With Receiver For Dirt From Rotary Or Moving Agitator Patents (Class 15/349)
  • Patent number: 11779183
    Abstract: The present application provides a floor sweeping robot system with an automatic dust collection function, which sucks garbage in a water-dust integrated box and automatically treats garbage inside a floor sweeping robot, thereby solving problems for consumers. Accordingly, the frequency of cleaning the machine and recycling garbage is reduced, and the cleaning operation is performed at one time, so that the cleaning efficiency is improved greatly. The integrated design of the water-dust integrated box can greatly save the space, and is lower in production cost and more convenient for a user to clean.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Guangdong Lesheng Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Wang, Xiaoning Wang
  • Patent number: 11535289
    Abstract: A cleaning and maintenance cart has a frame with a base on wheels, a handle arrangement connected at a lower end to the base and having control input mechanisms at an upper end configured to control elements of the cleaning and maintenance cart, a vacuum plenum coupled to a blower, a power plant coupled to and driving the blower, a collection container coupled to the plenum, the collection container having an internal filter, and a collection hose coupled to the collection container trough a removable lid. With the blower running a partial vacuum is produced in the plenum and in the collection container, and the collection hose is movable to collect dirt and debris that is confined to the collection container by the internal filter in the collection container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Inventor: Larry D Herzog
  • Patent number: 11399678
    Abstract: A robotic cleaner may include a body, an agitator chamber within the body, an agitator disposed within the agitator chamber, a dust cup removably coupled to the body, the dust cup including a debris inlet, the debris inlet fluidly coupling the dust cup to the agitator chamber, and a shutter configured to transition between a cleaning position and an evacuation position in response to rotational movement of the agitator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventor: Simon Wells
  • Patent number: 11369241
    Abstract: A sweeper/vacuum ride-on cleaning system includes a vacuum and sweeping mechanism using a sweeper brush and vacuum brush in one cleaning head. A caster leveling system is used for setting the level of the head above the floor. A single motor drive system using a two-sided belt is used for driving the sweeper brush and vacuum brush. A dust management system using holes adjacent to a debris try for holding debris in the tray. A pivoting door access assembly is used for allowing the sweeper brush and vacuum brush to be accessed and removed from the side of the cleaning head. Finally, a bag cage with holes throughout each of its supporting surfaces is used for holding the vacuum bag and allowing air to escape from all sides of the bag to increase vacuum efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Minuteman International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy C. Stoddard, Steven J. Leibrandt, Brent A. Caudill, John M. Hill
  • Patent number: 9801513
    Abstract: A turbo brush for cleaning a surface comprises a housing having an upper surface, a lower surface, a front end and a rear end, the lower end having a dirty air inlet. A primary air flow path extends from the dirty air inlet to a dirty air outlet. A rotary brush is associated with the dirty air inlet and extends transverse to a forward direction of movement of the turbo brush. A drive mechanism comprises an air driven turbine, a drive gear drivingly connected to the rotary brush and a worm gear directly drivingly connecting the air driven turbine and the drive gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Ernest Conrad, Leonid Katsman
  • Patent number: 9775481
    Abstract: An all in the head surface cleaning apparatus can include a surface cleaning head having an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet. The surface cleaning head can include a cyclone assembly comprising a cyclone chamber and a dirt collection chamber. The cyclone chamber may have a longitudinal cyclone axis, a cyclone air inlet and a cyclone air outlet. The dirt collection chamber may be moveable between an in use position and an emptying position. The surface cleaning head may include a pre-motor filter chamber and a suction motor. At least one of the pre-motor filter and a pre-motor filter chamber may be visible when the dirt collection chamber is in the emptying position. An upper portion may be mounted to the surface cleaning head between a storage position and a floor cleaning position, and may include a drive handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 9505472
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating an underwater surface, said apparatus including an enclosure which is fitted with two brush members rotating in directions opposite to each other and equipped with bristles. The enclosure has a discharge opening for relieving the enclosure of matter removed from an underwater surface. The discharge opening can be accompanied by a collection arrangement for gathering the matter removed from an underwater surface. For effective collection and suction effect, the brush members are arranged in such a way that, as the brush members are rotating, the bristles thereof are at least in partial contact with each other in a given contact zone, and in such a way that the brush members have a rotating direction which in the contact zone is towards the discharge opening included in the enclosure. In addition, the enclosure is provided with a skirt portion, which encircles the brush members and extends to a location at the discharge opening from both sides thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: DG-DIVING GROUP LTD.
