US20060037170A1 - Self-propelling cleaner - Google Patents

Self-propelling cleaner Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20060037170A1
US20060037170A1 US11/055,726 US5572605A US2006037170A1 US 20060037170 A1 US20060037170 A1 US 20060037170A1 US 5572605 A US5572605 A US 5572605A US 2006037170 A1 US2006037170 A1 US 2006037170A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
section
rotary brush
propelling
main body
self
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US11/055,726
Inventor
Akitaka Shimizu
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Funai Electric Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Funai Electric Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Funai Electric Co Ltd filed Critical Funai Electric Co Ltd
Assigned to FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD. reassignment FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: SHIMIZU, AKITAKA
Publication of US20060037170A1 publication Critical patent/US20060037170A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47LDOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
    • A47L9/02Nozzles
    • A47L9/04Nozzles with driven brushes or agitators
    • A47L9/0461Dust-loosening tools, e.g. agitators, brushes
    • A47L9/0466Rotating tools
    • A47L9/0477Rolls
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47LDOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L2201/00Robotic cleaning machines, i.e. with automatic control of the travelling movement or the cleaning operation

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a self-propelling cleaner that cleans a cleaning area while moving therein automatically.
  • JP-A-11-137488 proposes a technique for decreasing the amount of dust that is stuck to the rotary brush.
  • air intake portions are provided at both ends of the rotary brush and its outer circumferential surface is formed with blowholes. A sucked air flow that has been introduced into the rotary brush through the air intake portions flows out through the blowholes. The air that flows through the blowholes serves as a barrier for suppressing dust sticking to the rotary brush.
  • self-propelling cleaners have been proposed that perform cleaning while moving automatically.
  • One of objects of the present invention is to provide a self-propelling cleaner that prevents an event that cleaning is performed in a state that a large amount of dust is stuck to the rotary brush by thoroughly removing dust from the rotary brush with prescribed timing, and to thereby allow a user to manipulate the self-propelling cleaner with greater ease.
  • a self-propelling cleaner including: a main body; a self-propelling section that propels the main body autonomously; a sucking section provided with a suction mouth and a suction fan, and collects dust into the main body through the suction mouth by rotating the suction fan; a rotating section that rotates a rotary brush that is rotatably attached to the suction mouth; a comb provided adjacent to the rotary brush to be slidable in a direction as to be brought into contact with and separated from the rotary brush; a cleaning section that controls the self-propelling section and the sucking section to perform cleaning while propelling the main body within a preset cleaning area; and a dust removing section that removes dust attached to the comb by causing the sucking section to rotate the suction fan and causing the rotating section to rotate the rotary brush while sliding the comb to be in contact with the rotary brush, after completion of the cleaning by the cleaning section.
  • a self-propelling cleaner including: a main body; a self-propelling section that propels the main body autonomously; a sucking section provided with a suction mouth and a suction fan, and collects dust into the main body through the suction mouth by rotating the suction fan; a rotating section that rotates a rotary brush that is rotatably attached to the suction mouth; a comb provided adjacent to the rotary brush to be slidable in a direction as to be brought into contact with and separated from the rotary brush; a cleaning section that controls the self-propelling section and the sucking section to perform cleaning while propelling the main body within a preset cleaning area; and a dust removing section that removes dust attached to the comb, at a prescribed timing, by causing the sucking section to rotate the suction fan and causing the rotating section to rotate the rotary brush while sliding the comb to be in contact with the rotary brush.
  • a self-propelling cleaner including: a main body; a self-propelling section that propels the main body autonomously; a sucking section provided with a suction mouth and a suction fan, and collects dust into the main body through the suction mouth by rotating the suction fan; a rotating section that rotates a rotary brush that is rotatably attached to the suction mouth; a comb having teeth thereof on both sides that are opposed to each other with respect to the rotary brush interposed therebetween, and provided adjacent to the rotary brush to be slidable in a direction perpendicular to a rotation axis of the rotary brush as to be brought into contact with and separated from the rotary brush; a cleaning section that controls the self-propelling section and the sucking section to perform cleaning while propelling the main body within a preset cleaning area in a state where the teeth of the comb provided at rear to a direction of the propelling of the main body are in contact with the rotary brush;
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a self-propelling cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams of the self-propelling cleaner 1 according to the embodiment of the invention; wherein FIG. 2A is a side sectional view and FIG. 2B is a bottom view.
  • FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the self-propelling cleaner 1 according to the embodiment.
  • FIGS. 4A-4D are schematic diagrams showing positional relationships between a brush and combs of a self-propelling cleaner 1 according to another embodiment of the invention; wherein FIG. 4A is a bottom view in a cleaning state, FIG. 4B is a side sectional view in the cleaning state, FIG. 4C is a bottom view in a dust removal state, and FIG. 4D is a side sectional view in the dust removal state.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a self-propelling cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams of the self-propelling cleaner 1 according to the embodiment of the invention; wherein FIG. 2A is a side sectional view and FIG. 2B is a bottom view.
  • the self-propelling cleaner 1 includes a control section 2 for controlling operation of the main body, a moving section 3 for controlling the rotation speeds of tires individually, a sucking section 4 for sucking dust into the main body through a suction mouth that is provided in the main body by rotating a suction fan, and a brush control section (dust removing section) 6 for kicking up dust on a floor or removing dust from a rotary brush 5 that is attached to the suction mouth by controlling the rotation direction of the rotary brush 5 .
  • the control section 2 stores a map that contains information indicating along what route the self-propelling cleaner should be moved in cleaning, and other information. A user can freely input information relating to the map.
  • the moving section 3 performs, according to an instruction from the control section 2 , a rotation control on a motor for rotating driving wheels 7 that move the main body.
  • the driving wheels 7 are a pair of wheels that are opposed to each other with a proper interval.
  • the moving section 3 controls the movement direction of the main body by controlling the rotation directions and rotation speeds of the two driving wheels 7 individually by a known PWM control.
  • Reference numeral 8 denotes a follower wheel that is provided to secure sufficient stability of movement of the main body.
  • the suction mouth is provided between the follower wheel 8 and the driving wheels 7 , and the rotary brush 5 is attached to the suction mouth.
  • the moving section 3 controls the movement direction of the self-propelling cleaner 1 by controlling the rotation speeds of the right and left driving wheels 7 individually.
  • the sucking section 4 produces sucking force at the suction mouth by rotating the suction fan 9 . Dust that is sucked through the suction mouth is sent to a dust room 11 through a dust transport pipe 10 .
  • the brush control section 6 kicks up dust on the floor by rotating the rotary brush 5 in the normal direction.
  • the brush control section 6 slides a comb 12 in such a direction that it comes closer to the rotary brush 5 , and rotates the rotary brush 5 in the normal direction. While the rotary brush 5 is rotating in the normal direction, it is rotating in the same direction as the driving wheels rotate when the main body advances.
  • FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the self-propelling cleaner 1 according to the embodiment of the invention.
  • the self-propelling cleaner 1 waits for a cleaning start instruction (S 1 ).
  • a cleaning start instruction can be input to the self-propelling cleaner 1 by performing a prescribed manipulation on a manipulation section or a remote controller (not shown) If judging at step S 1 that a cleaning start instruction has been received, the self-propelling cleaner 1 reads out the map that is stored in the control section 2 (S 2 ).
  • the map contains information indicating a start point and end point of cleaning and a movement route to be taken by the main body to move from the start point to the end point.
  • the self-propelling cleaner 1 moves the main body to the cleaning start position (S 3 ).
  • the cleaning start position is a position that is indicated by the map that was read out by the control section 2 at step S 2 .
  • the moving section 3 moves the main body to the cleaning start position by rotating the driving wheels 7 .
  • the self-propelling cleaner 1 does not rotate the suction fan while the main body is moving toward the cleaning start position.
  • the self-propelling cleaner starts cleaning when the main body has reached the cleaning start position S 4 ).
  • the control section 2 instructs the moving section 3 to move the main body along the movement route from the cleaning start position to the end position that is indicated by the map that was read out at step S 2 .
  • the control section 2 instructs the brush control section 6 to start rotating the rotary brush 5 in the normal direction and also instructs the sucking section 4 to start rotating the suction fan 9 .
  • the self-propelling cleaner 1 cleans the cleaning area of this time as the main body moves from the cleaning start position to the end position in this state.
  • the self-propelling cleaner finishes the cleaning that was started at step S 4 (S 5 and S 6 ).
  • the control section 2 stops the movement of the main body by issuing, to the moving section 3 , an instruction to finish the movement. Further, the control section 2 causes the brush control section 6 to stop the rotation of the rotary brush 5 and causes sucking section 4 to stop the rotation of the suction fan 9 . Then, the control section 2 instructs the moving section 3 to move the main body to a position where to remove dust from the rotary brush 5 (S 7 ).
  • the dust removal position may be a predetermined position.
  • the dust removal position be located in the cleaning area that has been cleaned this time, because it is preferable that the dust removal position be a relatively clean position that is free of a risk that new dust sticks to the rotary brush 5 during a subsequent operation of removing dust from the rotary brush 5 .
  • the dust removal position may be a position that the main body reaches as a result of the moving section 3 's turning it by 180°.
  • the moving section 3 moves the main body to the dust removal position in the same manner as at step S 3 . Dust removal processing is performed as soon as the main body reaches the dust removal position (S 8 ).
  • the dust removal processing is as follows. After the brush control section 6 has moved the comb 12 close to the rotary brush 5 according to an instruction from the control section 2 , a state that the brush control section 6 rotates the suction fan and the sucking section 4 rotates the suction fan according to instructions from the control section 2 is maintained for a prescribed time.
  • the prescribed time may be set freely by a user, and may be about one minute which is sufficiently long.
  • step S 9 end processing for finishing the operation of cleaning the cleaning area that was specified this time (S 9 ).
  • the end processing of step S 9 is processing of causing the moving section 3 to move the main body to a standby position.
  • the standby position is a place where a charger for a battery (not shown) of the main body is installed.
  • the dust removal is performed after the completion of cleaning, it may be performed at any time such as before or during cleaning.
  • the self-propelling cleaner according to this embodiment is different than in the above embodiment in that combs are provided on both sides of the rotary brush 5 so as to be slidable in the forward-rear direction with respect to the propelling direction of the main body (see FIGS. 4A-4D )
  • the self-propelling cleaner according to this embodiment is also configured as to automatically perform dust removal processing for removing dust that is stuck to the rotary brush.
  • FIGS. 4A and 4B show a positional relationship between the rotary brush and the combs during cleaning
  • FIGS. 4C and 4D show a positional relationship between the rotary brush and the combs during dust removal processing.
  • the rotary brush 5 hits the comb that is located in front of the main body and removes dust that is stuck to the rotary brush. In this state, the rotary brush does not hit the comb that is located at the rear of the main body. On the other hand, during dust removal, the rotary brush 5 hits the comb that is located at the rear of the main body and removes dust that is stuck to the rotary brush. In this state, the rotary brush does not hit the comb that is located in front of the main body.
  • the operation of the self-propelling cleaner according to this embodiment is almost the same as that according to the above-described embodiment but is different from the latter in the dust removal processing of step S 8 .
  • step S 7 the self-propelling cleaner 1 moves the main body to the position where to remove dust from the rotary brush.
  • the rotary brush is in the state of FIGS. 4A and 4B .
  • the self-propelling cleaner 1 slides the combs forward to establish the state of FIGS. 4C and 4D . In this state, the rear comb is brought into contact with the base portions of bristles of the rotary brush. Then, dust is removed by rotating the rotary brush in the reverse direction and rotating the suction fan.
  • This dust removal processing provides the same advantages as in the above-described embodiment.
  • the rotary brush 5 is rotated in the opposite direction to the direction employed during cleaning, dust that has been entangled with the rotary brush 5 during cleaning is untangled easily and hence the rotary brush 5 can be cleaned more thoroughly.
  • the dust removing section slides the comb in such a direction that the comb comes closer to the rotary brush and rotates the rotary brush, even dust that is stuck to the base portions of bristles of the rotary brush can be removed and hence the dust that is stuck to the rotary brush can be removed thoroughly.
  • the dust is sucked by the rotation of the suction fan. In this manner, dust is automatically removed from the rotary brush with prescribed timing. A user can therefore manipulate the vacuum cleaner with greater ease.
  • dust is removed by bringing the rotary brush close to the rotation-direction-side teeth of the comb.
  • the term “rotation-direction-side teeth of the comb” means the teeth that are hit by the bristles of the rotating rotary brush downward.
  • dust that is stuck to the rotary brush is removed with prescribed timing by rotating the rotary brush in the opposite direction to the direction employed during cleaning in a state that the dust removing section is rotating the suction fan.
  • dust that has been entangled with the rotary brush during cleaning is untangled and sucked by the rotation of the rotary fan. In this manner, dust is automatically removed from the rotary brush with prescribed timing. A user can therefore manipulate the vacuum cleaner with greater ease.

