KR20230001859U - Docking station for holding wireless vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a docking station that automatically charges the battery of a cordless vacuum cleaner when the cordless vacuum cleaner is mounted, removes contaminants collected in the dust bin of the cordless vacuum cleaner, and removes the contaminants. The docking station according to one embodiment includes a coupling portion on which at least a portion of the dust bin of the cordless vacuum cleaner can be seated; a gate portion provided at the bottom of the coupling portion and capable of communicating with the dust bin; a bag receiving portion in which the dust bag assembly is accommodated; a collection passage connected from the gate portion to the bag receiving portion; And it may include a motor for generating negative pressure in the collection passage and the bag receiving portion.

Description

Docking station for holding wireless vacuum cleaner}

The present invention relates to a household or industrial cleaning device, and more specifically, to a docking station for a cordless vacuum cleaner capable of automatically charging power and emptying dust.

In general, vacuum cleaners are used to keep the surrounding environment clean by suctioning and collecting external contaminants such as dust and hair using the suction power of the motor. These vacuum cleaners suck in contaminants using suction power generated by a built-in motor, and at this time, power must be supplied to drive the motor. However, when the cable for power supply is connected to the vacuum cleaner, the cleaning radius is affected and cable management is required, which is inconvenient in use. Against this background, the market for cordless vacuum cleaners that use batteries as a power source is expanding.

The wireless vacuum cleaner does not have a separate power cable to supply power, but instead has a charging terminal on a stand that can hold the wireless vacuum cleaner, so that the battery can be charged along with the stand using the stand. . Related prior art includes “vacuum cleaner charging base” in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2017-0126377. However, the prior art is to perform simple mounting and charging, and after completing cleaning using a cordless vacuum cleaner, the user must separate the cordless vacuum cleaner from the vacuum cleaner charging base to remove contaminants collected inside the dust bag. Contaminants inside the dust bin must be removed directly, and in this way, a cumbersome disassembly, cleaning, and reassembly process is required for the user to separate and open the cordless vacuum cleaner to remove the contaminants collected inside.

Recently, as disclosed in the applicant's patent application No. 10-2021-0114755 filed on August 30, 2021, as a method to solve the limitations and inconveniences of the existing vacuum cleaner charging station described above, emptying dust into the vacuum cleaner charging station A cleaning device with added functions has been proposed. If the docking station of the cleaning device can be implemented with additional useful functions in addition to automatic charging and dust emptying of the wireless vacuum cleaner, the usability of the docking station, which is usually used in a fixed location, can be further doubled.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2017-0126377 “Vacuum cleaner charging base”

The technical problem that this design aims to solve is not only that a used cordless vacuum cleaner can be placed on a docking station, but also that functionality and usability are improved by charging the cordless vacuum cleaner, emptying dust, and performing additional functions, thereby improving space utilization. This improved cordless vacuum cleaner is provided with a docking station.

The problems that the present invention aims to solve are not limited to the problems mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

The docking station according to an embodiment of the present invention for solving the above technical problem automatically charges the battery of the wireless vacuum cleaner when the wireless vacuum cleaner is mounted, and extracts contaminants collected in the dust bin of the wireless vacuum cleaner. A docking station that removes the contaminants, comprising: a coupling portion on which at least a portion of the dust bin of the cordless vacuum cleaner can be seated; a gate portion provided at the bottom of the coupling portion and capable of communicating with the dust bin; a bag receiving portion in which the dust bag assembly is accommodated; a collection passage connected from the gate portion to the bag receiving portion; And it may include a motor for generating negative pressure in the collection passage and the bag receiving part.

In one embodiment, a connection pipe portion is provided at an end of the collection passage, and an end of the connection pipe portion may pass through an inlet of the dust bag assembly and be introduced into the inside of the dust bag assembly. Additionally, the dust bag assembly includes a dust bag main body having an opening at the top; It is coupled to the upper part of the dust bag main body, is configured to be detachable from the bag fastening part of the docking station, and includes an inlet limiter defining an inlet, wherein the inlet limiter is positioned in a direction in which dust is sucked during the dust emptying operation. a fastening frame member having an inner surface portion defining an internal space extending a predetermined length in a direction parallel to the; a dust bag gate coupled to a lower portion of the fastening frame member and operating to open and close the inlet from inside the dust bag main body; and a sealing member installed on the inner surface of the inlet limiting portion and having a structure extending from the inner surface toward the inner space, wherein the end of the collection passage or the end of the connection pipe is introduced into the inner space. In a state where the sealing member seals the outer peripheral surface of the connection pipe portion, the dust bag gate may be opened by the dust emptying operation, and the dust bag gate may be closed when the dust emptying operation is completed.

In one embodiment, the dust bin of the cordless vacuum cleaner includes a dust bin gate on a lower side, the dust bin is supported on the coupling portion with the dust bin gate disposed in a horizontal direction, and automatic dust emptying of the docking station is performed. During operation, the dust bin gate may be opened by negative pressure generated in a vertical direction through the gate portion of the docking station aligned with the dust bin gate. At this time, the negative pressure may be applied uniformly over the entire area except for the hinge of the dust bin gate.