    Inventor: Mauri Kalliomäki
  • Patent number: 9144356
    Abstract: An upright cleaner removes dust from a drum brush. The upright cleaner includes a case having a suction port, a drum brush rotatably provided in the case to sweep and guide foreign matter to the suction port, a dust removal unit provided in the case so that the dust removal unit is moved between a first position where one side of the dust removal unit contacts the drum brush and a second position where the side of the dust removal unit is separated from the drum brush, and a lever connected to the dust removal unit to actuate the dust removal unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Min Ro Yun
  • Patent number: 9127856
    Abstract: An air intake of an air handling or HVAC system, such as located in a ceiling of a structure, includes a movable filter housing. The filter housing comprises a grate configured to support one or more air filters at a top side thereof. The filter housing is mounted via one or more extendable connectors and includes a control tool mount. Connection of a control tool to the filter housing allows a user to pull the filter housing downwardly to a lowered position for replacing the air filter(s). The filter housing may be biased upwardly to its use position and may include a latch or lock to secure it in the use position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: JPL Investments, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph W. Cole
  • Patent number: 8806704
    Abstract: The invention relates to an automotive sweeper with wheels for traveling along a ground surface and with at least one sweeping brush rotatingly drivable for sweeping the ground surface and with a dirt container adapted to be acted upon with a vacuum by a suction unit via a suction conduit and connected to a suction port via an intake line for the purpose of receiving sweepings. In order to develop the sweeper further in such a manner that it achieves an improved cleaning result with as little use of energy as possible it is suggested in accordance with the invention that the suction conduit be integrated into the dirt container at least in sections, wherein the outlet of the intake line opening into the dirt container is arranged next to at least one inlet area of the suction conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Joachim Wahl, Bernd Haberl, Uwe Weller
  • Patent number: 8769769
    Abstract: A floor cleaning apparatus includes a housing that has a top wall and a perimeter wall attached to and extending downwardly from the top wall. The perimeter wall includes a front wall, a rear wall, a first lateral wall and a second lateral wall. A plurality of wheels is rotatably coupled to the housing. Each of the first and second lateral walls has two of the wheels positioned thereon. A brush is mounted to the housing beneath the top wall. A debris catch is mounted in the first lateral wall and catches debris moved by the brush. The brush directs debris toward the debris catch. A handle is attached to and extending upwardly from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Inventor: Alan Owen
  • Patent number: 8769766
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for self-cleaning dust removal. The apparatus may be provided with a brush housing 202 having an opening 204, one or more axles 206 disposed around the opening 204, and a plurality of brush fibers 208 emanating from the one or more axles 206 that rotate inward into the opening 204. In addition, the system may include a scraping edge 106, disposed around the opening 204, farther into the brush housing 202 than the one or more axles 206, that scrapes 1408 dust off of the brush fibers 208 as they rotate inward against the scraping edge 106, and a vacuum cleaner intake port 110 inside the brush housing 202 that draws 1410 dust from off and about the brush fibers 208 as they rotate inward 1406. The system may further include a handle 112 connected to the brush housing 202 and a switch 114.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Inventor: Ronald N. Hilton
  • Publication number: 20140165328
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an autonomous cleaning machine with a brush cleaning unit to clean a brush unit. The autonomous cleaning machine includes a main body, the brush unit rotatably provided on the main body, first brush cleaning members contacting the brush unit to move foreign substances wound on the brush unit in a lengthwise direction of the brush unit, and second brush cleaning members contacting the brush unit to remove the foreign substances wound on the brush unit from the brush unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hwi Chan JANG, Dong Won KIM, Woo Ram CHUNG, Jae Man JOO, Jun Pyo HONG, Jae Young JUNG, Kyung Hwan YOO
  • Publication number: 20140123433
