Patent Application
20230146588
The disclosure relates to a cleaning apparatus including a vacuum cleaner and a docking station, and more specifically, to a docking station and a cleaning apparatus capable of automatically discharging dust inside a vacuum cleaner.
In general, a vacuum cleaner is a device that is equipped with a fan motor generating suction power, and through the suction power generated by the fan motor, suctions foreign substances, such as dust, together with air, separates the foreign substances contained in the suctioned air from the air, and collects the dust to perform cleaning.
The vacuum cleaner includes a dust collecting chamber for collecting foreign substances, and a user needs to periodically separate the foreign substances collected in the dust collecting chamber from the vacuum cleaner and discharge the separated foreign substances from the dust collecting chamber.
Aspects of embodiments of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a cleaning apparatus may include a vacuum cleaner including a dust collecting chamber; wherein the dust collecting chamber includes a dust collecting chamber body having a dust collecting chamber opening, a dust collecting chamber door configured to open or close the dust collecting chamber opening, and a fixing member configured to fix the dust collecting chamber door to the dust collecting chamber body to close the dust collecting chamber opening, and, when pressed by an external force, to release the dust collecting chamber door to open the dust collecting chamber opening; and a dust collecting station configured to be connectable to the vacuum cleaner, the dust collecting station longitudinally extending along a first direction and having a front that faces a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and wherein the dust collecting station includes a seating portion including an opening in the front of the dust collecting station, and configured so that the dust collecting chamber is seatable on the opening of the seating portion; a suction device configured to generate a suction airflow; a dust bag disposed between the opening of the seating portion and the suction device; an opening guide configured to press the fixing member of the dust collecting chamber; a driving device configured to drive the opening guide; and a controller configured to, when the dust collecting chamber is seated on the opening of the seating portion, control the driving device to drive the opening guide to press the fixing member of the dust collecting chamber to release the dust collecting chamber door so that the opening of the seating portion communicates with the dust collecting chamber opening, and, when the opening of the seating portion communicates with the dust collecting chamber opening, control the suction device to generate the suction airflow to suction foreign substances in the dust collecting chamber through the dust collecting chamber opening, then through the opening of the seating portion, and into the dust bag. The dust collecting station may further include a panel at the front of the dust collecting station and configured to open and thereby provide an opening at the front of the dust collecting station through which the dust bag is withdrawable.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the opening guide is provided to reciprocatingly move in the second direction to press the fixing member to open the dust collecting chamber door.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the first direction extends longitudinally from an upper end of the dust collecting station to a lower end of the dust collecting station.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the driving device includes a motor configured to provide a rotational force to drive the opening guide to be reciprocatingly moved in the second direction.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the dust collecting chamber is provided to be connected to the opening of the seating portion in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the dust collecting chamber body.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the vacuum cleaner further includes a cleaner body; a suction unit configured to suction foreign substances; and an extension pipe connecting the suction unit and the cleaner body and having a longitudinal axis provided to be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the dust collecting chamber body.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the vacuum cleaner further includes a cleaner body; a suction unit configured to suction foreign substances; and an extension pipe connecting the suction unit and the cleaner body and having a longitudinal axis; wherein the vacuum cleaner, upon the dust collecting chamber being seated in the seating portion, is supported on the dust collecting station such that the longitudinal axis of the extension pipe is arranged in parallel with the first direction.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the dust collecting chamber door is provided to be disposed inside the opening of the dust collecting station when opened by the opening guide pressing the fixing member.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the opening guide has a shape protruding upward in the first direction.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the dust collecting chamber includes, a rotation shaft disposed at a first side of the dust collecting chamber body, the dust collecting chamber door is provided to be rotated with respect to the rotation shaft, the fixing member is disposed at a second side opposite to the rotation shaft with respect to a center of the dust collecting chamber body, and the dust collecting chamber is provided such that the fixing member is disposed downward of the rotation shaft in the first direction when the dust collecting chamber is seated on the dust collecting station.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the dust collecting chamber further includes an elastic member disposed at a side of the rotation shaft and provided to bias the dust collecting chamber door in a direction toward the dust collecting chamber body.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the dust collecting station is configured such that the seating portion, the dust bag, and the suction device are sequentially disposed along a longitudinal axis of the dust collecting station from an upper end of the dust collecting station toward a lower end of the dust collecting station.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the cleaning apparatus further includes a flow path formed between the opening of the seating portion to the suction device; and a flow path changing device provided to block at least a portion of the flow path.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the flow path changing device is provided to be driven while the suction device is being driven.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the dust collecting station further includes a flow path guide disposed inside the dust collecting station opposite to the opening of the seating portion, the flow path guide having a curved shape so as to extend in the second direction toward the opening of the seating portion, and in the first direction toward the suction device, such that the flow path extends from the opening of the seating portion to the suction device via the dust bag.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the dust collecting chamber further includes a first dust collecting part formed along an inner circumferential surface of the dust collecting chamber body, and a second dust collecting part formed at a center of the first dust collecting part and divided from the first dust collecting part; and the seating portion is provided so that, when the dust collecting chamber opening is opened, the suction airflow is simultaneously supplied to both the first dust collecting part and the second dust collecting part.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the dust collecting chamber further includes a cap part disposed on the dust collecting chamber door so as to prevent foreign substances collected in the second dust collecting part from escaping to an outside when the dust collecting chamber opening is closed, wherein the cap part is disposed to face the suction device in a state in which the dust collecting chamber opening is open inside the seating portion.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the seating portion is disposed on the front of the dust collecting station.