JP2013075175A - Cleaning robot - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cleaning robot that has improved dust collection capability and suppresses traveling failure.SOLUTION: The cleaning robot includes: a body casing 2 having a suction opening 6 on the bottom surface facing a floor surface F; a pair of driving wheels 29 having a horizontal rotating shaft 29a for allowing the body casing 2 to self-propel; a front wheel 27 disposed on the front side relative to the driving wheels 29 in a traveling direction when cleaning; and a rear wheel 26 disposed on the rear side relative to the driving wheels 29 in the traveling direction when cleaning. The suction opening 6 is provided between the front wheel 27 and the rear wheel 29, and when traveling on a flat floor surface F, the front wheel 27 is separated from the floor surface and the driving wheels 29 and the rear wheel 26 make contact with the floor surface.

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning robot that self-propels on a floor surface.

  A conventional cleaning robot is disclosed in Patent Document 1. In this cleaning robot, a suction port is opened on the bottom surface, and the main body housing that houses the electric blower and the dust collecting part runs on the floor surface for cleaning. At this time, in order to clean the lower part of the table or the like, the main body housing is formed in a thin shape with a low height. The main body housing is provided with a drive wheel and a front wheel that protrude from the bottom surface. The front wheel is disposed in front of the driving wheel in the traveling direction during cleaning, and a suction port is disposed between the front wheel and the driving wheel.

  A suction port opens on the lower surface of the front portion of the main body casing, and an exhaust port opens on the peripheral surface of the rear portion. In the main body housing, an electric blower and a dust collection unit having a dust collection unit are arranged behind the drive wheels. The electric blower generates a suction airflow sucked from the suction port, and the dust collecting unit collects dust contained in the suction airflow. In addition, a battery for supplying electric power to each part such as an electric blower and driving wheels is provided in the main body casing.

  In the cleaning robot having the above configuration, when the cleaning operation is started, the drive wheels and the electric blower are driven. The main body casing is self-propelled on the floor surface of a desired cleaning area by the rotation of the driving wheel and the front wheel. Airflow including dust on the floor surface is sucked from the suction port by driving the electric blower. Dust contained in the airflow is collected by the dust collecting section, and the airflow from which the dust has been removed passes through the electric blower and is exhausted outside the main body casing. As a result, the cleaning area is cleaned, and the dust accumulated in the dust collecting part is removed after the dust collecting part is removed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-202792 (pages 4-7, FIG. 1)

  However, according to the conventional cleaning robot, dust on the floor surface is blocked by the front wheels arranged in front of the suction direction with respect to the suction port, and there is a problem that the dust collecting ability is reduced. In addition, fibrous waste such as hair and lint entangles with the front wheels and the front wheels do not rotate normally, and the front wheels cannot get over the step on the floor surface. As a result, the main body casing stops and travels abnormally, and there is a problem that the entire cleaning area cannot be cleaned.

  An object of this invention is to provide the cleaning robot which can improve a dust collection capability and can prevent driving | running | working abnormality.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a main body housing that opens a suction port facing the floor surface on the bottom surface, a pair of drive wheels that have a horizontal rotation shaft and that self-run the main body housing, A front wheel disposed in front of the driving wheel in the direction of travel during cleaning; and a rear wheel disposed rearward of the driving wheel in the direction of travel during cleaning; the front wheel and the driving wheel; In addition, the suction port is disposed between the front wheel and the front wheel is separated from the floor surface when the vehicle is traveling on a flat floor surface, and the driving wheel and the rear wheel are grounded.

According to this configuration, the front wheels are separated from the flat floor surface, the driving wheels and the rear wheels are grounded, and the main body housing is self-propelled in the cleaning area by the driving of the pair of driving wheels. As the main body casing advances, dust and debris on the floor surface pass under the front wheels and are sucked from the suction port. The airflow including dust and the like is exhausted after dust and the like are removed in the main body casing. When a step appears on the path of the main body casing, the front wheel touches the step and the main body casing gets over the step by the rotation of the driving wheel.

  According to the present invention, in the cleaning robot configured as described above, the rotation shaft is arranged on a center line of the main body casing. According to this configuration, when both wheels of the drive wheels rotate in the opposite direction, the main body casing rotates around a vertical center line.

  According to the present invention, in the cleaning robot having the above-described configuration, a rotating brush disposed in the suction port is provided, and the rotating brush is grounded when cleaning is performed. According to this configuration, the rotating brush, the driving wheel, and the rear wheel are grounded and the main body casing is self-propelled, and the dust on the floor is scraped up and guided to the suction port by the rotation of the rotating brush.

