MAINTENANCE SYSTEM AND CLEANING SYSTEM HAVING THE SAME

Abstract

A maintenance system and a cleaning system having the same, the maintenance system including a maintenance station provided at indoors to mount a robot cleaner having a first dust container thereon, a suction port to suck dust of the first dust container, and a dust removing apparatus connected to the suction port while being disposed at outdoors, so that the cleaning performance is maintained regardless of existence of dust in the dust container of the robot cleaner while enhancing the spatial efficiency at indoors.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/647,231, filed on May 15, 2012, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2012-0144645, filed on Dec. 12, 2012, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a cleaning system capable of performing a cleaning task using an autonomous travelling robot.

2. Description of the Related Art

An autonomous travelling robot is an apparatus designed to perform a predetermined task while travelling a random region without user manipulation. The robot performs most of its operation through autonomous travelling, and such an autonomous travelling is implemented in various manners. For example, a robot may travel in a designated path by use of a map, or may travel without having a designated path by use of a sensor to detect a surrounding environment.

A robot cleaner is an apparatus to clean a floor while travelling a cleaning region without user manipulation. In detail, the robot cleaner is used to remove dust or wipe a floor, for example, at home. The dust may represent soil dirt, powder, fragments and other dust particles collected by a vacuum cleaner or an automatic or semi-automatic cleaner.

Such a robot cleaner is capable of cleaning a floor without user manipulation, but when dust is filled in a dust container provided at an inside the robot cleaner, the cleaning performance may be degraded.

SUMMARY

Therefore, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a cleaning system having an additional dust removing apparatus provided at an outdoor.

It is another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a maintenance system having a structure capable of miniaturization, and a cleaning system having the same.

Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a maintenance system includes a maintenance station, a suction pipe, and a dust removing apparatus. The maintenance station may be provided at indoors to mount a robot cleaner having a first dust container thereon. The suction pipe may be connected to the maintenance station to guide dust of the first dust container to outside of the maintenance station. The dust removing apparatus may be disposed at outdoors to store dust while being connected to the suction pipe.

The maintenance system may further include an exhaust pipe. The exhaust pipe may be connected to the maintenance station and configured to float dust through air being introduced by blowing air in the first dust container.

The maintenance station may be provided at an inside thereof with a suction duct and an exhaust duct that communicate with the suction pipe and the exhaust pipe, respectively.

The maintenance station may be provided with a second opening at a position corresponding to a first opening extending from the first dust container. A suction port and at least one exhaust port, which communicate with the suction duct and the exhaust duct, respectively, may be provided at the second opening.

The at least one exhaust port and the suction port may be disposed at opposite sides to each other with respect to the second opening.

The at least one exhaust port may have a cross section smaller than a cross section of the suction port to increase a speed of flow at the at least one exhaust port.

The suction pipe and the exhaust pipe may be disposed while passing through a wall that divides the indoors from the outdoors.

The maintenance station may be provided at an end portion thereof with a coupling part being inserted into the wall that divides the indoors from the outdoors. The suction pipe and the exhaust pipe may be coupled to the coupling part.

The dust removing apparatus may have a second dust container to store dust being discharged from the first dust container.

The dust removing apparatus may further include a blower unit configured to blow in air at the at least one exhaust port and suck air at the suction port.

The dust removing apparatus may further include a filter to prevent dust of the second dust container from being introduced into the blower unit.

The first opening and the second opening may be disposed to match each other so that the first dust container, the suction port, the suction pipe, the dust removing apparatus, the exhaust pipe and the at least one exhaust port form a closed loop in cooperation with one another.

The maintenance station may further include a docking inducing apparatus and a charging apparatus. The docking inducing apparatus may be provided to allow the robot cleaner to be docked at the maintenance station. The charging apparatus may be configured to charge the robot cleaner.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a maintenance system includes a maintenance station, a suction pipe, a dust removing apparatus and an exhaust pipe. The maintenance station may be disposed at indoors to mount a robot cleaner having a first dust container thereon. The suction pipe may communicate with the maintenance station to discharge dust of the robot cleaner. The dust removing apparatus may be disposed at outdoors to store the dust being discharged through the suction pipe. The exhaust pipe may be configured to introduce air into the maintenance station so as to float dust at an inside the first dust container, the exhaust pipe having one end portion communicating with the maintenance station and the other end portion communicating with the dust removing apparatus. The dust removing apparatus may further include a blower unit configured to allow air to be discharged through the exhaust pipe while allowing dust and air to be sucked through the suction pipe.

The maintenance station may be provided with a second opening corresponding to a first opening communicating with the first dust container of the robot cleaner. A suction port may be disposed at the second opening so that the second opening communicates with the suction pipe. At least one exhaust port may be disposed at the second opening so that the second opening communicates with the exhaust pipe.

A center line of the at least one exhaust port may be disposed to be deviated from a center line of the suction port to prevent air being discharged from the at least one exhaust port from being directly introduced into the suction port.

The at least one exhaust port may have a cross section smaller than a cross section of the suction port to increase a speed of flow at the at least one exhaust port.

The dust removing apparatus may include a second dust container and a filter. The second dust container has air and dust introduced thereinto through the suction pipe. The filter may be disposed between the second dust container and the blower unit so as to introduce air into the blower unit.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a cleaning system includes a robot cleaner, a maintenance station, a suction pipe and a dust removing apparatus. The robot cleaner may have a first opening and a first dust container communicating with the first opening. The robot cleaner may be mounted on the maintenance station, and may have a second opening disposed at a position corresponding to the first opening. The suction pipe may communicate with the second opening while communicating with an outside of the maintenance station. The dust removing apparatus may be connected to the suction pipe and have a second dust container to store dust, the dust removing apparatus disposed outdoors. The dust of the first dust container may be discharged to the second opening through the first opening. Dust of the second opening may be collected through the suction pipe into the second dust container of the dust removing apparatus at outdoors.

