EP2554086A2

EP2554086A2 - Dust collection blade structure for cleaning robot and cleaning robot having same

Info

Publication number: EP2554086A2
Application number: EP11762990A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ho Sang Yoo; Kyung Chul Shin; Seong Ju Park; No Soo Lee; Jong Hyun Kim
Original assignee: Yujin Robot Co Ltd
Current assignee: Yujin Robot Co Ltd
Priority date: 2010-03-29
Filing date: 2011-03-29
Publication date: 2013-02-06
Anticipated expiration: 2031-03-29
Also published as: EP2554086A4; JP5519073B2; WO2011122818A3; EP2554086B1; KR101083395B1; JP2013523250A; KR20110108761A; WO2011122818A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dust collection blade structure for a cleaning robot and a cleaning robot including the same. The present invention provides a dust collection blade structure for a cleaning robot which is installed in front of an inlet aperture of a dust container included in the cleaning robot so as to guide waste to flow into the dust container, the dust collection blade structure including a dust collection blade including a plurality of supporting protrusions formed in a lateral direction on a rear surface thereof to improve restoration force. According to the present disclosure, it is possible to constantly maintain the shape of the dust collection blade during long periods of use on various floor conditions, thereby enhancing cleaning efficiency.

Description

[Technical Field]

The present invention relates to a dust collection blade structure for a cleaning robot and a cleaning robot including the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a shape and an installation structure of a dust collection blade of a cleaning robot, which receives dust flowing or splattered in a rear direction of a brush and makes the duct flow into a dust container, and a cleaning robot including the dust collection blade.

[Background Art]

In general, a robot refers to a mechanical device automatically performing a certain operation or manipulation. The robot may be used for industry or medicine, or may be used for performing a dangerous operation in a polar region, in which it is difficult for a person to act, that is, in place of the person.
With the development of a robot technology, a robot used at home has recently appeared, and a most representative robot among home service robots is a cleaning robot.
Currently, the cleaning robot includes various sensors and a navigation function, so that it is possible to recognize its position, recognize a boundary of a room, and thoroughly clean every nook and corner of the room, and reaches the level that the cleaning robot can start and finish a cleaning for itself without a separate command for the cleaning.
Efforts to improve efficiency of cleaning by a cleaning robot have been gradually increased, and as a result of the efforts, more advanced cleaning robots have been developed.

[Disclosure]

[Technical Problem]

An object of the present invention is to provide a dust collection blade structure which is easily maintained and repaired while further improving waste collection performance, and a cleaning robot including the dust collection blade according to a development trend of the cleaning robot.

[Technical Solution]

In order to accomplish the object, the present invention provides dust collection blade structure for a cleaning robot, which is installed in front of an inlet aperture of a dust container included in a cleaning robot so as to guide waste to flow into the dust container, including a dust collection blade including a plurality of supporting protrusions formed in a lateral direction on a rear surface thereof to improve restoration force.
The dust collection blade structure further includes a hook part including a hook formed at one end thereof so as to be attached/detached to/from one side of the dust container; and a pivot part hinge-coupled to an opposite side of the dust container to pivot.
Here, the plurality of supporting protrusions may be formed to have a smaller diameter as the plurality of supporting protrusions is disposed closer to a lower end of the dust collection blade.
Further, the pivot part includes a hinge insertion aperture formed in the shape of a letter "C" so as to be coupled to and separated from the hinge formed in the dust container.
In the meantime, the present invention provides a cleaning robot including: a dust container configured to collect waste flowing through an inlet aperture formed in a front surface thereof; and a dust collection blade installed in front of the inlet aperture and configured to guide waste to flow into the dust container, the dust collection blade including a plurality of supporting protrusions formed in a lateral direction on a rear surface thereof.
Here, the dust container includes a hook insertion recess formed in the shape of a recess in one side thereof and a hinge protruding in a vertical direction in an opposite side thereof, and the dust collection blade includes a hook part including a hook attached/detached to/from the hook insertion recess and a pivot part coupled to the hinge to pivot.
Further, the plurality of supporting protrusions may be formed to have a smaller diameter as the plurality of supporting protrusions is disposed closer to a lower end of the dust collection blade.
Further, the pivot part includes a hinge insertion aperture formed in the shape of a letter "C" so as to be coupled to and separated from the hinge formed in the dust container.
Further, the dust container includes a separation prevention part formed so as to surround an outer peripheral surface of the hinge insertion aperture in a state where the hinge insertion aperture is coupled to the hinge, and the hinge insertion aperture is separated after pivoting in a predetermined angle so as to avoid interference with the separation prevention part.
Further, the dust container includes a leaking prevention plate protruding from a lower surface thereof in a predetermined height so as to block a lower part of the inlet aperture.

[Advantageous Effects]

According to the present invention, it is possible to constantly maintain the shape of the dust collection blade during long periods of use on various floor conditions, thereby improving cleaning efficiency. Further, even if the dust collection blade is worn out, it is possible to replace only the dust collection blade, so that efforts and costs for maintenance and repair may be reduced.

