U.S. patent application number 11/055726 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-23 for self-propelling cleaner.
This patent application is currently assigned to Funai Electric Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Akitaka Shimizu.
Application Number | 20060037170 11/055726 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34999440 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060037170 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shimizu; Akitaka |
February 23, 2006 |
Self-propelling cleaner
Abstract
A self-propelling cleaner 1 performs dust removal processing in
which a comb is brought close to a rotary brush with prescribed
timing and dust is removed from the rotary brush. In the dust
removal processing, the comb is slid in such a direction as to come
closer to the brush, even dust that is stuck to the base portions
of bristles of the rotary brush can be removed. A self-propelling
cleaner is provided that is free of an event that it performs
cleaning in a state that a large amount of dust is stuck to the
rotary brush.
Inventors: |
Shimizu; Akitaka; (Osaka,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OSHA LIANG L.L.P.
1221 MCKINNEY STREET
SUITE 2800
HOUSTON
TX
77010
US
|
Assignee: |
Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
Osaka
JP
|
Family ID: |
34999440 |
Appl. No.: |
11/055726 |
Filed: |
February 10, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/319 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 2201/00 20130101;
A47L 9/0477 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/319 |
International
Class: |
A47L 5/00 20060101
A47L005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 10, 2004 |
JP |
JP2004-032917 |
Claims
1. A self-propelling cleaner comprising: a main body; a
self-propelling section that propels the main body autonomously; a
sucking section provided with a suction mouth and a suction fan,
and collects dust into the main body through the suction mouth by
rotating the suction fan; a rotating section that rotates a rotary
brush that is rotatably attached to the suction mouth; a comb
provided adjacent to the rotary brush to be slidable in a direction
as to be brought into contact with and separated from the rotary
brush; a cleaning section that controls the self-propelling section
and the sucking section to perform cleaning while propelling the
main body within a preset cleaning area; and a dust removing
section that removes dust attached to the comb by causing the
sucking section to rotate the suction fan and causing the rotating
section to rotate the rotary brush while sliding the comb to be in
contact with the rotary brush, after completion of the cleaning by
the cleaning section.
2. A self-propelling cleaner comprising: a main body; a
self-propelling section that propels the main body autonomously; a
sucking section provided with a suction mouth and a suction fan,
and collects dust into the main body through the suction mouth by
rotating the suction fan; a rotating section that rotates a rotary
brush that is rotatably attached to the suction mouth; a comb
provided adjacent to the rotary brush to be slidable in a direction
as to be brought into contact with and separated from the rotary
brush; a cleaning section that controls the self-propelling section
and the sucking section to perform cleaning while propelling the
main body within a preset cleaning area; and a dust removing
section that removes dust attached to the comb, at a prescribed
timing, by causing the sucking section to rotate the suction fan
and causing the rotating section to rotate the rotary brush while
sliding the comb to be in contact with the rotary brush.
3. The self-propelling cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the
dust removing section removes dust attached to the comb after
completion of the cleaning by the cleaning section.
4. A self-propelling cleaner comprising: a main body; a
self-propelling section that propels the main body autonomously; a
sucking section provided with a suction mouth and a suction fan,
and collects dust into the main body through the suction mouth by
rotating the suction fan; a rotating section that rotates a rotary
brush that is rotatably attached to the suction mouth; a comb
having teeth thereof on both sides that are opposed to each other
with respect to the rotary brush interposed therebetween, and
provided adjacent to the rotary brush to be slidable in a direction
perpendicular to a rotation axis of the rotary brush as to be
brought into contact with and separated from the rotary brush; a
cleaning section that controls the self-propelling section and the
sucking section to perform cleaning while propelling the main body
within a preset cleaning area in a state where the teeth of the
comb provided at rear to a direction of the propelling of the main
body are in contact with the rotary brush; and a dust removing
section that removes dust attached to the comb, at a prescribed
timing, by causing the sucking section to rotate the suction fan
and causing the rotating section to rotate the rotary brush in a
reverse direction while sliding the comb to be in a state where the
teeth of the comb provided at front to the direction of the
propelling of the main body are in contact with the rotary
brush.