    Abstract: A sweeping machine includes a sweeping brush capable of being driven in rotation, a debris container, a suction fan and at least one filter arranged in the flow path between the sweeping brush and the suction fan, in flow communication with the suction fan via a suction conduit, in flow communication with a pressure vessel via an external air conduit and at least one external air valve and, for filter cleaning, is capable of having external air stored in the pressure vessel applied thereto. In order for the filter to be capable of being cleaned effectively with as little external air as possible and with the external air being at as low a positive pressure as possible, the external air conduit includes a hood which covers the filter on a clean side thereof and forms a first section of the suction conduit which adjoins the clean side of the filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Alfred-Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank Nonnenmann, Erik Hoernlen, Florian Abt
  • Patent number: 8567002
    Abstract: Used in a mobile robotic vacuum cleaner, a dust collector is disclosed to include a dust collection box, and a chips collection box connected to the dust collection box. The chips collection box comprises two openings respectively disposed adjacent to one respective roller brush of the mobile robotic vacuum cleaner and adapted for receiving chips directed by the roller brush for enabling the directed chips to be gathered in the chips collection box. Thus, dust sucked by the mobile robotic vacuum cleaner and chips directed by the roller brushes are respectively collected in the dust collection box and the chips collection box, and any non-dust articles that are accidentally directed into the chips collection box can be discovered and cleaned easily by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Egenpower Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Li
  • Publication number: 20130227812
    Abstract: A robot cleaner including a suction hole to suction dust, a blower to generate a suction force to suction the dust, a dust collector to receive the dust suctioned by said suction force through the suction hole, and a rotating brush to sweep up and collect the dust into the dust collector through the suction hole by a drive force of the rotating brush. The dust collector includes a backflow preventing member movable between an open position and a closed position. The backflow preventing member is pivotably rotatable in an air suction direction by the suction force of the blower to the open position and is adapted to return to the closed position to prevent the dust in the dust collector from being discharged through the suction hole upon stoppage of the blower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong Won KIM, Hoon Wee, Jun Pyo HONG, Yong Tae KIM, Woo Ram CHUNG
  • Publication number: 20130174371
    Abstract: A floor cleaning robot comprises a housing, wheels, and a motor driving the wheels to move the robot across a floor, a control module disposed within the housing and directing movement of the robot across the floor, a sensor for detecting and communicating obstacle information to the control module so that the control module can cause the robot to react to the obstacle, a removable bin disposed at least partially within the housing and receiving particulates, a first rotating member directing particulates toward the bin, and a second rotating member cooperating with the first rotating member to direct particulates toward the bin. The removable bin receives particulates directed thereto by the first and second rotating members and the particulates pass from the first rotating member to the removable bin without passing through a filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: IRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph L. Jones, Newton E. Mack, David M. Nugent, Paul E. Sandin
  • Patent number: 8424153
    Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner has a compact, cylindrical exhaust filter assembly that is easily accessible by a user. The filter is removably mounted in a housing between an exhaust outlet aperture and a suction source outlet. A filter locking lug is associated with the filter element and the housing for removably securing the filter element to the housing to the filter frame. An upright vacuum cleaner has a pre-motor filter assembly that is highly visible to a user and accessible thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Fester, Timothy A. Field
  • Publication number: 20130081224
    Abstract: A device (1) comprises filtering means (30) for removing particles from a fluid, which have a particle collecting face (31) for collecting particles during use of the device (1), and a chamber (10) in which a fluid is present and in which the filtering means (30) are arranged. An inlet (11) of the chamber (10) comprises a spouting part (20) which serves for spouting the fluid to be filtered in a direction towards the particle collecting face (31) of the filtering means (30). An arrangement of the spouting part (20) and the particle collecting face (31) with respect to each other is adapted to generate, during operation of the device (1), a rotating flow pattern in the fluid that is present in the chamber (10) under the influence of the flow of the fluid to be filtered, whereby particles can be blown away from the particle collecting face (31).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Tseard Van Der Kool, Fokke Roelof Voorhorst, Bastian Cornelis Kleine-Doepke, Maiza Georgien Salomons, Richard Henrik Jousma, Eva Mondt