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the dust collecting station further includes a charging portion provided to charge a battery of the vacuum cleaner; and the controller is configured to control, when the dust collecting chamber is seated on the opening of the seating portion, the dust collecting station to operate in a suction mode in which the suction device is driven, and the dust collecting station to operate in a charging mode in which the charging portion is driven.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller controls the charging portion so that the battery is not charged while the dust collecting station is being driven in the suction mode.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller controls the charging portion so that the battery is charged while the dust collecting station is being driven in the suction mode.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller controls the suction device so that the suction device is not driven while the dust collecting station is being driven in the charging mode.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the charging portion is disposed above the seating portion in the first direction.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the charging portion, the seating portion, the dust bag, and the suction device are sequentially disposed in the first direction.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the charging portion includes a charging terminal provided to be in contact with the battery, and a battery guide configured to guide at least a portion of the vacuum cleaner so that the battery is in contact with the charging terminal when the dust collecting chamber is seated on the opening of the seating portion.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a cleaning apparatus may include a vacuum cleaner including a dust collecting chamber; wherein the dust collecting chamber includes a dust collecting chamber body having a dust collecting chamber opening, a dust collecting chamber door configured to open or close collector dust collecting chamber opening, and a fixing member configured to fix the dust collecting chamber door to the dust collecting chamber body to close the dust collecting chamber opening, and, when pressed by an external force, to release the dust collecting chamber door to open the dust collecting chamber opening; and a dust collecting station configured to be connectable to the vacuum cleaner, the dust collecting station longitudinally extending along a first direction and having a front that faces a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; wherein the dust collecting station includes a seating portion including an opening in the front of the dust collecting station, and configured so that the dust collecting chamber is seatable on the opening of the seating portion, a suction device configured to generate a suction airflow, a dust bag disposed between the opening of the seating portion and the suction device, an opening guide configured to press the fixing member of the dust collecting chamber, a charging portion configured to charge a battery of the vacuum cleaner, a driving device configured to drive the opening guide, and a controller configured to control a suction mode by, when the dust collecting chamber is seated on the opening of the seating portion, controlling the charging portion so as not to charge the battery, and controlling the driving device to drive the opening guide to press the fixing member of the dust collecting chamber to release the dust collecting chamber door so that the opening of the seating portion communicates with the dust collecting chamber opening, and when the opening of the seating portion communicates with the dust collecting chamber opening, controlling the suction device to generate the suction airflow to suction foreign substances in the dust collecting chamber through the dust collecting chamber opening, then through the opening of the seating portion, and into the dust bag, and control a charging mode by, when the dust collecting chamber is seated on the opening of the seating portion, controlling the driving device to not drive the opening guide, and controlling the charging portion to charge the battery.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the dust collecting station further includes a panel at the front of the dust collecting station and configured to open and thereby provide an opening at the front of the dust collecting station through which the dust bag is withdrawable.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the opening guide is provided to reciprocatingly move in the second direction to press the fixing member to open the dust collecting chamber door.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the charging portion includes a charging terminal provided to be in contact with the battery, and a battery guide configured to guide at least a portion of the vacuum cleaner so that the battery is in contact with the charging terminal when the dust collecting chamber is seated on the opening of the seating portion.
Additional embodiments of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or will be apparent from the disclosure.
These and/or other embodiments of the disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
Embodiments described in the specification and configurations shown in the accompanying drawings are merely exemplary examples of the disclosure, and various modifications may replace the embodiments and the drawings of the disclosure at the time of filing of the present application.
Further, identical symbols or numbers in the drawings of the disclosure denote components or elements configured to perform substantially identical functions.
Further, terms used herein are only for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and are not intended to limit to the disclosure. The singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should be further understood that the terms “include,” “including,” “have,” and/or “having” specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
Further, it should be understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,” etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, the elements are not limited by the terms, and the terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element could be termed a first element without departing from the scope of the disclosure. The term “and/or” includes combinations of one or all of a plurality of associated listed items.
Further, the terms “upper side,” “lower side,” “upper side and lower side direction,” and the like used herein are defined with reference to the drawings, and the shape and the location of the components are not limited by the terms.
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the cleaning apparatus can allow the docking station of the vacuum cleaner to charge the battery of the vacuum cleaner while automatically removing foreign substances collected in the dust collecting chamber of the vacuum cleaner. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, when the dust collecting chamber of the vacuum cleaner is inserted into the docking station in a direction substantially perpendicular to an upper side and lower side direction, foreign substances collected in the dust collecting chamber can be effectively removed.
Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The cleaner 10 may include a cleaner body 11, an extension pipe 17 detachably coupled to the cleaner body 11, a suction unit 18 detachably coupled to the extension pipe 17, and a dust collecting chamber 20 connected to the cleaner body.
The cleaner body 11 may include a suction motor (not shown) that generates a suction force required to suction foreign substances on a surface to be cleaned.
The dust collecting chamber 20 may be disposed upstream of the suction motor (not shown) in an air current, to filter out dust or dirt in the air introduced through the main suction unit 18 and collect the filtered dust or dirt. The dust collecting chamber 20 may be integrally formed with the cleaner body 11. When the cleaner body 11 and the dust collecting chamber 20 are referred to as being integrally formed with each other, the cleaner body 11 and the dust collecting chamber 20 may provide a structure in which the dust collecting chamber 20 is not arbitrarily separated from the cleaner body 11 in use. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the dust collecting chamber 20 may be provided to be detachable from the cleaner body 11.
The cleaner body 11 may include a handle 14 to be gripped by a user for manipulation of the cleaner 10. The user may hold the handle 14 and move the cleaner 10 in the front-rear direction.
The cleaner body 11 may include a dust collection guide 15 for guiding foreign substances into the dust collecting chamber 20 by connecting the dust collecting chamber 20 to the extension pipe 17 and the suction unit 18.