Abstract

A self-propelling cleaner 1 performs dust removal processing in which a comb is brought close to a rotary brush with prescribed timing and dust is removed from the rotary brush. In the dust removal processing, the comb is slid in such a direction as to come closer to the brush, even dust that is stuck to the base portions of bristles of the rotary brush can be removed. A self-propelling cleaner is provided that is free of an event that it performs cleaning in a state that a large amount of dust is stuck to the rotary brush.

Description

    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • 1. Field of the Invention
  • The present invention relates to a self-propelling cleaner that cleans a cleaning area while moving therein automatically.
  • 2. Description of the Related Art
  • Among conventional vacuum cleaners are ones in which a suction mouth is provided with a rotary brush for kicking up dust on the floor and dust kicked up by the rotary brush is sucked through the suction mouth. Since the rotary brush kicks up dust on the floor, dust tends to stick to its surfaces. In view of this, JP-A-11-137488 proposes a technique for decreasing the amount of dust that is stuck to the rotary brush. In the technique proposed in JP-A-11-137488, air intake portions are provided at both ends of the rotary brush and its outer circumferential surface is formed with blowholes. A sucked air flow that has been introduced into the rotary brush through the air intake portions flows out through the blowholes. The air that flows through the blowholes serves as a barrier for suppressing dust sticking to the rotary brush. In recent years, self-propelling cleaners have been proposed that perform cleaning while moving automatically.
  • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • However, conventional vacuum cleaners are not equipped with any structure for removing dust that is stuck to the rotary brush and users are required to manually remove dust that is stuck to the rotary brush. In the case of non-self-propelling cleaners, if dust falls off the rotary brush during cleaning, a user who is doing the cleaning would recognize that a large amount of dust is stuck to the rotary brush and suspend the cleaning to remove the dust from the rotary brush. Therefore, cleaning is not performed in a state that a large amount of dust is stuck to the rotary brush. On the other hand, in the case of self-propelling cleaners, a user tends to be absent because he or she acts irrespective of cleaning being performed by a self-propelling cleaner and hence would not notice a fall of dust from the rotary brush during cleaning. As a result, the self-propelling cleaner continues to move while dropping dust from the rotary brush, to cause a situation that the room is scattered with pieces of dust that have fallen off the rotary brush, that is, the room is not cleaned. Such a situation can be avoided by removing dust from the rotary shaft regularly. However, there is a problem that this is a heavy work load to the user.
  • One of objects of the present invention is to provide a self-propelling cleaner that prevents an event that cleaning is performed in a state that a large amount of dust is stuck to the rotary brush by thoroughly removing dust from the rotary brush with prescribed timing, and to thereby allow a user to manipulate the self-propelling cleaner with greater ease.
  • According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a self-propelling cleaner including: a main body; a self-propelling section that propels the main body autonomously; a sucking section provided with a suction mouth and a suction fan, and collects dust into the main body through the suction mouth by rotating the suction fan; a rotating section that rotates a rotary brush that is rotatably attached to the suction mouth; a comb provided adjacent to the rotary brush to be slidable in a direction as to be brought into contact with and separated from the rotary brush; a cleaning section that controls the self-propelling section and the sucking section to perform cleaning while propelling the main body within a preset cleaning area; and a dust removing section that removes dust attached to the comb by causing the sucking section to rotate the suction fan and causing the rotating section to rotate the rotary brush while sliding the comb to be in contact with the rotary brush, after completion of the cleaning by the cleaning section.
  • According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a self-propelling cleaner including: a main body; a self-propelling section that propels the main body autonomously; a sucking section provided with a suction mouth and a suction fan, and collects dust into the main body through the suction mouth by rotating the suction fan; a rotating section that rotates a rotary brush that is rotatably attached to the suction mouth; a comb provided adjacent to the rotary brush to be slidable in a direction as to be brought into contact with and separated from the rotary brush; a cleaning section that controls the self-propelling section and the sucking section to perform cleaning while propelling the main body within a preset cleaning area; and a dust removing section that removes dust attached to the comb, at a prescribed timing, by causing the sucking section to rotate the suction fan and causing the rotating section to rotate the rotary brush while sliding the comb to be in contact with the rotary brush.
  • According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a self-propelling cleaner including: a main body; a self-propelling section that propels the main body autonomously; a sucking section provided with a suction mouth and a suction fan, and collects dust into the main body through the suction mouth by rotating the suction fan; a rotating section that rotates a rotary brush that is rotatably attached to the suction mouth; a comb having teeth thereof on both sides that are opposed to each other with respect to the rotary brush interposed therebetween, and provided adjacent to the rotary brush to be slidable in a direction perpendicular to a rotation axis of the rotary brush as to be brought into contact with and separated from the rotary brush; a cleaning section that controls the self-propelling section and the sucking section to perform cleaning while propelling the main body within a preset cleaning area in a state where the teeth of the comb provided at rear to a direction of the propelling of the main body are in contact with the rotary brush; and a dust removing section that removes dust attached to the comb, at a prescribed timing, by causing the sucking section to rotate the suction fan and causing the rotating section to rotate the rotary brush in a reverse direction while sliding the comb to be in a state where the teeth of the comb provided at front to the direction of the propelling of the main body are in contact with the rotary brush.
  • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing preferred exemplary embodiments thereof in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a self-propelling cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention;
  • FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams of the self-propelling cleaner 1 according to the embodiment of the invention; wherein FIG. 2A is a side sectional view and FIG. 2B is a bottom view.
  • FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the self-propelling cleaner 1 according to the embodiment; and
  • FIGS. 4A-4D are schematic diagrams showing positional relationships between a brush and combs of a self-propelling cleaner 1 according to another embodiment of the invention; wherein FIG. 4A is a bottom view in a cleaning state, FIG. 4B is a side sectional view in the cleaning state, FIG. 4C is a bottom view in a dust removal state, and FIG. 4D is a side sectional view in the dust removal state.
  • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a self-propelling cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams of the self-propelling cleaner 1 according to the embodiment of the invention; wherein FIG. 2A is a side sectional view and FIG. 2B is a bottom view. The self-propelling cleaner 1 includes a control section 2 for controlling operation of the main body, a moving section 3 for controlling the rotation speeds of tires individually, a sucking section 4 for sucking dust into the main body through a suction mouth that is provided in the main body by rotating a suction fan, and a brush control section (dust removing section) 6 for kicking up dust on a floor or removing dust from a rotary brush 5 that is attached to the suction mouth by controlling the rotation direction of the rotary brush 5. The control section 2 stores a map that contains information indicating along what route the self-propelling cleaner should be moved in cleaning, and other information. A user can freely input information relating to the map. The moving section 3 performs, according to an instruction from the control section 2, a rotation control on a motor for rotating driving wheels 7 that move the main body. The driving wheels 7 are a pair of wheels that are opposed to each other with a proper interval. The moving section 3 controls the movement direction of the main body by controlling the rotation directions and rotation speeds of the two driving wheels 7 individually by a known PWM control. Reference numeral 8 denotes a follower wheel that is provided to secure sufficient stability of movement of the main body. The suction mouth is provided between the follower wheel 8 and the driving wheels 7, and the rotary brush 5 is attached to the suction mouth. The moving section 3 controls the movement direction of the self-propelling cleaner 1 by controlling the rotation speeds of the right and left driving wheels 7 individually. The sucking section 4 produces sucking force at the suction mouth by rotating the suction fan 9. Dust that is sucked through the suction mouth is sent to a dust room 11 through a dust transport pipe 10. During cleaning, the brush control section 6 kicks up dust on the floor by rotating the rotary brush 5 in the normal direction. To remove dust from the rotary brush 5, the brush control section 6 slides a comb 12 in such a direction that it comes closer to the rotary brush 5, and rotates the rotary brush 5 in the normal direction. While the rotary brush 5 is rotating in the normal direction, it is rotating in the same direction as the driving wheels rotate when the main body advances.
