U.S. patent application number 15/921087 was filed with the patent office on 2018-07-19 for electric cleaning apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Toshiba Lifestyle Products & Services Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Toshiba Lifestyle Products & Services Corporation. Invention is credited to Hiromitsu ICHIKAWA, Yukio MACHIDA, Hiromitsu MURATA, Satoshi OHSHITA, Yuuji OHTSUKA, Tsuyoshi SATO, Masatoshi TANAKA.
Application Number | 20180199776 15/921087 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58288937 |
Filed Date | 2018-07-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180199776 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SATO; Tsuyoshi ; et
al. |
July 19, 2018 |
ELECTRIC CLEANING APPARATUS
Abstract
An electric cleaning apparatus, which comprises an autonomous
cleaning unit which moves autonomously over a surface to be cleaned
and collects dust, and a station unit which has a charging
electrode for the autonomous cleaning unit, wherein the autonomous
cleaning unit includes a first body case having a first inlet, a
secondary battery which accumulates electric power supplied from
the charging electrode, a first dust collecting container which
accumulates dust sucked from the first inlet, and an electric
blower which is driven by electric power supplied from the
secondary battery and makes negative pressure act on the first dust
collecting container, and wherein the station unit is provided with
a second body case having a second inlet which sucks other dust
different from the dust which the autonomous cleaning unit
collects.
Inventors: |
SATO; Tsuyoshi; (Owariasahi,
JP) ; OHTSUKA; Yuuji; (Owariasahi, JP) ;
ICHIKAWA; Hiromitsu; (Owariasahi, JP) ; OHSHITA;
Satoshi; (Owariasahi, JP) ; MURATA; Hiromitsu;
(Kasugai, JP) ; TANAKA; Masatoshi; (Seto, JP)
; MACHIDA; Yukio; (Owariasahi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Toshiba Lifestyle Products & Services Corporation |
Kawasaki-shi |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Toshiba Lifestyle Products &
Services Corporation
Kawasaki-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
58288937 |
Appl. No.: |
15/921087 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/JP2016/073458 |
Aug 9, 2016 |
|
|
|
15921087 |
|
|
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 9/1633 20130101;
A47L 2201/024 20130101; A47L 9/1683 20130101; A47L 7/0047 20130101;
A47L 9/2884 20130101; A47L 9/1691 20130101; A47L 9/2873 20130101;
A47L 9/1625 20130101; A47L 9/1641 20130101; A47L 2201/022
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47L 9/16 20060101
A47L009/16; A47L 9/28 20060101 A47L009/28 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 14, 2015 |
JP |
2015-180758 |
Sep 14, 2015 |
JP |
2015-181013 |
Claims
1: An electric cleaning apparatus, comprising: an autonomous
cleaning unit which moves autonomously over a surface to be cleaned
and collects dust; and a station unit which has a charging
electrode for the autonomous cleaning unit, wherein the autonomous
cleaning unit includes a first body case having a first inlet, a
secondary battery which accumulates electric power supplied from
the charging electrode, a first dust collecting container which
accumulates dust sucked from the first inlet, and an electric
blower which is driven by electric power supplied from the
secondary battery and makes negative pressure act on the first dust
collecting container, and wherein the station unit is provided with
a second body case having a second inlet which sucks other dust
different from the dust which the autonomous cleaning unit
collects.
2: The electric cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the station unit includes a suction air passage which connects the
second inlet with the first inlet or the first dust collecting
container when the autonomous cleaning unit homes to the station
unit.
3: The electric cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the station unit includes a second dust collecting container which
accumulates dust sucked from the second inlet, and a second
electric blower which makes negative pressure act on the second
dust collecting container.
4: The electric cleaning apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
the station unit includes a transit air passage which connects the
first dust collecting container and the second dust collecting
container when the autonomous cleaning unit homes to the station
unit.
5: The electric cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the station unit includes a dust transport duct which is coupled
with the autonomous cleaning unit and is fluidically connected to
the first dust collecting container, a second dust collecting
container which accumulates dust transported for disposal from the
first dust collecting container through the dust transport duct,
and a second electric blower which makes negative pressure act on
the dust transport duct via the second dust collecting container,
wherein the second dust collecting container is provided with a
multistage centrifugal separating unit including a first
centrifugal separating portion which centrifugally separates dust
flowing from the dust transport duct from air, and a second
centrifugal separating portion which separates dust passing the
first centrifugal separating portion from air.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation of PCT international
application No. PCT/JP2016/073458 filed on Aug. 9, 2016, the entire
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. This
application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from
the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-180758, filed on
Sep. 14, 2015 and the prior Japanese Patent Application No.
2015-181013, filed on Sep. 14, 2015, the entire contents of which
are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD
[0002] Embodiments according to the invention relate to an electric
cleaning apparatus.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A cleaning apparatus, which is provided with a dust control
product such as a dust mop and a dust collecting device for sucking
dust gathered with the dust control product into a dust collecting
container, is known.
[0004] In recent years, an autonomous cleaner i.e. a so-called
robotic cleaner, which moves autonomously over a surface to be
cleaned and collects dust, is known. A robotic cleaner requires a
working of a time unit from tens of minutes to an hour in order to
clean a whole of residential rooms. Accordingly, the robotic
cleaner has high convenience in cleaning residential rooms
autonomously during absence of a dweller. On the other hand, the
convenience decreases necessarily in a case of a use such as
collecting and disposing of wastes of snacks which children spilt,
i.e., a use such as cleaning a part of a residential room
immediately. In a use such as removing wastes of snacks which
children spilt, a mop, a broom or a means for sweeping and
collecting dust with a floor cleaning tool, for example, which is
other than an autonomous cleaning device, can respond more
promptly.
[0005] However, even in a case in which a means other than an
autonomous cleaning device, for example, a mop, a broom or a means
for sweeping and collecting dust with a floor cleaning tool can
respond more promptly, there is also an aspect that an additional
work in which a dustpan is necessary to be used arises in disposing
of dust after sweeping and collecting the dust.
[0006] An electric cleaning apparatus, which combines an autonomous
cleaning unit for moving autonomously over a surface to be cleaned
and collecting dust and a station unit for accumulating dust
transported for disposal from the autonomous cleaning unit, is
known as an autonomous cleaning apparatus. This kind of electric
cleaning apparatus connects an autonomous cleaning unit and a
station unit fluidically in order to transport dust from the
autonomous cleaning unit to the station unit. The station unit has
a dust transport duct which is coupled with a first dust collecting
container of the autonomous cleaning unit and is connected to the
first dust collecting container fluidically, a second dust
collecting container which accumulates dust transported for
disposal from the first dust collecting container through the dust
transport duct, and a second electric blower which makes negative
pressure act on the dust transport duct via the second dust
collecting container.
[0007] A conventional electric cleaning apparatus is provided with
a dust collecting container of a filtration separating type (a
second dust collecting container) which adopts a filter to filter
and separate dust from air. In the dust collecting container of the
filtration separating type, the filter becomes blocked and a
suction negative pressure is weakened as an accumulation amount of
dust increases so that the capability of transporting dust from an
autonomous cleaning unit lowers gradually. Even immediate after
disposing of dust, i.e., even when dust is not yet accumulated in
the dust collecting container of the filtration separating type, a
case where dust cannot be transported from an autonomous cleaning
unit may occur, when openings of a filtering surface of the filter
are blocked due to sucking of dust such as a large amount of powder
bodies which blocks the filtering surface of the filter at once. On
the other hand, it is desired that an autonomous cleaning unit can
be continued to be used without caring or working for maintenance
from several days to a long period of a degree of several weeks,
i.e., in a so-called maintenance-free state. In other words, the
function to transport dust from an autonomous cleaning unit to a
station unit is desired to be demonstrated for a long period as
much as possible.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electric cleaning apparatus
according to a first embodiment of the invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electric cleaning apparatus
according to a second embodiment of the invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an external appearance
of an electric cleaning apparatus according to a third embodiment
of the invention.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a bottom of the
autonomous cleaning unit of the electric cleaning apparatus
according to the third embodiment of the invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a station unit of the
electric cleaning apparatus according to the third embodiment of
the invention.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a second dust collecting
container of the electric cleaning apparatus according to the third
embodiment of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a second centrifugal
separating portion of the second dust collecting container of the
electric cleaning apparatus according to the third embodiment of
the invention.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing joining
portions of the autonomous cleaning unit and the station unit of
the electric cleaning apparatus according to the third embodiment
of the invention.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view showing joining
portions of the station unit of the electric cleaning apparatus
according to the third embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Embodiments provide an electric cleaning apparatus which
includes a charging function for an autonomous cleaning unit and is
capable of autonomous cleaning by an autonomous cleaning unit and
easy disposal of dust gathered after local cleaning is rapidly
performed using a means other than an autonomous cleaning unit, for
example, a mop, a broom or a floor cleaning tool, by utilizing a
station unit to be placed in a residential room.
[0018] One embodiment provides an electric cleaning apparatus
comprising an autonomous cleaning unit which moves autonomously
over a surface to be cleaned and collects dust, and a station unit
which has a charging electrode for the autonomous cleaning
unit.