The dust collection guide 15 may be coupled to the above-described extension pipe 17 while guiding the foreign substances to the dust collecting chamber 20 as described above. In addition, the dust collection guide 15 may be provided to be directly coupled to the suction unit 18 other than the extension pipe 17 or may be coupled to other components, such as an auxiliary suction unit.
The extension pipe 17 may extend to have a long axis X extending in one direction.
Accordingly, the user may have an increased convenience of cleaning by coupling various components to the dust collection guide 15 according to the cleaning situation.
The dust collecting chamber 20 may be provided in a cylindrical shape having an extension axis Y extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the long axis X of the extension pipe 17 extends. In detail, the dust collection guide 15 may be coupled to the extension pipe 17 such that the long axis X of the extension pipe 17 faces in a direction substantially perpendicular to the extending direction of the extension axis Y of the dust collecting chamber 20.
The dust collecting chamber 20 may include a cylindrical body 22 extending in the extending direction of the extension axis Y.
The dust collecting chamber 20 may be provided to collect foreign substances through centrifugal rotation separation through the cylindrical body 22. The dust collecting chamber 20 may include a multi-cyclone to collect foreign substances by centrifugal rotation separation.
The dust collecting chamber 20 may include a dust collecting chamber door 21 that is disposed at a side opposite to a portion connected to the dust collection guide 15 in the extending direction of the extension axis Y and configured to open and close the dust collecting chamber 20.
When a large amount of foreign substances is collected in the dust collecting chamber 20, the user may open the dust collecting chamber door 21 to discharge the foreign substances collected in the dust collecting chamber 20 from the dust collecting chamber 20.
In detail, the dust collecting chamber door 21 may be provided to open and close a dust collecting chamber opening 23 that is formed at one end of the body 22 of the dust collecting chamber 20 and provided to be open in the extending direction of the extension axis Y.
The dust collecting chamber opening 23 may be openable in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the long axis X of the extension pipe 17 extends.
The handle 14 may be disposed at a side of the dust collecting chamber 20 opposite to a side in which the extension pipe 17 is disposed.
The cleaner 10 may include a battery 16 provided to provide a driving force to the cleaner 10. The battery 16 may be detachably mounted to the cleaner body 11. Specifically, the battery 16 may be disposed adjacent to the handle 14.
Accordingly, the battery 16 may be disposed at a side of the dust collecting chamber 20 opposite to a side in which the extension pipe 17 is disposed.
The battery 16 may be electrically connected to a charging terminal 123 provided in the docking station 100 to be described below. The battery 16 may be charged by receiving power from the charging terminal 123 provided in the docking station 100.
The docking station 100 may be configured for the cleaner 10 to be stored or mounted thereon. The cleaner 10 may be charged in the docking station 100.
The docking station 100 may include a body housing 110 that forms the external appearance of the docking station 100.
The body housing 110 may be provided to have a long axis extending in one direction. The long axis of the body housing 110 may preferably be provided to extend in the upper side and lower side direction. Accordingly, the docking station 100 may be provided in the shape of a box extending approximately in the upper side and lower side direction.
The docking station 100 may include a charging part 120 onto which the handle 14 of the cleaner 10 is docked to supply the battery 16 with power.
The charging part 120 may include a battery mounting part 121 on which the battery 16 is mounted, a battery guide 122 for guiding the mounting of the battery 16 and the charging terminal 123 for supplying power to the battery 16 in response to the battery 16 being mounted on the charging part 120.
The battery 16 may be provided detachably from the cleaner body 11. Accordingly, the cleaner 10 may be provided to be coupled with one or more replaceable batteries 16.
The battery 16 may be disposed to be exposed to the outside as in the embodiment of the disclosure, but may be disposed inside the cleaner body 11 of the cleaner 10 without being exposed to the outside. In this case, the charging part 120 may be provided to seat at least a portion of the cleaner body 11, in which the battery 16 is disposed, thereon to charge the battery 16.
The cleaner 10 may approach the docking station 100 in a second direction B, which is a direction approximately perpendicular to the first direction A, which is the extending direction of the docking station 100, to be docked onto the docking station 100. This is to allow the battery 16 of the cleaner 10 to be docked onto the docking station 100 at the same time as the dust collecting chamber 20 of the cleaner 10 is docked onto the docking station 100.
The conventional docking station is provided to, when the cleaner is docked onto the docking station, supply the battery with power as described above. The docking station 100 according to an embodiment of the disclosure is further implemented to, when the cleaner 10 is docked onto the docking station 100, allow dust collected inside the dust collecting chamber 20 to be automatically discharged, so that convenience of the consumer is increased.
In the conventional technology, the user needs to directly empty the dust collected in the dust collecting chamber 20 after using the cleaner 10, which is cumbersome. However, the docking station 100 according to the embodiment of the disclosure may be implemented to, when the cleaner 10 is docked, directly dock with the dust collecting chamber 20 so that dust collected inside the dust collecting chamber 20 may be automatically removed.
The docking station 100 according to the embodiment of the disclosure is provided to automatically discharge the dust collected in the dust collecting chamber 20 while charging the battery 16 of the cleaner 10 when the cleaner 10 is docked on the docking station 100. However, as will be described below, the docking station 100 may be provided to, when the cleaner 10 is docked onto the docking station 100, selectively charge the cleaner 10 only or charge the cleaner 10 while discharging dust of the dust collecting chamber 20 according to a users selection.
The docking station 100 may include a suction device 130 to discharge the dust collected in the dust collecting chamber 20 from the dust collecting chamber 20.
The docking station 100 may include a controller (not shown) for a user to input a signal for driving the suction device 130. When the cleaner 10 is docked onto the docking station 100, the user may input a signal to the controller (not shown) so that the docking station 100 is controlled to charge the battery 16 of the cleaner 10 while discharging the foreign substances collected in the dust collecting chamber 20.
