CN111787839B

CN111787839B - Buffer piece with observation window for automatic cleaning machine

Info

Publication number: CN111787839B
Application number: CN201980017480.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 约瑟夫·塞克斯顿; 大卫·哈利勒
Original assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Ltd
Current assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Ltd
Priority date: 2018-03-06
Filing date: 2019-03-05
Publication date: 2021-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 2039-03-05
Also published as: CN111787839A; WO2019173373A1; US20210038033A1

Abstract

An automatic cleaning machine includes a main body, a dust collection assembly including an ash inlet disposed inside a perimeter of the main body, and a brush roll mounted proximate to the ash inlet and proximate to a transparent or translucent portion of the ash inlet, a drive unit configured to move the main body along a cleaning surface, a controller configured to control the drive unit to operate automatically, and a buffer mounted on and at least partially around the perimeter of the main body and operable to sense an impact. The buffer has at least one viewing window configured for a user to view the brush roll through the at least one viewing window and the transparent or translucent portion of the ash entry port.

Description

Buffer piece with observation window for automatic cleaning machine

Cross reference to related applications

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/639,387 filed on 6.3.2018, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a bumper with a viewing window associated with an automatic cleaning machine.

Background

Vacuum cleaners and sweepers typically use mechanical action and/or an air flow to draw dust, dirt or other debris from a surface. Vacuum cleaners generally draw a mixture of air and dust, dirt or other debris into the cleaner via a floor nozzle. This "dirty air" typically enters a dust separator in which dust, dirt or debris is separated from the air in the vacuum cleaner. The bin or bag collects the dust, dirt or debris separated from the air for later disposal. The resulting "clean air" exits the dust separator and is discharged therefrom out of the vacuum cleaner. Sweepers typically use mechanical action to sweep dust, dirt, or other debris from a floor into a bin of the sweeper via a dust inlet for later processing. The robotic cleaner may be a vacuum cleaner or sweeper configured to traverse and clean an area without user manipulation.

Disclosure of Invention

In some embodiments, the present invention relates to an automatic cleaning machine. The automatic cleaning machine includes a body having a perimeter, a dust collection assembly including an ash inlet disposed inside the perimeter, and a brush roll mounted proximate to the ash inlet and proximate to a transparent or translucent portion of the ash inlet, a drive unit configured to move the body along a cleaning surface, a controller configured to control the drive unit to operate automatically, and a bumper mounted on the body perimeter and at least partially around the body perimeter and operable to sense an impact. The bumper has at least one viewing window configured for a user to view the brush roll through the at least one viewing window and the transparent or translucent portion of the ash entry port.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, and from the claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic cleaning machine in contact with a charging base according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the robot cleaner shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the bottom surface of the robot cleaner shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a front perspective view of the robotic cleaner of fig. 2 with a portion of the housing removed to illustrate a portion of the nozzle, duct, and separator assembly.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the rear portion of the robot cleaner shown in fig. 2.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the robotic cleaner of FIG. 5 with a portion of the housing removed to illustrate a portion of the separator assembly, the dirt cup, and the suction motor assembly.

Fig. 7 is a right side elevational view of the robot cleaner shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a partially exploded perspective view of the robot cleaner shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a front perspective view of a bumper of the automatic cleaning machine shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a partially exploded perspective view of the buffer member shown in fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a rear bottom perspective view of the cushion member shown in fig. 9.

Detailed Description

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. It should be understood that the description of the specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of an automatic cleaning machine 10 having a bumper with a viewing window (as described below). The robot cleaner 10 may selectively contact the charging base 14. The charging base 14 (or base station 14 or charging station 14) may be coupled to a power source (e.g., connected by a wire to a wall outlet, etc.). In response to contact of the robotic cleaner 10 with the charging base 14, the charging base 14 may supply power to the robotic cleaner 10, and more specifically charge one or more batteries (not shown) that supply power to the robotic cleaner 10.

Referring to fig. 2-3, the robotic cleaner is shown disconnected from the charging base 14. The robotic cleaner 10 includes a main body 12 having a perimeter P and a front end 18 opposite a back end 22. The robotic cleaner 10 also includes a chassis 26 (or chassis 26 or frame 26) (shown in FIG. 3). A housing 30 (or hood 30) mates with the chassis 26 to house one or more components of the robotic cleaner 10. The chassis 26 and the housing 30 may cooperate to define the body 12.