[0019] The autonomous cleaning unit includes a first body case
having a first inlet, a secondary battery which accumulates
electric power supplied from the charging electrode, a first dust
collecting container which accumulates dust sucked from the first
inlet, and an electric blower which is driven by electric power
supplied from the secondary battery and makes negative pressure act
on the first dust collecting container. The station unit is
provided with a second body case having a second inlet which sucks
other dust different from the dust which the autonomous cleaning
unit collects.
[0020] Further, when desired, the station unit includes a dust
transport duct which is coupled with the autonomous cleaning unit
and is fluidically connected to the first dust collecting
container, a second dust collecting container which accumulates
dust transported for disposal from the first dust collecting
container through the dust transport duct, and a second electric
blower which makes negative pressure act on the dust transport duct
via the second dust collecting container. The second dust
collecting container is provided with a multi-stage centrifugal
separating unit including a first centrifugal separating portion
which centrifugally separates dust flowing from the dust transport
duct from air, and a second centrifugal separating portion which
separates dust passing the first centrifugal separating portion
from air.
[0021] Hereinafter, further embodiments of an electric cleaning
apparatus according to the invention will be described below with
reference to the drawings.
[0022] A first embodiment of the electric cleaning apparatus
according to the invention, will be described with reference to
FIG. 1.
[0023] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electric cleaning apparatus
according to the embodiment of the invention.
[0024] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the electric cleaning apparatus 1
according to the embodiment is provided with an autonomous cleaning
unit 2 which autonomously moves over a surface to be cleaned to
collect dust and a station unit 5 including a charging electrode 3
for the autonomous cleaning unit 2.
[0025] The electric cleaning apparatus 1 causes the autonomous
cleaning unit 2 to autonomously move over a surface to be cleaned
in a residential room to collect the dust. Then, the electric
cleaning apparatus 1 causes the autonomous cleaning unit 2 to home
to the station unit 5 and to stand ready until the next
cleaning.
[0026] The station unit 5 is placed at any location in the
residential room. When charge is necessary or cleaning of the
residential room is finished, the autonomous cleaning unit 2
returns to the station unit 5 to shift into a standby mode or a
charging mode. A position, at which the station unit 5 and the
autonomous cleaning unit 2 are electrically connected with each
other such that the autonomous cleaning unit 2 is rechargeable, is
referred to as a "home position" of the autonomous cleaning unit 2.
Return of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 to the station unit 5 and
shift of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 into a standby mode or a
charging mode after the return to the station unit 5 are referred
to as "homing".
[0027] The autonomous cleaning unit 2 is a so-called robotic
cleaner. The autonomous cleaning unit 2 includes a first body case
11 having a first, inlet 6, a secondary battery 18 provided to the
first body case 11, a dust collecting container 12 (first dust
collecting container) which accumulates dust sucked from the first
inlet 6, an electric blower 13 which is driven by power supplied
from the secondary battery 18 to make negative pressure act on the
dust collecting container 12, a moving unit 15 which supports the
first body case 11 movably on the surface to be cleaned, a drive
unit 16 which drives with the power supplied from the secondary
battery 18 to operate the moving unit 15, and a robotic control
unit 17 which controls the drive unit 16 to cause the first body
case 11 to move autonomously on the surface to be cleaned.
[0028] The first body case 11 is, for example, a synthetic-resin
discoid box, and easily circles on the surface to be cleaned. The
bottom surface of the first body case 11 has the first inlet 6
extending laterally.
[0029] The first inlet 6 in width is approximate to two thirds of
the first body case 11 in width, namely, in diameter. The first
inlet 6 is fluidically connected to the electric blower 13 through
the dust collecting container 12.
[0030] The dust collecting container 12 is provided to the first
body case 11. The dust collecting container 12 accumulates the dust
sucked from the first inlet 6 due to the suction negative pressure
generated by the electric blower 13. The dust collecting container
12 includes a filter which filters and collects the dust, and a
separating device which separates the air and the dust with
inertial separation such as centrifugation (cyclone separation) or
translatory separation to accumulate the dust and to allow the air
to pass.
[0031] The moving unit 15 supports the first body case 11 with at
least three wheels. The moving unit 15 includes left and right
paired driving wheels (not illustrated) provided on the bottom
surface of the first body case 11, and a driven wheel (not
illustrated) provided on the bottom surface of the first body case
11.
[0032] The autonomous cleaning unit 2 rotates the paired driving
wheels mutually in the same direction to move forward or backward,
and rotates the paired driving wheels mutually opposite to circle
right or left. The driven wheel is, for example, a caster capable
of circling.
[0033] The drive unit 16 includes paired electric motors which
drive the paired respective driving wheels. The drive unit 16
drives the paired driving wheels independently.
[0034] The robotic control unit 17 includes a microprocessor (not
illustrated), and a storage device (not illustrated) which stores,
for example, various computing programs to be executed by the
microprocessor and parameters. The robotic control unit 17 is
electrically connected to the electric blower 13 and the drive unit
16. The robotic control unit 17 controls the electric blower 13 to
make the negative pressure act on the first inlet 6 and controls
the drive unit 16 to cause the autonomous cleaning unit 2 to travel
autonomously.
[0035] The secondary battery 18 is a power source for the electric
blower 13, the drive unit 16, and the robotic control unit 17. The
secondary battery 18 is electrically connected to a charging
terminal 19 provided on the bottom surface of the first body case
11. Connection of the charging terminal 19 to the charging
electrode 3 of the station unit 5 allows the secondary battery 18
to be charged.
[0036] The station unit 5 is placed at any location on the surface
to be cleaned in the residential room. The station unit 5 includes
a second body case 66 having a second inlet 65 which sucks dust
different from the dust collected by the autonomous cleaning unit
2, the charging electrode 3, a power cord 29 which guides power
from a commercial alternating current power source E to the
charging electrode 3, and a suction air passage 140 which allows
the second inlet 65 and the first inlet 6 to communicate with each
other when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 homes to the station unit
5.
[0037] The second body case 66 is a box of an appropriate shape
capable of being placed on the surface to be cleaned in the
residential room. The second body case 66 has an appropriate shape
not to interfere with the autonomous cleaning unit 2 even when the
autonomous cleaning unit 2 homes.
[0038] The second inlet 65 is applied for use in sucking dust
collected by a means except the autonomous cleaning unit 2, such as
a mop, a broom or a floor cleaning tool, or dust adhering to the
mop, the broom or the floor cleaning tool itself. Thus, the second
inlet 21 is disposed at the lower portion of the second body case
66, and has, for example, an appropriate width along the surface to
be cleaned and an appropriate height along the perpendicular of the
surface to be cleaned.
[0039] The suction air passage 140 may be in either a mode in which
the second inlet 65 is directly connected to the dust collecting
container 12 without the first inlet 6 (suction air passage 140a)
or a mode in which the second inlet 65 is connected to the dust
collecting container 12 through the first inlet 6 (suction air
passage 140b).
[0040] The suction air passage 140 (140a, 140b) is provided to the
second body case 66. One end portion of the suction air passage 140
(140a, 140b) is connected to the second inlet 65.
[0041] The other end portion of the suction air passage 140a is
disposed at an appropriate location to communicate with the dust
collecting container 12 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 when the
autonomous cleaning unit 2 homes. The dust collecting container 12
preferably includes a lid (not illustrated) which opens to allow
the dust collecting container 12 and the suction air passage 140a
to communicate with each other, in response to the homing of the
autonomous cleaning unit 2.
[0042] The other end portion of the suction air passage 140a is
disposed at an appropriate location to communicate with the first
inlet 6 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 when the autonomous
cleaning unit 2 homes.
[0043] The charging electrode 3 is provided to the second body case
66. The charging electrode 3 is disposed at an appropriate location
to establish electrical connection in contact with the charging
terminal 19 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 when the autonomous
cleaning unit 2 homes.
[0044] When the autonomous cleaning unit 2 homes to the home
position, the electric cleaning apparatus 1 allows the charging
terminal 19 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 and the charging
electrode 3 of the station unit 5 to be in contact with each other,
so that electrical connection is established to charge the
secondary battery 18. At this time, the electric cleaning apparatus
1 fluidically connects the second inlet 65 of the station unit 5 to
the electric blower 13 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 through
the dust collecting container 12 through or without the first inlet
6 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2.
[0045] The electric cleaning apparatus 1 drives the electric blower
13 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2, on the basis of a direct
command to the autonomous cleaning unit 2 or the operation of a
sensor (not illustrated) which detects approach of the mop, the
broom, or the floor cleaning tool itself to the second inlet 65.
The negative pressure generated by the operation of the electric
blower 13 acts on the second inlet 65 of the station unit 5 through
the dust collecting container 12, the first inlet 6 and the suction
air passage 125, so that the dust is sucked from the second inlet
65. The dust sucked from the second inlet 65 is a dust collected by
the means except the autonomous cleaning unit 2, such as the mop,
the broom or the floor cleaning tool, or a dust adhering to the
mop, the broom or the floor cleaning tool itself.
[0046] Since the electric cleaning apparatus 1 having the
configuration according to the embodiment includes the second inlet
65 of the station unit 5, a dust collected by the means except the
autonomous cleaning unit 2, such as the mop, the broom or the floor
cleaning tool, or a dust adhering to the mop, the broom or the
floor cleaning tool itself can be sucked. The dust suction function
of the electric cleaning apparatus 1 is suitable for locally
cleaning part of the residential room, for example, for cleaning
dust such as pieces of snacks spilled by a child. The electric
cleaning apparatus 1 takes several tens of minutes to several hours
when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 autonomously drives to clean
the entire residential room, and can promptly suck and accumulate
the dust swept in several tens of seconds to several minutes from
the second inlet 65 when the residential room is locally cleaned by
the means except the autonomous cleaning unit 2, such as the mop,
the broom or the floor cleaning tool.