However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the controller (not shown) of the docking station 100 may be provided to drive the suction device 130 upon receiving a detection value of a sensor for detecting docking of the cleaner 10, so that the suction device 130 is automatically driven in response to the cleaner 10 being docked even without a signal inputted by a user.
The docking station 100 may include a docking part 140 provided for the dust collecting chamber 20 to be docked onto the docking station 100.
As described above, the body housing 110 may be provided to have a long axis extending in the first direction A. The first direction A may be provided in a direction corresponding to the upper side and lower side direction. Accordingly, the docking station 100 may be provided in a box shape extending in the upper side and lower side direction.
The docking part 140 may be disposed in an upper portion of the body housing 110. The docking part 140 may be disposed at a lower side of the charging part 120 in the extending direction of the body housing 110.
In an example embodiment, the charging part 120 may be disposed on the upper end of the body housing 110 in the extending direction of the body housing 110, and the docking part 140 may be disposed at a lower side of the charging part 120.
Accordingly, the cleaner 10 may be docked onto the docking station 100 such that a side of the cleaner 10 on which the battery 16 is disposed is arranged on the upper side in the first direction A and a side of the cleaner 10 on which the extension pipe 17 is disposed is arranged on the lower side in the first direction A.
The suction device 130 may be disposed inside the body housing 110. In detail, the suction device 130 may be disposed at a lower portion of the body housing 110 in the extending direction of the body housing 110.
The docking station 100 may include a collecting part 150 for collecting foreign substances discharged from the dust collecting chamber 20. The collecting part 150 may be disposed inside the body housing 110. The collecting part 150 may be disposed at an upper side of the suction device 130.
The charging part 120, the docking part 140, the collecting part 150, and the suction device 130 may be sequentially disposed in the extending direction of the body housing 110.
The docking station 100 may include a suction flow path 141 connecting the docking part 140 and the collecting part 150 to each other and allowing foreign substances discharged from the dust collecting chamber 20 to be suctioned through the docking part 140 to the collecting part 150. The suction flow path 141 may be provided to extend in the extending direction of the body housing 110 to connect the docking part 140 and the collecting part 150 to each other.
The docking part 140 may include a seating space 142 communicating with the suction flow path 141 and in which the dust collecting chamber 20 is seated. The docking part 140 may include a docking opening 143 provided so that the dust collecting chamber 20 is docked onto the docking station 100 from the outside of the docking station 100.
At least a portion of the dust collecting chamber 20 may be provided to be inserted into the docking opening 143. The dust collecting chamber 20 may be seated on the seating space 142 through the docking opening 143.
The docking opening 143 may be opened in a direction substantially perpendicular to the extending direction of the long axis of the body housing 110. That is, the docking opening 143 may be opened in the second direction B perpendicular to the first direction A.
As described above, the docking station 100 is provided in a box shape extending in the upper side and lower side direction. Accordingly, the docking opening 143 may be provided to be opened in the front-rear direction or the left-right direction of the docking station 100.
The seating space 142 may have one end provided to communicate with the docking opening 143, and the other end provided to communicate with the suction flow path 141. Accordingly, the seating space 142 may be provided in a bent shape in which the seating space 142 formed to extend in the second direction B is also formed to extend in the first direction A.
Since the docking opening 143 is provided to be open while facing in the second direction B, the dust collecting chamber 20 may be docked onto the docking station 100 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the long axis of the body housing 110 extends. The cleaner 10 may be provided to be docked onto the docking station 100 in the second direction B.
The body housing 110 may include a docking surface 111 provided at a side in which the docking opening 143 is disposed and the cleaner 10 is docked. The docking surface 111 may be provided to form one surface of the body housing 110. The docking surface 111 may be provided to face in the second direction B, which is the direction the docking opening 143 is opened.
Although not shown, the docking surface 111 may be provided in various shapes as well as a flat surface or a curved surface.
The docking surface 111 may extend in a planar shape having a long axis extending in one direction. Since the body housing 110 is provided in a box shape extending in the first direction A, which is the upper side and lower side direction, as described above, the long axis of the docking surface 111 may extend in a direction corresponding to the first direction A.
The docking opening 143 and the charging part 120 may be formed on the docking surface 111. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the charging part 120 may be disposed upward of the docking surface 111, in detail, above the docking surface 111 in the extending direction of the docking surface 111.
The cleaner 10 may be docked onto the docking station 100 in a direction facing the docking surface 111 of the docking station 100. The cleaner 10 may be provided to be docked onto the docking station 100 in the second direction B.
The cleaner 10 may be docked onto the docking station 100 in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the long axis of the docking surface 111 extends in the docking station 100. The cleaner 10 may be provided to be docked onto the docking station 100 in the second direction B that is perpendicular to the first direction A.
Accordingly, when the dust collecting chamber 20 is docked onto the docking station 100, the first direction A, which is the extending direction of the long axis of the body housing 110, and the extension axis Y of the dust collecting chamber 20 are provided to face in directions approximately perpendicular to each other.
That is, the extension axis Y of the dust collecting chamber 20 may be inserted into the docking opening 143 of the docking station 100 in a direction corresponding to the second direction B. Accordingly, in a state in which the cleaner 10 is docked onto the docking station 100, the long axis X of the extension pipe 17 of the cleaner 10 may be disposed in a direction corresponding to the first direction A. This is because the long axis X of the extension pipe 17 and the extension axis Y of the dust collecting chamber 20 are provided to be perpendicular to each other.
When the dust collecting chamber 20 is docked in a direction that is not perpendicular to the long axis of the docking station 100, the extension pipe 17 of the cleaner 10 may be disposed to face other directions than the first direction A, so that the cleaner 10 docked onto the docking station 100 without the extension pipe 17 being separated by the user may lower the aesthetic sense and degrade the spatial efficiency of the space around the docking station 100.
