JP2636373B2 - Self-propelled vacuum cleaner and automatic cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a self-propelled cleaner for automatically cleaning a floor surface and an automatic cleaning device combined with a station for garbage disposal and charging.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a self-propelled vacuum cleaner has appeared in which a battery or a moving device is attached to a main body to automatically move and clean a room for cleaning.

However, in a conventional self-propelled vacuum cleaner, a large-capacity battery and a large-capacity garbage storage unit are required in order to clean a predetermined cleaning area at one time. It was not easy to use. The weight of a self-propelled vacuum cleaner that is actually commercialized is 20
It was 0-600 kg, and the floor supporting this weight was necessarily restricted.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention According to the present invention, the battery weight of the self-propelled vacuum cleaner is heavy,
A first object of the present invention is to solve the problem that the shape of the dust storage section is large and the usability is poor.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that automatically performs garbage disposal and charging of a main body of a self-propelled vacuum cleaner and enables automatic cleaning.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve this problem, a self-propelled cleaner as first means of the present invention includes a cleaning means for performing cleaning, and a moving means for moving on a floor surface. A rechargeable power supply for supplying power to the respective means, and a main body including the respective means and a power supply, wherein the main body includes a suction means for dust and a suction means for a station having a charging means. A deriving portion for deriving debris from the debris storage portion of the cleaning means to the station side by connecting to the outer wall,
A charging unit for charging the power supply from the station side by connecting to a charging means of the station.

An automatic cleaning device as a system as a second means is composed of a main body of a self-propelled cleaner having a time limit means, and a station having a dust suction means and a charging means. The main body of the vacuum cleaner uses the position of the station as a cleaning start point, cleans the floor to be cleaned at regular intervals by a timed means, returns to the station, connects with the station, and performs garbage disposal and charging each time. It was done.

Operation In the automatic vacuum cleaner, which is the first means, when cleaning is completed, dust is sucked from the outlet section, and new power is supplied to the power supply of the main body from the charging section. In the automatic cleaning device as a system as the second means, when the self-propelled cleaner returns to the station and is connected, garbage is sucked from the garbage discharge part of the self-propelled cleaner to the station by garbage suction means. Suction, supply new power to the charging part by the charging means, make the self-propelled vacuum cleaner ready for cleaning,
When cleaning is started again by the timed means and returns to the station, the above operation is repeated to realize automatic cleaning.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of a self-propelled cleaner, and a driving / steering wheel 2 and two auxiliary wheels 3 are provided below the main body 1.
(Only one side is shown), and a moving means 5 is constituted by a motor 4 for moving the driving / steering wheel 2 and the three wheels. At the upper part of the main body 1, a timed means 6 for measuring a certain time and performing cleaning at a certain time, and the main body 1 from the cleaning start point.
There is a guiding means 7 for instructing a movement to return the main body to the cleaning start point after cleaning the floor surface to be cleaned.
The guidance means 7 is an existing one such as an inertial navigation means for giving a direction indication using a gyro or an optical guidance means using a reflection tape which is often seen in an automatic guided vehicle. Also, body 1
The suction nozzle 8 of the vacuum cleaner is provided at the center of the lower part, and is connected to the garbage storage part 10 by the pipe 9, and the lower surface of the storage part 10 is a filter 11, and the fan motor under it is provided.
The cleaning means 13 is constituted together with the cleaning means 12. A power supply 14 which is a battery for supplying power to the whole body
Is provided. A charging section 15 for supplying power to the power supply 14 and recharging the power supply 14 is provided on the rear outer wall of the main body 1. Further, a valve 17 that can be opened and closed around a fulcrum 16 is provided at a rear portion of the garbage storage unit 10, and an opening provided in the garbage storage unit.
Together with 18, it constitutes a garbage discharge section 19.

