Robot cleaner system having robot cleaner and docking station

Abstract

A robot cleaner system having an improved docking structure between a robot cleaner and a docking station, which is capable of an easy docking operation of the robot cleaner and preventing loss of a suction force generated in the docking station. The robot cleaner includes a docking portion to be inserted into a dust suction hole of the docking station upon a docking operation. The docking portion may be a protrusion, which protrudes out of a robot body to be inserted into a dust suction path defined in the docking station, the protrusion communicates a dust discharge hole of the robot cleaner with the dust suction path of the docking station. The robot cleaner system includes a coupling device to keep the robot cleaner and the docking station in their docked state. The coupling device is configured to have a variety of shapes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an outer appearance of a robot cleaner system according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are side sectional views, respectively illustrating the configuration of a robot cleaner and a docking station of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the robot cleaner system illustrating a docked state between the robot cleaner and the docking station;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are an enlarged sectional view and a partial cut-away perspective view, respectively, showing the circle ‘C’ of FIG. 2 and the circle ‘D’ of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating a docked state of the robot cleaner of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the robot cleaner system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are perspective views schematically illustrating the outer appearance of a robot cleaner system according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view illustrating a protrusion and a guide path provided in a robot cleaner system according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view illustrating a docked state of a robot cleaner of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view illustrating a first opening/closing device and a guide path provided in a robot cleaner system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view illustrating a docked state of a robot cleaner of FIG. 12;

FIGS. 14 and 15 are side sectional views, respectively, illustrating a robot cleaner and a docking station of a robot cleaner system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 16A to 16C are sectional views illustrating operational parts of the robot cleaner system according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the configuration of a robot cleaner system according a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 18 and 19 are side sectional views, respectively, illustrating the configuration of a robot cleaner and a docking station of the robot cleaner system of FIG. 17;

FIGS. 20A to 20C are plan views illustrating operational parts of the robot cleaner system of FIG. 17;

FIG. 21 is a sectional view illustrating a guide path of a robot cleaner and a docking portion of a docking station provided in a robot cleaner system according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view illustrating an outer appearance of the robot cleaner system according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 23 and 24 are side sectional views showing the configuration of a robot cleaner and a docking station of FIG. 22;

FIG. 25 is a perspective view illustrating a cut-away section of a docking lever of FIG. 22; and,

FIGS. 26A to 26C are sectional views illustrating the operation of the robot cleaner system of FIG. 22.

Claims

1. A robot cleaner system comprising: a robot cleaner comprising a robot body and a dust discharge hole to discharge dust stored in the robot body; anda docking station comprising a dust suction hole to suck the dust discharged out of the robot body, a dust suction path to guide the dust sucked through the dust suction hole, and a dust collector to collect the dust sucked through the dust suction hole,wherein the robot cleaner comprises a first docking portion to be inserted into the dust suction hole when the robot cleaner is docked with the docking station.

2. The robot cleaner system according to claim 1, wherein the first docking portion is a protrusion, which protrudes out of the robot body to be inserted into the dust suction hole upon a docking operation, the protrusion communicates the dust discharge hole with the dust suction path.

3. The robot cleaner system according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion comprises a tapered surface at an outer surface thereof such that a cross sectional area of the protrusion is gradually reduced over at least a part of the protrusion along a protruding direction of the protrusion.

4. The robot cleaner system according to claim 3, wherein the dust suction path comprises a guide path having a shape corresponding to that of the outer surface of the protrusion.

5. The robot cleaner system according to claim 3, wherein the protrusion comprises a truncated circular cone shape.

6. The robot cleaner system according to claim 1, wherein the robot cleaner comprises an opening/closing device to close the dust discharge hole while the robot cleaner performs an automatic cleaning operation and to open the dust discharge hole while the robot cleaner is docked with the docking station.

7. The robot cleaner system according to claim 6, wherein the opening/closing device comprises a plurality of opening/closing units installed in a circumferential direction of the dust discharge hole, and wherein each opening/closing unit comprises: an opening/closing member to pivotally rotate about a pivoting shaft within the protrusion, to open and close the dust discharge hole,a lever extended out of the protrusion from one end of the opening/closing member coupled to the pivoting shaft, andan elastic member to elastically bias the opening/closing member in a direction of closing the dust discharge hole.

8. The robot cleaner system according to claim 7, wherein the opening/closing member is made of an elastically deformable material.

9. The robot cleaner system according to claim 7, wherein the elastic member is a coil-shaped torsion spring comprises a center portion to be fitted around the pivoting shaft, a first end supported by the robot body, and a second end supported by a lower surface of the lever.

10. The robot cleaner system according to claim 1, further comprising: a coupling device to strongly keep the robot cleaner and the docking station in their docked state.

11. The robot cleaner system according to claim 10, wherein the coupling device comprises: an electromagnet installed in one of the robot cleaner and the docking station; anda magnetically attractable member installed in the other one of the robot cleaner and the docking station.

12. The robot cleaner system according to claim 11, wherein the electromagnet is installed to surround the dust suction hole, and the magnetically attractable member is installed to surround the dust discharge hole to correspond to the electromagnet.