5. The self-propelling cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the
dust removing section removes dust attached to the comb after
completion of the cleaning by the cleaning section.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a self-propelling cleaner
that cleans a cleaning area while moving therein automatically.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Among conventional vacuum cleaners are ones in which a
suction mouth is provided with a rotary brush for kicking up dust
on the floor and dust kicked up by the rotary brush is sucked
through the suction mouth. Since the rotary brush kicks up dust on
the floor, dust tends to stick to its surfaces. In view of this,
JP-A-11-137488 proposes a technique for decreasing the amount of
dust that is stuck to the rotary brush. In the technique proposed
in JP-A-11-137488, air intake portions are provided at both ends of
the rotary brush and its outer circumferential surface is formed
with blowholes. A sucked air flow that has been introduced into the
rotary brush through the air intake portions flows out through the
blowholes. The air that flows through the blowholes serves as a
barrier for suppressing dust sticking to the rotary brush. In
recent years, self-propelling cleaners have been proposed that
perform cleaning while moving automatically.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] However, conventional vacuum cleaners are not equipped with
any structure for removing dust that is stuck to the rotary brush
and users are required to manually remove dust that is stuck to the
rotary brush. In the case of non-self-propelling cleaners, if dust
falls off the rotary brush during cleaning, a user who is doing the
cleaning would recognize that a large amount of dust is stuck to
the rotary brush and suspend the cleaning to remove the dust from
the rotary brush. Therefore, cleaning is not performed in a state
that a large amount of dust is stuck to the rotary brush. On the
other hand, in the case of self-propelling cleaners, a user tends
to be absent because he or she acts irrespective of cleaning being
performed by a self-propelling cleaner and hence would not notice a
fall of dust from the rotary brush during cleaning. As a result,
the self-propelling cleaner continues to move while dropping dust
from the rotary brush, to cause a situation that the room is
scattered with pieces of dust that have fallen off the rotary
brush, that is, the room is not cleaned. Such a situation can be
avoided by removing dust from the rotary shaft regularly. However,
there is a problem that this is a heavy work load to the user.
[0006] One of objects of the present invention is to provide a
self-propelling cleaner that prevents an event that cleaning is
performed in a state that a large amount of dust is stuck to the
rotary brush by thoroughly removing dust from the rotary brush with
prescribed timing, and to thereby allow a user to manipulate the
self-propelling cleaner with greater ease.
[0007] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is
provided a self-propelling cleaner including: a main body; a
self-propelling section that propels the main body autonomously; a
sucking section provided with a suction mouth and a suction fan,
and collects dust into the main body through the suction mouth by
rotating the suction fan; a rotating section that rotates a rotary
brush that is rotatably attached to the suction mouth; a comb
provided adjacent to the rotary brush to be slidable in a direction
as to be brought into contact with and separated from the rotary
brush; a cleaning section that controls the self-propelling section
and the sucking section to perform cleaning while propelling the
main body within a preset cleaning area; and a dust removing
section that removes dust attached to the comb by causing the
sucking section to rotate the suction fan and causing the rotating
section to rotate the rotary brush while sliding the comb to be in
contact with the rotary brush, after completion of the cleaning by
the cleaning section.
[0008] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is
provided a self-propelling cleaner including: a main body; a
self-propelling section that propels the main body autonomously; a
sucking section provided with a suction mouth and a suction fan,
and collects dust into the main body through the suction mouth by
rotating the suction fan; a rotating section that rotates a rotary
brush that is rotatably attached to the suction mouth; a comb
provided adjacent to the rotary brush to be slidable in a direction
as to be brought into contact with and separated from the rotary
brush; a cleaning section that controls the self-propelling section
and the sucking section to perform cleaning while propelling the
main body within a preset cleaning area; and a dust removing
section that removes dust attached to the comb, at a prescribed
timing, by causing the sucking section to rotate the suction fan
and causing the rotating section to rotate the rotary brush while
sliding the comb to be in contact with the rotary brush.
