Dust collection box and robot vacuum cleaner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10485394-B2
Application number	US-201816128542-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 12, 2018
Priority date	Mar 30, 2018
Publication date	Nov 26, 2019
Grant date	Nov 26, 2019

Abstract

A dust collection box and a robot vacuum cleaner are disclosed. The dust collection box includes a box body, a first lid detachably arranged to the box body, a filter, and a filter missing-alert device arranged to the first lid. The filter missing-alert device includes a movable member. When the filter is not mounted into the box body and the first lid is arranged to be closed on to the box body, the movable member interferes with the box body, such that the box body cannot be closed with the first lid. When the filter is mounted into the box body and the first lid is arranged to the box body, the filter missing-alert device interferes with the filter to eliminate the interference between the movable member and the box body, such that the box body can be closed with the first lid.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dust collection box, comprising: a box body, a first lid detachably arranged to the box body, a filter, and a filter missing-alert device arranged to the first lid, the filter missing-alert device comprising a movable member;
wherein a bottom of the box body defines a dust extraction port, and the dust collection box comprises a second lid, the second lid being rotatably connected to the box body and configured for opening or closing the dust extraction port;
wherein the movable member is configured such that:
when the filter is not mounted into the box body and the first lid is arranged to be closed onto the box body, the movable member interferes with the box body to prevent the box body from being closed with the first lid; and
when the filter is mounted into the box body and the first lid is arranged to be closed onto the box body, the interference between the movable member and the box body is eliminated due to the filter missing-alert device interfering with the filter, and box body thereby is closed with the first lid;
wherein the filter missing-alert device comprises a rotating part rotatably connected with the first lid, and the rotating part comprises the movable member and a driving member; and, wherein
when the filter is not mounted into the box body and the first lid is arranged to be closed onto the box body, a tail end of the driving member is suspended and stretches into the box body;
when the filter is mounted into the box body and the first lid is arranged to be closed onto the box body, the tail end of the driving member interferences with the filter to cause the driving member to drive the rotating part to rotate to eliminate the interference between the movable member and the box body.

2. The dust collection box according to claim 1 , wherein the rotating part comprises a connecting part, the driving member and the movable member are connected at two sides of the connecting part, and the connecting part is rotatably connected with the first lid.

3. The dust collection box according to claim 2 , wherein a bottom surface of the first lid is provided with a mounting structure, the mounting structure is provided with a mounting hole, the connecting part comprises a first rotating shaft, and the first rotating shaft is rotatably arranged in the mounting hole.

4. The dust collection box according to claim 1 , wherein the filter missing-alert device comprises a first elastic member, the first elastic member abuts the first lid and the rotating part, and the first elastic member is configured to drive the movable member to rotate when the driving member interferes with the filter to eliminate the interference between the movable member and the box body.

5. The dust collection box according to claim 1 , wherein the dust collection box comprises a filter holder arranged within the box body and a separation structure configured to block dust; and, wherein
the box body defines an air inlet and an air outlet;
a lateral surface of the filter holder defines an opening;
the separation structure is arranged within the box body and located at an air inlet side of the opening; and
when the filter is arranged in the box body, the filter is arranged on the filter holder and located at an air outlet side of the opening.

6. The dust collection box according to claim 5 , wherein
the filter holder comprises a bottom plate and a lateral plate;
the lateral plate is connected to the bottom plate and defines an accommodating space along with the bottom plate;
the filter is at least partially located in the accommodating space;
the bottom plate comprises an inclined surface opposite to the air inlet; and
the inclined surface forms the separation structure; and the air inlet side of the opening faces away from the air inlet.

7. The dust collection box according to claim 1 , wherein the second lid comprises a first lateral portion and a second lateral portion opposite to each other, wherein the first lateral portion is rotatably connected with the box body, and when the second lid closes the dust extraction port, the second lateral portion is snap-fitted with the box body through a snap structure.

8. The dust collection box according to claim 7 , wherein
the dust collection box comprises a button, wherein the button comprises a second rotating shaft, and the button is rotatably arranged to the box body through the second rotating shaft;
the snap structure comprises a hook formed at an end of the button and a snapping part formed at the second lateral portion; and
the button is swingable, with respect to the box body, between a first position where the hook is snap-fitted with the snapping part to make the second lid close the dust extraction port and a second position where the hook is disengaged from the snapping part to make the second lid open the dust extraction port.

9. A robot vacuum cleaner, comprising:
a robot body; and
a dust collection box, arranged to the robot body, and comprising a box body, a first lid detachably arranged to the box body, a filter, and a filter missing-alert device arranged to the first lid, the filter missing-alert device comprising a movable member;
wherein a bottom of the box body defines a dust extraction port, and the dust collection box comprises a second lid, the second lid being rotatably connected to the box body and configured for opening or closing the dust extraction port;
wherein the movable member is configured such that:
when the filter is not mounted into the box body and the first lid is arranged to be closed onto the box body, the movable member interferes with the box body to prevent the box body from being closed with the first lid; and
when the filter is mounted into the box body and the first lid is arranged to be closed onto the box body, the interference between the movable member and the box body is eliminated due to the filter missing-alert device interfering with the filter, and box body thereby is closed with the first lid;
wherein the filter missing-alert device comprises a rotating part rotatably connected with the first lid, and the rotating part comprises the movable member and a driving member; and, wherein
when the filter is not mounted into the box body and the first lid is arranged to be closed onto the box body, a tail end of the driving member is suspended and stretches into the box body;
when the filter is mounted into the box body and the first lid is arranged to be closed onto the box body, the tail end of the driving member interferences with the filter to cause the driving member to drive the rotating part to rotate to eliminate the interference between the movable member and the box body.

10. The robot vacuum cleaner according to claim 9 , wherein the rotating part comprises a connecting part, the driving member and the movable member are connected at two sides of the connecting part, and the connecting part is rotatably connected with the first lid.

11. The robot vacuum cleaner according to claim 10 , wherein a bottom surface of the first lid is provided with a mounting structure, the mounting structure is provided with a mounting hole, the connecting part comprises a first rotating shaft, and the first rotating shaft is rotatably arranged in the mounting hole.

12. The robot vacuum cleaner according to claim 9 , wherein the filter missing-alert device comprises a first elastic member, the first elastic member abuts the first lid and the rotating part, and the first elastic member is configured to drive the movable member to rotate when the driving member interferes with the filter to eliminate the interference between the movable member and the box body.

Assignees

• Jiangsu Midea Cleaning Appliances Co Ltd
• Midea Group Co Ltd

Inventors

• Hu Wei
• Wei Xianmin
• Jin Manzhi

Classifications

• A47L9/1409

  Rigid filtering receptacles (dust collecting receptacles for cyclones A47L9/1683) · CPC title

• A47L9/149

  Emptying means; Reusable bags · CPC title

• A47L2201/00

  Robotic cleaning machines, i.e. with automatic control of the travelling movement or the cleaning operation · CPC title

• A47L9/122 Primary

  flat · CPC title

• A47L9/1445

  with closure means · CPC title