Automatic cleaning apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11849909-B2
Application number	US-202217681118-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 25, 2022
Priority date	Jul 7, 2021
Publication date	Dec 26, 2023
Grant date	Dec 26, 2023

Abstract

An automatic cleaning apparatus includes: a chassis; a front housing arranged at a front end of the chassis; and a sensing device capable sensing movement of the front housing and sending a signal to a control mainboard of the automatic cleaning apparatus when the front housing touches an obstacle and moves relative to the chassis. The sensing device includes a dust blocking member and a rocker arm that triggers the sensing device to send the signal. The rocker arm has a first end rotatably arranged inside the sensing device, and a second end passing through the dust blocking member and extending out of the sensing device. A front housing reset device is arranged on the chassis and capable of biasing the front housing toward an initial position of the front housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic cleaning apparatus, comprising:
a chassis;
a front housing arranged at a front end of the chassis; and
a sensing device that senses movement of the front housing and sends a signal to a control mainboard of the automatic cleaning apparatus when the front housing touches an obstacle and moves relative to the chassis,
wherein:
the sensing device comprises a dust blocking member and a rocker arm, the rocker arm triggers the sensing device to send the signal;
a first end of the rocker arm is rotatably arranged inside the sensing device, and a second end of the rocker arm passes through the dust blocking member and extends out of the sensing device; and
a front housing reset device is arranged on the chassis and capable of biasing the front housing toward an initial position of the front housing,
wherein the dust blocking member further comprises an elastic part coupled to the rocker arm and capable of biasing the rocker arm toward an initial position of the rocker arm,
the elastic part comprises a plurality of elastic rings with gradually increasing diameters, and the plurality of elastic rings are sequentially fitted over one another along a radial direction of the elastic rings; and
the elastic rings are flush with each other along an axial direction of the elastic rings.

2. The automatic cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic part is made of a plastic material.

3. The automatic cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the front housing reset device includes a fixed seat and two elastic members; the fixed seat is fixed inside the chassis by bolts; a first end of each elastic member is snapped onto the fixed seat, and a second end of the elastic member abuts against an inner side of the front housing.

4. The automatic cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
along the radial direction of the elastic rings, there is a gap between adjacent elastic rings, and the adjacent elastic rings are coupled by an elastically stretchable portion;
an inner wall of an innermost elastic ring is sealingly coupled to an outer side of the rocker arm.

5. The automatic cleaning apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the plurality of elastic rings and the elastically stretchable portions are an integrally-formed pleated structure, and an outermost elastic ring is coupled to the dust blocking member by the elastically stretchable portion.

6. The automatic cleaning apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the inner wall of the innermost elastic ring and the outer side of the rocker arm are coupled by an interference fit.

7. The automatic cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the sensing device further comprises a casing arranged inside the chassis, and a sensor arranged inside the casing and communicating with the control mainboard;
the first end, away from the front housing, of the rocker arm connects or disconnects the sensor, and the second end, close to the front housing, of the rocker arm passes through the dust blocking member and abuts against an inner side of the front housing.

8. The automatic cleaning apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein:
the casing is detachably coupled to the chassis;
the casing comprises a top cover and a lower sub-casing; and
the lower sub-casing has an open top end, and the top cover is snap-fitted to the top end of the lower sub-casing.

9. The automatic cleaning apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein a sensor holding groove is arranged in the lower sub-casing, and an end of the sensor is detachably coupled in the sensor holding groove.

10. The automatic cleaning apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein:
the rocker arm comprises a shielding part, a rotating part and a bowed part;
the shielding part is coupled to the rotating part by a first connecting part, and the bowed part is coupled to the rotating part by a second connecting part;
the shielding part is movable in the sensor, the rotating part is fitted over a support post inside the casing, and the bowed part abuts against the inner side of the front housing;
a transverse section of the bowed part is L-shaped, and a longitudinal section of the bowed part at an end abutting against the front housing is cross-shaped.

11. The automatic cleaning apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein a reinforcement rib is arranged at a bend of the bowed part.

12. The automatic cleaning apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein:
the sensing device further comprises a reset member and a positioning post;
the positioning post is arranged in the casing; and
a first end of the reset member is coupled to the positioning post and a second end of the reset member is coupled to the rocker arm.

13. The automatic cleaning apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein an inclined surface is designed at a junction between the bowed part and the second connecting part.

14. The automatic cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the sensing device further comprises an obstacle sensor having a transmitting end and a receiving end; and
the rocker arm is movable between a first position where the rocker arm is located between the transmitting end and the receiving end and the obstacle sensor is in a disconnected state and a second position where the rocker arm is rotated away from between the transmitting end and the receiving end and the obstacle sensor is in a connected state.

15. The automatic cleaning apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the dust blocking member further comprises an elastic part coupled to the rocker arm and capable of biasing the rocker arm toward the first position of the rocker arm.

16. The automatic cleaning apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein
the rocker arm comprises a shielding part, a rotating part and a bowed part; and
the shielding part is coupled to the rotating part by a first connecting part, and the bowed part is coupled to the rotating part by a second connecting part.

17. The automatic cleaning apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the second connecting part is a connecting shaft.

18. The automatic cleaning apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the shielding part is movable between the transmitting end and the receiving end and is fitted over a support post inside the casing, and the rotating part is rotatable around the support post to drive the bowed part and the shielding part to rotate synchronously.

Assignees

• Beijing Shunzao Tech Co Ltd
• Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co Ltd

Inventors

• Zuo Yongcheng
• Tang Cheng
• Duan Fei
• Zhong Liang
• Gao Shan
• Zhang Tiantian

Classifications

• A47L9/2836 Primary

  characterised by the parts which are controlled · CPC title

• A47L11/4011

  Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor · CPC title

• A47L2201/04

  Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection · CPC title

• A47L11/24 Primary

  Floor-sweeping machines, motor-driven · CPC title

• A47L9/2805 Primary

  Parameters or conditions being sensed · CPC title