Station and Cleaning Device

This application is a continuation application of International Application No. PCT/KR2025/000898, filed on Jan. 15, 2025, which is based on and claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application Number 10-2024-0038761, filed on Mar. 20, 2024, and Korean Patent Application Number 10-2024-0078559, filed on Jun. 17, 2024, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

The present disclosure relates to a station for a robot cleaner with a mop and a cleaning device including the robot cleaner and the station.

In general, a robot cleaner is equipment that automatically cleans an area to be cleaned by traveling on the area without a user's operation and sucking up dust such as dust from the floor. The robot cleaner travels on a cleaning area to clean the cleaning area.

The robot cleaner determines the distances to obstacles, such as furniture, office supplies, and walls, installed in the cleaning area through a distance sensor, and selectively drives the left and right wheel motors to change its heading direction and clean the cleaning area.

Recently, in addition to robot cleaners that suck up foreign substances such as dust from the floor, robot cleaners that wipe away foreign substances such as dust from the floor have appeared. The robot cleaners can perform wet cleaning using a mop.

An aspect of the disclosure provides a station and a cleaner capable of reducing contamination of a dust inlet of the station for emptying a dust bin of a robot cleaner.

An aspect of the disclosure provides a station and a cleaner capable of reducing damage of a suction motor of the station for emptying a dust bin of a robot cleaner.

The technical object intended to be achieved by the present document is not limited to the above-mentioned technical objects, and other technical objects not mentioned will be clearly understood by one of ordinary skill in the technical art to which the disclosure belongs from the following description.

Aspects of embodiments of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments.

A cleaning device according to a concept of the disclosure includes a station, and a robot cleaner movable to a first position on the station and a second position on the station. The robot cleaner includes a mop, a dust bin, and a dust outlet. The station includes a washing chamber configured to, with the robot cleaner being at the first position on the station, wash the mop, a dust inlet spaced away from the washing chamber, and a suction motor configured to, with the robot cleaner being at the second position on the station, provide a suction force so that dust is suctioned out of the dust bin through the dust outlet and the dust inlet.

A station according to a concept of the disclosure on which a robot cleaner is positionable at a first position and at a second position, the robot cleaner including a mop, a dust bin, and a dust outlet, and the station includes a washing chamber configured to, with the robot cleaner being at the first position on the station, wash the mop, a dust inlet spaced away from the washing chamber, a suction motor configured to, with the robot cleaner being at the second position on the station, provide a suction force so that dust is suctioned out of the dust bin through the dust outlet and the dust inlet, a first alignment portion configured to guide the robot cleaner to the first position on the station, and a second alignment portion configured to guide the robot cleaner to the second position on the station.

Various embodiments of the present document and terms used therein are not intended to limit the technical features described in this document to specific embodiments, and should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, or substitutes of the corresponding embodiments.

In connection with the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used for similar or related components.

The singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or a plurality of the items unless clearly indicated otherwise in a related context.

In this document, phrases, such as “A or B”, “at least one of A and B”, “at least one of A or B,” “A, B or C,” “at least one of A, B and C,” and “at least one of A, B, or C”, may include any one or all possible combinations of items listed together in the corresponding phrase among the phrases.

As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of associated listed items.

The terms “portion”, “module”, and “element”, as used herein, may be implemented as software or hardware, and according to embodiments, a plurality of “portions”, “modules”, or “elements” may be implemented as a single component, or a single “portion”, “module”, or “element” may include a plurality of components.

As used herein, such terms as “1” and “2” or “first” and “second” may be used to simply distinguish a corresponding component from another, and does not limit the components in other aspect (for example, importance or order).

It is to be understood that if a certain component (for example, a first component) is referred to, with or without the term “operatively” or “communicatively”, as “coupled with,” “coupled to,” “connected with,” or “connected to” another component (for example, a second component), it means that the component may be coupled with the other component directly (for example, wiredly), wirelessly, or via a third element.

It is to be understood that the terms such as “including” or “having,” etc., are intended to indicate the existence of the features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof disclosed in the specification, and are not intended to preclude the possibility that one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof may exist or may be added.

