Cleaner Station

This application is a continuation application, under 35 U.S.C. §111(a), of international application No. PCT/KR2023/019392, filed Nov. 29, 2023, which claims priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0009654, filed Jan. 25, 2023, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

The present disclosure relates to a cleaner station, and more specifically, to a cleaner station including a diverter capable of opening and closing a dust inlet of the cleaner station.

In general, a vacuum cleaner is a device that includes a fan motor to generate suction force and draws in foreign substances, such as dust, along with air through an intake portion using the suction force generated by the fan motor. In addition, such a vacuum cleaner is a device that separates the foreign substances contained in the drawn-in air from the air and collects the debris in a dust bin such that cleaning is performed.

Conventionally, vacuum cleaners have been generally a stick-type cleaner that is manually operated by a user to perform cleaning, but in recent years, robot cleaners have become commercialized. A robot cleaner is a device that automatically cleans a cleaning space by moving through a cleaning space without a user's manipulation and drawing in debris such as dust accumulated on the floor. The robot cleaner moves through the cleaning space, collects dust, and collects the debris in a dust bin.

Recently, there has been a rapid increase in the simultaneous use of a stick-type cleaner and a robot cleaner. Accordingly, a user needs to periodically separate foreign substances collected in dust bins of a plurality of cleaners from the cleaners and dispose of the separated foreign substances.

One aspect of the present disclosure provides a cleaner station on which a plurality of cleaners are seated.

One aspect of the present disclosure provides a cleaner station capable of emptying dust bins of a plurality of cleaners.

One aspect of the present disclosure provides a cleaner station including a diverter that allows a dust storage chamber of a cleaner station to communicate with some of dust bins of a plurality of cleaners.

One aspect of the present disclosure provides a cleaner station capable of preventing damage to a diverter.

The technical objectives of the present disclosure are not limited to the above, and other objectives may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art based on the following description.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, a cleaner station including a suction motor configured to draw in dust from a dust bin of a cleaner includes a diverter in communication with the suction motor. The diverter includes a diverter housing including a dust inlet through which dust in the dust bin is drawn in upon operation of the suction motor. The diverter includes an inlet cover accommodated in the diverter housing and configured to open and close the dust inlet. The diverter includes a rotation shaft coupled to the inlet cover such that the inlet cover is rotatable. The diverter housing includes a rotation shaft cover portion configured to cover the rotation shaft, the rotation shaft cover portion spaced apart from the rotation shaft to form a bypass path between the rotation shaft and the rotation shaft cover portion. The diverter housing includes a bypass hole through which outside air is drawn in when dust is drawn into the diverter housing through the dust inlet, to form an air flow into an interior of the diverter along the bypass path.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, a cleaner station including a suction motor configured to draw in dust from a dust bin of a cleaner includes a dust collection chamber in which the drawn-in dust is stored. The cleaner station includes a diverter that is in communication with the dust collection chamber and the suction motor, and includes a dust inlet through which dust in the dust bin is drawn in upon operation of the suction device. The diverter includes an inlet cover accommodated in the diverter and configured to open and close the dust inlet. The diverter includes a rotation shaft coupled to the inlet cover such that the inlet cover is rotatable. The diverter includes a rotation shaft cover portion configured to cover the rotation shaft, the rotation shaft cover portion being spaced apart from the rotation shaft to form a bypass path between the rotation shaft and the rotation shaft cover portion. The diverter includes a bypass hole through which outside air is drawn in when dust is drawn into the diverter through the dust inlet, to form an air flow into an interior of the diverter along the bypass path.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, a cleaner station including a suction motor configured to draw in dust collected in a cleaner and a dust collection chamber in which the drawn-in dust is stored includes a diverter including a dust inlet through which dust stored in the cleaner is drawn in upon operation of the suction device. The cleaner station includes a suction path that allows communication between the dust inlet and the cleaner. The cleaner station includes a discharge path that allows communication between the dust collection chamber and the diverter. The diverter includes a diverter housing in which the dust inlet is formed. The diverter includes an inlet cover accommodated in the diverter housing and configured to open and close the dust inlet. The diverter includes a rotation shaft coupled to the inlet cover such that the inlet cover is rotatable. The diverter housing includes a rotation shaft cover portion configured to cover the rotation shaft, the rotation shaft cover portion being spaced apart from the rotation shaft to form a bypass path between the rotation shaft and the rotation shaft cover portion. The diverter housing includes a bypass hole formed in the rotation shaft cover portion such that, when dust is drawn into the diverter housing through the dust inlet, outside air is drawn in through the bypass hole to form a flow into an interior of the diverter along the bypass path.

The embodiments described in the disclosure and the configurations shown in the drawings are only examples of the disclosure, and various modifications may be made at the time of filing of the disclosure to replace the embodiments and drawings of the disclosure.

In the description of the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description of the drawings.

