Abstract: A robot cleaner with a pivotable brush which pivots in accordance with a condition of a floor surface to be cleaned. The pivotal brush prevents overload to a suction motor caused by excessive contact of the brush with the floor surface to be cleaned. The robot cleaner includes a robot cleaner body with a hinge receiving portion, a brush frame with a hinge protrusion pivotally connected to the hinge receiving portion, and a suction port sealingly connected with the dust suction portion of the robot cleaner body. A brush cover is detachable from the brush frame via a brush cover locking means. A rotatable brush is rotatably disposed between the brush frame and the brush cover.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner with a rotatable wet cloth cleaning unit. The vacuum cleaner is capable of not only cleaning dust, but also removing stubborn dirt such as a foreign substance stuck in a floor surface to be cleaned. The robot cleaner has a robot cleaner body which as a control unit programmed to cause the robot cleaner to automatically run along a floor surface to be cleaned and perform a cleaning operation in accordance with preset values. The robot cleaner further includes a driving portion driven in accordance with a control signal from the control unit and a dust suction portion for capturing and collecting dust by a suction motor. The robot cleaner has a rotatable wet cloth cleaning unit detachably secured to a lower surface of the robot cleaner body.

Abstract: A dust receptacle comprises a receptacle body having an air inlet and an air outlet, and detachably mounted in a dust collecting chamber of a robot cleaner, a cover fit in the receptacle body to open and close the air outlet, and a dust outlet formed in the receptacle body. Accordingly, the dust collected in the robot cleaner can be thoroughly and conveniently removed.

Abstract: A driving device of a robot cleaner with a shock-absorbing unit. The driving device includes a robot cleaner body and a pair of motors disposed in the robot cleaner body which are driven by respective power supplies. The driving device also includes a pair of driving wheels rotated by the pair of motors, a pair of driven wheels following the pair of driving wheels, and a driving force transmitting means which causes the driving wheels and the driven wheels to move in association with each other. A frame unit is disposed in the robot cleaner body to support the pair of driving wheels and the pair of driven wheels, and a shock-absorbing unit is disposed in the frame unit to absorb shock that occurs from a cleaning surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a driving apparatus for a robot cleaner enabling drive wheels to be in contact with a floor all the time. The driving apparatus for a robot cleaner includes a robot cleaner main body, driving motors mounted in the robot cleaner main body, and for transferring power to drive wheels, driving motor housings hinged with the robot cleaner main body, and for accommodating the driving motors therein, and pressure members disposed between the robot cleaner main body and the driving motor housings, and for pressing the driving motor housings. Accordingly, the driving motor housings are mounted to rotate about the center of the rotation hinges so that the drive wheels come in contact with the floor all the time, preventing the drive wheels from being lifted over the floor and making lost rotations due to curved portions of the floor or obstacles.

Abstract: A robot cleaner system for detecting an external recharging apparatus which is positioned in a non-detectable area by an upper camera thereof, and a docking method for docking the robot cleaner system with the external recharging apparatus. The robot cleaner system includes an external recharging apparatus with a power terminal connected to a utility power supply, a recharging apparatus recognition mark formed on the external recharging apparatus, and a robot cleaner, having a recognition mark sensor that detects the recharging apparatus recognition mark, and a rechargeable battery. The robot cleaner automatically docks to the power terminal to recharge the rechargeable battery. The recharging apparatus recognition mark is made of retroreflective material or a metal tape, and the recognition mark sensor may be a photosensor or a proximity sensor.

Abstract: A wet/dry type vacuum cleaner has a suction generator, a cleaner body including the suction generator at one side of a lower portion, an intake port being connected with a nozzle that is movable along a surface to be cleaned, and a discharge port through which a clean air is discharged, a contaminant separator removably mounted in the cleaner body to separate contaminant-laden wet air drawn through the intake port into the contaminant and water components and air, and then to store the separated contaminant and water therein, a cover, being open and closed, disposed on an upper portion of the cleaner body to seal an upper opening of the cleaner body, and a discharge path opening a fluid communication between the contaminant separator and the discharge port, for the air separated at the contaminant separating means to be discharged out through the discharge port of the cleaner body.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a suction nozzle lamp which can light and observe a forward are of a suction nozzle for collecting dust or alien substances without being overheated. A reflection plate with a predetermined shape is formed inside a lower case forming a suction nozzle with a suction opening for sucking dust or alien substances, and a window is formed at the forward area of the reflection plate and at the lower case to light the forward area after light is reflected by the reflection plate. A suction nozzle lamp is formed between the reflection plate and the window. A strip-type electric bulb is located between the reflection plate and the window by first and second terminals or a socket terminal, thereby emitting enough light to the forward area of the suction nozzle to perform cleaning without being overheated.