In one embodiment, the dust bin of the cordless vacuum cleaner may include a rear cap that opens the inside of the dust bin to clean the built-in filter unit. In addition, the dust bin of the cordless vacuum cleaner includes a filter part inside, the filter part extends in the horizontal direction, and the dust bin gate exposes the filter part in the vertical direction, so that when the docking station is in a dust emptying operation, the filter part is extended. Suction pressure can be formed in a downward direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the unit.

The coupling portion has a shape that protrudes forward so that the dust bin of the cordless vacuum cleaner is seated on the docking station in a horizontal direction, the dust bin has a dust bin gate disposed on a side in the horizontal direction, and is in communication with the dust bin gate. The gate portion may be exposed vertically upward from the bottom of the protruding coupling portion.

In one embodiment, a hose member inserted into the gate portion and used as a vacuum suction pipe when starting the docking station may be further included. The hose member may further include an adapter part inserted into the gate part, a tip part, and an extension pipe part between the adapter part and the tip part.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a used cordless vacuum cleaner can be docked and mounted on a docking station, and not only can power be automatically supplied and charged to the battery of the cordless vacuum cleaner, but also the cordless vacuum cleaner can be charged. By withdrawing the collected contaminants to the docking station and removing internal contaminants, usability and functionality are improved, and a docking station will be provided without the user having to dismantle the dust bin of the cordless vacuum cleaner to remove contaminants. You can.

In addition, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the dust bin gate is not opened in normal times, so dust can be collected without leaking contaminants into the dust bin, and after mounting the wireless vacuum cleaner on the docking station, the motor of the docking station operates. When the dust bin gate is automatically opened, the stored contaminants can be automatically moved to and collected in the dust bag assembly.

In addition, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the filter part of the cordless vacuum cleaner extends in the horizontal direction, and the dust bin gate exposes the filter part in the vertical direction, so that during the dust emptying operation of the docking station, the filter part extends in the direction and By forming a suction pressure in a perpendicular downward direction, contaminants condensed in the dust bin by a strong and long path cyclone airflow can be effectively discharged through the gate portion of the docking station without remaining wrapped around the filter portion.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a docking station with the advantage of being able to be used as a separate fixed vacuum cleaning device can be provided by applying a hose member used as a vacuum suction pipe to the gate portion of the docking station.

The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

Figures 1A and 1B are a perspective view and a side cross-sectional view of a docking station according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 1C is a perspective view showing a wireless vacuum cleaner mounted on the docking station.
Figure 2a is a perspective view illustrating a process for attaching and removing a dust bag assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2b is a perspective view showing a fastening frame member of the dust bag assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. .
Figure 3 is a perspective view for explaining the opening and closing operation of the dust bin gate during the automatic dust emptying operation of the cordless vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4a is an exploded perspective view of a dust bin according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 4b is a side cross-sectional view for explaining the automatic emptying operation state of the dust bin.
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the air flow during dust discharge from the docking station according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6a is a top view showing the gate portion of the docking station into which the hose member is inserted according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figures 6b and 6c are views showing the use state of the hose member.
7A and 7B show hose members according to various embodiments of the present invention.
8A and 8B illustrate examples of using a docking station as a separate vacuum cleaner or auxiliary cleaning means using a hose member according to various embodiments of the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

The embodiments of the present invention are provided to more completely explain the present invention to those skilled in the art, and the following examples may be modified into various other forms, and the scope of the present invention is as follows. It is not limited to examples. Rather, these embodiments are provided to make the present disclosure more faithful and complete and to fully convey the spirit of the present invention to those skilled in the art.

In the drawings, like symbols refer to like elements. Additionally, as used herein, the term “and/or” includes any one and all combinations of one or more of the corresponding listed items.

The terms used in this specification are used to describe embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. In addition, even if described in the specification as a singular number, plural forms may be included unless the context clearly indicates singularity. Additionally, as used herein, the terms "comprise" and/or "comprising" specify the presence of stated features, numbers, steps, operations, members, elements and/or groups thereof. It does not exclude the presence or addition of other shapes, numbers, movements, members, elements and/or groups.

Reference herein to a layer formed “on” a substrate or other layer refers to a layer formed directly on the substrate or other layer, or to an intermediate layer formed on the substrate or other layer or on intermediate layers. It may also refer to a layer. Additionally, for those skilled in the art, a structure or shape disposed “adjacent” to another shape may have a portion that overlaps or is disposed beneath the adjacent shape.

