FLOOR CLEANING ROBOT AND CLEANING APPARATUS

The present application is based on, and claims priority from JP Application Serial Number 2023-106813, filed Jun. 29, 2023, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a floor cleaning robot and a cleaning apparatus.

2. Related Art

In the related art, various self-running floor cleaning robots have been used as examples of cleaning apparatuses. Of these, there is a floor cleaning robot including an application section for applying a liquid to a floor surface and a contact section for contacting the floor surface to spread the liquid that was applied to the floor surface by the application section. For example, JP-A-2019-48130 describes a floor cleaning robot that has a liquid application device and a cleaning pad, and ejects cleaning liquid from the liquid application device to a floor surface a plurality of times, absorbs the ejected cleaning liquid into the cleaning pad, and removes contamination by repeatedly rubbing the floor with the cleaning pad in a state of the cleaning pad being pressed against the floor by a self-propelled mechanism.

However, the floor cleaning robot of JP-A-2019-48130 needs to be equipped with a liquid storage container that holds a large amount of cleaning liquid in order to sufficiently moisten the cleaning pad. There is a limit to the force with which the cleaning pad is rubbed against the floor surface, and in order to perform effective cleaning, it is necessary to perform the operation of rubbing the cleaning pad against the floor surface a plurality of times during cleaning, and therefore the cleaning time tends to be long. Furthermore, in order to perform sufficient cleaning, it is necessary to mount a battery having a large capacity, so that there is a problem that the size and weight of the device are increased.

SUMMARY

A floor cleaning robot of the present disclosure for solving the above problem, the floor cleaning robot includes a main body; drive wheels configured to movably support the main body on a floor surface; a first storage that is provided in the main body and that is configured to store a liquid; at least one nozzle that is disposed on a facing surface of the main body facing the floor surface and that is configured to eject the liquid in a continuous flow and convert the continuous flow into droplets so that the liquid collides with the floor surface in a droplet shape; and a collection section that is disposed on the facing surface at a position different from that of the nozzle and that is configured to collect the liquid ejected from the nozzle onto the floor surface.

A cleaning apparatus of the present disclosure for solving the above problem, the cleaning apparatus includes a head section; a first storage configured to store a liquid; at least one nozzle that is disposed on a facing surface of the head section facing a floor surface and that is eject the liquid in a continuous flow and convert the continuous flow into droplets so that the liquid collides with the floor surface in a droplet shape; and a collection section that is disposed on the facing surface at a position different from that of the nozzle and that is configured to collect the liquid ejected from the nozzle onto the floor surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a floor cleaning robot according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective diagram showing a facing surface of a main body of the floor cleaning robot of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining an internal configuration of the main body in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a nozzle of the main body of the floor cleaning robot of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a floor cleaning robot according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective diagram showing a facing surface of a main body of the floor cleaning robot of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram for explaining an internal configuration of the main body of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram for explaining an internal configuration of a main body of a floor cleaning robot according to a third embodiment.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams for explaining an up and down mechanism of a floor cleaning robot according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a cleaning apparatus according to a fifth embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

First, the present disclosure will be schematically described.

A floor cleaning robot according to a first aspect of the present disclosure for solving the above problem, the floor cleaning robot includes a main body; drive wheels configured to movably support the main body on a floor surface; a first storage that is provided in the main body and that is configured to store a liquid; at least one nozzle that is disposed on a facing surface of the main body facing the floor surface and that is configured to eject the liquid in a continuous flow and convert the continuous flow into droplets so that the liquid collides with the floor surface in a droplet shape; and a collection section that is disposed on the facing surface at a position different from that of the nozzle and that is configured to collect the liquid ejected from the nozzle onto the floor surface.

According to this aspect, there is provided at least one nozzle configured to eject the liquid in a continuous flow and convert the continuous flow into droplets so that the liquid collides with the floor surface in a droplet shape. With such a configuration, for example, compared to a configuration in which the liquid is simply discharged in the form of droplets or a configuration in which the liquid is caused to collide with the floor surface in the form of a continuous flow, it is possible to significantly increase the collision energy when the liquid collides with the floor surface. Therefore, the contamination on the floor surface can be peeled off and cleaned by the droplet impact pressure and the cleaning efficiency of the floor surface can be improved without increasing the size of the floor cleaning robot.

The floor cleaning robot according to a second aspect of the present disclosure is an aspect according to the first aspect, wherein the collection section is disposed to the rear of the nozzle in a movement direction of the main body by driving the drive wheels.

According to this aspect, the collection section is disposed behind the nozzle in the movement direction of the main body. With such a configuration, it is possible to efficiently collect the liquid ejected from the nozzle.

The floor cleaning robot according to a third aspect of the present disclosure is an aspect according to the second aspect, wherein the nozzle is disposed forward from the drive wheels in the movement direction.

According to this aspect, the nozzle is disposed forward from the drive wheels in the movement direction of the main body. With such a configuration, the nozzle and the collection section can be disposed in a well-balanced manner in the main body.

The floor cleaning robot according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure is an aspect according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the collection section includes a suction section configured to suck the liquid that was ejected from the nozzle onto the floor surface into the interior of the main body.

According to this aspect, the collection section includes the suction section configured to suck the liquid ejected from the nozzle onto the floor surface into the interior of the main body. With such a configuration, the liquid can be efficiently collected from the floor surface.

The floor cleaning robot according to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure is an aspect according to the fourth aspect, wherein the main body includes a first connection flow path configured to connect the suction section and the first storage.

According to the aspect, the main body includes the first connection flow path configured to connect the suction section and the first storage. Therefore, it is possible to return the collected liquid to the first storage and it is possible to reuse the liquid.

The floor cleaning robot according to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure is an aspect according to the fourth aspect, wherein the main body includes a second storage section configured to store the liquid sucked by the suction section.

According to this aspect, the main body includes the second storage section configured to store the liquid sucked by the suction section. Therefore, it is possible to collect the collected liquid in the second storage section.

The floor cleaning robot of according to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure is an aspect according to the sixth aspect, wherein the main body includes a second connection flow path configured to connect the second storage section and the first storage.

According to the aspect, the main body includes the second connection flow path configured to connect the second storage section and the first storage. Therefore, it is possible to send the liquid which is collected in the second storage section to the first storage via the second connection flow path, and it is possible to reuse the liquid.

The floor cleaning robot according to an eighth aspect of the present disclosure is an aspect according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the main body includes a removal section configured to remove impurities contained in the liquid collected by the collection section.

According to this aspect, the main body includes the removal section configured to remove impurities contained in the liquid collected by the collection section. Therefore, for example, it is possible to suitably reuse the liquid collected by the collection section.

The floor cleaning robot according to a ninth aspect of the present disclosure is an aspect according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the collection section includes an absorbent material configured to absorb the liquid ejected from the nozzle onto the floor surface.

According to this aspect, the collection section includes the absorbent material configured to absorb the liquid ejected from the nozzle onto the floor surface. With such a configuration, it is possible to obtain the collection section having a low cost and a simple configuration.

The floor cleaning robot according to a tenth aspect of the present disclosure is an aspect according to any one of the first to third aspects, further includes a liquid feeding section configured to feed the liquid stored in the first storage to the nozzle.

According to this aspect, the liquid feeding section is provided for feeding the liquid stored in the first storage to the nozzle. With such a configuration, the liquid can be suitably sent from the first storage to the nozzle.

The floor cleaning robot according to an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure is an aspect according to the tenth aspect, wherein the liquid feeding section includes a pressurized gas storage section configured to seal a pressurized gas inside.

According to this aspect, the liquid feeding section includes the pressurized gas storage section configured to seal the pressurized gas inside. With such a configuration, it is possible to obtain the liquid feeding section having a low-cost and simple configuration.

The floor cleaning robot according to the twelfth aspect of the present disclosure is an aspect according to the eleventh aspect, further includes a stay section configured to be where the main body stays while cleaning is not being performed, wherein the stay section includes a pressurized gas delivery section configured to deliver the gas to the pressurized gas storage section.

According to this aspect, the stay section, which is configured to be where the main body stays while cleaning is not being performed, includes the pressurized gas delivery section, which is configured to deliver the gas to the pressurized gas storage section. For this reason, it is possible to automatically inject the gas into the pressurized gas storage section while cleaning is not being performed, and it is possible to suppress a situation in which the pressurized gas is not sealed in the pressurized gas storage section and the floor surface cannot be cleaned at the time of cleaning.

The floor cleaning robot according to a thirteenth aspect of the present disclosure is an aspect according to any one of the first to third aspects, further includes a detection section configured to detect the condition of the floor surface.

According to this aspect, the detection section configured to detect the condition of the floor surface is provided. Therefore, for example, it is possible to change the cleaning mode according to the condition of the floor surface.

The floor cleaning robot according to a fourteenth aspect of the present disclosure includes an aspect according to the thirteenth aspect, further includes an ejection control section configured to control ejection of the liquid in accordance with the condition of the floor surface detected by the detection section.

According to this aspect, the ejection control section configured to control the ejection of the liquid in accordance with the condition of the floor surface detected by the detection section is provided. Therefore, it is possible to change the ejection condition of the liquid in accordance with the state of the floor surface.

A cleaning apparatus of the fifteenth aspect of the present disclosure includes a head section; a first storage configured to store a liquid; at least one nozzle that is disposed on a facing surface of the head section facing a floor surface and that ejects the liquid in a continuous flow and converts the continuous flow into droplets so that the liquid collides with the floor surface in a droplet shape; and a collection section that is disposed on the facing surface at a position different from that of the nozzle and that is configured to collect the liquid ejected from the nozzle onto the floor surface.

First Embodiment

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present disclosure, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, liquid 3 such as water is ejected in a continuous flow 3a and the continuous flow 3a is converted into droplets 3b so that the liquid collides with a floor surface 31 of a floor 30 to be cleaned in the form of droplets 3b, thereby cleaning the floor 30. With such a configuration, after the droplets 3b collide with the floor surface 31, the droplets 3b secondarily collide with protruding contamination existing around the collision point due to an impact jet flow phenomenon, and an effect of peeling off the protruding contamination is obtained. In addition, for example, oily contamination on the floor surface 31 can be emulsified almost immediately after the collision and the oily contamination can be removed from the floor surface 31 almost immediately. Further, high cleaning power can be obtained using a small amount of the liquid 3, and the weight of the device can be reduced. First, a floor cleaning robot 1A according to the first embodiment, which is an example of a floor cleaning robot 1 of the present disclosure, will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

As shown in FIG. 1, the floor cleaning robot 1A of the present embodiment includes a main body 10 that cleans the floor surface 31 of the floor 30 to be cleaned while moving in a movement direction A and a rotation direction B during cleaning and a stay section 20 where the main body 10 stays while cleaning is not being performed. The main body 10 includes a first storage 11 that is provided in the main body 10 and that stores the liquid 3 used at the time of cleaning. As shown in FIG. 2, the main body 10 includes a plurality of drive wheels 13 for movably supporting the main body 10 on the floor surface 31. The main body 10 is provided with a nozzle forming section 12 arranged on a facing surface 10A facing the floor surface 31 of the main body 10 and having formed therein a plurality of nozzles 12A for ejecting the liquid 3 in the continuous flow 3a and converting the continuous flow 3a into droplets 3b so that the liquid collides with the floor surface 31 in the form of droplets 3b. The main body 10 includes an absorbent pad 14 as a collection section for collecting the liquid 3 that was ejected from the nozzles 12A onto the floor surface 31. The absorbent pad 14 is disposed at a position different from the nozzles 12A of the facing surface 10A.