[Description of Drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning robot including a dust collection blade according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a cleaning robot including a dust collection blade according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a dust collection blade and a dust container according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a side view of a dust collection blade according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a modified state of a dust collection blade.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a dust collection blade is installed in a dust container.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a dust collection blade is separated from a dust container.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a pivot part is coupled to a hinge.

[Best Mode]

Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, in denoting reference numerals to constitutional elements of respective drawings, it should be noted that the same elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals although they are illustrated in different drawings. Further, a detailed explanation of known related functions and constitutions may be omitted so as to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the subject matter of the present invention. Further, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described below, but the technical spirit of the present invention is not limited thereto and may be modified and variously carried out by those skilled in the art.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning robot including a dust collection blade according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a cleaning robot including a dust collection blade according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
A cleaning robot 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a dust container 100 configured to collect waste and a dust collection blade 200 fastened to the dust container 100.
The dust container 100 is provided at a rear of the cleaning robot 1. More particularly, the dust container 100 is provided at a rear end of a brush 2 as illustrated in FIG. 2, so as to serve to collect waste flowing into dust container 100 by the brush 2.
A dust container handle 104 configured to easily grip the dust container 100 is provided at an upper portion of the dust container 100. The dust container handle 104 is preferably hinge-coupled to the upper part of the dust container 100 so that the dust container handle 104 can be folded when the dust container 100 is installed to the cleaning robot 1.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the dust collection blade and the dust container according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
An inlet aperture 106 opened so that waste flows into the dust container 100 is provided at a front-lower part of the dust container 100.
The dust container 100 is provided with a hook insertion recess 110, which is formed to have a concave recess toward an inside direction thereof, in one side thereof. Further, the dust container 100 is provided with a hinge 120 protruding in a vertical direction thereof in an opposite side thereof.
The hook insertion recess 110 and the hinge 120 are provided so as to attach/detach the dust collection blade 200 to/from the dust container 100, and will be described below in detail together with the dust collection blade 200.
The dust container 100 includes a leaking prevention plate 124 protruding from a lower surface thereof in a predetermined height so as to block a lower part of the inlet aperture 106. The leaking prevention plate 124 serves to prevent waste, such as dust, collected closely to the inlet aperture 106 from being arbitrarily spilled when the dust collection blade 200 is separated from the dust container 100.
Here, the height of the leaking prevention plate 124 is formed to be smaller than that of the dust collection blade 200 so that waste may smoothly flow into the dust container 100.
The dust collection blade 200 is installed in front of the inlet aperture 106. The dust collection blade 200 serves to guide waste carried in the rear direction by rotation of the brush 2 to flow into the dust container 100.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the dust collection blade according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a modified state of the dust collection blade.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, the dust collection blade 200 includes a plurality of supporting protrusions 202 elongated in a lengthwise direction, that is, a lateral direction, of the dust collection blade 200 on a rear surface thereof.
When a lower end part of the dust collection blade 200 is in contact with a protruding floor or an obstacle on the floor during the cleaning by the cleaning robot 1, the lower end part of the dust collection blade 200 needs to be bent so as not to disturb driving of the cleaning robot 1 to pass the obstacle, and the like.
For example, in a case where the cleaning robot 1 crosses a door sill or moves on a carpet, the dust collection blade 200 needs to be formed so as to pass an obstacle while being bent in the opposite direction of a driving direction even though the dust collection blade 200 is in contact with the obstacle, such as the door sill protruding from a floor or a carpet, as illustrated in FIG. 5.
However, when the dust collection blade 200 is in contact with the floor to be bent, a shape of the dust collection blade 200 may be restored at a beginning time by elasticity of the dust collection blade 200 itself, but when the bending is repeated, the dust collection blade 200 loses elasticity and is permanently deformed.
Accordingly, a distance between the brush 2 and the end part of the dust collection blade 200 increases, so that a problem occurs in that it is difficult to carry waste to the rear by the brush 2 flow into the dust container 100.
The supporting protrusion 202 serves to improve restoration force of the dust collection blade 200 and prevent permanent deformation thereof to continue high cleaning efficiency for a long time.
The plurality of supporting protrusions 202 is preferably formed to have a smaller diameter as the plurality of supporting protrusions 202 is disposed closer to the lower end of the dust collection blade 200 so that the dust collection blade 200 may be bent more smoothly.
As supporting protrusion 202 is formed in the lengthwise direction of the dust collection blade 200, the dust collection blade 200 is sufficiently bendable so as to easily pass the door sill or the carpet.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the dust collection blade is installed in the dust container, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the dust collection blade is separated from the dust container.
The dust collection blade 200 includes a hook part 210 attached/detached to/from the hook insertion recess 110 and a pivot part 220 coupled to the hinge 120 to pivot.
The hook part 210 is positioned in one side of the dust collection blade 200 so as to be matched to the hook insertion recess 110. The hook part 210 includes a hook 212 formed to be latched to the hook insertion recess 110 at one end thereof.
The hook 212 formed as described above is provided to be separated from the hook insertion recess 110 by applying predetermined power in a state where the hook 212 is elastically supported so as to be latched to the hook insertion recess 110.
The pivot part 220 is provided in the opposite side of the dust collection blade 200 corresponding to the position of the hinge 120. The pivot part 220 is pivoted in a state of being coupled to the hinge 120 to serve to open/close the inlet aperture 106.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the pivot part is coupled to the hinge.
The pivot part 220 includes a hinge insertion aperture 222 formed so that an inner peripheral surface thereof is in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the hinge 120. The hinge insertion aperture 222 is preferably formed in the shape of a semicircle or a letter "C" so as to be coupled to and separated from the hinge 120.
By forming the hinge insertion aperture 222 as described above, the dust collection blade 200 may be completely separated from the dust container 100 as illustrated in FIG. 3, and thus the dust collection blade 200 may be easily replaced when the dust collection blade 200 is damaged or a life (use) thereof is ended. Further, in a case where the dust collection blade 200 is completely separated, the inside of the dust container 100 may be easily cleaned.
In the meantime, the dust container 100 includes a separation prevention part 122 formed so as to surround an outer peripheral surface of the hinge insertion aperture 222 in a state where the hinge insertion aperture 222 is coupled to the hinge 120.
The separation prevention part 122 serves to allow the hinge insertion aperture 222 coupled to the hinge 120 to be separated only when the hinge insertion aperture 222 pivots in a predetermined angle or larger so as to avoid interference with the separation prevention part 122.
According to the configuration, the hinge insertion aperture 222 may be maintained in a state where the hinge insertion aperture 222 is coupled to the hinge 120 even in a state where the hook part 210 is separated from the hook insertion recess 110, so that the dust collection blade 200 is prevented from being arbitrarily separated from the dust container 100.
Although an exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, changes and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, the exemplary embodiments disclosed in the present invention and the accompanying drawings are not intended to limit but illustrate the technical spirit of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited by the exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings. The protection scope of the present invention shall be construed on the basis of the accompanying claims and it shall be construed that all of the technical ideas included within the scope equivalent to the claims belong to the present invention.

