Mop Module of Cleaning Device

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a mop module of a vacuum cleaner, more particularly, a mop module of a vacuum cleaner configured to discharge water onto a mop to suck up or wipe out dust or foreign substances in a cleaning object area to be cleaned.

A vacuum cleaner is an electric appliance that cleans by sucking up or mopping away dust or foreign substances in a cleaning object area to be cleaned.

Such vacuum cleaners may be classified into manual cleaners that perform cleaning while the user moves the cleaner, and automatic cleaners that perform cleaning while driving on their own.

The manual vacuum cleaners may be classified into canister type vacuum cleaners, upright type vacuum cleaners, handheld vacuum cleaners and stick type vacuum cleaners, depending on the shape.

The methods of cleaning the floor are largely divided into dry cleaning and wet cleaning. The drying cleaning is a method of cleaning the floor by sweeping or sucking up dust and a conventional vacuum cleaner is an example of the dry cleaning. The wet cleaning is a method of cleaning the floor by wiping away dust with a mop.

Conventionally, a dry-only vacuum cleaner was used for dry cleaning, and a wet-only vacuum cleaner was used for wet drying. However, there was the inconvenience of having to purchase the above two different types of vacuum cleaners to clean different types of floors. To solve the above-mentioned disadvantage, a method has been studied in which a main body, a dry-cleaning module and a wet cleaning module are provided, and in which the dry-cleaning module is mounted on the main body for dry cleaning and the wet cleaning module (i.e., mop module) is mounted on the main body for wet cleaning.

However, in wet cleaning, if foreign substances are stuck to the floor, the foreign substances might still remain even after the floor is cleaned by rotating the mop that has absorbed water.

In addition, if microorganisms are growing on the floor, there is a limitation in that the microorganisms might not be completely sterilized even after rotating the wet mop to clean the floor.

To solve the disadvantages, a method of heating water through a heater and supplying high-temperature water or steam to the mop may be considered.

In this instance, a steam mop module includes a water tank that stores water, a heater that heats the water to create steam and a mop that receives water or steam to clean the floor. Here, it is preferred that each part is configured as a single assembly to facilitate replacement. For example, when the water tank or heater is disposed in a main body, there is a problem that cleaning becomes difficult due to the weight of the water tank or heater, which is an unnecessary part during the dry cleaning. Accordingly, in terms of easy cleaning, easy module replacement and space utilization, it is preferred to dispose the water tank or heater in the steam mop module rather than the main body of the vacuum cleaner.

Meanwhile, a vacuum cleaner including a steam generator is generally provided with power via a cord, so the vacuum cleaner can continuously operate the steam generator to supply steam.

In contrast, a cordless vacuum cleaner is provided with power by a battery, so there may be a limit to the time it can generate steam. Therefore, it is necessary to quickly supply the steam generated from the steam generator to the mop before it condenses.

Korean Patent Publication No. KR 10-2008-0020304A (Mar. 5, 2008) discloses a steam vacuum cleaner configured to supply steam to a rotary mop.

In the steam vacuum cleaner, a plurality of holes are provided in a cross shape on a rotary plate, and steam is supplied to the mop through the plurality of holes.

However, if the steam outlet holes area formed on the rotary plate as mentioned above, the rotary plate and the mop rotate together so that the steam discharged from the holes may be continuously supplied to the same position on the mop. Accordingly, there are locations where steam is supplied and other locations where steam is not supplied in the mop, so that there may be a limit to the cleaning ability of the mop that varies greatly based on the locations.

Meanwhile, Korean Patent No. 1668046B1 (Oct. 14, 2016) discloses a steam cleaner in which a spray part is provided in a housing to supply steam to a rotary mop.

In the steam cleaner, a spray part in which a spray hole is formed may be protruded from a lower housing of the cleaner in an arc-shape, and can discharge steam toward a rotating unit (i.e., rotary plate).

However, in the steam cleaner, a plurality of spray holes may be formed at regular intervals along a circumferential direction. If the plurality of spray holes are formed as mentioned above, the hydraulic pressure of steam sprayed from a spray hole positioned close to a steam inlet hole is higher than the hydraulic pressure of steam sprayed from a spray hole positioned far from the steam inlet. Accordingly, a relatively large amount of steam may be discharged from the spray hole positioned close to the steam inlet, and a relatively small amount of steam may be discharged from the other spray holes.

Accordingly, a mop might be supplied moisture unevenly. In the spray part having the plurality of holes formed therein, the cleaning performance of the mop may deteriorate due to uneven steam supply.

In general, during the process of discharging steam through an outlet hole of a diffuser, some of the steam may condense to form a drain, and the drain could obstruct the discharge of steam as it is discharged through the outlet hole.