As used herein, “below,” “above,” “upper,” “lower,” “horizontal,” or “vertical.” Relative terms such as may be used to describe the relationship that one component, layer or region has with another component, layer or region, as shown in the drawings. It should be understood that these terms encompass not only the directions indicated in the drawings, but also other directions of the device.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to cross-sectional views schematically showing ideal embodiments (and intermediate structures) of the present invention. In these drawings, for example, the size and shape of members may be exaggerated for convenience and clarity of explanation, and in actual implementation, variations in the depicted shapes may be expected. Accordingly, the embodiments of the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the specific shape of the area shown in this specification. Additionally, reference signs for members in the drawings refer to the same members throughout the drawings.

1A and 1B are a perspective view and a side cross-sectional view of the docking station 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1C is a perspective view showing the wireless vacuum cleaner 200 mounted on the docking station 100. .

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B , the docking station 100 may include a body 110 standing on the ground in the Z direction. A support portion 111 that can further expand the bottom area of the body 110 may be provided so that the body 110 can stand stably. The support portion 111 may be integrally molded with the body 110 or may be attached separately. In one embodiment, the support unit 111 may be a fixed type, and in another embodiment, wheels for movement may be installed on the support unit 111 to assist in moving the docking station 100. The docking station 100 may be provided with a power cable (PC) for receiving power from the outside, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the docking station 100 may also be operated in a rechargeable manner by employing a battery.

The docking station 100 automatically charges the battery of the cordless vacuum cleaner when the cordless vacuum cleaner is mounted, and extracts contaminants, such as dust, collected in the dust bin of the cordless vacuum cleaner to the docking station 100. It may have a function to remove the contaminants (i.e., a dust emptying function or a dust cleaning function).

The docking station 100 may have a roughly pillar shape. The cross-section of the docking station 100 in the It is illustrated. A coupling portion (or referred to as a mounting portion, 120) on which the wireless vacuum cleaner can be mounted and supported may be provided on the front upper side of the docking station 100. In one embodiment, the coupling portion 120 may have a structure recessed downward (-Z direction) so that a part of the cordless vacuum cleaner, for example, at least a part of the dust bin, can be inserted and seated. .

In one embodiment, at least a portion of the coupling portion 120 may have a round-shaped recessed structure corresponding to the outer shape of the side of the dust bin of a cordless vacuum cleaner. The coupling portion 120 may extend in the front direction of the docking station 100 to support the side of the dust bin of the cordless vacuum cleaner (see 220 in FIG. 1C).

A gate portion 121 may be provided at the bottom (lower part) of the coupling portion 120. As will be described later, the dust bin of the cordless vacuum cleaner may be provided with a dust bin gate, and the gate unit 121 communicates with the dust bin when the dust bin gate provided in the dust bin is opened so that dust from the dust bin is stored inside the docking station 100. An opening that moves to can be provided. In one embodiment, a cap (not shown) is installed on the gate unit 121 to block the gate unit 121 while the cordless vacuum cleaner is not mounted, and the cap is opened and closed when the docking station 100 is activated. It can be.

A charging unit 130 may be provided on the upper front of the docking station 100, and the charging unit 130 may include a charging terminal 131. When the wireless vacuum cleaner is mounted on the docking station 100, the charging terminal of the wireless vacuum cleaner comes into contact with the charging terminal 131 of the docking station 100, so that the battery built into the wireless vacuum cleaner can be charged. You can. In one embodiment, the corresponding parts of the cordless vacuum cleaner, that is, the charging terminal of the cordless vacuum cleaner and the dust bin gate part, are accurately positioned in the charging unit 130 and the gate unit 221 of the docking station 100 and are in close contact with each other. A guide 132 may be provided to guide the user. The guide portion 132 may additionally function as a lock to prevent the mounted wireless vacuum cleaner from being separated from the docking station 100 and falling. In one embodiment, the guide portion 132 may be formed to extend in the vertical direction and have a groove shape, and a corresponding portion of the cordless vacuum cleaner corresponding to the guide portion 132 may have a protrusion for insertion into the groove (see Figure 1c). 204) may be provided. In another embodiment, the corresponding shapes of the guide portion 132 of the docking station 100 and the protrusion 204 of the cordless vacuum cleaner may be opposite to each other, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The guide portion 132 of the docking station 100 is formed in a vertical direction, and the cordless vacuum cleaner is moved from upward to downward by a sliding method in which the protrusions 204 of the cordless vacuum cleaner are inserted into the guide portion 132. As the docking station 100 and the wireless vacuum cleaner come into close contact, the lower side of the dust bin of the wireless vacuum cleaner is seated on the coupling portion 120, and mounting of the wireless vacuum cleaner can be completed.