  According to the present invention, in the cleaning robot configured as described above, a battery that supplies power to each unit and a control board that controls each unit are disposed between the driving wheel and the rear wheel. According to this configuration, the main body housing in which the front wheels are separated from the floor surface is stably grounded by the weight of the battery and the control board.

  According to the present invention, the suction port is arranged between the front wheel and the drive wheel, and when the vehicle runs on a flat floor surface, the front wheel is separated from the floor surface and the drive wheel and the rear wheel are grounded. Thereby, the dust on the floor is not blocked by the front wheels, and the dust collecting ability of the cleaning robot can be improved. In addition, since fibrous dust does not entangle with the front wheels, abnormal running of the main body housing can be prevented.

The perspective view which shows the cleaning robot of embodiment of this invention Side surface sectional drawing which shows the cleaning robot of embodiment of this invention The bottom view which shows the cleaning robot of embodiment of this invention Side surface sectional drawing which shows the state which removed the dust collection part of the cleaning robot of embodiment of this invention The perspective view which shows the motor unit of the cleaning robot of embodiment of this invention. The front view which shows the motor unit of the cleaning robot of embodiment of this invention The top view which shows the motor unit of the cleaning robot of embodiment of this invention. The side view which shows the motor unit of the cleaning robot of embodiment of this invention

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cleaning robot according to an embodiment. The cleaning robot 1 has a main body housing 2 having a circular shape in plan view, which is driven by driving a driving wheel 29 (both shown in FIG. 2) by a battery 14. A lid 3 that opens and closes when the dust collecting unit 30 (see FIG. 2) is taken in and out is provided on the upper surface of the main body housing 2.

  2 and 3 show a side sectional view and a bottom view of the cleaning robot 1. The main body housing 2 is provided with a pair of drive wheels 29 protruding from the bottom surface and rotating around a horizontal rotation shaft 29a. The rotation shaft 29 a of the drive wheel 29 is disposed on the center line C of the main body housing 2. When both wheels of the drive wheel 29 rotate in the same direction, the main body housing 2 moves forward and backward, and when rotated in the opposite direction, the main body housing 2 rotates around the center line C.

A suction port 6 is provided on the lower surface of the front portion of the main body housing 2 that is forward in the direction of travel when cleaning. The suction port 6 is formed so as to face the floor surface F by an open surface of a recess 8 that is recessed in the bottom surface of the main body housing 2. A rotating brush 9 that rotates with a horizontal rotating shaft is disposed in the recess 8, and a side brush 10 that rotates with a vertical rotating shaft is disposed on both sides of the recess 8.

  A roller-shaped front wheel 27 is provided in front of the recess 8. Thus, the suction port 6 is disposed between the front wheel 27 and the drive wheel 29. A rear wheel 26 composed of a free wheel is provided at the rear end of the main body housing 2. As will be described later, the weight of the main body housing 2 is distributed in the front-rear direction with respect to the driving wheel 29 disposed in the center, the front wheel 27 is separated from the floor surface F, and the rotary brush 9, the driving wheel 29 and the rear wheel 26 are disposed on the floor. Cleaning is performed by contacting the surface F. For this reason, dust and dirt in front of the course can be guided to the suction port 6 without being blocked by the front wheel 27. The front wheel 27 is in contact with a step appearing on the course so that the main body housing 2 can easily get over the step.

  A floor detection sensor 18 that detects the floor F is provided in front of the front wheel 27. Similar floor surface detection sensors 19 are provided in front of the drive wheels 29. When a step such as a descending staircase appears on the course, the driving wheel 29 is stopped by the detection of the floor detection sensor 18. Further, when the floor surface detection sensor 18 malfunctions, the drive wheels 29 are stopped by the detection of the floor surface detection sensor 19.

  A charging terminal 4 for charging the battery 14 is provided at the rear end of the peripheral surface of the main body housing 2. The main body casing 2 is self-propelled and returns to the charging stand 40 installed indoors, and the charging terminal 4 contacts the terminal portion 41 provided on the charging stand 40 to charge the battery 14. The charging stand 40 connected to the commercial power supply is usually installed along the side wall S in the room.