The cleaning system may further include an exhaust pipe having one end portion connected to the dust removing apparatus provided at outdoors and the other end portion connected to the maintenance station provided at indoors so as to float dust through air being introduced by blowing air into the first dust container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a cleaning system in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view illustrating a robot cleaner in accordance with a robot cleaner.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the robot cleaner of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 4A to 4C are plan views showing dust sensing units in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, respectively.

FIGS. 5A to 5D are top part perspective views showing maintenance stations in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5E is a side sectional view showing a maintenance station in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a drawing a dust removing apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure mounted at a wall.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are drawing illustrating a structure of the dust removing apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a drawing illustrating an exhaust path and a suction path of the maintenance station and the dust removing apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of the maintenance station of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 10 is a drawing illustrating the robot cleaner and the maintenance station in accordance with one embodiment in a docking state.

FIG. 11 is a drawing illustrating a cleaning system in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a side sectional view of a dust removing apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a drawing illustrating a cleaning system in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a cleaning system in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1, a cleaning system 10 includes a robot cleaner 20, a maintenance station 60, and a dust removing apparatus 90. A maintenance system 100 includes the maintenance station 60 and the dust removing apparatus 90.

The robot cleaner 20 is an apparatus to perform a cleaning task while autonomously travelling, and the maintenance station 60 is a maintenance apparatus that serves to charge a battery of the robot cleaner 20 or empty a dust container 43 (See FIG. 2) of the robot cleaner 20.

The dust removing apparatus 90 is an apparatus connected to the maintenance station 60 to serve to generate a suction force to suck dust, which is collected in the dust container 43 of the robot cleaner 20, from the dust container 43 while serving to collect the sucked dust in a predetermined space.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view illustrating a robot cleaner in accordance with a robot cleaner. FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the robot cleaner of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the robot cleaner 20 includes a body 21, a driving apparatus 30, a cleaning apparatus 40, various sensors 50, and a controller (not shown).

The body 21 may be provided in a variety of shapes. For example, the body 21 may be provided in a circular shape. In this case, the body 21 has a constant turning radius at the time of turning, thereby prevented contact with a surrounding obstacle, and easily changing in direction. In addition, at the time of travelling, the body 21 provided in a circular shape is prevented from being stuck while being caught with a surrounding obstacle.

At the body 21, various components, such as the driving apparatus 30, the cleaning apparatus 40, the various sensors 50, a display 23 and the controller (not shown) are installed.

The driving apparatus 30 enables the body 21 to travel on a cleaning region. The driving apparatus 30 includes a left side driving wheel 31a, a right side driving wheel 31b, and a caster 32. The left side and right side driving wheels 31a and 31b are mounted at a center portion of a lower part of the body 21. The caster 32 is mounted at a front portion of the lower part of the body 21 such that the robot cleaner 20 maintains a stable posture.

The left side and right side driving wheels 31a and 31b are controlled to move the robot cleaner 20 forward/backward or to change of the direction of the robot cleaner 20. For example, if the left side and right side driving wheels 31a and 31b are equally controlled, the robot cleaner 20 travels forward or backward, and if the left side and right side driving wheels 31a and 31b are differently controlled, the robot cleaner 20 changes its direction.

The left/right side driving wheels 31a and 31b may be provided in one assembly and the caster 32 may be provided in one assembly, and the respective assemblies of the left/right side driving wheels 31a and 31b and the caster 32 provided may be detachably mounted on the body 21.

The cleaning apparatus 40 cleans the bottom of the body 21 and a surrounding area of the body 21. The cleaning apparatus 40 includes a brush unit 41, a side brush 42, and the first dust container 43.

The brush unit 41 is mounted at a first opening 21a formed though a bottom surface of the body 21. The brush unit 41 is located at a position deviated from a center area of the body 21. That is, the brush unit 41 is mounted at a rear portion R of the body 21 when compared to the driving wheels 31a and 31b.

The brush unit 41 is provided to sweep dust accumulated on the bottom of the body 21 into the first dust container 43. The brush unit 41 includes a roller 41a rotatably provided at the first opening 21a of the body 21, and a brush 41b stuck into an outer surface of the roller 41a. As the roller 41a rotates, the brush 41b formed of elastic material stirs dust accumulated on the bottom, so the dust accumulated on the floor is stored in the first dust container 43 after passing through the first opening 21a.

The brush unit 41 is controlled at a constant speed to keep the cleaning performance constant. In a case of cleaning a floor surface that is not smooth as in a carpet, the rotation speed is decreased when compared to cleaning a smooth floor surface. In this case, more of electric current is supplied to keep the rotation speed of the brush unit 41 constant.

The side brush 42 is rotatably mounted at one portion of a periphery of the bottom surface of the body 21. The side brush 42 is provided in a diagonal direction toward the front portion F.

The side brush 42 moves the dust accumulated at a surrounding area of the body 21 to the brush unit 41. The side brush 42 expands a cleaning range of the robot cleaner 20 to the bottom of the 21 and the surrounding area. As described above, the dust moved to the brush unit 41 is stored in the first dust container 43 after passing through the first opening 21a.

The first dust container 43 is mounted at a rear portion of the body 21. An inlet 45 of the first dust container 43 communicates with the first opening 21a of the body 21 so that dust is introduced into the first dust container 43.

The first dust container 43 is divided into a large dust container 43a and a small dust container 43b by a division wall 43c. The brush unit 41 sweeps large-sized dust in the large dust container 43a through a first inlet 45a, and stores small-sized dust, which may be floatable, such as hair, in the small dust container 43b by sucking the small-sized dust through a second inlet 45b.