The docking station 100 is further equipped with a detection unit 140 for detecting the amount of contaminants collected in the dust bin of the wireless vacuum cleaner and, through this, driving or stopping the dust emptying operation of the docking station 100. can be provided. The sensing unit 140 may be placed below the charging unit 130, for example. The detection unit 140 may optically check the opacity of dust filled in the dust bin of the cordless vacuum cleaner and perform a dust emptying operation. However, this is an example, and regardless of the operation of the detection unit 140, when the wireless vacuum cleaner is mounted on the docking station 100, the dust bin emptying operation of the wireless vacuum cleaner may be automatically performed for a certain period of time. . Determination of whether the wireless vacuum cleaner is mounted on the docking station 100 is determined by whether the charging unit 130 and the charging terminal of the wireless vacuum cleaner are in contact, or whether the wireless vacuum cleaner is mounted on the docking station 100. This can be done using a switch (not shown) that clicks by pressure, or a change in the electric circuit or magnetic force between the wireless vacuum cleaner and the docking station 100 that is completed when mounted. Known techniques may be referred to, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

A manipulation unit 150 for the user may be provided on the upper side of the docking station 100. The user uses, for example, touch or push operation buttons provided on the operation unit 150 to charge the docking station 100, empty dust, perform a cleaning operation using an additional hose to be described later, or set the time of the dust emptying operation. You can set settings such as intensity, automatic/manual conversion, and sterilization operation.

Inside the docking station 100, an 'bag receiving portion' may be provided to accommodate the dust bag assembly 170 according to an embodiment of the present invention. For example, an envelope may be placed on the front side of the docking station 100. A receiving portion cover 160 may be provided. When the bag accommodating cover 160 is opened, the bag accommodating part is exposed, and the dust bag assembly can be mounted on the bag accommodating part.

Referring specifically to FIG. 1B, a collection passage 122 extending from the gate portion 121 of the coupling portion 210 to the bag receiving portion may be provided inside the docking station 100. The collection passage 122 may be formed by combining several parts, and may be formed from the top to the bottom as shown in FIG. 1B, taking into account the position of the gate portion 121 and the offset position with the inlet of the dust bag assembly 170. As it extends, part of it may be refracted. A connector 123 may be provided at the end of the collection passage 122. The end of the connector 123 passes through the suction port of the dust bag assembly 170 mounted on the bag receiving portion and is drawn into the inside of the dust bag assembly 170 to form a collection flow path 122 inside the dust bag assembly 170. Connect with the dust bag assembly (170). In one embodiment, the connector portion 123 and the collection passage 122 may be formed integrally. In this case, the connector portion 123 may be an end or an extended end of the collection passage 122, and the present invention provides this. It is not limited.

In one embodiment, a sterilizer 124, such as a UV-C ultraviolet lamp or heater for sterilization, may be provided in the collection passage 122. The sterilizer 124 prevents the growth of bacteria and insects and their escape to the outside of the docking station 100.

A motor (M) may be provided under the dust bag assembly 50, and an exhaust unit 180 may be provided on one side of the bottom of the docking station 200. The dust emptying operation of the dust bin of the cordless vacuum cleaner mounted on the coupling portion 120 may be performed by operating the motor M. At this time, dust may be collected within the dust bag assembly 170. The lower surface of the dust bag assembly 170 may function as a type of air filter, and the sucked air may be discharged to the exhaust unit 180.

Referring to FIG. 1C, a cleaning device 1000 is shown in which a cordless vacuum cleaner 200 is mounted on a docking station 100. After the user completes cleaning the space with the wireless vacuum cleaner 200, when the user docks the wireless vacuum cleaner 200 to the docking station 100, the docking station 100 automatically recharges the battery of the wireless vacuum cleaner 200. It can be charged, and the dust emptying operation of emptying dust collected by the wireless vacuum cleaner 200 can be performed automatically or manually.

The wireless vacuum cleaner 200 is equipped with a motor inside to collect external contaminants inside the dust bin 220, and is configured to discharge the air sucked with contaminants to the outside with the contaminants removed through a filter. However, it is not limited to this. As a non-limiting example, the cordless vacuum cleaner 200 may include a cleaner frame 201 equipped with a motor. The vacuum cleaner frame 201 may be provided with a handle 202 that allows the user to hold and move the vacuum cleaner frame 201. Additionally, at least one operation button for controlling the operation of the wireless vacuum cleaner 200 may be provided on the top or rear side of the vacuum cleaner frame 201, which is easily accessible to the user's gaze or fingers. The vacuum cleaner frame 201 may be referred to as a ‘main device unit’, a ‘main driving unit’, a ‘main frame unit’, etc.

A charging terminal unit (not shown) may be disposed on the vacuum cleaner frame 201. When the cordless vacuum cleaner 200 is mounted on the docking station 100, the charging terminal unit is in close contact with the charging unit (130 in FIG. 1A) provided on the upper front of the docking station 100, and the electrode of the charging terminal unit and the charging unit The electrodes of 130 may be electrically connected to each other, and power may be supplied from the docking station 100, so that the battery of the cordless vacuum cleaner 100 may be automatically charged.

As a non-limiting example, the vacuum cleaner frame 201 may be provided with an exhaust port 203 that protrudes toward the front (X direction) and has a plurality of exhaust holes 203a formed on the front side. A dust bin 220 may be provided at the rear (- You can. The dust bin 220 may be fixedly or detachably fastened to the vacuum cleaner frame 201. A dust bin gate (see 221 in FIGS. 3, 4A, and 4B) is provided on the lower side of the dust bin 220, which will be described in detail later.