  • Publication number: 20130055524
    Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning artificial floor coverings provided with floor covering particles, such as artificial turf, comprising a sweeping device for gathering dirt particles from the floor covering, a separation device for separating the dirt particles from floor covering particles, a floor covering particle feedback device for gathering the floor covering particles separated from the dirt particles and feeding back the floor covering particles to the floor, a filter device for filtering dust particles, and a suction device which draws air from the area of the separation device through the filter device. First and second negative-pressure chambers in which negative pressure can be formed by the suction device suction are formed above and below the separation device, respectively, in fluid communication through the separation device. The first negative-pressure chamber is in fluid communication with the suction device only via the second negative-pressure chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: WIEDENMANN GMBH
    Inventors: Schmid Reinhold, Vrbanic Andre
  • Patent number: 8312592
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cleaning apparatus (10) for releasing and transporting particles away from an area to be cleaned, comprising: a housing (6) having an opening (8) to be positioned on an area (1) to be cleaned;—a member that is movable within the apparatus for generating an airflow to release and transport particles away from the area; wherein the member comprises an airflow-generating surface (12) arranged within the housing (6), said airflow-generating surface in its operating condition lacing the area (1) to be cleaned and having a direction of movement that is substantially parallel to said area so as to cause an airflow parallel to said area. The apparatus according to the invention requires less energy for releasing and transporting particles away from an area to be cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Fokke R. Voorhorst, Johan Pragt, Freddy Moes, Jan Hans Benedictus, Lorcan Jarlath Kemple
  • Publication number: 20120060321
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a housing, a suction fan, a dustcup, a cover and an inlet into the dustcup. The dustcup is removably secured to the housing, and includes a cup end wall, a sidewall extending from the cup end wall, and an open end opposite the cup end wall. The cover can be connected to the open end of the dustcup, and includes an air outlet in fluid communication with the suction fan, and a filter covering the air outlet and extending from the cover towards the cup end wall. The cup end wall includes a barrier positioned to be contacted by air flowing through the dustcup to thereby separate dirt particles from the air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: Electrolux Home Care Products, Inc. (formerly Electrolux Home Care Products, Ltd.)
    Inventor: Arnold L. Sepke
  • Publication number: 20120060319
    Abstract: The invention relates to an automotive sweeper with wheels for traveling along a ground surface and with at least one sweeping brush rotatingly drivable for sweeping the ground surface and with a dirt container adapted to be acted upon with a vacuum by a suction unit via a suction conduit and connected to a suction port via an intake line for the purpose of receiving sweepings. In order to develop the sweeper further in such a manner that it achieves an improved cleaning result with as little use of energy as possible it is suggested in accordance with the invention that the suction conduit be integrated into the dirt container at least in sections, wherein the outlet of the intake line opening into the dirt container is arranged next to at least one inlet area of the suction conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Joachim Wahl, Bernd Haberl, Uwe Weller
  • Patent number: 8099828
    Abstract: An external filter box for a surface maintenance machine having a hopper with selective communication being provided between the filter box and the hopper to permit dusty air to flow from the hopper to the filter box and to permit dust and debris captured by the filter box to flow into the hopper. In one example, the hopper includes a prefilter assembly which is coupled to an inlet of the filter box during a sweeping operation and which is removed away from the filter box during a hopper dump procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Kurt Clarence Adelman, Karl Hansen
  • Patent number: 8065778
    Abstract: A robot cleaner that is capable of preventing dust collected in a dust tank from flowing backward outside when a situation in which the dust may be discharged outside occurs includes a cleaner body, a dust tank mounted in the cleaner body to collect dust, and a backward-flow preventing device to prevent dust from flowing backward outside through a suction port of the dust tank. The backward-flow preventing device includes a shutter unit to open and close the suction port and a stopper unit to drive the shutter unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Won Kim, Jae Man Joo, Jun Pyo Hong, Chang Woo Kim
  • Publication number: 20110277269
