SMART CLEANING DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of smart cleaning technologies, and in particular, to a smart cleaning device.

BACKGROUND

With the development of technologies, various autonomous cleaning devices, such as an autonomous sweeping robot, an autonomous mopping robot, a smart cleaning device with both an automatic sweeping function and an automatic mopping function, and the like. The autonomous cleaning device may automatically perform cleaning to bring convenience to a user. By using the autonomous sweeping robot with the automatic mopping function and the automatic sweeping function as an example, during mopping operation, usually a liquid-containing box is required to be disposed on the smart cleaning device to provide a liquid source required for mopping. A liquid-containing box of an existing smart cleaning device is located at a bottom portion of a machine body of the smart cleaning device and is connected to the machine body of the smart cleaning device. Typically, a cleaning cloth and the liquid-containing box are required to be detached together when replacing the cleaning cloth, and in a case of detaching the liquid-containing box, a bottom surface of the smart cleaning device is required to be turned upside down before mounting or detaching the liquid-containing box. In a case of mounting and detaching the liquid-containing box in this way, the smart cleaning device is required to be turned upside down and may easily cause impact and damage to a top surface of the smart cleaning device, and may further easily damage a sensor on the top surface of the smart cleaning device, resulting in relatively great economic loss. In addition, if there is a leakage in the liquid-containing box, a leaked liquid may directly flow to an inner portion of the smart cleaning device through gaps in the bottom surface during mounting and detaching of the liquid-containing box, thereby causing damages to circuits and components inside the smart cleaning device to generate irreparable problems. Moreover, the entire structure of the existing smart cleaning device does not have a compact appearance of aesthetics.

SUMMARY

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a smart cleaning device, by which every time a soft cleaning body is replaced, a liquid-containing box is not required to be dismounted, and the soft cleaning body can be detached by only removing a connecting plate in a forward direction or a backward direction of a machine body, thereby facilitating operation while avoiding damages easily caused to the smart cleaning device by removing the liquid-containing box of the prior art. In addition, an entire structure of the smart cleaning device has a compact and aesthetic appearance.

According to an aspect of embodiments of the present disclosure provide a smart cleaning device, including a machine body and a cleaning assembly (detachably connected to the machine body in a forward direction or a backward direction of the machine body), a liquid-containing box (in a form of a water tank for example), a connecting plate, and a soft cleaning body which are placed in a stacked mode; wherein the water tank is detachably connected to the machine body in the forward direction or the backward direction of the machine body, and the water tank at least partially surrounds an outer side of a fan placed in the machine body; the connecting plate is detachably connected to the water tank in the forward direction or the backward direction of the water tank; and the soft cleaning body is detachably connected to the connecting plate.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the connecting plate is mounted at a bottom portion of the water tank through a guide structure, and the connecting plate is capable of floating upward or downward relative to the liquid-containing box after being mounted to the bottom portion of the water tank.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the guide structure includes a guide protrusion and a guide groove which are mutually matched, the guide protrusion is placed on one of the connecting plates and the water tank, the guide groove is provided on the other of the connecting plates and the water tank, wherein a thickness of the guide protrusion is less than a depth of the guide groove.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an elastic part is placed on at least one of the surfaces of a side of the water tank facing the connecting plate and a surface of a side of the connecting plate facing the water tank; and after, such that the connecting plate is in elastic contact with the water tank after the connecting plate is mounted to the bottom portion of the water tank.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the elastic part includes a plurality of elastic buttons which are arranged apart from each other.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the connecting plate is connected to the water tank through a connecting structure after being mounted on the water tank; and the connecting structure includes a first connecting sub-structure placed on the water tank and a second connecting structure placed on the connecting plate, which are mutually matched.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the connecting structure further includes a control structure which is placed on one of the water tank and the connecting plate, and is configured to control the first connecting sub-structure and the second connecting sub-structure to be connected with each other or to be separated from each other.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the control structure is placed on the connecting plate, and is integrated with the second connecting sub-structure.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the connecting plate is provided with a mounting opening configured for the first connecting sub-structure to be mounted on the connecting plate and to be connected to the second connecting sub-structure, wherein the control structure includes a mounting frame, movably placed on the connecting plate, with the second connecting sub-structure connected to an end of the mounting frame, so that the second connecting sub-structure is capable of moving to a stop position or an escaping position under the drive of the mounting frame; and an operating part placed on the other end of the mounting frame and opposite to the second connecting sub-structure, such that movement of the mounting frame is controlled through the operating part.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the connecting plate is provided with a water-through hole connected to the liquid-containing box, wherein the water-through hole is configured to communicate water in the liquid-containing box to the soft cleaning body.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the smart cleaning device further includes a water-path plate detachably connected to a side of the machine body close to the connecting plate and placed between the machine body and the connecting plate, wherein the water-path plate is provided with a water inlet and a water outlet, the water inlet is connected to the liquid in the water tank, and the water outlet is placed corresponding to the water-through hole in the support plate.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a shape of a portion of the machine body which is used for docking the liquid-containing box corresponds to a shape of the liquid-containing box; after the water tank is mounted on the machine body, an outer side wall of the water tank is matched with a side wall of the machine body, and a bottom wall of the water tank is matched with a bottom wall of the machine body.