13. The robot cleaner system according to claim 10, wherein the coupling device comprises a coupling lever rotatably installed to the docking station, the coupling lever having a first end to be coupled with the robot cleaner when the robot cleaner is docked with the docking station.

14. The robot cleaner system according to claim 13, wherein the coupling lever comprises a second end which comes into contact with the robot cleaner so as to cause rotation of the coupling lever, and the first end of the coupling lever is coupled to the robot cleaner as the coupling lever is rotated.

15. The robot cleaner system according to claim 13, wherein the coupling device further comprises a coupling groove formed at the robot cleaner wherein the coupling lever is inserted into the coupling groove.

16. The robot cleaner system according to claim 2, wherein the docking station comprises an opening/closing device to be pushed and elastically deformed by the protrusion as the protrusion is inserted into the docking station, to open the dust suction hole.

17. The robot cleaner system according to claim 1, further comprising: a sensing device to sense the completion of a docking operation of the robot cleaner, andwherein the sensing device comprises a robot sensor and a station sensor installed, respectively, to the robot cleaner and the docking station, so as to come into contact with each other when the docking operation of the robot cleaner is completed.

18. The robot cleaner system according to claim 1, wherein the docking station comprises a second docking portion formed with the dust suction hole, and at least one of the first and second docking portions is installed in a movable manner.

19. The robot cleaner system according to claim 18, wherein one of the first and second docking portions comprises an electromagnet, and the other one of the docking portions comprises a magnetically attractable member to interact with the electromagnet.

20. The robot cleaner system according to claim 18, further comprising: a guiding structure to guide movement of the first docking portion or second docking portion.

21. A robot cleaner system comprising: a robot cleaner comprising a robot body having a dust discharge hole; anda docking station comprising a dust suction hole to suck dust discharged out of the robot body, a dust suction path to guide the dust sucked through the dust suction hole, and a dust collector to collect the dust sucked through the dust suction hole,wherein the robot cleaner comprises a protrusion which protrudes out of the robot body to be inserted into the dust suction hole when the robot cleaner is docked with the docking station, the protrusion communicates the dust discharge hole with the dust suction path, andwherein the protrusion is separately installed from the robot body, and one end of the protrusion is connected with the robot body by a flexible joint member having repeatedly formed pleats.

22. The robot cleaner system according to claim 21, wherein an outer surface of the protrusion comprises a tapered surface so that a cross sectional area of the protrusion is gradually reduced over at least a part of the protrusion along a protruding direction of the protrusion.

23. The robot cleaner system according to claim 21, wherein the robot cleaner comprises an opening/closing device to open and close the dust discharge hole, and the opening/closing device comprises a plurality of opening/closing units installed in a circumferential direction of the dust discharge hole, and wherein each opening/closing unit comprises:an opening/closing member to pivotally rotate about a pivoting shaft, to open and close the dust discharge hole;a lever extended from one end of the opening/closing member coupled with the pivoting shaft to one end of the protrusion; andan elastic member to elastically bias the opening/closing member in a direction of closing the dust discharge hole.

24. A robot cleaner system comprising: a robot cleaner comprises a robot body having a dust discharge hole; anda docking station comprising a dust suction hole to suck dust discharged out of the robot body, a dust suction path to guide the dust sucked through the dust suction hole, and a dust collector to collect the dust sucked through the dust suction hole,wherein the robot cleaner comprises a protrusion which protrudes out of the robot body to be inserted into the dust suction hole when the robot cleaner is docked with the docking station, the protrusion communicates the dust discharge hole with the dust suction path, andwherein the dust suction path comprises a guide path comprising a tapered surface such that the path is gradually narrowed over at least a part thereof in a direction along which the protrusion is introduced upon a docking operation of the robot cleaner.

25. The robot cleaner system according to claim 24, wherein the guide path comprises a truncated circular cone shape having a cross sectional area that is gradually reduced away from the dust suction hole.

26. The robot cleaner system according to claim 24, wherein the robot cleaner comprises an opening/closing device to close the dust discharge hole while the robot cleaner performs an automatic cleaning operation and to open the dust discharge hole while the robot cleaner is docked with the docking station.

27. A robot cleaner system comprising: a robot cleaner comprising a robot body having a dust discharge hole; anda docking station comprising a station body having a dust suction hole to correspond to a position of the dust discharge hole when the robot cleaner is docked with the docking station,wherein the robot cleaner comprises an opening/closing device to open and close the dust discharge hole, and the opening/closing device protrudes from the dust discharge hole to be directly inserted into the dust suction hole when the robot cleaner is docked with the docking station, the opening/closing device communicates the dust discharge hole with the dust suction hole.

28. The robot cleaner system according to claim 27, wherein the opening/closing device comprises a plurality of opening/closing units installed in a circumferential direction of the dust discharge hole, wherein each opening/closing unit comprises:an opening/closing member to pivotally rotate about a pivoting shaft, to open and close the dust discharge hole;a lever extended from one end of the opening/closing member coupled with the pivoting shaft toward the outside of the opening/closing member; andan elastic member to elastically bias the opening/closing member in a direction of closing the dust discharge hole, andwherein the opening/closing member is inserted into the dust suction hole upon a docking operation of the robot cleaner.