Specifically, the drain generated during the process of steam discharge, might momentarily block the outlet hole and the flow amount and pressure of steam discharged through the outlet hole may decrease. In addition, if the drain is discharged by the pressure of steam, the flow amount and pressure of steam discharged through the outlet hole might rather increase.

Accordingly, the flow rate and pressure of steam discharged through the outlet hole might be uneven and the moisture supplied to the mop might be uneven disadvantageously.

Accordingly, one object of the present disclosure is to solve the above-noted disadvantages of the prior art, and to provide a mop module of a vacuum cleaner that may increase sterilization and foreign substance removal effect by supplying high temperature water or steam to a mop.

A further object of the present disclosure is to provide a mop module of a vacuum cleaner that may evenly supply high-temperature water or steam to a wide area of the mop at the same time.

A still further object of the present disclosure is to provide a mop module of a vacuum cleaner that may supply high-temperature water or steam flow and hydraulic pressure to a mop stably and evenly.

A still further object of the present disclosure is to provide a mop module of a vacuum cleaner that may minimize heat loss of moisture a process of supplying high-temperature water or steam to a mop.

To solve the objects of the present disclosure, a mop module of a vacuum cleaner configured to perform cleaning by wiping out foreign substances from the floor surface, the mop module may include a module housing; a water tank disposed above the module housing and configured to store water therein; at least one rotary cleaning part disposed under the module housing, the rotary cleaning part to which a mop is coupled; a heat generator configured to heat water supplied from the water tank; and a diffuser provided under the heat generator and configured to supply moisture heated in the heat generator to the mop.

At this time, the diffuser may include a diffuser housing coupled to the module housing; and a moisture supply hole formed in the diffuser housing, the moisture supply hole through which the moisture heated in the heat generator is discharged, and at least one moisture supply hole may be provided along a circumferential direction

At this time, the moisture supply hole may be provided in plural and the plurality of moisture supply holes may have different diameters, respectively.

Especially, the diffuser may be connected to the heat generator, and the plurality of moisture supply holes may have diameters that gradually increase as getting farther away from a point connected to the heat generator.

The mop diffuser may further include a guide rib protruding downward from the diffuser housing and formed along a circumferential direction.

The diffuser may further include a drain discharge portion downwardly formed from the diffuser housing.

Alternatively, the diffuser may be connected to the heat generator, and may have an inner space where moisture flows, which becomes narrower as getting farther away from a point connected to the heat generator.

At this time, the diffuser may further include a diffuser cover coupled to the diffuser housing and forming a space in which moisture flows.

The diffuser cover may include a cover body covering the diffuser housing; and a flow rate adjustment part protruding toward the differ housing from the cover body.

At this time, the flow rate adjustment part may have a protruding height that varies based on the distance from a point connected to the heat generator.

The flow rate adjustment part may have a protruding height that increases as getting farther away from a point connected to the heat generator.

In a mop module of a vacuum cleaner configured to perform cleaning by wiping off foreign substances on the floor surface, the moisture supply hole may be formed along a circumferential direction in a shape of a long hole.

The moisture supply hole may be formed along a circumferential direction, with a radial diameter that increases gradually.

The diffuser may further include a guide pole protruding toward the heat generator from the diffuser housing and configured to eliminate a water film generated in the heat generator.

The diffuser may further include a guide inclined surface configured to guide moisture introduced from the heat generator to the moisture supply hole.

As mentioned above, the mop module of the vacuum cleaner according to the present disclosure may increase sterilization and foreign substance removal effect by supplying high temperature water or steam to a mop.

Furthermore, the plurality of moisture supply holes may be formed in the diffuser along the circumferential surface. Accordingly, there is an effect of supplying moisture to a wide area of a mop at the same time.

Still further, the diffuser may have the outlet hole with the diameter that gradually increases the flow rate as getting farther away from the point where moisture is introduced. Accordingly, there is an effect of making the flow amount of the moisture discharged from the plurality of moisture supply holes uniform.

Still further, the diffuser may increase the flow rate as getting farther away from the point where the moisture is introduced. Accordingly, there is an effect of making the flow amount of the moisture discharged from the plurality of moisture supply holes uniform.

Still further, the diffuser may include the outlet hole formed in the shape of the long hole formed along the circumferential direction. Accordingly, there is an effect of preventing the steam discharge from becoming unstable due to the drain blocking the outlet hole.

Still further, it is possible to minimize the distance through which moisture discharged from the heat generator is supplied to the mop, thereby minimizing heat loss of the moisture.

Description will now be given in detail according to exemplary embodiments disclosed herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The present disclosure may be variously modified and may have various embodiments, and particular embodiments illustrated in the drawings will be specifically described below. The description of the embodiments is not intended to limit the present disclosure to the particular embodiments, but it should be interpreted that the present disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and technical scope of the present disclosure.

is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.are views to describe a mop module one embodiment of the present disclosure.