The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing the embodiments and are not intended to restrict and/or to limit the disclosure. The singular expressions herein may include plural expressions, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In addition, the terms “comprises”, “includes”, and “has” are intended to indicate that there are features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, parts, or combinations thereof described in the disclosure, and do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, parts, or combinations thereof.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. used in the disclosure may be used herein to describe various components, these components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element could be termed a first element without departing from the scope of the disclosure. The term “and/or” includes combinations of one or all of a plurality of associated listed items.

Further, as used in the disclosure, the terms “front”, “rear”, “top”, “bottom”, “side”, “left”, “right”, “upper”, “lower”, and the like are defined with reference to the drawings, and are not intended to limit the shape and position of each component.

It will be understood that when a certain component is referred to as being “connected to”, “coupled to”, “supported by” or “in contact with” another component, it may be directly or indirectly connected to, coupled to, supported by, or in contact with the other component. When a component is indirectly connected to, coupled to, supported by, or in contact with another component, it may be connected to, coupled to, supported by, or in contact with the other component through a third component.

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

When referring to the direction of rotation, the clockwise direction may be referred to as a first direction, and the counterclockwise direction, which is the opposite direction of the first direction, may be referred to as a second direction. Such expressions may be commonly used to describe specific contents for performing the disclosure, but it should not be construed as limiting the direction of rotation of the components of the present disclosure.

Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

is a view illustrating a cleaning device according to an embodiment.is a view illustrating a cross-section of the cleaning device shown in.

Referring to, the cleaning devicemay include a cleaner and a cleaner stationprovided for the cleaner to be seated thereon. The cleaner may include a stick- type cleaner. The cleaner may include a robot cleaner. A plurality of the cleanersandmay be seated on the cleaner station.

The stick-type cleanermay include a stick-type cleaner body. The stick-type cleanermay include a dust binthat is detachably coupled to the stick-type cleaner body. The dust binmay be provided to collect foreign substances that have been moved into the interior of the stick-type cleaner. The stick-type cleanermay include an intake portionand an extension tube.

The intake portionmay be provided to draw in external foreign substances into the stick-type cleaner. The extension tubemay be provided to connect the stick-type cleaner bodyand the intake portionto form a path through which foreign substances move.

The drawn-in foreign substances may pass through the stick-type cleaner bodyand be collected by a dust collecting portion. The collected foreign substances may be moved to the dust binand collected in the dust bin. That is, the extension tubemay be provided to connect the intake portionand the dust bin.

The stick-type cleaneraccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure has been described and illustrated as having the stick-type cleaner bodymounted at the front of the extension tube. In addition, the dust binconnected to the stick-type cleaner bodymay also be disposed at the front of the extension tube. In this case, the front may be defined as a direction facing forward of the user when the user grips the stick-type cleaner. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the stick-type cleaner body, the extension tube, and the dust binmay be arranged at various positions.

The stick-type cleanermay include a handleconnected to the stick-type cleaner bodyand the extension tube. The handlemay be coupled to upper portions of the stick-type cleaner bodyand the extension tube. A user may grip the handleto move the stick-type cleanerand perform cleaning on a cleaning surface. The arrangement of the handlemay also be provided in various positions.

When the stick-type cleaneris seated on the cleaner station, the extension tubemay be docked to the cleaner stationsuch that the longitudinal direction of the extension tubeis aligned substantially with the vertical direction.

The cleaner may include a robot cleaner. The robot cleanermay move along the floor surface and draw in debris on the floor surface. The path along which the robot cleanermoves may be provided according to user designation, or may be automatically provided by a detection sensor of the robot cleaner.

The robot cleanermay include a robot cleaner housinghaving an accommodation space formed therein, and a robot cleaner covercovering an open upper surface of the robot cleaner housing. Electrical components may be arranged inside the robot cleaner housing. The robot cleaner covermay be detachably coupled to the robot cleaner housing.

The robot cleanermay include a display. The displaymay display an operating state of the robot cleaner. The displaymay be provided as a touch screen to receive a user command.

The displaymay be located at an end of the robot cleaneropposite to a side that faces a direction in which the robot cleaneris docked to the cleaner seating portion. Specifically, as the robot cleaneris docked to the cleaner seating portionby moving backward, the displaylocated at the front end of the robot cleanermay be exposed to the user even when the robot cleaneris docked to the cleaner seating portion.

The robot cleanermay include a dust bin. The dust binmay be provided in an internal space of the robot cleaner housing. A dust collection chambermay be provided inside the dust bin. Debris collected by the robot cleanermay be drawn into the dust binand accommodated in the dust collection chamber. When the robot cleaneris docked to the cleaner seating portion, the debris collected in the dust collection chambermay be removed.

The robot cleanermay include a dust bin cover. The dust bin covermay be provided at a lower side of the robot cleaner. That is, the dust bin covermay be provided to face the cleaner seating portionwhen the robot cleaneris seated on the cleaner seating portion. The dust bin covermay be detached from the robot cleaner. When the dust bin coveris detached, a dust bin openingmay be formed in a lower portion of the robot cleaner. The dust bin openingmay be provided to communicate with the dust collection chamber, and thus dust collected in the dust collection chambermay be discharged to the outside through the dust bin opening.