[0009] According to a third aspect of the invention, there is
provided a self-propelling cleaner including: a main body; a
self-propelling section that propels the main body autonomously; a
sucking section provided with a suction mouth and a suction fan,
and collects dust into the main body through the suction mouth by
rotating the suction fan; a rotating section that rotates a rotary
brush that is rotatably attached to the suction mouth; a comb
having teeth thereof on both sides that are opposed to each other
with respect to the rotary brush interposed therebetween, and
provided adjacent to the rotary brush to be slidable in a direction
perpendicular to a rotation axis of the rotary brush as to be
brought into contact with and separated from the rotary brush; a
cleaning section that controls the self-propelling section and the
sucking section to perform cleaning while propelling the main body
within a preset cleaning area in a state where the teeth of the
comb provided at rear to a direction of the propelling of the main
body are in contact with the rotary brush; and a dust removing
section that removes dust attached to the comb, at a prescribed
timing, by causing the sucking section to rotate the suction fan
and causing the rotating section to rotate the rotary brush in a
reverse direction while sliding the comb to be in a state where the
teeth of the comb provided at front to the direction of the
propelling of the main body are in contact with the rotary
brush.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The above objects and advantages of the present invention
will become more apparent by describing preferred exemplary
embodiments thereof in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a
self-propelling cleaner according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0012] FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams of the
self-propelling cleaner 1 according to the embodiment of the
invention; wherein FIG. 2A is a side sectional view and FIG. 2B is
a bottom view.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the
self-propelling cleaner 1 according to the embodiment; and
[0014] FIGS. 4A-4D are schematic diagrams showing positional
relationships between a brush and combs of a self-propelling
cleaner 1 according to another embodiment of the invention; wherein
FIG. 4A is a bottom view in a cleaning state, FIG. 4B is a side
sectional view in the cleaning state, FIG. 4C is a bottom view in a
dust removal state, and FIG. 4D is a side sectional view in the
dust removal state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a
self-propelling cleaner according to an embodiment of the present
invention. FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams of the
self-propelling cleaner 1 according to the embodiment of the
invention; wherein FIG. 2A is a side sectional view and FIG. 2B is
a bottom view. The self-propelling cleaner 1 includes a control
section 2 for controlling operation of the main body, a moving
section 3 for controlling the rotation speeds of tires
individually, a sucking section 4 for sucking dust into the main
body through a suction mouth that is provided in the main body by
rotating a suction fan, and a brush control section (dust removing
section) 6 for kicking up dust on a floor or removing dust from a
rotary brush 5 that is attached to the suction mouth by controlling
the rotation direction of the rotary brush 5. The control section 2
stores a map that contains information indicating along what route
the self-propelling cleaner should be moved in cleaning, and other
information. A user can freely input information relating to the
map. The moving section 3 performs, according to an instruction
from the control section 2, a rotation control on a motor for
rotating driving wheels 7 that move the main body. The driving
wheels 7 are a pair of wheels that are opposed to each other with a
proper interval. The moving section 3 controls the movement
direction of the main body by controlling the rotation directions
and rotation speeds of the two driving wheels 7 individually by a
known PWM control. Reference numeral 8 denotes a follower wheel
that is provided to secure sufficient stability of movement of the
main body. The suction mouth is provided between the follower wheel
8 and the driving wheels 7, and the rotary brush 5 is attached to
the suction mouth. The moving section 3 controls the movement
direction of the self-propelling cleaner 1 by controlling the
rotation speeds of the right and left driving wheels 7
individually. The sucking section 4 produces sucking force at the
suction mouth by rotating the suction fan 9. Dust that is sucked
through the suction mouth is sent to a dust room 11 through a dust
transport pipe 10. During cleaning, the brush control section 6
kicks up dust on the floor by rotating the rotary brush 5 in the
normal direction. To remove dust from the rotary brush 5, the brush
control section 6 slides a comb 12 in such a direction that it
comes closer to the rotary brush 5, and rotates the rotary brush 5
in the normal direction. While the rotary brush 5 is rotating in
the normal direction, it is rotating in the same direction as the
driving wheels rotate when the main body advances.
