Abstract: A wheel driving apparatus for a moving apparatus is provided. The wheel driving apparatus includes a wheel, a driving motor to generate a driving power to rotate the wheel, a gear box to transmit the rotational force of the driving motor to the wheel, and a guide shaft movable vertically with respect to the base member, wherein the wheel, the driving motor, the gear box, and the guide shaft are connected integrally with each other to move vertically with respect to the base member in unison.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus and a dust collecting method using the same are provided. The cleaning apparatus includes a body, a brush unit rotatably provided at the body, a dust collecting unit to store contaminants, such as dust, swept by the brush unit, and a blowing unit to suction contaminants, such as dust, scattered by the brush unit and to move the suctioned contaminants to the dust collecting unit.

Abstract: A robot cleaner system is disclosed. The robot cleaner system includes a robot cleaner to carry out a cleaning operation while automatically traveling around along a surface to be cleaned, and a charging station connectable with the robot cleaner to charge a charging battery mounted in the robot cleaner with electricity. The charging station includes a setting switch to selectively set up a value of threshold height.

Abstract: A control method for a robot cleaner that includes: driving a driving part to move the robot cleaner by a predetermined distance in an opposite direction to a proceeding direction thereof when a bumper sensor detects a collision with an obstacle, measuring the number of times in which the robot cleaner repeats moving in real-time, comparing the measured number with a predetermined reference number, and stopping the robot cleaner when the measured number is more than the reference number. With this method, the robot cleaner can diagnose a breakdown of the bumper sensor to stop the cleaner, and inform a user of the breakdown.

Abstract: A robot cleaner that has a dust collection unit with a cyclone part generating an ascending rotary air current from the dust-laden air being drawn in through a lower part thereof, separating the dust from the air using a centrifugal force, and discharging the dust-separated air to the lower part through a center part, and a collection part surrounding the cyclone part to receive the dust being centrifugally separated.

Abstract: A cyclone dust separating apparatus for separating dust from external air drawn in thereto and discharging the separated dust, comprises at least one first cyclone body having a tubular shape and forming a first cyclone chamber where the external air is rotated; and at least one second cyclone body forming a second cyclone chamber where the air discharged from the first cyclone chamber is rotated again to separate dust, wherein the external air is drawn in through a lower end of the first cyclone chamber and discharged through an upper end of the first cyclone chamber, and the air discharged from the first cyclone chamber is drawn in through an upper end of the second cyclone chamber and discharged through an upper end of the second cyclone chamber.

Abstract: A dust receptacle comprising an ultraviolet transmission window and a vacuum cleaner having the same. The dust receptacle includes a receptacle body detachably mounted to a cleaner body, an ultraviolet (UV) transmission window penetratingly formed on the receptacle body, and a Teflon® cover sealing the UV transmission window. The vacuum cleaner having the dust receptacle includes a cleaner body, a dust receptacle detachably mounted to the cleaner body, a UV sterilizer lamp mounted within the cleaner body to scan the dust receptacle with a UV ray, a grill protecting the UV sterilizer lamp. In the vacuum cleaner, the dust receptacle has the same structure as described above.

Abstract: A cyclone dust separating apparatus for separating dust from external air drawn in thereto and discharging the separated dust, comprises at least one first cyclone body having a tubular shape and forming a first cyclone chamber where the external air is rotated; and at least one second cyclone body forming a second cyclone chamber where the air discharged from the first cyclone chamber is rotated again to separate dust, wherein the external air is drawn in through a lower end of the first cyclone chamber and discharged through an upper end of the first cyclone chamber, and the air discharged from the first cyclone chamber is drawn in through an upper end of the second cyclone chamber and discharged through an upper end of the second cyclone chamber.

Abstract: A cyclone dust separating apparatus for separating dust from external air drawn in thereto and discharging the separated dust, comprises at least one first cyclone body having a tubular shape and forming a first cyclone chamber where the external air is rotated; and at least one second cyclone body forming a second cyclone chamber where the air discharged from the first cyclone chamber is rotated again to separate dust, wherein the external air is drawn in through a lower end of the first cyclone chamber and discharged through an upper end of the first cyclone chamber, and the air discharged from the first cyclone chamber is drawn in through an upper end of the second cyclone chamber and discharged through an upper end of the second cyclone chamber.

