Robot cleaning system, base station, and control method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12329337-B2
Application number	US-201917417086-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2019
Priority date	Dec 21, 2018
Publication date	Jun 17, 2025
Grant date	Jun 17, 2025

Abstract

A robot cleaning system, including: a cleaning robot connectable to a mopping module of the cleaning robot, and a base station provided for the cleaning robot to dock, the cleaning robot includes: a main body; a mobile module; and a connection assembly, configured to detachably dispose the mopping module on the body of the robot; the base station includes: a storage module, configured to store at least one mopping module; an operating position, for the cleaning robot to dock to replace the mopping module; and a transfer module, configured to transfer the mopping module between the storage module and the operating position; and the robot cleaning system further includes a control unit. Beneficial effects of the present disclosure are: the cleaning robot is more intelligent, and the corresponding base station is compact in structure and small in occupied area.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A base station comprising:
an operating position for a cleaning robot to dock to replace a first mopping module of the cleaning robot or mount a second mopping module of the cleaning robot;
a storage module configured to store at least one of the first mopping module or the second mopping module, wherein the storage module is located above the operating position at least when the first mopping module is separated from the cleaning robot, when the second mopping module is mounted to the cleaning robot, or when the first mopping module is separate from the cleaning robot and the second mopping module is mounted to the cleaning robot; and
a transfer module configured to transfer at least one of the first mopping module or the second mopping module between the storage module and the operating position.

2. The base station according to claim 1 , wherein:
the base station further comprises a base including a base plate;
the operating position is formed on the base plate, and
there is an accommodation cavity enclosed by the base and the storage module to accommodate the cleaning robot.

3. The base station according to claim 2 , wherein:
the storage module comprises a first storage unit and a second storage unit,
the first storage unit is configured to store the first mopping module separated from the cleaning robot, and
the second storage unit is configured to store the second mopping module provided to the cleaning robot for mounting.

4. The base station according to claim 3 , wherein:
the operating position comprises a first operating position at which the cleaning robot is separated from the first mopping module, and a second operating position at which the cleaning robot mounts the second mopping module,
the first storage unit is located above the first operating position, and
the second storage unit is located above the second operating position.

5. The base station according to claim 4 , wherein the transfer module is configured to cause the first mopping module or the second mopping module to at least partially move in a vertical direction.

6. The base station according to claim 4 , wherein:
the transfer module comprises a driving member and a loading member; and
the loading member is connected to the first mopping module or the second mopping module and causes the first mopping module or the second mopping module to move under an action of the driving member.

7. The base station according to claim 6 , wherein the loading member comprises:
a mopping module collection unit configured to move the first mopping module at the first operating position separated from the cleaning robot to the first storage unit; and
a mopping module providing unit configured to obtain the second mopping module from the second storage unit and move the second mopping module to the second operating position, for the cleaning robot to mount.

8. The base station according to claim 7 , wherein the loading member comprises a supporting assembly that comprises:
a first supporting assembly configured to support the first mopping module in the first storage unit to prevent the first mopping module from falling; and
a second supporting assembly configured to support the second mopping module in the second storage unit to prevent the second mopping module from falling.

9. The base station according to claim 8 , wherein the mopping module collection unit comprises a first mopping module lifting frame configured to be driven by the driving member to ascend, to carry and drive the first mopping module to move from the first operating position to the first storage unit.

10. The base station according to claim 8 , wherein the mopping module providing unit is operable to be in a first state of fixing the second mopping module and a second state of releasing the second mopping module, and transfers the second mopping module in the second storage unit to the second operating position when the second mopping module is released.

11. The base station according to claim 1 , wherein the operating position is provided with a stop structure, configured to stop the first mopping module separated from the cleaning robot and/or the second mopping module provided for the cleaning robot to mount.

12. The base station according to claim 1 , wherein the storage module is detachably disposed relative to the base station.

13. The base station according to claim 3 , wherein the first mopping module and the second mopping module are a same type.

14. The base station according to claim 7 , wherein the mopping module providing unit comprises a second mopping module lifting frame configured to be driven by the driving member to descend, to carry the second mopping module to move from the second storage unit to the second operating position.

15. The base station according to claim 1 , wherein at least part of a bottom of the storage module is located above a top of the operating position.

16. The base station according to claim 1 , wherein at least part of the storage module is located on top of the operating position.

Assignees

• Positec Power Tools Suzhou Co Ltd

Inventors

• Xie Mingjian
• Zhang Shisong
• Wu Hongbing
• Xu Jianqiang
• Zhong Hongfeng
• Li Ji
• Zhen Yue
• Wang Biao
• Ran Yuanzhong

Classifications

• A47L2201/04

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

• A47L2201/028

  Refurbishing floor engaging tools, e.g. cleaning of beating brushes · CPC title

• A47L11/4036

  Parts or details of the surface treating tools · CPC title

• A47L11/4011

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

• A47L11/28 Primary

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