[0047] The electric cleaning apparatus 1 according to the
embodiment sucks the dust with the suction system of the autonomous
cleaning unit 2 (the electric blower 13, the dust collecting
container 12 and the first inlet 6) in communication with the
second inlet 65 of the station unit 5 so that a promptly dust
suction function can be provided with no increase in the number of
components.
[0048] A second embodiment of the electric cleaning apparatus
according to the invention, will be described with reference to
FIG. 2.
[0049] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electric cleaning apparatus
according to the second embodiment of the invention.
[0050] In the embodiment, constituents in common with those of the
electric cleaning apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment are
denoted with the same reference signs, and thus the descriptions to
be duplicated will be omitted.
[0051] As illustrated in FIG. 2, an electric cleaning apparatus 1A
according to the embodiment includes an autonomous cleaning unit 2
which autonomously moves over a surface to be cleaned to collect
dust, and a station unit 5A including a charging electrode 3 for
the autonomous cleaning unit 2.
[0052] The electric cleaning apparatus 1A causes the autonomous
cleaning unit 2 to autonomously move over a surface to be cleaned
in a residential room to collect the dust. Then, the electric
cleaning apparatus 1A causes the autonomous cleaning unit 2 to home
to the station unit 5A and subsequently to stand ready until the
next cleaning.
[0053] The station unit 5A is placed at any location in the
residential room. When needing charge or finishing cleaning the
residential room, the autonomous cleaning unit 2 returns to the
station unit 5A to migrate into a standby mode or a charging mode.
A position, at which the station unit 5A and the autonomous
cleaning unit 2 are electrically connected with each other such
that the autonomous cleaning unit 2 is rechargeable, is referred to
as the "home position" of the autonomous cleaning unit 2. Return of
the autonomous cleaning unit 2 to the station unit 5A and shift of
the autonomous cleaning unit 2 into a standby mode or a charging
mode after the return to the station unit 5A are referred to as
"homing".
[0054] The station unit 5A is placed at any location on the surface
to be cleaned in the residential room. The station unit 5A includes
a second body case 66 having a second inlet 21 which sucks dust
different from the dust collected by the autonomous cleaning unit
2, the charging electrode 3, a power cord 29 which guides power
from a commercial alternating current power source E to the
charging electrode 3, a second dust collecting container 68 which
accumulates the dust sucked from the second inlet 65, a second
electric blower 69 which applies negative pressure to the second
dust collecting container 68, and a station control unit 133 which
controls the second electric blower 69 to make the negative
pressure act on the second inlet 65.
[0055] The second dust collecting container 68 is provided to the
second body case 66. The second dust collecting container 68
accumulates the dust sucked from the second inlet 65 due to the
suction negative pressure generated by the second electric blower
69. The second dust collecting container 68 includes a filter which
filters and collects the dust, and a separating device which
separates the air and the dust with inertial separation such as
centrifugation (cyclone separation) or translatory separation to
accumulate the dust and equally to allow the air to pass. The
second dust collecting container 68 is included in the stationary
station unit 5A without moving together with the autonomous
cleaning unit 2, differently from a dust collecting container 12,
so that the second dust collecting container 68 easily ensures
larger capacity than that of the dust collecting container 12.
[0056] The second electric blower 69 can directly acquire the power
from the commercial alternating current power source E, and thus
may have output larger than that of an electric blower 13 driven by
the secondary battery 18.
[0057] A station control unit 143 includes a microprocessor (not
illustrated), and a storage device (not illustrated) which stores,
for example, various computing programs executed by the
microprocessor and parameters. The station control unit 143 is
electrically connected to the second electric blower 69. The
station control unit 143 controls the second electric blower 69 to
make the negative pressure act on the second inlet 65.
[0058] Regardless of whether the autonomous cleaning unit 2 is home
at the home position, the electric cleaning apparatus 1A operates
the second electric blower 69 on the basis of a direct command to
the station unit 5A or the operation of a sensor (not illustrated)
which detects approach of a mop, a broom or a floor cleaning tool
itself, to the second inlet 65. The negative pressure generated by
the operation of the second electric blower 69 acts on the second
inlet 65 through the second dust collecting container 68 so that
the dust is sucked from the second inlet 65. The dust sucked from
the second inlet 65 is a dust collected by a means except the
autonomous cleaning unit 2, such as the mop, the broom or the floor
cleaning tool, or a dust adhering to the mop, the broom, or the
floor cleaning tool itself.
[0059] The station unit 5A includes a transit air passage 145 which
allows the dust collecting container 12 and the second dust
collecting container 68 to communicate with each other when the
autonomous cleaning unit 2 homes to the station unit 5A.
[0060] The transit air passage 145 may be in either a mode in which
the dust collecting container 12 is directly connected to the
second dust collecting container 68 without a first inlet 6
(transit air passage 145a) or a mode in which the dust collecting
container 12 is connected to the second dust collecting container
68 through the first inlet 6 (transit air passage 145b).
[0061] The transit air passage 145 (145a, 145b) is provided at the
second body case 66. One end portion of the transit air passage 145
(145a, 145b) is connected to the second dust collecting container
68.
[0062] The other end portion of the transit air passage 145a is
disposed at an appropriate location to communicate with the dust
collecting container 12 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 when the
autonomous cleaning unit 2 homes. The dust collecting container 12
preferably includes a lid (not illustrated) which opens to allow
the dust collecting container 12 and the transit air passage 145a
to communicate with each other in response to the homing of the
autonomous cleaning unit 2.
[0063] The other end portion of the transit air passage 145b is
disposed at an appropriate location to communicate with the first
inlet 6 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 when the autonomous
cleaning unit 2 homes.
[0064] When the autonomous cleaning unit 2 homes to the home
position, the electric cleaning apparatus 1A allows the charging
terminal 19 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 and the charging
electrode 3 of the station unit 5A to be in contact with each other
so that electrical connection is established to charge the
secondary battery 18. At this time, the electric cleaning apparatus
1A fluidically connects the dust collecting container 12 of the
autonomous cleaning unit 2 to the second electric blower 69 of the
station unit 5A through the second dust collecting container 68 of
the station unit 5A through or without the first inlet 6 of the
autonomous cleaning unit 2, and then operates the second electric
blower 69. A negative pressure generated by operation of the second
electric blower 69 acts on the dust collecting container 12 of the
autonomous cleaning unit 2 through the second dust collecting
container 68 and the transit air passage 145 (transit air passage
145a or transit air passage 145b) so that the dust is transported
from the dust collecting container 12 to the second dust collecting
container 68.
[0065] For adding the function of transporting dust from the dust
collecting container 12 to the second dust collecting container 68,
to the electric cleaning apparatus 1A, a switching mechanism 146
which applies the negative pressure acting on the second dust
collecting container 68 to the side of the second inlet 65 or to
the dust collecting container 12 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2
is preferably provided.
[0066] Since the electric cleaning apparatus 1A having the
configuration according to the embodiment includes the second inlet
65 of the station unit 5A, the dust collected by the means except
the autonomous cleaning unit 2 such as the mop, the broom or the
floor cleaning tool, or the dust adhering to the mop, the broom or
the floor cleaning tool itself, can be sucked. The dust suction
function of the electric cleaning apparatus 1A is suitable for
locally cleaning part of the residential room, for example, for
cleaning dust such as wastes of snacks spilled by a child. In other
words, the electric cleaning apparatus 1A takes a time unit from
several tens of minutes to an hour when the autonomous cleaning
unit 2 autonomously drives to clean the entire residential room,
and can promptly suck and accumulate the dust swept in a time unit
from several tens of seconds to several minutes from the second
inlet 65 when the residential room is locally cleaned by the means
except the autonomous cleaning unit 2 such as the mop, the broom or
the floor cleaning tool.
[0067] The electric cleaning apparatus 1A according to the
embodiment can provide a promptly dust suction function by the
station unit 5A independently.
[0068] Furthermore, the electric cleaning apparatus 1A according to
the embodiment transports the dust, collected by the autonomous
cleaning unit 2 to the station unit 5A to accumulate the dust so
that a large amount of dust can be successively accumulated over a
longer period and an interval until the next working for
maintenance can be prolonged.
[0069] Thus, According to the electric cleaning apparatuses 1, 1A
of the embodiments, cleaning can be performed autonomously with the
autonomous cleaning unit 2 and disposal of the swept dust can be
easily carried out after the prompt local cleaning by the means
except the autonomous cleaning unit 2, such as the mop, the broom
or the floor cleaning tool, by using the station units 5, 5A having
the function of charging the autonomous cleaning unit 2 and to be
placed in the residential rooms.
[0070] A third embodiment of the electric cleaning apparatus
according to the invention, will be described with reference to
FIGS. 3 to 9.
[0071] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the external appearance of
an electric cleaning apparatus according to the third embodiment of
the invention.