In addition, since it is also difficult for a user to separate the extension pipe or the suction unit that may be coupled to the dust collection guide 15, the usability of the docking station 100 may decrease.
In order to solve such a limitation, the cleaning apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the disclosure may be provided to allow the vacuum cleaner 10 to be docked onto the docking station 100 and allow substances collected in the dust collecting chamber 20 to be automatically discharged in the docking station 100 in a state in which the extension pipe 17 or the suction unit 18 is coupled to the dust collection guide 15 of the cleaner 10.
That is, the cleaning apparatus 1 may be provided to, when the cleaner 10 is docked onto the docking station 100, arrange the direction in which the long axis X of the extension pipe 17 of the cleaner 10 faces to be in the first direction A, which is a direction in which the long axis of the docking station 100 extends.
The dust collecting chamber 20 may be provided with a cyclone 24 disposed therein. The dust collecting chamber 20 may be provided to collect foreign substances to a lower side 24a of the cyclone 24. The dust collecting container 20 may include a first dust collecting part 20a that performs primarily dust collection to collect relatively large foreign substances and a second dust collecting part 20b that performs dust collection by the cyclone 24 to collect relatively small foreign substances.
Both the first dust collecting part 20a and the second dust collecting part 20b may be provided to be open to the outside when the dust collecting chamber door 21 is opened.
Accordingly, when the dust collecting chamber door 21 disposed at one end of the body 22 is opened, the foreign substances collected in the dust collecting chamber 20 may be easily discharged to the outside of the dust collecting chamber 20.
When the cleaner 10 is docked onto the docking station 100, at least a portion of the dust collecting chamber 20 may be provided to be inserted into the docking part 140 through the docking opening 143. In detail, the dust collecting chamber door 21 disposed at one end of the body 22 of the dust collecting chamber 20 may be disposed in the seating area 142 provided inside the docking part 140.
Therefore, when the cleaner 10 is docked onto the docking station 100, the dust collecting chamber door 21 is opened inside the docking part 140 so that the foreign substances collected in the dust collecting chamber 20 may be discharged inside the docking station 100 without being scattered to the outside of the docking station 100.
The suction flow path 141 may be connected from the docking part 140 to the collecting part 150. The suction flow path 141 may transmit the flow of air current generated by the suction device 130 to the dust collecting chamber 20. That is, a suction air current generated by the suction device 130 passes through the collecting part 150, and then along the suction flow path 141 and the seating area 142, reaches the inside of the dust collecting chamber 20, and the suction air current causes foreign substances inside the dust collecting chamber 20 to be discharged, along a flow of the air current, from the dust collecting chamber 20 to the seating area 142, and then via the suction flow path 141, collected in the collecting part 150.
The collecting part 150 may include a collecting part housing 151. The collecting part housing 151 may form an inner space. The collecting part 150 may include a dust bag 152 disposed in the inner space of the collecting part 150 and collecting foreign substances introduced through the suction flow path 141.
The dust bag 152 is formed of a material that transmits air while blocking foreign substances so that foreign substances introduced from the dust collecting chamber 20 into the collecting part 150 may be collected.
The dust bag 152 may be directly connected to the suction flow path 141, and the dust bag 152 may be provided detachably from the collecting part 150.
As shown in
Although not shown in the drawing, the collecting part 150 may include an additional dust collecting chamber (not shown) in addition to the dust bag 152. The inner space of the additional dust collecting chamber (not shown) may be provided to be larger than the inner space of the dust collecting chamber 20, and, similar to the dust collecting chamber 20, may include a cyclone to collect fine foreign substances.
The suction device 130 may include a suction fan 131 and a suction device housing 132 forming an inner space in which the suction fan 131 is disposed.
The suction air current formed by the suction fan 131 may move from the inner space of the suction device housing 132, passing through the collecting part 150 and the suction flow path 141, to be finally supplied to the dust collecting chamber 20.
The docking station 100 may include a flow rate changing device 160 provided to selectively change the amount of suction air current supplied to the dust collecting chamber 20.
Air and foreign substances inside the dust collecting chamber 20 may be discharged to the outside through the dust collecting chamber door 21 of the dust collecting chamber 20 along the suction flow path 141, but some of the foreign substances may be caught with inner components of the dust collecting chamber 20 and fail to be discharged to the outside.
For example, foreign substances, such as hair, may be caught in the inner component of the dust collecting chamber 20, and thus without being separated out of the dust collecting chamber 20 by the suction air current generated to a lower side of the dust collecting chamber door 21, remain inside the dust collecting chamber 20.
The suction air current delivered to the inside of the dust collecting chamber 20 may be formed to face only in a direction in which the dust collecting chamber opening 23 of the dust collecting chamber 20 is opened. Accordingly, some foreign substances may have a resistance to the direction in which the suction air current is formed, and may not be separated from the dust collecting chamber 20 by the suction air current.
Accordingly, foreign substances inside the dust collecting chamber 20 may not be effectively removed.
The docking station 100 according to the embodiment of the disclosure may include the flow rate change device 160 that is provided to selectively supply the dust collecting chamber 20 with additional outside air in addition to the suction air current to solve the above-described limitation.
The flow rate changing device 150 may change the flow rate inside the dust collecting chamber 20 while the suction air current is being supplied to the inside of the dust collecting chamber 20 so that the air inside the dust collecting chamber 20 is being suctioned by the suction device 130, to variously change the flow of air inside the dust collecting chamber 20.
The flow rate changing device 160 may be disposed inside the body housing 110. The flow rate changing device 160 may be disposed between the collecting part 150 and the suction device 130. In detail, the flow rate changing device 160 may be disposed between the collecting part 150 and a flow path to which the suction device 130 is connected.
However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the flow rate changing device 160 may be provided to be disposed between the collecting part 150 and the suction flow path 141.