The vacuum cleaner frame 101 may be provided with an extension pipe portion 210, and the extension pipe portion 210 may have a fixed length, a variable length, or a bent configuration. A suction tool 215 may be disposed at the lower end of the extension pipe portion 210. As for the form and type of the suction tool 215, for example, various known means such as a roller, a rotating mop, a narrow tube, or a brush may be combined, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 1B together with FIG. 1C, after the cordless vacuum cleaner 200 is mounted on the coupling portion 120 of the docking station 100, when the motor M of the docking station 100 is started, the bag receiving portion As negative pressure is formed in the collection passage 122, the dust bin gate 221 of the dust bin 220 of the cordless vacuum cleaner 200 is opened, and the inside of the dust bin 220 is exposed to the collection passage 122 through the gate portion 121. It communicates with the dust bag assembly 170 through , and the dust contained in the dust bin 220 of the cordless vacuum cleaner 200 moves into the inside of the dust bag assembly 170, thereby performing a dust emptying operation. At this time, external air may be introduced through the exhaust port 203a and the suction tool 215 of the cordless vacuum cleaner 200, and contaminants in the dust container 220 are collected and simultaneously inside the dust container 220 or the exhaust port 203a. Cleaning of the filter provided at the front may be performed. In order to increase the negative pressure, a gate, a valve, Alternatively, a switchable blocking film may be provided.

In one embodiment, the docking station 100 detects the amount of contaminants in the dust collection bag assembly 170 directly by weight or detects the suction load using a pressure sensor when driving the motor (M), and detects the amount of contaminants in the dust collection bag assembly 170. The amount of contaminants inside the assembly 170 is determined, and if the contaminants are detected to exceed a preset amount, the dust collection bag assembly 170 is sent to the outside through a notification module such as a display or speaker provided in the docking station 100. ), a replacement alarm can be sent to inform the user.

In one embodiment, starting the motor M may vary the suction force while dust is being ejected from the dust bin 220. For example, by adjusting the power applied to the motor M and controlling its rotation speed, the suction force can be varied. Contaminants such as dust or hair that are adhered or wrapped around the suction tool, dust bin, and filter part of the cordless vacuum cleaner (200), or the coupling part (120) of the docking station (100) and the collection channel that is the movement path of contaminants. For the contaminants that are adhered or wound around and fixed to (122), the contaminants are easily removed from the surface by inducing a change in speed in the gas flow for dust intake, and finally into the inside of the dust bag assembly 170. It can be brought in. For example, to change the suction force, the power signal applied to the motor M may have a pulse waveform such as, but not limited to, a sine wave, a triangle wave, or a square wave. The pulse waveform may have a rising or falling ramp section, thereby inducing a change in flow rate while minimizing vibration due to a sudden change in speed of the motor (M). In addition, the change in the waveform applied to the motor (M) can be achieved by adjusting the pulse width or duty cycle by pulse width modulation (PWM) such as chopper control or switching power, and the present invention It is not limited to this, and various known signal control methods may be employed.

As in the embodiment of the present invention, the method of inducing pulsation of the intake airflow for a certain period of time according to the above-described method of varying the power applied to the motor (M) uses a variable valve to modulate the airflow flowing in the docking station 100. This can be done without additional mechanical help such as a variable gate, and the pulsation of the intake airflow can be induced by controlling the motor (M) using a software power signal conversion method, so the internal structure of the docking station 100 By simplifying, it can be economical in terms of production and maintenance.

Figure 2a is a perspective view illustrating a process for attaching and removing the dust bag assembly 170 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2b is a fastening frame of the dust bag assembly 170 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a perspective view showing the member 171.

Referring to FIG. 2A, first, the envelope receiving portion cover 160 of the docking station 100 may be opened. Next, press or lower the front end of the bag fastening part 161 of the docking station 100 to separate the bag fastening part 161 from the connector part (123 in FIG. 1B) and fasten the dust bag assembly 170. The dust bag assembly 170 can be removed from the bag receiving portion A1 of the docking station 100 by separating the frame member 171 from the bag fastening portion 161. The process of mounting the dust bag assembly 170 to the bag receiving portion A1 may be reversed.

In one embodiment, dust bag assembly 170 may include a dust bag body portion 172 having an opening at the top. The dust bag main body 172 is mainly made of a soft and flexible material such as paper, polymer, or fabric, so that it can be easily contracted or folded, or conversely, expanded or unfolded, and has appropriate fine pores so that the dust collected inside can not penetrate to the outside while being breathable. It functions as a filter with an antibacterial material or can be treated with antibacterial properties to enhance hygienic performance. If necessary, it can also be made of a biodegradable resin to reduce environmental load.

The dust bag assembly 170 may include the above-described fastening frame member 171 coupled to the upper part of the dust bag main body 172. The fastening frame member 171 may be made of a relatively hard material. For example, the fastening frame member 171 may be mainly composed of a relatively hard plastic material such as synthetic resin or plastic, and as well-known in the art, the fastening frame member 171 may be surface-treated to have biodegradable resin or antibacterial function or include the corresponding material. It may be composed of a resin that The fastening frame member 171 may be configured or designed to be attachable to and detachable from the envelope fastening part 161 of the docking station 100, for example, by a sliding method or a clamping method. The fastening frame member 171 is a non-limiting example, and both edges of the fastening frame member 171 are coupled to the dust bag body 172 to structurally support the dust bag body 172 and form a dust bag assembly 170. ) can be fastened to or separated from the envelope fastening part 161 of the docking station 100.

In one embodiment, the docking station 100 may further include a heater member 178 for heating the dust bag assembly (not shown) within the bag receiving portion A1. The heater member 178 may be disposed on the bottom of the bag receiving portion A1 or in an area adjacent thereto. The heater member 178 may be configured to heat the dust bag assembly 170 mounted on the bag receiving portion A1 to a temperature of about 30°C to 50°C or about 30°C to 40°C.

As a specific example, the heater member 290 may be controlled to automatically operate for about 0.5 to 2 hours once every 2 to 4 days. For example, the heater member 290 may be controlled to automatically operate for about 1 hour about once every 3 days. Additionally, the heater member 290 may be operated in a manual manner. The heater member 178 may be, for example, an alternating current (AC) positive temperature coefficient (PTC) type heater, but various known technologies may be applied. When using the heater member 178 as described above, the effect of preventing the proliferation of insects, etc. can be obtained through humidity and temperature control.

Referring to FIG. 2B together with FIG. 2A, a suction portion (P1) is formed in the fastening frame member 171, and the dust bag assembly 170 further includes a dust bag gate 173 for opening and closing the suction portion (P1). It can be included. In one embodiment, the dust bag gate 173 is coupled to the lower part of the fastening frame member 171, and is coupled to the hinge 174 on the inside of the dust bag main body 172 to rotate to open the inlet P1. It can be operated to open and close. In one embodiment, an elastic body 175 such as a coil spring is applied to the hinge 174 so that the dust bag gate 173 uses the suction part P1 when the motor M of the docking station 100 does not start. When it is closed (state A1) and the motor M of the docking station 100 is started, it can rotate inside the dust bag main body 172 to open the inlet P1 (state A2).

Accordingly, the dust bag gate 173 closes the suction port P1 when there is no dust emptying operation to isolate the inside and outside of the dust bag main body 172. In this regard, in the absence of a dust emptying operation, isolation of the inside of the dust bag assembly 170 by closing the dust bag gate 173 causes insects that can easily breed within the dust bag main body 172, such as powdery mites. The proliferation and entry of pests can be effectively suppressed or prevented, and odors can also be blocked.

In one embodiment, the upper surface of the dust bag gate 173 may have a soft, rubber-like elastic surface to aid in airtightness when closed, and the lower surface may be formed of a material bonded together with steel for mechanical support. The design is not limited to this. Additionally, the surface of the dust bag gate 173 may be treated with antibacterial agents or may be conductive to remove static electricity to prevent attachment of dust, and may be grounded to an external circuit using a conductor if necessary.

The dust bag assembly 170 may further include a sealing member 176 installed on the inner surface of the inlet P1. The sealing member 176 may be made of a soft rubber material. When the dust bag gate 173 is closed, the sealing member 176 may be disposed above and spaced apart from the upper surface of the dust bag gate 173. The sealing member 176 may be disposed at the top of the inner surface of the intake port (P1) or adjacent thereto. The sealing member 176 may have a structure extending from the inner side of the intake port (P1) toward the center of the intake port (P1). For example, the sealing member 176 may have a relatively flat annular structure.

The fastening frame member 171 may include an inlet limiting portion 177 that defines the inlet P1 of the dust bag main body 172. The intake port (P1) may have a circular structure when viewed from above. The suction port limiter 177 may have an inner surface portion defining an internal space extending a predetermined length in a direction (i.e., perpendicular) parallel to the direction in which dust is suctioned during the dust emptying operation (hereinafter, dust suction direction). there is.

According to one embodiment, the inlet P1 is defined by the inlet limiting part 177, and the internal space of the inlet limiting part 177 is about 5 mm to 15 mm in the dust suction direction (i.e., downward direction) or It may have a length (DT) of about 6 mm to 10 mm. This length (DT) can be said to be the 'depth' of the internal space. The diameter (DM) of the internal space may be, for example, about 30 mm to 70 mm or about 35 mm to 65 mm. As a non-limiting example, the length (DT) of the interior space in the dust suction direction (i.e., downward direction) and the diameter (DM) of the interior space are defined by the conditional expression 0.07 ≤ DT/DM ≤ 0.5 or the conditional expression 0.1 ≤ DT/DM ≤ 0.25 can be satisfied. When these conditions are met, it is possible to secure a sufficient flow rate to the inlet (P1), thereby improving the dust emptying characteristics due to intake of incoming and outgoing air, and in addition, the fastening of the fastening frame member 161 to the docking station 100. Characteristics can also be easily secured. Therefore, it may be desirable for the length (DT) of the internal space in the dust suction direction and the diameter (DM) of the internal space to satisfy the conditional expression 0.07 ≤ DT/DM ≤ 0.5 or the conditional expression 0.1 ≤ DT/DM ≤ 0.25. . Additionally, the internal space may have a structure whose diameter increases as it goes downward. Or it could be the other way around. As necessary, during the dust emptying operation, air flow can be improved or pests such as dust or powder mites adsorbed on the inner side can be pushed back into the interior of the dust bag main body 10 during the dust emptying operation. It can be selected appropriately.

Referring again to FIG. 1B, in one embodiment, when the dust bag assembly 170 is mounted in the docking station 100, the connector portion 123 in the docking station 100 is connected to the inlet of the dust bag assembly 170. It extends through P1) and into the internal space along the intake limiter 177. At this time, the outer surface of the connecting pipe part 123 and the sealing member 176 are in close contact to maintain airtightness in the internal space. In one embodiment, the dust bag gate 173 remains closed when the docking station 100 is not activated, and at this time, the closed dust bag gate 173 and the end of the connector portion 123 facing the closed dust bag gate 173 There may be a gap between them, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the end of the connecting pipe portion 123 may also be in close contact with the dust bag gate 173 and maintained in a closed state.

Figure 3 is a perspective view for explaining the opening and closing operation of the dust bin gate 221 during the automatic dust emptying operation of the cordless vacuum cleaner 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3 , in one embodiment, the dust bin 220 of the cordless vacuum cleaner 200 has a dust bin gate 221 on the lower side. The dust bin gate 221 may have a hinge 221H provided on the lower side of the dust bin so that it can rotate to the outside of the dust bin 220 to perform an opening and closing operation. A dust bin gate 221 is provided on the lower side of the dust bin, so that the dust bin gate 221 is arranged in the horizontal direction, so that when the docking station 100 performs an automatic dust emptying operation, the docking station 100 aligned with the dust bin gate 221 is disposed in the horizontal direction. The negative pressure generated in the vertical direction through the gate portion 121 acts uniformly over the entire area of the dust bin gate 221 excluding the hinge 221H, so that the dust bin gate 221 can be easily rotated and opened only by the negative pressure. .

When the automatic dust emptying operation of the docking station 100 is terminated, the dust bin gate 221 may be closed to disconnect the dust bin 220 from the docking station 100. The hinge 221H may be provided with an elastic member such as a coil spring or a locking device such as a permanent magnet or an electromagnet to change the dust bin gate 221 from an open state to a closed state.

Figure 4a is an exploded perspective view of the dust bin 220 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 4b is a side cross-sectional view for explaining the automatic emptying operation state of the dust bin 220.

Referring to FIG. 4A, the dust bin 220 may be formed integrally with the vacuum cleaner frame 201 or may be detachably coupled to it. In one embodiment, the vacuum cleaner frame 201 may be provided with an extension tube fastening part 211 for fastening the extension tube part 210. In another embodiment, the extension tube fastening part 211 may be directly coupled to the dust bin 220, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

While cleaning the target space using a cordless vacuum cleaner, external air that flows in through the extension pipe fastening part 211, passes through an internal flow path (not shown) in the cleaner frame 201, and flows into the dust bin 220 is stored in the dust bin 220. ) It can be moved to the exhaust port 203a provided on the front (X direction) side of the cleaner frame 201 through the filter unit (FR) provided inside. A suction motor (not shown) is provided on the gas path of the filter unit FR and the exhaust port 203a.

In one embodiment, a rear cap 222 of the dust bin 220 is provided for the user to clean the filter unit FR and/or the exhaust port 203a, and the user can open or close the rear cap 222. Let it happen. The rear cap 222 may form the rear bottom of the dust bin 220. In this case, the rear cap 124 may cover the open rear bottom of the dust bin 220 to close the dust bin 220 from the outside. When the rear cap 222 is opened, the interior of the dust bin 220 may be opened in a direction parallel to the extension direction of the filter unit FR (X direction). The dust bin 220 may have a cylindrical shape with a circular cross-section in the direction perpendicular to the extension axis (X-line), but the present invention is not limited thereto, and may have a rectangular rectangular shape rather than a circle, and may have a rectangular parallelepiped shape along the extension axis. The cross-sectional area based on the outermost line may vary. In one embodiment, the dust bin 220 may be aligned in a horizontal direction on the ground when the cordless vacuum cleaner 200 is upright. The rear cap 220 is only required to be opened when the user directly cleans the inside of the dust bin 220 or when replacing the filter parts 224 and 225, and cannot be opened while the cordless vacuum cleaner 200 is mounted on the docking station 100. In that it is maintained in a closed state, it is different from a conventional vacuum cleaner in which the rear cap 220 is opened to perform a dust emptying operation.