Abstract: A dust separating apparatus for a vacuum cleaner having a casing, a cyclone unit formed in the casing to filter contaminants from drawn-in air and discharge air removed of the contaminants, and a dust collection part arranged in parallel with the cyclone unit in the casing to collect the contaminant separated from the air by the cyclone unit. The casing is substantially semicircular to correspond to the mounting chamber of the vacuum cleaner body. On a bottom surface of the cyclone unit, an air inlet and an air outlet are formed. The air outlet is formed at one side of the air inlet.

Abstract: A multi dust-collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner separating dirt particles from air by taking two steps. The multi dust-collecting apparatus includes a dust-collecting unit to separate dirt particles from the air by using gravity and inertia, and a plurality of cyclones to swirl the air discharged from the dust-collecting unit and separate the dirt particles from the air by using centrifugal force.

Abstract: A wheel driving apparatus for a moving apparatus is provided. The wheel driving apparatus includes a wheel, a driving motor to generate a driving power to rotate the wheel, a gear box to transmit the rotational force of the driving motor to the wheel, and a guide shaft movable vertically with respect to the base member, wherein the wheel, the driving motor, the gear box, and the guide shaft are connected integrally with each other to move vertically with respect to the base member in unison.

Abstract: A steam-vacuum cleaner with an electric power controlling function and a method thereof are provided. The steam-vacuum cleaner includes a suction motor which rotates to generate a suction force; a heater which emits heat to generate a steam; a power supply part which supplies an electric power to the suction motor and the heater; an electric power measuring part which measure a total electric power supplied from the power supplier and consumed in the suction motor and the heater; and a controller which controls at least one of a rotational velocity of the suction motor and a magnitude of heat emitted from the heater such that the total electric power of the suction motor and the heater is maintained less than a threshold value. Accordingly, steam and vacuum cleaning functions are simultaneously performed within the limit of power capacity of a wire.

Abstract: An improved cleaning robot that uses a simple structure to sense an obstacle is disclosed. The cleaning robot includes a robot main body comprising a driving unit to drive the cleaning robot, and a cleaning unit to remove dust, a bumper unit which is movably mounted in the robot main body to protect the robot main body from collision with an obstacle, a sensor unit which supports the bumper unit movably in a plurality of directions to sense the collision of the bumper unit and the obstacle, and a control unit which controls the driving unit on the basis of a signal sensed by the sensor to avoid the obstacle.

Abstract: A robot cleaner system is disclosed. The robot cleaner system includes a robot cleaner to carry out a cleaning operation while automatically traveling around along a surface to be cleaned, and a charging station connectable with the robot cleaner to charge a charging battery mounted in the robot cleaner with electricity. The charging station includes a setting switch to selectively set up a value of threshold height.

Abstract: An apparatus for inducing an automatic docking of a robot is disclosed. The apparatus induces connecting terminals of the robot having a receiving unit to connect with docking terminals disposed on one surface of a docking object, and includes a plurality of transmitting units disposed on the same surface as that of the docking object on which the docking terminals are disposed. The plurality of transmitting units is arranged in different angles to one another to transmit signals in different directions to one another, respectively.

Abstract: A control method for a robot cleaner that includes: driving a driving part to move the robot cleaner by a predetermined distance in an opposite direction to a proceeding direction thereof when a bumper sensor detects a collision with an obstacle, measuring the number of times in which the robot cleaner repeats moving in real-time, comparing the measured number with a predetermined reference number, and stopping the robot cleaner when the measured number is more than the reference number. With this method, the robot cleaner can diagnose a breakdown of the bumper sensor to stop the cleaner, and inform a user of the breakdown.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a blade, which rotates, is disclosed. The vacuum cleaner includes a body, a blade attached to a lower end of the body, and a rotating unit attached to the body so as to rotate the blade.

Abstract: A charging apparatus having a safety circuit and a method thereof is disclosed. The charging apparatus includes a charging terminal unit having terminals exposed to the outside to supply a charging voltage therethrough, a voltage generating unit to generate a voltage which varies as a value of resistivity of an object contacting the terminals of the charging terminal unit, and a control unit to detect the voltage generated from the voltage generating unit, and to determine whether the charging voltage should be supplied through the charging terminal unit on the basis of a level of the detected voltage.

Abstract: A robot cleaner that has a dust collection unit with a cyclone part generating an ascending rotary air current from the dust-laden air being drawn in through a lower part thereof, separating the dust from the air using a centrifugal force, and discharging the dust-separated air to the lower part through a center part, and a collection part surrounding the cyclone part to receive the dust being centrifugally separated.