The suction device 130, the flow rate changing device 160, the collecting part 150, and the docking part 140 may all be disposed inside the body housing 110.
With respect to the first direction A, the charging part 120, the docking part 140, the collecting part 150, the flow rate changing device 160, and the suction device 130 may be sequentially disposed.
Accordingly, the docking station 100 may be provided in a box shape extending in the upper side and lower side direction, which is the first direction A.
As described above, the dust collecting container 20 may include the first dust collecting part 20a that performs primarily dust collection to collect relatively large foreign substances and the second dust collecting part 20b that performs dust collection by the cyclone 24 to collect relatively small foreign substances.
Both the first dust collecting part 20a and the second dust collecting part 20b may be provided to be open to the outside when the dust collecting chamber door 21 is opened. In this case, when the dust collecting container door 21 is opened, both the first dust collecting part 20a and the second dust collecting part 20b may be provided to be opened to the outside.
The dust collecting chamber door 21 may include a coupling protrusion 21a provided to be coupled to the body 22 so that the dust collecting chamber 20 is maintained in a closed state and a cap portion 21b configured to prevent the foreign substances collected in the second dust collecting part 20b from being scattered to the outside when the dust collecting chamber 20 is closed.
The dust collecting chamber door 21 may open and close the dust collecting chamber opening 23 while rotating around a rotation shaft 21c disposed at one side of one end of the body 22 in which the dust collecting chamber opening 23 is formed.
The rotation shaft 21c may be disposed on one end of the body 22 at a side adjacent to the handle 14. That is, the rotation shaft 21c may be disposed at a side opposite to a side in which the extension pipe 17 is disposed with respect to the extension axis Y of the dust collecting chamber 20.
This is to allow the rotation shaft 21c to be disposed on the upper end of the dust collecting chamber 20 in the first direction A when the cleaner 10 is docked onto the docking station 100, as will be described below.
The dust collecting chamber 20 may include a fixing member 25 disposed on the other side of the one end of the body 22 and supporting the coupling protrusion 21a to prevent the dust collecting chamber door 21 from being separated from the one end of the body 22.
The fixing member 25 may be hook-coupled with the coupling protrusion 21a to prevent the coupling protrusion 21a from being separated from the body 22.
The fixing member 25 may include a push portion 25a provided to be rotated when pressed by an external force to release the hook coupling with the coupling protrusion 21a, and a hook portion 25b hook-coupled with the coupling protrusion 21a in association with the push portion 25a.
The fixing member 25 may include an elastic member (not shown) provided to maintain the hook-coupled state of the hook portion 25b and the coupling protrusion 21a when the fixing member 25 is not pressed by the push portion 25a.
The elastic member (not shown) may be provided to be biased, in a state in which the dust collecting chamber door 21 is closed, so that the hook portion 25b is pressed in a direction toward the coupling protrusion 21a, causing the hook coupling of the hook portion 25b and the coupling protrusion 21a to be maintained.
When a force greater than the elastic force of the elastic member (not shown) is applied to the push portion 25a, the hook portion 25b is rotated in association with the push portion 25a, and the hook coupling of the hook portion 25b and the coupling protrusion 21a may be released.
Therefore, when an external force is applied to the push portion 25a in a direction opposite to the radial direction of the body 22, the push portion 25a may rotate in the opposite direction to the radial direction of the body 22, and accordingly, the hook portion 25b may be rotated in the radial direction of the body 22 to move in a direction away from the coupling protrusion 21a.
Accordingly, the user may press the push portion 25a to open the dust collecting chamber 20, and discharge the foreign substances collected in the dust collecting chamber 20 to the outside of the dust collecting chamber 20.
Hereinafter, a technical feature in which the cleaner 10 is docked onto the docking station 100 for the foreign substances collected in the dust collecting chamber 20 to be discharged will be described in detail.
As described above, the dust collecting chamber 20 may be docked onto the docking station 100 such that the extension axis Y faces in the second direction B. Accordingly, the dust collecting chamber 20 may be docked onto the docking station 100 such that the extension axis Y is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the first direction A, which is the direction of gravity.
When the extension axis Y of the dust collecting chamber 20 is arranged in a direction corresponding to the direction of gravity, the dust collecting chamber opening 23 may be arranged to be open downward, and the dust collecting chamber door 21 may be arranged at the lower end of the dust collecting chamber 20. In this case, when the fixing member 25 is pressed, the dust collecting chamber door 21 may be separated from the body 22 by the gravity and rotate about the rotation shaft 21c in the direction of gravity, causing the dust collecting chamber opening 23 to be opened.
However, when the extending direction of the extension axis Y of the dust collecting chamber 20 is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity as in the embodiment of the disclosure, the dust collecting chamber door 21 may remain closed even when the fixing member 25 is pressed, unless an additional external force is generated.
In particular, since the rotation shaft 21c of the dust collecting chamber door 21 is disposed on a side opposite to a side in which the extension pipe 17 is disposed with respect to the extension axis Y of the dust collecting chamber 20 as described, the rotation shaft 21c may be provided to be disposed on the upper end of the dust collecting chamber 20 in the first direction A when the cleaner 10 is docked onto the docking station 100, so that the dust collecting chamber door 21 may remain closed without being affected by the gravity even in an openable state.
That is, since the dust collecting chamber 20 is docked onto the docking station 100 such that the extension axis Y of the dust collecting chamber 20 faces in the second direction B as shown in
The docking part 140 may include an opening guide 145 provided to press the push portion 25a when the dust collecting chamber 20 is seated in the seating space 142 through the docking opening 143 so that the dust collecting chamber door 21 is set into an openable state.