  • Next, the operation of the self-propelling cleaner 1 according to the embodiment (first embodiment) will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the self-propelling cleaner 1 according to the embodiment of the invention. First, the self-propelling cleaner 1 waits for a cleaning start instruction (S1). A cleaning start instruction can be input to the self-propelling cleaner 1 by performing a prescribed manipulation on a manipulation section or a remote controller (not shown) If judging at step S1 that a cleaning start instruction has been received, the self-propelling cleaner 1 reads out the map that is stored in the control section 2 (S2). The map contains information indicating a start point and end point of cleaning and a movement route to be taken by the main body to move from the start point to the end point. Then, the self-propelling cleaner 1 moves the main body to the cleaning start position (S3). The cleaning start position is a position that is indicated by the map that was read out by the control section 2 at step S2. The moving section 3 moves the main body to the cleaning start position by rotating the driving wheels 7. The self-propelling cleaner 1 does not rotate the suction fan while the main body is moving toward the cleaning start position.
  • The self-propelling cleaner starts cleaning when the main body has reached the cleaning start position S4). At step S4, the control section 2 instructs the moving section 3 to move the main body along the movement route from the cleaning start position to the end position that is indicated by the map that was read out at step S2. Further, the control section 2 instructs the brush control section 6 to start rotating the rotary brush 5 in the normal direction and also instructs the sucking section 4 to start rotating the suction fan 9. The self-propelling cleaner 1 cleans the cleaning area of this time as the main body moves from the cleaning start position to the end position in this state.
  • When the main body has reached the cleaning end position, the self-propelling cleaner finishes the cleaning that was started at step S4 (S5 and S6). At this time, the control section 2 stops the movement of the main body by issuing, to the moving section 3, an instruction to finish the movement. Further, the control section 2 causes the brush control section 6 to stop the rotation of the rotary brush 5 and causes sucking section 4 to stop the rotation of the suction fan 9. Then, the control section 2 instructs the moving section 3 to move the main body to a position where to remove dust from the rotary brush 5 (S7). The dust removal position may be a predetermined position. However, it is preferable that the dust removal position be located in the cleaning area that has been cleaned this time, because it is preferable that the dust removal position be a relatively clean position that is free of a risk that new dust sticks to the rotary brush 5 during a subsequent operation of removing dust from the rotary brush 5. For example, the dust removal position may be a position that the main body reaches as a result of the moving section 3's turning it by 180°. The moving section 3 moves the main body to the dust removal position in the same manner as at step S3. Dust removal processing is performed as soon as the main body reaches the dust removal position (S8).
  • The dust removal processing is as follows. After the brush control section 6 has moved the comb 12 close to the rotary brush 5 according to an instruction from the control section 2, a state that the brush control section 6 rotates the suction fan and the sucking section 4 rotates the suction fan according to instructions from the control section 2 is maintained for a prescribed time. The prescribed time may be set freely by a user, and may be about one minute which is sufficiently long.
  • Since the suction fan is rotated, dust that has been untangled as a result of the brush's hitting the comb is sucked and does not fall. Further, since the comb is slid in such a direction as to come closer to the brush, even dust that is stuck to the base portions of bristles of the rotary brush can be removed and hence the rotary brush can be made clean. Still further, when the dust removal is performed (performed after the completion of cleaning), not much dust is entangled with the rotary brush and hence the dust that is stuck to the rotary brush can be removed thoroughly. That is, the dust that is stuck to the rotary brush 5 can be removed automatically and hence a user can manipulate the vacuum cleaner with greater ease.
  • After completion of step S8, end processing for finishing the operation of cleaning the cleaning area that was specified this time (S9). The end processing of step S9 is processing of causing the moving section 3 to move the main body to a standby position. For example, the standby position is a place where a charger for a battery (not shown) of the main body is installed. Although in this embodiment the dust removal is performed after the completion of cleaning, it may be performed at any time such as before or during cleaning.
  • Next, a self-propelling cleaner 1 according to another embodiment of the invention will be described. The self-propelling cleaner according to this embodiment is different than in the above embodiment in that combs are provided on both sides of the rotary brush 5 so as to be slidable in the forward-rear direction with respect to the propelling direction of the main body (see FIGS. 4A-4D) The self-propelling cleaner according to this embodiment is also configured as to automatically perform dust removal processing for removing dust that is stuck to the rotary brush. FIGS. 4A and 4B show a positional relationship between the rotary brush and the combs during cleaning, and FIGS. 4C and 4D show a positional relationship between the rotary brush and the combs during dust removal processing. During cleaning, the rotary brush 5 hits the comb that is located in front of the main body and removes dust that is stuck to the rotary brush. In this state, the rotary brush does not hit the comb that is located at the rear of the main body. On the other hand, during dust removal, the rotary brush 5 hits the comb that is located at the rear of the main body and removes dust that is stuck to the rotary brush. In this state, the rotary brush does not hit the comb that is located in front of the main body.
  • The operation of the self-propelling cleaner according to this embodiment is almost the same as that according to the above-described embodiment but is different from the latter in the dust removal processing of step S8.
  • After executing steps S1-S6 in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment, at step S7 the self-propelling cleaner 1 moves the main body to the position where to remove dust from the rotary brush. When the main body has just been moved to the dust removal position, the rotary brush is in the state of FIGS. 4A and 4B. First, the self-propelling cleaner 1 slides the combs forward to establish the state of FIGS. 4C and 4D. In this state, the rear comb is brought into contact with the base portions of bristles of the rotary brush. Then, dust is removed by rotating the rotary brush in the reverse direction and rotating the suction fan.
  • This dust removal processing provides the same advantages as in the above-described embodiment. In addition, since the rotary brush 5 is rotated in the opposite direction to the direction employed during cleaning, dust that has been entangled with the rotary brush 5 during cleaning is untangled easily and hence the rotary brush 5 can be cleaned more thoroughly.
  • As described above, according to the embodiment, since the dust removing section slides the comb in such a direction that the comb comes closer to the rotary brush and rotates the rotary brush, even dust that is stuck to the base portions of bristles of the rotary brush can be removed and hence the dust that is stuck to the rotary brush can be removed thoroughly. The dust is sucked by the rotation of the suction fan. In this manner, dust is automatically removed from the rotary brush with prescribed timing. A user can therefore manipulate the vacuum cleaner with greater ease.
  • According to the embodiment, during cleaning, dust is removed by bringing the rotary brush close to the rotation-direction-side teeth of the comb. The term “rotation-direction-side teeth of the comb” means the teeth that are hit by the bristles of the rotating rotary brush downward. Further, dust that is stuck to the rotary brush is removed with prescribed timing by rotating the rotary brush in the opposite direction to the direction employed during cleaning in a state that the dust removing section is rotating the suction fan. In this operation, since the rotary brush is rotated in the reverse direction, dust that has been entangled with the rotary brush during cleaning is untangled and sucked by the rotation of the rotary fan. In this manner, dust is automatically removed from the rotary brush with prescribed timing. A user can therefore manipulate the vacuum cleaner with greater ease.
  • According to the embodiment, when the dust removal is performed (performed after the completion of cleaning) not much dust is entangled with the rotary brush and hence the dust that is stuck to the rotary brush can be removed thoroughly.
  • In the self-propelling cleaner according to the embodiment, since dust is automatically removed from the rotary brush with prescribed timing (e.g., after the completion of cleaning), a user can manipulate the vacuum cleaner with greater ease.
  • Although the present invention has been shown and described with reference to a specific preferred embodiment, various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings herein. Such changes and modifications as are obvious are deemed to come within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (5)