A brush cleaning member 41c is provided adjacent to the second inlet 45b. The brush cleaning member 41c filters hair being wound around the brush unit 41, and through a suction force of the blower unit 22, the filtered hair is stored in the small dust container 43b through the second inlet 45b.

Each of the brush unit 41, the side brush 42, and the first dust container 43 may be provided in a single assembly, and each assembly may be detachably mounted on the body 21.

FIGS. 4A to 4C are plan views showing dust sensing units in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 4A, a dust sensing unit 44 is installed at an inside the first dust container 43 to detect the amount of dust of the first dust container 43.

The dust sensing unit 44 includes a light emitting sensor 44a and a light receiving sensor 44b. At an inside the first dust container 43, a signal being transmitted from the light emitting sensor 44a is directly received by the light receiving sensor 44b.

The light emitting sensor 44a and the light receiving sensor 44b include a photo diode or a photo transistor. In this case, whether the first dust container 43 is full of dust is determined based on the amount of the energy detected by a photo diode or a photo transistor. That is, if dust is accumulated, the amount of energy detected by the photo diode or the photo transistor is significantly reduced. The detected amount of energy is compared with a predetermined reference value, and if the amount of energy is lower than the reference value, the controller determines that the first dust container 43 is full of dust. As described above, the light emitting sensor 44a and the light receiving sensor 44b include a photo diode or a photo transistor is easily affected by disturbance, so the detection of dust is more precise if a slit or a light guide configured to guide a signal of the light emitting sensor 44a and the light receiving sensor 44b is installed.

In addition, the light emitting sensor 44a and the light receiving sensor 44b each may include a remote controller receiving module. In this case, the fullness of dust in the first dust container 43 is determined depending on whether signals are received by the light receiving sensor 44b. That is, if dust is accumulated, the light receiving sensor 44b fails to receive the signal being transmitted from the light emitting sensor 44a, and the controller determines that the first dust container 43 is filled with dust at a predetermined level or above. The light emitting sensor 44a and the light receiving sensor 44b including the remote controller receiving module are capable of filtering low frequency, and in addition, have superior intensity and receiver sensitivity and thus a slit or a light guide structure may not be needed.

The signal transmitted and received by the light emitting sensor 44a and the light receiving sensor 44b is implemented using, for example, visible rays, infrared rays, sound waves, ultrasonic waves, or any other signal that one of ordinary skill in the art would find suitable for detecting the dust.

Referring to FIG. 4B, the dust sensing unit 44 includes a light sensing sensor 44a, a light receiving sensor 44b and a reflection member 44c.

The light emitting sensor 44a and the light receiving sensor 44b may be installed other than at an inside the first dust container 43. For example, the light emitting sensor 44a and the light receiving sensor 44b may be installed at a portion of the body 21 facing the first dust container 43. In detail, the light emitting sensor 44a and the light receiving sensor 44b may be installed at a position adjacent to an inlet 45 of the first dust container 43. Accordingly, the light emitting sensor 44a transmits a signal to the inside the first dust container 43 through the inlet 45 of the first dust container 43, and the light receiving sensor 44b receives a signal, which escapes to the outside of the first dust container 43, through the inlet 45 of the first dust container 43.

The reflection member 44c is installed at the inside the first dust container 43. The reflection member 44c reflects a signal being transmitted from the light emitting sensor 44a toward a direction at which the light receiving sensor 44b exists.

If the first dust container 43 is full of dust, the reflection member 44c is blocked by dust, and thus the signal being transmitted from the light emitting sensor 44a is not received by the light receiving sensor 44b, or the amount of energy being detected by the light receiving sensor 44b is significantly decreased. In this case, the controller determines that the first dust container 43 is filled with dust in a predetermined level or above.

The light emitting sensor 44a and the light receiving sensor 44b, each including a remote controller motor as described above, are capable of filtering low frequency, and in addition have a superior intensity and receiver sensitivity, and thus a slit or a light guide structure is not needed. That is, even if a structure such as the reflection member 44c does not exist at an inside the first dust container 43, the light emitting sensor 44a and the light receiving sensor 44b including a remote controller module, are capable of determining whether dust is full.

Since the light emitting sensor 44a and the light receiving sensor 44b may not need to be installed at an inside the first dust container 43, an electric connection terminal may not need to be installed at an inside the first dust container 43, thereby enabling the first dust container 43 to be cleaned by a user using water or other liquid cleaner.

Referring to FIG. 4C, the dust sensing unit 44 includes a light emitting sensor 44a and a light receiving sensor 44b.

The light emitting sensor 44a and the light receiving sensor 44b may be installed other than at an inside the first dust container 43 For example, the light emitting sensor 44a and the light receiving sensor 44b may be installed at the body 21 to face each other. In detail, the light emitting sensor 44a is installed at one portion of the body 21 facing one side of the first dust container 43, and the light receiving sensor 44b is installed at the other portion of the body 21 facing the other side of the first dust container 43. In this case, the first dust container 43 is disposed between the light emitting sensor 44a and the light receiving sensor 44b, so the signals being transmitted from the light emitting sensor 44a are received by the light receiving sensor 44b by passing through the first dust container 43. The first dust container 43, as a whole, may be formed of transparent material allowing signals to pass therethrough. Alternatively, the first dust container 43 may be provided at a portion thereof corresponding to the light emitting sensor 44a with a transmission signal penetrating part 44d formed of transparent material allowing signals to pass therethrough, and at a portion thereof corresponding to the light receiving sensor 44b with a reception signal penetrating part 44e formed of transparent material allowing signals to pass therethrough.