The opening guide 145 may be arranged on a front inner circumferential surface 144 arranged on the front side of the seating space 142 in the second direction B and forming the docking opening 143 at a position of the seating space 142 in which the docking opening 143 is connected.
The opening guide 145 may be formed as a partial area of the front inner circumferential surface 144 according to the embodiment of the disclosure. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the opening guide 145 may be provided as a region or protruding surface protruding from the front inner circumferential surface 144 toward the center, or in the shape of a protrusion, a rib and the like protruding toward the center from the inner circumferential surface.
The front inner circumferential surface 144 may be provided to have a size substantially corresponding to that of an outer circumferential surface of the body 22. In detail, the circumference of the front inner circumferential surface 144 of the docking opening 143 and the circumference of the dust collecting chamber body 22 may be provided to substantially the same.
That is, when the dust collecting chamber 20 is docked onto the docking station 100, the front inner circumferential surface 144 and the outer circumferential surface of the body 22 may be provided to face each other at a predetermined distance therebetween.
Accordingly, as the dust collecting chamber 20 is being seated in the seating space 142 through the docking opening 143, the dust collecting chamber 20 may have the outer circumferential surface of the body 22 moved along the front inner circumferential surface 144 in the second direction B.
In this case, the push portion 25a protruding outward from the outer circumferential surface of the body 22 may be pressed against the opening guide 145.
In detail, as the dust collecting chamber 20 is moved in the second direction B, the push portion 25a disposed on the outside of the outer circumferential surface of the body 22 is pressed in the first direction A by the opening guide 145, which causes the push portion 25a to rotate opposite to the radial direction of the outer circumferential surface of the body 22, so that the hook coupling between the hook portion 25b and the coupling protrusion 21a is released, thereby setting the dust collecting chamber door 21 into an openable state.
However, as described above, the dust collecting chamber door 21 is maintained in an openable state without being opened unless an additional external force is generated.
The dust collecting chamber 20 may include a gasket 26 on the dust collecting chamber door 21 to seal a space between the dust collecting chamber door 21 and an inner circumferential surface 22a of the body 22. The gasket 26 may be formed of an elastic material, such as rubber, to seal a space between the inner circumferential surface 22a of the body 22 and the dust collecting chamber door 21 to prevent foreign substances collected in the dust collecting chamber 20 from being scattered to the outside.
As described above, since the gasket 26 is formed of an elastic material, the gasket 26 may be biased toward the inner circumferential surface 22a of the body 22 when the dust collecting chamber door 21 is in a closed state.
That is, the gasket 26 is biased in the radial direction of the body 22 with respect to the center of the body 22, so that when there is no external force on the dust collecting chamber door 21, the gasket 26 may elastically support the dust collecting chamber door 21 to prevent the dust collecting chamber door 21 from being opened from the body 22.
Accordingly, even when the fixing member 25 is pressed by the opening guide 145, the dust collecting chamber door 21 is prevented from being separated from the body 22.
Thereafter, as shown in
The seating space 142 may be provided to allow the dust collecting chamber 20 to be inserted thereinto and allow the dust collecting chamber door 21 to be rotated inside the seating space 142.
The docking part 140 may include a flow path guide 146 disposed on the opposite side to the docking opening 143 in the second direction B in the seating space 142 and formed in a curved surface.
The flow path guide 146 may be provided in a curved shape in which the flow guide connected to extend in the second direction B is connected to extend in the first direction A.
As described above, since the docking opening 143 is formed toward the second direction B and the suction device 130 is disposed downward of the docking part 140 in the first direction A, the suction air current generated by the suction device 130 and flowing toward the dust collecting chamber 20 may collide with a portion in which the first direction A and the second direction B cross each other, which causes noise or pressure loss.
The flow path guide 146 may be formed on the opposite side to the docking opening 143 in the second direction B in the seating space 142, which is a portion in which the first direction A and the second direction B cross each other, to guide the suction air current such that the suction air current flowing in the first direction A is caused to flow in the second direction B smoothly, or vice versa.
Hereinafter, a cleaning apparatus 1 according to another embodiment of the disclosure will be described. The components for the present embodiment except the dust collecting chamber 20 are the same as those of the cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment described above, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.
Referring to
The elastic member 27 may be provided in the same shape as a torsion spring.
The elastic member 27 may be provided for the dust collecting chamber door 21 to be biased toward the body 22.
Accordingly, even when the dust collecting chamber door 21 is set into an openable state by the fixing member 25 of the dust collecting chamber 20 being pressed, the dust collecting chamber door 21, which is elastically supported by the elastic member 27, may remain closed unless an external force is generated.
However, in this case, when a suction air current is generated by the suction device 130, the suction air current provides the dust collecting chamber door 21 with an external force in a direction to open the dust collecting chamber door 21 so that the dust collecting chamber door 21 is opened and the foreign substances collected in the dust collecting container 20 are caused to flow into the collecting part 150 through the seating space 142 and thus collected in the collecting part 150.
In addition, referring to
A first magnetic member 28a of the pair of magnetic members 28 may be disposed on the body 22, and a second magnetic member 28b of the pair of magnetic members 28 may be disposed on the dust collecting chamber door 21.
Accordingly, even when the dust collecting chamber door 21 is set into an openable state by the fixing member 25 of the dust collecting chamber 20 being pressed, the dust collecting chamber door 21, which is magnetically supported by the pair of magnetic members 28, may remain closed unless an external force is generated.
However, in this case, when a suction air current is generated by the suction device 130, the suction air current provides the dust collecting chamber door 21 with an external force in a direction to open the dust collecting chamber door 21 so that the dust collecting chamber door 21 is opened and the foreign substances collected in the dust collecting container 20 are caused to flow into the collecting part 150 through the seating space 142 and thus collected in the collecting part 150.
