EP2301401A1 - Staubsauger mit Fernbedienung - Google Patents

Staubsauger mit Fernbedienung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2301401A1
EP2301401A1 EP09171312A EP09171312A EP2301401A1 EP 2301401 A1 EP2301401 A1 EP 2301401A1 EP 09171312 A EP09171312 A EP 09171312A EP 09171312 A EP09171312 A EP 09171312A EP 2301401 A1 EP2301401 A1 EP 2301401A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cleaning head
hose
handlepiece
vacuum
head device
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.)
Ceased
Application number
EP09171312A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
designation of the inventor has not yet been filed The
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.)
Koninklijke Philips NV
Original Assignee
Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV
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 Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV filed Critical Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV
Priority to EP09171312A priority Critical patent/EP2301401A1/de
Priority to PCT/IB2010/054214 priority patent/WO2011036615A1/en
Priority to CN2010102909862A priority patent/CN102028428A/zh
Publication of EP2301401A1 publication Critical patent/EP2301401A1/de
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details 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
    • A47L9/009—Carrying-vehicles; Arrangements of trollies or wheels; Means for avoiding mechanical obstacles
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L9/00—Details 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
    • A47L9/32—Handles
    • A47L9/327—Handles for suction cleaners with hose between nozzle and casing

Definitions

  • the present invention relates in general to vacuum cleaners and to accessories for vacuum cleaners.
  • Vacuum cleaners are commonly known. They basically consist of a carriage carrying a suction motor, a mouthpiece, and a flexible hose connecting the mouthpiece to the carriage. In general, the user manipulates the mouthpiece. Mouthpieces come in several types. One type of mouthpiece, intended for sliding or rolling over the floor, has a relatively long, stiff pipe with a handle connected to the flexible hose, and the user steers the mouthpiece via the handle and the pipe.
  • Autonomous vacuum cleaners have already been proposed.
  • these devices which may also be termed “robots”
  • the mouthpiece is mounted at the underside of the carriage, and the carriage is provided with a propulsion motor controlled by a control device such as a microprocessor, and equipped with sensors, so that these devices can clean a certain floor area without a user being required to drive and steer the mouthpiece.
  • a control device such as a microprocessor
  • sensors so that these devices can clean a certain floor area without a user being required to drive and steer the mouthpiece.
  • autonomous vacuum cleaners have an advantage of being easily capable of reaching under furniture, they have a problem that, due to their circular shape, they can not reach in corners. Further, since they are necessarily lightweight and battery powered, suction force is low and hence cleaning performance is low.
  • EP-1360922 describes a device that involves complicated software and control algorithms, which would make such device quite expensive, which is perhaps an explanation for the fact that this device has not been put on the market yet.
  • EP-0930840 describes a vacuum cleaner device where the cleaning head device is provided with a stiff tube between handlepiece and cleaning head device. The user pushes and pulls the handlepiece, and the pushing and pulling force is transferred to the cleaning head device via the stiff tube. This force is mechanically detected in the cleaning head device, and wheels in the cleaning head device are driven by a drive motor on the basis of the detected force.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner device overcoming the above drawbacks.
  • the present invention provides a vacuum cleaning device of the above-mentioned type, wherein the mouthpiece is mounted on a cleaning head provided with a propulsion, and a remote control device possibly associated with the hose and provided with an accelerometer. By manipulating this remote control device, the user can steer the cleaning head without having to bend.
  • FIG. 1 schematically shows a perspective view and a block diagram of a vacuum cleaning apparatus 1 according to the present invention.
  • Apparatus 1 comprises a vacuum source device 100, a cleaning head device 200, and a flexible hose 300.
  • the vacuum source device 100 is implemented as a carriage with wheels, although the wheels are not essential for implementing the present invention. Other displacement means, such as driven tracks or belts, rolls or caterpillars are possible.
  • the carriage also indicated as “cannister”, carries a motor 110 driving an air suction device or pump 120, for instance of a ventilator type, a centrifugal type, etc.
  • the air suction device 120 communicates with a device inlet 130 and with an exhaust 140. In use, air will be drawn in through the device inlet 130 and discharged through the exhaust 140, carrying along dust particles and the like, which are caught in a dust collector device 150 arranged in the flow path from inlet 130 to exhaust 140, typically implemented as a dust bag or cyclone or the like. Further, one or more air filters 160 may be provided. Since such vacuum source device is known in general, and the present invention may even in principle be implemented using an existing vacuum source device, a further description thereof is not needed here.