The signals being transmitted from the light emitting sensor 44a are directly received by the light receiving sensor 44b. If the first dust container 43 is full of dust, the signal is not detected by the light receiving sensor 44b, or the amount of energy detected is significantly reduced. In this case, the controller determines that the first dust container 43 is full of dust. Since an electric connection structure is not installed at the first dust container 43, the first dust container 43 is cleaned by a user using water or any liquid cleaner

Although embodiments shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, shows one unit of the dust sensing unit, however, a plurality of dust sensing units may be installed to improve the detection of the dust. Further, a plurality of reflection members may be installed to reflect the signals multiple times to detect the areas that may not be covered by one unit of the dust sensing unit.

If the dust sensing unit 44 detects dust at a predetermined amount or above, the robot cleaner 20 displays information about the detected amount of dust on the display 23. The user may manually clean the first dust container 43. The robot cleaner 20 may be automatically docked at the maintenance station 60, and the dust stored may be automatically discharged.

The various sensors 50 are mounted at the body 21 to detect the obstacles. The sensors may be implemented using a sensor such as a contact sensor and a proximity sensor. For example, a bumper 51 being installed at the front portion F of the body 21 is used to detect an obstacle disposed at the front portion, for example, a wall. In addition, the obstacle disposed at the front portion may be detected by an infrared sensor or an ultrasonic sensor.

In addition, the infrared sensor 52 or the ultrasonic sensor that is installed at the bottom of the body 21 is used to detect the status of the floor, for example, stairs. In a case that the plurality of infrared sensors are provided, the plurality of infrared sensors are installed along a semi-circular periphery of the bottom of the body 21.

Various sensors other than the above described sensors may be installed at the body 21 to transmit the status of the robot cleaner 20 to the controller.

The controller receives signals from the various sensors 50 to control the driving apparatus 30 and the cleaning apparatus 40, thereby effectively controlling the robot cleaner 20.

FIGS. 5A to 5D are top part perspective views showing maintenance stations in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 5E is a side sectional view of a maintenance station in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 5A to 5D, the robot cleaner 20 (see FIG. 1) is docked at the maintenance station 60 in various conditions, for example, when a battery (not shown) of the robot cleaner 20 is charged, the robot cleaner 20 may perform a cleaning task for a predetermined period of time, the robot cleaner 20 completes with a cleaning, and the first dust container 43 of the robot cleaner 20 may be full of dust.

The maintenance station 60 includes a housing 61, a docking inducing apparatus 70, a charging apparatus 80, and a controller (not shown).

A platform 62 is provided at the housing 61. When the robot cleaner 20 is docked at the maintenance station 60, the platform 62 supports the robot cleaner 20.

The platform 62 is slantingly provided to enable the robot cleaner 20 to be easily mounted or dismounted to the platform 62. A caster guide part 63a to guide the caster 32 (see FIG. 3) of the robot cleaner 20, and driving wheel guide parts 63b and 63c to guide the left and right side driving wheels 31a and 31b (see FIG. 3) of the robot cleaner 20 are formed at the platform 62. The caster guide part 63a and the driving wheel guide parts 63b and 63c are formed while being depressed from the platform 62.

The platform 62 is formed with a second opening 62a. The second opening 62a of the platform 62 is provided at a position communicating with the first opening 21a (see FIG. 1) of the robot cleaner 210. Accordingly, the dust being discharged through the first opening 21a of the robot cleaner 20 is introduced into the second opening 62a of the platform 62.

The dust being introduced into the second opening 62a of the platform 62 is introduced into a second dust container 93 of the dust removing apparatus 90 that is to be described later.

The second opening 62a of the platform 62 is provided while being open as shown in FIG. 5A. That is, the second opening 62a of the platform 62 is not provided with an additional cover installed thereto, and is open at all times.

The platform 62 is slantingly formed at a predetermined angel θ or above (see FIG. 9). When the robot cleaner 20 passes by the platform 62 slantingly formed at a predetermined angel θ or above, the robot cleaner 20 is weighted to the rear portion thereof, and thus the front portion of the robot cleaner 20 is slightly lifted. Accordingly, the caster 32 of the robot cleaner 20 passes by without falling into the second opening 62a of the platform 62.

As shown in FIG. 5B, a cover 64 is installed at the second opening 62a of the platform 62 so as to enable reciprocation in a sliding manner. When the robot cleaner 20 is completed with docking, the cover 64 is made to be open, and thus the dust of the robot cleaner 20 is discharged to the second opening 62a of the platform 62. On the contrary, when the docking of the robot cleaner 20 is canceled or the robot cleaner 20 is undocked, the cover 64 is made to be closed, and thus the second opening 62a of the platform 62 is closed.

The cover 64 serves as a bridge, through which the caster 32 of the robot cleaner 20 passes by. The cover 64 is opened and closed in conjunction with the docking of the robot cleaner 20. That is, at the time of docking the robot cleaner 20, the cover 64 is open when the caster 32 is passing by the cover 64 or after the caster 32 passes by the cover 64. At the time of cancelling of docking or undocking the robot cleaner 20, the cover 64 is closed when the caster 32 is passing by the cover 64 or after the caster 32 passes by the cover 64. In addition, the cover 64 may be open and closed by use of an additional apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 5C, a cover 65 is installed at the second opening 62a of the platform 62 so as to enable reciprocation in a sliding manner. Different from the cover 64 described in FIG. 5B, the cover 65 is installed only at a central portion of the second opening 62a of the platform 62, thereby enabling the caster 32 of the robot cleaner 20 to pass by the second opening 62a of the platform 62. The opening/closing operation of the cover 65 is identical to that of the cover 64 described above.

