JP2005204909A - Self-running vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compact and light self-running vacuum cleaner, dispensing with a dust collector chamber in the body of the vacuum cleaner and a suction nozzle. <P>SOLUTION: This self-running vacuum cleaner includes: a vacuum cleaner body 1 provided with a driving device having a driving wheel 4 and a driving motor 41 for driving the driving wheel 4, a battery 43 for supplying power to the driving motor 41, a control part for controlling the driving motor 41 to give a required angle of rotation to the driving wheel 4, and a cleaning part having an electrostatic attraction brush 10 rotated in contact with the floor surface to clean the floor surface; and a static elimination station 11 having a static eliminating brush 13 for static-eliminating the electrostatic attraction brush 10 of the vacuum cleaner body 1. The cleaner body 1 which has cleaned the floor surface is returned to the static elimination station, and the electrostatic attraction brush 10 is subjected to static elimination by the static eliminating brush 13 to drop dust and dirt collected by the vacuum cleaner body 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a self-propelled cleaner that cleans a floor surface while being self-propelled.

  Conventionally, a self-propelled cleaner that cleans the floor surface while being self-propelled has been proposed. In a conventional self-propelled cleaner, dust and dust are swept by a brush, suction using a filter, and dust collection by a cyclone mechanism are generally used.

  In a self-propelled cleaner that uses a brush, the rotating brush is rotated on both sides of the main body of the vacuum cleaner to collect the dust on the floor at the center of the main body. The collected garbage is sucked into the dust collecting chamber by a dust collecting device such as a suction nozzle and collected in the vacuum cleaner body. There exist patent document 1 and patent document 2 as what disclosed such a self-propelled cleaner. The self-propelled cleaner disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a side brush that rotates to sweep the floor surface, and a suction nozzle that collects dust on the floor surface.

Moreover, in the self-propelled cleaner disclosed in Patent Document 2, a floor nozzle connected to a dust collection chamber provided inside the cleaner body is disposed at the front of the body. Also, a pair of side brushes that rotate so as to face each other from the front to the back are provided.
JP-A-6-125861 JP 7-47046 A

  In the conventional self-propelled cleaner as described above, a compact body is difficult because the cleaner body requires a dust collection chamber and a suction nozzle connected thereto. For this reason, it has been widely used for business purposes, but has not been widely used for home use.

  In addition, the conventional self-propelled cleaner not only takes a space in the room of a general household, but also has a heavy suction motor mounted in the dust collecting part, and it is difficult to carry between the rooms. Furthermore, since the size of the vacuum cleaner main body is large, there has been a drawback in that fine cleaning at the corners of the room and around the furniture cannot be performed.

  This invention is made in order to solve said subject, and it aims at providing the compact and lightweight self-propelled cleaner by eliminating the dust collection chamber and suction nozzle in a cleaner body. .

  According to the self-propelled cleaner based on the present invention, a driving device including a driving wheel and a driving motor for driving the driving wheel, a battery for supplying electric power to the driving motor, and the driving motor for controlling the driving motor. A vacuum cleaner main body having a control section for providing a rotation angle necessary for the drive wheel, and a cleaning section including an electrostatic suction brush that contacts the floor surface to clean the floor surface, and the electrostatic suction brush of the vacuum cleaner body And a static elimination station having a static elimination brush for eliminating the static electricity. The vacuum cleaner body that has cleaned the floor surface returns to the static eliminator station, and the electrostatic suction brush is neutralized by the static eliminator brush, thereby dropping the dust collected by the vacuum cleaner body.

  According to the self-propelled cleaner, dust is collected by adsorbing dust to the electrostatic suction brush. Thereby, the dust collection chamber and the suction nozzle, which are essential components in the conventional self-propelled cleaner, can be eliminated. Thereby, while making the external shape of a self-propelled cleaner main body compact, weight reduction can be achieved. As a result, it is possible to finely clean the corners and the walls of ordinary households and around furniture, and the main body of the vacuum cleaner can be easily carried.

  Preferably, in the self-propelled cleaner, the static elimination station has a power supply unit that charges the battery of the vacuum cleaner body returned to the static elimination station, and when the vacuum cleaner body returns to the static elimination station, The battery is charged by the power supply device, and the electrostatic suction brush rotates to remove electricity from the electrostatic suction brush and remove dust and dirt collected by the cleaner body. According to the self-propelled cleaner, it is possible to charge the battery while neutralizing the electrostatic adsorption brush, and it is possible to use the battery continuously for a long time while suppressing the consumption of the battery.

  More preferably, in the self-propelled cleaner, the power supply unit of the static elimination station includes a power cord, a power supply unit body, and a power supply terminal, and the cleaner body is connected to the battery. When the vacuum cleaner main body returns to the static eliminator station, the power supply terminal and the charging terminal are connected to charge the battery. According to the self-propelled cleaner, the battery and the power supply unit can be easily connected.

  More preferably, in the self-propelled cleaner, the cleaner body has a detection sensor, and when the cleaner body returns to the charge removal station, a predetermined position is detected by the detection sensor, and the inside of the charge removal station The vacuum cleaner main body is stopped at a predetermined position. According to the self-propelled cleaner, the cleaner main body can be accurately positioned at a predetermined position in the static elimination station.

  More preferably, in the self-propelled cleaner, the cleaner body has a ball wheel, the static elimination station has a recess in which the ball wheel is located, and the ball wheel is located in the recess. The electrostatic suction brush and the static elimination brush come into contact with each other.

  In the self-propelled cleaner, it is more preferable that the cleaner body can be accommodated in the static elimination station.

  More preferably, the self-propelled cleaner may be provided with a plurality of cleaner main bodies, or may be provided with a driving device in the static elimination station so as to be self-propelled.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, the self-propelled cleaner in the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG. 1 is a side view showing a structure of a self-propelled cleaner according to the present embodiment, partly cut away. The vacuum cleaner main body 1 includes a power switch 2, an ultrasonic sensor 3, a driving wheel 4, a brush rotating motor 5, a motor shaft 6, and a rotating brush unit, which are mounted to measure a distance from a wall or an obstacle and avoid an action. 7, a ball wheel 8, a ball wheel holder 9, a rotating brush 10, and a charging terminal 12.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the housing of the vacuum cleaner main body 1 is configured in a substantially box shape, and a pair of ultrasonic sensors 3 are provided as detection sensors on both side surfaces thereof. The ultrasonic sensor 3 can measure the distance to the wall and the obstacle as described above, and can measure the distance to the inner wall of the static elimination station 11 when returning to the static elimination station 11. Thereby, the cleaner body 1 can be positioned at an accurate position in the static elimination station 11. As this detection sensor, an infrared sensor or the like can be used in addition to the above ultrasonic sensor.

  An output shaft of a drive motor 41 built in the cleaner body 1 is connected to the drive wheel 4. A control unit 42 is connected to the drive motor 41, and electric power supplied from the battery 43 is controlled by the control unit 42 and supplied to the drive motor 41.

  The rotating brush 10 is composed of an assembly of chemical fibers such as polypropylene and polyethylene, and is an electrostatic chucking brush that is charged by friction and sucks dust and dirt. This electrostatic adsorption brush is the same as that often used for clothes brushes and cleaning dusters around personal computers.

  A base portion of the rotary brush 10 is connected to a flange portion provided at the lower end of the substantially cylindrical rotary brush unit 7. In FIG. 1, only a part of the rotating brush 10 is illustrated, but actually, the rotating brush unit 7 is provided so as to extend radially around the center. As the rotating brush unit 7 rotates together with the ball wheel holder 9, the rotating brush 10 rotates while contacting the floor surface around the rotating brush unit 7.

  The ball wheel holder 9 that supports the rotating brush unit 7 has an upper end connected to the output shaft of the brush rotating motor 5. As the brush rotating motor 5 rotates, the ball wheel holder 9, the rotating brush unit 7, and the rotating brush 10 are driven.

  The ball wheel 8 is held by a ball wheel holder 9. The surface of the ball wheel holder 9 that is in contact with the ball wheel 8 is formed smoothly, and even when the ball wheel holder 9 is driven to rotate, the ball wheel 8 transmits almost no driving force. Therefore, the rotation of the ball wheel holder 9 does not hinder travel by the ball wheel 8.

  A charging terminal 12 protruding in the horizontal direction is provided at the tip of the cleaner body 1. The charging terminal 12 is electrically connected to the battery 43.

  In the vacuum cleaner main body 1 of the present embodiment, dust is collected by adsorbing dust to the rotating brush 10, so a dust collection chamber or dust collection motor as provided in a conventional self-propelled cleaner is used. Etc. are not provided. Thereby, the cleaner body 1 is configured to be more compact and lighter than the conventional one.

  FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the static elimination station in the present embodiment. The charge removal station 11 includes a power supply unit 15, a power supply terminal 14, a charge removal brush 13, a recess 17, an opening / closing door 19, a handle 16, and a leg 18.

  The static elimination station 11 has a substantially box-shaped main body, and can accommodate the cleaner main body 1 therein. An opening / closing door 19 is provided at the rear end of the static elimination station 11 so as to be freely opened and closed.

  On the bottom surface of the main body of the static elimination station 11, a chevron-shaped portion is formed, and a concave portion 17 into which the ball wheel 8 is inserted is formed at the center. Around the recess 17, a neutralizing brush 13 is provided in an annular shape so as to surround the recess 17.

  The neutralizing brush 13 is an acrylonitrile-copper sulfide composite in which acrylic fibers are dyed with copper ions, and has a very excellent static electricity removing effect. This neutralizing brush is the same as that often used for neutralizing lens cleaners such as CD players and MD players and electronic parts.

  A handle 16 for carrying the static elimination station 11 is provided on the static elimination station 11. In addition, a power supply unit 15 is provided at the tip of the static elimination station 11. The power supply unit 15 is provided with a power supply terminal 14, and the power supply terminal 14 is connected to the charging terminal 12 of the cleaner body 1. The power supply unit 15 also has a power cord 48 connected to the power supply unit main body.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state in which the cleaner body of the present embodiment is cleaning the wall of the room. The rotating brush 10 is a soft brush with long bristle legs, and when viewed from above, the tip of the rotating brush 10 protrudes to the outside of the cleaner body 1, so that the tip of the rotating brush 10 is pressed against the wall 20. Can be cleaned up to the wall. Thus, the cleaner main body 1 can be self-propelled while measuring the distance from the wall by the ultrasonic sensor 3, and can automatically clean the entire room.

  FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the cleaner body of the present embodiment is accommodated in the static elimination station. The opening / closing door 19 is formed in a plate shape and is opened and closed by an opening / closing device (not shown). When the vacuum cleaner main body 1 is waiting for the return, the opening / closing door 19 is completely opened, and the tip is grounded to the floor to form a slope. Thus, the cleaner body 1 that has returned can enter the interior of the charge removal station 11 by going up the sloped door 19. In the vacuum cleaner body 1, the ball wheel 8 of the vacuum cleaner body 1 is positioned in the recess 17 provided in the static elimination station 11 and stops in the static elimination station 11. At this time, the charging terminal 12 of the cleaner body 1 is connected to the power supply terminal 14 of the static elimination station 11 and charging of the battery 43 is started.

  Further, when the ball wheel 8 is located in the recess 17, the rotating brush 10 comes into contact with the static elimination brush 13 of the static elimination station 11. In this state, electric power is supplied to the brush rotating motor 5 and the rotating brush 10 rotates. The rotating brush 10 is neutralized by the neutralizing brush 13 while rotating, and dust and dirt adhering to the rotating brush 10 fall into the fixed station. Thereby, the rotating brush 10 is cleaned. By simultaneously charging the vacuum cleaner main body 1 and cleaning the rotary brush 10, the charged state of the battery 43 is recovered, and continuous cleaning for a long time becomes possible.

  As described above, since the static elimination station 11 can accommodate the cleaner body 1, the user can hold the handle attached to the static elimination station 11 and carry them from one room to another while staying together. it can.

  According to the self-propelled cleaner of the present embodiment, since the outer size of the cleaner body 1 is compact, it becomes possible to clean the corners of the room and the surroundings of the furniture that could not be removed conventionally. In addition, since the weight has been reduced, the static elimination station 11 can be carried as described above.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 5 is a side view of the self-propelled cleaner according to the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, the self-propelled cleaner includes a plurality of cleaner main bodies 21, and the plurality of cleaner main bodies 21 cooperate to efficiently clean the room. The structure of each vacuum cleaner main body 21 is the same as the above embodiment except for a part. Components having the same functions as those in the above embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

  The following structure is different from the present embodiment. In the above embodiment, the rotating brush 10 is always in a state of facing the floor. However, in the present embodiment, the rotating brush 10 is rotated around the brush rotation motor 5 and is opposed to the floor surface. As shown in FIG. 5, the posture can be changed to a state facing the vertical plane. When cleaning the floor surface, it is held in a state facing the floor surface, and when the dust attached to the rotating brush 10 is dropped, the posture shown in FIG. In order to change the posture of the rotary brush 10, the cleaner body 1 includes a direction changing motor (not shown), and is driven by the motor to face the floor surface and to face the vertical surface. It will automatically rotate between. Accordingly, instead of the ball wheel 8 of the above embodiment, a slave wheel 23 independent of the rotating brush 10 is provided.

  The static elimination station 51 is connected to the cleaner main body 21 as in the above-described embodiment, and has a function of charging the battery 43 in the cleaner main body 21 and is adsorbed by the rotary brush 10 by eliminating the static electricity of the rotary brush 10. Although it has the function of separating garbage, its shape is different.

  In the present embodiment, the neutralizing brush 13 is provided on one side surface of the power supply unit 15 via the disc 35. The neutralizing brush 13 is arranged on the surface of the disc 35 so as to draw a plurality of rows of concentric circles with the disc 35. The arrangement of the neutralizing brush 13 is not limited to this, and it may be arranged at equal intervals over the entire surface of the disk 35. This disk 35 can be removed from the static elimination station 51. By removing the disc 35, the disc 35 can be easily cleaned.

  When the cleaner body 21 returns to the charge removal station 51, the charging terminal 12 of the cleaner body 1 and the power supply terminal 14 of the charge removal station 11 are connected, and power is supplied from the power supply unit 15 to the battery 43.

  At the same time as the charging of the battery 43 is started, the direction changing motor operates to change the direction from the direction in which the rotating brush 10 faces the floor surface to the state in which it faces the charge eliminating brush 13. Furthermore, by rotating the rotating brush 10 and rubbing it with the charge eliminating brush 13, dust adsorbed on the rotating brush 10 falls and the rotating brush 10 is cleaned.

  In the present embodiment, a direction changing motor is provided and the direction of the rotating brush 10 is automatically changed. However, the direction changing motor is omitted, and the user removes the rotating brush 10 that adsorbs dust. It may be attached to the tip of the cleaner body 21 so as to face the vertical surface. In this case, a motor for rotating the disc 35 is incorporated in the static elimination station 51, and the rotary brush 10 that is stationary while being in contact with the static elimination brush 13 is rotated by rotating the disc 35 and the static elimination brush 13. Remove static electricity.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 6 is a side view of the self-propelled cleaner according to the third embodiment. In the present embodiment, the self-propelled cleaner includes a plurality of cleaner main bodies 21, and the plurality of cleaner main bodies 21 cooperate to efficiently clean the room. In the present embodiment, the static elimination station 61 can also be self-propelled. Since the structure of each vacuum cleaner main body 21 is exactly the same as in Embodiment 2, the description thereof will not be repeated.

  The static elimination station 61 is configured by replacing the rotary brush 10 of the cleaner body 21 with the static elimination brush 13. Therefore, the static elimination station 61 can also be self-propelled, and the structure of the drive device is exactly the same as the cleaner body 21.

  In the self-propelled cleaner of the present embodiment, the static elimination station 61 can be self-propelled. Thereby, it can drive | work, tracking the cleaner main body 21, and can clean the rotary brush 10 of the cleaner main body 21 in an appropriate position. Thereby, in order for the cleaner main body 21 to clean the rotary brush 10, the time which returns to the static elimination station 61 can be saved, and more efficient cleaning is possible.

  When cleaning the rotating brush 10, the rotating brush 10 and the charge eliminating brush 13 are brought into contact with each other so as to face each other, and one of the rotating brushes 10 is rotated to remove the charge.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the self-propelled cleaner according to the fourth embodiment. The structure of the cleaner body 1 of the present embodiment is exactly the same as the cleaner body 1 of the first embodiment. The structure of the static elimination station 61 is different from the static elimination station 11 of the first embodiment in the points described below.

  In the static elimination station 61 of the present embodiment, a tray 62 is provided below the static elimination brush 13. In addition, a plurality of through holes 63 are provided for guiding dust that has been discharged by the charge removal brush 13 and dropped from the rotary brush 10 to the tray 62. The dust dropped from the rotating brush 10 falls into the tray 62 through the through hole 63. Since the tray 62 can be removed from the static elimination station 61 by being pulled out in the horizontal direction, it is possible to easily collect the garbage collected in the static elimination station 61.

  Moreover, in the static elimination station 61 of this Embodiment, the casters 65 and 66 for conveyance are provided. Thereby, the static elimination station 61 can be transported without lifting.

  In addition, the said embodiment disclosed this time is an illustration in all the points, Comprising: It does not become the basis of limited interpretation. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is not interpreted only by the above-described embodiments, but is defined based on the description of the claims. Further, all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of the claims are included.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view with a part cut away showing a structure of a self-propelled cleaner according to Embodiment 1 based on the present invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the static elimination station in Embodiment 1 based on this invention. It is a top view which shows the state which the cleaner body in Embodiment 1 based on this invention is cleaning the wall near a room | chamber interior. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state by which the cleaner body in Embodiment 1 based on this invention was accommodated in the static elimination station. It is a side view of the self-propelled cleaner in Embodiment 2 based on this invention. It is a side view of the self-propelled cleaner in Embodiment 3 based on this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the self-propelled cleaner in Embodiment 4 based on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  1,21 Vacuum cleaner main body, 3 Ultrasonic sensor (detection sensor), 4 Drive wheel, 8 ball wheel, 10 Rotating brush, 11, 51, 61 Discharge station, 12 Charging terminal, 13 Discharge brush, 14 Power supply terminal, 15 Power supply unit, 17 recess, 41 drive motor, 42 control unit, 43 battery, 48 power cord.

Claims (9)

A driving device including a driving wheel and a driving motor for driving the driving wheel; a battery for supplying electric power to the driving motor; a control unit for controlling the driving motor to provide a necessary rotation angle to the driving wheel; A vacuum cleaner body having a cleaning part including an electrostatic adsorption brush that contacts the surface and cleans the floor surface;
A static elimination station having a static elimination brush for neutralizing the electrostatic adsorption brush of the vacuum cleaner body,
The vacuum cleaner body that has cleaned the floor surface is returned to the static eliminator station, and the electrostatic attracting brush is neutralized by the static eliminator brush, thereby dropping dust and dirt collected by the vacuum cleaner body. Self-propelled vacuum cleaner. The static elimination station has a power supply unit that charges the battery of the cleaner body returned to the static elimination station,
When the vacuum cleaner body returns to the static elimination station, the battery is charged by the power supply device, and the electrostatic suction brush rotates to remove the electrostatic suction brush and collect the dust collected by the vacuum cleaner body. The self-propelled cleaner according to claim 1, which removes dust and dirt. The power supply unit of the static elimination station includes a power cord, a power supply unit body, and a power supply terminal.
The vacuum cleaner body has a charging terminal connected to the battery,
The self-propelled cleaner according to claim 2, wherein when the vacuum cleaner main body returns to the static elimination station, the power supply terminal and the charging terminal are connected to charge the battery.   The self-propelled cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the static elimination brush is detachable from the static elimination station.   The vacuum cleaner main body has a detection sensor, and when the vacuum cleaner main body returns to the static elimination station, a predetermined position is detected by the detection sensor, and the vacuum cleaner main body is stopped at a predetermined position in the static elimination station. The self-propelled cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The vacuum cleaner body has ball wheels,
The static elimination station has a recess in which the ball wheel is located;
The self-propelled cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the electrostatic attraction brush and the static elimination brush contact each other in a state where the ball wheel is positioned in the recess.   The said static elimination station is a self-propelled cleaner in any one of Claim 1 to 6 which can accommodate the said vacuum cleaner main body in the inside.   The self-propelled cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising a plurality of the cleaner bodies.   The self-propelled cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the static elimination station has a driving device and is capable of self-propelling.

Images