    Abstract: A robot cleaner including a suction hole to suction dust, a blower to generate a suction force to suction the dust, a dust collector to receive the dust suctioned by said suction force through the suction hole, and a rotating brush to sweep up and collect the dust into the dust collector through the suction hole by a drive force of the rotating brush. The dust collector includes a backflow preventing member movable between an open position and a closed position. The backflow preventing member is pivotably rotatable in an air suction direction by the suction force of the blower to the open position and is adapted to return to the closed position to prevent the dust in the dust collector from being discharged through the suction hole upon stoppage of the blower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Won Kim, Hoon Wee, Jun Pyo Hong, Yong Tae Kim, Woo Ram Chung
  • Patent number: 8056177
    Abstract: A leaf gathering apparatus includes upper and lower conveyor axes, a conveyor extending around the upper and lower conveyor axes that is continuously rotatable, and a rotatable sweeping mechanism having a generally horizontal axis of rotation, the sweeping mechanism being configured to move leaves from a ground surface onto the conveyor. The apparatus includes a bag and a channel extending from the conveyor to the bag to direct leaves therebetween. A shredder is located along the channel. A frame, the upper and lower conveyor axes, and the sweeping mechanism are operatively coupled to the frame. A plurality of wheels are operatively coupled to the frame to allow the frame to be easily transported and a motor is operatively coupled to the sweeping mechanism to rotate the sweeping mechanism, the motor being operatively coupled to at least one of the upper and lower conveyor axes to rotate the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Inventor: Adnan A. Hammad
  • Patent number: 7797790
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is provided. The vacuum cleaner includes a main body, a suction nozzle coupled to the main body to draw in particle laden air, and a dust collecting assembly detachably coupled to the main body and including a dust collecting container that has a dust collecting space formed therein. Particle laden air is drawn in through a polluted air inlet, and particle free air is discharged through a clean air outlet of the dust collecting container. The main body includes a dust collecting assembly receiving groove that receives the dust collecting assembly, and a clean air inlet is provided on an inner wall of the dust collecting assembly receiving groove, facing the dust collecting assembly. The clean air inlet is in communication with an outlet of the dust collecting assembly through which particle free air is discharged from the dust collecting assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Tae Jin Park, Sang Jun Park, Kang Won Moon, Seog Yong Kim, Jae Duck Jung, Suck Hyun Moon
  • Patent number: 7799107
    Abstract: A filtration bag assembly may include an air permeable bag and a collar affixed thereto. The collar may include an opening that communicates with the interior of said bag and at least one panel that is movable to selectively obscure the opening. The collar includes a bottom surface and a pair of opposed tabs extending laterally from opposed lateral edges of the collar. A bracket is secured to the floor cleaning apparatus and includes a pair of opposed legs, that each includes a first ramp surface and a second ramp surface. During insertion of the collar into said bracket, the first ramp surface slidingly contacts the bottom surface and the second ramp surface slidingly contacts said tabs to move the collar upwardly into fluid communication with a nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventors: Richard E. Corney, Jonathan E. Fawcett
  • Patent number: 7662199
    Abstract: A filter system for a surface maintenance machine having a hopper assembly for receiving brush-thrown debris including a cyclonic separator for separating dust and debris from air drawn through the hopper via vacuum action. The cyclonic separator may include multiple cyclone and may be in fluid communication with the hopper assembly so as to periodically receive dust and debris exiting the filter system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventors: Richard William Wellens, Michael Thomas Basham, Karl Hansen
  • Patent number: 7640623
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is provided. The vacuum cleaner includes suction means that provides suction force, a suction nozzle that uses the suction force provided by the suction means to draw in particle laden air, a dust collecting box that receives the particle laden air drawn in through the suction nozzle, an upper cover having an opening at a central portion thereof that provides for selective opening/closing of an upper portion of the dust collecting box, and a filter assembly that is selectively fastened to an edge of the opening, for filtering dust from the particle laden air and discharging the air upward. This structure simplifies cleaning and replacement of the dust collector assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Duck Jung, Il Gyeong Go, Young Gun Min, Hyung Il Kim