[0072] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, an electric cleaning
apparatus 1 according to the embodiment includes an autonomous
cleaning unit 2 which autonomously moves over a surface to be
cleaned to collect dust on the surface to be cleaned, and a station
unit 5 having charging electrodes 3 for the autonomous cleaning
unit 2. The electric cleaning apparatus 1 causes the autonomous
cleaning unit 2 to autonomously move over a surface to be cleaned
in a residential room to collect the dust. Then, the electric
cleaning apparatus 1 causes the autonomous cleaning unit 2 to home
to the station unit 5 and subsequently transports the dust
collected by the autonomous cleaning unit 2 to the side of the
station unit 5 to collect the dust.
[0073] A position at which the autonomous cleaning unit 2 is
electrically connected to the charging electrodes 3 of the station
unit 5 is the home position of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 which
homes to the station unit 5. The autonomous cleaning unit 2 homes
to the home position when charge is necessary or cleaning of the
residential room is finished. The position at which the autonomous
cleaning unit 2 is electrically connected to the charging
electrodes 3 of the station unit 5 is determined according to a
relative positional relationship between the autonomous cleaning
unit 2 which autonomously moves and the station unit 5 capable of
being placed at any location.
[0074] In FIG. 3, an arrow A represents a forward direction of the
autonomous cleaning unit 2, and an arrow B represents a backward
direction of the autonomous cleaning unit 2. The width direction of
the autonomous cleaning unit 2 is orthogonal to the arrow A and the
arrow B.
[0075] The autonomous cleaning unit 2 moves forward and separates
from the station unit 5 to autonomously move in the residential
room, and moves backward and couples with the station unit 5 in
homing to the station unit 5.
[0076] The autonomous cleaning unit 2 is a so-called robotic
cleaner. The autonomous cleaning unit 2 includes a hollow and
discoid first body case 11, a first dust collecting container 12
detachably provided at the rear portion of the first body case 11,
a first electric blower 13 connected to the first dust collecting
container 12 and housed in the first body case 11, a moving unit 15
which moves the autonomous cleaning unit 2 on the surface to be
cleaned, a drive unit 16 which drives the moving unit 15, a robotic
control unit 17 which controls the drive unit 16 to cause the first
body case 11 to autonomously move over a surface to be cleaned, and
a secondary battery 18 as a power source.
[0077] The station unit 5 is placed at an arbitrary location on the
surface to be cleaned. The station unit 5 includes a base 21 onto
which the autonomous cleaning unit 2 moving to the position to be
connected electrically to the charging electrodes 3 (a home
position) goes up, a dust, collector 22 integrally formed with the
base 21, a dust transport duct 25 hermetically coupled to the first
dust collecting container 12 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 in
the positional relationship in which the autonomous cleaning unit 2
is electrically connected to the charging electrodes 3 (home
position), a lever 26 protruding from the dust transport duct 25,
and a power cord 29 which guides power from a commercial
alternating current power source.
[0078] The autonomous cleaning unit 2 according to the third
embodiment of the invention will be described in detail.
[0079] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bottom surface of the
autonomous cleaning unit of the electric cleaning apparatus
according to the third embodiment of the invention.
[0080] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the autonomous cleaning unit 2 of
the electric cleaning apparatus 1 according to the third embodiment
of the invention includes a central brush 31 provided on the bottom
surface 11a of the first body case 11, a central-brush drive
portion 32 which drives the central brush 31, left and right paired
side brushes 33 provided on the bottom surface 11a of the first
body case 11, and left and right paired side-brush drive portions
35 which drive the respective side brushes 33.
[0081] The discoid first body case 11 is formed of, for example, a
synthetic resin, and can easily circle on the surface to be
cleaned. A laterally long first inlet 36 is provided at a central
portion in the width direction of the posterior half of the bottom
surface 11a.
[0082] The first inlet 36 in width is approximate to two thirds of
the first body case 11 in width, namely, in diameter. The first
inlet 36 is fluidically connected to the first electric blower 13
through the first dust collecting container 12.
[0083] The first, body case 11 has a dust container opening 37 on
the bottom surface 11a. The dust container opening 37 is disposed
at a portion covering the lower portion of the first dust
collecting container 12, behind the first, inlet 36. The dust
container opening 37 has a rectangular shape with rounded corners,
and partially exposes the first dust collecting container 12
attached to the first body case 11.
[0084] The first dust collecting container 12 accumulates the dust
sucked from the first inlet 36 due to suction negative pressure
generated by the first electric blower 13. The first dust
collecting container 12 includes a filter which filters and
collects the dust from the air, and a separating device which
separates the dust from the air with inertial separation such as
centrifugation (cyclone separation) or translatory separation to
accumulate the dust. The first dust collecting container 12 is
disposed at the rear portion of the first body case 11, behind the
first inlet 36. The first dust collecting container 12 includes a
container body 38 which is provided detachably to the first body
case 11 and accumulates the dust collected by the autonomous
cleaning unit 2, a coupling portion 39 exposed from the dust
container opening 37 with the first dust collecting container 12
attached to the first body case 11, a disposal opening 41 which is
provided at the coupling portion 39 and disposes of the dust in the
container body 38, and a disposal lid 42 which opens or closes the
disposal opening 41.
[0085] The moving unit 15 includes left and right paired driving
wheels 45 disposed on the bottom surface 11a of the first body case
11, and a circling wheel 46 disposed on the bottom surface 11a of
the first body case 11.
[0086] The paired driving wheels 45 protrude from the bottom
surface 11a of the first body case 11, and are in contact with the
surface to be cleaned with the autonomous cleaning unit 2 placed on
the surface to be cleaned. The paired driving wheels 45 are
disposed at a substantially central portion in the longitudinal
direction of the first body case 11, and are also disposed close to
the respective left and right portions of the first body case 11,
without blocking ahead of the first inlet 36. The rotary shaft of
the paired driving wheels 45 is disposed on a straight line
extending in the width direction of the first body case 11. The
autonomous cleaning unit 2 rotates the left and right driving
wheels 45 mutually in the same direction to move forward or
backward, and rotates the left and right driving wheels 45 mutually
opposite to circle right or left.
[0087] The circling wheel 46 is a driven wheel capable of circling.
The circling wheel 46 is disposed at a substantially central
portion in the width direction of the first body case 11 and at the
front portion.
[0088] The drive unit 16 includes paired electric motors connected
to the paired respective driving wheels 45. The drive unit 16
drives the left and right driving wheels 45 independently.
[0089] The robotic control unit 17 includes a microprocessor (not
illustrated), and a storage device (not illustrated) which stores,
for example, various computing programs to be executed by the
microprocessor and parameters. The robotic control unit 17 is
electrically connected to the first electric blower 13, the
central-brush drive portion 32, the drive unit 16, and the
side-brush drive portions 35.
[0090] The secondary battery 18 is a power source for the first
electric blower 13, the central-brush drive portion 32, the drive
unit 16, the side-brush drive portions 35, and the robotic control
unit 17. The secondary battery 18 is disposed, for example, between
the circling wheel 46 and the first inlet 36. The secondary battery
18 is electrically connected to paired charging terminals 47
disposed on the bottom surface 11a of the first body case 11.
Connection of the charging terminals 47 to the charging electrodes
3 of the station unit 5 allows the secondary battery 18 to be
charged.
[0091] The central brush 31 is provided at the first inlet 36. The
central brush 31 is an axle-shaped brush rotatable around a
rotational center line extending in the width direction of the
first body case 11. For example, the central brush 31 includes a
long shaft portion (not illustrated), and a plurality of brushes
(not illustrated) which extends in the radial direction of the
shaft portion and is spirally arranged in the longitudinal
direction of the shaft portion. The central brush 31 protrudes from
the first inlet 36 below the bottom surface 11a of the first body
case 11, and makes the brushes into contact with the surface to be
cleaned with the autonomous cleaning unit 2 placed on the surface
to be cleaned.
[0092] The central-brush drive portion 32 is housed in the first
body case 11.
[0093] The paired side brushes 33 each are an auxiliary sweeper
which gathers the dust on the surface to be cleaned alongside a
wall where the central brush 31 does not reach, to guide the dust
to the first inlet 36, the paired side brushes 33 being disposed on
the respective left and right sides in the forward direction of the
central brush 31. The side brushes 33 each include a brush base 48
having a rotational center slightly inclining forward to the
perpendicular of the surface to be cleaned, and, for example, three
linear sweepers 49 radially protruding in the radial direction of
the brush base 48.
[0094] The left and right brush bases 48 are disposed close to the
left and right sides from the first inlet 36 respectively, ahead of
the first inlet 36 and the left and right driving wheels 45 and
behind the circling wheel 46. The rotational center line of each of
the brush bases 48 slightly inclines forward to the perpendicular
of the surface to be cleaned. Thus, the linear sweepers 49 circle
along a plane inclining forward to the surface to be cleaned. The
linear sweeper 49 which circles to the front side of each brush
base 48 is pressed against the surface to be cleaned as closer to
the leading end, and the linear sweeper 49 which circles to the
rear side of each brush base 48 separates away from the surface to
be cleaned as closer to the leading end.
[0095] The plurality of linear sweepers 49 is disposed radially
from each of the brush bases 48 into, for example, three directions
at regular intervals. Each side brush 33 may have four linear
sweepers 49 or more for each brush base 48. Each linear sweeper 49
has a plurality of bristles as a sweeping member on the side of the
leading end. Furthermore, the bristles circle to draw a trajectory
expanding outside the outer circumferential edge of the first body
case 11.