1. A self-propelling cleaner comprising:
a main body;
a self-propelling section that propels the main body autonomously;
a sucking section provided with a suction mouth and a suction fan, and collects dust into the main body through the suction mouth by rotating the suction fan;
a rotating section that rotates a rotary brush that is rotatably attached to the suction mouth;
a comb provided adjacent to the rotary brush to be slidable in a direction as to be brought into contact with and separated from the rotary brush;
a cleaning section that controls the self-propelling section and the sucking section to perform cleaning while propelling the main body within a preset cleaning area; and
a dust removing section that removes dust attached to the comb by causing the sucking section to rotate the suction fan and causing the rotating section to rotate the rotary brush while sliding the comb to be in contact with the rotary brush, after completion of the cleaning by the cleaning section.
2. A self-propelling cleaner comprising:
a main body;
a self-propelling section that propels the main body autonomously;
a sucking section provided with a suction mouth and a suction fan, and collects dust into the main body through the suction mouth by rotating the suction fan;
a rotating section that rotates a rotary brush that is rotatably attached to the suction mouth;
a comb provided adjacent to the rotary brush to be slidable in a direction as to be brought into contact with and separated from the rotary brush;
a cleaning section that controls the self-propelling section and the sucking section to perform cleaning while propelling the main body within a preset cleaning area; and
a dust removing section that removes dust attached to the comb, at a prescribed timing, by causing the sucking section to rotate the suction fan and causing the rotating section to rotate the rotary brush while sliding the comb to be in contact with the rotary brush.
3. The self-propelling cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the dust removing section removes dust attached to the comb after completion of the cleaning by the cleaning section.
4. A self-propelling cleaner comprising:
a main body;
a self-propelling section that propels the main body autonomously;
a sucking section provided with a suction mouth and a suction fan, and collects dust into the main body through the suction mouth by rotating the suction fan;
a rotating section that rotates a rotary brush that is rotatably attached to the suction mouth;
a comb having teeth thereof on both sides that are opposed to each other with respect to the rotary brush interposed therebetween, and provided adjacent to the rotary brush to be slidable in a direction perpendicular to a rotation axis of the rotary brush as to be brought into contact with and separated from the rotary brush;
a cleaning section that controls the self-propelling section and the sucking section to perform cleaning while propelling the main body within a preset cleaning area in a state where the teeth of the comb provided at rear to a direction of the propelling of the main body are in contact with the rotary brush; and
a dust removing section that removes dust attached to the comb, at a prescribed timing, by causing the sucking section to rotate the suction fan and causing the rotating section to rotate the rotary brush in a reverse direction while sliding the comb to be in a state where the teeth of the comb provided at front to the direction of the propelling of the main body are in contact with the rotary brush.
5. The self-propelling cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the dust removing section removes dust attached to the comb after completion of the cleaning by the cleaning section.
US11/055,726 2004-02-10 2005-02-10 Self-propelling cleaner Abandoned US20060037170A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2004032917A JP2005224263A (en) 2004-02-10 2004-02-10 Self-traveling cleaner
JPJP2004-032917 2004-02-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20060037170A1 true US20060037170A1 (en) 2006-02-23

Family

ID=34999440

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/055,726 Abandoned US20060037170A1 (en) 2004-02-10 2005-02-10 Self-propelling cleaner

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US20060037170A1 (en)
JP (1) JP2005224263A (en)

Cited By (55)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070213892A1 (en) * 2001-06-12 2007-09-13 Irobot Corporation Method and System for Multi-Mode Coverage For An Autonomous Robot
US20080047092A1 (en) * 2006-05-19 2008-02-28 Irobot Corporation Coverage robots and associated cleaning bins
US20080058987A1 (en) * 2005-12-02 2008-03-06 Irobot Corporation Navigating autonomous coverage robots
US20080140255A1 (en) * 2005-02-18 2008-06-12 Irobot Corporation Autonomous surface cleaning robot for wet and dry cleaning
US20080282494A1 (en) * 2005-12-02 2008-11-20 Irobot Corporation Modular robot
US20090229075A1 (en) * 2008-03-17 2009-09-17 Electrolux Home Care Products, Inc. Agitator with Cleaning Features
US20100049365A1 (en) * 2001-06-12 2010-02-25 Irobot Corporation Method and System for Multi-Mode Coverage For An Autonomous Robot
US20100257690A1 (en) * 2002-01-03 2010-10-14 Irobot Corporation Autonomous floor-cleaning robot
US20110077802A1 (en) * 2005-12-02 2011-03-31 Halloran Michael J Robot System
US8239992B2 (en) 2007-05-09 2012-08-14 Irobot Corporation Compact autonomous coverage robot
US8253368B2 (en) 2004-01-28 2012-08-28 Irobot Corporation Debris sensor for cleaning apparatus
US8368339B2 (en) 2001-01-24 2013-02-05 Irobot Corporation Robot confinement
US8386081B2 (en) 2002-09-13 2013-02-26 Irobot Corporation Navigational control system for a robotic device
US8382906B2 (en) 2005-02-18 2013-02-26 Irobot Corporation Autonomous surface cleaning robot for wet cleaning
US8390251B2 (en) 2004-01-21 2013-03-05 Irobot Corporation Autonomous robot auto-docking and energy management systems and methods
US20130056026A1 (en) * 2011-09-01 2013-03-07 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Autonomous cleaning apparatus and method of controlling the same
KR20130025309A (en) * 2011-09-01 2013-03-11 삼성전자주식회사 Autonomous cleaning device and control method thereof
US8412377B2 (en) 2000-01-24 2013-04-02 Irobot Corporation Obstacle following sensor scheme for a mobile robot
US8417383B2 (en) 2006-05-31 2013-04-09 Irobot Corporation Detecting robot stasis
US8428778B2 (en) 2002-09-13 2013-04-23 Irobot Corporation Navigational control system for a robotic device
US20130198995A1 (en) * 2008-03-17 2013-08-08 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Vacuum cleaner agitator cleaner with power control
US8515578B2 (en) 2002-09-13 2013-08-20 Irobot Corporation Navigational control system for a robotic device
US8594840B1 (en) 2004-07-07 2013-11-26 Irobot Corporation Celestial navigation system for an autonomous robot
US8600553B2 (en) 2005-12-02 2013-12-03 Irobot Corporation Coverage robot mobility
US8739355B2 (en) 2005-02-18 2014-06-03 Irobot Corporation Autonomous surface cleaning robot for dry cleaning
US8780342B2 (en) 2004-03-29 2014-07-15 Irobot Corporation Methods and apparatus for position estimation using reflected light sources
US8788092B2 (en) 2000-01-24 2014-07-22 Irobot Corporation Obstacle following sensor scheme for a mobile robot
US8800107B2 (en) 2010-02-16 2014-08-12 Irobot Corporation Vacuum brush
US20140259521A1 (en) * 2013-03-15 2014-09-18 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Vacuum cleaner agitator cleaner with brushroll lifting mechanism
US20140304941A1 (en) * 2011-10-26 2014-10-16 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Cleaning nozzle for a vacuum cleaner
US8930023B2 (en) 2009-11-06 2015-01-06 Irobot Corporation Localization by learning of wave-signal distributions
US8972052B2 (en) 2004-07-07 2015-03-03 Irobot Corporation Celestial navigation system for an autonomous vehicle
US8984708B2 (en) 2011-01-07 2015-03-24 Irobot Corporation Evacuation station system
US9008835B2 (en) 2004-06-24 2015-04-14 Irobot Corporation Remote control scheduler and method for autonomous robotic device
EP2939581A1 (en) * 2014-04-29 2015-11-04 Miele & Cie. KG Self-propelled cleaning device and method of operation for a self-propelled cleaning device
US20150313431A1 (en) * 2012-12-21 2015-11-05 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Cleaning arrangement for a rotatable member of a vacuum cleaner, cleaner nozzle, vacuum cleaner and cleaning unit
KR20160003656A (en) * 2013-03-15 2016-01-11 악티에볼라겟 엘렉트로룩스 Vacuum cleaner agitator cleaner with power control
US20160015233A1 (en) * 2014-07-17 2016-01-21 Miele & Cie. Kg Robotic vacuum cleaner having a rotating brush roller and cleaning method for a brush roller of a robotic vacuum cleaner
US9320398B2 (en) 2005-12-02 2016-04-26 Irobot Corporation Autonomous coverage robots
US9462920B1 (en) 2015-06-25 2016-10-11 Irobot Corporation Evacuation station
US9526391B2 (en) 2011-09-01 2016-12-27 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Cleaning system and maintenance station thereof
US9775477B2 (en) 2013-05-02 2017-10-03 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Cleaning nozzle for a vacuum cleaner
US9820626B2 (en) 2008-03-17 2017-11-21 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Actuator mechanism for a brushroll cleaner
US9993847B2 (en) 2012-02-02 2018-06-12 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Cleaning arrangement for a nozzle of a vacuum cleaner
US10117553B2 (en) 2008-03-17 2018-11-06 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Cleaning nozzle for a vacuum cleaner
WO2018217980A1 (en) 2017-05-25 2018-11-29 Sharkninja Operating Llc Robotic cleaner with dual cleaning rollers
DE102017213426A1 (en) * 2017-08-02 2019-02-07 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Robot for soil cultivation
US10702108B2 (en) 2015-09-28 2020-07-07 Sharkninja Operating Llc Surface cleaning head for vacuum cleaner
US10898042B2 (en) 2017-08-16 2021-01-26 Sharkninja Operating Llc Robotic vacuum
US10925447B2 (en) 2017-03-10 2021-02-23 Sharkninja Operating Llc Agitator with debrider and hair removal
US10925448B2 (en) 2015-10-21 2021-02-23 Sharkninja Operating Llc Surface cleaning head with leading roller
US20220061614A1 (en) * 2020-09-02 2022-03-03 Sharkninja Operating, Llc Robotic cleaner debris removal docking station
CN115135214A (en) * 2019-12-20 2022-09-30 创科无线普通合伙 Cleaner head for a cleaning appliance
US11647881B2 (en) 2015-10-21 2023-05-16 Sharkninja Operating Llc Cleaning apparatus with combing unit for removing debris from cleaning roller
US11759069B2 (en) 2018-10-19 2023-09-19 Sharkninja Operating Llc Agitator for a surface treatment apparatus and a surface treatment apparatus having the same

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2010223453A (en) * 2009-03-19 2010-10-07 Fujitsu General Ltd Air conditioner
JP6940461B2 (en) * 2018-09-10 2021-09-29 日立グローバルライフソリューションズ株式会社 Autonomous vacuum cleaner

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US804213A (en) * 1904-06-06 1905-11-14 Robert W Howard Carpet-sweeper.
US2032345A (en) * 1933-12-18 1936-03-03 Earl Callan Carpet sweeper comb
US2960714A (en) * 1958-12-04 1960-11-22 Electrolux Corp Combination carpet sweeper and vacuum cleaner
US3349421A (en) * 1964-07-30 1967-10-31 Brush Company Ltd Sa Carpet sweeper
US5940927A (en) * 1996-04-30 1999-08-24 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Autonomous surface cleaning apparatus
US20040181888A1 (en) * 2001-10-03 2004-09-23 Kao Corporation Cleaning device

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US804213A (en) * 1904-06-06 1905-11-14 Robert W Howard Carpet-sweeper.
US2032345A (en) * 1933-12-18 1936-03-03 Earl Callan Carpet sweeper comb
US2960714A (en) * 1958-12-04 1960-11-22 Electrolux Corp Combination carpet sweeper and vacuum cleaner
US3349421A (en) * 1964-07-30 1967-10-31 Brush Company Ltd Sa Carpet sweeper
US5940927A (en) * 1996-04-30 1999-08-24 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Autonomous surface cleaning apparatus
US20040181888A1 (en) * 2001-10-03 2004-09-23 Kao Corporation Cleaning device

Cited By (174)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9446521B2 (en) 2000-01-24 2016-09-20 Irobot Corporation Obstacle following sensor scheme for a mobile robot
US8565920B2 (en) 2000-01-24 2013-10-22 Irobot Corporation Obstacle following sensor scheme for a mobile robot
US8478442B2 (en) 2000-01-24 2013-07-02 Irobot Corporation Obstacle following sensor scheme for a mobile robot
US8761935B2 (en) 2000-01-24 2014-06-24 Irobot Corporation Obstacle following sensor scheme for a mobile robot
US8412377B2 (en) 2000-01-24 2013-04-02 Irobot Corporation Obstacle following sensor scheme for a mobile robot
US8788092B2 (en) 2000-01-24 2014-07-22 Irobot Corporation Obstacle following sensor scheme for a mobile robot
US9144361B2 (en) 2000-04-04 2015-09-29 Irobot Corporation Debris sensor for cleaning apparatus
US8686679B2 (en) 2001-01-24 2014-04-01 Irobot Corporation Robot confinement
US9582005B2 (en) 2001-01-24 2017-02-28 Irobot Corporation Robot confinement
US9038233B2 (en) 2001-01-24 2015-05-26 Irobot Corporation Autonomous floor-cleaning robot
US9622635B2 (en) 2001-01-24 2017-04-18 Irobot Corporation Autonomous floor-cleaning robot
US9167946B2 (en) 2001-01-24 2015-10-27 Irobot Corporation Autonomous floor cleaning robot
US8368339B2 (en) 2001-01-24 2013-02-05 Irobot Corporation Robot confinement
US8838274B2 (en) 2001-06-12 2014-09-16 Irobot Corporation Method and system for multi-mode coverage for an autonomous robot
US20070213892A1 (en) * 2001-06-12 2007-09-13 Irobot Corporation Method and System for Multi-Mode Coverage For An Autonomous Robot
US8463438B2 (en) 2001-06-12 2013-06-11 Irobot Corporation Method and system for multi-mode coverage for an autonomous robot
US20100049365A1 (en) * 2001-06-12 2010-02-25 Irobot Corporation Method and System for Multi-Mode Coverage For An Autonomous Robot
US8396592B2 (en) 2001-06-12 2013-03-12 Irobot Corporation Method and system for multi-mode coverage for an autonomous robot
US9104204B2 (en) 2001-06-12 2015-08-11 Irobot Corporation Method and system for multi-mode coverage for an autonomous robot
US20100263142A1 (en) * 2001-06-12 2010-10-21 Irobot Corporation Method and system for multi-mode coverage for an autonomous robot
US8474090B2 (en) 2002-01-03 2013-07-02 Irobot Corporation Autonomous floor-cleaning robot
US20110131741A1 (en) * 2002-01-03 2011-06-09 Jones Joseph L Autonomous Floor-Cleaning Robot
US8656550B2 (en) 2002-01-03 2014-02-25 Irobot Corporation Autonomous floor-cleaning robot
US8516651B2 (en) 2002-01-03 2013-08-27 Irobot Corporation Autonomous floor-cleaning robot
US8671507B2 (en) 2002-01-03 2014-03-18 Irobot Corporation Autonomous floor-cleaning robot
US20100257690A1 (en) * 2002-01-03 2010-10-14 Irobot Corporation Autonomous floor-cleaning robot
US9128486B2 (en) 2002-01-24 2015-09-08 Irobot Corporation Navigational control system for a robotic device
US8781626B2 (en) 2002-09-13 2014-07-15 Irobot Corporation Navigational control system for a robotic device
US9949608B2 (en) 2002-09-13 2018-04-24 Irobot Corporation Navigational control system for a robotic device
US8793020B2 (en) 2002-09-13 2014-07-29 Irobot Corporation Navigational control system for a robotic device
US8428778B2 (en) 2002-09-13 2013-04-23 Irobot Corporation Navigational control system for a robotic device
US8386081B2 (en) 2002-09-13 2013-02-26 Irobot Corporation Navigational control system for a robotic device
US8515578B2 (en) 2002-09-13 2013-08-20 Irobot Corporation Navigational control system for a robotic device
US8749196B2 (en) 2004-01-21 2014-06-10 Irobot Corporation Autonomous robot auto-docking and energy management systems and methods
US8854001B2 (en) 2004-01-21 2014-10-07 Irobot Corporation Autonomous robot auto-docking and energy management systems and methods
US9215957B2 (en) 2004-01-21 2015-12-22 Irobot Corporation Autonomous robot auto-docking and energy management systems and methods
US8390251B2 (en) 2004-01-21 2013-03-05 Irobot Corporation Autonomous robot auto-docking and energy management systems and methods
US8461803B2 (en) 2004-01-21 2013-06-11 Irobot Corporation Autonomous robot auto-docking and energy management systems and methods
US8598829B2 (en) 2004-01-28 2013-12-03 Irobot Corporation Debris sensor for cleaning apparatus
US8456125B2 (en) 2004-01-28 2013-06-04 Irobot Corporation Debris sensor for cleaning apparatus
US8253368B2 (en) 2004-01-28 2012-08-28 Irobot Corporation Debris sensor for cleaning apparatus
US8378613B2 (en) 2004-01-28 2013-02-19 Irobot Corporation Debris sensor for cleaning apparatus
US8780342B2 (en) 2004-03-29 2014-07-15 Irobot Corporation Methods and apparatus for position estimation using reflected light sources
US9360300B2 (en) 2004-03-29 2016-06-07 Irobot Corporation Methods and apparatus for position estimation using reflected light sources
US9008835B2 (en) 2004-06-24 2015-04-14 Irobot Corporation Remote control scheduler and method for autonomous robotic device
US9486924B2 (en) 2004-06-24 2016-11-08 Irobot Corporation Remote control scheduler and method for autonomous robotic device
US8634956B1 (en) 2004-07-07 2014-01-21 Irobot Corporation Celestial navigation system for an autonomous robot
US8972052B2 (en) 2004-07-07 2015-03-03 Irobot Corporation Celestial navigation system for an autonomous vehicle
US9229454B1 (en) 2004-07-07 2016-01-05 Irobot Corporation Autonomous mobile robot system
US8594840B1 (en) 2004-07-07 2013-11-26 Irobot Corporation Celestial navigation system for an autonomous robot
US8874264B1 (en) 2004-07-07 2014-10-28 Irobot Corporation Celestial navigation system for an autonomous robot
US9223749B2 (en) 2004-07-07 2015-12-29 Irobot Corporation Celestial navigation system for an autonomous vehicle
US8985127B2 (en) 2005-02-18 2015-03-24 Irobot Corporation Autonomous surface cleaning robot for wet cleaning
US8782848B2 (en) 2005-02-18 2014-07-22 Irobot Corporation Autonomous surface cleaning robot for dry cleaning
US8392021B2 (en) 2005-02-18 2013-03-05 Irobot Corporation Autonomous surface cleaning robot for wet cleaning
US8382906B2 (en) 2005-02-18 2013-02-26 Irobot Corporation Autonomous surface cleaning robot for wet cleaning
US8387193B2 (en) 2005-02-18 2013-03-05 Irobot Corporation Autonomous surface cleaning robot for wet and dry cleaning
US8670866B2 (en) 2005-02-18 2014-03-11 Irobot Corporation Autonomous surface cleaning robot for wet and dry cleaning
US8966707B2 (en) 2005-02-18 2015-03-03 Irobot Corporation Autonomous surface cleaning robot for dry cleaning
US9445702B2 (en) 2005-02-18 2016-09-20 Irobot Corporation Autonomous surface cleaning robot for wet and dry cleaning
US8855813B2 (en) 2005-02-18 2014-10-07 Irobot Corporation Autonomous surface cleaning robot for wet and dry cleaning
US20080140255A1 (en) * 2005-02-18 2008-06-12 Irobot Corporation Autonomous surface cleaning robot for wet and dry cleaning
US8739355B2 (en) 2005-02-18 2014-06-03 Irobot Corporation Autonomous surface cleaning robot for dry cleaning
US10470629B2 (en) 2005-02-18 2019-11-12 Irobot Corporation Autonomous surface cleaning robot for dry cleaning
US8774966B2 (en) 2005-02-18 2014-07-08 Irobot Corporation Autonomous surface cleaning robot for wet and dry cleaning
US8978196B2 (en) 2005-12-02 2015-03-17 Irobot Corporation Coverage robot mobility
US9599990B2 (en) 2005-12-02 2017-03-21 Irobot Corporation Robot system
US10524629B2 (en) 2005-12-02 2020-01-07 Irobot Corporation Modular Robot
US20080058987A1 (en) * 2005-12-02 2008-03-06 Irobot Corporation Navigating autonomous coverage robots
US8661605B2 (en) 2005-12-02 2014-03-04 Irobot Corporation Coverage robot mobility
US8606401B2 (en) 2005-12-02 2013-12-10 Irobot Corporation Autonomous coverage robot navigation system
US8761931B2 (en) 2005-12-02 2014-06-24 Irobot Corporation Robot system
US20080282494A1 (en) * 2005-12-02 2008-11-20 Irobot Corporation Modular robot
US8600553B2 (en) 2005-12-02 2013-12-03 Irobot Corporation Coverage robot mobility
US9392920B2 (en) 2005-12-02 2016-07-19 Irobot Corporation Robot system
US20110004339A1 (en) * 2005-12-02 2011-01-06 Irobot Corporation Autonomous coverage robot navigation system
US8584305B2 (en) 2005-12-02 2013-11-19 Irobot Corporation Modular robot
US9320398B2 (en) 2005-12-02 2016-04-26 Irobot Corporation Autonomous coverage robots
US20110077802A1 (en) * 2005-12-02 2011-03-31 Halloran Michael J Robot System
US8374721B2 (en) 2005-12-02 2013-02-12 Irobot Corporation Robot system
US9149170B2 (en) 2005-12-02 2015-10-06 Irobot Corporation Navigating autonomous coverage robots
US8950038B2 (en) 2005-12-02 2015-02-10 Irobot Corporation Modular robot
US8954192B2 (en) 2005-12-02 2015-02-10 Irobot Corporation Navigating autonomous coverage robots
US8380350B2 (en) 2005-12-02 2013-02-19 Irobot Corporation Autonomous coverage robot navigation system
US9144360B2 (en) 2005-12-02 2015-09-29 Irobot Corporation Autonomous coverage robot navigation system
US20090044370A1 (en) * 2006-05-19 2009-02-19 Irobot Corporation Removing debris from cleaning robots
US8418303B2 (en) 2006-05-19 2013-04-16 Irobot Corporation Cleaning robot roller processing
US8572799B2 (en) 2006-05-19 2013-11-05 Irobot Corporation Removing debris from cleaning robots
US20100011529A1 (en) * 2006-05-19 2010-01-21 Chikyung Won Removing debris from cleaning robots
US20080047092A1 (en) * 2006-05-19 2008-02-28 Irobot Corporation Coverage robots and associated cleaning bins
US8087117B2 (en) 2006-05-19 2012-01-03 Irobot Corporation Cleaning robot roller processing
US10244915B2 (en) 2006-05-19 2019-04-02 Irobot Corporation Coverage robots and associated cleaning bins
US9492048B2 (en) 2006-05-19 2016-11-15 Irobot Corporation Removing debris from cleaning robots
US9955841B2 (en) 2006-05-19 2018-05-01 Irobot Corporation Removing debris from cleaning robots
US8528157B2 (en) 2006-05-19 2013-09-10 Irobot Corporation Coverage robots and associated cleaning bins
WO2007137234A3 (en) * 2006-05-19 2008-04-17 Irobot Corp Removing debris from cleaning robots
US8417383B2 (en) 2006-05-31 2013-04-09 Irobot Corporation Detecting robot stasis
US9317038B2 (en) 2006-05-31 2016-04-19 Irobot Corporation Detecting robot stasis
US8726454B2 (en) 2007-05-09 2014-05-20 Irobot Corporation Autonomous coverage robot
US10070764B2 (en) 2007-05-09 2018-09-11 Irobot Corporation Compact autonomous coverage robot
US8239992B2 (en) 2007-05-09 2012-08-14 Irobot Corporation Compact autonomous coverage robot
US10299652B2 (en) 2007-05-09 2019-05-28 Irobot Corporation Autonomous coverage robot
US9480381B2 (en) 2007-05-09 2016-11-01 Irobot Corporation Compact autonomous coverage robot
US11072250B2 (en) 2007-05-09 2021-07-27 Irobot Corporation Autonomous coverage robot sensing
US8839477B2 (en) 2007-05-09 2014-09-23 Irobot Corporation Compact autonomous coverage robot
US11498438B2 (en) 2007-05-09 2022-11-15 Irobot Corporation Autonomous coverage robot
US8438695B2 (en) 2007-05-09 2013-05-14 Irobot Corporation Autonomous coverage robot sensing
US9295364B2 (en) 2008-03-17 2016-03-29 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Brushroll cleaning feature with spaced brushes and friction surfaces to prevent contact
US9820626B2 (en) 2008-03-17 2017-11-21 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Actuator mechanism for a brushroll cleaner
US9295362B2 (en) * 2008-03-17 2016-03-29 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Vacuum cleaner agitator cleaner with power control
EP3479748A1 (en) * 2008-03-17 2019-05-08 Electrolux Home Care Products, Inc. A rotary cleaner with cleaning features
US9375122B2 (en) 2008-03-17 2016-06-28 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Automated brushroll cleaning
US20130192024A1 (en) * 2008-03-17 2013-08-01 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Brushroll cleaning feature with overload protection during cleaning
EP3479747A1 (en) * 2008-03-17 2019-05-08 Electrolux Home Care Products, Inc. A vacuum cleaner agitator system
US20090229075A1 (en) * 2008-03-17 2009-09-17 Electrolux Home Care Products, Inc. Agitator with Cleaning Features
US10117553B2 (en) 2008-03-17 2018-11-06 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Cleaning nozzle for a vacuum cleaner
US20130198995A1 (en) * 2008-03-17 2013-08-08 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Vacuum cleaner agitator cleaner with power control
US9192273B2 (en) * 2008-03-17 2015-11-24 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Brushroll cleaning feature with overload protection during cleaning
US8671515B2 (en) 2008-03-17 2014-03-18 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Brushroll cleaning feature with resilient linkage to regulate user-applied force
US9820624B2 (en) 2008-03-17 2017-11-21 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Vacuum cleaner brushroll cleaner configuration
EP3479746A1 (en) * 2008-03-17 2019-05-08 Electrolux Home Care Products, Inc. A cleaning head for a cleaning device
US8601643B2 (en) * 2008-03-17 2013-12-10 Electrolux Home Care Products, Inc. Agitator with cleaning features
US8930023B2 (en) 2009-11-06 2015-01-06 Irobot Corporation Localization by learning of wave-signal distributions
US8800107B2 (en) 2010-02-16 2014-08-12 Irobot Corporation Vacuum brush
US11058271B2 (en) 2010-02-16 2021-07-13 Irobot Corporation Vacuum brush
US10314449B2 (en) 2010-02-16 2019-06-11 Irobot Corporation Vacuum brush
US8984708B2 (en) 2011-01-07 2015-03-24 Irobot Corporation Evacuation station system
US11641988B2 (en) 2011-01-07 2023-05-09 Irobot Corporation Evacuation station system
US9888818B2 (en) 2011-01-07 2018-02-13 Irobot Corporation Evacuation station system
US10856709B2 (en) 2011-01-07 2020-12-08 Irobot Corporation Evacuation station system
US10791891B2 (en) 2011-01-07 2020-10-06 Irobot Corporation Evacuation station system
US9526391B2 (en) 2011-09-01 2016-12-27 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Cleaning system and maintenance station thereof
CN102961088A (en) * 2011-09-01 2013-03-13 三星电子株式会社 Autonomous cleaning apparatus and method of controlling the same
US20130056026A1 (en) * 2011-09-01 2013-03-07 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Autonomous cleaning apparatus and method of controlling the same
KR20130025309A (en) * 2011-09-01 2013-03-11 삼성전자주식회사 Autonomous cleaning device and control method thereof
KR101880089B1 (en) * 2011-09-01 2018-07-23 삼성전자주식회사 Autonomous cleaning device and control method thereof
US20140304941A1 (en) * 2011-10-26 2014-10-16 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Cleaning nozzle for a vacuum cleaner
US9314140B2 (en) * 2011-10-26 2016-04-19 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Cleaning nozzle for a vacuum cleaner
US9839335B2 (en) 2011-10-26 2017-12-12 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Cleaning nozzle for a vacuum cleaner
US9833115B2 (en) 2011-10-26 2017-12-05 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Cleaning nozzle for a vacuum cleaner
US10376114B2 (en) 2011-10-26 2019-08-13 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Cleaning nozzle for a vacuum cleaner
US9993847B2 (en) 2012-02-02 2018-06-12 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Cleaning arrangement for a nozzle of a vacuum cleaner
US10045672B2 (en) * 2012-12-21 2018-08-14 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Cleaning arrangement for a rotatable member of a vacuum cleaner, cleaner nozzle, vacuum cleaner and cleaning unit
US20150313431A1 (en) * 2012-12-21 2015-11-05 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Cleaning arrangement for a rotatable member of a vacuum cleaner, cleaner nozzle, vacuum cleaner and cleaning unit
US9615708B2 (en) 2013-03-15 2017-04-11 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Vacuum cleaner agitator cleaner with agitator lifting mechanism
US9072416B2 (en) * 2013-03-15 2015-07-07 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Vacuum cleaner agitator cleaner with brushroll lifting mechanism
US20140259521A1 (en) * 2013-03-15 2014-09-18 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Vacuum cleaner agitator cleaner with brushroll lifting mechanism
KR20160003656A (en) * 2013-03-15 2016-01-11 악티에볼라겟 엘렉트로룩스 Vacuum cleaner agitator cleaner with power control
KR102024358B1 (en) 2013-03-15 2019-09-23 에이비 엘렉트로룩스 Vacuum cleaner agitator cleaner with power control
US9775477B2 (en) 2013-05-02 2017-10-03 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Cleaning nozzle for a vacuum cleaner
EP2939581A1 (en) * 2014-04-29 2015-11-04 Miele & Cie. KG Self-propelled cleaning device and method of operation for a self-propelled cleaning device
US9648999B2 (en) * 2014-07-17 2017-05-16 Miele & Cie. Kg Robotic vacuum cleaner having a rotating brush roller and cleaning method for a brush roller of a robotic vacuum cleaner
US20160015233A1 (en) * 2014-07-17 2016-01-21 Miele & Cie. Kg Robotic vacuum cleaner having a rotating brush roller and cleaning method for a brush roller of a robotic vacuum cleaner
US9462920B1 (en) 2015-06-25 2016-10-11 Irobot Corporation Evacuation station
US11445880B2 (en) 2015-06-25 2022-09-20 Irobot Corporation Evacuation station
US10154768B2 (en) 2015-06-25 2018-12-18 Irobot Corporation Evacuation station
US9924846B2 (en) 2015-06-25 2018-03-27 Irobot Corporation Evacuation station
US10702108B2 (en) 2015-09-28 2020-07-07 Sharkninja Operating Llc Surface cleaning head for vacuum cleaner
US11278171B2 (en) 2015-10-21 2022-03-22 Sharkninja Operating Llc Surface cleaning head with dual rotating agitators
US10925448B2 (en) 2015-10-21 2021-02-23 Sharkninja Operating Llc Surface cleaning head with leading roller
US11647881B2 (en) 2015-10-21 2023-05-16 Sharkninja Operating Llc Cleaning apparatus with combing unit for removing debris from cleaning roller
US11712139B2 (en) 2015-10-21 2023-08-01 Sharkninja Operating Llc Surface cleaning head with leading roller
US10925447B2 (en) 2017-03-10 2021-02-23 Sharkninja Operating Llc Agitator with debrider and hair removal
US11925303B2 (en) 2017-03-10 2024-03-12 Sharkninja Operating Llc Agitator with debrider and hair removal
WO2018217980A1 (en) 2017-05-25 2018-11-29 Sharkninja Operating Llc Robotic cleaner with dual cleaning rollers
CN113951764A (en) * 2017-05-25 2022-01-21 尚科宁家运营有限公司 Robot cleaner
US11202542B2 (en) 2017-05-25 2021-12-21 Sharkninja Operating Llc Robotic cleaner with dual cleaning rollers
EP3629868A4 (en) * 2017-05-25 2020-12-30 SharkNinja Operating LLC Robotic cleaner with dual cleaning rollers
US11839346B2 (en) 2017-05-25 2023-12-12 Sharkninja Operating Llc Robotic cleaner with dual cleaning rollers
DE102017213426A1 (en) * 2017-08-02 2019-02-07 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Robot for soil cultivation
US10898042B2 (en) 2017-08-16 2021-01-26 Sharkninja Operating Llc Robotic vacuum
US11759069B2 (en) 2018-10-19 2023-09-19 Sharkninja Operating Llc Agitator for a surface treatment apparatus and a surface treatment apparatus having the same
CN115135214A (en) * 2019-12-20 2022-09-30 创科无线普通合伙 Cleaner head for a cleaning appliance
US20220061614A1 (en) * 2020-09-02 2022-03-03 Sharkninja Operating, Llc Robotic cleaner debris removal docking station