The cleaning devicemay include a cleaner station. The cleaner stationmay be provided for a plurality of cleanersandto be seated thereon. The cleaner stationmay include a dust storage chamber. The cleaner stationmay draw in dust contained in the dust binsandprovided in the plurality of cleanersand, respectively. Dust drawn in from the dust binsandof the plurality of cleanersandmay be stored in the dust storage chamberof the cleaner station. Through this, the plurality of cleanersandmay empty the dust binsandby being seated on the cleaner station.

The cleaner stationmay include a first suction path. The first suction pathmay be provided to communicate with the dust binof the cleaner. More specifically, the first suction pathmay be provided to communicate with the dust binof the stick-type cleaner. When the suction deviceof the cleaner stationdescribed below operates, dusts contained in the dust binof the stick-type cleanermay be drawn in toward the cleaner stationalong the first suction path. Dusts from the dust binof the stick-type cleanerdrawn through the first suction pathmay pass through the diverterdescribed below. The dusts that have passed through the divertermay move to the dust storage chambercommunicating with the diverterand be finally stored in the dust storage chamber.

The cleaner stationmay include a second suction duct. A second suction pathmay be formed inside the second suction duct. The cleaner stationmay include an extension duct. An extension duct pathmay be formed inside the extension duct. The extension ductmay be connected to the second suction duct. Such a configuration allows communication between the second suction pathand the extension duct path.

The extension ductmay be provided to extend the second suction ducttoward the cleaner seating portion. More specifically, one end of the extension ductmay be connected to one end of the second suction duct. The other end of the extension ductmay be connected to the cleaner seating portion.

While the robot cleaneris seated on the cleaner seating portion, the dust bin coverof the robot cleanermay be in an open state. While the dust bin coverof the robot cleaneris in an open state, the dust bin openingand the other end of the extension ductmay communicate with each other. Thereafter, when the suction deviceoperates, dusts accommodated in the dust binof the robot cleanermay flow into the extension ductthrough the dust bin opening. The dusts that have flowed into the extension ductmay pass through the diverterto be described below. The dusts that have passed through the divertermay move to the dust storage chambercommunicating with the diverterand be finally stored in the dust storage chamber. Through this, dusts stored in the dust binof the robot cleanermay be removed.

The cleaner stationmay include the diverter. The first suction paththrough which dust is drawn in from the dust binof the stick-type cleanermay communicate with the diverter. The second suction paththrough which dust is drawn in from the dust binof the robot cleanermay communicate with the diverter. The divertermay allow one of the first suction pathand the second suction pathto communicate with the dust storage chamber. A detailed process of the diverterallowing one of the first suction pathand the second suction pathto communicate with the dust storage chamberwill be described below.

The cleaner stationmay include a dust storage chamber. Dust drawn in from a plurality of cleanersandmay be stored in the dust storage chamber. The dust storage chambermay communicate with the diverter, and thus the dust drawn in from the plurality of cleanersandmay flow therein. A dust bag (not shown) or the like installed to be separable from the dust storage chambermay be provided inside the dust storage chamber, and the drawn-in dust may be stored inside the dust bag (not shown) and easily removed from the cleaner station.

The cleaner stationmay include a first outer housing. The first outer housingmay be provided to surround the first suction pathfrom the outside. The first outer housingmay be provided to surround the diverterfrom the outside. The first outer housingmay be provided to surround the dust storage chamberfrom the outside. The first outer housingmay be attached to a dust storage chamber housingto be detachable from the dust storage chamber housing.

A filtering portionmay be provided in the dust storage chamber. The filtering portionmay be arranged at a lower portion of the dust storage chamber. Foreign substances that have not been introduced into the dust bag may accumulate in the filtering portion. For example, a filter may be mounted in the filtering portion. Through this, the filtering portionmay be provided to prevent foreign substances from entering the suction deviceto be described below.

The cleaner stationmay include a suction device. The suction devicemay form a suction airflow that allows foreign substances collected in the dust bin,of the cleaner to flow into the cleaner stationand be stored in the dust storage chamber.

The suction devicemay be disposed at a lower side of the dust storage chamber. The suction devicemay include a suction motor cover. The suction motor covermay include an air flow hole. Air drawn in toward the dust storage chambermay flow to the suction devicethrough the air flow hole.

The suction devicemay include a driving device. The driving devicemay provide power to generate suction force. The driving devicemay include components such as a motor and a fan. The driving devicemay include a driving shaft. The driving devicemay be provided to rotate about on the driving shaft. That is, a suction airflow inside the cleaner stationmay be formed by the rotation of the driving device.

The cleaner stationmay include a suction device cover. The suction device covermay be arranged to surround the suction devicefrom the outside. The suction device covermay be attached to be detachable.

The cleaner stationmay include a filter portion. The filter portionmay include a filter therein. When the driving deviceof the suction deviceforms an airflow that draws in air into the cleaner station, air that has passed through the suction devicemay pass through the filter portion. The filter portionmay be provided at a lower portion of the dust storage chamberto filter air that has passed through the dust storage chamber. The air that has passed through the filter portionmay be discharged to the outside of the housing through a discharge portdescribed below.