[0096] Each side-brush drive portion 35 has a rotary shaft
protruding downward which is connected to the brush base 48 of the
side brush 33. Each side-brush drive portion 35 rotates the side
brush 33 in order to gather the dust on the surface to be cleaned
toward the first inlet 36.
[0097] The station unit 5 according to the third embodiment of the
invention will be described in detail.
[0098] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the station unit of the
electric cleaning apparatus according to the third embodiment of
the invention.
[0099] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the base 21 of the station unit 5
according to the embodiment projects forward from the station unit
5 and expands in a rectangular shape. The base 21 includes a
high-floor portion 61 connected to the bottom portion of the dust
collector 22, and a low-floor portion 62 projecting from the
high-floor portion 61. The low-floor portion 62 and the high-floor
portion 61 zonally extend in the width direction of the station
unit 5. The charging electrodes 3 and the inlet of the dust
transport duct 25 are disposed at the high-floor portion 61.
[0100] The autonomous cleaning unit 2 arrives at the home position
with the paired driving wheels 45 positioned on the low-floor
portion 62 and the first dust collecting container 12 disposed
above the high-floor portion 61.
[0101] The base 21 has uneven traveling surfaces 63 which reduce
the respective contact areas of the paired driving wheels 45 when
the autonomous cleaning unit 2 moves toward the position
electrically connected to the charging electrodes 3 (home
position). Each traveling surface 63 has unevenness having a
plurality of lines, lattice-like unevenness or unevenness having a
plurality of hemispheres which is provided at part of the base
21.
[0102] The dust collector 22 includes a second body case 66 having
a second inlet 65 which sucks dust different from the dust
collected by the autonomous cleaning unit 2, a second dust
collecting container 68 which accumulates the dust of which the
first dust collecting container 12 disposes through the dust
transport duct 25, a second electric blower 69 connected to the
second dust collecting container 68 and housed in the second body
case 66, and the power cord 29 which guides the power from the
commercial alternating current power source to the second electric
blower 69 and the charging electrodes 3.
[0103] The second body case 66 is disposed at the rear portion of
the station unit 5, extends above the base 21, is an box of an
appropriate shape capable of being placed on the surface to be
cleaned in the residential room, and includes a wall surface 66a
having a height to a surface to be placed. The second body case 66
has an appropriate shape not to interfere with the autonomous
cleaning unit 2 even when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 homes.
[0104] The second body case 66 is short in the depth direction
(direction in which the autonomous cleaning unit 2 moves in homing)
and is long in the width direction. The second body case 66 has one
half portion in the width direction, specifically, a right half
portion at which the second dust collecting container 68 is
disposed, and has the other half portion in the width direction,
specifically, a left half portion at which the second electric
blower 69 is housed.
[0105] The front wall of the second body case 66 has an arc-shaped
recess portion 71 corresponding to the rear end portion of the
autonomous cleaning unit 2. The inlet of the dust transport duct 25
is provided within a range from the high-floor portion 61 of the
base 21 over the recess portion 71. The recess portion 71 is
provided with a homing check detecting unit 72 which detects
whether the autonomous cleaning unit 2 is present at the position
electrically connected to the charging electrodes 3 (home
position).
[0106] The homing check detecting unit 72 is a so-called proximity
sensor which detects the relative distance to the autonomous
cleaning unit 2 with visible light or infrared light. The homing
check detecting unit 72 includes a first sensing portion 73 which
detects the relative distance to the autonomous cleaning unit 2 in
the front direction of the dust collector 22, and a second sensing
portion 75 which detects the relative distance to the autonomous
cleaning unit 2 in the height direction of the second body case
66.
[0107] The second inlet 65 is applied for use in sucking a dust
collected by a means except the autonomous cleaning unit 2, such as
a mop, a broom or a floor cleaning tool, or a dust adhering to the
mop, the broom, or the floor cleaning tool itself. The second inlet
65 is provided at the lower portion of the right wall surface of
the second body case 66 which is the wall surface 66a having the
height to the surface to be placed. The second inlet 65 has an
appropriate width along the placed surface and an appropriate
height in the perpendicular direction of the surface to be
cleaned.
[0108] The paired charging electrodes 3 are disposed such that the
inlet of the dust transport duct 25 is interposed between the
electrodes 3. The charging electrodes 3 are arranged in front of
the respective left and right edges of the recess portion 71.
[0109] The second dust collecting container 68 is detachably
attached to the right side of the dust collector 22 and is
exposed.
[0110] The second electric blower 69 applies suction negative
pressure to the dust transport duct 25 or the second inlet 65
through the second dust collecting container 68.
[0111] The second body case 66 is internally provided with a
suction air passage 76 fluidically connecting the second inlet 65
with the second dust collecting container 68 and a downstream air
passage 77 fluidically connecting the second dust collecting
container 68 with the second electric blower 69, in addition to the
dust transport duct 25.
[0112] Both of the dust transport duct 25 and the suction air
passage 76 are connected to the suction side (upstream side) of the
second dust collecting container 68. In Other words, the negative
pressure generated by the second electric blower 69 acts on both of
the dust transport duct 25 and the suction air passage 76 through
the second dust collecting container 68. Thus, the station unit 5
includes an air passage switching mechanism 78. The air passage
switching mechanism 78 interrupts fluid connection between the
suction air passage 76 and the second dust collecting container 68
in transporting the dust from the autonomous cleaning unit 2 while
establishing fluid connection between the dust transport duct 25
and the second dust collecting container 68, and establishes the
fluid connection between the suction air passage 76 and the second
dust collecting container 68 in making the negative pressure act on
the second inlet 65 while interrupting the fluid connection between
the dust transport duct 25 and the second dust collecting container
68.
[0113] The dust transport duct 25 is hermetically coupled to the
disposal opening 41 in contact with the coupling portion 39 of the
first dust collecting container 12 of the autonomous cleaning unit
2, in the positional relationship in which the autonomous cleaning
unit 2 is electrically connected to the charging electrodes 3 (home
position).
[0114] The lever 26, which is disposed at the inlet of the dust
transport duct 25, includes a hook 79 extending in the front
direction of the dust collector 22 and upward.
[0115] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the second dust collecting
container of the electric cleaning apparatus according to the third
embodiment of the invention.
[0116] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a second centrifugal
separating portion of the second dust collecting container of the
electric cleaning apparatus according to the third embodiment of
the invention.
[0117] As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the second dust collecting
container 68 of the electric cleaning apparatus 1 according to the
embodiment includes a multistage centrifugal separating portion 83
including a first centrifugal separating portion 81 which
centrifugally separates the dust flowing from the dust transport
duct 25 or the second inlet 65 from the air, and a second
centrifugal separating portion 82 which separates the dust passing
through the first centrifugal separating portion 81 from the
air.
[0118] The first centrifugal separating portion 81 centrifugally
separates coarse dust from the air guided by the second dust
collecting container 68. The second centrifugal separating portion
82 centrifugally separates fine dust from the air passing through
the first centrifugal separating portion 81. The coarse dust is
fibriform dust such as lint or fluff, or large-mass dust such as a
grain of sand. The fine dust is particulate or powdery small-mass
dust.
[0119] The second dust collecting container 68 includes an exhaust
air passage 85 which supplies the air passing through the second
centrifugal separating portion 82 to the second electric blower 69,
and a top cover 86 which covers the exhaust air passage 85.
[0120] The first centrifugal separating portion 81 is disposed on
one side of the second dust collecting container 68, specifically,
on the lower half side. The second centrifugal separating portion
82, a second-separating-unit upper cover 87, the exhaust air
passage 85 and the top cover 86 are disposed on the other side of
the second dust collecting container 68, specifically, on the upper
half side. The first centrifugal separating portion 81 and the
second centrifugal separating portion 82 are adjacently arranged in
a height direction of the second dust collecting container 68
having a cylindrical shape.
[0121] The first centrifugal separating portion 81, the
second-separating-unit upper cover 87 and the top cover 86 are
arranged together such that the external appearance of the second
dust collecting container 68 has a substantially cylindrical
shape.
[0122] The first centrifugal separating portion 81 separates dust
from dusty air in a centrifugation manner (cyclone manner). The
first centrifugal separating portion 81 includes a cup-shaped dust
collecting container 92 (cup of the second dust collecting
container 68) as a hull of a first centrifugally separating room
91, a cylindrical first filter portion 93 arranged in the dust
collecting container 92, and a dust capturing cup 95 arranged in
the dust collecting container 92 and connected to the first filter
portion 93.
[0123] The dust collecting container 92 is a hull of the lower half
portion of the second dust collecting container 68, and doubles as
the hull of the first centrifugally separating room 91 and a full
of a dust collecting room 97. The side wall of the dust collecting
container 92 is provided with an air inlet 98. The air inlet 98 is
fluidically connected to the dust transport duct 25 and the suction
air passage 76.
[0124] The dust collecting container 92 includes a large-diameter
portion 101 disposed at an open end portion, a slant portion 102
which is connected to the large-diameter portion 101 and narrows
toward a small diameter, and a small-diameter portion 103 which is
connected to the slant portion 102 and extends to the bottom wall
with a substantially uniform diameter.
