Nozzle part and robot cleaner including same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023292968-A1
Application number	US-202018017247-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 27, 2020
Priority date	Jul 23, 2020
Publication date	Sep 21, 2023
Grant date	—

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

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 frame located at an end of the extension wall, and rotatably coupled to the frame.

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 assemble 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 support frame defines a hollow, and the roller passes therethrough, and
an inner circumference of the support frame surrounding the hollow has a circular cross section.

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

10 . The nozzle assembly of claim 8 , further comprising:
a main gear coupled to the roller to rotate together with the roller; and a sub-gear gear-coupled to the main gear, wherein the removal assembly further comprises:
teeth positioned on the inner circumference of the support frame, and gear-coupled to the sub-gear.

11 . The nozzle assembly of claim 10 , wherein the sub-gear comprises:
a first sub-gear located biased to the main gear, and gear-coupled to the main gear; and a second sub-gear located between the first sub-gear and the teeth part, and gear-coupled to the first sub-gear and the teeth on the inner circumference of the support frame, respectively.

12 . A robot cleaner, comprising:
a body; a dust bin detachably coupled to the body, and having a space 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 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, and 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 frame located at an end of the extension wall, and rotatably coupled to the frame.

13 . The robot cleaner of claim 12 , 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 are spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the roller at a radial outer side of the roller.

14 . The robot cleaner of claim 12 , wherein:
the support frame defines a hollow along the extension direction of the roller, the roller passing therethrough, teeth are provided on an inner circumference of the support frame surrounding the hollow, and the removal assembly comprises:
a gear train coupled to the roller, and gear-coupled to the teeth of the inner circumference of the support frame.

15 . The robot cleaner of claim 14 , wherein the gear train comprises:
a main gear coupled to the roller to rotate together with the roller; a first sub-gear located biased to the main gear, and 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 frame, and gear-coupled to the first sub-gear and the teeth of the inner circumference of die support frame, respectively, and wherein the main gear, the second sub-gear, and the removal assembly are rotated in a same direction.

16 . A nozzle assembly, comprising:
a frame; a roller rotatably coupled to the frame and including a circumferential surface having an adhesive region; and a remover that is provided adjacent to the roller and rotatably coupled to the frame to rotate around the roller to remove an object adhered to the adhesive region.

17 . The nozzle assembly of claim 16 , wherein the remover comprises one or more walls that are spaced apart from each other and extend along an extension direction of the roller, and
wherein each of the walls has a cross section with an inner surface having a curvature matching the outer circumference of the roller.

18 . The nozzle assembly of claim 17 , wherein each of the walls has a width in a circumferential direction of the roller that is less than a fourth of a length of the outer circumference of the roller.

19 . The nozzle assembly of claim 16 , further comprising:
a sub-gear coupled to roller such that a rotation of a roller causes a rotation of the sub-gear, wherein the remover includes an inner surface that includes teeth that are gear-coupled to the sub-gear such that the rotation of the sub-gear causes a rotation of the remover around the roller.

20 . The nozzle assembly of claim 19 , further comprising:
a main gear coupled to the roller and configured to rotate the roller, wherein the sub-gear is gear-coupled to the main-gear.

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

• A47L9/0466 Primary

  Rotating tools · CPC title

• A47L9/0477 Primary

  Rolls · CPC title

• B08B1/12

  Brushes · CPC title

• A47L9/0433

  Toothed gearings · CPC title