[Industrial Applicability]

The present invention provides a dust collection blade structure which is installed in front of an inlet aperture of a dust container included in a cleaning robot so as to guide waste to flow into the dust container, the dust collection blade structure including a dust collection blade which has a plurality of supporting protrusions formed in the lateral direction on the rear surface thereof so as to enhance the restoration force, so that it is possible to constantly maintain the shape of the dust collection blade for a long time on various floor conditions, thereby improving cleaning efficiency.

Claims

A dust collection blade structure for a cleaning robot, which is installed in front of an inlet aperture of a dust container included in the cleaning robot so as to guide waste to flow into the dust container, the dust collection blade structure for the cleaning robot comprising:
a dust collection blade including a plurality of supporting protrusions formed in a lateral direction on a rear surface thereof to improve restoration force.
The dust collection blade structure for the cleaning robot of claim 1, further comprising:
a hook part including a hook formed at one end thereof so as to be attached/detached to/from one side of the dust container; and

a pivot part hinge-coupled to an opposite side of the dust container to pivot.
The dust collection blade structure for the cleaning robot of claim 1, wherein the plurality of supporting protrusions is formed to have a smaller diameter as the plurality of supporting protrusions is disposed closer to a lower end of the dust collection blade.
The dust collection blade structure for the cleaning robot of claim 2, wherein the pivot part comprises a hinge insertion aperture formed in the shape of a letter "C" so as to be coupled to and separated from a hinge formed in the dust container.
A cleaning robot, comprising:
a dust container configured to collect waste flowing through an inlet aperture formed in a front surface thereof; and

a dust collection blade installed in front of the inlet aperture and configured to guide waste to flow into the dust container, the dust collection blade comprising a plurality of supporting protrusions formed in a lateral direction on a rear surface thereof.
The cleaning robot of claim 5, wherein the dust container comprises a hook insertion recess formed in the shape of a recess in one side thereof and a hinge protruding in a vertical direction in an opposite side thereof, and
the dust collection blade comprises a hook part including a hook attached/detached to/from the hook insertion recess and a pivot part coupled to the hinge to pivot.
The cleaning robot of claim 5, wherein the plurality of supporting protrusions is formed to have a smaller diameter as the plurality of supporting protrusions is disposed closer to a lower end of the dust collection blade.
The cleaning robot of claim 6, wherein the pivot part comprises a hinge insertion aperture formed in the shape of a letter "C" so as to be coupled to and separated from the hinge formed in the dust container.
The cleaning robot of claim 8, wherein the dust container comprises a separation prevention part formed so as to surround an outer peripheral surface of the hinge insertion aperture in a state where the hinge insertion aperture is coupled to the hinge, and
the hinge insertion aperture is separated after pivoting in a predetermined angle so as to avoid interference with the separation prevention part.
The cleaning robot of claim 5, wherein the dust container comprises a leaking prevention plate protruding from a lower surface thereof in a predetermined height so as to block a lower part of the inlet aperture.