[0125] The connected portion between the large-diameter portion 101
and the small-diameter portion 103, namely, the slant portion 102
has a slant surface 105 narrowing from the large-diameter portion
101 toward the small-diameter portion 103 inside the dust
collecting container 92.
[0126] The small-diameter portion 103 is connected to the bottom
wall of the dust collecting container 92.
[0127] The first filter portion 93 is housed in the dust collecting
container 92 such that the first filter portion 93 is substantially
coaxially disposed. An annular space separating the first filter
portion 93 and the dust collecting container 92 is the first
centrifugally separating room 91 which allows the dusty air flowing
from the air inlet 98 of the dust collecting container 92 into the
first centrifugal separating portion 81 to circle so that the
coarse dust is centrifugally separated.
[0128] The first filter portion 93 is fixed to the second
centrifugal separating portion 82 such that the first filter
portion 93 protrudes inside the dust collecting container 92 and
extends toward the bottom wall of the dust collecting container 92.
The first filter portion 93 fluidically connects the first
centrifugally separating room 91 and the second centrifugal
separating portion 82, and allows of communication therebetween.
The first filter portion 93 includes a frame 107 having a plurality
of bones 106 which is cylindrically disposed and is spaced apart
from each other, and a first meshed filter 108 cylindrically
surrounding the circumference of the frame 107. A first opening 109
to the bones 106 of the frame 107 allows the air to flow from the
first centrifugally separating room 91 into the second centrifugal
separating portion 82. The side surface of the first filter portion
93, in more detail, the first meshed filter 108 faces the air inlet
98.
[0129] The first meshed filter 108 prevents the coarse dust from
flowing from the first centrifugal separating portion 81 into the
side of the second centrifugal separating portion 82, during a
period during which a swirl flow is undeveloped in the first
centrifugally separating room 91 such as immediately after the
start of the second electric blower 69 or transition to the stop,
and rightfully after the development of the swirl flow.
[0130] The first filter portion 93 does not necessarily need the
first meshed filter 108 to the extent to which the coarse dust can
be prevented from flowing into the downstream side. For example,
when the frame 107 of the first filter portion 93 has a
fine-lattice shape to the extent to which the coarse dust can be
prevented from passing, or has small holes to the extent to which
the coarse dust can be prevented from passing, the first meshed
filter 108 is not necessarily needed.
[0131] The dust capturing cup 95 is provided at the end portion of
the first filter portion 93 which is close to the bottom wall of
the dust collecting container 92, namely, at the protruding end
portion or the lower end portion. The dust capturing cup 95 has a
bottomed cylindrical shape, and includes a bottom wall connected to
the first filter portion 93 and a side wall extending toward the
bottom wall of the dust collecting container 92. The dust capturing
cup 95 is open to the bottom wall of the dust collecting container
92. The side wall of the dust capturing cup 95 faces the inner
circumferential surface of the dust collecting container 92 across
a gap. The dust capturing cup 95 is larger in diameter than the
first filter portion 93, and has a second opening 111 on the bottom
wall connected to the first filter portion 93.
[0132] A space separating the dust capturing cup 95 and the dust
collecting container 92 is the dust collecting room 97 which
accumulates the dust separated by the first centrifugal separating
portion 81. The air in the dust collecting room 97 returns to the
first centrifugally separating room 91 through the second opening
111.
[0133] The second opening 111 is provided with a second meshed
filter 112. The second meshed filter 112 may be coarse to the
extent to which the coarse dust (fibriform dust, such as lint or
fluff) flowing into the dust collecting room 97 is inhibited from
returning to the first centrifugally separating room 91.
[0134] Removing of the dust collecting container 92 from the second
dust collecting container 68 allows the first filter portion 93 and
the dust capturing cup 95 to come out of the dust collecting
container 92 together with the second centrifugal separating
portion 82.
[0135] The second centrifugal separating portion 82 separates the
fine dust from the dusty air passing through the first centrifugal
separating portion 81. The second centrifugal separating portion 82
includes a transit air passage 113 which guides the air passing
through the first centrifugally separating room 91, a second
centrifugally separating room 115 which separates the fine dust
from the air flowing from the transit air passage 113, and the
exhaust air passage 85 which guides the air flowing from the second
centrifugally separating room 115 after the separation of the fine
dust, to the second electric blower 69.
[0136] The second centrifugal separating portion 82 is detachably
coupled to the dust collecting container 92 and covers an open end
92a of the dust collecting container 92. The second centrifugal
separating portion 82 supports the first filter portion 93 and the
dust capturing cup 95 on the center line C of the dust collecting
container 92.
[0137] The second-separating-unit upper cover 87 corresponding to
the hull of the second centrifugal separating portion 82 has a
cylindrical shape. A plurality of second centrifugally separating
rooms 115 is annularly arranged inside the second-separating-unit
upper cover 87. The transit air passage 113 having an annular shape
is arranged inside the plurality of second centrifugally separating
rooms 115 annularly arranged. Furthermore, the exhaust air passage
85 is disposed on the extension of the center line C of the dust
collecting container 92 inside the annular transit air passage 113
or at the center portion of the second centrifugal separating
portion 82 having a cylindrical shape. In other words, the second
centrifugal separating portion 82 is a triple structure in which
the annularly arranged second centrifugally separating rooms 115,
the annular transit air passage 113 and the exhaust air passage 85
are arranged in the order from the side of the
second-separating-unit upper cover 87.
[0138] The transit air passage 113 guides the air (dusty air)
flowing from the first filter portion 93 in a direction in which
the air moves away from the dust collecting container 92, in order
to guide the air to the second centrifugally separating rooms
115.
[0139] The plurality of second centrifugally separating rooms 115
is arranged along the inner circumference of the cylindrical
second-separating-unit upper cover 87 or is arranged surrounding
the transit air passage 113, in a substantially annular shape. Each
of the second centrifugally separating rooms 115 has a cylindrical
wall 116 which generates a swirl flow, and a truncated-cone-shaped
wall 117 which generates a spiral flow.
[0140] The cylindrical wall 116 and the truncated-cone-shaped wall
117 have respective center lines arranged on substantially the same
line. Each of the center lines, namely, the center line of the
second centrifugally separating room 115 is arranged in parallel to
the center line C of the cylindrical second dust collecting
container 68. The center lines of the second centrifugally
separating rooms 115 may radially incline such that the center
lines of the second centrifugally separating rooms 115 form a
conical surface which narrows on the side of the first centrifugal
separating portion 81 and expands at the second centrifugal
separating portion 82. When the entire plurality of second
centrifugally separating rooms 115 is viewed, the center lines of
the cylindrical walls 116 and the truncated-cone-shaped walls 117,
are circularly disposed at the circumference of the center line C
of the second dust collecting container 68.
[0141] Each truncated-cone-shaped walls 117 has an upper bottom
having a large diameter and a lower bottom having a smaller
diameter than that of the upper bottom. The upper bottoms of the
truncated-cone-shaped walls 117 are disposed on the far side of the
first centrifugal separating portion 81, and the lower bottoms are
disposed on the near side of the first centrifugal separating
portion 81. Each cylindrical walls 116 has a diameter substantially
the same as that of the upper bottom of the truncated-cone-shaped
wall 117, and is connected to the upper bottom of the
truncated-cone-shaped wall 117.
[0142] The cylindrical walls 116 are disposed further from the
first centrifugal separating portion 81 than the respective
truncated-cone-shaped walls 117. The side wall of each of the
cylindrical walls 116 is provided with a dusty-air introducing
opening 118. The introducing opening 118 is disposed on the side
surface of the cylindrical wall 116 and on the center side of the
second dust collecting container 68, and is connected to the
transit air passage 113.
[0143] Each cylindrical walls 116 has a bottom plate at a portion
furthest from the first centrifugal separating portion 81. Each
bottom plates of the truncated-cone-shaped walls 117 is provided
with a tubular inner cylinder 119 extending along the center line
in the cylindrical wall 116. The inside of the inner cylinder 119
is an outlet 121 which exhausts clean air separated from the dusty
air in the second centrifugally separating room 115. The outlet 121
is connected to the exhaust air passage 85. The outside of the
inner cylinder 119 faces the introducing opening 118. An annular
space which separates the inner cylinder 119 and the cylindrical
wall 116 allows the flow of the dusty air flowing from the
introducing opening 118 to swirl.
[0144] Furthermore, the cylindrical wall 116 is open at a portion
closest to the first centrifugal separating portion 81. The portion
communicates with an opening of the upper bottom of the
truncated-cone-shaped wall 117.
[0145] The truncated-cone-shaped wall 117 reduces in diameter as
closer to the first centrifugal separating portion 81. The upper
bottom of the truncated-cone-shaped wall 117 has the opening
communicating with the cylindrical wall 116 internally, and the
opening allows the swirl flow occurring between the cylindrical
wall 116 and the inner cylinder 119 to be introduced so that the
spiral flow occurs in the truncated-cone-shaped wall 117. The lower
bottom of the truncated-cone-shaped wall 117 has a disposal opening
122 communicating with the dust collecting container 92
internally.