Referring to FIG. 5D, a bridge 66 is installed at the second opening 62a of the platform 62. The bridge 66 is installed only at a center portion of the second opening 62a of the platform 62, thereby serving as a bridge through which the caster 32 of the robot cleaner 20 passes by.

Referring to FIG. 5E, a bridge 67a (67b) is installed at the second opening 62a of the platform 62 so as to enable vertical reciprocating movement. For example, the bridge 67a(67b) may move upward and downward. When the robot cleaner 20 enters the platform 62, the bridge 67a ascends so that the caster 32 of the robot cleaner 20 to move thereon, and when the docking of the robot cleaner 20 is completed, the bridge 67b descends so that the opening area of the second opening 62a of the platform 62 is increased.

A coupling part 68 is formed at the housing 61. The coupling part 68 is formed at one end portion of at the housing 61 opposite to the platform 62.

The coupling part 68 is coupled to a suction pipe 94 and an exhaust pipe 95 of the dust removing apparatus 90, so that the coupling part 68 is inserted into the inside of the wall W, as shown in FIG. 1.

Although the coupling part 68 in accordance with the present embodiment is integrally formed with the housing 61, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The coupling part 68 may be separately formed from the housing 61, and then coupled to the housing 61.

In a case that the coupling part 68 is integrally formed with the housing 61, the maintenance station 60 is provided in a built-in type fixed to the wall W.

The coupling part 68 may be separately formed from the housing 61, the coupling part 68 is provided in plural thereof at a plurality of rooms or a plurality of houses, and the maintenance station 60 is mounted at one of the plural coupling parts 68. In this case, the maintenance station 60 is freely moved to any place, at which the coupling part 68 is provided, at user's convenience.

The docking inducing apparatus 70 is installed at an upper portion of the housing 61. The docking inducing apparatus 70 includes a plurality of sensors 71. The plurality of sensors 71 forms a docking inducing area and a docking area to guide the robot cleaner 20 to be precisely docked at the maintenance station 60.

The charging apparatus 80 is installed at the platform 62. The charging apparatus 80 includes a plurality of connection terminals 81a and 81b. The connection terminals 81a and 81b are formed at positions corresponding to a plurality of connection terminals 23a and 23b of the robot cleaner 20, respectively. If the docking of the robot cleaner 20 is completed, an electric current is supplied to the plurality of connection terminals 23a and 23b of the robot cleaner 20 through the plurality of connection terminals 81a and 81b of the maintenance station 60.

The charging apparatus 80 supplies electric current by determining whether the plurality of connection terminals 23a and 23b of the robot cleaner 20 is connected. In a case that different components other than the plurality of connection terminals 23a and 23b of the robot cleaner 20 are connected, the supply of current is cut so that unexpected accidents are prevented.

FIG. 6 is a drawing a dust removing apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure mounted at a wall, and FIGS. 7A and 7B are drawing illustrating a structure of the dust removing apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 6 to 7B, the maintenance station 60 is disposed at indoors of the wall W, and the dust removing apparatus 90 is disposed at outdoors of the wall W. The coupling part 68 of the maintenance station 60 is insertedly fixed to the inside of the wall, and the suction pipe 94 and the exhaust pipe 95 of the dust removing apparatus 90 are coupled to the coupling part 68, thereby coupling the maintenance station 60 to the dust removing apparatus 90.

The dust removing apparatus 90 allows dust stored in the first dust container 43 see FIG. 2) of the robot cleaner 20 to move toward the second dust container 93 through the maintenance station 60, thereby keeping the cleaning performance of the robot cleaner 20 constant.

The dust removing apparatus 90 includes a case 91, the second dust container 93 installed at an inside the case 91, and a blower unit 92 installed at an inside the case 91. In addition, the dust removing apparatus 90 includes the suction pipe 94 and the exhaust pipe 95.

The second dust container 93 of the dust removing apparatus 90 is different from the first dust container 43 of the robot cleaner 20. The first dust container 43 of the robot cleaner 20 serves to store dust being collected at the floor as the robot cleaner 20 travels, and the second dust container 93 serves to store dust being discharged from the first dust container 43 of the robot cleaner 20. Accordingly, the second dust container 93 has a capacity larger than that of the first dust container 43 of the robot cleaner 20.

The second dust container 93 is formed at an inside the case 91. The blower unit 92 to generate a suction force allowing air or dust to be introduced into the inside the second dust container 93 is installed at one side of the second dust container 93.

A filter 93a is installed between the blower unit 92 and the second dust container 93 such that even if dust is sucked into the second dust container 93 by the suction force together with dust, only dust is stored in the second dust container 93 and air is drawn to the blower unit 92.

The suction pipe 94 is mounted at the second dust container 93 while being connected to the robot cleaner 20 and the maintenance station 60 so as to suck air and dust.

The dust removing apparatus 90 has a structure in which air is exhausted toward the first dust container 43 so that dust at an inside the first dust container 43 is scattered, and the scattered dust is sucked, so that the amount of dust being discharged from the first dust container 43 is increased.

The air being exhausted to the first dust container 43 is implemented using air being exhausted from the blower unit 92. The blower unit 92 draws air toward one direction while exhausting air toward the other direction. Accordingly, the exhaust pipe 95 is mounted at one side of the blower unit 92 at which air is exhausted.

In accordance with the present embodiment of the present disclosure, in order to divide the exhaustion air from the suction air, an exhaust room 92a is additionally formed. The exhaust room 92a may be replaced with other structure, or omitted.

The suction pipe 94 and the exhaust pipe 95 extend from the case 91, and while passing through the wall W, are coupled to the coupling part 68 of the maintenance station 60.