According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the liquid-containing box is detachably connected to the machine body through a button, a notch for receiving the button is provided on the connecting plate, so that the button is operated to control the liquid-containing box to be mounted to or be separated from the machine body.

The smart cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a machine body and a cleaning assembly, detachably connected to the machine body in a forward direction or a backward direction of the machine body, wherein the cleaning assembly includes a liquid-containing box, a connecting plate, and a soft cleaning body which are arranged in a stacked mode; the liquid-containing box is detachably connected to the machine body in the forward direction or the backward direction of the machine body, and the liquid-containing box at least partially surrounds an outer side of a fan placed in the machine body; the connecting plate is detachably connected to the liquid-containing box in a forward direction or a backward direction of the liquid-containing box, and the soft cleaning body is detachably connected to the connecting plate. Every time a soft cleaning body is replaced, the liquid-containing box is not required to be removed, and the soft cleaning body can be removed by only detaching the connecting plate in a forward direction or backward direction of the machine body, thereby facilitating the operation while avoiding damages easily caused to the smart cleaning device by removing the liquid-containing box of the prior art. In addition, the liquid-containing box at least partially surrounds an outer side of a fan placed in the machine body, and an entire structure of the smart cleaning device has a compact and aesthetic appearance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The features, the advantages and technical effects of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an enlarged view of a smart cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates an enlarged view of a smart cleaning device from another viewing angle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates an axonometric view of a smart cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates an axonometric view of a smart cleaning device with a soft cleaning body removed from another viewing angle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates an axonometric view of a machine body according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates an enlarged view of a connecting structure between a support plate and a water tank according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates an enlarged view of a connecting structure between a support plate and a water tank from another viewing angle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 illustrates an enlarged view of a connecting structure between a support plate and a control structure placed on a support plate according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 illustrates an enlarged view of a partial structure at a position A in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic structural view of an integrated structure of a second hook and a control structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 illustrates a schematic structural view of a connecting structure of a support plate and a control structure placed on the support plate according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 12 illustrates an enlarged view of a partial structure at a position B in FIG. 11.

In the drawings:

- 1. Smart cleaning device;
- 100. Machine body;
- 10. Drive system; 101. Drive wheel module; 102. Driven wheel;
- 11. Cliff sensor;
- 12. Human-machine interaction system;
- 13. Dry-cleaning portion; 131. Brush roll; 132. Side brush;
- 14. Front portion;
- 15. Rear portion;
- 16. Fan mounting position;
- 200. Cleaning assembly;
- 20. Support plate; 201. Guide protrusion; 202. Second hook; 203. Mounting groove; 204. Notch; 205. Elastic part; 206. Water-through hole; 207. Mounting opening;
- 21. Cleaning cloth; 211. Guide bar;
- 22. Water tank; 221. Guide groove; 222. First hook;
- 23. Control structure; 231. Mounting frame; 232. Operating part;
- 24. Button;
- 25. Same-course water-path plate; and 251. Water outlet.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate same or similar components. The drawings are not drawn to actual scale.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Features and exemplary embodiments of various aspects of the present disclosure will be described in detail below. In the following description, numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without some of these specific details herein. The following description of the embodiments is merely for providing a better understanding of the present disclosure by presenting embodiments of the present disclosure. In the drawings and the description below, at least part of well-known structures and techniques are not shown to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure; dimensions of some structures may be exaggerated for clarity. Furthermore, the described features, structures or characteristics below may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