  • the cleaning head device 200 is also implemented as a carriage, with wheels 210 and at least one motor 220 for driving the wheels 210.
  • the cleaning head device 200 has a steering facility, which may be implemented through the use of one or more steering wheels or by independent driving of the wheels, or both; for instance, it is possible that each wheel is provided with its own dedicated motor.
  • the cleaning head device 200 is further provided with a control device 230 for controlling the motor(s) 220 and the steering, such that the cleaning head device 200 can ride in all directions.
  • the cleaning head device 200 can ride forwards and backwards along straight or more or less curved paths, like common cars, but, if all wheels are driven and can rotate about vertical axes, it is possible that the entire cleaning head device 200 can ride forwards and backwards as well as to the left and to the right.
  • a person skilled in the art will know how to mount one or more driven wheels to a carriage, and how a control device should drive and/or steer such wheels in order to go to a certain direction, so that a further explanation thereof is not needed here.
  • the control device 230 which may be implemented as a suitably programmed controller, microprocessor, or the like, generates its control signals for the driving of the motor(s) and the steering of the wheel(s) on the basis of input signals received at an input 231, as will be explained later.
  • the cleaning head device 200 carries a mouthpiece 240, and it is provided with an outlet 250 communicating with this mouthpiece 240.
  • the flexible hose 300 has an input end 302 detachably coupled to the cleaning head device outlet 250 and an output end 301 detachably coupled to the vacuum source device inlet 130. Therefore, in use, air will be drawn in through the mouthpiece 240, and dust will be sucked in at the location of the cleaning head device 200, which may be at a relatively large distance from the vacuum source device 100, depending on the length of the hose 300.
  • the flexible hose 300 is of the self-extending type, so that the cleaning head device 200 has more freedom of movement and a wider range.
  • the vacuum cleaning apparatus 1 is further provided with a handlepiece 400 arranged at some midsection of the hose 300, i.e. at a distance from the hose output end 301 and at a distance from the hose input end 302.
  • the shape and size of the handlepiece 400 are such that it can easily be gripped and manipulated by a user.
  • the handlepiece 400 may be attached to the hose 300, which may be contiguous from its input end 302 to its output end 301, and the handlepiece 400 may even be detachably attached to the hose 300 so that its position can be shifted along the length of the hose.
  • the handlepiece 400 is integral with a piece of stiff pipe 401, and that the hose 300 consists of two separate parts, a first part 310 extending from the cleaning head device 200 to the handlepiece pipe 401 and a second part 320 extending from the handlepiece pipe 401 to the vacuum source device 100.
  • the handlepiece pipe 401 may be provided with a connector end for coupling with an existing vacuum cleaner hose, so that the combination of handlepiece 400, cleaning head device 200 and first flexible hose part 310 can be applied as an add-on extension to an existing vacuum cleaner apparatus.
  • the handlepiece 400 is provided with a sensor device 500 for sensing the orientation and preferably also the movement of the handlepiece 400 in the threedimensional space.
  • Suitable sensor devices may typically comprise one or more accelerometers, either implemented macroscopically by masses and springs or implemented as a chip.
  • accelerometers are known per se, so that an elaborate explanation is not needed here. Suffice it to say that such accelerometers may be arranged for being capable of detecting the direction of gravity, which would correspond to the threedimensional orientation of the sensor 500 and hence the handlepiece 400, and/or that such accelerometers may be arranged for being capable of detecting the movement of the sensor 500 and hence the handlepiece 400.
  • the well-known WII game device comprises suitable sensors for detecting movement and orientation of a handheld game controller, allowing a user to control a game, and the same technique can be applied in the handlepiece 400.
  • the sensor device 500 has a signal output 501 coupled to a signal input 231 of the control device 230 of the cleaning head device 200, so that the control device 230 has information on the orientation and/or movement of the handlepiece 400.
  • the control device 230 is programmed to control the movements of the cleaning head device 200 on the basis of the received sensor signals. For instance, if the user tilts the handlepiece 400 forwards, the cleaning head device 200 may be driven forwards; if the user tilts the handlepiece 400 to the left, the cleaning head device 200 may be driven to the left; etc.
  • a very convenient and intuitive user control (human/device interface) is achieved.
  • the user may conveniently rest, for instance remain standing upright or seated, and does not have to physically move the cleaning head device 200.
  • the handlepiece 400 is detached from the hose 300, so that the user manipulates a separate handlepiece and the reach of the cleaning head device 200 is not limited by the fact that the hose 300 must be routed via the user.
  • Detaching handlepiece 400 from the hose 300 results to a technical effect which is different from the technical effect achieved by a handle piece 400 which is attached to the hose 300. In the latter arrangement of an attached handlepiece it is possible to manipulate the hose 300 as well as the vacuum source device 100 via the hose 300.
  • the cleaning head device 200 can be set free again.
  • the handlepiece is attached to the hose, the hose will be lifted from the surface to be cleaned and the hose will not form an obstacle to a free movement of the cleaning head device 200.
  • the user who operates the vacuum cleaner will be in the vicinity of the cleaning head device in case of an attached handlepiece, so that the cleaning process can be watched from nearby.
  • the user can comfortably take a position where the cleaning chore can be accurately observed without having to interact directly with the hose and the cleaning head device. This may be practical e.g. where the user has to bend over to accurately watch the progression of the cleaning process while at the same time the bent-over position is unsuitable or unpleasant to directly interact with the hose as is the case with a handlepiece which is attached to the hose.
  • the motor 220 of the cleaning head device 200 can be powered from a battery, and the same applies to the control device 230.
  • the hose 300 contains an integrated power cord for providing mains power from the vacuum source device 100 to the cleaning head device 200. This would allow the motor 220 to be a more powerful motor.
  • DC voltage for the control device 230 can be derived from this mains power.
  • the vacuum source device 100 provides lower voltage to the hose's power cord: the motor 220 does not have to be a (for instance) 230 VAC motor but it can (for instance) be a 12 VDC motor.
  • the sensor device 500 may receive power from a battery or from the vacuum source device 100 via a power line in the hose 300.
  • the vacuum source device would probably not be equipped with an electrical output for powering any cleaning head device; especially in such case, it would be possible that the cleaning head device 200 itself is directly connected to mains via a power cord, and that the sensor device 500 is powered from a battery or through a power cord integrated in the hose portion between the cleaning head device 200 and the handlepiece 400.
  • Communication from the sensor signals to the control device 230 may be done wirelessly, but may conveniently be done via wires integrated in the hose portion between the cleaning head device 200 and the handlepiece 400.
  • a vacuum cleaning apparatus 1 comprising:
  • the cleaning head is implemented as a steerable carriage, with wheels 210, at least one motor 220, and a control device 230 for controlling the motor.
  • the apparatus is provided with a handlepiece 400 arranged at some midsection of the hose 300 and provided with a sensor device 500 for sensing the orientation of the handlepiece 400, having a signal output 501 coupled to a signal input 231 of the control device.
  • the control device is adapted to control the movements of the cleaning head on the basis of the sensor signals received from the sensor.
  • the handlepiece 400 may be provided with a universal hose connector, so that a conventional pipe-plus-mouthpiece can be connected, and/or conventional special purpose accessories can be connected, so that a user can perform manual cleaning if desired.
  • handlepiece 400 may be provided with one or more buttons for switching ON/OFF and/or for setting the suction power.
  • the cleaning head device 200 may be provided with one or more rotating bristle brushes 260 or the like, for improving the cleaning efficiency.
  • the cleaning head device 200 may be provided with one or more object detection means 270, for instance comprising tactile sensors and/or infrared or ultrasonic distance sensors, for preventing the cleaning head device 200 to run into objects.
  • object detection means 270 are coupled to the control device 230 of the cleaning head device 200 to communicate to the control device 230 a signal indicating the approach of objects; on the basis of the input signals received from the object detection means 270, the control device 230 may be designed to halt the movement in the direction of the object.
  • the control device 230 may even be designed to automatically reverse the movement of the cleaning head device 200 so that it moves away the object, or to automatically steer the cleaning head device 200 around the object.
  • the cleaning head device (200) may be provided with a power cord for being connected to mains, and the hose (300) may contain an integrated power cord for providing power from the cleaning head device to the sensor device (500).
  • the communication of the sensor signals from the sensor device (500) to the control device (230) may be done wirelessly.
  • hose (300) may contain integrated signal lines for communication of the sensor signals from the sensor device (500) to the control device (230).
  • a computer program may be stored/distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state medium supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such as via the Internet or other wired or wireless telecommunication systems. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Electric Vacuum Cleaner (AREA)
EP09171312A 2009-09-25 2009-09-25 Staubsauger mit Fernbedienung Ceased EP2301401A1 (de)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP09171312A EP2301401A1 (de) 2009-09-25 2009-09-25 Staubsauger mit Fernbedienung
PCT/IB2010/054214 WO2011036615A1 (en) 2009-09-25 2010-09-17 Vacuum cleaner with remote control
CN2010102909862A CN102028428A (zh) 2009-09-25 2010-09-21 具有遥控的真空清洁器

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP09171312A EP2301401A1 (de) 2009-09-25 2009-09-25 Staubsauger mit Fernbedienung

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2301401A1 true EP2301401A1 (de) 2011-03-30

Family

ID=41509813

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP09171312A Ceased EP2301401A1 (de) 2009-09-25 2009-09-25 Staubsauger mit Fernbedienung

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2301401A1 (de)
CN (1) CN102028428A (de)
WO (1) WO2011036615A1 (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2965680A1 (de) * 2014-06-26 2016-01-13 LG Electronics Inc. Reinigungsroboter und steuerungsverfahren dafür

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR102333540B1 (ko) 2013-12-02 2021-12-01 삼성전자주식회사 청소기 및 청소기의 제어 방법
CN105877605A (zh) * 2015-01-26 2016-08-24 江苏美的清洁电器股份有限公司 卧式吸尘器
CN105877607A (zh) * 2015-01-26 2016-08-24 江苏美的清洁电器股份有限公司 卧式吸尘器
KR20160104432A (ko) * 2015-02-26 2016-09-05 에브리봇 주식회사 로봇 청소기 및 그의 제어 방법
DE102015108464A1 (de) * 2015-05-28 2016-12-01 Vorwerk & Co. Interholding Gmbh Verfahren zum Betrieb eines elektromotorisch angetriebenen Gerätes
CN107913024B (zh) * 2016-10-10 2021-04-27 康塔有限公司 真空吸尘器
FR3068839B1 (fr) * 2017-07-07 2019-07-26 Seb S.A. Procede de regulation de la puissance d’aspiration d’un aspirateur balai sans fil
CN107595198B (zh) * 2017-09-04 2020-03-31 苏州海歌电器科技有限公司 节省握力的吸尘器组件

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0930840A1 (de) 1997-08-11 1999-07-28 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Staubsaugermundstück mit steuerbarem elektrischem antrieb
EP1360922A2 (de) 2002-05-07 2003-11-12 Royal Appliance MFG. CO. Selbstfahrender Staubsauger mit entfernbarem Saugkopf und halbautomatischer Umgebungskartographie
EP1806086A2 (de) * 2006-01-06 2007-07-11 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Reinigungsanordnung mit Reinigungsroboter und Andockstation

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0930840A1 (de) 1997-08-11 1999-07-28 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Staubsaugermundstück mit steuerbarem elektrischem antrieb
EP0930840B1 (de) * 1997-08-11 2005-12-14 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Staubsaugermundstück mit steuerbarem elektrischem antrieb
EP1360922A2 (de) 2002-05-07 2003-11-12 Royal Appliance MFG. CO. Selbstfahrender Staubsauger mit entfernbarem Saugkopf und halbautomatischer Umgebungskartographie
EP1360922B1 (de) * 2002-05-07 2008-09-17 Royal Appliance MFG. CO. Selbstfahrender Staubsauger mit entfernbarem Saugkopf und halbautomatischer Umgebungskartographie
EP1806086A2 (de) * 2006-01-06 2007-07-11 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Reinigungsanordnung mit Reinigungsroboter und Andockstation

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2965680A1 (de) * 2014-06-26 2016-01-13 LG Electronics Inc. Reinigungsroboter und steuerungsverfahren dafür
CN105266721A (zh) * 2014-06-26 2016-01-27 Lg电子株式会社 机器人吸尘器及其控制方法
US9913564B2 (en) 2014-06-26 2018-03-13 Lg Electronics Inc. Robot cleaner and control method thereof
CN105266721B (zh) * 2014-06-26 2018-07-27 Lg电子株式会社 机器人吸尘器及其控制方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2011036615A1 (en) 2011-03-31
CN102028428A (zh) 2011-04-27

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