Hereinafter, a cleaning apparatus 1 according to another embodiment of the disclosure will be described. The components for the embodiment except an opening guide are the same as those of the cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment described above, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted
Since the fixing member 25 is pressed in response to the dust collecting chamber 20 being docked onto the docking station 100, the dust collecting door 21 may be maintained in an openable state. In this case, as described above, when there is no external force on the dust collecting chamber door 21, the dust collecting chamber door 21 is not opened.
However, when an unexpected external force is applied to the docking station 100, the external force is applied to the dust collecting chamber door 21 so that the dust collecting chamber door 21 may be opened and foreign substances collected in the dust collecting chamber 20 may be scattered to the outside.
That is, when the dust collecting chamber door 21 is opened by an external force other than the suction air current in a state in which the suction device 130 is not driven, the foreign substances collected in the dust collecting chamber 20 may be scattered to the outside of the docking station 100.
The docking station 100 may be provided to, when the cleaner 10 is docked, perform both a charging mode of charging the battery 16 of the cleaner 10 and a suction mode of driving the suction device 130 to discharge foreign substances inside the dust collecting chamber 20, or perform one of a charging mode and a suction mode.
That is, the user may control the docking station 100 so that, when the cleaner 10 is docked onto the docking station 100, only the charging mode is performed. When the dust collecting chamber door 21 is opened in a state in which the suction mode is not in operation, foreign substances may be scattered to the outside.
In order to solve such a limitation, the docking station 100 according to the embodiment of the disclosure may include an opening guide 147 allowing the fixing member 25 of the docked dust collecting chamber 20 to be pressed only when the suction device 130 is driven.
The opening guide 147 may be provided in the shape of a protrusion or a rib protruding toward the center of the front inner circumferential surface 144 from the front inner circumferential surface 144.
The opening guide 147, when the dust collecting chamber 20 is inserted into the docking part 140 through the docking opening 143 and docked, may be disposed at an inner side of the docking part 140 in the second direction B from the fixing member 25 of the dust collecting chamber 20.
Accordingly, the opening guide 147 may be provided to prevent the fixing member 25 from being pressed in a state in which the dust collecting chamber 20 is docked.
Therefore, since the fixing member 25 is not pressed even when the dust collecting chamber 20 is docked onto the docking part 140, the dust collecting chamber door 21 is prevented from being opened by an external force.
The docking part 140 may include a driving device 148 interworking with the opening guide 147 to drive the opening guide 147.
The driving device 148 may drive the opening guide 147 to translate the opening guide 147 in the second direction B according to a signal from the controller (not shown) of the docking station 100.
The driving device 148 may, upon receiving a signal from the controller (not shown) of the docking station 100 when the suction device 130 is driven, drive the opening guide 147 to be moved forward in the second direction B.
The driving device 148 may be provided in various configurations, such as a motor, a solenoid valve, and the like.
As the opening guide 147 moves forward, the opening guide 147 may be provided to press the fixing member 25, causing the dust collecting chamber door 21 to be set into an openable state.
Therefore, the opening guide 147 and the driving device 148 may allow the fixing member 25 to be selectively pressed so that the dust collecting chamber door 21 is opened only when the suction device 130 is driven. Accordingly, foreign substances collected in the dust collecting chamber 20 are prevented from being unintentionally scattered to the outside.
In addition, although not shown in the drawings, the driving device 148 may be provided to be directly controlled by the user. That is, in addition to control of the controller (not shown) of the docking station 100 according to the driving of the suction device 130, the user may separately input a signal for driving the driving device 148 to drive the driving device 148.
The user may input a driving signal of the driving device 148 to the controller (not shown) of the docking station 100, so that the user may control the driving device 148 separately from driving of the suction device 130.
In addition, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and in order for the user to directly move the opening guide 147 using a physical force through an intermediate member (not shown) provided to interwork with the opening guide 147, the disclosure may include a push button (not shown) and the like interworking with the intermediate member (not shown).
The push button (not shown) may be disposed on one side of the body housing 110 to allow a user to easily open the dust collecting chamber door 21 through the opening guide 147.
Hereinafter, a cleaning apparatus 1 according to another embodiment of the disclosure will be described. The components for the embodiment except a docking station are the same as those of the cleaning apparatus according to the embodiment described above, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.
Referring to
A docking surface 211 of the body housing 210 may be provided to have a long axis extending in a third direction D having an inclination with respect to the first direction A, unlike the above described embodiment of the disclosure.
Accordingly, the docking surface 211 may be provided to extend in a direction inclined with respect to the first direction A, which is an upper and lower side direction.
Since the docking space 211 includes a docking opening 143 into which the dust collecting chamber 20 is inserted, the cleaner 10 may be docked onto the docking station 100 in a direction of the docking surface 211 in the docking station 200. The cleaner 10 may be provided to be docked onto the docking station 200 in a fourth direction E perpendicular to the third direction D. The fourth direction E may be provided in a direction inclined with respect to the second direction B.
The cleaner 10 may be docked onto the docking station 200 in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the long axis of the docking surface 211 extends in the docking station 200. The cleaner 10 may be provided to be docked onto the docking station 200 in the fourth direction E perpendicular to the third direction D.
Since the direction in which the cleaner 10 is docked onto the docking station 200 is provided in the fourth direction E oblique with respect to the second direction B, which is the horizontal direction, the user may easily dock the cleaner 10 onto the docking station 200.
Although specific embodiments of the disclosure have been shown and described, the above embodiments are for illustrative purpose only, and it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and scope of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2020-0082178 | Jul 2020 | KR | national |
This application is a continuation application under 35 U.S.C. § 111(a) of international Application No. PCT/KR2021/005933, filed on May 12, 2021, which claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0082178, filed on Jul. 3, 2020, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/KR2021/005933 | May 2021 | US |
| Child | 18089993 | US |