The directional words appearing in the following description illustrate directions in the drawings, and do not limit specific structures of the cleaning assembly 200 and the smart cleaning device according to the present disclosure. In the description of the present disclosure, it should further be noted that the terms “mounting” and “connecting” should be understood in a broad sense unless specified and limited otherwise, for example, the term “connecting” may indicate a fixed connection or a detachable connection, or an integrated connection, or a direct connection or an indirect connection. For one of ordinary skill in the art, specific meanings of the above terms in the present disclosure can be understood according to specific situations.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a smart cleaning device, by which every time a soft cleaning body is replaced, a liquid-containing box is not required to be removed, and the soft cleaning body can be removed by only detaching a connecting plate in a forward direction or backward direction of a machine body, thereby facilitating operation while avoiding damages easily caused to the smart cleaning device by removing of the liquid-containing box of the prior art.

To better understand the present disclosure, the smart cleaning device and the cleaning assembly 200 according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 12.

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 12: FIG. 1 illustrates an enlarged view of a smart cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 illustrates an enlarged view of a smart cleaning device from another viewing angle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 3 illustrates an axonometric view of a smart cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 4 illustrates an axonometric view of a smart cleaning device from another viewing angle after a soft cleaning body is removed according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 5 illustrates an axonometric view of a machine body 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 6 illustrates an enlarged view of a connecting structure between a support plate 20 and a water tank 22 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 7 illustrates an enlarged view of a connecting structure between a support plate 20 and a water tank 22 from another viewing angle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 8 illustrates an enlarged view of a connecting structure between a support plate 20 and a control structure 23 placed on the support plate 20 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 9 illustrates an enlarged view of a partial structure at a position A in FIG. 8; FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic structural view of an integrated structure of a second hook 202 and a control structure 23 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 11 illustrates a schematic structural view of a connecting structure between a support plate 20 and a control structure 23 placed on the support plate 20 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and FIG. 12 illustrates an enlarged view of a partial structure at a position B in FIG. 11.

Terminologies:

Forward: A forward direction of a smart cleaning device.

Backward: A direction opposite to the forward direction of the smart cleaning device.

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 7, a smart cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a machine body 100 and a cleaning assembly 200. The machine body 100 is configured to carry various functional components of the smart cleaning device. The cleaning assembly 200 is detachably placed on the machine body 100. In a case that the cleaning assembly 200 is mounted on or detached from the machine body 100, the cleaning assembly 200 may move in the forward direction or the backward direction of the machine body 100. In some optional embodiments of the present disclosure, the cleaning assembly 200 includes a liquid-containing box, a connecting plate, and a soft cleaning body which are arranged in a stacked mode. The connecting plate is mounted at a bottom portion of the liquid-containing box through a guide structure, and after the connecting plate is mounted at the bottom portion of the liquid-containing box, the connecting plate is capable of floating upward or downward relative to the liquid-containing box. In some optional embodiments of the present disclosure, the smart cleaning device is a smart cleaning device 1, the connecting plate is a support plate 20, the soft cleaning body is a cleaning cloth 21, and the liquid-containing box is a water tank 22.

For the smart cleaning device according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, in some optional embodiments of the present disclosure, the guide structure includes a guide protrusion 201 and a guide groove 221 which are mutually matched. The guide protrusion 201 is placed on the support plate 20. The guide groove 221 is placed on the water tank 22. A thickness of the guide protrusion 201 is less than a depth of the guide groove 221, so that the support plate 20 is capable of floating upward or downward relative to the water tank 22 after being mounted at the bottom portion of the water tank 22. Optionally, the thickness of the guide protrusion 201 refers to a thickness of the guide protrusion 201 in a height direction of the smart cleaning device 1, and the depth of the guide groove 221 refers to a depth of the guide groove 221 in the height direction of the smart cleaning device 1.

It should be understood that the guide structure is not limited to the above structure, and the structure of the guide structure may further be configured in a way that the guide structure includes a guide protrusion 201 and a guide groove 221 which are mutually matched, wherein the guide protrusion 201 is placed on the water tank 22, the guide groove 221 is placed on the support plate 20, wherein a thickness of the guide protrusion 201 is less than a depth of the guide groove 221, so that the support plate 20 is capable of floating upward or downward relative to the water tank 22 after being mounted at the bottom portion of the water tank 22. The thickness of the guide protrusion 201 refers to a thickness of the guide protrusion 201 in a height direction of the smart cleaning device 1, and the depth of the guide groove 221 refers to a depth of the guide groove 221 in the height direction of the smart cleaning device 1. The design of the guide structure is only required to meet mounting requirements of the water tank 22 and the support plate 20, and to ensure that the support plate 20 is movable in the forward direction or the backward direction of the smart cleaning device 1. Optionally, the design of the guide structure is further required to satisfy that the support plate 20 is capable of floating upward or downward relative to the water tank 22 after the support plate 20 is mounted on the water tank 22.

