Robot

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12419982-B2
Application number	US-202018021681-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 24, 2020
Priority date	Aug 24, 2020
Publication date	Sep 23, 2025
Grant date	Sep 23, 2025

Abstract

A robot according to an embodiment of the present invention can comprise: a pair of recessed parts formed on both surfaces of a main body, vertically extended, and opened with respect to the upper side thereof; a flexible plate including a pair of vertical parts vertically sliding along the pair of recessed parts, and a connecting part connecting the pair of vertical parts to each other and being convexly bent downward; a chain coupled to both edges of the flexible plate and extended in the longitudinal direction of the flexible plate; a plurality of ultraviolet lamps connected to the flexible plate or the chain and spaced from each other in parallel; and a rotator which includes a gear part gear-coupled to the chain and which is disposed in the inner space of the main body.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A robot comprising:
a base comprising a driving wheel;
a main body disposed above the base and comprising an inner space;
a pair of depression portions extending vertically on opposite sides of the main body to be open at an upper side of the main body, wherein the main body comprises openings at a lower end providing access between the depression portions and the inner space of the main body;
a sterilization module comprising:
a flexible plate configured to slide along the pair of depression portions and passing through the openings;
a chain coupled to the flexible plate and extending along a length of the flexible plate; and
a plurality of ultraviolet lamps coupled to the flexible plate or chain and spaced apart from each other; and

a rotator including a gear unit engaged with the chain and disposed in the inner space of the main body, wherein the sterilization module is moved in response to rotation of the rotator,
wherein based on the flexible plate being in a centered position with respect to the rotator, the flexible plate comprises a pair of vertical portions and a connecting portion between the vertical portions and curved around the rotator.

2. The robot of claim 1 , wherein the rotator is configured to, rotate to extend one side of the flexible plate out of and above the main body.

3. The robot of claim 2 , further comprising a weight body coupled to the rotator and having a variable position according to rotation of the rotator, wherein the weight body is configured to be moved toward a side corresponding to a lower positioned vertical portion among the pair of vertical portions.

4. The robot of claim 1 , further comprising guide grooves extending vertically and configured to guide vertical sliding of the chain at opposing inner surfaces of the depression portion.

5. The robot of claim 1 , wherein the flexible plate comprises a plurality of protruding ribs respectively separating each of the plurality of ultraviolet lamps.

6. The robot of claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of reflectors respectively disposed between each of the plurality of ultraviolet lamps and the flexible plate.

7. The robot of claim 6 , wherein each reflector is curved around an inwardly facing side of a circumference of a corresponding ultraviolet lamp.

8. The robot of claim 1 , further comprising a support sheet configured to support the flexible plate and comprising a pair of support portions for supporting the vertical portions.

9. The robot of claim 8 , wherein each of the pair of support portions are convexly curved toward a respective inner surface of the flexible plate along a vertical axis.

10. The robot of claim 8 , wherein the support sheet is disposed between the outer circumference of the rotator and the inner surface of the connection portion.

11. The robot of claim 8 , wherein:
the support sheet comprises a guide hole extending in a longitudinal direction of the support sheet; and
a guide pin protrudes from the flexible plate and through the guide hole of the support sheet.

12. The robot of claim 1 , wherein the chain comprises a plurality of stoppers configured to prevent the chain from bending outward.

13. The robot of claim 1 , further comprising a lower ultraviolet lamp disposed at a lower side of the base.

14. The robot of claim 13 , further comprising a lower reflector configured to downwardly reflect ultraviolet light emitted by the lower ultraviolet lamp.

15. The robot of claim 13 , wherein the base further comprises:
a base plate on which the lower ultraviolet lamp is disposed; and
a case surrounding the circumference of the base plate,
wherein a height between a bottom surface contacted by the driving wheel and the lower ultraviolet lamp is greater than a height between the bottom surface and a lower end of the case.

16. The robot of claim 1 , wherein:
a first ultraviolet lamp of the plurality of ultraviolet lamps-corresponding is positioned at one of the pair of vertical portions positioned at a respective depression portion or above the main body; and
a second ultraviolet lamp of the plurality of ultraviolet lamps is positioned at the connecting portion and located in the inner space of the main body.

17. The robot of claim 16 , further comprising:
a light guide path disposed inside the base and configured to guide ultraviolet rays emitted from the second ultraviolet lamp toward a bottom surface in contact with the driving wheel.

18. The robot of claim 17 , further comprising:
a mirror provided on an inner surface of the light guide passage; or
at least one of convex lenses disposed inside the light guide passage.

19. The robot of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sensor configured to detect a height of at least one of the pair of vertical portions; and
a processor configured to limit a rotational speed of the driving wheel based on the detected height being out of a predetermined range.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Lee Haklim
• Shin Jiyong

Classifications

• B25J11/0085

  Cleaning · CPC title

• B25J5/007 Primary

  mounted on wheels · CPC title

• A61L2202/16

  Mobile applications, e.g. portable devices, trailers, devices mounted on vehicles · CPC title

• A61L2202/14

  Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs · CPC title

• A61L2202/11

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