  A dust collection unit 30 that collects dust is disposed in the main body housing 2. The dust collection unit 30 is disposed on the rotation shaft 29 a of the drive wheel 29 and is stored in a dust collection chamber 39 provided in the main body housing 2. The dust collection chamber 39 is composed of an isolation chamber whose four circumferential surfaces and bottom are covered, and is formed extending in the left-right direction so as to partition the inside of the main body housing 2. Each wall surface of the dust collection chamber 39 is closed except for the front wall extending in the longitudinal direction. A first intake passage 11 that communicates with the recess 8 and a second intake passage 12 that is disposed above the recess 8 and communicates with a motor unit 20 described later are led out on the front wall of the dust collection chamber 39.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the dust collecting unit 30 can open and close the lid 3 of the main body housing 2. The dust collecting unit 30 is provided with an upper cover 32 having a filter 33 on the upper surface of a bottomed cylindrical dust collecting container 31. The upper cover 32 is locked to the dust collecting container 31 by a movable locking part 32a, and opens and closes the upper surface of the dust collecting container 31 by operating the locking part 32a. Thereby, the dust accumulated in the dust collecting container 31 can be discarded.

  An inflow passage 34 that leads to the first intake passage 11 is opened on the peripheral surface of the dust collecting container 31 by opening an inlet 34 a at the tip. An inflow portion 34 b is provided in the dust collection container 31 so as to lead the airflow downward by bending continuously from the inflow passage 34. On the peripheral surface of the upper cover 32, an outflow passage 35 that opens to the front end and communicates with the second intake passage 12 is led out.

  A packing (not shown) that is in close contact with the front wall of the dust collection chamber 39 is provided around the inflow port 34a and the outflow port 35a. Thereby, the inside of the dust collection chamber 39 in which the dust collection unit 30 is accommodated is sealed. The opening surface of the inflow port 34a, the opening surface of the outflow port 35a, and the front wall of the dust collecting chamber 39 are formed in an inclined surface, and deterioration of the packing due to sliding when the dust collecting unit 30 is put in and out can be prevented.

  A control board 15 is disposed in the upper part of the main body housing 2 behind the dust collection chamber 39. A detachable battery 14 is disposed at the lower rear of the dust collection chamber 39. Thereby, the control board 15 and the battery 14 are arranged between the drive wheel 29 and the rear wheel 26. The control board 15 is provided with a control circuit for controlling each part of the cleaning robot 1. The battery 14 is charged from the charging stand 40 via the charging terminal 4 and supplies power to the control board 15, the drive wheel 29, the rotating brush 9, the side brush 10, the electric blower 22, and the like.

  A motor unit 20 is disposed at the front of the main body housing 2. 5, 6, 7 and 8 show a perspective view, a top view, a front view and a side view of the motor unit 20, respectively. The motor unit 20 includes a housing 21 of a resin molded product and an electric blower 22 accommodated in the housing 21. The electric blower 22 is formed by a turbo fan covered with a motor case 22a.

  The motor case 22a of the electric blower 22 has an intake port (not shown) opened at one end in the axial direction and an exhaust port (not shown) opened at two locations on the peripheral surface. An opening 23 is provided on the front surface of the housing 21 so as to face the air inlet of the motor case 22a. A first exhaust path 24a and a second exhaust path 24b communicating with the exhaust ports of the motor case 22a are provided on both sides of the electric blower 22 of the housing 21, respectively. The first and second exhaust passages 24 a and 24 b communicate with an exhaust port 7 (see FIG. 2) provided on the upper surface of the main body housing 2.

  For this reason, the first and second exhaust passages 24 a and 24 b and the second intake passage 12 (see FIG. 2) constitute an air flow path that connects the dust collection unit 30 and the exhaust port 7. The first intake path 11 (see FIG. 2) constitutes an air flow path that allows the suction port 6 and the dust collection unit 30 to communicate with each other.

  Thereby, the air flow path including the electric blower 22 is concentrated in front of the dust collecting chamber 39 and disposed in the front portion of the main body housing 2, and the air flow path can be shortened. Further, the control board 15 and the battery 14 are gathered behind the dust collecting chamber 39 and arranged at the rear part of the main body housing 2, and wiring and the like can be reduced. Therefore, the main body housing 2 can be reduced in size. Moreover, since the flow path of the airflow is separated from the control board 15, it is possible to reduce the adhesion of dust to the control board 15 when the airflow leaks and reduce the failure of the control circuit.

  In addition, since the heavy electric blower 22 and the battery 14 are distributed in the front and rear of the rotation shaft 29a of the drive wheel 29, they are balanced in the front-rear direction with respect to the rotation shaft 29a passing through the center line C of the main body housing 2. The weight is distributed. At this time, since the weight of the electric blower 22 is large, a better weight balance can be achieved by disposing the control board 15 and the battery 14 behind the rotation shaft 29a of the drive wheel 29.

  An ion generator 28 having a pair of electrodes 28a is disposed in the first exhaust path 24a. A voltage having an AC waveform or an impulse waveform is applied to the electrode 28a, and ions generated by corona discharge of the electrode 28a are discharged to the first exhaust path 24a.

  A positive voltage is applied to one electrode 28a, and hydrogen ions generated by corona discharge combine with moisture in the air to generate positive ions mainly composed of H + (H2O) m. A negative voltage is applied to the other electrode 28a, and oxygen ions generated by corona discharge combine with moisture in the air to generate negative ions mainly composed of O2- (H2O) n. Here, m and n are arbitrary natural numbers. H + (H2O) m and O2- (H2O) n aggregate around the surface of airborne bacteria and odorous components and surround them.

  Then, as shown in the formulas (1) to (3), the active species [.OH] (hydroxyl radical) and H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) are agglomerated on the surface of the microorganism or the like by collision to cause floating bacteria or Destroy odorous components. Here, m ′ and n ′ are arbitrary natural numbers. Therefore, it is possible to sterilize and deodorize the room by generating positive ions and negative ions and sending them out from the exhaust port 7 (see FIG. 2).

H + (H2O) m + O2- (H2O) n → OH + 1 / 2O2 + (m + n) H2O (1)
)
H + (H2O) m + H + (H2O) m '+ O2- (H2O) n + O2- (H2O) n'
→ 2 OH + O2 + (m + m ′ + n + n ′) H2O (2)
H + (H2O) m + H + (H2O) m '+ O2- (H2O) n + O2- (H2O) n'
→ H2O2 + O2 + (m + m ′ + n + n ′) H2O (3)
Further, a return port 25 having an open front is provided at the lower part of the first exhaust path 24a. The return port 25 is covered upward by a protruding portion 25a protruding from the front surface of the housing 21, and the opening surface is formed as a curved surface along the wall surface of the recess 8 (see FIG. 2). As a result, the return port 25 faces into the recess 8 through a hole (not shown) provided on the wall surface of the recess 8, and a part of the airflow including ions flowing through the first exhaust path 24 a is guided to the intake side. .

  In the cleaning robot 1 having the above configuration, when a cleaning operation is instructed, the electric blower 22, the ion generator 28, the driving wheel 29, the rotating brush 9, and the side brush 10 are driven. As a result, the main body housing 2 is self-propelled in a predetermined cleaning area with the rotating brush 9, the driving wheel 29 and the rear wheel 26 contacting the flat floor F.

  Due to the advancement of the main body housing 2, dust and dirt on the floor surface F pass under the front wheel 27 and are sucked from the suction port 6. At this time, the dust on the floor surface F is scraped up by the rotation of the rotating brush 9 and guided into the recess 8. Further, the dust on the side of the suction port 6 is guided to the suction port 6 by the rotation of the side brush 10.

  The airflow sucked from the suction port 6 flows rearward through the first intake passage 11 as indicated by an arrow A1, and flows into the dust collecting unit 30 via the inflow port 34a. The airflow that has flowed into the dust collector 30 collects dust by the filter 33 and flows out of the dust collector 30 through the outlet 35a. As a result, dust and dirt are collected and accumulated in the dust collecting container 31. The airflow flowing out from the dust collection unit 30 flows forward through the second intake passage 12 as indicated by an arrow A2, and flows into the electric blower 22 of the motor unit 20 through the opening 23.

  The airflow that has passed through the electric blower 22 flows through the first exhaust path 24a and the second exhaust path 24b, and the airflow that flows through the first exhaust path 24a contains ions. Then, an air flow containing ions in an oblique direction is exhausted upward and rearward from an exhaust port 7 provided on the upper surface of the main body housing 2 as indicated by an arrow A3. As a result, the room is cleaned, and ions contained in the exhaust of the self-propelled main body casing 2 are distributed into the room to be sterilized and deodorized in the room. At this time, since the air is exhausted upward from the exhaust port 7, it is possible to prevent the dust on the floor surface F from being rolled up and improve the cleanliness of the room.

  A part of the airflow flowing through the first exhaust path 24a is guided to the recess 8 through the return port 25 as indicated by an arrow A4. For this reason, ions are included in the airflow guided from the suction port 6 to the first intake passage 11. Thereby, sterilization and deodorization of the dust collection container 31 and the filter 33 of the dust collection part 30 can be performed.

  Further, when the main body housing 2 reaches the peripheral edge of the cleaning area or when it collides with an obstacle on the course, the driving wheel 29 is stopped. Then, both wheels of the drive wheel 29 rotate in opposite directions, and the main body housing 2 rotates around the center line C and changes its direction. Thereby, while making the main body housing | casing 2 self-propelled to the whole cleaning area | region, an obstacle can be avoided and self-propelled. Note that the main body housing 2 may be moved backward by reversing both wheels of the drive wheel 29 with respect to forward movement.

  When the cleaning is completed, the main body housing 2 self-propels and returns to the charging stand 40. Thereby, the charging terminal 4 contacts the terminal part 41 and the battery 14 is charged.

  In addition, the electric blower 22 and the ion generator 28 can be driven while the battery 14 is being charged or after the charging is completed in the feedback state of the main body housing 2 depending on the setting. As a result, an airflow containing ions is sent from the exhaust port 7 upward and rearward. Since the charging terminal 4 is provided at the rear end of the main body housing 2, the airflow including ions flows in the direction of the charging base 40 and rises along the side wall S. The airflow circulates along the indoor ceiling wall and the opposite side wall. Accordingly, the ions are spread throughout the room, and the sterilizing effect and the deodorizing effect can be improved.

  According to the present embodiment, the suction port 6 is disposed between the front wheel 27 and the drive wheel 29, and the front wheel 27 moves away from the floor surface F when traveling on the flat floor surface F, and the drive wheel 29 and the rear wheel 26. Is grounded. Thereby, the dust on the floor F is not blocked by the front wheels 27, and the dust collection capability of the cleaning robot 1 can be improved. In addition, since fibrous dust does not entangle with the front wheel 27, abnormal running of the main body housing 2 can be prevented.

  In addition, the rotation shaft 29a of the drive wheel 29 may be arranged so as to be shifted from the center line C of the main body housing 2, but it is more desirable to arrange the rotation shaft 29a on the center line C as in the present embodiment. Thereby, both wheels of the drive wheel 29 can be rotated in the opposite directions, and the orientation of the main body housing 2 can be easily changed at the same position. At this time, when the main body housing 2 is formed in a circular shape in plan view as in the present embodiment, collision between the main body housing 2 and the obstacle can be prevented when the orientation is changed.

  Further, since the rotating brush 9 is grounded during cleaning, the main body housing 2 from which the front wheel 27 is separated from the floor surface F can be stably grounded by the rotating brush 9, the driving wheel 29 and the rear wheel 26.

  In addition, since the battery 14 and the control board 15 are disposed between the drive wheel 29 and the rear wheel 26, the main body housing 2 with the front wheel 27 separated from the floor F is placed in the drive wheel 29 by the weight of the battery 14 and the control board 15. In addition, the rear wheel 26 can be stably grounded.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it can utilize for the cleaning robot which self-runs on a floor surface.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cleaning robot 2 Main body housing | casing 3 Cover part 4 Charging terminal 6 Suction port 7 Exhaust port 8 Recessed part 9 Rotating brush 10 Side brush 11 1st intake path 12 2nd intake path 14 Battery 15 Control board 18, 19 Floor surface detection sensor 20 Motor unit 21 Housing 22 Electric blower 23 Opening 24a First exhaust path 24b Second exhaust path 25 Return port 28 Ion generator 29 Drive wheel 30 Dust collection part 31 Dust collection container 32 Upper cover 33 Filter 34 Inflow path 35 Outflow path 40 Charge stand 41 Terminal

Claims (6)

  A main body housing that opens a suction port facing the floor surface on the bottom surface, a pair of drive wheels that have a horizontal rotation shaft and self-run the main body housing, and a traveling direction during cleaning with respect to the drive wheels A front wheel disposed in front of the drive wheel and a rear wheel disposed rearward in the direction of travel when cleaning the drive wheel, and the suction port is disposed between the front wheel and the drive wheel. The cleaning robot is characterized in that the front wheel is separated from the floor surface and the driving wheel and the rear wheel are in contact with the ground when traveling on a flat floor surface.   The cleaning robot according to claim 1, wherein the rotation shaft is disposed on a center line of the main body casing.   The cleaning robot according to claim 1, further comprising a rotating brush disposed in the suction port, wherein the rotating brush is grounded when cleaning is performed.   The cleaning robot according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a battery that supplies power to each unit and a control board that controls each unit are disposed between the drive wheel and the rear wheel.   The cleaning robot according to claim 1, wherein the rear wheel is disposed between both ends of the suction port in a rotation axis direction of the drive wheel.   The cleaning robot according to claim 5, wherein the rear wheel is disposed substantially at the center of the main body housing in the rotation axis direction of the drive wheel.