[0146] The second centrifugally separating room 115 introduces the
dusty air from the introducing opening 118. The dusty air flowing
from the introducing opening 118 into the second centrifugally
separating room 115 swirls along the inner surface of the
cylindrical wall 116, and furthermore, the swirling spiral flow
which moves toward the disposal opening 122 along the inner surface
of the truncated-cone-shaped wall 117 is generated to separate the
fine dust from the air. The fine dust separated is discharged from
the disposal opening 122 to the side of the dust collecting
container 92. The clean air separated from the dust flows on the
center line of the second centrifugally separating room 115,
namely, on the center lines of the cylindrical wall 116 and the
truncated-cone-shaped wall 117, to flow from the outlet 121 to the
exhaust air passage 85 through the inner cylinder 119.
[0147] A dust capturing umbrella 125 is provided ahead of the
disposal opening 122 of the second centrifugally separating room
115. The dust capturing umbrella 125 is provided at the base of the
first filter portion 93, and is used as a partition wall
partitioning the first centrifugal separating portion 81 and the
second centrifugal separating portion 82. The outer diameter of the
dust capturing umbrella 125 is smaller than the second centrifugal
separating portion 82 and is larger than the first filter portion
93. The dust capturing umbrella 125 has one surface 125a which
guides the fine dust discharged from the disposal opening 122 of
the second centrifugally separating room 115 to the dust collecting
container 92, and the other surface 125b expands and inclines into
the dust collecting container 92.
[0148] The dust capturing umbrella 125 protrudes to and abuts on
the slant portion 102 of the dust collecting container 92 to cover
the dust collecting container 92. The large-diameter portion 101
and slant portion 102 of the dust collecting container 92 and the
dust capturing umbrella 125 partition a fine dust collecting room
126 which accumulates the dust discharged from the second
centrifugally separating room 115. The fine dust collecting room
126 has a substantially wedge-shaped space narrowing as further
from the second centrifugally separating room 115, namely, as
further from the disposal opening 122 of the second centrifugally
separating room 115. The substantially wedge-shaped space is
interposed between the inner surface of the large-diameter portion
101, the slant surface of the slant portion 102, and the one
surface 125a of the dust capturing umbrella 125.
[0149] The other surface 125b of the dust capturing umbrella 125 is
larger in diameter than the first filter portion 93 and the dust
capturing cup 95, and increases in diameter toward the first filter
portion 93 and the dust capturing cup 95.
[0150] The exhaust air passage 85 leads from a most outer
circumferential portion connected to the outlet 121 such that the
most outer circumferential portion covers the second centrifugally
separating room 115, toward the side of the center portion of the
second centrifugal separating portion 82 while reducing in
diameter, and enters the center portion of the transit air passage
113 on the center line C of the dust collecting container 92. The
exhaust air passage 85 bends in a direction crossing the extension
of the center line C of the dust collecting container 92 (the
center line of the second dust collecting container 68) from a
portion surrounded by the plurality of second centrifugally
separating rooms 115, and leads to a second outlet 127 provided to
the side wall of the second centrifugal separating portion 82. The
exhaust air passage 85 has a recess portion 128 recessed toward the
first centrifugal separating portion 81 at a portion furthest from
the first centrifugal separating portion 81 which is adjacent to
the top cover 86. The exhaust air passage 85 intensively gathers
the air flowing from the outlets 121 of the second centrifugally
separating rooms 115 toward the center side of the second dust
collecting container 68 and simultaneously orients the air toward
the first centrifugal separating portion 81 once by the recess
portion 128. Then, the exhaust air passage 85 changes the
orientation of the flow at a substantially right angle to exhaust
the air to the second outlet 127. The second outlet 127 is
connected to the downstream air passage 77.
[0151] When the autonomous cleaning unit 2 returns to the home
position of the station unit 5, the charging terminals 47 of the
autonomous cleaning unit 2 are electrically connected to the
charging electrodes 3 of the station unit 5. At this time, the dust
transport duct 25 of the station unit 5 is connected to the
coupling portion 39 of the first dust collecting container 12.
Then, the station unit 5 drives the second electric blower 69 to
suck air, and transports the dust from the first dust collecting
container 12 to the second dust collecting container 68. In the
second dust collecting container 68, the first centrifugal
separating portion 81 separates the coarse dust from the air to
accumulate the coarse dust into the dust collecting room 97. In the
second dust collecting container 68, the second centrifugal
separating portion 82 separates the fine dust from the air passing
through the first centrifugal separating portion 81, to accumulate
the fine dust into the fine dust collecting room 126.
[0152] Regardless of whether the autonomous cleaning unit 2 is home
at the home position, the station unit 5 operates the second
electric blower 69, on the basis of a direct command or the
operation of a sensor (not illustrated) which detects approach of
the mop, the broom, or the floor cleaning tool itself, to the
second inlet 65. The negative pressure generated by the drive of
the second electric blower 69, acts on the second inlet 65 of the
station unit 5 through the second dust collecting container 68, to
suck dust from the second inlet 65. The dust sucked from the second
inlet 65 is a dust collected by the means except the autonomous
cleaning unit 2, such as the mop, the broom or the floor cleaning
tool, or a dust adhering to the mop, the broom, or the floor
cleaning tool itself.
[0153] FIGS. 8 and 9 are longitudinal sectional views of a coupling
portion between the autonomous cleaning unit and station unit of
the electric cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment of the
invention.
[0154] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate approaches of the autonomous
cleaning unit 2 to the position electrically connected to the
charging electrodes 3, namely, to the home position. When the
autonomous cleaning unit 2 moves away from the station unit 5, an
inverse aspect from FIG. 9 to FIG. 8 is provided.
[0155] As illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9 and FIG. 4, the first dust
collecting container 12 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 according
to the embodiment, includes the container body 38 which accumulates
the dust collected by the autonomous cleaning unit 2, to be
detachably provided to the first body case 11, the coupling portion
39 exposed from the dust container opening 37 with the first dust
collecting container 12 attached to the first body case 11, the
disposal opening 41 which is provided at the coupling portion 39
and disposes of the dust in the container body 38, and the disposal
lid 42 which opens or closes the disposal opening 41.
[0156] The coupling portion 39 is integrally formed with the
container body 38. The coupling portion 39 protrudes in a
rectangular shape with rounded corners, corresponding to the dust
container opening 37. The attachment of the first dust collecting
container 12 to the first body case 11 allows the coupling portion
39 to engage with the dust container opening 37. The coupling
portion 39 has an outer circumferential edge portion flush with the
outer surface of the first body case 11, and equally has a recess
portion at the circumferential edge portion of the disposal opening
41. The disposal opening 41 is disposed at the center of the recess
portion. The disposal lid 42 is disposed at the recess portion.
[0157] The coupling portion 39 may be disposed at a location facing
the dust container opening 37, with the first dust collecting
container 12 attached to the first body case 11. In the case, the
coupling portion 39 is disposed at a location at which the coupling
portion 39 can be viewed from the dust container opening 37, inside
the first body case 11. The dust transport duct 25 preferably has a
protruding length reachable to the coupling portion 39 through the
dust container opening 37.
[0158] The disposal opening 41 is open below the autonomous
cleaning unit 2, with the first dust collecting container 12
attached to the first body case 11.
[0159] The disposal opening 41 is disposed closer to the station
unit 5 than the center of the autonomous cleaning unit 2, in the
positional relationship in which the autonomous cleaning unit 2 is
electrically connected to the charging electrodes 3 (home
position). In other words, when the autonomous cleaning unit 2
moves backward and comes close to the station unit 5 and the paired
driving wheels 45 come onto the base 21 of the station unit 5, the
disposal opening 41 comes close to the dust collector 22 of the
station unit 5.
[0160] The disposal lid 42 is exposed on the external appearance of
the autonomous cleaning unit 2, and is flush with the outer surface
of the first body case 11. The disposal lid 42 includes a lever
hook 131 which hooks the lever 26 of the station unit 5. Note that,
similarly to the coupling portion 39, the disposal lid 42 attached
to the first body case 11 may be disposed at a location facing the
dust container opening 37. In the case, the disposal lid 42 is
disposed at a location at which the disposal lid 42 can be viewed
from the dust container opening 37, inside the first body case
11.
[0161] On the other hand, the lever 26 of the station unit 5
according to the embodiment, is hooked up to the disposal lid 42 of
the autonomous cleaning unit 2 on the way on which the autonomous
cleaning unit 2 moves toward the position electrically connected to
the charging electrodes 3 (home position). When the autonomous
cleaning unit 2 arrives at the position electrically connected to
the charging electrodes 3 (home position), the disposal lid 42
opens to fluidically connect the disposal opening 41 and the dust
transport duct 25 (FIG. 9).
[0162] The disposal lid 42 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 and
the lever 26 of the station unit 5 rock around a rotational center
line C3 crossing in the direction in which the autonomous cleaning
unit 2 moves toward the position electrically connected to the
charging electrodes 3. Note that, a rotational center line C4 of
the disposal lid 42 and the rotational center line C3 of the lever
26 are desirably orthogonal to the direction in which the
autonomous cleaning unit 2 moves toward the position electrically
connected to the charging electrodes 3 (home position).
[0163] The rotational center line C3 of the lever 26 is disposed at
an edge portion at which the autonomous cleaning unit 2 first
arrives, in the opening edge portion of the dust transport duct 25
in the direction in which the autonomous cleaning unit 2 moves
toward the position electrically connected to the charging
electrodes 3 (home position), namely, at the front end portion of
the opening edge of the dust transport duct 25.
