Abstract: A dust collector includes a dust container; a centrifugal separator installed inside the dust container to separate dust from air; a filter unit installed at a discharge hole of the centrifugal separator and provided with a filter member; and a dust-removing device for dislodging dust from the filter unit. The dust-removing device includes a dust removal unit including a dust-removing member having dust-removing projections formed on an undersurface thereof, wherein the dust-removing projections move back and forth while contacting the filter unit to dislodge dust from the filter unit; and a drive unit for providing driving power to the dust removal unit.

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 vacuum cleaner for use in both an upright form and a canister form, which can mount and dismount a cleaner body to and from a suction nozzle assembly is disclosed. The vacuum cleaner includes a suction nozzle assembly to draw in dust or dirt along with air while moving along a surface to be cleaned; a cleaner body having a dust separating unit to separate and collect the dust or dirt from the air drawn in from the surface to be cleaned; a supporting unit hingedly joined to the suction nozzle assembly to support a lower part of the cleaner body to communicate with the suction nozzle assembly; and a locking unit to detachably lock the lower part of the cleaner body to the supporting unit.

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 vacuum cleaner for use in both an upright form and a canister form, which can mount and dismount a cleaner body to and from a suction nozzle assembly is disclosed. The vacuum cleaner includes a suction nozzle assembly to draw in dust or dirt along with air while moving along a surface to be cleaned; a cleaner body having a dust separating unit to separate and collect the dust or dirt from the air drawn in from the surface to be cleaned; a supporting unit hingedly joined to the suction nozzle assembly to support a lower part of the cleaner body to communicate with the suction nozzle assembly; and a locking unit to detachably lock the lower part of the cleaner body to the supporting unit.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner operable on upright mode and canister mode is provided. The vacuum cleaner includes a suction port assembly comprising a suction port and a suction passage to draw in dust-laden air, a cleaner body housing a dust separating unit and a motor connected with the dust separating unit, an operating handle assembly in fluid communication with the cleaner body through a hose and in fluid communication with an extension pipe, and a carrying handle assembly sliding along the cleaner body to increase in length. If the vacuum cleaner is in the upright mode, the extension pipe is in fluid communication with the suction port assembly, is used as a passage for air to pass toward the cleaner body, and supports the cleaner body, while if the vacuum cleaner is in the canister mode, the extension pipe is separated from the cleaner body.

Abstract: A dust compressing apparatus of a vacuum cleaner that automatically compresses dust or dirt collected and stored in a dust separating apparatus. The dust compressing apparatus includes a compressing plate to compress dust or dirt collected in the dust separating apparatus, a lifting and lowering unit connected to the compressing plate above the compressing plate to lift and lower the compressing plate, and a driving motor to drive the lifting and lowering unit thus to lift and lower the compressing plate.

Abstract: A dust compressing apparatus of a vacuum cleaner capable of automatically compressing dust or dirt collected in a dust separating unit is disclosed. The dust compressing apparatus includes a compressing plate to compress dust or dirt collected in a dust separating unit, a moving unit disposed on one side of the dust separating unit located in an opposite direction to a direction where the compressing plate compresses the dust or dirt, to move the compressing plate to a compressing position of compressing the dust or dirt and a releasing position of moving away from the dust or dirt, and a driving motor to drive the moving unit thus to move the compressing plate to the compressing position.

Abstract: An improved cyclone dust-collecting apparatus of a vacuum cleaner for efficient collection of fine dusts. The vacuum cleaner which comprises a cyclone body integrally including a first cyclone part and a second cyclone part formed around the first cyclone part, a first cover mounted on the cyclone body and including air paths through which dust-laden air flows, a second cover concentrating and transferring air exhausted from the second cyclone part to the cyclone body, and a dust receptacle mounted under the cyclone body and collecting separated dusts.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner, centrifugally separates contaminates from air and collects them in a filter assembly that includes a rotary filter connected to an exhaust port. The filter is provided with a suction grill portion at the outer circumference and a discharge port that is fluidly connected to the exhaust port of the cyclone type dust collecting apparatus. Contaminants accumulated on the outer surface of the filter are easily removed by rotating the filter in association with the dust receptacle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cyclone-type dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner, that includes a cyclone body having an air inlet port and an air outlet port, for forming a vortex current of air which is introduced through the air inlet port and contains dust, a dust collecting container removably coupled to the cyclone body so as to collect the dust separated by centrifugal force of the vortex current in the cyclone body, a double grill assembly disposed at an upstream portion of the air outlet port in the cyclone body to prevent the air from flowing back through the air outlet port, and having a dual structure having an outer grill and an inner grill, and a fine dust collecting means disposed at a downstream portion of the double grill assembly in the cyclone body to collect fine dust which is not removed by the double grill assembly.

Abstract: A robot vacuum cleaner comprises a main body having a driving wheel, a suction port provided underneath the main body for drawing in contaminants on a surface to be cleaned, and a guide member disposed underneath the main body for guiding contaminants on the surface to be cleaned toward the suction port.

Abstract: An improved cyclone dust-collecting apparatus of a vacuum cleaner for efficient collection of fine dusts. The vacuum cleaner which comprises a cyclone body integrally including a first cyclone part and a second cyclone part formed around the first cyclone part, a first cover mounted on the cyclone body and including air paths through which dust-laden air flows, a second cover concentrating and transferring air exhausted from the second cyclone part to the cyclone body, and a dust receptacle mounted under the cyclone body and collecting separated dusts.

Abstract: A robot cleaner. The robot cleaner comprises a bumper for buffering a shock caused by a sudden collision with an unexpected obstacle, and an unexpected obstacle detecting means and a controller to change a running direction in the collision with the obstacle to avoid the obstacle. Accordingly, when an unexpected obstacle appears in front of the cleaner and the cleaner collides with the obstacle, the bumper buffers and absorbs the shock, thereby preventing damages to a cleaner body and inner parts. Also, the robot cleaner can avoid the obstacle, and thus complete a cleaning operation without stopping the cleaning operation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cyclone-type dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner, which can effectively and separately collect dust and also prevents a backflow of fine dust. The apparatus includes a cyclone body having an air inlet port and an air outlet port, for forming a vortex current of air which is introduced through the air inlet port and contains dust, a dust collecting container removably coupled to the cyclone body so as to collect the dust separated by centrifugal force of the vortex current in the cyclone body, a double impeller grill assembly disposed at an upstream portion of the air outlet port in the cyclone body to prevent the air from flowing back through the air outlet port, and having a dual structure having an outer grill and an inner grill, and a fine dust collecting means disposed at a downstream portion of the double impeller grill assembly in the cyclone body to collect fine dust which is not removed by the double impeller grill assembly.

Abstract: A filter assembly for a cyclone type dust collecting apparatus of a vacuum cleaner. In the cyclone type dust collecting apparatus of the vacuum cleaner which centrifugally separates contaminants from an externally-drawn air and collects the separated contaminants therein, the filter assembly filters contaminants floating in an air which is discharged through an exhaust port of the vacuum cleaner. The filter assembly is provided with a rotary filter rotatably connected with respect to the exhaust port and a filter rotating unit. The rotary filter is provided with a suction grill portion at the outer circumference and a discharge port fluidly connected to the exhaust port of the cyclone type dust collecting apparatus, and the filter rotating unit is for rotating the rotary filter and thus removing contaminants filtered on the surface of the suction grill portion.

Abstract: In order to get a bill conveniently inserted only by using one hand of a customer as a bill input inlet door is kept open for a predetermined time duration and to fall down by its weight, there is provided an automatic vending machine having a bill input inlet disposed at a predetermined position of the front cabinet, a bill discriminating apparatus embedded inside of the front cabinet at a same height level for discriminating the authenticity of a bill induced through the bill input inlet and for storing the bill and a movable bill input inlet door hinged at the upper side of the bill input inlet for opening and closing the bill input inlet, wherein the bill input inlet is constructed of an opening and closing structure where, after a bill input inlet door is pushed up to a door inducing member and released, a bill input inlet door is slided by a soft contact at an initial closing phase thereof, is moved loosely but swiftly at a middle closing phase thereof and is slidingly contacted at a final closing phase

Abstract: An automatic vending machine having a bill input inlet disposed at a predetermined position of a front cabinet, a bill discriminating apparatus embedded inside of the front cabinet at an identical height level to the bill input inlet for discriminating the authenticity of a bill induced through the bill input inlet and for storing the bill, wherein the bill input inlet is constructed of an opening and closing structure, the inlet comprising: a door inducing member installed between upper side of the bill input inlet and the bill discriminating apparatus being connected to the front; a bill input inlet door disposed to slide toward the door inducing member; and a door control unit for opening the bill input inlet door by being hitched and stopped with the stopping pin for a predetermined time duration after the door is pushed up open and released and for closing the door as it falls down by its weight with the stopping pin being raised, thereby conveniently inserting a bill only by using one hand of a customer