Nozzle part and robot cleaner including same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12478233-B2
Application number	US-202018017247-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 27, 2020
Priority date	Jul 23, 2020
Publication date	Nov 25, 2025
Grant date	Nov 25, 2025

Abstract

A nozzle part and a robot cleaner including same are disclosed. A nozzle part according to various embodiments of the present invention comprises: a brush for collecting waste such as hair; and a removing member for removing the waste, such as hair, that is stuck to the brush. The removing member more quickly rotates than the brush in the same direction to remove the waste, such as hair, that is stuck to the brush. Therefore, the waste such as hair can be easily collected, removed and captured. Thus, user convenience can be improved.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A nozzle assembly, comprising:
a frame; a roller rotatably coupled to the frame to extend in an extension direction; and a removal assembly located adjacent to the roller, and rotatably coupled to the frame with respect to the roller, wherein the removal assembly comprises:
an extension wall extending along the extension direction of the roller, and located adjacent to an outer circumference of the roller to partially cover the outer circumference of the roller; and
a support part located at an end of the extension wall, and rotatably coupled to the frame
wherein the support part defines a hollow, and the roller passes therethrough, and an inner circumference of the support frame surrounding the hollow has a circular cross section, wherein the nozzle assembly further comprises:
a main gear coupled to the roller to rotate together with the roller; and
a sub-gear coupled to the main gear, and
wherein the removal assembly further comprises:
teeth positioned on the inner circumference of the support part and coupled to the sub-gear.

2 . The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the roller and the removal assembly are rotated in a same direction, and
the removal assembly is rotated at a different speed than the roller.

3 . The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein
the removal assembly revolves with respect to the roller at a radial outer side of the roller about a rotational axis of the roller.

4 . The nozzle assembly of claim 3 , wherein the extension wall has a cross section with an arc shape having a curvature centered on the rotational axis of the roller, and the curvature matches a curvature of the outer circumference of the roller.

5 . The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the removal assembly includes a plurality of the extension walls, and the plurality of extension walls are positioned to be spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the roller at a radial outer side of the roller.

6 . The nozzle assembly of claim 5 , wherein a pair of the plurality of the extension wall are positioned such that the roller is interposed therebetween.

7 . The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the extension wall has a width in a circumferential direction different of the roller, and
the width of the extension wall is less than a fourth of a length of the outer circumference of the roller.

8 . The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inner circumference of the support frame surrounding the hollow is spaced apart from the outer circumference of the roller.

9 . The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sub-gear comprises:
a first sub-gear coupled to the main gear; and a second sub-gear located between the first sub-gear and the teeth part, and coupled to the first sub-gear and the teeth on the inner circumference of the support part, respectively.

10 . A robot cleaner, comprising:
a body; a dust bin detachably coupled to the body, and having a space defined therein; a nozzle housing detachably coupled to the body, an inner space of which communicates with the space of the dust bin; and a nozzle assembly accommodated in the nozzle housing, wherein the nozzle assembly comprises:
a frame coupled to the nozzle housing;
a roller rotatably coupled to the frame, having a circular cross section, extending in an extension direction, and partially exposed to an outside through an opening of the nozzle housing; and
a removal assembly located adjacent to the roller to extend in the extension direction of the roller, and rotatably coupled to the frame with respect to the roller at a radial outer side of the roller,
wherein the removal assembly comprises:
an extension wall extending along the extension direction of the roller, and located adjacent to an outer circumference of the roller to cover a portion of the outer circumference of the roller; and
a support part located at an end of the extension wall, and rotatably coupled to the frame, and
wherein:
the support part defines a hollow along the extension direction of the roller, the roller passing therethrough,
teeth are provided on an inner circumference of the support part surrounding the hollow, and

the removal assembly comprises a gear train coupled to the roller, and coupled to the teeth of the inner circumference of the support part.

11 . The robot cleaner of claim 10 , wherein;
a cross section of the extension wall has an arc shape centered at a rotational axis of the roller, having an inner surface defined with a same curvature as the outer circumference of the roller, and having a central angle of an acute angle, and the nozzle assembly includes a plurality of the extension walls, and the plurality of extension walls are spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the roller at a radial outer side of the roller.

12 . The robot cleaner of claim 10 , wherein the gear train comprises:
a main gear coupled to the roller to rotate together with the roller; a first sub-gear coupled to the main gear; and a second sub-gear located between the first sub-gear and the teeth of the inner circumference of the support part, and coupled to the first sub-gear and the teeth of the inner circumference of the support part, respectively, and wherein the main gear, the second sub-gear, and the removal assembly are rotated in a same direction.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Sun Changhwa
• Lee Seungyeop
• Lee Sangchul
• Ko Jungmin

Classifications

• B08B1/40

  Cleaning tools with integrated means for dispensing fluids, e.g. water, steam or detergents (cleaning by the force of jets or sprays B08B3/02) · CPC title

• A47L2201/00

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

• A47L9/0466

  Rotating tools · CPC title

• A47L9/0433

  Toothed gearings · CPC title

• B08B1/12

  Brushes · CPC title