[0016] Next, the operation of the self-propelling cleaner 1
according to the embodiment (first embodiment) will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the self-propelling
cleaner 1 according to the embodiment of the invention. First, the
self-propelling cleaner 1 waits for a cleaning start instruction
(S1). A cleaning start instruction can be input to the
self-propelling cleaner 1 by performing a prescribed manipulation
on a manipulation section or a remote controller (not shown) If
judging at step S1 that a cleaning start instruction has been
received, the self-propelling cleaner 1 reads out the map that is
stored in the control section 2 (S2). The map contains information
indicating a start point and end point of cleaning and a movement
route to be taken by the main body to move from the start point to
the end point. Then, the self-propelling cleaner 1 moves the main
body to the cleaning start position (S3). The cleaning start
position is a position that is indicated by the map that was read
out by the control section 2 at step S2. The moving section 3 moves
the main body to the cleaning start position by rotating the
driving wheels 7. The self-propelling cleaner 1 does not rotate the
suction fan while the main body is moving toward the cleaning start
position.
[0017] The self-propelling cleaner starts cleaning when the main
body has reached the cleaning start position S4). At step S4, the
control section 2 instructs the moving section 3 to move the main
body along the movement route from the cleaning start position to
the end position that is indicated by the map that was read out at
step S2. Further, the control section 2 instructs the brush control
section 6 to start rotating the rotary brush 5 in the normal
direction and also instructs the sucking section 4 to start
rotating the suction fan 9. The self-propelling cleaner 1 cleans
the cleaning area of this time as the main body moves from the
cleaning start position to the end position in this state.
[0018] When the main body has reached the cleaning end position,
the self-propelling cleaner finishes the cleaning that was started
at step S4 (S5 and S6). At this time, the control section 2 stops
the movement of the main body by issuing, to the moving section 3,
an instruction to finish the movement. Further, the control section
2 causes the brush control section 6 to stop the rotation of the
rotary brush 5 and causes sucking section 4 to stop the rotation of
the suction fan 9. Then, the control section 2 instructs the moving
section 3 to move the main body to a position where to remove dust
from the rotary brush 5 (S7). The dust removal position may be a
predetermined position. However, it is preferable that the dust
removal position be located in the cleaning area that has been
cleaned this time, because it is preferable that the dust removal
position be a relatively clean position that is free of a risk that
new dust sticks to the rotary brush 5 during a subsequent operation
of removing dust from the rotary brush 5. For example, the dust
removal position may be a position that the main body reaches as a
result of the moving section 3's turning it by 180.degree.. The
moving section 3 moves the main body to the dust removal position
in the same manner as at step S3. Dust removal processing is
performed as soon as the main body reaches the dust removal
position (S8).
[0019] The dust removal processing is as follows. After the brush
control section 6 has moved the comb 12 close to the rotary brush 5
according to an instruction from the control section 2, a state
that the brush control section 6 rotates the suction fan and the
sucking section 4 rotates the suction fan according to instructions
from the control section 2 is maintained for a prescribed time. The
prescribed time may be set freely by a user, and may be about one
minute which is sufficiently long.
[0020] Since the suction fan is rotated, dust that has been
untangled as a result of the brush's hitting the comb is sucked and
does not fall. Further, since the comb is slid in such a direction
as to come closer to the brush, even dust that is stuck to the base
portions of bristles of the rotary brush can be removed and hence
the rotary brush can be made clean. Still further, when the dust
removal is performed (performed after the completion of cleaning),
not much dust is entangled with the rotary brush and hence the dust
that is stuck to the rotary brush can be removed thoroughly. That
is, the dust that is stuck to the rotary brush 5 can be removed
automatically and hence a user can manipulate the vacuum cleaner
with greater ease.
[0021] After completion of step S8, end processing for finishing
the operation of cleaning the cleaning area that was specified this
time (S9). The end processing of step S9 is processing of causing
the moving section 3 to move the main body to a standby position.
For example, the standby position is a place where a charger for a
battery (not shown) of the main body is installed. Although in this
embodiment the dust removal is performed after the completion of
cleaning, it may be performed at any time such as before or during
cleaning.