29. A robot cleaner system comprising: a robot cleaner comprising a dust discharge hole and a dust discharge path to guide dust stored in the robot cleaner toward the dust discharge hole; anda docking station comprising a station body, a dust suction hole to suck the dust discharged through the dust discharge hole into the station body, a dust suction path to guide the sucked dust, and a dust collector to collect the dust sucked through the dust suction hole,wherein the docking station comprises a docking portion to be inserted into the dust discharge hole when the robot cleaner is docked with the docking station.

30. The robot cleaner system according to claim 29, wherein the docking portion is a protrusion which protrudes out of the station body to be inserted into the dust discharge hole upon a docking operation, the protrusion communicates the dust suction hole with the dust discharge path.

31. The robot cleaner system according to claim 30, wherein the protrusion comprises a tapered surface at an outer surface thereof so that a cross sectional area of the protrusion is gradually reduced over at least a part of the protrusion along a protruding direction of the protrusion.

32. The robot cleaner system according to claim 31, wherein the dust discharge path comprises a guide path having a shape corresponding to that of the outer surface of the protrusion.

33. The robot cleaner system according to claim 31, wherein the protrusion comprises a truncated circular cone shape.

34. The robot cleaner system according to claim 30, wherein the robot cleaner comprises an opening/closing device to be pushed and elastically deformed by the protrusion as the protrusion is inserted into the robot cleaner, so as to open the dust discharge hole.

35. The robot cleaner system according to claim 29, further comprising: a coupling device to keep the robot cleaner and the docking station in their docked state.

36. The robot cleaner system according to claim 35, wherein the coupling device comprises: an electromagnet installed to one of the robot cleaner and the docking station; anda magnetically attractable member installed to the other one of the robot cleaner and the docking station.

37. The robot cleaner system according to claim 35, wherein the coupling device comprises a coupling lever rotatably installed to the docking station, the coupling lever comprising a first end to be coupled with the robot cleaner when the robot cleaner is docked with the docking station.

38. The robot cleaner system according to claim 29, wherein the docking portion is a docking lever rotatably installed to the docking station, the docking lever comprising a first end to pivotally rotate so as to be inserted into the dust discharge hole upon the docking operation of the robot cleaner.

39. The robot cleaner system according to claim 38, wherein the docking lever comprises: a first arm to come into contact with the robot cleaner, to rotate the docking lever, anda second arm to be inserted into the dust discharge hole as the docking lever is rotated.

40. The robot cleaner system according to claim 38, wherein the docking lever comprises a connecting hole to communicate the docking lever with the dust suction path when the first end of the docking lever is inserted into the dust discharge hole.

41. The robot cleaner system according to claim 38, further comprising: an elastic member to elastically bias the docking lever in a direction of separating the first end of the docking lever from the dust discharge hole.

42. A robot cleaner comprising a robot body having a dust discharge hole to discharge dust stored in the robot cleaner toward a dust suction hole of a docking station, further comprising: a protrusion to protrude out of the robot body so as to be inserted into the dust suction hole when the robot cleaner is docked with the docking station, the protrusion communicates the dust discharge hole with the dust suction hole.

43. The robot cleaner according to claim 42, wherein an outer surface of the protrusion comprises a tapered surface so that a cross sectional area of the protrusion is gradually reduced over at least a part of the protrusion along a protruding direction of the protrusion.

44. The robot cleaner according to claim 43, wherein the protrusion comprises a truncated circular cone shape.

45. A robot cleaner comprising a dust discharge hole to discharge dust into a docking station and a dust discharge path to guide the dust in a dust collector toward the dust discharge hole, wherein the dust discharge path comprises a guide path having a tapered surface so that the path is gradually narrowed in a direction along which a protrusion of the docking station inserted in the dust discharge hole is introduced into the dust discharge path.

46. The robot cleaner according to claim 45, wherein the guide path comprises a truncated circular cone shape having a cross sectional area that is gradually reduced away from the dust discharge hole.

47. A docking station comprising a station body having a dust suction hole to suck dust discharged from a dust discharge hole of a robot cleaner, further comprising: a protrusion to protrude out of the station body so as to be inserted into the dust discharge hole when the robot cleaner is docked with the docking station, the protrusion serving to communicate the dust suction hole with the dust discharge hole.

48. The docking station according to claim 47, wherein the protrusion comprises a tapered surface at an outer surface thereof, so that a cross sectional area of the protrusion is gradually reduced over at least a part of the protrusion along a protruding direction of the protrusion.

49. The docking station according to claim 48, wherein the protrusion comprises a truncated circular cone shape.

50. A docking station comprising a dust suction hole to suck dust stored in a robot cleaner and a dust suction path to guide the dust sucked through the dust suction hole, to a dust collector, wherein the dust suction path comprises a guide path having a tapered surface so that the path is gradually narrowed in a direction along which a protrusion of the robot cleaner inserted in the dust suction hole is introduced into the dust suction path.

51. The docking station according to claim 50, wherein the guide path comprises a truncated circular cone shape having a cross sectional area that is gradually narrowed away from the dust suction hole.