust outlet 67. However, the sealing member 100 may be also fit
into an inner circumference of the dust outlet 67.
[0049] According to the embodiments described above, the dust
collected in the robot cleaner can be removed in a convenient
way.
[0050] Furthermore, the dust receptacle 51 can be cleaned using
general vacuum cleaners already provided at home or in the office
instead of detaching the dust receptacle 51 of such small-capacity
robot cleaner every time for cleaning.
[0051] In addition, according to the method for removing collected
dust of the present invention, the user does not have to be
directly stained with the dust or contaminants. The dust receptacle
51 of the robot cleaner is cleaned by the general cleaner, and the
user can empty or dump a paper bag of the general cleaner when the
paper bag is full.
[0052] While the invention has been shown and described with
reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by
those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details
may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *