ROBOT CLEANER STATION

Abstract

A robot cleaner station includes a cleaner seating portion including a suction port, a collection device including a collection chamber, and a station suction device configured to generate a suction force such that dirt from the dust collection device is suctioned into the collection chamber, and a connection part having one end connectable to the suction port and another end connectable to the collection chamber. The connection part comprises: a guide unit horizontally extending in the cleaner seating portion, a vortex region, inside the guide unit between one side of the guide unit where the guide unit starts to horizontally extend and the suction port, and where a vortex causing settlement of the dirt is formed, and a ventilation hole configured to allow a flow of external air from the one side of the guide unit at which the guide unit starts to horizontally extend to the vortex region.

Description

BACKGROUND

Field

The disclosure relates to a robot cleaner station capable of optimizing a suction passage for suctioning dirt suctioned from a dust collector of a robot cleaner into a collection chamber.

Discussion of Related Art

In general, a robot cleaner is a device that automatically cleans a cleaning space by suctioning dirt such as dust accumulated on the floor while moving the cleaning space without a user's manipulation. The robot cleaner travels in the cleaning space and cleans the cleaning space.

The robot cleaner determines the distance to obstacles such as furniture, office supplies, and walls installed in the cleaning area through a distance sensor, and cleans the cleaning area while changing direction by itself by selectively driving the left and right wheel motors of the robot cleaner.

The robot cleaner may clean the floor using a cleaning pad equipped with wet or dry cloth, or may clean the floor using a dust collector.

Dirt collected in the dust collector of the robot cleaner that cleans the floor through the dust collector may be manually emptied by the user or automatically emptied by a collection device provided at a robot cleaner station.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided a robot cleaner station including: a cleaner seating portion on which a robot cleaner is to be seated, the cleaner seating portion including a suction port through which dirt from a dust collection device of the robot cleaner is suctioned; a collection device including a collection chamber to collect the dirt from the dust collection device of the robot cleaner that is suctioned through the suction port of the cleaner seating portion while the robot cleaner is seated on the cleaner seating portion, and a station suction device configured to generate a suction force such that the dirt from the dust collection device of the robot cleaner is suctioned into the collection chamber; and a connection part having one end connectable to the suction port and an other end connectable to the collection chamber, wherein the connection part includes: a guide unit formed in a region of the one end of the connection part that is connectable to the suction port, the guide unit horizontally extending in the cleaner seating portion; a vortex region inside the guide unit between one side of the guide unit where the guide unit starts to horizontally extend in the cleaner seating portion and the suction port, the vortex region being where a vortex that causes settlement of the dirt is formed; and a ventilation hole configured to allow a flow of external air directed from the one side of the guide unit, where the guide unit starts to horizontally extend, to the vortex region.

The guide unit may include an upper guide housing forming an upper part of the guide unit and a lower guide housing forming a lower part of the guide unit, the upper guide housing being arrangeable to correspond with the lower guide housing, and the upper guide housing and the lower guide housing are in close contact with each other to form the guide unit.

The lower guide housing may include a guide plate and a fence portion formed along an edge of the guide plate and protruding along an upward direction, and the upper guide housing may include a guide side wall that comes into contact with an outer circumference of the fence portion and forms a side surface of the guide unit.

The fence portion may include a hollow portion inside, and the hollow portion may be open toward a lower region of the guide plate.

The ventilation hole may be formed in the fence portion corresponding to the one side of the guide unit to thereby allow the flow of external air to be introduced through the ventilation hole and the hollow portion toward an inside of the guide unit.

The fence portion may include a first fence portion in contact with the guide side wall and a second fence portion inclined with respect to the first fence portion while the hollow portion is interposed therebetween, and the ventilation hole may be formed in the second fence portion.

The ventilation hole may be formed at a position spaced apart from a lower surface of the guide plate of the fence portion by a predetermined distance.

The fence portion may further include a recessed portion in which the vortex region is located, and the ventilation hole may be formed on both sides of the recessed portion.

The ventilation hole may be formed on the guide side wall corresponding to the one side of the guide unit, and the flow of external air may be formed to pass through the hollow portion and the ventilation hole formed in the guide side wall sequentially, prior to proceeding toward the vortex region.

The ventilation hole may be provided at a location higher than an upper end of the fence portion.

The robot cleaner station may further include a sealing member along a circumference of the lower guide housing, and the upper guide housing and the lower guide housing may be in close contact with each other with the sealing member interposed therebetween to form the guide unit.

The upper guide housing may be integrally formed with a base plate that forms the cleaner seating portion and faces a ground on which the robot cleaner station is seated.

The upper guide housing may include a plurality of support members fixable to the base plate while spacing the base plate from the ground by a predetermined distance.

The robot cleaner station may further include a first fastening portion formed on the base plate, a second fastening portion formed on a circumference of the lower guide housing to correspond to the first fastening portion, and a fastening member fixing the first fastening portion and the second fastening portion.

The ventilation hole may be among a plurality of ventilation holes.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided a robot cleaner station including: a cleaner seating portion on which a robot cleaner is to be seated, the cleaner seating portion including a suction port through which dirt from a dust collection device of the robot cleaner is suctioned; a collection device including a collection chamber to collect the dirt from the dust collection device of the robot cleaner that is suctioned through the suction port, and a station suction device configured to generate a suction force such that the dirt from the dust collection device of the robot cleaner is suctioned into the collection chamber; and a connection part having one end connectable to the suction port and another end connectable to the collection chamber. The connection part may include: a guide unit formed in a region of the one end of the connection part, that is connectable to the suction port, the guide unit extending in a front- to-rear direction in the cleaner seating portion; a ventilation hole formed on one side of the guide unit where the guide unit starts to extend in the front-to-rear direction in the cleaner seating portion, the ventilation hole being configured to allow a flow of external air along an extension direction of the guide unit from the one side.

The guide unit may include an upper guide housing and a lower guide housing which are in close contact with each other to form the guide unit, and the lower guide housing may include a guide plate and a fence portion formed along an edge of the guide plate and protruding along an upward direction, and the upper guide housing may include a guide side wall that comes into contact with an outer circumference of the fence portion and forms a side surface of the guide unit.

The ventilation hole may be, formed in the fence portion corresponding to the one side of the guide unit, to thereby allow the flow of external air to be introduced through the ventilation hole and the hollow portion with an inside of the guide unit.

The fence portion may further include a recessed portion, and the ventilation hole may be formed on both sides of the recessed portion.

The ventilation hole may be formed on the guide side wall corresponding to the one side of the guide unit. The ventilation hole may be among a plurality ventilation holes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which a robot cleaner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is located outside of a robot cleaner station.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a state in which the robot cleaner of FIG. 1 is seated on a robot cleaner station according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the inside of a robot cleaner station according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a path through which dirt is suctioned into a collection chamber by a connection part of a robot cleaner station according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the rear side of a robot cleaner station according to an embodiment of the present disclosure after removing the rear housing.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a cleaner seating portion of a robot cleaner station according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a state in which a lower guide housing is separated from a cleaner seating portion of a robot cleaner station according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion where a ventilation hole is formed in a lower guide housing of a robot cleaner station according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a view of FIG. 8 viewed from another side according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a cleaner seating portion of a robot cleaner station according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a portion where a ventilation hole is formed in a lower guide housing of a robot cleaner station according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a view of FIG. 11 viewed from another side according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a cleaner seating portion of a robot cleaner station according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of a portion where a ventilation hole is formed in an upper guide housing of a robot cleaner station according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a cleaner seating portion of a robot cleaner station according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are only one preferred example of the disclosed disclosure, and there may be various modifications that can replace the embodiments and drawings in this specification at the time of filing of the present application.

In addition, the same reference numerals or numerals presented in each drawing in this specification indicate parts or components that perform substantially the same function.

In addition, the terms used in the present specification are used to describe embodiments and are not intended to limit and/or limit the disclosed disclosure. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless they are explicitly meant differently in the context. In this specification, the term “including” or “have” is intended to specify that features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or a combination of them exist, and does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features or numbers, steps, components, parts, or a combination thereof.

In addition, terms including ordinal numbers such as “first” and “second” used herein may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by the terms, and the terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, a first element may be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element may be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The term “and/or” includes any combination of a plurality of related listed items or any of a plurality of related listed items.

On the other hand, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “upper”, and “lower” used in the following description are defined based on FIG. 1, and the shape and position of each component are not limited by this term.

The disclosure provides a robot cleaner station with an improved structure that can suppress the formation of vortexes in a suction passage to prevent dirt from remaining or stabilize the passage.

According to the disclosure, by forming a ventilation hole on one side of a guide unit, apart from an air flow that is transferred to the guide unit in communication with a suction port, a flow of external air can be formed so that dirt suctioned through a suction port is directed toward a vortex region from one side where the guide unit starts to extend. In this way, it is possible to suppress the generation of eddy currents, remove remaining dust, and stabilize the air flow for transporting the dirt.

Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which a robot cleaner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure moves away from a robot cleaner station. FIG. 2 is a view showing a state in which the robot cleaner of FIG. 1 is seated on a robot cleaner station.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a robot cleaner 10 may clean a floor surface while moving along the floor. The floor surface cleaned by the robot cleaner 10 may be referred to as a surface to be cleaned. The robot cleaner 10 may move to a robot cleaner station 100 when the robot cleaner 10 needs to be charged or when the robot cleaner 10 needs to be emptied because the inside of a dust collection chamber 16 of a dust collection device 15 is full of dirt.

The robot cleaner 10 may include a cleaner housing 11 having an accommodation space formed therein, and a cleaner cover 13 covering an open upper surface of the cleaner housing 11. Electrical components may be disposed inside the cleaner housing 11. The cleaner cover 13 may be detachably coupled to the cleaner housing 11.

A cleaner inlet 14a (see FIG. 4) may be formed in the cleaner housing 11. The cleaner inlet 14a may be formed toward the surface to be cleaned. The cleaner inlet 14a may be formed to pass through a bottom surface of the cleaner housing 11. Through the cleaner inlet 14a, dirt on the surface to be cleaned may flow into the dust collection chamber 16 of the dust collection device 15 together with air.

A drum blade 14b may be disposed at the cleaner inlet 14a. The drum blade 14b may be rotatably mounted with respect to the cleaner housing 11. The drum blade 14b may scatter dirt by hitting the surface to be cleaned. Scattered dirt may flow into the cleaner inlet 14a together with ambient air.

Dirt and/or air introduced through the cleaner inlet 14a may move to the dust collection device 15. Dirt and/or air may travel to the dust collection chamber 16 through a dirt inlet (not shown).

A cleaner discharge unit 18 may be provided in the cleaner housing 11. The cleaner discharge unit 18 may be disposed on the rear side of the robot cleaner 10. The cleaner discharge unit 18 may discharge air introduced through the cleaner inlet 14a by a suction force generated by a cleaner suction device (not shown) to the outside of the robot cleaner 10.

The robot cleaner 10 may include a battery 19. The battery 19 may be provided to be rechargeable. The battery 19 may provide power required for driving the robot cleaner 10.

The robot cleaner 10 may include a display 17. The display 17 may display a driving state of the robot cleaner 10. The display 17 may be provided as a touch screen to receive a user's command. The display 17 may be located at an end opposite to a direction in which the robot cleaner 10 is docked to the robot cleaner station 100. Specifically, as the robot cleaner 10 reverses and docks onto the robot cleaner station 100, the display 17 located at the front end of the robot cleaner 10 may be exposed to the user even in a state in which the robot cleaner 10 is docked onto the robot cleaner station 100.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the inside of a robot cleaner station according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a path through which dirt is suctioned into a collection chamber by a connection part of a robot cleaner station according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the rear side of a robot cleaner station according to an embodiment of the present disclosure after removing the rear housing. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a cleaner seating portion of a robot cleaner station according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a view showing a state in which a lower guide housing is separated from a cleaner seating portion of a robot cleaner station according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The robot cleaner 10 is described with reference to the drawings shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the robot cleaner station 100 may include a station housing 110 having an accommodation space formed therein and a cleaner seating portion 120 on which the robot cleaner 10 is placed.

The robot cleaner station 100, when the robot cleaner 10 is seated on the cleaner seating portion 120, may charge the battery(not shown) of the robot cleaner 10, or collect the dirt in the dust collection chamber 16 of the robot cleaner 10.

The station housing 110 may include a front housing 111 and a rear housing 113 coupled to a rear surface of the front housing 111. The rear housing 113 may include a rear cover 117 covering a rear surface of the rear housing 113.

At least a portion of a collection device 130 for collecting dirt collected in the dust collection chamber 16 of the robot cleaner 10 may be disposed inside the station housing 110. Electrical components for charging the battery of the robot cleaner 10 may be disposed inside the station housing 110.

A first air outlet 115 may be formed in the rear housing 113. The first air outlet 115 may be provided to allow air suctioned by a station suction device 131 from the dust collection chamber 16 of the robot cleaner 10 to be discharged to the outside of the robot cleaner station 100. The first air outlet 115 may be disposed on the rear surface of the rear housing 113.

A discharge filter 101 disposed to filter air discharged through the first air outlet 115 may be provided in the rear housing 113. The discharge filter 101 may be arranged to filter air discharged from the station suction device 131. The discharge filter 101 may be disposed adjacent to the first air outlet 115. The discharge filter 101 may include a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.

The rear cover 117 may be provided with a second air outlet 119 for discharging the air discharged through the first air outlet 115 and filtered by the discharge filter 101 to the outside of the robot cleaner station 100.

A station power board 103 may be provided in the station housing 110. The station power board 103 may be configured to receive power supplied from the outside and convert the power to be suitable for the robot cleaner station 100. The station power board 103 may be located at the lower rear of the station housing 110.

A station controller 105 may be provided in the station housing 110. The station controller 105 may be electrically connected to the station power board 103. The station controller 105 may control a lever device 140. The station controller 105 may control the lever device 140 to be driven when the robot cleaner 10 is seated on the robot cleaner station 100. The station controller 105 may control the station suction device 131. The station controller 105 may control a station charging terminal 123.

A collection device 130 may be provided to collect dirt collected in the dust collection chamber 16 of the robot cleaner 10. The collection device 130 may include a station suction device 131 and a collection chamber 133.

When the robot cleaner 10 is seated on the robot cleaner station 100, the station suction device 131 may generate a suction force for suctioning dirt from the dust collection chamber 16. The station suction device 131 suctions dirt and/or air from the dust collection chamber 16 of the robot cleaner 10, collects the dirt in the collection chamber 133, and discharges the air to the outside of the robot cleaner station 100 through the first air outlet 115 and the second air outlet 119.

The collection chamber 133 may filter out dirt from dirt and/or air introduced into the robot cleaner station 100 by the station suction device 131 and collect the dirt. A device (not shown) may be provided in the collection chamber 133 to filter out dirt from the dirt and/or air guided by a connection part 200. The collection chamber 133 may include a dirt bag portion 136 accommodated inside the collection chamber 133. The dirt bag portion 136 may be detachably fastened to the collection chamber 133. When the dirt bag part 136 is fastened to the collection chamber 133, the dirt transported through the connection part 200 may pass through an opening 261 and be collected inside the dirt bag portion 136. When the inside of the dirt bag portion 136 is filled with dirt, the dirt bag portion 136 may be separated from the collection chamber 133 and the dirt bag portion 136 may be discarded. When dirt is transported through the connection part 200 in a state in which the dirt back portion 136 is separated from the collection chamber 133, the dirt may be collected inside the collection chamber 133.

The cleaner seating portion 120 may be provided so that the robot cleaner 10 is seated thereon. The cleaner seating portion 120 may support a lower portion of the station housing 110.

The cleaner seating portion 120 may include an upper cover 120a and a base plate 120b. The cleaner seating portion 120 may further include a lower guide housing 212 (see FIG. 3) coupled to the base plate 120b.

The upper cover 120a may be connected to the front housing 111, cover the top of the base plate 120b, and be coupled to the base plate 120b. The robot cleaner 10 may be seated on the upper cover 120a.

The base plate 120b may be disposed under the upper cover 120a. The base plate 120b may be coupled to the upper cover 120a to support the lower portion of the station housing 110.

A suction port 201 communicating with the dust collection chamber 16 of the robot cleaner 10 may be provided in the cleaner seating portion 120.

Referring to FIG. 4, since the cleaner seating portion 120 is provided to support the lower portion of the station housing 110 while the base plate 120b is coupled to the upper cover 120a, the suction port 201 may also be formed by coupling a cover opening 121 formed in the upper cover 120a to a communication opening 212 formed in the base plate 120b. The cover opening 121 and the communication opening 212 may be provided in shapes corresponding to each other.

That is, the suction port 201 may be formed when the cover opening 121 and the communication opening 212 come into contact with each other. However, in the following description, the cover opening 121 or the communication opening 212 may be used as the same meaning as the suction port 201.

The suction port 201 may be provided to, while being opened by an opening link 141 of the lever device 140 described below, after the robot cleaner 10 being seated on the cleaner seating portion 120, correspond to the opening of the dust collection chamber 16.

The shape of the suction port 201 may be provided in a substantially rectangular shape corresponding to the opening of the dust collection chamber 16. However, the shape of the suction port 201 is not limited thereto. For example, the shape of the suction port 201 may be provided in various shapes that may effectively transmit the suction power of station suction device 131 by communicating the dust collection chamber 16 with a guide unit 210 of the connection part 200 in response to the dust collection chamber 16 being opened.

A station charging terminal 123 for charging the battery of the robot cleaner 10 may be provided in the cleaner seating portion 120. The station charging terminal 123 may be electrically connected to the battery of the robot cleaner 10 to supply power when the robot cleaner 10 is seated on the cleaner seating portion 120. The station charging terminal 123 may charge the battery of the robot cleaner 10 in a wireless charging method.

A lever device 140 may be disposed on the cleaner seating portion 120. The lever device 140 may be provided to selectively communicate the collection device 130 with the dust collection chamber 16 of the robot cleaner 10. The lever device 140 may selectively communicate the collection device 130 with the dust collection chamber 16 of the robot cleaner 10 through an opening link 141.

For example, when the robot cleaner 10 is seated on the cleaner seating portion 120 and presses the station charging terminal 123, the station controller 105 may control the lever device 140 to operate.

The station controller 105 may control the lever device 140 to operate while the robot cleaner 10 is seated on the robot cleaner station 100. When the lever device 140 is driven, the opening link 141 rotates toward the suction port 201, and opens a lower door 15a of the dust collection chamber 16 that closes the opening of the dust collection chamber 16.

The opening link 141 may be provided in a multi-link structure, and one end of the opening link 141 may be provided to include a magnetic material, and the lower door 15a may also be provided to include a magnetic material so as to be coupled to the one end of the opening link 141 by attraction. Therefore, the lever device 140 rotates the opening link 141 toward the suction port 201 to allow the opening link 141 to be coupled to the lower door 15a of the dust collection chamber 16, and then rotates the opening link 141 in the opposite direction to the rotation to open the opening of the dust collection chamber 16.

When the opening of the dust collection chamber 16 is opened, the dust collection chamber 16 and the guide unit 210 of the connection part 200 communicate with each other, so that the suction force of the station suction device 131 may be effectively transmitted.

The robot cleaner station 100 may include the connection part 200 connecting the suction port 201 to the collection chamber 133.

Dirt collected in the dust collection chamber 16 of the robot cleaner 10 may be suctioned into the suction port 201 communicating with the dust collection chamber 16 by the suction force generated by the station suction device 131. The dirt suctioned into the suction port 201 may be transferred to the connection part 200 by the suction force generated by the station suction device 131. The dirt transferred to the connection part 200 may be suctioned into the collection chamber 133 connected to the connection part 200 and collected in the collection chamber 133. The connection part 200 may connect the suction port 201 of the cleaner seating portion 120 to the collection chamber 133. One end of the connection part 200 may be connected to the suction port 201 and the other end may be connected to the collection chamber 133.

The connection part 200 may include a guide unit 210 communicating with the suction port 201, a connection hose 220 having one end detachably fastened to the guide unit 210, and a suction pipe 260 provided in the collection chamber 133 and to which the other end of the connection hose 220 is detachably fastened.

That is, the guide unit 210 may be provided as a part of the connection part 200. The guide unit 210 may be disposed inside the cleaner seating portion 120. The guide unit 210 may be provided in an area adjacent to one end of the connection part 200 connected to the suction port 201, in the interior of the cleaner seating portion 120.

Due to the suction force generated by the station suction device 131, dirt in the dust collection chamber 16 may be suctioned into the suction port 201. The dirt suctioned through the suction port 201 may be transferred to the guide unit 210 communicating with the suction port 201. The dirt transferred to the guide unit 210 may be collected into the collection chamber 133 through the connection hose 220 and the suction pipe 260.

The guide unit 210 may be provided to form a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. Specifically, the guide unit 210 may have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and may be provided such that the width gradually decreases from the front of the guide unit 210 to the rear of the guide unit 210. That is, it may be provided in an approximate flipper shape. This is to increase the flow rate of the gas flowing inside the guide unit 210 by making the cross-sectional area of the guide unit 210 narrower toward the rear of the guide unit 210.

The guide unit 210 may be provided to extend in a horizontal direction D1 inside the cleaner seating portion 120. One end of the guide unit 210 may be located in the front, and the other end of the guide unit 210 may be located in the rear. That is, the guide unit 210 may extend in the front-rear directions inside the cleaner seating portion 120. However, the front-rear direction may be one of a number of horizontal directions D1 that may be assumed based on the inside of the cleaner seating portion 120.

The guide unit 120 may include a communication opening 211 formed at the one end of the guide unit 210 located in the front and a connection hose fastening portion 202 formed at the other end of the guide unit 210 located in the rear.

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, the communication opening 211 and the fastening portion 202 may be formed on the front side and the rear side of the upper surface of the guide unit 120, respectively.

The communication opening 211 may communicate with the suction port 201, the connection hose fastening portion 202 may allow one end of the connection hose 220 to be detachably fastened thereto, and a guide passage 219 may be provided between the communication opening 211 and the connection hose fastening portion 202 and through which dirt is guided.

The communication opening 211 may communicate with the suction port 201 to transfer dirt suctioned into the suction port 201 to the guide passage 219.

The guide unit 210 may be provided to extend in the horizontal direction D1 inside the cleaner seating portion 120 as described above. Similarly, the guide passage 219 may also be provided to extend in the horizontal direction D1 inside the cleaner seating portion 120. The detailed structure of the guide unit 210 will be described below.

The guide passage 219 may be provided to extend from the communication opening 211. The connection hose fastening portion 202 may extend from the guide passage 219 to have an angle of 90 degrees or more and 180 degrees or less. The drawing shows a state in which the connection hose fastening portion 202 is extended to have an angle of 90 degrees from the guide passage 219. The connection hose 220 may be detachably fastened to the connection hose fastening portion 202.

The connection hose 220 may connect the guide unit 210 to the suction pipe 260. Both ends of the connection hose 220 may be detachably fastened to the guide unit 210 and the suction pipe 260, respectively. The connection hose 220 may be formed of a flexible material. The connection hose 220 may be accommodated inside the station housing 110. The connection hose 220 is formed of a flexible material so that a suction passage 250 connecting the guide passage 219 and the suction pipe 260 inside the station housing 110 may be optimized. The connection hose 220 may be provided as a stretch hose whose length is adjustable.

The connection hose 220 may include a first fastening portion 230 detachably fastened to the guide unit 210, a second fastening portion 240 detachably fastened to the suction pipe 260, and a suction passage 250 provided between the first fastening portion 230 and the second fastening portion 240 and through which dirt of the dust collection chamber 16 is suctioned.

Dirt suctioned through the suction port 201 and transferred to the guide passage 219 may be transferred to the suction pipe 260 through the suction passage 250.

The suction pipe 260 may be provided in the collection chamber 133 so that the dirt of the dust collection chamber 16 guided by the guide passage 219 of the guide unit 210 is suctioned into the collection chamber 133.

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 7, the guide unit 210 may include an upper guide housing 211 forming the upper portion of the guide unit 210 and a lower guide housing 212 forming the lower portion of the guide unit 210 and corresponding to the upper guide housing 211.

The upper guide housing 211 and the lower guide housing 212 may be in close contact with each other to form the guide unit 210. The upper guide housing 211 may be integrally formed with the base plate 120b. The upper guide housing 211 may be provided in a shape protruding convexly from the base plate 120b upward. That is, the upper guide housing 211 and the base plate 120b may form a substantially fedora shape.

A plurality of support members 400 may be fixed to the lower surface of the base plate 120b. Since the plurality of support members 400 separate the base plate 120b from a ground G by a predetermined distance L2, the inflow of outside air may easily occur into a hollow portion 214c described below. In addition, since the plurality of support members 400 are formed of an elastic material, the frictional force with the ground G is increased to more stably support the robot cleaner station 100.

The cleaner seating portion 120 may further include a first fastening portion 218b formed on the base plate 120b and a second fastening portion 218a formed on a circumference of the lower guide housing 212. The second fastening portion 218a may be provided to correspond to the first fastening portion 218b. The first fastening portion 218b and the second fastening portion 218a may be fixed to each other through a fastening member 218c.

Specifically, referring to FIG. 7, when the upper guide housing 211 and the lower guide housing 212 come into close contact with each other to form the guide unit 210, the guide unit 210 may form an enclosed space with the outside of the guide unit 210 except for the communication opening 211 and the fastening portion 202 respectively formed on the front and rear of the upper surface of a guide unit 120.

Referring to FIG. 4, the lower guide housing 212 may be coupled to the base plate 120b in a direction D2 from the lower side of the base plate 120b toward the base plate 120b. The lower guide housing 212 may be coupled to the base plate 120b to form the guide unit 210 that is an enclosed space (except for the communication opening 211 and the fastening portion 202 formed in the guide unit 210). The coupling of the lower guide housing 212 to the base plate 120b may be taken to mean that the upper guide housing 211 and the lower guide housing 212 are in close contact with each other.

Referring to FIG. 4, a suction force generated by the station suction device 131 may form an airflow that allows dust in the dust collection chamber 16 to be suctioned into the suction port 201 and transfer the dust suctioned into the suction port 201 to the guide unit 210 communicating with the suction port 201. The direction of the air flow may be defined as a suction force acting direction (D1, see FIG. 8). The suction force acting direction D1 may be defined as one direction from the suction port 201 toward the connection hose fastening portion 202 among the horizontal directions D1, which is the direction in which the guide unit 210 extends.

In this case, as described in FIG. 4, between the lower door 15a of the dust collection chamber 16 opened toward the suction port 201 and the one side 210a of the guide unit 210 at which the guide unit 210 starts to extend, a vortex may be generated separately from the air flow that transfers the dirt suctioned into the suction port 201 to the guide portion 210 communicating with the suction port 201. The region in which such a vortex occurs may be defined as a vortex region V.

Since a vortex is formed, dirt may be caused to settle in the region between the lower door 15a of the dust collection chamber 16 and the one side 210a of the guide unit 210 at which the guide unit 210 starts to extend. In addition, due to the formation of the vortex, the air flow that transfers the dirt suctioned into the suction port 201 to the guide unit 210 communicating with the suction port 201 becomes unstable.

Therefore, apart from the air flow that transfers dirt suctioned into the suction port 201 to the guide unit 210 communicating with the suction port 201, a flow of external air directed from the one side 210a, at which the guide unit 210 starts to extend, toward the vortex region V may be formed to suppress the generation of the above-described vortex, thereby removing residual dust and stabilizing the air flow for transporting dirt.

Hereinafter, the formation position of a ventilation hole 300 provided in the guide unit 210 will be described in detail. The guide unit 210 may be formed by closely contacting the upper guide housing 211 and the lower guide housing 212 as described above. Therefore, the ventilation hole 300 may be formed in at least one of the upper guide housing 211 and the lower guide housing 212.

The ventilation hole 300 may be provided in plurality. Referring to FIGS. 8, 11 and 14, the ventilation hole 300 may be provided as two or three ventilation holes. However, the number of ventilation holes 300 is not limited thereto, and may be provided in a variety of numbers capable of effectively forming a flow of external air capable of suppressing vortex flow.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion where a ventilation hole is formed in a lower guide housing of a robot cleaner station according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 9 is a view of FIG. 8 viewed from another side. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a cleaner seating portion of a robot cleaner station according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Apart from the airflow that transfers dirt suctioned into the suction port 201 to the guide unit 210 communicating with the suction port 201, there is a need to form a flow of external air directed from the one side 210a, at which the guide unit 210 starts to extend toward the vortex region V. Accordingly, the ventilation hole 300 may be formed on the one side 210a of the guide unit 210. Specifically, the ventilation hole 300 may be formed in the lower guide housing 212 formed adjacent to the one side 210a of the guide unit 210. The specific formation position of the ventilation hole 300 formed in the guide unit 210 of the robot cleaner station 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is as follows.

The lower guide housing 212 may include a guide plate 213 forming the bottom of the guide unit 210 and a fence portion 214 formed along an edge of the guide plate 213 and protruding upward.

The upper guide housing 211 may include a guide side wall 215 that comes into contact with an outer circumference of the fence portion 214 and forms a side surface of the guide unit 210.

Therefore, when the upper guide housing 211 and the lower guide housing 212 come into close contact with each other, the guide unit 210 may be formed by the upper surface of the upper guide housing 211, the guide side wall 215, the fence portion 214, and the guide plate 213.

The fence portion 214 may include a hollow portion 214c therein. Since the fence portion 214 is formed along the circumference of the guide plate 213, the hollow portion 214c may also be formed along the circumference of the guide plate 213. By forming the hollow portion 214c, external air may be easily introduced into the guide unit 210 through the lower portion of the base plate 120b.

The ventilation hole 300 may be formed in the fence portion 214 corresponding to the one side 210a of the guide unit 210 so as to communicate the hollow portion 214c with the inside of the guide unit 210.

Specifically, the fence portion 214 may include a first fence portion 214a and a second fence portion 214b inclined with the first fence portion 214a with the hollow portion 214c interposed between the first fence portion 214a and the second fence portion 214b. The first fence portion 214a may be provided to contact the guide side wall 215.

The ventilation hole 300 may be formed in the second fence portion 214 positioned inward than the first fence portion 214a in the guide unit 210. The ventilation hole 300 may be formed at a height spaced apart from the bottom surface of the guide plate 213 by a predetermined distance L1 in the inclined surface of the second fence portion 214b.

As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, when the suction force starts to be generated by the station suction device 131, external air staying in the hollow portion 214c passes through the ventilation hole 300, generating a flow of external air in a direction D3 from the one side 210a of the guide unit 210 at which the guide unit 210 starts to extend toward the vortex region V. In addition, by forming the inclined surface, dirt may easily flow down to the inner side of the guide unit 210. In addition, since the ventilation hole 300 is formed at a height spaced apart by a predetermined distance L1 from the bottom surface of the guide plate 213, dirt may not easily leak out through the ventilation hole 300.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a portion where a ventilation hole is formed in a lower guide housing of a robot cleaner station according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 12 is a view of FIG. 11 viewed from another side. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a cleaner seating portion of a robot cleaner station according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Hereinafter, in relation to the robot cleaner station according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, overlapping parts with the above-described configuration will be omitted and the differences will be mainly described.

A lower guide housing 212′ of a robot cleaner station 100 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure of FIG. 11 may include a recessed portion 214d in a fence portion 214 shown in FIG. 11.

The recessed portion 214d may be provided in a structure concavely recessed from an inclined surface of the second fence portion 214b of the fence portion 214. In this case, ventilation holes 300 may be formed on both sides of the recessed portion 214d. Specifically, a pair of ventilation holes 300 may be formed to face each other.

As shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, when the suction force starts to be generated by the station suction device 131, external air staying in the hollow portion 214c may flow through the ventilation holes 300 in a direction D5 from both sides of the recessed portion 214 toward the center of the recessed portion 214d.

The flows of external air flowing in the direction D5 from both sides of the recessed portion 214d toward the center of the recessed portion 214d are brought to a structure in which the flows join at the midpoint of the recessed portion 214d while having the suction force exerted by the station suction device 131, and thus are caused to flow again in the direction D3 from the one side 210a of the guide unit 210 at which the guide unit 210 starts to extend toward the vortex region V to flow.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of a portion where a ventilation hole is formed in an upper guide housing of a robot cleaner station according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a cleaner seating portion of a robot cleaner station according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Hereinafter, in relation to a robot cleaner station according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, overlapping parts with the above-described configuration will be omitted and the differences will be mainly described.

Unlike other embodiments, in a robot cleaner station 100 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 14, a ventilation hole 300 may be formed in an upper guide housing 21.

Specifically, the ventilation hole 300 may be formed on the guide side wall 215 corresponding to the one side 210a of a guide unit 210. The ventilation hole 300 may be formed at a height spaced apart from the bottom surface of the guide plate 213 by a predetermined distance L1 so as to be positioned higher than the upper end of a fence portion 214.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, when the suction force starts to be generated by the station suction device 131, external air staying in the space between the upper cover 120a and the base plate 120b may pass through the ventilation hole 300, generating a flow of external air in a direction D3 from the one side 210a of the guide unit 210 at which the guide unit 210 starts to extend toward the vortex region V. In addition, by forming the inclined surface, dirt may easily flow down into the guide part 210. In addition, since the ventilation hole 300 is formed at a height spaced apart by a predetermined distance L1 from the bottom surface of the guide plate 213, dirt may not easily leak out through the ventilation hole 300.

Claims

1. A robot cleaner station comprising: a cleaner seating portion on which a robot cleaner is to be seated, the cleaner seating portion including a suction port through which dirt from a dust collection device of the robot cleaner is suctioned;a collection device including a collection chamber to collect the dirt from the dust collection device of the robot cleaner that is suctioned through the suction port of the cleaner seating portion while the robot cleaner is seated on the cleaner seating portion, and a station suction device configured to generate a suction force such that the dirt from the dust collection device of the robot cleaner is suctioned into the collection chamber; anda connection part having one end connectable to the suction port and another end connectable to the collection chamber,wherein the connection part comprises: a guide unit formed in a region of the one end of the connection part that is connectable to the suction port, the guide unit horizontally extending in the cleaner seating portion;a vortex region inside the guide unit between one side of the guide unit where the guide unit starts to horizontally extend in the cleaner seating portion and the suction port, the vortex region being where a vortex that causes settlement of the dirt is formed; anda ventilation hole configured to allow a flow of external air directed from the one side of the guide unit, where the guide unit starts to horizontally extend, to the vortex region.

2. The robot cleaner station according to claim 1, wherein the guide unit comprises an upper guide housing forming an upper part of the guide unit and a lower guide housing forming a lower part of the guide unit, the upper guide housing being arrangeable to correspond with the lower guide housing, and the upper guide housing and the lower guide housing are in close contact with each other to form the guide unit.

3. The robot cleaner station according to claim 2, wherein the lower guide housing comprises a guide plate and a fence portion formed along an edge of the guide plate and protruding along an upward direction, and the upper guide housing comprises a guide side wall that comes into contact with an outer circumference of the fence portion and forms a side surface of the guide unit.

4. The robot cleaner station according to claim 3, wherein the fence portion comprises a hollow portion inside, and the hollow portion is open toward a lower region of the guide plate.

5. The robot cleaner station according to claim 4, wherein the ventilation hole is formed in the fence portion corresponding to the one side of the guide unit to thereby allow the flow of external air to be introduced through the ventilation hole and the hollow portion toward an inside of the guide unit.

6. The robot cleaner station according to claim 5, wherein the fence portion comprises a first fence portion in contact with the guide side wall and a second fence portion inclined with respect to the first fence portion while the hollow portion is interposed therebetween, and the ventilation hole is formed in the second fence portion.

7. The robot cleaner station according to claim 5, wherein the ventilation hole is formed at a position spaced apart from a lower surface of the guide plate of the fence portion by a predetermined distance.

8. The robot cleaner station according to claim 5, wherein the fence portion further comprises a recessed portion in which the vortex region is located, and the ventilation hole is formed on both sides of the recessed portion.

9. The robot cleaner station according to claim 4, wherein the ventilation hole is formed on the guide side wall corresponding to the one side of the guide unit, and the flow of external air is formed to pass through the hollow portion and the ventilation hole formed in the guide side wall sequentially, prior to proceeding toward the vortex region.

10. The robot cleaner station according to claim 9, wherein the ventilation hole is at a location higher than an upper end of the fence portion.

11. The robot cleaner station according to claim 2, further comprising a sealing member along a circumference of the lower guide housing, and the upper guide housing and the lower guide housing being in close contact with each other with the sealing member interposed therebetween to form the guide unit.

12. The robot cleaner station according to claim 2, wherein the upper guide housing is integrally formed with a base plate that forms the cleaner seating portion and faces a ground on which the robot cleaner station is seated, and the upper guide housing comprises a plurality of support members fixable to the base plate while spacing the base plate from the ground by a predetermined distance.

13. The robot cleaner station according to claim 12, further comprising a first fastening portion formed on the base plate, a second fastening portion formed on a circumference of the lower guide housing to correspond to the first fastening portion, and a fastening member fixing the first fastening portion and the second fastening portion.

14. The robot cleaner station according to claim 1, wherein the ventilation hole is among a plurality of ventilation holes.

15. A robot cleaner station comprising: a cleaner seating portion on which a robot cleaner is to be seated, the cleaner seating portion including a suction port through which dirt from a dust collection device of the robot cleaner is suctioned;a collection device including a collection chamber to collect the dirt from the dust collection device of the robot cleaner that is suctioned through the suction port of the cleaner seating portion while the robot cleaner is seated on the cleaner seating portion, and a station suction device configured to generate a suction force such that the dirt from the dust collection device of the robot cleaner is suctioned into the collection chamber; anda connection part having one end connectable to the suction port and another end connectable to the collection chamber,wherein the connection part comprises: a guide unit formed in a region of the one end of the connection part, that is connectable to the suction port, the guide unit extending in a front-to-rear direction in the cleaner seating portion;a ventilation hole formed on one side of the guide unit where the guide unit starts to extend in the front-to-rear direction in the cleaner seating portion, the ventilation hole being configured to allow a flow of external air along an extension direction of the guide unit from the one side.