  • Publication number: 20090300873
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a debris retrieval body (3), and a first collection means (47) and a second collection means (13) provided within the debris retrieval body for accumulating debris from a surface to be cleaned. A rotatable elongate brush arrangement (27) is provided within the debris retrieval body and is adapted to retrieve a first portion of debris from the surface to be cleaned and to direct the first portion of the debris along a first pathway (311) into the first collection means (47). A first inlet aperture (75) is provided in the debris retrieval body for the passage along a second pathway (315), independent of the first pathway, of a second portion of debris from the surface to be cleaned to the second collection means, the first inlet aperture communicating with a first means for creating suction (17).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventor: Nicholas Gerald Grey
  • Patent number: 7608123
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprises a collection chamber located along an intended path through which air current and detritus is conveyed, said collection chamber being provided with a collection zone in which said detritus is receivable, wherein said collection chamber is provided with a compacting device movable across said collection zone for compacting said detritus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Inventor: Massimiliano Pineschi
  • Publication number: 20090165240
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner includes a dust container having an air inlet and an air outlet, a filter inside the dust container, a case part on the filter, a dust removing part rotated inside the filter while contacting the filter, and a drive unit rotating the dust removing part. The dust removing part removes dust from the filter while being rotated by air, thereby preventing the filter from undergoing functional deterioration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: DAEWOO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: IM SUK CHOI
  • Publication number: 20090113660
    Abstract: An improved pickup or intake hood for use in regenerative air flow road and pavement sweeper vehicles includes at least one side auxiliary plenums and/or at least one side-to-side plenum adjacent the primary air flow compartment. The auxiliary plenums are attached by appropriate ducting into the regenerative air flow so that any fugitive air and or dust flows from the primary air flow compartment are captured in the auxiliary plenums to minimize fugitive air and/or dust flows into the ambient atmosphere. Dust conduits from shrouded gutter brooms enter a manifold box to allow dust-entrained air flows from one or both gutter brooms to enter into the regenerative air flow to capture dust generated by the gutter brooms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventor: Edward B. STELL
  • Publication number: 20090064447
    Abstract: A steam vacuum cleaner. The steam vacuum cleaner includes a suction port assembly comprising a dust receptacle formed therein and an impeller driven by a motor to draw in air and dust from an object being cleaned through a suction port formed on a lower portion of the suction port assembly and to discharge the suctioned air and dust into the dust receptacle, a main body comprising a water tank and a heater unit to receive water from the water tank and generate steam, wherein a lower portion of the main body is hinged to a portion of the suction port assembly, and a floorcloth plate formed on a lower portion of the suction port assembly and comprising at least one floorcloth attached thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Jang-Keun Oh, Hyoun-soo Kim
  • Publication number: 20090056060
    Abstract: A stick type vacuum cleaner is provided. The stick type vacuum cleaner includes a suction port assembly and a stick unit having a first end is engaged with a first side of the suction port assembly and a second end having a handgrip. The suction port assembly includes a casing part comprising a suction port through which air and dust is drawn from the object being cleaned, a suction force generating unit formed inside the casing part to generate a suction force, a dust separating unit to separate and accommodate dust from the drawn air and dust, and a power supply unit to supply power to the suction force generating unit. The suction force generating unit is disposed between the suction port and the dust separating unit so that the drawn air and dust is passed through the suction force generating unit before being introduced into the dust separating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Jung-gyun Han, Jang-keun Oh, Jin-gon Lee
  • Patent number: 7475528
    Abstract: A lawncare machine 100 has a powered rotary raking or scarifying reel 5 together with a powered vacuum collector 8 whereby material thrown up by the reel is immediately drawn into the collection chamber 8. During removal of the vegetation material, it is drawn into the chamber 8 due to a suction created by a fan 2. The material is normally held in the box by means of a perforated screen 10 situated between the box and fan entry. The chamber 8 may be emptied by moving the screen 10 so that the material is discharged through the fan 2. Alternatively the chamber 8 may be emptied by means of flap valves 19, 21, 23 which cause a reversal of the airflow through the chamber so that the collected material never passes through the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Inventor: John Robert Bishop
  • Publication number: 20080276412
    Abstract: An external filter box for a surface maintenance machine having a hopper with selective communication being provided between the filter box and the hopper to permit dusty air to flow from the hopper to the filter box and to permit dust and debris captured by the filter box to flow into the hopper. In one example, the hopper includes a prefilter assembly which is coupled to an inlet of the filter box during a sweeping operation and which is removed away from the filter box during a hopper dump procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Kurt Clarence Adelman, Karl Hansen
  • Publication number: 20080276413
    Abstract: A filter box for a surface maintenance machine incorporating aspects of a fan housing. In one example, a filter box for a sweeping machine is provided with an impeller fan housing beneath a cylindrical filter. Operation of the impeller fan draws air from a debris hopper, through the cylindrical filter, and through an expansion chamber defined by a scroll conduit prior to outlet to atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Kurt Clarence Adelman, Larry David Wydra
  • Patent number: 7441303
    Abstract: A sweeper unit well-suited for use for sweeping paved areas includes a debris-retaining hopper with an associated fan assembly that includes an air outlet duct for connection to one side of a pick-up head and an inlet duct for connection between the other side of the pickup head and the debris-retaining hopper. A fan drive arrangement includes at least a first and a second hydraulic displacement device to drive the fan and, when required, provide a flow of hydraulic fluid for auxiliary devices including the gutter broom motor(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Schwarze Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim E Adair, Steve Hanvey, James A. Garrett
  • Publication number: 20080256744
    Abstract: In a first aspect, the present invention provides a motor, fan and filter arrangement for a vacuum cleaner, comprising: a motor (10); a fan (20) connected to an output shaft (12) of the motor and having an axial intake; and a filter (30, 230, 330); wherein the fan (20) is arranged with its axial intake facing the motor (10); and the motor (10) is housed within the filter (30, 230, 330). Such an arrangement makes much more efficient use of space than a conventional arrangement and allows the motor to be positioned within the filter in a reversed direction in comparison to conventional arrangements, so that clear air from the filter can be drawn over the motor before encountering the fan. This also has the beneficial side-effect of cooling the motor with the filtered air. In a second aspect, the present invention also provides vacuum cleaners (100, 200, 300) comprising such a motor, fan and filter arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: David Rowntreer, Andrew Walker
  • Publication number: 20080250600
    Abstract: In a suction device for the intake by suction and/or extraction by suction of chips or dust, comprising a lower part (1) which is preferably provided with rollers (17), a collection container (2) which can be placed on said lower part and an upper part (3) which closes said collection container and has a motor-drivable fan (9) and a filter cartridge (7) which separates said fan from the interior of the collection container (2), an air inlet (4) which opens into the collection container (2) and is provided with a connector (6) and an air outlet (5) which is arranged downstream of the fan (9) being provided, a low transport volume can be achieved in a simple manner as a result of the fact that there is arranged between the lower part (1) and upper part (3) a support means which is configured in the manner of a telescope and with which there is associated a means (14) for receiving the upper end region of the collection container (2), the axial length of which is variable and the base of which can be secured to
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: Scheppach Fabrikation von Holzbeareitungsmaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Windrich
  • Publication number: 20080209671
    Abstract: A cleaning head for a surface cleaning apparatus has a plurality of struts extending from a front chamber having a dirty air inlet to a rear chamber having a transition duct that is in communication with a filtration apparatus of a surface cleaning apparatus by a dirty fluid outlet. One or more of the struts comprises an airflow passage. In one embodiment, no outer casing is provided surrounding the struts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: G.B.D. Corp.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Publication number: 20080172822
    Abstract: A suction brush assembly is provided that includes a suction brush casing having a dust introducing channel for introducing dirt and a suction port for drawing the dirt from the dust introducing channel; a first and a second rotation plates rotatably disposed on a bottom surface of the suction brush casing and rotating in the opposite direction to each other; a rotation power source for providing power for rotating the rotation plates; a power transmission transmitting the rotation power of the rotation power source to the rotation plates; and a dirt guidance member formed on the first and the second rotation plates, for scraping off hairs or feathers from a surface to be cleaned to guide them to the dust introducing channel so that the hairs or the feathers can be easily guided to the suction port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: Jang-Keun Oh, Hyoun-Soo Kim
  • Publication number: 20080127446
    Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a transport drive and control system arranged for autonomous movement of the robot over a floor for performing cleaning operations. The robot chassis carries a first cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arranged to suction loose particulates up from the cleaning surface and a second cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arraigned to apply a cleaning fluid onto the surface and to thereafter collect the cleaning fluid up from the surface after it has been used to clean the surface. The robot chassis carries a supply of cleaning fluid and a waste container for storing waste materials collected up from the cleaning surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Ziegler, Duane Gilbert, Christopher John Morse, Scott Pratt, Paul Sandin, Nancy Dussault, Andrew Jones
  • Patent number: 7356873
    Abstract: The invention provides a vacuum cleaner comprising in particular a structure mounted on transport members (R, R?) and carrying an electrically-driven turbine (T) for acting through a filter membrane (M) to establish suction in a collector (S) of particles picked up from the floor and entrained to the collector by a flow of air via a transfer duct (C), characterized in that said turbine (T) comprises a set of blades (P) and a nozzle (1) having a box constituted by an upstream portion (11) in the form of a volute centered on the axis of the blades and a diverging downstream portion (12) into which the upstream portion opens out and that communicates with the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Nielsen Innovation
    Inventor: Henrik Nielsen
  • Patent number: 7341612
    Abstract: A disposable open bag for a power tool such as a Shop-Vac cleaner has a mounting plate with an opening for receiving debris from the intake of the power tool. The mounting plate is also provided with a vent opening(s), e.g., to prevent the bag from closing in on the air filter and blocking the airflow. The said bag provides a cleaner and more convenient means of collection of the debris, leaves, and particulate matters directly into the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: ZNN Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Davis Dang Hoang Nhan, Rongguo Zhao, William Hung Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20070271725
    Abstract: A cyclone dust-separating apparatus is disclosed. The dust-separating apparatus includes a cyclone unit having an air inlet and an air outlet so as to remove dust or dirt from air, and a dust bin joined to a bottom end of the cyclone unit so as to store the dust or dirt separated by the cyclone unit. The cyclone unit is installed in such a manner that a longitudinal axis thereof is substantially horizontally arranged. The dust bin is installed in such a manner that a longitudinal axis thereof is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cyclone unit. The dust bin has an air outflow passage connected with the air outlet, so that air discharged from the cyclone unit passes through the dust bin and then discharges in a bottom end direction of the dust bin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Jung-gyun Han, Jang-keun Oh, Seung-yong Cha
  • Patent number: 7281296
    Abstract: The invention provides debris collection devices that include a debris contacting mechanism, a debris transport mechanism that is configured to receive debris moved by the debris contacting mechanism at an inlet and move such debris towards a debris storage compartment, and a filter and vacuum assembly. The filter and vacuum assembly includes an inlet disposed downstream of the inlet of the transport mechanism and upstream of the debris storage compartment, relative to the path of transported debris. In operation, the filter and vacuum assembly generate a primary air flow that draws the airborne particles into the inlet of the transport mechanism, along a path proximate to the transport mechanism, into the inlet of the filter and vacuum assembly and though a filter located within the filter and vacuum assembly without generating a substantial airflow through the storage compartment. Related debris collection and processing systems and methods also are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Federal Signal Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel P. Strauser