In the smart cleaning device according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the cleaning assembly 200, as a whole, is removable from the machine body 100 of the smart cleaning device 1 in the forward direction or backward direction of the smart cleaning device 1, and the support plate 20 is also removable from the main body of the smart cleaning device 1 independently in the forward direction or backward direction of the smart cleaning device 1.

Further referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, in the smart cleaning device according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the support plate 20 is connected to the water tank 22 through a connecting structure after the support plate is mounted on the water tank 22. The connecting structure includes a first connecting sub-structure and a second connecting sub-structure which are placed on the water tank 22 and the support plate 20, respectively, and mutually matched. In some optional embodiments of the present disclosure, the first connecting sub-structure is a first hook 222 placed on the water tank 22, and the second connecting sub-structure is a second hook 202 placed on the support plate 20. After the support plate 20 is mounted at the bottom portion of the water tank 22 through the guide structure, the first hook 222 and the second hook 202 may be mutually clamped to achieve a stable connection between the support plate 20 and the water tank 22.

Further referring to FIG. 8 to FIG. 12, optionally, the connecting structure further includes a control structure 23 which is placed on the support plate 20 and is configured to control the first hook 222 and the second hook 202 to be connected with each other or to be separated. In some optional embodiments of the present disclosure, the control structure 23 and the second hook 202 are integrated. The control structure 23 includes a mounting frame 231, wherein the mounting frame 231 is movably placed on the support plate 20, and the second hook 202 is connected to an end of the mounting frame 231, so that the second hook 202 is capable of moving to a stop position or a release position under drive of the mounting frame 231; and an operating part 232, placed at the other end of the mounting frame 231 and opposite to the second hook 202, so as to control the the movement of the mounting frame 231. The operation process is as follows: in a case that the operating part 232 is pressed toward an inner part of the machine body of the smart cleaning device 1, the whole control structure 23 moves toward the inner part of the machine body of the smart cleaning device 1 and, in this case, the second hook 202 is driven by the control structure 23 to move toward the inner part of the body of the smart cleaning device 1 to the release position, so that the first hook 222 is separated from the second hook 202; after the first hook 222 is separated from the second hook 202, the support plate 20 may be further removed from the water tank 22 conveniently along the guide structure. After the cleaning cloth 21 is replaced, and the support plate 20 is mounted at the bottom portion of the water tank 22 again, the second hook 202 is located at the stop position limited by the guide protrusion 201, so that the first hook 222 and the second hook 202 are connected with each other, achieving a stable connection between the water tank 22 and the support plate 20.

In some optional embodiments of the present disclosure, the guide protrusion 201 is placed on the support plate 20 and is of an elastic structural body. In a case that the second hook 202 moves to the release position, the guide protrusion 201 may be extruded by the second hook 202 to elastically deform, so that the first hook 222 is separated from the second hook 202. In a case that the second hook 202 moves to the stop position, the guide protrusion 201 returns to the original position, so that the first hook 222 is connected to the second hook 202.

It should be understood that the control structure 23 can be, but is not limited to, the above-mentioned structure. The control structure 23 may alternatively be placed on the water tank 22, and may be optionally integrated with the first hook 222, so that the first hook 222 and the second hook 202 can be controlled to be connected with each other or be separated from each other.