FIG. 8 is a drawing illustrating an exhaust path and a suction path of the maintenance station and the dust removing apparatus in accordance with one embodiment. FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of the maintenance station of FIG. 5A.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a suction duct 96 is installed while being connected to the suction pipe 94. A suction port 96a of the suction duct 96 forms a part of the second opening 62a. Alternatively, the suction port 96a may be provided at a position adjacent to the second opening 62a as a separate unit from the second opening 62a.

The suction port 96a is formed lengthwise along the second opening 62a, and takes a remaining area of the second opening 62a except for an area of the second opening 62a taken by exhaust ports 97a and 97b. As a non-limiting example, two exhaust ports are shown in FIG. 8, only one exhaust port or more than two exhaust port may be used.

An exhaust duct 97 is installed while being connected to the exhaust pipe 95. The exhaust duct 97 is divided to form the two exhaust ports 97a and 97b. The exhaust ports 97a and 97b may form a part of the second opening 62a. Alternatively, the exhaust ports 97a and 97b may be provided at a position adjacent to the second opening 62a as a separate unit from the second opening 62a.

The suction port 96a of the suction duct 96 has a cross section larger than those of the exhaust ports 97a and 97b of the exhaust duct 97. Since the blower unit 92 (see FIG. 7A) of the dust removing apparatus 90 has a suction flow rate substantially identical to an exhaust flow rate, the flow velocity of air at the exhaust ports 97a and 97b of the exhaust duct 97 are higher than the flow velocity of air at the suction port 96a of the suction duct 96 by a difference in an area of each port.

Due to the difference in the flow speed, the air being exhausted from the exhaust ports 97a and 97b is prevented from being instantly drawn into the suction port 96a. The air being exhausted from the exhaust ports 97a and 97b has a high velocity of flow, and thus is not instantly drawn into the suction port 96a but jetted to the inside the first dust container 43.

In order to prevent the air exhausted from the exhaust ports 97a and 97b from being instantly introduced into the suction port 96a, a center line of the exhaust ports 97a and 97b is disposed to be deviated from a center line of the suction port 96a. Due to the deviation of the center lines, the air being exhausted from the exhaust ports 97a and 97b is not instantly introduced to the suction port 96a but introduced to the first dust container 43 to float dust in the first dust container 43, and the floated dust is discharged through the suction port 96a to the second dust container 93. For example, the exhaust ports 97a and 97b and the suction port 96 are disposed at opposite side to each other with respect to the second opening 62a, and the exhaust ports 97a and 97b are disposed at each corner of the same side of the second opening 62a so that the air is exhausted directly to the first dust container 43 of the robot cleaner 20 through the first opening 21a without being introduced directly into the suction port 96a. Further, the end portion of the exhaust duct 97 which connects to the second opening 62a, may be divided so that the air is exhausted into each of the exhaust port 97a and 97b.

The brush cleaning member 46 of the maintenance station 60 serves to filter foreign substances, such as hair, wound around the brush unit 41 of the robot cleaner 20. When the brush unit 41 of the robot cleaner 20 rotates, the foreign substances wound around the brush unit 41 are caught by the brush cleaning member 46 of the maintenance station 60 while making contact with the brush cleaning member 46 of the maintenance station 60. The foreign substances filtered as the above are stored in the second dust container 93 by the suction force of the dust removing apparatus 90.

FIG. 10 is a drawing illustrating the robot cleaner and the maintenance station in accordance with one embodiment in a docking state.

Referring to FIG. 10, when the robot cleaner 20 is docked at the maintenance station 60, the first opening 21a of the robot cleaner 20 communicates with the second opening 62a of the maintenance station 60.

At the time of docking, the suction port 96a of the suction duct 96 is provided at a position adjacent to the first opening 21a of the robot cleaner 20, and disposed lengthwise along the first opening 21a of the robot cleaner 20. In addition, the exhaust ports 97a and 97b of the exhaust duct 97 are also provided at a position adjacent to the first opening 21a of the robot cleaner 20, and disposed at end portions lengthwise along the first opening 21a of the robot cleaner 20, that is, at side areas of the first opening 21a of the robot cleaner 20.

Through the structure as such, at the time of docking, the air circulated or flowing back by the dust removing apparatus 90 forms a closed loop. The air being exhausted from the blower unit 92 is discharged from the exhaust ports 97a and 97b of the exhaust duct 97 at a high speed, and after passing through the side areas of the first opening 21a of the robot cleaner 20, is introduced into the first dust container 43 of the robot cleaner 20. The air being introduced into the first dust container 43 of the robot cleaner 20 is discharged to the center area of the first opening 21a of the robot cleaner 20, and after being introduced into the second dust container 96 through the suction port 96a of the suction duct 96, is drawn into the blower unit 92 again.

Hereafter, the operation of the cleaning system will be described.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 10, the robot cleaner 20 detects a signal of the docking inducing apparatus 70, and is precisely docked at the maintenance station 60 according to the detected signal. The docking of the robot cleaner 20 starts by entering the platform 62 starting from the front portion of the robot cleaner 20, and completes at a position at which the first opening 21a of the robot cleaner 20 communicates with the second opening 62a of the maintenance station 60.

When the docking is completed, the dust removing apparatus 90 discharges the dust stored in the robot cleaner 20 to the maintenance station 60.

In detail, the blower unit 92 exhaust air through the exhaust ports 97a and 97b via the exhaust pipe 95 and the exhaust duct 97 at a high speed, and the air exhausted from the exhaust ports 97a and 97b is introduced into the first dust container 43 by passing through the first opening 21a of the robot cleaner 20.

