JP6904659B2 - Electric cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

The embodiment according to the present invention relates to an electric cleaning device.

A cleaning device including a dust control product such as a dust mop and a dust collector that sucks the dust collected by the dust control product into a dust collection container is known.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-210361

By the way, in recent years, an autonomous vacuum cleaner that autonomously moves on the surface to be cleaned to collect dust, a so-called robot cleaner, has been known.

Since the robot cleaner cleans the entire living room, it takes tens of minutes to hours of operation time. For this reason, the robot cleaner is highly convenient for autonomously cleaning the living room while the child is away, but for example, in the case of cleaning spilled confectionery scraps by a child, that is, the living room. In applications such as cleaning a part of the robot immediately, the momentum and convenience will be reduced.

For applications such as cleaning spilled confectionery debris by children, means other than autonomous vacuum cleaners, such as mops, brooms, and floor cleaners, are faster. can.

However, even if a means other than the autonomous cleaning unit, such as a mop, a broom, or a means for sweeping dust with a floor cleaner, can respond more quickly, it can be used to dispose of the dust after sweeping. Has the aspect that it takes extra time and effort to remove dust.

Therefore, the present invention provides a charging function for an autonomous cleaning unit, and by utilizing a station unit that is installed in a living room, autonomous cleaning by the autonomous cleaning unit and means other than the autonomous cleaning unit, for example, a mop. We also propose an electric cleaning device that can easily dispose of the collected dust after quickly performing local cleaning using a broom or floor cleaning tool.

In order to solve the above problems, the electric cleaning device according to the embodiment of the present invention has an autonomous cleaning unit that autonomously moves on the surface to be cleaned to collect dust, and a charging electrode of the autonomous cleaning unit. The autonomous cleaning unit includes a station unit, and the autonomous cleaning unit is sucked from a first main body case having a first suction port, a secondary battery for storing power supplied from the charging electrode, and the first suction port. The first dust collecting container for accumulating dust, an electric blower driven by the electric power supplied from the secondary battery to apply a negative pressure to the first dust collecting container, and the autonomous cleaning unit to the station unit. The station unit includes a control unit that autonomously returns to the nest and autonomously separates the autonomous cleaning unit from the station unit to move the surface to be cleaned, and the station unit is provided with dust collected by the autonomous cleaning unit. A negative pressure is applied to the second main body case having a second suction port for sucking other dust different from the above, the second dust collecting container for accumulating the dust sucked from the second suction port, and the second dust collecting container. When the second electric blower to be operated and the autonomous cleaning unit return to the station unit, the first dust collecting container and the second dust collecting container are connected to each other, and the operation of the second electric blower is generated. A relay air passage for transferring dust from the first dust collecting container to the second dust collecting container with a negative pressure is provided, and the second suction port is arranged in the lower part of the second main body case, and the second a width along the surface being cleaned in a state of placing the body case to the surface to be cleaned, the said autonomous in a state that has a height along the normal of the surface to be cleaned, and the autonomous cleaning unit is home to the station unit It is provided at a position where the other dust collected on the surface to be cleaned can be sucked in without being blocked by the mold cleaning unit.

The block diagram of the electric cleaning apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The block diagram of the electric cleaning apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the electric cleaning device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
A first embodiment of the electric cleaning device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electric cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electric cleaning device 1 according to the present embodiment has an autonomous cleaning unit 2 that autonomously moves on a surface to be cleaned to collect dust, and a charging electrode 3 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2. The station unit 5 is provided.

The electric cleaning device 1 autonomously moves the autonomous cleaning unit 2 over the entire area to be cleaned in the living room to collect dust, and then returns the autonomous cleaning unit 2 to the station unit 5. Make the autonomous cleaning unit 2 stand by until the next cleaning.

The station unit 5 is arranged at an arbitrary place in the living room. When the autonomous cleaning unit 2 needs to be charged or when the cleaning of the living room is completed, the autonomous cleaning unit 2 returns to the station unit 5 and shifts to the standby state or the charging state. The position where the station unit 5 and the autonomous cleaning unit 2 are electrically connected and the autonomous cleaning unit 2 is in a rechargeable state is called a homecoming position of the autonomous cleaning unit 2. Further, returning the autonomous cleaning unit 2 to the station unit 5 and returning the autonomous cleaning unit 2 to the station unit 5 to shift to the standby state or the charging state is referred to as homecoming.

First, the autonomous cleaning unit 2 is a so-called robot cleaner. The autonomous cleaning unit 2 includes a first main body case 11 having a first suction port 6, a secondary battery 12 provided in the first main body case 11, and a dust collecting container for accumulating dust sucked from the first suction port 6. 13, an electric blower 15 that is driven by the electric power supplied from the secondary battery 12 to apply a negative pressure to the dust collecting container 13, and a moving portion 16 that movably supports the first main body case 11 on the surface to be cleaned. A drive unit 17 that is driven by the electric power supplied from the secondary battery 12 to operate the moving unit 16, and a robot control unit 18 that controls the driving unit 17 to autonomously move the first main body case 11 on the surface to be cleaned. And have.

The first main body case 11 is, for example, a disk-shaped box made of synthetic resin, and the surface to be cleaned can be easily swiveled. A horizontally long first suction port 6 is opened on the bottom surface of the first main body case 11.

The first suction port 6 has a width dimension of the first main body case 11, that is, a width dimension of about two-thirds of the diameter dimension. The first suction port 6 is fluidly connected to the electric blower 15 via the dust collecting container 13.

The dust collecting container 13 is provided in the first main body case 11. The dust collecting container 13 accumulates dust sucked from the first suction port 6 by the suction negative pressure generated by the electric blower 15. The dust collection container 13 includes a filter that filters and collects dust, a separation device that separates air and dust by inertial separation such as centrifugal separation (cyclone separation) and straight-ahead separation, and allows air to pass through while accumulating dust. Is applied.

The moving portion 16 supports the first main body case 11 with at least three wheels. The moving unit 16 includes a pair of left and right drive wheels (not shown) provided on the bottom surface of the first main body case 11 and a driven wheel (not shown) provided on the bottom surface of the first main body case 11.

The autonomous cleaning unit 2 moves forward or backward by rotating a pair of drive wheels in the same direction, and turns clockwise or counterclockwise by rotating the pair of drive wheels in opposite directions. The driving wheel is, for example, a swivel caster.

The drive unit 17 includes a pair of motors that drive each of the pair of drive wheels. The drive unit 17 drives the pair of drive wheels independently.

The robot control unit 18 includes a microprocessor (not shown) and a storage device (not shown) that stores various arithmetic programs and parameters executed by the microprocessor. The robot control unit 18 is electrically connected to the electric blower 15 and the drive unit 17. The robot control unit 18 controls the electric blower 15 to apply a negative pressure to the first suction port 6, and the robot control unit 18 controls the drive unit 17 to autonomously travel the autonomous cleaning unit 2. Let me.

The secondary battery 12 is a power source for the electric blower 15, the drive unit 17, and the robot control unit 18. The secondary battery 12 is electrically connected to a charging terminal 19 provided on the bottom surface of the first main body case 11. The secondary battery 12 is charged by connecting the charging terminal 19 to the charging electrode 3 of the station unit 5.

The station unit 5 is installed at an arbitrary location on the cleaned surface of the living room. The station unit 5 includes a second main body case 22 having a second suction port 21 for sucking in dust other than the dust collected by the autonomous cleaning unit 2, a charging electrode 3, and a charging electrode 3 from a commercial AC power source E. It is provided with a power cord 23 that guides electric power to the power cord 23, and a suction air passage 25 that connects the second suction port 21 and the first suction port 6 when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 returns to the station unit 5.

The second main body case 22 is a box body having an appropriate shape that can be placed on the surface to be cleaned in the living room. The second main body case 22 has an appropriate shape that does not interfere even when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 returns to the nest.

The second suction port 21 sucks in means other than the autonomous cleaning unit 2, for example, dust collected by a mop, a broom, or a floor cleaning tool, or dust adhering to a mop, a broom, or the floor cleaning tool itself. Applies to applications. Therefore, the second suction port 21 is arranged in the lower part of the second main body case 22, and has, for example, an appropriate width along the surface to be cleaned and an appropriate height along the vertical line of the surface to be cleaned.

The suction air passage 25 has a mode in which the second suction port 21 and the dust collecting container 13 are directly connected without passing through the first suction port 6 (suction air passage 25a), and the suction air passage 25 is the first through the first suction port 6. (Ii) Any aspect (suction air passage 25b) of connecting the suction port 21 and the dust collecting container 13 may be used.

The suction air passages 25 (25a, 25b) are provided in the second main body case 22. One end of the suction air passage 25 (25a, 25b) is connected to the second suction port 21.

The other end of the suction air passage 25a is arranged at an appropriate place connected to the dust collecting container 13 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 returns to the nest. It is preferable that the dust collecting container 13 is provided with a lid (not shown) that opens with the return of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 and connects the dust collecting container 13 and the suction air passage 25a.

The other end of the suction air passage 25a is arranged at an appropriate place connected to the first suction port 6 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 returns to the nest.

The charging electrode 3 is provided on the second main body case 22. When the autonomous cleaning unit 2 returns home, the charging electrode 3 is arranged at an appropriate place where it can come into contact with the charging terminal 19 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 to establish an electrical connection.

When the autonomous cleaning unit 2 returns to the home return position, the electric cleaning device 1 brings the charging terminal 19 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 into contact with the charging electrode 3 of the station unit 5 to establish an electrical connection and secondary. Charge the battery 12. At this time, the electric cleaning device 1 passes the second suction port 21 of the station unit 5 through the dust collecting container 13 through the first suction port 6 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 or without the intervention of the autonomous cleaning unit 2. It is fluidly connected to the electric blower 15.

Then, the electric cleaning device 1 detects a direct command to the autonomous cleaning unit 2 and a sensor for detecting that a mop, a broom, or a floor cleaning tool itself is brought close to the second suction port 21 (not shown). Operates the electric blower 15 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 by the action of. The negative pressure generated by the operation of the electric blower 15 acts on the second suction port 21 of the station unit 5 via the dust collection container 13, the first suction port 6, and the suction air passage 25, and dust is generated from the second suction port 21. Inhale. Dust sucked from the second suction port 21 adheres to means other than the autonomous cleaning unit 2, for example, dust collected by a mop, a broom, or a floor cleaning tool, or a mop, a broom, or the floor cleaning tool itself. It is dust to be done.

By having the second suction port 21 of the station unit 5, the electric cleaning device 1 according to the present embodiment configured as described above has means other than the autonomous cleaning unit 2, such as mops, brooms, and floor cleaning. It can suck in dust collected by tools, or dust adhering to mops, brooms, and floor cleaners themselves. Such a dust absorbing function of the electric cleaning device 1 is suitable for locally cleaning a part of a living room, for example, for cleaning dust such as confectionery scraps spilled by a child. That is, while the electric cleaning device 1 requires several tens of minutes to an hour unit when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 is autonomously operated to clean the entire living room, a means other than the autonomous cleaning unit 2, for example, a mop. When cleaning the living room locally with a broom or floor cleaning tool, the dust that can be swept up every few tens of seconds to several minutes is immediately sucked up from the second suction port 21 and accumulated. be able to.

Further, in the electric cleaning device 1 according to the present embodiment, the suction system (electric blower 15, dust collecting container 13, and first suction port 6) of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 is connected to the second suction port 21 of the station unit 5. By sucking dust, it is possible to provide an immediate dust sucking function without increasing the number of parts.

[Second Embodiment]
A second embodiment of the electric cleaning device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electric cleaning device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the configurations common to the electric cleaning device 1 of the first embodiment, and duplicate description will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 2, the electric cleaning device 1A according to the present embodiment has an autonomous cleaning unit 2 that autonomously moves on the surface to be cleaned to collect dust, and a charging electrode 3 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2. The station unit 5A and the like are provided.

The electric cleaning device 1A autonomously moves the autonomous cleaning unit 2 over the entire area to be cleaned in the living room to collect dust, and then returns the autonomous cleaning unit 2 to the station unit 5A. Make the autonomous cleaning unit 2 stand by until the next cleaning.

The station unit 5A is arranged at an arbitrary location in the living room. When the autonomous cleaning unit 2 needs to be charged or when the cleaning of the living room is completed, the autonomous cleaning unit 2 returns to the station unit 5A and shifts to the standby state or the charging state. The position where the station unit 5A and the autonomous cleaning unit 2 are electrically connected and the autonomous cleaning unit 2 is in a rechargeable state is called a homecoming position of the autonomous cleaning unit 2. Further, returning the autonomous cleaning unit 2 to the station unit 5A and returning the autonomous cleaning unit 2 to the station unit 5A to shift to the standby state or the charging state is referred to as homecoming.

The station unit 5A is installed at an arbitrary location on the cleaned surface of the living room. The station unit 5A includes a second main body case 22 having a second suction port 21 for sucking other dust different from the dust collected by the autonomous cleaning unit 2, a charging electrode 3, and a charging electrode 3 from the commercial AC power source E. A power cord 23 for guiding power to the second suction port 21, a second dust collecting container 31 for accumulating dust sucked from the second suction port 21, a second electric blower 32 for applying a negative pressure to the second dust collecting container 31, and a second. A station control unit 33 that controls the electric blower 32 to apply a negative pressure to the second suction port 21 is provided.

The second dust collecting container 31 is provided in the second main body case 22. The second dust collecting container 31 accumulates dust sucked from the second suction port 21 by the suction negative pressure generated by the second electric blower 32. The second dust collecting container 31 is a filter that filters and collects dust, separates air and dust by inertial separation such as centrifugal separation (cyclone separation) and straight-ahead separation, and separates air while accumulating dust. Equipment etc. are applied. Unlike the dust collecting container 13, the second dust collecting container 31 does not move together with the autonomous cleaning unit 2 and is housed in the stationary station unit 5A, so that a larger capacity than the dust collecting container 13 is secured. Is easy.

Since the second electric blower 32 can obtain electric power directly from the commercial AC power source E, the second electric blower 32 may have a larger output than the electric blower 15 driven by the secondary battery 12.

The station control unit 33 includes a microprocessor (not shown) and a storage device (not shown) that stores various arithmetic programs and parameters executed by the microprocessor. The station control unit 33 is electrically connected to the second electric blower 32. The station control unit 33 controls the second electric blower 32 to apply a negative pressure to the second suction port 21.

The electric cleaning device 1A is used for direct commands to the station unit 5A and for mops, brooms, and floors at the second suction port 21, regardless of whether the autonomous cleaning unit 2 has returned to the homecoming position. The second electric blower 32 is operated by the action of a sensor (not shown) that detects that the cleaning tool itself is brought close to it. The negative pressure generated by the operation of the second electric blower 32 acts on the second suction port 21 via the second dust collection container 31 and sucks dust from the second suction port 21. Dust sucked from the second suction port 21 adheres to means other than the autonomous cleaning unit 2, for example, dust collected by a mop, a broom, or a floor cleaning tool, or a mop, a broom, or the floor cleaning tool itself. It is dust to be done.

Further, the station unit 5A is provided with a relay air passage 35 that connects the dust collecting container 13 and the second dust collecting container 31 when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 returns to the station unit 5A.

The relay air passage 35 directly connects the dust collecting container 13 and the second dust collecting container 31 without passing through the first suction port 6 (relay air passage 35a), and via the first suction port 6. It may be any of the modes (relay air passage 35b) in which the dust collecting container 13 and the second dust collecting container 31 are connected.

The relay air passages 35 (35a, 35b) are provided in the second main body case 22. One end of the relay air passage 35 (35a, 35b) is connected to the second dust collecting container 31.

The other end of the relay air passage 35a is arranged at an appropriate place connected to the dust collecting container 13 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 returns to the nest. It is preferable that the dust collecting container 13 is provided with a lid (not shown) that opens with the return of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 and connects the dust collecting container 13 and the relay air passage 35a.

The other end of the relay air passage 35b is arranged at an appropriate place connected to the first suction port 6 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 returns to the nest.

In the electric cleaning device 1A, when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 returns to the home return position, the charging terminal 19 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 and the charging electrode 3 of the station unit 5A are brought into contact with each other to establish an electrical connection and secondary. Charge the battery 12. At this time, the electric cleaning device 1A passes through the first suction port 6 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 or without the second dust collection container 31 of the station unit 5A, and then the dust collection container 13 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2. Is fluidly connected to the second electric blower 32 of the station unit 5A, and then the second electric blower 32 is operated. The negative pressure generated by the operation of the second electric blower 32 acts on the dust collecting container 13 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2 via the second dust collecting container 31 and the relay air passage 35 (relay air passage 35a or relay air passage 35b). Then, the dust is transferred from the dust collecting container 13 to the second dust collecting container 31.

When adding a dust transfer function from the dust collection container 13 to the second dust collection container 31 to the electric cleaning device 1A, the negative pressure acting on the second dust collection container 31 is applied to the second suction port 21 side. It is preferable to provide a switching mechanism 36 that acts or acts on the dust collecting container 13 of the autonomous cleaning unit 2.

The electric cleaning device 1A according to the present embodiment configured as described above has a second suction port 21 of the station unit 5A, so that means other than the autonomous cleaning unit 2, such as mops, brooms, and floor cleaning. It can suck in dust collected by tools, or dust adhering to mops, brooms, and floor cleaners themselves. Such a dust absorbing function of the electric cleaning device 1A is suitable for locally cleaning a part of a living room, for example, for cleaning dust such as confectionery scraps spilled by a child. That is, while the electric cleaning device 1A requires several tens of minutes to an hour unit when the autonomous cleaning unit 2 is autonomously operated to clean the entire living room, a means other than the autonomous cleaning unit 2, for example, a mop. When cleaning the living room locally with a broom or floor cleaning tool, the dust that can be swept up every few tens of seconds to several minutes is immediately sucked up from the second suction port 21 and accumulated. be able to.

Further, the electric cleaning device 1A according to the present embodiment can provide an immediate dust absorbing function by the station unit 5A alone.

Further, the electric cleaning device 1A according to the present embodiment transfers and accumulates the dust collected by the autonomous cleaning unit 2 to the station unit 5A, thereby continuously accumulating a large amount of dust for a longer period of time. Is possible, and the maintenance interval can be extended.

Therefore, according to the electric cleaning devices 1 and 1A according to the present embodiment, the autonomous cleaning unit 2 has a charging function, and by utilizing the station units 5 and 5A installed in the living room, the autonomous cleaning unit 2 is used. Autonomous cleaning and quick local cleaning using means other than autonomous cleaning unit 2, such as mops, brooms, and floor cleaners, and then easily dispose of the collected dust. Can be done.

Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other embodiments, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

1, 1A electric cleaning device 2 autonomous cleaning unit 3 charging electrode 5, 5A station unit 6 first suction port 11 first main body case 12 secondary battery 13 dust collector 15 electric blower 16 moving unit 17 driving unit 18 robot control unit 19 Charging terminal 21 Second suction port 22 Second main body case 23 Power cord 25a, 25b Suction air passage 31 Second dust collector 32 Second electric blower 33 Station control unit 35a, 35b Relay air passage 36 Switching mechanism

Claims (1)

An autonomous cleaning unit that autonomously moves the surface to be cleaned and collects dust,
A station unit having a charging electrode of the autonomous cleaning unit, and
The autonomous cleaning unit
The first body case with the first suction port and
A secondary battery that stores the power supplied from the charging electrode,
A first dust collecting container that accumulates dust sucked from the first suction port,
An electric blower driven by the electric power supplied from the secondary battery to apply a negative pressure to the first dust collecting container, and
A control unit for autonomously returning the autonomous cleaning unit to the station unit and autonomously detaching the autonomous cleaning unit from the station unit to move the surface to be cleaned is provided.
The station unit is
A second main body case having a second suction port for sucking in other dust different from the dust collected by the autonomous cleaning unit, and a second main body case.
A second dust collecting container that accumulates dust sucked from the second suction port,
A second electric blower that applies negative pressure to the second dust collector,
When the autonomous cleaning unit returns to the station unit, the first dust collecting container and the second dust collecting container are connected, and the first collecting is performed by the negative pressure generated by the operation of the second electric blower. A relay air passage for transferring dust from the dust container to the second dust collecting container is provided.
The second suction port is arranged in the lower part of the second main body case, and has a width along the surface to be cleaned and a height along the vertical line of the surface to be cleaned with the second main body case placed on the surface to be cleaned. The autonomous cleaning unit is provided at a position where the other dust collected on the surface to be cleaned can be sucked in without being blocked by the autonomous cleaning unit in a state where the autonomous cleaning unit has returned to the station unit. The electric cleaning device that has been used.

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