Further referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 12, in the smart cleaning device according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the support plate 20 and the cleaning cloth 21 are detachably connected through a slide assembly. The slide assembly includes a mounting groove 203 and a guide bar 211 which are mutually matched. In some optional embodiments of the present disclosure, the mounting groove 203 is provided on the support plate 20, the guide bar 211 is placed on the cleaning cloth 21, and the guide bar 211 may be inserted into the mounting groove 203 for connecting the cleaning cloth 21 to the support plate 20, and the guide bar 211 may release from the mounting groove 203 to separate the cleaning cloth 21 from the support plate 20. In this way, in the case that the cleaning cloth 21 is required to be removed, the cleaning cloth 21 can be directly removed from the support plate 20 to be replaced or washed, which facilitates operation, and further resolving the existing technical problem that great economic loss is further caused by irreparable problems due to damages to the sensors of the smart cleaning device 1 and even to the circuits and components inside the smart cleaning device 1 as the smart cleaning device 1 is easily struck and damaged in a case of turning the smart cleaning device upside down for removing the water tank 22 along with the support plate 20 when replacing the cleaning cloth 21. The support plate 20 is detachably connected to the water tank 22. In a case that the support plate 20 is mounted into or removed from the machine body 100, the support plate 20 moves in the forward direction or backward direction of the machine body 100 for removing the cleaning cloth 21 together with the support plate 20 from the water tank 22 of the smart cleaning device 1. In a case of being mounted onto or removed from the water tank 22, the support plate 20 of the cleaning assembly 200 moves in the forward direction or the backward direction of the water tank 22 and the forward direction or backward direction of the water tank 22 is typically the horizontal direction, so the support plate 20 with the cleaning cloth 21 is mounted and removed more conveniently. Further, the technical problem that the smart cleaning device 1 is required to be turned upside down for removing the cleaning assembly 200 in the prior method is solved, and thus, the cleaning assembly 200 is replaced and maintained more conveniently. It should be understood that the smart cleaning device may be, but is not limited to, the smart cleaning device 1. In some other optional embodiments of the present disclosure, the smart cleaning device may alternatively be a solar panel cleaning device or a wall cleaning device for the exterior of a building.

It should be understood that the cleaning assembly 200 may not be limited to the above structure. In other optional embodiments of the present disclosure, the mounting groove 203 may alternatively be mounted on the cleaning cloth 21, and the guide bar 211 may alternatively be mounted on the support plate 20, as long as the support plate 20 and the cleaning cloth 21 can be easily mounted and removed.

For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 12, the mounting groove 203 is provided at the end portion of the side of the support plate 20 away from the machine body 100, and the guide bar 211 is placed on a position of the cleaning cloth 21 corresponding to the mounting groove 203, namely the end portion of the cleaning cloth 21. It should be understood that in some other optional embodiments of the present disclosure, the mounting groove 203 may alternatively be provided at a middle of the side of the support plate 20 away from the machine body 100, and correspondingly, a position of the guide bar 211 on the cleaning cloth 21 corresponds to the mounting groove 203, and is also at the middle of the cleaning cloth 21.

In the smart cleaning device according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, an end of the mounting groove 203 on the support plate 20 is a mounting end, and the other end thereof is a stop end. The guide bar 211 may be inserted into or removed from the mounting groove 203 through the mounting end, and may be prevented from being released from the mounting groove 203 through the stop end.

In some optional embodiments of the present disclosure, the guide bar 211 may be a plastic rod or a steel rod with a degree of rigidity, or a flexible bar. A cross section of the guide bar 211 may be circular or non-circular. A cross section of the mounting groove 203 on the support plate 20 has the shape of a C or a shape similar to a C as long as the guide bar 211 can be accommodated and limited therein. An opening of the mounting groove 203 for the cleaning cloth 21 to extend out is facing downward, i.e., an opening of the C shape is facing downward. The end of the mounting groove 203 is an insertion point without a stop structure for the guide bar 211 to be inserted, and the other end of the mounting groove 203 is a stop end with a stop structure configured to prevent the guide bar 211 from escaping therefrom. That is, an end of the mounting groove 203 is closed and the other end thereof is open. A tail portion of the cleaning cloth 21 is fixedly placed on the support plate 20 in a manner of matching the guide bar 211 with the mounting groove 203, thereby improving stability of securing and preventing the cleaning cloth 21 from escaping. The guide bar 211 and the mounting groove 203 are located on the support plate 20 in a direction facing a forward direction of the smart cleaning device 1. The cleaning cloth 21 is ensured to be mounted correctly through a way of firstly mounting the guide bar 211 and then pasting the cleaning cloth 21 onto a magic tape.

Further referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the cleaning cloth 21 may be made of a same material as a whole, and may alternatively be a composite cleaning cloth 21 made of different materials at various positions. In some optional embodiments of the present disclosure, the cleaning cloth 21 is a composite cleaning cloth 21. A main body of the cleaning cloth 21 has a substantially semi-circular shape, an inner portion thereof is a water-permeable area made of a material with a relative high water permeability, a middle portion thereof is a decontamination area made of a rigid material configured to scrape off harder substances on a floor, and an outer portion thereof is a water-absorbing area made of a material with a good water-absorbing property for absorbing water on a ground to remove water stains. As a result, cleaning deficiency can be improved. The guide bar 211 is placed on a linear section of the semicircular shape.

Further referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, in the smart cleaning device according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, a water-through hole 206 is provided on the support plate 20 and is configured to communicate water in the water tank 22 onto the cleaning cloth 21. In some optional embodiments of the present disclosure, the water tank 22 may be an electric-control water tank 22 provided with a peristaltic pump, and a water-path plate is placed inside the smart cleaning device 1. Optionally, the water-path plate is a same-course water-path plate 25 which is placed between the machine body 100 and the support plate 20 and is detachably connected to the machine body 100. In addition, a water inlet and a water outlet 251 are provided on the same-course water-path plate 25. The water inlet is connected to a water outlet passage of the peristaltic pump inside the water tank 22, and a position of the water outlet 251 is provided corresponding to a position of the water-through hole 206 in the support plate 20, so that water in the water tank 22 flows onto the cleaning cloth 21 through the water outlet 251 of the same-course water-path plate 25 and the water-through hole 206 of the support plate 20.

Further referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in the smart cleaning device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, shapes and positions of butt-joint of the water tank 22 and the machine body 100 are correspondingly provided, that is, a shape of a portion of the machine body which is used for docking the liquid-containing box corresponds to a shape of the liquid-containing box. After the water tank 22 is mounted to the machine body 100, an outer side wall of the water tank 22 is matched with a side wall of the machine body 100, and a bottom wall of the water tank 22 is matched with a bottom wall of the machine body 100; and the water tank 22 at least partially surrounds an outer side of the fan in the machine body 100. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the fan is placed inside the fan mounting position 16. In some optional embodiments of the present disclosure, the water tank 22 is connected to or separated from the machine body 100 through a button 24; a notch 204 for receiving the button 24 is provided on the support plate 20. For example, the notch 204 is provided on the top of the support plate 20 and is matched with the button 24 in shape. When the cleaning assembly 200 is required to be removed from the machine body 100, the cleaning assembly 200 can be separated from the machine body 100 by pressing the button 24.

Further referring to FIG. 6, for the smart cleaning device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, in some optional embodiments of the present disclosure, an elastic part 205 is placed on a surface of a side of the support plate 20 facing the water tank 22. After being mounted on the water tank 22, the support plate 20 is in elastic contact with the water tank 22, so that the water tank 22 floats upward or downward with relative stability. In addition, the elastic part 205 on the support plate 20 abuts against the bottom surface of the water tank 22, so that in operation, pressing force is generated between the support plate 20 and ground, and the cleaning cloth 21 is made in tight contact with the floor, and thus, a good cleaning effect is achieved. Optionally, the elastic part 205 includes a plurality of elastic buttons which are placed apart from each other on the surface of a baffle plate facing the water tank 22, and springs are placed inside the elastic buttons respectively.

It should be understood that the elastic part 205 is not limited to the above structure, and may be alternatively placed on a surface of a side of the water tank 22 facing the support plate 20; and the elastic part 205 includes a plurality of elastic buttons which are placed apart from each other on a surface of the water tank 22 facing the support plate 20. Certainly, both the surface of the side of the water tank 22 facing the support plate 20 and the surface of the side of the support plate 20 facing the water tank 22 may be provided with elastic parts 205; after being mounted on the water tank 22, the support plate 20 is in elastic contact with the water tank 22. In the case that the surface of the side of the water tank 22 facing the support plate 20 and the surface of the side of the support plate 20 facing the water tank 22 are provided with the elastic parts 205, respectively, for example, the elastic parts 205 on the surface of the side of the water tank 22 facing the support plate 20 and the elastic parts 205 on the surface of the side of the support plate 20 facing the water tank 22 are arranged in a staggered manner, so that a good elastic contact effect is achieved between the water tank 22 and the support part 20.

Further referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, for the smart cleaning device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, in some optional embodiments of the present disclosure, the machine body 100 includes a sensing system (not shown), a control system (not shown), a drive system 10, a power supply system, a human-machine interaction system, a dry-cleaning portion 13, and the like. Various parts of the smart cleaning device will be described below.

In some optional embodiments of the present disclosure, the machine body 100 further includes an upper cover, a front portion, a rear portion, a chassis and the like. The machine body 100 has a substantially circular shape, and may alternatively have other shapes, including, but not limited to, an approximately D shape which has a square front portion and a circular rear portion.

The sensing system includes a location-determining device located above the machine body 100, a buffer placed at the front portion of the machine body 100, a cliff sensor and an ultrasonic sensor, an infrared sensor, a magnetometer, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an odometer, and other sensing devices. These sensing devices provide the control system with various location information and motion status information of the smart cleaning device. The location-determining device includes, but is not limited to, an infrared transceiver, a camera and a laser distance sensor (LDS).

The drive system 10 is configured to drive the machine body 100 and components placed thereon to move for autonomous traveling and cleaning. The drive system 10 includes a drive wheel module 101, and may emit driving instructions based on distance and angle information, such as x, y, and 0 components, to operate the smart cleaning device 1 to travel across the ground. The drive wheel module 101 may control the left and right wheels at the same time. To control the movement of the smart cleaning device more precisely, the drive wheel module 101 includes a left drive-wheel module and a right drive-wheel module. The left- and right-drive wheel modules are placed opposite each other along a transverse axis defined by the machine body 100. Optionally, the left and right drive-wheel modules are placed symmetrically. To enable the smart cleaning device 1 to move more stably on the ground or to have greater mobility, the smart cleaning device 1 may include one or more drive wheels 102, which include, but are not limited to, a universal wheel.

The drive-wheel module 101 includes a traveling wheel, a drive motor, and a control circuit configured to control the drive motor. The drive-wheel module 101 may further be connected to both a circuit configured to measure a drive current and an odometer. The drive-wheel module 101 may be detachably connected to the machine body 100 to facilitate detachment and maintenance. The drive wheel may have an offset drop-type suspension system, which is fastened to the machine body 100 in a flexible manner, for example, rotatably attached to the machine body 100, and configured to receive a spring bias downward and biased away from the machine body 100. The spring bias keeps the drive wheel in contact and in traction with the ground with a certain grounding force; and cleaning elements (such as a brush roll 131) of the smart cleaning device 1 further make contact with the floor with a certain grounding pressure.

The front portion 14 of the machine body 100 may carry a buffer 122. In the case that the drive-wheel module 101 drives the smart cleaning device 1 to travel on the floor during a cleaning process, the buffer detects one or more obstructions on a traveling path of the smart cleaning device 1 through the sensor system, such as an infrared sensor. The smart cleaning device 1 may control the drive-wheel module 101 to respond to obstructions such as obstacles and walls, detected by the buffer, to for example avoid the obstacles.

The control system is placed on a main circuit board of the machine body 100, including a computing processor, such as a central processing unit and an application processor, in connection with a non-transitory memory, such as a hard disk, a flash memory, and a random access memory, and based on obstacle information fed back by the laser-distance sensor, the application processor creates an instant map of the environment where the smart cleaning device 1 is located through a locating algorithm, such as SLAM. In combination with distance and speed information fed back by a sensing device, such as the buffer, the cliff sensor 11 and an ultrasonic sensor, an infrared sensor, a magnetometer, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and an odometer, the control system comprehensively determines which operation state a ground sweeper is currently in, such as crossing a door threshold, climbing on a carpet, being located on a cliff, being stuck above or below, a full dust box, and being picked up, and may further provide a next action strategy for different situations, making operation of the smart cleaning device 1 meet the requirements of a user well, and provide a good user experience. Further, the control system may plan an efficient and reasonable cleaning path and a cleaning manner based on instant map information created through SLAM, thereby improving the cleaning efficiency of the smart cleaning device 1 significantly.

The power supply system includes a rechargeable battery, such as a nickel-metal hydride battery or a lithium battery. The rechargeable battery may be connected to a charging control circuit, a battery pack charging temperature detecting circuit, and a battery under-voltage monitoring circuit; the charging control circuit, the battery pack charging temperature detecting circuit, and the battery under-voltage monitoring circuit are further connected to a single chip microcomputer control circuit. The smart cleaning device is connected to a charging station through a charging electrode placed on a side or bottom of the machine body for charging. If dust is attached to the exposed charging electrode, a plastic body around the electrode will melt due to a charge accumulation effect during a charging process, and even the electrode itself will melt, so that normal charging cannot continue.

The human-machine interaction system 12 includes a button on a panel of the smart cleaning device. The button is configured for a user to select a function, and further includes a display screen and/or an indicator lamp and/or a speaker, the display, the indicator lamp and the speaker presenting the user a current state of the smart cleaning device or function options and may further include a mobile-phone client program. For a path-guided cleaning device, a mobile-phone client may present a user a map of an environment in which the device is located and the location of the smart cleaning device, and may provide the user with more enriched and more humanized function options.

Further referring to FIG. 3, in order to describe behaviors of the smart cleaning device 1 more clearly, directions are defined as follows: the smart cleaning device 1 may travel on a floor through various combinations of movements with respect to the following three mutually perpendicular axes defined by the machine body 100: a front-rear axis X (that is, an axis along the front portion 14 and rear portion 15 of the machine body 100), a transverse axis Y (that is, an axis perpendicular to the axis X and on the same horizontal plane with the axis X), and a central vertical axis Z (an axis perpendicular to the plane formed by the axis X and the axis Y). A forward-driving direction along the front-rear axis X is referred to as “forward,” and a backward-driving direction along the front-rear axis X is referred to as “backward.” The direction of the transverse axis Y is essentially a direction in which an axis defined by a center point of a drive wheel module 101 extends between a right wheel and a left wheel of the smart cleaning device 1.

The smart cleaning device 1 may rotate around the Y axis. “Upward” designates that a front portion of the smart cleaning device 1 is tilted upward, and a rear portion is tilted downward; and “down” designates that the front portion of the smart cleaning device 1 is tilted downward, and the rear portion is tilted upward. In addition, the smart cleaning device 1 may rotate around the Z axis. In a forward direction of the smart cleaning device 1, “turn right” designates that the smart cleaning device 1 is tilted to a right side of the X axis; and “turn left” designates that the smart cleaning device 1 is tilted to a left side of the X axis.

A dust box is mounted in an accommodating cavity by means of a mechanical clasp-buckle; the buckle shrinks when the clasp is pressed, and the buckle sticks out and is put in a groove in the accommodating cavity.

The above-mentioned cleaning assembly 200 serves as a wet-cleaning portion of the smart cleaning device 1, and mainly serves to mop a to-be-cleaned surface (such as a floor) with a cleaning cloth 21 containing a cleaning liquid. The dry-cleaning portion 13 mainly serves to clean solid particulate pollutants on the to-be-cleaned surface by a structure such as a cleaning brush. Functions of the dry-cleaning portion 13 are achieved by a second cleaning portion including a brush roll 131, a dust box, a fan, an air outlet, and a connecting component connecting the four. The brush roll 131 with interference with the floor sweeps garbage on the floor, rolls it in front of a dust suction opening between the brush roll 131 and the dust box, and then suctions it into the dust box produced by the fan and passing through the dust box. The dust removal capacity of the smart cleaning device 1 may be characterized by dust pickup efficiency (DPU) of garbage. The DPU is affected by the structure and materials of the roller brush 131, by a the suction power utilization rate of an air duct formed by the dust suction opening, the dust box, the fan, the air outlet and the connecting component connecting the four, and by the type and power of the fan. Compared with ordinary plug-in vacuum cleaners, improvement in DPU is more significant for the smart cleaning device 1 with limited energy. The improvement in the DPU directly reduces energy requirements, that is, the smart cleaning device 1 that could clean a floor of 80 square meters with one charge previously has now been improved to clean a floor of 100 square meters or more with a single charge. In addition, the service life of a battery with reduced charging times may be greatly prolonged, so that the frequency of battery replacements by a user may be decreased. More intuitively and importantly, the improvement in the DPU relates to the most apparent and important user experience, and the user may directly draw a conclusion whether sweeping is well done or not/wiping is well done or not. The dry-cleaning assembly 13 may further include a side brush 132, the rotating shaft of which is angled relative to the floor for moving debris into a cleaning region of the brush roll 131 of the second cleaning portion.

The embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a cleaning assembly 200 which may be the above-mentioned cleaning assembly 200.

Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to optional embodiments of the present disclosure, variants may be made and equivalents may be substituted for components of the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In particular, as long as there is no conflict in structure, the technical features mentioned in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be combined in any manner. The present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, and includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims.

SMART CLEANING DEVICE

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