[0022] Next, a self-propelling cleaner 1 according to another
embodiment of the invention will be described. The self-propelling
cleaner according to this embodiment is different than in the above
embodiment in that combs are provided on both sides of the rotary
brush 5 so as to be slidable in the forward-rear direction with
respect to the propelling direction of the main body (see FIGS.
4A-4D) The self-propelling cleaner according to this embodiment is
also configured as to automatically perform dust removal processing
for removing dust that is stuck to the rotary brush. FIGS. 4A and
4B show a positional relationship between the rotary brush and the
combs during cleaning, and FIGS. 4C and 4D show a positional
relationship between the rotary brush and the combs during dust
removal processing. During cleaning, the rotary brush 5 hits the
comb that is located in front of the main body and removes dust
that is stuck to the rotary brush. In this state, the rotary brush
does not hit the comb that is located at the rear of the main body.
On the other hand, during dust removal, the rotary brush 5 hits the
comb that is located at the rear of the main body and removes dust
that is stuck to the rotary brush. In this state, the rotary brush
does not hit the comb that is located in front of the main
body.
[0023] The operation of the self-propelling cleaner according to
this embodiment is almost the same as that according to the
above-described embodiment but is different from the latter in the
dust removal processing of step S8.
[0024] After executing steps S1-S6 in the same manner as in the
above-described embodiment, at step S7 the self-propelling cleaner
1 moves the main body to the position where to remove dust from the
rotary brush. When the main body has just been moved to the dust
removal position, the rotary brush is in the state of FIGS. 4A and
4B. First, the self-propelling cleaner 1 slides the combs forward
to establish the state of FIGS. 4C and 4D. In this state, the rear
comb is brought into contact with the base portions of bristles of
the rotary brush. Then, dust is removed by rotating the rotary
brush in the reverse direction and rotating the suction fan.
[0025] This dust removal processing provides the same advantages as
in the above-described embodiment. In addition, since the rotary
brush 5 is rotated in the opposite direction to the direction
employed during cleaning, dust that has been entangled with the
rotary brush 5 during cleaning is untangled easily and hence the
rotary brush 5 can be cleaned more thoroughly.
[0026] As described above, according to the embodiment, since the
dust removing section slides the comb in such a direction that the
comb comes closer to the rotary brush and rotates the rotary brush,
even dust that is stuck to the base portions of bristles of the
rotary brush can be removed and hence the dust that is stuck to the
rotary brush can be removed thoroughly. The dust is sucked by the
rotation of the suction fan. In this manner, dust is automatically
removed from the rotary brush with prescribed timing. A user can
therefore manipulate the vacuum cleaner with greater ease.
[0027] According to the embodiment, during cleaning, dust is
removed by bringing the rotary brush close to the
rotation-direction-side teeth of the comb. The term
"rotation-direction-side teeth of the comb" means the teeth that
are hit by the bristles of the rotating rotary brush downward.
Further, dust that is stuck to the rotary brush is removed with
prescribed timing by rotating the rotary brush in the opposite
direction to the direction employed during cleaning in a state that
the dust removing section is rotating the suction fan. In this
operation, since the rotary brush is rotated in the reverse
direction, dust that has been entangled with the rotary brush
during cleaning is untangled and sucked by the rotation of the
rotary fan. In this manner, dust is automatically removed from the
rotary brush with prescribed timing. A user can therefore
manipulate the vacuum cleaner with greater ease.
[0028] According to the embodiment, when the dust removal is
performed (performed after the completion of cleaning) not much
dust is entangled with the rotary brush and hence the dust that is
stuck to the rotary brush can be removed thoroughly.
[0029] In the self-propelling cleaner according to the embodiment,
since dust is automatically removed from the rotary brush with
prescribed timing (e.g., after the completion of cleaning), a user
can manipulate the vacuum cleaner with greater ease.
[0030] Although the present invention has been shown and described
with reference to a specific preferred embodiment, various changes
and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art from
the teachings herein. Such changes and modifications as are obvious
are deemed to come within the spirit, scope and contemplation of
the invention as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *