JP2018175904A - Self propelled dust collection robot - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate high cost and trouble for management by acquiring versatility of rechargeable battery.SOLUTION: In a self-propelled dust collection robot 1, at bottomed hole-shaped mounting parts 28, 28 which are provided at the back of a body part 2 having a dust collection box 7 and in which an upper surface opens, a battery 3 which is a lithium ion battery of 18 volts used as a power supply of an electric tool is mounted. The battery 3 has a connection part 32 which includes a pair of rails 33, 33 at left and right of a terminal for charging/discharging in a case 31 for incorporating a plurality of cells, and it can be inserted and mounted from above at the mounting part 28 which includes a guide rail and a terminal block upward just the same as the electric tool.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a self-propelled dust collection robot that has wheels that are rotationally driven to clean a floor surface while self-running.

  2. Description of the Related Art There is known a sweeper which cleans and cleans dust on a floor surface while rotationally driving wheels with a built-in motor. For example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, this sweeper is provided with a rotating brush driven by a motor in front of the suction port so that dust on the floor surface is gathered and collected by the rotating brush.

Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 5-88472

  A self-propelled dust collection robot including such a sweeper incorporates a dedicated rechargeable battery to obtain a power source, so it is necessary to prepare different batteries for each model, and it takes time and effort for management It had become.

  Therefore, the present invention has an object to provide a self-propelled dust collection robot in which the versatility of the rechargeable battery is obtained and the cost and the effort of management are not required.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a self-propelled dust collection provided with a dust collection portion, a battery, a motor rotationally driven by using the battery as a power source, and a wheel rotated by the motor. A robot,
The battery is characterized in that it is a battery for a power tool capable of supplying power to the power tool.
The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in the configuration according to claim 1, the dust collecting portion, the battery, the motor, and the wheel are provided in a box-like main body portion having a circular plan view.
The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that, in the configuration according to claim 2, a plurality of batteries are provided and sequentially used as a power supply.
The invention according to claim 4 is the configuration according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the mounting portion of the battery is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the main body portion, and the inner surface provided with the engagement portion with the battery is along the tangential direction of the main body portion As described above, the battery according to the present invention is characterized in that the battery is disposed along the outer shape of the main body portion when the battery is attached to the mounting portion.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the fourth aspect, the battery is formed with a coupling portion including a pair of rails, and a pair of guide rails to which the rails are fitted is vertically moved in the engagement portion. The battery is characterized in that the battery can be inserted and attached to the engaging portion from above.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration according to any one of the second to fifth aspects, the dust collection unit has a dust collection motor and a dust collection box, and the dust collection motor has a lateral direction of the main body. The battery is disposed at the center, and is disposed on the left and right sides of the dust collection motor.

  According to the present invention, since a battery for an electric power tool can be used as a power source, it is not necessary to prepare different batteries for each model, so that versatility can be obtained and cost and management do not occur.

It is a perspective view from the upper direction of a self-propelled dust collection robot. It is a perspective view from the lower part of a self-propelled dust collection robot. It is a bottom view of a self-propelled dust collection robot. It is a center longitudinal cross-sectional view of a self-propelled dust collection robot. It is a perspective view of a self-propelled dust collection robot which opened a lid. It is a perspective view of a self-propelled dust collection robot which opened a lid (battery removal state). It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a battery part. It is a perspective view of a battery. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which lifts and conveys a front end. It is a perspective view from the lower part of the self-propelled dust collection robot of a modification. It is a bottom view of a self-propelled dust collection robot of a modification. It is a center longitudinal cross-sectional view of the self-propelled dust collection robot of the example of a change. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the battery part of the self-propelled dust collection robot of the example of a change. It is a perspective view in the state where the lid of the self-propelled dust collection robot of a modification was opened. It is a perspective view of a dust collection box.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.
1 is a perspective view from above showing an example of a self-propelled dust collection robot, FIG. 2 is a perspective view from below, FIG. 3 is a bottom view, FIG. 4 is a central longitudinal sectional view, and FIG. It is a perspective view of the state which carried out. A self-propelled dust collection robot (hereinafter simply referred to as "dust collection robot") 1 is a left and right battery 3 and a left and right battery 3 and a left and right battery 3, respectively. The motor 4, 4; a pair of left and right wheels 5, 5 that can be rotated forward and reverse independently by each motor 4, a dust collection motor 6 between the batteries 3, 3, and a dust collection box 7; Lower portions 5 and 5 are projected downward from the bottom surface of the main body 2. The dust collection motor 6 and the dust collection box 7 form a dust collection unit.