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2005224263A (en) 2005-08-25

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US20060037170A1 (en) Self-propelling cleaner
JP5075207B2 (en) Vacuum cleaner nozzle and method for suction cleaning
US7552507B2 (en) Cleaning head for a vacuum cleaner
JP2004166968A (en) Self-propelled cleaning robot
JP2006296684A (en) Self-propelled vacuum cleaner and vacuum cleaner
JP2006312066A (en) Vacuum cleaner
JPH06327598A (en) Intake port body for vacuum cleaner
JP4482034B2 (en) Vacuum cleaning head
KR20090009425A (en) Suction brush for vacuum cleaner
JP2002165731A (en) Vacuum cleaner
KR101052182B1 (en) Corner cleaning device and cleaner having same
JPH0686743A (en) Cleaner
JP2004358032A (en) Vacuum cleaner
JP2018047051A (en) Vacuum cleaner
JP2004147759A (en) Electric cleaner
JP5620089B2 (en) Electric vacuum cleaner
JP2007252644A (en) Suction port body for vacuum cleaner and vacuum cleaner
JP2004180750A (en) Self-propelled cleaner
JP5038880B2 (en) Suction port and vacuum cleaner
JP2007282866A (en) Rotating rotor, floor suction tool for vacuum cleaner, and vacuum cleaner
JP2003079551A (en) Electric vacuum cleaner
CN110464250A (en) A kind of sweeping robot and floor cleaning method
JP2008036189A (en) Vacuum cleaner
JPH026901Y2 (en)
JP2023169627A (en) Electric wiping cleaner, cleaner system, and wiping cleaning head

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD., JAPAN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:SHIMIZU, AKITAKA;REEL/FRAME:016264/0465

Effective date: 20050204

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION