Robot vacuum cleaner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11219344-B2
Application number	US-201716343045-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 18, 2017
Priority date	Oct 19, 2016
Publication date	Jan 11, 2022
Grant date	Jan 11, 2022

Abstract

A robot vacuum cleaner includes a main body that moves along a surface, draws in dust from the surface, filters the dust, and discharges air. A water tank is detachably mounted on a lower surface of the main body, and a damp cloth is mounted to the water tank. The water tank stores water in a filling space and supplies water from the filling space through a water supply unit mounted on a lower surface of the water tank to the damp cloth. An air inlet is formed on an upper surface of the water tank. An air inflow member selectively opens the air inlet to allow outside air to flow into the filling space when the main body moves, and closes the air hole when the main body stops moving.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A robot vacuum cleaner comprising:
a main body running along a surface to be cleaned, the main body being configured to suction and filter dusts on the surface to be cleaned and then discharge air;
a water tank unit which is detachably mounted on a bottom surface of the main body and on which a damp cloth is mounted;
a filling space formed in the water tank unit, the filling space being configured to store water to be supplied to the damp cloth;
a water supply unit mounted on a bottom surface of the water tank unit, the water supply unit being configured to supply the water within the filling space to the damp cloth;
an air inlet which is formed in a top surface of the water tank unit and in which an air hole through which external air is introduced into the filling space is formed; and
an air inflow control member configured to open the air hole when the main body runs and cover the air hole when the main body is stopped.

2. The robot vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein the air inlet comprises a recess part that is recessed from a top surface of the water tank unit into the filling space, and
the air hole is formed in a lower end of the recess part.

3. The robot vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 , wherein the recess part extends up to a position adjacent to a bottom surface of the filling space.

4. The robot vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 , wherein the air inlet further comprises a recess part stopper configured to cover an opened top surface of the recess part, and
an inflow hole through which the external air is introduced into the recess part is formed in the recess part stopper.

5. The robot vacuum cleaner according to claim 4 , wherein the air inflow control member comprises:
an electromagnet provided in the main body to generate magnetic force by supplying power when the main body runs; and
a hole switching member configured to open and close the air hole by vertical movement of the recess part, the hole switching member moving upward when the magnetic force of the electromagnet is generated to open the air hole.

6. The robot vacuum cleaner according to claim 5 , wherein a detection device configured to detect mounting of the water tank unit is provided in the main body, and
when the main body operates in the state in which the water tank unit is mounted on the main body, the power is supplied to the electromagnet.

7. The robot vacuum cleaner according to claim 5 , wherein the hole switching member has a height less than a depth of the recess part.

8. The robot vacuum cleaner according to claim 5 , wherein the recess part has a diameter that gradually decreases downward from an upper side, and
the hole switching member has a spherical shape and is formed with a diameter corresponding to a lower diameter of the recess part.

9. The robot vacuum cleaner according to claim 5 , wherein the hole switching member has a plate shape,
a plurality of ribs configured to guide the vertical movement of the hole switching member protrude from an inner surface of the recess part, and
the plurality of ribs are spaced apart from each other along a circumference of the inner surface of the recess part to extend in a vertical direction.

10. The robot vacuum cleaner according to claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the inflow hole is disposed further outward than the hole switching member.

11. The robot vacuum cleaner according to claim 9 , wherein the inflow hole is formed at a position corresponding to a space between the ribs adjacent to each other.

12. The robot vacuum cleaner according to claim 9 , wherein a sealing member is disposed on a bottom surface of the hole switching member, and
the sealing member has a shape corresponding to a bottom surface of the recess part.

13. The robot vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 , wherein the air inflow control member comprises a hole switching member provided in the recess part, having a diameter less than that of the recess part, and having a spherical shape,
wherein the air inflow control member is disposed on a top surface of the air hole to cover the air hole in a state in which the main body is stopped and moves to a side of the air hole to open the air hole by inertia caused by acceleration force of the main body when the main body runs.

14. The robot vacuum cleaner according to claim 13 , wherein the bottom surface of the recess part is inclined downward toward a center thereof, and
the air hole is formed in the center of the bottom surface of the recess part.

15. The robot vacuum cleaner according to claim 2 , wherein the air inflow control member comprises a solenoid valve provided in the main body,
wherein the solenoid valve comprises:
a valve body provided in the main body, the valve body being configured to generate magnetic fields by supplying power in a state in which the main body is stopped; and
a shaft withdrawn from the valve body by the magnetic fields and passing through a bottom surface of the main body when being withdrawn so as to be inserted into the recess part.

16. The robot vacuum cleaner according to claim 15 , wherein a gasket is disposed on an end portion of the shaft, and
the gasket contacts a bottom surface of the recess part to cover the air hole in a state in which the shaft is inserted into the recess part.

17. The robot vacuum cleaner according to claim 15 , wherein the shaft is disposed vertically above the recess part and has a movable shaft that is perpendicular to the recess part.

18. The robot vacuum cleaner according to claim 15 , wherein a detection device configured to detect mounting of the water tank unit is provided in the main body, and
when the main body is stopped in the state in which the water tank unit is mounted on the main body, power is supplied to the solenoid valve.

19. The robot vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein a water injection hole configured to supply water into the filling space is formed in an end portion of one side on a top surface of the water tank unit, and
the air inlet is disposed at a position adjacent to the water injection hole.

20. The robot vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the water supply unit is exposed to the inside of the filling space and a bottom surface of the water tank unit,
the water supply unit absorbs water within the filling space to transfer the water to the damp cloth, and
an amount of water to be supplied is controlled by adjusting an air pressure of the filling space through the opening and closing of the air hole.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Ko Moohyun

Classifications

• A47L9/0686 Primary

  Nozzles with cleaning cloths, e.g. using disposal fabrics for covering the nozzle · CPC title

• A47L7/02

  with driven tools for special purposes (with floor-polishing tools A47L11/20) · CPC title

• A47L2201/00

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

• A47L7/0004

  Suction cleaners adapted to take up liquids, e.g. wet or dry vacuum cleaners (floor-scrubbing machines taking-up dirty liquid by suction A47L11/30) · CPC title

• A47L11/28

  Floor-scrubbing machines, motor-driven (A47L11/29 takes precedence) · CPC title