[0164] The rotational center line C3 of the lever 26 is supported
movably in the direction in which the autonomous cleaning unit 2
moves toward the position electrically connected to the charging
electrodes 3 (home position). As a result, movement of the
rotational center line C3 of the lever 26 in the direction in which
the autonomous cleaning unit 2 moves toward the position
electrically connected to the charging electrodes 3 (home position)
allows the hook 79 to be hooked up to the lever hook 131 without
the influence of a variation in the positional precision of homing
control of the autonomous cleaning unit 2.
[0165] Furthermore, the rotational center line C3 of the lever 26
is covered with a shaft cover 132 provided at the edge portion at
which the autonomous cleaning unit 2 first arrives, in the opening
edge portion of the dust transport duct 25 in the direction in
which the autonomous cleaning unit 2 moves toward the position
electrically connected to the charging electrodes 3 (home
position), namely, at the front end portion of the opening edge of
the dust transport duct 25.
[0166] The rotational center line C4 of the disposal lid 42 is
disposed on the far side of the disposal lid 42 in the direction in
which the autonomous cleaning unit 2 moves toward the position
electrically connected to the charging electrodes 3 (home
position). The rotational center line C4 of the disposal lid 42 is
disposed further than the lever hook 131 is, in the direction in
which the autonomous cleaning unit 2 moves toward the position
electrically connected to the charging electrodes 3 (home
position). Furthermore, the rotational center line C4 of the
disposal lid 42 is disposed further than a lid body 133 which comes
in or out of contact with the disposal opening 41, is, in the
disposal lid 42 in the direction in which the autonomous cleaning
unit 2 moves toward the position electrically connected to the
charging electrodes 3 (home position).
[0167] The arrangements of the rotational center line C3 of the
lever 26 and the rotational center line C4 of the disposal lid 42,
allow the disposal lid 42 to have a slant surface which guides the
dust from the container body 38 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2
to the dust transport duct 25 when the lever 26 opens the disposal
lid 42 (FIG. 9).
[0168] The spring force of a coil spring 135 acts on the disposal
lid 42 in a direction in which the disposal lid 42 closes. The
disposal lid 42 opens when thrust toward the position at which the
autonomous cleaning unit 2 is electrically connected to the
charging electrodes 3 (home position), exceeds the spring force of
the coil spring 135. The coil spring 135 is compressed to store
energy when the disposal lid 42 is open by the lever 26, while the
coil spring 135 releases the energy to close the disposal lid 42
when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 separates from the station unit
5 and the lever 26 comes out of the lever hook 131.
[0169] The spring force of a coil spring (not illustrated) acts on
the lever 26 in a direction in which the lever 26 erects (FIG. 8).
The lever 26 is pushed down when the thrust toward the position at
which the autonomous cleaning unit 2 is electrically connected to
the charging electrodes 3 (home position) exceeds the spring force
of the coil spring. The coil spring is compressed to store energy
when the disposal lid 42 is open by the lever 26, while the coil
spring releases the energy to erect the lever 26 when the
autonomous cleaning unit 2 separates from the station unit 5 and
the lever 26 comes out of the lever hook 131.
[0170] The electric cleaning apparatus 1 having the configuration
according to the embodiment includes the multistage centrifugal
separating portion 83 including the first centrifugal separating
portion 81 which centrifugally separates the dust flowing from the
dust transport duct 25 from the air, and the second centrifugal
separating portion 82 which separates the dust passing through the
first centrifugal separating portion 81 from the air. Thus, the
separation performance deteriorates hardly and is maintained, even
when the accumulated amount of dust increases, and accordingly the
suction negative pressure is maintained and the ability of
transporting the dust from the autonomous cleaning unit 2 can be
kept. Since the electric cleaning apparatus 1 includes the
multistage centrifugal separating portion 83, the suction
performance is maintained without sudden failing even if the
electric cleaning apparatus 1 sucks a large amount of powder bodies
at once, so that the ability of transporting the dust from the
autonomous cleaning unit 2 can be maintained.
[0171] Furthermore, since the electric cleaning apparatus 1
according to the embodiment includes the second inlet 65 of the
station unit 5, the dust collected by the means except the
autonomous cleaning unit 2 such as the mop, the broom or the floor
cleaning tool, or the dust adhering to the mop, the broom or the
floor cleaning tool itself can be sucked. The dust suction function
of the electric cleaning apparatus 1 is suitable for locally
cleaning part of the residential room, for example, for cleaning
dust such as pieces of snacks spilled by a child. In other words,
the electric cleaning apparatus 1 takes several tens of minutes to
several hours when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 autonomously
drives to clean the entire residential room, and equally can
promptly suck and accumulate, from the second inlet 65, dust swept
in several tens of seconds to several minutes when the residential
room is locally cleaned by the means except the autonomous cleaning
unit 2, such as the mop, the broom or the floor cleaning tool.
[0172] The electric cleaning apparatus 1 according to the
embodiment maintains the sucking force of the second inlet 65
easily, since the multistage centrifugal separating portion 83
accumulates the dust sucked from the second inlet 65 of the station
unit 5.
[0173] Accordingly, in a case that an object to clean for the
second inlet 65 is set to a cleaning tool which sweeps dust in
proper width such as the mop, the broom or the floor cleaning tool,
the dust swept by the cleaning tool such as the mop, the broom or
the floor cleaning tool can be certainly sucked without lowering
the suction negative pressure over a long period, even when the
size of the second inlet 65 is set such that the second inlet 65
has a wide width along the placed surface and a proper height.
[0174] Thus, the electric cleaning apparatus 1 according to the
embodiment maintains the ability of transporting the dust from the
autonomous cleaning unit 2 to the station unit 5 over a long
period, and keeps the function of transporting the dust easily,
even when sucking a large amount of powder bodies at once.
[0175] According to the third embodiment, there can be provided the
electric cleaning apparatus which maintains the ability of
transporting the dust from the autonomous cleaning unit to the
station unit over a long period and keeps the function of
transporting the dust easily, even when sucking a large number of
powder bodies at once.
[0176] Desirable embodiments of the invention include the following
features.
1. An electric cleaning apparatus, comprising an autonomous
cleaning unit which moves autonomously over a surface to be cleaned
and collects dust, and a station unit which has a charging
electrode for the autonomous cleaning unit, wherein the autonomous
cleaning unit includes a first body case having a first inlet, a
secondary battery which accumulates electric power supplied from
the charging e electrode, a first dust collecting container which
accumulates dust sucked from the first inlet, and an electric
blower which is driven by electric power supplied from the
secondary battery and makes negative pressure act on the first dust
collecting container, and wherein the station unit is provided with
a second body case having a second inlet which sucks other dust
different from the dust which the autonomous cleaning unit
collects. 2. The electric cleaning apparatus according to the No.
1, wherein the station unit includes a suction air passage which
connects the second inlet with the first inlet or the first dust
collecting container when the autonomous cleaning unit homes to the
station unit. 3. The electric cleaning apparatus according to the
No. 1 or 2, wherein the station unit includes a second dust
collecting container which accumulates dust sucked from the second
inlet, and a second electric blower which makes negative pressure
act on the second dust collecting container. 4. The electric
cleaning apparatus according to the No. 3, wherein the station unit
includes a transit air passage which connects the first dust
collecting container and the second dust collecting container when
the autonomous cleaning unit homes to the station unit. 5. The
electric cleaning apparatus according to any one of the Nos. 1 to
4, wherein the station unit includes a dust transport duct which is
coupled with the autonomous cleaning unit and is fluidically
connected to the first dust collecting container, a second dust
collecting container which accumulates dust transported for
disposal from the first dust collecting container through the dust
transport duct, and a second electric blower which makes negative
pressure act on the dust transport duct via the second dust
collecting container, wherein the second dust collecting container
is provided with a multistage centrifugal separating unit including
a first centrifugal separating portion which centrifugally
separates dust flowing from the dust transport duct from air, and a
second centrifugal separating portion which separates dust passing
the first centrifugal separating portion from air. 6. An electric
cleaning apparatus, comprising an autonomous cleaning unit which
moves autonomously over a surface to be cleaned and collects dust,
and a station unit which has a charging electrode for the
autonomous cleaning unit, wherein the autonomous cleaning unit
includes a first body case having a first inlet, a secondary
battery which accumulates electric power supplied from the charging
electrode, a first dust collecting container which accumulates dust
sucked from the first inlet, and an electric blower which is driven
by electric power supplied from the secondary battery and makes
negative pressure act on the first dust collecting container, the
station unit including a dust transport duct which is coupled with
the autonomous cleaning unit and is fluidically connected to the
first dust collecting container, a second dust collecting container
which accumulates dust, transported for disposal from the first
dust collecting container through the dust transport duct, and a
second electric blower which makes negative pressure act on the
dust transport duct via the second dust collecting container,
wherein the second dust collecting container is provided with a
multi-stage centrifugal separating unit including a first
centrifugal separating portion which centrifugally separates dust
flowing from the dust transport duct from air, and a second
centrifugal separating portion which separates dust passing the
first centrifugal separating portion from air. 7. The electric
cleaning apparatus according to the No. 6, wherein the station unit
is provided with a second body case having a second inlet which
sucks other dust different from the dust which the autonomous
cleaning unit collects.
[0177] While certain embodiments have been described, these
embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not
intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel
embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other
forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in
the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without
departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying
claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or
modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the
inventions.
* * * * *