The main body portion 2 has a lower housing 8 formed from the bottom to the back and an upper housing 9 formed from the top to the side. Attached to the front peripheral surface of the main body 2 is a sensor cover 10 that internally has a sensor 10a that detects an obstacle in front without contact, and that is retracted by contact with the obstacle to turn on a switch (not shown) It is done.
The bottom cover 11 provided with a horizontally long rectangular suction port 12 on the lower housing 8 at the front lower portion of the main body 2 is screwed, and the suction port 12 is provided on the lower housing 8 and is rearward It is in communication with the dust collection path 13 which rises obliquely upward. In the dust collection path 13, there is provided a main brush 14 comprising a rotary shaft 15 in the left-right direction and a plurality of brushes 16, 16 ··· installed radially and helically on the outer periphery thereof. The main brush 14 causes the brush 16 to project downward from the suction port 12 and is rotated in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 4 by a motor (not shown).

In addition, on the left and right of the suction port 12, a pair of side brushes 17, 17 are provided. The side brush 17 guides the dust to the suction port 12 by overlapping the suction port 12 with the inner area rotating in plan view at the lower end of the rotating shaft 18 vertically supported by penetrating the bottom surface cover 11. A disk-shaped brush base 19 in which two brushes 20, 20,... Are radially installed is connected, and is rotated in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3 by a motor (not shown).
The dust collection box 7 is divided into a lower main body 7a and a lid 7b for closing the upper surface of the main body 7a, and the space between the main body 7a and the lid 7b is sealed with a sealing material 7c. The dust collection box 7 is detachably set in the housing portion 8a formed at the center of the lower housing 8, and causes the front inlet 21 formed in the main body 7a to communicate with the outlet of the dust collection path 13. ing. Here, the projections 8b and 8b are formed at the bottom of the housing portion 8a, and the recesses 7d and 7d are formed at the bottom of the main body 7a. Is prevented.
The dust collection box 7 is detachably provided with a filter box 22 provided with a filter 23 on the top surface. A motor box 24 is provided in communication with the rear of the filter box 22. In the motor box 24, a dust collection motor 6 having a suction fan 26 at the front end of the output shaft 25 is accommodated. At the center of the rear surface of the lower housing 8, exhaust ports 27, 27... Communicating with the inside of the motor box 24 are formed.

  And as shown in FIGS. 5-7, the mounting parts 28 and 28 of the battery 3 are formed in the back of the accommodating part 8a on the right and left of the motor box 24. As shown in FIG. The mounting portion 28 is in the form of a bottomed hole whose upper surface is opened, and is disposed at a left-right symmetric position with respect to the center line in the front-rear direction of the main body portion 2. On the other hand, on the bottom surface of the lower housing 8, a notch 29 whose bottom surface is higher than the front is formed in the center of the rear, and the rotatable caster 30 is directly below each mounting portion 28 in the notch 29. Each is provided. Therefore, the casters 30, 30 are also disposed at symmetrical positions with respect to the center line of the main body 2 in the front-rear direction.

  The battery 3 mounted on the mounting portion 28 is an 18V lithium ion battery used as a power source of the electric tool, and as shown in FIG. The cells are held by the cell holder and connected in series by lead plates connecting different poles. A connecting portion 32 having a pair of rails 33, 33 in the longitudinal direction is formed on the left and right sides of the upper surface of the case 31, and slits in which positive and negative terminals are exposed between the rails 33, 33 in the connecting portion 32 34 and 34 are provided in parallel with the rail 33. A communication connector 35 is provided between the slits 34 and 34. In addition, a hook 36 for connection is provided so as to be urged upward at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the joint portion 32, and can be optionally drawn into the case 31 by a button 37 integral with the hook 36 There is.

  Furthermore, in the case 31, in addition to the cell, a thermistor for detecting the temperature of the fuse or the cell is provided, and these are electrically connected to a control circuit board provided in the coupling portion 32. Control elements such as microcomputers and FETs are mounted on the control circuit board, and the control circuit board detects the temperature, voltage, and current of the cells and operates the FETs when an abnormality occurs during discharge. Is supposed to stop. The cell temperature information can be output to the outside through the connector 35.

  Therefore, the mounting portion 28 of the battery 3 has the same structure as the mounting portion provided on the electric power tool. That is, a pair of guide rails 38, 38 as engaging portions with which the rails 33, 33 of the coupling portion 32 are fitted from the outside are formed upward on the inner surface in the radial direction of the main body 2 in the mounting portion 28. Thus, the battery 3 can be inserted from the upper side. Between the guide rails 38, 38, a terminal block 39 provided with positive and negative terminal plates 40, 40 to be inserted into the slits 34, 34 of the coupling portion 32 in the inserted state of the battery 3 is provided upward. Further, a recess 41 to which the hook 36 can be engaged is provided above the terminal block 39.

Further, the mounting portion 28 is formed such that the inner surface including the guide rail 38 and the terminal block 39 is inclined from the front and rear direction along the tangential direction of the main body 2, and in the mounted state of the battery 3, each coupling portion 32 is a main body It is set to face the center of the part 2. As described above, since the batteries 3 are inclined and mounted radially, the batteries 3 can be arranged at the outermost part along the outer shape of the main body 2, and a useless space is not generated outside the battery 3.
Furthermore, since the batteries 3 and 3 are disposed in a well-balanced manner on the left and right with respect to the center line in the front-rear direction of the main body 2, even if there are two batteries 3, no deviation in the center of gravity occurs. In particular, since the casters 30, 30 are positioned directly below the batteries 3, 3 mounted, stability during traveling is also good, and straightness does not deteriorate even if one battery 3 is not mounted. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, when the front end of the main body 2 is lifted with one hand to bring the casters 30, 30 into a grounded state, the entire body can be transported without being lifted as it is. At this time, the notch 29 prevents interference between the rear of the main body 2 and the floor surface.

The upper housing 9 is provided with a lid 42 for opening and closing the upper portion of the housing portion 8 a and the mounting portions 28 and 28 to put the dust collection box 7 and the batteries 3 and 3 in and out. The lid 42 is bent downward from the rear end edge of the upper plate portion 43 covering the area including the left and right mounting portions 28 from the accommodation portion 8 a from the upper side, and the motor box 24 is excluded. And a rear plate portion 44 covering the rear of the upper housing 9 including the rear portions of the mounting portions 28, 28, and the front end 43a (FIG. 4) of the upper plate 43 is inserted into and locked at the front upper end of the housing portion 8a By opening and closing around 43a, the housing portion 8a and the mounting portion 28 can be simultaneously opened and closed. A notch 44a for preventing interference with the motor box 24 is formed at the center of the rear plate portion 44, and a lower end of the rear plate portion 44 is engaged with the lower housing 8 at a closed position, not shown. A department is provided.
Here, as shown in FIG. 7, the height H of the entire main body 2 is larger than the height H1 of the mounted battery 3 and the height H2 of the caster 30, so that The battery 3 does not protrude from the upper surface of the main body 2. When the height H is smaller than the sum of the height H1 of the battery 3 and the height H2 of the caster 30, the positions of the battery 3 and the caster 30 may be shifted.

  In the dust collecting robot 1 configured as described above, when the battery 3 is mounted on the mounting portion 28 and set on the floor surface, the brush 16 of the main brush 14 and the brush 20 of the side brush 17 each have the floor surface Abut on. Here, when the operation switch of the operation panel (not shown) provided on the upper surface of the upper housing 9 is pressed, the motors 4, 4 are driven to rotate the wheels 5, 5, and the controller 45 (FIG. 4, 7) in the main body 2 Run on the floor according to the program set in. At the same time, the main brush 14 and the side brushes 17 rotate, and the dust collection motor 6 is also driven to rotate the suction fan 26. Therefore, the dust on the floor surface is scooped up to the side of the dust collection passage 13 by the rotating main brush 14 and sucked from the suction port 12 by the suction force of the suction fan 26. It is sent to the dust box 7. Large dust is stored in the dust collection box 7 as it is, but small dust is trapped by the filter 23 as the sucked outside air passes through the filter 23 and is discharged from the exhaust port 27 through the motor box 24. . At the same time, dust on the outer side is also moved to the main brush 14 side by the side brushes 17, 17, so that the dust collection range becomes wide, and dust can be collected up to the corner of the wall.

  The batteries 3 and 3 here are used as a power source one by one in order, and the remaining capacity of the battery 3 is displayed by the display unit provided on the operation panel. Therefore, when the remaining capacity of one battery 3 is exhausted first, the lid 42 can be opened, and the battery 3 can be removed from the mounting portion 28 and charged by the external charger. In this case, although it is possible to drive with only the other battery 3, as described above, since the casters 30, 30 are symmetrically provided, even if the center of gravity of the main body 2 is biased by one battery 3, Stable traveling is possible by the left and right casters 30, 30.

As described above, according to the dust collection robot 1 of the above embodiment, since the battery 3 for an electric tool can be used as a power source, it is not necessary to prepare different batteries for each model, and versatility can be obtained, cost and management It does not take time.
In particular, in this case, the battery 3 includes the case 31, a cell incorporated in the case 31, a terminal for discharging, and a control circuit board incorporated in the case 31 to monitor a discharge abnormality, whereby the reliability is improved. An excellent power supply can be used.
Further, the lid portion 42 capable of simultaneously exposing the dust collection box 7 and the batteries 3, 3 is provided in the main body portion 2, so that the dust collection box 7 and the batteries 3, 3 can be It becomes possible to put in and out and to be excellent in handling.

Furthermore, the battery 3 is provided with a pair of rails 33, 33 for coupling to the electric power tool, and the mounting portion 28 of the main body 2 is a guide rail 38, in which the rails 33, 33 can be coupled from the vertical direction. By forming 38, the battery 3 can be easily mounted from above.
In particular, since the guide rail 38 is provided radially outward of the main body 2 in plan view, the battery 3 can be disposed at the outermost position along the outer shape of the main body 2, and wasted space is provided outside the battery 3. Can be used effectively, the space in the main body 2 can be used effectively.

And, by providing two batteries 3, continuous use for a long time becomes possible, and charging frequency is reduced, which is excellent in usability.
In particular, since the caster 30 is disposed directly below the battery 3, the stability of the operation is improved. Moreover, since the battery 3 and the caster 30 are arrange | positioned 2 each at right and left, it becomes a number suitable for weight and the balance at the time of driving | running | working.
Further, since the batteries 3 and 3 are disposed on the left and right sides of the dust collection motor 6, even if the dust collection motor 6 is present, a well-balanced arrangement is possible.
On the other hand, since the notch 29 is formed at the rear of the main body 2 so that the bottom of the rear is higher than the bottom of the front of the main body 2, the front of the main body 2 is lifted as described above The rear portion does not interfere with the floor surface during transportation, which is convenient for transportation.

  In the above embodiment, the suction force is generated by the rotation of the suction fan 26 by the dust collection motor 6 to suck in the dust, but such a motor or fan is eliminated and the main brush 14 or the side brush 17 is removed. Dust may be collected only by rotation. Further, the main brush is not limited to the one in which the left and right direction is the rotation axis, and a form in which the main brush rotates with the up and down direction (including the inclination such as forward inclination posture) as the rotation axis is also possible.

10 to 13 show an example in which the suction fan is not used, but the same components as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description will be omitted.
In the dust collection robot 1A, the front portion of the dust collection box 50 in the lower housing 8 rises upward along the front wall of the dust collection box 50, and the upper end reaches the reception opening 51 of the front of the dust collection box 50 A lifting portion 52 is provided, and at the upper end of the lifting portion 52, a guiding portion 53 which is inclined downward as it goes forward is continuously provided. The front end of the guide portion 53 is formed in a V-shape in a plan view in which the center is positioned rearward of the left and right ends, and dust on the guide portion 53 is easily mounted.

  On the other hand, a support plate 54 parallel to the guide portion 53 is attached in the main body portion 2 above the guide portion 53, and between the support plate 54 and the guide portion 53, the dust collection box is mounted from the lower surface of the main body portion 2. An inclined dust collecting passage 55 connected to the 50 receiving openings 51 is formed. A pair of main brushes 56 is provided on the left and right of the guide portion 53. The main brush 56 includes a drive unit 57 having a drive motor 58 and a reduction gear 59 for decelerating the rotation of the motor shaft, and a plurality of brushes are provided on the outer periphery of the rotation shaft 60 projecting downward from the reduction gear 59 Are connected with a disc-like brush base 61 in which the cones are planted. Here, the drive unit 57 is assembled on the upper side of the support plate 54, and the brush base 61 is located below the support plate 54. Further, a drive pulley 63 is coaxially coupled to the rotation shaft 60 below the brush base 61.

As a result of the assembly to the support plate 54 thus inclined, each main brush 56 has a forwardly inclined posture in which the brush base 61 is parallel to the guide portion 53. In addition, the left and right main brushes 56 are disposed at an interval where the brushes 62 overlap each other on the guide portion 53 in plan view, and the brushes 62 protrude obliquely downward from the dust collection path 55. The main brushes 56, 56 rotate in opposite directions as indicated by arrows in FIG.
Furthermore, side brushes 17 and 17 are provided on the bottom cover 11 on both outer sides of the main brushes 56 and 56. A driven pulley (not shown) is provided on the upper side of the bottom cover 11 on the rotary shaft 18 of the side brush 17 and is a belt (not shown) stretched between a drive pulley 63 provided on the rotary shaft 60 of the main brush 56. Thus, the rotation of the rotary shaft 60 can be transmitted to the rotary shaft 18.

  The dust collection box 50 has a box shape with an open upper surface, and the housing portion 64 is formed to be long backward until adjacent to the inside of the mounting portions 28 and 28 because there is no motor for dust collection. According to the inclination of the portions 28, 28, as shown in FIG. 14, the center in the left-right direction has a chevron shape projecting most backward. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 15, the dust collection box 50 also has a shape in which the rear end portion 65 protrudes in a mountain shape in accordance with the housing portion 64. As a result, when the dust collection box 50 is removed and the accumulated dust is discarded, it can be discharged from the tip without scattering if collected at the rear end 65 of the mountain shape. Reference numeral 66 denotes a handle continuously provided on the upper side of the dust collection box 50.

  In the dust collection robot 1A configured as described above, when set on the floor surface, the main brushes 56, 56 in the forward leaning posture are inclined at an acute angle with respect to the floor surface, and The brushes 62 protruding to each end abut on the floor surface. Here, when the drive switch is pressed, the motors 4, 4 are driven to rotate the wheels 5, 5, and travel on the floor according to the program. At the same time, the motor 58 of the drive unit 57 is also driven to rotate the main brushes 56, and the side brushes 17 are interlocked to rotate in the same direction via the belt. Therefore, the dust on the floor surface is mainly collected by the main brush 56 toward the central guide portion 53 and scraped up, and is stored in the rear dust collection box 50 via the guide portion 53.

  As described above, even in the dust collection robot 1A of the above modified example that does not use the dust collection motor, the battery 3 for the power tool can be used as a power source, so it is not necessary to prepare different batteries for each model. There is no cost and effort for management.

In addition, the number of batteries is not limited to two in common with the above-described embodiment and the modification, and three or more batteries can be used if they can be arranged in a balanced manner on the left and right. The present invention is also applicable to a self-propelled dust collection robot of the type in which the traveling direction is reversed, that is, the battery and the caster are at the front of the main body and the suction port is at the rear of the main body. is there.
Also, the form of the battery and the mounting structure to the mounting portion may be inserted not from the top but from the rear, or the engaging portions such as guide rails may be provided not on the radially inner surface but on the radially outer surface It can be suitably changed, such as being provided on the inner surface along the direction. Furthermore, instead of engagement between the rails and the guide rails, the terminals may be in contact with each other by simple insertion.
The battery is not limited to portable power tools that drive tip tools such as driver drills, circular saws, grinders, impact drivers, etc. Electric devices such as lights, lanterns, cameras, radios, sensors, etc. that do not use a motor, and portable devices Even if it is used for clothing such as a cleaner, a blower, a tank type dust collector with a caster, or a heating (heat) jacket, it does not matter.

On the other hand, the number of castors is not limited to two, and three or more can also be used, and it is not necessary to fit within the outer shape of the battery in plan view as in the above embodiment. It can also be arranged so that a part or all of it protrudes from.
Further, the lid is not limited to the structure in which the dust collection box and the battery are simultaneously opened and closed, and it is also possible to provide separate lids for the dust collection box and the battery.
Furthermore, to facilitate transport by lifting the front of the main body, holes or recesses for hooking a finger on the lower surface of the main body may be provided, or grips such as a band or a handle may be provided on the upper surface of the main body You can also

  1, 1 A · · · Self-propelled dust collection robot, · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · dust collection motor, 7, 50 · · · dust collection box, 8 · · · lower housing, 8a, 64 · · housing portion, 8 · · upper housing, 9 · · upper housing, 12 · · suction port, 13, 55 · · · dust collection path, 14, 56 · · main brush, 15, 18 · · rotating shaft, 17 · · side brush, 24 · · motor box, 26 · · suction fan, 27 · · exhaust port, 28 · · · mounting portion, 30 · · · castor, 31 · · · · · · · · · · Coupling portion 33 · · · Rail 38 · · Guide rail 39 · · · Terminal block 40 · · · Terminal plate 42 · · Lid, 43 · · Upper plate portion 44 · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · Controller, 53 ··· Guide, 57 ··· Drive unit.

Claims (6)

A self-propelled dust collection robot comprising a dust collection unit, a battery, a motor rotationally driven by the battery as a power source, and a wheel rotated by the motor,
A self-propelled dust collection robot characterized in that the battery is a battery for a power tool capable of supplying power to a power tool.   The self-propelled dust collection robot according to claim 1, wherein the dust collection unit, the battery, the motor, and the wheel are provided in a box-shaped main body having a circular plan view.   The self-propelled dust collection robot according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of the batteries are provided and used as a power source in order.   In the outer peripheral portion of the main body portion, the mounting portion of the battery is recessed such that the inner surface provided with the engagement portion with the battery is along the tangential direction of the main body portion, and the battery to the mounting portion The self-propelled dust collection robot according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the battery is disposed along the outer shape of the main body part in the mounted state of.   The battery is formed with a connecting portion including a pair of rails, and the engaging portion is formed with a pair of guide rails in which the rails are fitted in the vertical direction, and the battery is directed upward to the engaging portion The self-propelled dust collection robot according to claim 4, wherein the self-propelled dust collection robot can be inserted and mounted.   The dust collection unit has a dust collection motor and a dust collection box, and the dust collection motor is disposed at the center in the left-right direction of the main body, and the battery sandwiches the dust collection motor. The self-propelled dust collection robot according to any one of claims 2 to 5, which is disposed on the left and right.

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