It is to be understood that if a certain component is referred to as being “coupled with,” “coupled to,” “supported on” or “in contact with” another component, it means that the component may be coupled with the other component directly or indirectly via a third component.

It will also be understood that when a certain component is referred to as being “on” or “over” another component, it can be directly on the other component or intervening components may also be present.

Meanwhile, in the following description, the terms “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “upper”, and “lower” are defined based on the drawings, and the shapes and positions of the components are not limited by the terms. For example, a direction in which a robot cleanerenters a stationmay be defined as a rear direction (−X direction), and an opposite direction of the rear direction may be defined as a front direction (+X direction), as shown in.

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

shows a state in which a robot cleaner is out of a station in a cleaning device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.shows a state in which a robot cleaner is rested at a first position in a station in a cleaning device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.shows a state in which a robot cleaner is rested at a second position in a station in a cleaning device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.shows a rear side of a cleaning device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to, a cleaning devicemay include a robot cleanerand a station. The cleaning deviceis also referred to as a cleaning system.

The robot cleanermay move on a floor to clean the floor. The floor which the robot cleanercleans is also referred to as a surface to be cleaned. The robot cleanermay perform dry cleaning and/or wet cleaning. The robot cleanermay suck or wipe away dust on a surface to be cleaned. Herein, dust may be a general term for foreign substances, such as dust, hair, and food crumbs.

The robot cleanermay be rested on the station. The robot cleanermay be mounted on the station. The robot cleanermay be docked with the station. At least a part of the robot cleanermay be placed in a receiving spaceof the station.

The robot cleanermay move to the stationduring and/or after cleaning.

For example, the robot cleanermay move to the stationwhen recharging is required, when a dust bin(see) needs to be emptied, when water in a water tank(see) is insufficient, when a moisture content of a mopis low, when the mopneeds to be washed, when the mopneeds to be sterilized, and/or when the mopneeds to be dried.

The stationmay mount the robot cleanerthereon. The stationmay rest the robot cleanerthereon. The stationmay keep the robot cleanertherein.

For example, while the robot cleaneris rested on the station, the stationmay recharge a battery(see) of the robot cleaner. For example, while the robot cleaneris rested on the station, the stationmay collect dust collected in the dust binof the robot cleaner. For example, while the robot cleaneris rested on the station, the stationmay supply water to the water tankof the robot cleaner. For example, while the robot cleaneris rested on the station, the stationmay wet the mopwith water and/or steam. For example, while the robot cleaneris rested on the station, the stationmay wash the mop. For example, while the robot cleaneris rested on the station, the stationmay sterilize the mop. For example, while the robot cleaneris rested on the station, the stationmay dry the mop.

Referring to, the robot cleanermay be rested at a first position with respect to the station. For example, while the robot cleaneris rested at the first position in the station, the stationmay recharge the batteryof the robot cleaner. For example, while the robot cleaneris rested at the first position in the station, the stationmay supply water to the water tankof the robot cleaner. For example, while the robot cleaneris rested at the first position in the station, the stationmay wet the mopwith water and/or steam. For example, while the robot cleaneris rested at the first position in the station, the stationmay wash the mop. For example, while the robot cleaneris rested at the first position in the station, the stationmay sterilize the mop. For example, while the robot cleaneris rested at the first position in the station, the stationmay dry the mop.

Referring to, the robot cleanermay be rested at a second position with respect to the station. For example, while the robot cleaneris rested at the second position in the station, the stationmay collect dust collected in the dust binof the robot cleaner.

The second position of the robot cleanermay be spaced apart from the first position of the robot cleaner. The second position of the robot cleanermay include a position moved bymm in a front direction from the first position of the robot cleaner.

shows a robot cleaner according to an embodiment of the disclosure.shows a rear side of a robot cleaner according to an embodiment of the disclosure.shows a lower portion of a robot cleaner according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

The robot cleanermay include a main body. The main bodymay form an entire appearance of the robot cleaner. Components of the robot cleanermay be accommodated inside the main body. Electrical components may be positioned inside the main body. The main bodyis also referred to as a cleaner main body.

The robot cleanermay include an inlet. The inletmay face a surface to be cleaned. The inletmay open toward the surface to be cleaned. The inletmay be formed in the main body. The inletmay be formed in a lower portion of the main body. The inletmay penetrate a lower plateof the main body. Dust on the surface to be cleaned may be sucked together with air into the main bodythrough the inlet. The inletis also referred to as a cleaner inlet.

The robot cleanermay include a brush. The brushmay hit the surface to be cleaned to scatter dust. Dust scattered by the brushmay enter the inlettogether with air.

For example, the robot cleanermay include a first brushpositioned in the inlet. The first brushmay be installed in such a way as to be rotatable with respect to the main body. A rotating shaft of the first brushmay extend along a substantially horizontal direction (Y direction). The first brushis also referred to as a main brush.

For example, the robot cleanermay include a second brushpositioned adjacent to a lower edge of the main body. The second brushmay guide, to the inlet, dust around the main bodynot swept by the first brush. The second brushmay be installed in such a way as to be rotatable with respect to the main body. A rotating shaft of the second brushmay extend along a substantially vertical direction (Z direction). The second brushis also referred to as a side brush.

The robot cleanermay include the dust bin. Dust and/or air sucked into the inletmay move to the dust bin. The dust sucked into the inletmay be collected in the dust bin. The air sucked into the inletmay be filtered by passing through the dust bin. The dust and air sucked into the inletmay be separated from each other in the dust bin.

The robot cleanermay include an exhaust port. The exhaust portmay be formed in the main body. The exhaust portmay be formed in a rear side of the main body. Air sucked into the inletmay be filtered and discharged to outside of the robot cleanerthrough the exhaust port. For example, a plurality of exhaust portsmay be provided, and the plurality of exhaust portsmay be composed of a plurality of holes. The exhaust portis also referred to as a cleaner exhaust port.

The robot cleanermay include a suction motor. The suction motormay generate a suction force. By the suction force generated by the suction motor, the inletmay suck in dust and/or air. By the suction force generated by the suction motor, the exhaust portmay discharge air sucked into the robot cleanerand filtered to the outside. The suction motormay be positioned on an air flow path formed between the inletand the exhaust port. The suction motoris also referred to as a cleaner suction motor.

The robot cleanermay include a dust outletfor discharging dust collected in the dust bin. The dust outletmay connect the dust binwith the outside of the robot cleaner. The dust outletmay be formed in the bottom of the main body. For example, the dust outletmay be located between the mopand the inlet. The dust outletmay be connected to the dust bin. The dust outletmay be a portion of the dust binor a portion of the main body.

The dust outletmay be connected to a dust inletof the station. While the robot cleaneris at the second position, the dust outletmay be connected to the dust inlet. While the robot cleaneris at the first position, the dust outletmay be spaced apart from the dust inlet.

The robot cleanermay include a dust coverfor opening or closing the dust outlet. The dust covermay include an elastic material. A portion of the dust covermay be fixed to the main body, and another portion may be deformable and restorable. While no external force is applied to the dust cover, the dust covermay be maintained in a state of closing the dust outlet. The dust covermay be deformable to open the dust outletby receiving a suction force from a suction motor(see) of the stationwhile the robot cleaneris rested on the station. When the suction motorof the stationstops and thus no suction force is applied to the dust cover, the dust covermay be restored to the state of closing the dust outlet.

The robot cleanermay include a driving portionfor driving the robot cleaner. The driving portionmay be installed in the main bodyto move the main body. For example, the driving portionmay include a pair of main wheels. For example, the driving portionmay further include at least one auxiliary wheelfor stable driving of the robot cleaner. The main wheelsand the auxiliary wheelare also referred to as driving wheelsand.

The robot cleanermay include the battery. The batterymay be rechargeable. The batterymay provide the robot cleanerwith power required to drive the robot cleaner.

The robot cleanermay include a recharging terminal. The recharging terminalmay be electrically connected to the battery. While the robot cleaneris rested on the station, the recharging terminalof the robot cleanermay be electrically connected to a recharging terminal(see) of the station. While the recharging terminalof the robot cleaneris electrically connected to the recharging terminal(see) of the station, the batteryof the robot cleanermay be recharged. That is, while the robot cleaneris docked with the station, the batterymay be recharged. The recharging terminalis also referred to as a cleaner recharging terminal.