As in the floor cleaning robot 1A of the present embodiment, the floor cleaning robot 1 has at least one nozzle 12A for ejecting the liquid 3 in the continuous flow 3a and converting the continuous flow 3a into the droplets 3b so that the liquid collides with the floor surface 31 in the droplets 3b, whereby the efficiency of cleaning the floor surface 31 can be remarkably improved as compared with a configuration in which a wet cleaning pad is rubbed against the floor many times. Furthermore, for example, compared to a configuration in which the liquid 3 is simply ejected in droplets 3b or a configuration in which the liquid 3 collides with the floor surface 31 in the continuous flow 3a, it is possible to dramatically increase the collision energy when the liquid 3 collides with the floor surface 31. Therefore, the floor cleaning robot 1A of the present embodiment can clean the floor surface 31 by peeling off the contamination on the floor surface 31 by the droplet impact pressure and can improve the cleaning efficiency of the floor surface 31 without increasing the size.

Here, as shown in FIG. 2, in the floor cleaning robot 1A of the present embodiment, the absorbent pad 14 is disposed to the rear of the nozzles 12A in the movement direction A of the main body 10 by driving the drive wheels 13. In this way, by disposing the collection section (the absorbent pad 14) behind the nozzles 12A in the movement direction A, it is possible to efficiently collect the liquid 3 ejected from the nozzles 12A.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the floor cleaning robot 1A of the present embodiment, the nozzles 12A are disposed forward from the drive wheel 13 in the movement direction A. In this way, by disposing the nozzles 12A forward from the drive wheel 13 in the movement direction A, the nozzles 12A and the collection section (the absorbent pad 14) can be disposed in the main body 10 in a well-balanced manner.

Note that, in the floor cleaning robot 1A of the present embodiment, as described above, the collection section is the absorbent pad 14. The absorbent pad 14 is an absorbent material capable of absorbing the liquid 3 ejected from the nozzles 12A onto the floor surface 31. By having such a configuration of the collection section, it is possible to obtain a collection section having a low cost and a simple configuration.

As shown in FIG. 3, the floor cleaning robot 1A of the present embodiment includes, in the main body 10, a pump 16 for sending the liquid 3 from the first storage 11 to the nozzle forming section 12 via a flow path 40. In other words, the pump 16 is a liquid feeding section that feeds the liquid 3 stored in the first storage 11 to the nozzles 12A. With such a configuration, the liquid can be suitably supplied from the first storage 11 to the nozzles 12A. Note that the pump 16 of this embodiment is a motor-driven pump driven by a motor 15. However, it is not limited to such a configuration. For example, it may be a pump or the like driven by using a pressurized gas or the like.

As shown in FIG. 3, the floor cleaning robot 1A of the present embodiment is provided with a detection section 51 for detecting the condition of the floor surface 31 in the main body 10. With such a configuration, for example, it is possible to change the cleaning mode according to the condition of the floor surface 31.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the floor cleaning robot 1A of the present embodiment includes a control section 50, the control section 50, as the ejection control section, can control the ejection of the liquid 3 by controlling drive of the motor 15 in accordance with the condition of the floor surface 31 detected by the detection section 51. Therefore, the floor cleaning robot 1A of the present embodiment can change the ejection condition of the liquid 3 by changing the driving method of the motor 15 according to the condition of the floor surface 31. Specifically, in the floor cleaning robot 1A of the present embodiment, the detection section 51 is an optical imaging device for observing the condition of the floor surface 31, such as whether or not there is contamination or the like on the floor surface 31. In the floor cleaning robot 1A of the present embodiment, the ejection condition such as the ejection pressure of the liquid 3 and the traveling conditions such as the driving speed of the drive wheels 13 can be changed in accordance with the condition of the floor surface 31, which is the detection result of the detection section 51, under the control of the control section 50.

Here, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the floor cleaning robot 1A of the present embodiment has a plurality of nozzles 12A in the nozzle forming section 12. As shown in FIG. 4, the nozzles 12A are arranged at equal intervals along a direction intersecting with the movement direction A. However, the number of nozzles 12A formed and the arrangement thereof are not particularly limited, and for example, nozzles 12A having different hole diameters may be provided, or nozzles 12A having different ejection port shapes may be provided. Note that the ejecting direction of the liquid 3 is desirably a direction orthogonal to the floor surface 31, but is not particularly limited. Since the nozzles 12A are arranged at equal intervals along the direction intersecting with the movement direction A, it is possible to widen the cleaning width with respect to the movement direction A of the floor cleaning robot 1A, and it is possible to cause the droplets 3b to collide without exception on the floor surface 31 corresponding to between the plurality of installed nozzles 12A, it is possible to reduce unevenness in cleaning.

Second Embodiment

Hereinafter, a floor cleaning robot 1B of a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. FIG. 5 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1 in the floor cleaning robot 1A of the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 2 in the floor cleaning robot 1A of the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 3 in the floor cleaning robot 1A of the first embodiment. The floor cleaning robot 1B of the present embodiment is the same as the floor cleaning robot 1A of the first embodiment except for the configuration described below. Therefore, the floor cleaning robot 1B of the present embodiment has the same features as the floor cleaning robot 1A of the first embodiment except for the following description. Therefore, in FIGS. 5 to 7, constituent members common to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference symbols, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the floor cleaning robot 1B of the present embodiment includes, as the collection section, a suction section 18 that sucks the liquid 3 ejected from the nozzles 12A onto the floor surface 31 into the interior of the main body 10. Note that the suction section 18 of the present embodiment includes a suction port and a suction pump, but the configuration of the suction section 18 is not particularly limited. With such a configuration, the floor cleaning robot 1B of the present embodiment can efficiently collect the liquid 3 from the floor surface 31.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the floor cleaning robot 1B of the present embodiment, the main body 10 includes a first connection flow path 41 for connecting the suction section 18 and the first storage 11. Therefore, the floor cleaning robot 1B of the present embodiment is configured to be able to return the collected liquid 3 to the first storage 11 and reuse the liquid 3.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, in the floor cleaning robot 1B of the present embodiment, a filter 45 is provided in the first connection flow path 41 of the main body 10. In other words, the main body 10 includes the filter 45 as a removal section that removes impurities contained in the liquid 3 collected by the suction section 18 as the collection section. Therefore, the floor cleaning robot 1B of the present embodiment can suitably reuse the liquid 3 collected by the collection section.

Here, as shown in FIG. 7, the floor cleaning robot 1B of the present embodiment is provided with a pump driven by using pressurized gas as the pump 16. Specifically, it has a liquid chamber 16A capable of being filled with the liquid 3, a gas chamber 16B capable of being filled with the pressurized gas, and a piston 16C capable of changing the volumes of the liquid chamber 16A and the gas chamber 16B. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the gas chamber 16B is connected to a pressurized gas storage section 19, in which the pressurized gas is sealed, and is provided with an atmosphere release valve 16D. When the gas chamber 16B is filled with the gas from the pressurized gas storage section 19 via the gas flow path 43, the volume of the gas chamber 16B increases and the volume of the liquid chamber 16A decreases, and the liquid 3 is sent from the liquid chamber 16A to the nozzles 12A via the flow path 40. On the other hand, when the atmosphere release valve 16D is opened to reduce the volume of the gas chamber 16B and increase the volume of the liquid chamber 16A, the liquid chamber 16A is filled with liquid from the first storage 11 via the flow path 40.

Describing the above from another point of view, the floor cleaning robot 1B of the present embodiment has, as the liquid feeding section, the pressurized gas storage section 19 that seals a pressurized gas inside. With such a configuration, it is possible to obtain the liquid feeding section having a low-cost and simple configuration.

As shown in FIG. 5, the floor cleaning robot 1B of the present embodiment is also provided with the stay section 20 where the main body 10 is stayed while cleaning is not being performed, similarly to the floor cleaning robot 1A of the first embodiment, but the stay section 20 of the present embodiment has a gas delivery valve 21 as the pressurized gas delivery section for delivering gas to the pressurized gas storage section 19. When the main body 10 stays in the stay section 20 while cleaning is not being performed, the pressurized air contained in the stay section 20 is connected to a valve connection port 19A shown in FIG. 7 of the gas delivery valve 21 and the pressurized gas storage section 19 can be filled with gas. Since the floor cleaning robot 1B of the present embodiment has such a configuration, it is possible to automatically inject gas into the pressurized gas storage section 19 while cleaning is not being performed and it is possible to suppress a situation where pressurized gas is not sealed in the pressurized gas storage section 19 and the floor surface 31 cannot be cleaned at the time of cleaning. Note that, in order to enable pressurized gas to be sent out from the gas delivery valve 21, the stay section 20 may be configured to be equipped with, for example, a replaceable cassette type pressurized gas cylinder.

Third Embodiment

Hereinafter, a floor cleaning robot 1C of a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 3 in the floor cleaning robot 1A of the first embodiment, and also corresponding to FIG. 7 in the floor cleaning robot 1B of the second embodiment. The floor cleaning robot 1C of the present embodiment is the same as the floor cleaning robot 1B of the second embodiment except for the configuration described below. Therefore, the floor cleaning robot 1C of the present embodiment has the same features as the floor cleaning robot 1C of the second embodiment except for the points described below. Therefore, in FIG. 8, constituent members common to the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference symbols, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 8, the floor cleaning robot 1C of the present embodiment has a second storage section 47 for storing the liquid 3 sucked by the suction section 18 in the main body 10. Therefore, the floor cleaning robot 1C of the present embodiment can collect the liquid 3 collected via a liquid flow path 48 in the second storage section 47.

As shown in FIG. 8, the floor cleaning robot 1C of the present embodiment includes, in the main body 10, a second connection flow path 42 connecting the second storage section 47 and the first storage 11. Therefore, the floor cleaning robot 1C of the present embodiment can send the liquid 3 collected in the second storage section 47 to the first storage 11 via the second connection flow path 42 and can reuse the liquid 3.

Note that in the floor cleaning robot 1C of the present embodiment, the filter 45 is formed in the liquid flow path 48, and the liquid 3 stored in the second storage section 47 can be reused. However, in the case where the liquid 3 is contaminated even after passing through the filter 45, it is also possible to dispose of the liquid 3 stored in the second storage section 47 without sending it to the first storage 11.

As shown in FIG. 8, the floor cleaning robot 1C of the present embodiment has a configuration in which a replaceable cassette type pressurized gas cylinder 46 can be mounted instead of having the pressurized gas storage section 19. The pressurized gas cylinder 46 can be easily replaced by a user, and a lightweight one can be used. Note that the pump 16 of the present embodiment has the same configuration as the pump 16 of the floor cleaning robot 1B of the second embodiment, but pressurized gas is sent to the gas chamber 16B from the pressurized gas cylinder 46 via a gas flow path 44.

Fourth Embodiment

Hereinafter, a floor cleaning robot 1D of a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 9A and 9B. FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams for explaining an up and down mechanism of the floor cleaning robot 1D of the present embodiment, and are diagrams comparing a state in which the facing surface 10A of the floor cleaning robot 1D is lowered with respect to the floor surface 31 (FIG. 9A) and a state in which it is raised (FIG. 9B). The floor cleaning robot 1D of the present embodiment is the same as the floor cleaning robot 1B of the second embodiment except for the configuration described below. Therefore, the floor cleaning robot 1D of the present embodiment has the same features as the floor cleaning robot 1B of the second embodiment except for the points described below. Therefore, in FIGS. 9A and 9B, constituent members common to the first to third embodiments are denoted by the same reference symbols, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the floor cleaning robot 1D of the present embodiment has, as the main body 10, an installation section 101 provided with the drive wheels 13, and a base section 105 provided with the nozzle forming section 12 on the facing surface 10A. The floor cleaning robot 1D of the present embodiment is provided with a helical shaft 103 which rotates in accordance with the rotation of a motor 102, and a jack section including arm sections 104 whose end sections are connected to the installation section 101 and the base section 105 and whose joint sections are engaged with the helical shaft 103. The floor cleaning robot 1D of the present embodiment can widen the gap between the floor surface 31 and the facing surface 10A by rotating the motor 102 and displacing the facing surface 10A from the state in FIG. 9A to the state in FIG. 9B, and can narrow the gap between the floor surface 31 and the facing surface 10A by rotating the motor 102 and displacing the facing surface 10A from the state in FIG. 9B to the state in FIG. 9A. With such a configuration, the position of the facing surface 10A with respect to the floor surface 31 can be moved up and down depending on whether the floor surface 31 is in a substantially flat planar state such as a flooring or in a state having fine irregularities such as a carpet.

Fifth Embodiment

Hereinafter, a cleaning apparatus 2 as the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the cleaning apparatus 2 of the present embodiment. The cleaning apparatus 2 of the present embodiment is provided with constituent members common to the first to fourth embodiments. Therefore, the cleaning apparatus 2 of the present embodiment has the same features as the floor cleaning robot 1 of the first to fourth embodiments in points of the use of common constituent members. Therefore, in FIG. 10, constituent members common to the first to fourth embodiments are denoted by the same reference symbols, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 10, the cleaning apparatus 2 of the present embodiment has, as the main body 10, a head section 10a having the facing surface 10A and a grip section 10b that the user grips when cleaning using the cleaning apparatus 2 of the present embodiment. The nozzle forming section 12 provided with the plurality of nozzles 12A and the absorbent pad 14 as the collection section are provided on the facing surface 10A of the head section 10a in the same manner as the floor cleaning robot 1A of the first embodiment. The main body 10 is provided with the first storage 11 for storing the liquid 3.

That is, the cleaning apparatus 2 of the present embodiment includes the head section 10a and the first storage 11 for storing the liquid 3. The cleaning apparatus 2 of the present embodiment is provided with at least one nozzle 12A that is disposed on the facing surface 10A facing the floor surface 31 of the head section 10a. The at least one nozzle 12A ejects the liquid 3 in the continuous flow 3a and also converts the continuous flow 3a into droplets 3b so that the liquid collides with the floor surface 31 in the form of droplets 3b. The cleaning apparatus 2 of the present embodiment includes the absorbent pad 14 disposed at a position different from the nozzles 12A of the facing surface 10A and that is for collecting the liquid 3 that was ejected from the nozzles 12A onto the floor surface 31. Since the cleaning apparatus 2 of the present embodiment has such a configuration, for example, compared to a configuration in which the liquid 3 is simply ejected in droplets 3b or a configuration in which the liquid 3 collides with the floor surface 31 in the continuous flow 3a, it is possible to dramatically increase the collision energy when the liquid 3 collides with the floor surface 31. Therefore, the cleaning apparatus 2 of the present embodiment can clean the floor surface 31 by peeling off the contamination on the floor surface 31 by the droplet impact pressure and the cleaning efficiency of the floor surface 31 can be improved without increasing the size.

The present disclosure is not limited to the above described embodiments, and can be realized by various configurations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The technical features in the embodiments corresponding to the technical features in the aspects described in the summary of the disclosure can be replaced or combined as appropriate in order to solve some or all of the problems described above or in order to achieve some or all of the effects described above. If a technical feature is not described as an essential feature in the present specification, the technical feature can be deleted as appropriate. For example, the technique employed in the floor cleaning robot 1 of each of the above embodiments may be mounted on the cleaning apparatus 2 of the above embodiment. Further, the floor cleaning robot 1 of each of the above described embodiments and the cleaning apparatus 2 of the above described embodiments may be further provided with a mechanism for sucking foreign matters such as dust and dirt existing on the floor 30. As the cleaning apparatus 2, in addition to a configuration in which the head section 10a as a part of the main body 10 is constantly provided, the head section 10a is separate from the main body 10 and the head section 10a and the main body 10 is a flexible tube (hose) or the like may be configured to be connected by such.

FLOOR CLEANING ROBOT AND CLEANING APPARATUS

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