Cleaner station

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12419478-B2
Application number	US-202117458855-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 27, 2021
Priority date	Aug 27, 2020
Publication date	Sep 23, 2025
Grant date	Sep 23, 2025

Abstract

A cleaner station includes: a housing configured to receive a cleaner, a dust collecting motor that is accommodated in the housing and that is configured to generate a suction force for suctioning a foreign substance out of a dust bin of the cleaner, a dust storage module configured to, based on the dust collecting motor being operated, receive the foreign substance from the dust bin, and a sterilization module configured to sterilize the foreign substance received in the dust storage module. The dust storage module that (i) comprises a transmission panel configured to transmit sterilization light emitted by the sterilization module and (ii) is detachably coupled to the housing together with the transmission panel.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A cleaner station comprising:
a housing configured to receive a cleaner;
a dust collecting motor that is accommodated in the housing and that is configured to generate a suction force for suctioning a foreign substance out of a dust bin of the cleaner;
a dust storage module configured to, based on the dust collecting motor being operated, receive the foreign substance from the dust bin; and
a sterilization module configured to sterilize the foreign substance received in the dust storage module,
wherein the dust storage module comprises:
a transmission panel configured to transmit sterilization light emitted by the sterilization module,
a dust bag that is configured to, based on the dust collecting motor generating the suction force to accommodate the foreign substance, increase volume, and
a lower plate that is coupled to the transmission panel and that is coupled to an inner upper surface of the dust bag,

wherein the dust storage module is detachably coupled to the housing together with the transmission panel, and
wherein the transmission panel is configured to be detachably coupled to the lower plate.

2. The cleaner station of claim 1 , wherein the sterilization module comprises:
a light source configured to emit the sterilization light, and
a protection panel that is disposed below the light source and that protects the light source.

3. The cleaner station of claim 2 , wherein the light source is an ultraviolet C (UV-C) light-emitting diode (LED).

4. The cleaner station of claim 2 , wherein a wavelength of the sterilization light emitted by the light source is 405 nm.

5. The cleaner station of claim 1 , further comprising:
a dust storage housing that is accommodated in the housing and that defines an internal space to which the dust storage module is coupled,
wherein the dust storage housing defines an accommodation groove at a part of an outer upper surface, the part of the outer upper surface being angled toward the internal space and accommodating the sterilization module, and
wherein a lower end of the accommodation groove passes through the internal space.

6. The cleaner station of claim 5 , wherein the dust storage module further comprises:
an upper plate that is coupled to an outer upper surface of the dust bag and that is configured to be inserted into the dust storage housing in a sliding manner.

7. The cleaner station of claim 6 , wherein the sterilization module and the transmission panel face each other based on the upper plate being inserted into and coupled to the dust storage housing.

8. A cleaner station comprising:
a housing configured to receive a cleaner;
a dust collecting motor that is accommodated in the housing and that is configured to generate a suction force for suctioning a foreign substance out of a dust bin of the cleaner;
a dust storage module configured to, based on the dust collecting motor being operated, receive the foreign substance from the dust bin;
a dust storage housing that is accommodated in the housing and that defines an internal space to which the dust storage module is coupled; and
a sterilization module configured to sterilize the foreign substance received in the dust storage module,
wherein the dust storage module comprises:
a dust bag that is configured to, based on the dust collecting motor generating the suction force to accommodate the foreign substance, increase volume, and
a lower plate coupled to an inner upper surface of the dust bag,

wherein the sterilization module is disposed above the dust storage housing and comprises a light source configured to emit sterilization light,
wherein a connection line connecting a center of an upper surface of the dust bag and a center of a lower surface of the dust bag passes through a center of the light source,
wherein the dust storage module further comprises:
a transmission panel configured to transmit the sterilization light emitted from the sterilization module and configured to be detachably coupled to the lower plate, and

wherein the lower plate is coupled to the transmission panel.

9. The cleaner station of claim 8 , wherein the sterilization module further comprises a protection panel that is disposed below the light source and that protects the light source.

10. The cleaner station of claim 9 , wherein the dust storage module further comprises:
an upper plate that is coupled to an outer upper surface of the dust bag and that is configured to be inserted into the dust storage housing in a sliding manner.

11. The cleaner station of claim 10 , wherein an area of the transmission panel is larger than an area of the protection panel.

12. The cleaner station of claim 10 , wherein the dust storage housing defines an accommodation groove at a part of an outer upper surface, the part of the outer upper surface being angled toward the internal space and accommodating the sterilization module, and
wherein a lower end of the accommodation groove passes through the internal space.

13. The cleaner station of claim 12 , wherein the sterilization module and the transmission panel face each other based on the upper plate being inserted into and coupled to the dust storage housing.

14. The cleaner station of claim 8 , wherein the light source is an ultraviolet C (UV-C) light-emitting diode (LED).

15. The cleaner station of claim 8 , wherein a wavelength of the sterilization light emitted by the light source is 405 nm.

16. A cleaner station comprising:
a housing configured to receive a cleaner;
a dust collecting motor that is accommodated in the housing and that is configured to generate a suction force for suctioning a foreign substance out of a dust bin of the cleaner;
a dust storage module configured to, based on the dust collecting motor being operated, receive the foreign substance from the dust bin; and
a sterilization module that is configured to sterilize the foreign substance received in the dust storage module,
wherein the dust storage module comprises:
a transmission panel configured to transmit sterilization light emitted by the sterilization module,
a dust bag that is configured to, based on the dust collecting motor generating the suction force to accommodate the foreign substance, increase volume, and
a lower plate that is coupled to the transmission panel and an inner upper surface of the dust bag,

wherein the dust storage module is detachably coupled to the housing together with the transmission panel,
wherein the sterilization module comprises a light source configured to emit the sterilization light and a protection panel that is disposed below the light source and that protects the light source, and
wherein the transmission panel is configured to be detachably coupled to the lower plate.

17. The cleaner station of claim 16 , wherein the light source is an ultraviolet C (UV-C) light-emitting diode (LED).

18. The cleaner station of claim 16 , wherein a wavelength of the sterilization light emitted by the light source is 405 nm.

19. The cleaner station of claim 16 , further comprising:
a dust storage housing that is accommodated in the housing and that defines an internal space in which the dust storage module is coupled,
wherein the dust storage housing defines an accommodation groove at a part of an outer upper surface, the part of the outer upper surface being angled toward the internal space and accommodating the sterilization module, and
wherein a lower end of the accommodation groove passes through the internal space.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Jeong Jeonghoon
• Ryu Jungwan
• Lee Dongjae
• Yang Ingyu

Classifications

• A47L9/149 Primary

  Emptying means; Reusable bags · CPC title

• A61L2202/11

  Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps · CPC title

• A61L2202/122

  Chambers for sterilisation · CPC title

• A61L2/10

  Ultraviolet [UV] radiation · CPC title

• A61L11/00

  Methods specially adapted for refuse {(disintegrating medical waste B02C19/0075; disposal of medical waste B09B3/00)} · CPC title