Next, the operation of the self-propelled cleaner will be described. When a certain time is reached by the time limit means 6, the body 1 is guided by the guide means 7 and moves along the determined cleaning path by the moving means 5,
During this movement, the cleaning means 13 sucks dust on the path through which the main body 1 has passed to automatically clean the floor surface to be cleaned. When the cleaning is completed, the cleaning unit is guided to its original position, and the power source 14 consumed in one cleaning operation is supplied with new power from the charging unit 15, and the garbage accumulated in the storage unit 10 in one cleaning operation opens the valve 17. It is suctioned from outside through the lead-out section 19. As a result, the storage section 10 is emptied again, and the main body 1 is ready for cleaning again.

Next, the configuration of the station 20 will be described with reference to FIG. Above the station 20, there is a dust box 21 having an opening at a position where it can be connected to the garbage outlet 19 provided on the main body 1 of the self-propelled cleaner, and the lower surface of the dust box 21 is constituted by a filter 22, The fan motor 23 is disposed below, and constitutes dust suction means 32.
Below the station 20, a charger 24 having a charging terminal is provided at a position where it can be electrically connected to the charging unit 15 provided in the main body 1 of the self-propelled cleaner. Station 20
When the main body 1 of the self-propelled vacuum cleaner is connected, the switch 25 for activating the suction means 32 of the station 20 and activating the charger 24 is provided at the center of the station 20.

Next, the operation of the station 20 will be described. When the main body 1 of the self-propelled cleaner is connected to the station 20, it is detected by the switch 25, the fan motor 23 is operated, and the suction is performed as shown by the arrow B, so that the valve 17 is opened and stored as shown by the arrow A. The dust in the section 10 is sucked into the dust box 21. Power is supplied from the charger 24 to the power supply 14 through the charging unit 15.
While the self-propelled cleaner is away from and cleaning the station 20, the station 20 does nothing.

Next, an example of the operation of the self-propelled cleaner will be briefly described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an operation for cleaning a room at one time. Room 26
There is a main body 1 of the self-propelled cleaner connected to the station 20 at the corner of. When a certain time comes by the time limit means 6, the room is cleaned by sequentially changing the route according to a predetermined procedure 27, and when it is completed, the return route 28 is returned, the direction is changed 29, and the station 20 is returned again.
To terminate the series of operations.

Next, in FIG. 3, the cleaning path is changed at each time of the time limiter 6, and the capacity of the dust storage unit 10 is made smaller by alternately performing the solid line path 30 and the dashed line path 31. This is an operation example showing that the capacity of the power supply 14 can be reduced.

Effect of the Invention As described above, by providing a lead-out part for leading out dust to the outside of the main body of the self-propelled cleaner and a charging part for charging the power supply on the outer wall of the body, the dust is thrown out of the body every time. Since it can be recharged each time, a large-capacity garbage storage unit is not required and the main body can be reduced in size, and a large-capacity battery is not required, so that the weight of the main body can be reduced.

Also, if used in combination with a charging station provided with dust suction means and charging means, an ideal automatic cleaning device can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an automatic cleaning apparatus using a self-propelled cleaner and a station according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The figure shows a cleaning operation by the same device. 1 ... body, 5 ... moving means, 6 ... timed means, 7 ...
Guide means, 13 cleaning means, 14 power supply, 15 charging section, 19 deriving section, 20 station, 24 charging section, 32 suction means.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing on the front page (72) Osamu Eguchi, Inventor: 1006 Kazuma, Kazuma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor: Shinji Kondo 1006, Kazuma, Kazuma, Kazuma, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial (72) Inventor Hiroshi Toyoda 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cleaning device for performing cleaning, a moving device for moving on a floor, a rechargeable power supply for supplying power to the respective devices, and the respective devices and a power source. The main body is connected to a suction unit of a station having a dust suction unit and a charging unit, and a lead-out unit that leads dust to a station side from a dust storage unit of the cleaning unit on an outer wall. A self-propelled cleaner provided with a charging unit for charging the power source from the station side by being connected to charging means of the station. 2. A body of a self-propelled vacuum cleaner having a time limit means,
The self-propelled cleaner has a main body of a cleaning start point, and the cleaning target floor is cleaned at regular time intervals by a time limit means. Automatic cleaning device that connects to the station and performs garbage disposal and charging every time.