Referring specifically to fig. 2, a front bumper sensor 34 (or bumper 34) is disposed on the front end 18 of the automatic cleaner 10, mounted to and at least partially surrounding the perimeter P of the main body 12. The front bumper sensor 34 is provided at the front edge of the automatic cleaning machine 10 in the forward moving direction 38. The forward direction of movement 38 generally extends from the back end 22 toward the front end 18. The robotic cleaner 10 is also configured to travel or reverse in a direction opposite the forward direction of travel 38.

Referring now to fig. 3, the robotic cleaning machine 10 includes a drive assembly 48. The drive assembly 48 includes a pair of electrically powered

drive wheels

50, 54. The first drive wheel 50 is positioned adjacent the first side 42 of the robotic cleaner 10 and the second drive wheel 54 is positioned adjacent the second side 46 of the robotic cleaner 10. The

drive wheels

50, 54 may operate (or rotate) independently of each other. In this manner, the

drive wheels

50, 54 may rotate at the same speed such that the forward direction of travel 38 is generally straight, or at different speeds to assist in the steering motion of the robotic cleaner 10. The robotic cleaner 10 may also include one or more third wheels 62, which may or may not be driven (e.g., casters 62).

The drive assembly 48 is operatively connected to a controller 110 (shown in fig. 6) of the robotic cleaner 10. The controller 110 may be disposed in association with the printed circuit board 114. The controller 110 may be configured to map the area to be cleaned and operate the plurality of

drive wheels

50, 54 to move the robotic cleaner 10 (or an associated chassis 26) within the area to be cleaned along a cleaning surface S (shown in fig. 7).

For example, the controller 110 may communicate with an area sensing unit configured to map an area to be cleaned. In the embodiment shown in fig. 4 and 6, the area sensing unit may be a laser distance sensor 118. The laser range sensor 118 includes a laser emitter (not shown) and a light sensor (not shown). The laser emitter emits a beam (or beam of light, or emitted light) and the light sensor senses light (or reflected light) from the beam reflected by the obstruction. The photo sensor outputs a signal corresponding to the distance to the obstacle to the controller 110. In one example, the laser distance sensor 118 and the controller 110 are configured to calculate the distance to the obstacle by triangulation using the angle of the reflected light and the distance between the laser emitter and the light sensor. In other embodiments, other laser rangefinders may be used. The laser distance sensor 118 measures the distance to the object at various points around the robot 10 while the robot 10 is operating so that the controller 110 can determine the boundaries of a map of the area to be cleaned as the robot 10 moves about the area.

Additionally, the robotic cleaner 10 may include one or more range encoders (not shown) operatively coupled to the

drive wheels

50, 54 and configured to determine a distance traveled and a heading for the robotic cleaner 10 based on rotation of one or both of the

drive wheels

50, 54. The controller 110 may combine the rangefinding data from the encoder and the laser range sensor data from the laser range sensor 118 to develop a map of the area to be cleaned (or the area being mapped) using a simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) algorithm or other mapping technique. The controller 110 may also control the robotic cleaner 10 within the mapped area based on the position at which the robotic cleaner 10 is traveling.

In addition, the controller 110 may receive signals from one or more obstacle detection sensors to resolve objects (or obstacles, such as chairs, sofas, ottomans, etc.) in the area to be cleaned. The obstacle detection sensors may include proximity sensors (e.g., infrared sensors, ultrasonic sensors, and tactile sensors), fall arrest sensors, bumper sensors, or any other sensor configured to sense or detect an object as the automatic cleaning machine travels. The controller 110 may then incorporate these objects into a map of the area to be cleaned. In the illustrated embodiment, the controller 110 can receive signals from, for example, the front bumper sensor 34 to identify objects (or obstacles) in the area to be cleaned.

Referring to fig. 2-4, the robot cleaner 10 includes a dirt collection assembly 64 having an ash inlet 66. In the illustrated embodiment, the robotic cleaner 10 is a vacuum cleaner and the inlet is a nozzle 66 (shown in FIG. 2). Optionally, the dirt collection assembly 64 includes a brush roll 70 (shown in FIGS. 3-4), the brush roll 70 mounted proximate the dirt intake or nozzle 66 and configured to rotate at least partially within the dirt intake or nozzle 66 to contact a portion of the cleaning surface S to assist in collecting dirt. The mouth 66 may be disposed inside the perimeter P of the body 12 proximate a forward portion of the perimeter P of the body 12 and may be carried by the chassis 26. The brush roll 70 may extend through an air inlet 68 (e.g., an air inlet slot) of the nozzle 66 such that contact of the brush roll 70 with a portion of the cleaning surface S cooperates with the airflow entering the air inlet slot 68 to assist in collecting the dust. In another embodiment, the automatic cleaning machine may be a sweeper, wherein the brush roll 70 extends through the dirt intake 66 such that contact of the brush roll 70 with a portion of the cleaning surface S sweeps dirt, dust, or other debris into the dirt intake to assist in collecting the dirt. To assist in rotation, the brushroll 70 is operatively connected to a brushroll motor (not shown) by a belt (e.g., a geared belt) and may be carried by the chassis 26. Referring specifically to FIG. 4, the nozzle 66 is fluidly connected to a dust separator assembly 74 via a conduit 78 to carry dirty air (i.e., air containing dust) drawn into the nozzle 66 at the air inlet 68 to the separator assembly 74. In the illustrated embodiment of the vacuum cleaner, the separator assembly 74 is a cyclonic separator. In other embodiments, the separator assembly 74 may be any suitable separator assembly (e.g., a bag unit, a filter unit, any suitable non-cyclonic separator, etc.).

With continued reference to FIG. 4, dirt and dust exiting the separator assembly 74 through the dirt outlet 82 collects in the dirt cup 86 (or dirt chamber 86 or dirt cup 86 or collection bin 86) (as shown in FIG. 6). In another embodiment, the robot is a sweeper, wherein the dirt collection chamber 86 is adjacent the dirt inlet 66 and the brushroll 70 and is configured to receive dirt swept in by the brushroll. A portion of the housing 30 may form a removable cover (not shown) configured to cover the separator assembly 74 (or a portion thereof) and the dirt cup 86 (or a portion thereof). Referring to fig. 6, clean air exits the separator assembly 74 through the clean air outlet 90 and travels to the suction motor assembly 94 and is then discharged through the discharge opening 98 (shown in fig. 5). More specifically, a suction motor assembly 94 in fluid communication with the nozzle 66 through the separator assembly 74 includes a suction motor 96, the suction motor 96 rotating a fan or impeller to generate a suction airflow at the air inlet 68 for drawing dirty air into the separator assembly 74 via the suction nozzle 66. The mouth 66 has a transparent or translucent portion 67 formed adjacent the brush roll 70. For example, the transparent or translucent portion 67 may be formed above (relative to the cleaning surface S) the brush roll 70 and may extend along a portion or the entire length of the nozzle 66.

Referring to fig. 5 and 8-9, an energy storage system 106 (or battery pack 106) is disposed in the robotic cleaner 10 to store and supply power for operating the robotic cleaner 10 (including its various components and associated electronic circuitry, such as the drive assembly 48, suction motor 96, controller 110, and laser distance sensor 118). The energy storage system 106 may include a plurality of batteries or battery cells (not shown). The illustrated energy storage system 106 may be recharged (e.g., in a remote charging station, at the charging base 14, etc.).

Referring to fig. 8-11, the bumper 34 includes one or more viewing windows 120 for viewing the brushroll 70 (shown in fig. 3-4) mounted to the air inlet 68 (shown in fig. 3-4) of the nozzle 66. In the illustrated embodiment, the buffer 34 includes an opaque middle portion 126 and a pair of viewing windows 120a and 120b formed in the buffer 34 on either side of the opaque middle portion 126. More specifically, the dampener 34 can include a frame member 124 having opposing first and

second side walls

130 and 132, a neck 134 between the first and

second side walls

130 and 132, a first back wall 136 extending from the neck 134 toward the first side wall 130, and a second back wall 138 extending from the neck 134 toward the second side wall. Alternatively, the frame member includes a rear wall extending between the first and

second side walls

130, 132. Optionally, a first arcuate arm 140 extends outwardly from the neck 134 and forwardly relative to the first rear wall 136 to the first side wall 130. Similarly, a second arcuate arm 142 extends outwardly from the neck 134 and forwardly relative to the second rear wall 138 to the second side wall 132. The first viewing window 120a may be disposed in front of the first rear wall 136 in the frame member 124, while the second viewing window 120b is disposed in front of the second rear wall 138 in the frame member 124. In the illustrated embodiment, the first viewing window 120a is formed as a first aperture or window between the first arcuate arm 140 and the first rear wall 136, and the second viewing window 120b is formed as a second aperture or window between the second arcuate arm 142 and the second rear wall 138, which apertures or windows correspond to the transparent or translucent portion 67.

The frame member 124 may be an assembly of components as shown in the illustrated embodiment, or may be a single piece, including, for example, injection molded or other unified, unitary, one-piece construction. Additionally, in other embodiments, the viewing window 120 of the bumper 34 may be formed from a transparent or translucent material, thereby allowing at least some visible light to pass through the material so that the mouth 66 (and the brushroll 70, as described below) behind the bumper 34 is visible. Additionally, while the illustrated embodiment illustrates a pair of viewing windows 120, it should be understood that other embodiments may include a buffer having a single viewing window, such as a single viewing window extending undisturbed along the entire buffer, or a buffer having three or more viewing windows that may be formed by a plurality of opaque portions of the buffer.

Referring again to fig. 8-11, the transparent or translucent portion 67 of the ash inlet or nozzle 66 is received in a chamber 144 defined by the bumper 34. The viewing window 120 of the bumper 34 is positioned proximate the transparent or translucent portion 67 of the mouth 66 such that a user may view the brush roll 70 through the viewing window 120 and the transparent portion 67 of the mouth 66. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the viewing window 120 is disposed above (relative to the cleaning surface S) the transparent or translucent portion 67 of the nozzle 66. The viewing window 120 of the bumper 34 is sufficient to allow the user to visually inspect whether an object is caught in the mouth 66 or whether the brush roll 70 has not rotated properly during operation of the automatic cleaning machine 10.

Additionally, the first rear wall 136 of the bumper 34 may define one or more through-holes 146 extending through the first rear wall 136. Each through-hole 146 may be aligned with an obstacle detection sensor 36 (e.g., an infrared sensor or an ultrasonic sensor), the obstacle detection sensor 36 being mounted on the main body 12 of the front end 18 of the robotic cleaner 10 and operable with the controller 110 to remotely sense the surrounding environment, for example, to resolve objects (or obstacles) in the area to be cleaned. The through hole 146 may be covered by a sensor cover 148 to prevent dust or dirt from accumulating on the obstacle detecting sensor while not interfering with the normal operation of the sensor.

Thus, among other things, the present invention provides a bumper with a viewing window for use with an automatic cleaning machine. Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. The automatic cleaning machine is characterized by comprising a main body, a dust collecting component, a driving unit, a controller and a buffer piece;

the main body has a perimeter, the dirt collection assembly includes an ash inlet disposed within the perimeter and a brush roll mounted proximate the ash inlet and proximate a transparent or translucent portion of the ash inlet, the drive unit is configured to move the main body along a cleaning surface, the controller is configured to control the drive unit to operate automatically, the bumper is mounted on and at least partially around the perimeter of the main body and is operable to sense an impact, the bumper has at least one viewing window configured for a user to view the brush roll via the at least one viewing window and the transparent or translucent portion of the ash inlet.

2. The automatic cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one viewing window defines an aperture extending through the bumper.

3. The robotic cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one viewing window is formed of a transparent or translucent material.

4. The robotic cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a suction motor configured to generate an airflow through the ash inlet.

5. The robotic cleaner of claim 4, wherein the dirt collection assembly further includes a dirt collection chamber in communication with the dust inlet and the suction motor.

6. The automatic cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the dirt collection assembly further includes a dirt collection chamber proximate the dirt inlet and the brush roll and configured to receive dirt swept in by the brush roll.

7. The automatic cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the bumper defines a chamber configured to receive a transparent or translucent portion of the ash entry port.

8. The robotic cleaner of claim 1, wherein the main body further includes a chassis configured to support the dirt collection assembly at a front end of the robotic cleaner, the bumper is mounted at the front end of the main body, and the at least one viewing window is disposed adjacent a transparent or translucent portion of the dirt collection assembly relative to the cleaning surface.

9. The robotic cleaner of claim 1, wherein the bumper includes an opaque middle portion, and the at least one viewing window includes a pair of viewing windows formed on either side of the opaque middle portion.

10. The automatic cleaning machine of claim 9, wherein the bumper includes a frame member having opposing first and second sidewalls, a neck between the first and second sidewalls, a first rear wall extending from the neck toward the first sidewall, a second rear wall extending from the neck toward the second sidewall, a first arcuate arm extending outwardly from the neck and forwardly relative to the first rear wall to the first sidewall, and a second arcuate arm extending outwardly from the neck and forwardly relative to the second rear wall to the second sidewall, and the at least one viewing window includes a first viewing window formed between the first arcuate arm and the first rear wall and a second viewing window formed between the second arcuate arm and the second rear wall.

11. The automatic cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the bumper includes a frame member having opposing first and second side walls and a rear wall extending from the first side wall toward the second side wall, the at least one viewing window including a first viewing window disposed forward of the rear wall of the frame member.

12. The automatic cleaning machine of claim 11 further comprising an inductor operable with the controller to sense ambient conditions, the inductor being mounted on the body at a front end of the automatic cleaning machine, the rear wall of the bumper defining a through-hole extending through the rear wall and aligned with the inductor.

13. The automatic cleaning machine of claim 1, wherein the ash inlet is proximate a forward portion of the perimeter of the main body.