The air being introduced into the first dust container 43 of the robot cleaner 20 stirs the entire space of the first dust container 43 without remaining a dead zone. In particular, the exhaust ports 97a and 97b are installed at side areas lengthwise along the first opening 21a of the robot cleaner 20, so the air being exhausted from the exhaust ports 97a and 97b is capable of generally stirring the first dust container 43 starting from the side areas. Thereafter, the dust stored in the first dust container 43 is floated by the air being introduced into the first dust container 32, and is discharged from the first opening 21a of the robot cleaner 20 together with the air being introduced into the first dust container 43.

The blower unit 92 generates a suction force at the first opening 21a of the robot cleaner 20 to suck the dust escaping from the first dust container 43 of the robot cleaner 20. Thereafter, the dust being introduced into the suction port 96a of the suction duct 96, is stored in the second dust container 93 by passing through the suction pipe 94, and air returns to the blower unit 92 by passing through the filter 93a.

The air being exhausted from the blower unit 92 returns again to the blower unit 92 after sequentially passing through the exhaust pipe 95, the exhaust duct 97, the first opening 21a of the robot cleaner 20, the first dust container 43 of the robot cleaner 20, the first opening 21a of the robot cleaner 20, the suction duct 92, the suction pipe 94, and the second dust container 94. Since the air is circulated or flown back, the air is maximally prevented from being escaping to the outside, so that the filter 93a may have a low level of performance. In addition, even if the blower unit 92 is provided in one unit thereof, the air is sucked or exhausted.

In addition, the air exhausted from the exhaust ports 97a and 97b of the exhaust duct 97 is exhausted through the side areas lengthwise along the first opening 21a of the robot cleaner 20 and the second opening 62a of the maintenance station while the air sucked by the suction port 96a of the suction duct 96 is sucked at the overall area lengthwise along the first opening 21a of the robot cleaner 20 and the second opening 62a of the maintenance station 60, so that the dust escaping from the first dust container 43 of the robot cleaner 20 is mainly moved through the center areas of the first opening 21a of the robot cleaner 20 and the second opening 62a of the maintenance station 60. Such a disposition of the suction port 96a and the exhaust ports 97a and 97b prevents dust, which is being escaped from the first dust container 43 of the robot cleaner 20, from being moved to the side areas and then escaping to the outside.

Such a position of the suction port 96a and the exhaust ports 97a and 97b relative to the first opening 21a of the robot cleaner 20 and the second opening 62a of the maintenance station 60 produces a sealing effect between the robot cleaner 20 and the maintenance station 60.

FIG. 11 is a drawing illustrating a cleaning system in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 12 is a side sectional view of a dust removing apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.

The following description will be made in relation to the difference over the previous embodiment described in FIGS. 1 to 10.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the cleaning system 110 includes a robot cleaner 20, a maintenance station 160, and a dust removing apparatus 190. A maintenance system 200 includes the maintenance station 160 and the dust removing apparatus 190. The maintenance station 160 includes a housing 161 and a platform 162 is provided at the housing 161. The platform 162 is formed with a second opening 162a which is provided at a position communicating with the first opening 21a (see FIG. 1) of the robot cleaner 20.

The dust removing apparatus 190 includes a case 191, a second dust container 193 installed at an inside the case 191 and a blower unit 192 installed at an inside the case 191. In addition, the dust removing apparatus 190 includes a suction pipe 194.

The maintenance station 160 is disposed at indoors of the wall W, and the dust removing apparatus 190 is disposed at outdoors of the wall W. A coupling part 168 of the maintenance station 160 is insertedly fixed to the inside of the wall, and the suction pipe 194 of the dust removing apparatus 190 is coupled to the coupling part 168, thereby coupling the maintenance station 160 to the dust removing apparatus 190.

The second dust container 193 is formed at an inside the case 191. The blower unit 192 is installed at one side of the second dust container 193 to generate a suction force allowing air and dust to be introduced into the inside of the second dust container 193.

A filter 193a is installed between the blower unit 192 and the second dust container 193 so that the air is sucked together with dust into the second dust container 193 by the suction force of the blower unit 192, but only dust is stored in the second dust container 193 and the air is drawn into the blower unit 192.

The suction pipe 194 is mounted at the second dust container 193 while being connected to the robot cleaner 20 and the maintenance station 160 so as to suck air and dust.

In order that the blower unit 192 sucks air to one direction but exhausts the air to the other direction, an outlet (not shown) is formed at the case 191 to discharge the exhaustion air.

FIG. 13 is a drawing illustrating a cleaning system in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.

The following description will be made in relation to a difference over the previous embodiment described in FIGS. 1 to 10.

Referring to FIG. 13, a cleaning system 210 includes a robot cleaner 20, a maintenance station 260, and a dust removing apparatus 290. A maintenance system 300 includes the maintenance station 260 and the dust removing apparatus 290. The maintenance station 300 includes a housing 261 and a platform 262 is provided at the housing 261. The platform 262 is formed with a second opening 262a which is provided at a position communicating with the first opening 21a (see FIG. 1) of the robot cleaner 20.

The dust removing apparatus 290 includes a case 291 and a suction pipe 294, which communicates with a second dust container (not shown) installed at an inside the case 291.

The maintenance station 260 is disposed at indoors of the wall W, and the dust removing apparatus 290 is disposed at outdoors of the wall W. A coupling part 268 of the maintenance station 260 is insertedly fixed to the inside of the wall, and the suction pipe 294 of the dust removing apparatus 290 is coupled to the coupling part 268, thereby connecting the maintenance station 260 to the dust removing apparatus 290.

An exhaust motor 298 is provided to blow air into the first dust container 43 (see FIG. 2) such that air is exhausted to the first dust container 43 to scatter dust contained in the first dust container 43 and the scatter dust is sucked, thereby increasing the amount of dust being exhausted from the first dust container 43.

The exhaust motor 298 is mounted at the coupling part 268 of the maintenance station 260.

As apparent from the above description, the maintenance station and the cleaning system having the same are provided with an additional dust removing apparatus, thereby maintaining the performance of a robot cleaner.

In addition, the dust removing apparatus is provided separately from a maintenance station, thereby enhancing the spatial efficiency at indoors.

Although a few embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A maintenance system comprising:

a maintenance station provided at indoors to mount a robot cleaner having a first dust container thereon;

a suction pipe connected to the maintenance station to guide dust of the first dust container to outside of the maintenance station; and

a dust removing apparatus disposed at outdoors to store dust while being connected to the suction pipe.

2. The maintenance system of claim 1, further comprising an exhaust pipe being connected to the maintenance station and configured to float dust through air being introduced by blowing air in the first dust container.

3. The maintenance system of claim 2, wherein the maintenance station is provided at an inside thereof with a suction duct and an exhaust duct that communicate with the suction pipe and the exhaust pipe, respectively.

4. The maintenance system of claim 3, wherein the maintenance station is provided with a second opening at a position corresponding to a first opening extending from the first dust container, and

a suction port and at least one exhaust port, which communicate with the suction duct and the exhaust duct, respectively, are provided at the second opening.

5. The maintenance system of claim 4, wherein the at least one exhaust port and the suction port are disposed at opposite sides to each other with respect to the second opening.

6. The maintenance system of claim 4, wherein the at least one exhaust port has a cross section smaller than a cross section of the suction port to increase a speed of flow at the at least one exhaust port.

7. The maintenance system of claim 2, wherein the suction pipe and the exhaust pipe are disposed while passing through a wall that divides the indoors from the outdoors.

8. The maintenance system of claim 2, wherein the maintenance station is provided at an end portion thereof with a coupling part being inserted into the wall that divides the indoors from the outdoors, and

the suction pipe and the exhaust pipe are coupled to the coupling part.

9. The maintenance system of claim 1, wherein the dust removing apparatus has a second dust container to store dust being discharged from the first dust container.

10. The maintenance system of claim 2, wherein the dust removing apparatus further comprises a blower unit configured to blow in air at the at least one exhaust port and suck air at the suction port.

11. The maintenance system of claim 10, wherein the dust removing apparatus further comprises a filter to prevent dust of the second dust container from being introduced into the blower unit.

12. The maintenance system of claim 4, wherein the first opening and the second opening are disposed to match each other so that the first dust container, the suction port, the suction pipe, the dust removing apparatus, the exhaust pipe and the at least one exhaust port form a closed loop in cooperation with one another.

13. The maintenance system of claim 1, wherein the maintenance station further comprises:

a docking inducing apparatus provided to guide the robot cleaner to be docked at the maintenance station; and

a charging apparatus to charge the robot cleaner.

14. A maintenance system comprising:

a maintenance station disposed at indoors to mount a robot cleaner having a first dust container thereon;

a suction pipe communicating with the maintenance station to discharge dust of the robot cleaner;

a dust removing apparatus disposed at outdoors to store the dust being discharged through the suction pipe; and

an exhaust pipe configured to introduce air into the maintenance station so as to float dust at an inside the first dust container, the exhaust pipe having one end portion communicating with the maintenance station and the other end portion communicating with the dust removing apparatus,

wherein the dust removing apparatus further comprises a blower unit configured to allow air to be discharged through the exhaust pipe while allowing dust and air to be sucked through the suction pipe.

15. The maintenance system of claim 14, wherein:

the maintenance station is provided with a second opening corresponding to a first opening communicating with the first dust container of the robot cleaner,

a suction port is disposed at the second opening so that the second opening communicates with the suction pipe, and

at least one exhaust port is disposed at the second opening so that the second opening communicates with the exhaust pipe.

16. The maintenance system of claim 15, wherein a center line of the at least one exhaust port is disposed to be deviated from a center line of the suction port to prevent air being discharged from the at least one exhaust port from being directly introduced into the suction port.

17. The maintenance system of claim 15, wherein the at least one exhaust port has a cross section smaller than a cross section of the suction port to increase a speed of flow at the at least one exhaust port.

18. The maintenance system of claim 14, wherein the dust removing apparatus comprises: a second dust container into which air and dust are introduced through the suction pipe; and a filter disposed between the second dust container and the blower unit so as to introduce air into the blower unit.

19. A cleaning system comprising:

a robot cleaner having a first opening and a first dust container communicating with the first opening;

a maintenance station on which the robot cleaner is mounted and having a second opening disposed at a position corresponding to the first opening;

a suction pipe communicating with the second opening while communicating with an outside of the maintenance station; and

a dust removing apparatus connected to the suction pipe and having a second dust container to store dust, the dust removing apparatus disposed outdoors,

wherein the dust of the first dust container is discharged to the second opening through the first opening; and

dust of the second opening is collected through the suction pipe into the second dust container of the dust removing apparatus at outdoors.

20. The cleaning system of claim 19, further comprising an exhaust pipe having one end portion connected to the dust removing apparatus provided at outdoors and the other end portion connected to the maintenance station provided at indoors so as to float dust through air being introduced by blowing air into the first dust container.

21. The maintenance system of claim 4, wherein the at least one exhaust port is disposed at a corner of the second opening and the suction port is disposed in a center portion of the second opening.

22. The maintenance system of claim 15, wherein the at least one exhaust port is disposed at a corner of the second opening and the suction port is disposed in a center portion of the second opening.

23. The maintenance system of claim 4, wherein the at least one exhaust port is disposed at a side portion of the second opening and the suction port is disposed in a center portion of the second opening.

24. The maintenance system of claim 15, wherein the at least one exhaust port is disposed at a side portion of the second opening and the suction port is disposed in a center portion of the second opening.