In one embodiment, the rear cap 222 is provided with an edge, for example, a hinge 222H connected to the top of the rear bottom of the dust bin 220, and the lower end is coupled to the bottom of the rear bottom of the dust bin 220 to rear. A locking portion 222L is additionally provided to prevent the cap 222 from being automatically opened by a simple external force, so that the bottom of the rear cap 222 is caught on the locking portion 222L to close the rear bottom of the dust bin 220. The state can remain stable. An elastic member 222C, such as a spring, may be applied to provide an elastic motion to the locking portion 222L. In another embodiment, a locking part such as a locking protrusion may be provided at the top of the rear cap 222, and a hinge may be provided at the bottom of the rear cap 222, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

In one embodiment, the filter unit FR may be composed of an internal filter 224 and an external filter 225, and the internal filter 225 may be inserted and fastened into the external filter 224 as indicated by arrow K1. there is. In one embodiment, the filter unit FR may have a tapered shape whose cross-section gradually narrows toward the rear. The tapered shape promotes the movement or condensation of contaminants such as dust into the rear cavity (J2) of the dust bin 220 by the cyclone, and the cyclone airflow (CF) going to the rear cavity (J2) by the inclined surface of the tapered shape. It is possible to prevent long contaminants such as hair from being caught in the external filter 225 by the rear airflow.

The external filter 225 is a filter for primary air purification, and the internal filter 224 is inserted and disposed in the internal space of the external filter 225, thereby removing the primary purified air flowing into the interior through the external filter 225. It may be a filter for secondary purifying the air and discharging it toward the exhaust port 203 and the exhaust hole 203a. In one embodiment, the external filter 225 may include a plurality of fine holes formed along the outer peripheral surface 225S. The internal filter 224 may be a fine filter such as a HEPA filter. In one embodiment, the external filter 225 may have a tapered surface in which the outer diameter of the cross-section gradually narrows toward the rear. During the cleaning operation by the cordless cleaner 100, the sucked air and contaminants rotating within the side cavity (J1) move toward the rear cavity (J2) along an incline along the tapered surface formed on the outer peripheral surface of the external filter (225). At the same time, it is moved to the inside of the external filter 225. At this time, the contaminants are large particles and cannot penetrate the inside of the external filter 225, but are moved to the rear cavity (J2), and only the sucked air is passed through the external filter 225. may flow into the inside, and as the air flowing into the external filter 225 passes through the internal filter 132, the airflow from which fine dust is removed may move to the exhaust port 203.

In one embodiment, when the cleaning or replacement cycle of the internal filter 224 requires replacement, the user opens the rear cap 222 of the dust bin 220 and then removes the internal filter 224 from the external filter 225. ) can be separated, and in some embodiments, at the bottom of the internal filter 224, the user can easily separate the filter part (FR) from the dust bin 220 or easily separate the internal filter 224 from the external filter 225. A handle portion 226 may be provided.

In one embodiment, the dust bin gate 221 is not normally opened by an elastic member 221C such as a coil spring, a permanent magnet, or an electromagnet, and the wireless vacuum cleaner 200 is connected to the coupling portion 120 of the docking station 100. ), the dust bin gate 221 is located on the gate unit 121, the motor (M) of the docking station 100 is started, and when the gate unit 121 is in a negative pressure state, the dust bin gate ( 221) may be opened automatically. Thereafter, when the motor M stops, the negative pressure in the gate unit 121 is released, and the opened dust bin gate 221 automatically rotates to close the opening K.

Referring to FIG. 4B, according to the present invention, the dust bin gate 221 is opened by the suction pressure of the docking station 100, so that the inside of the dust bin 220 communicates with the outside. The opening K opened by the gate 221 is the internal space of the dust bin 220 in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction N of the filter part FR of the dust bin 220, that is, the side cavity J1; It is formed at a position where the space between the outer wall of the filter 225 and the inner wall of the dust bin 220 is exposed. Furthermore, the opening K may expose the rear cavity J2 (a space between the bottom of the external filter 225 and the inner bottom of the rear cavity 222). Unlike shown in Figure 4b, the filter portion (FR) extends further in the direction of the inner bottom of the rear cap 222, that is, in the rear direction (-X direction) to intersect the inner bottom of the rear cap 222. may be, and in this case, the rear cavity (J2) may be omitted.

During the dust emptying operation by the docking station 100, suction pressure is generated in a downward direction perpendicular to the extension direction (N) of the filter parts 224 and 225, and the dust container 220 near the end of the filter part 130 By forming close to the rear side, when dust is sucked by starting the motor (M) of the docking station (100), external air coming in through the fastening part (211) and the exhaust port (203) is discharged through the opening (K). In the process, a long path cyclonic airflow (CF) as indicated by an arrow may be induced in the side cavity (J1) defined between the side outer peripheral surface (225S) of the filter unit (FR) and the inner side wall of the dust bin. Cyclone airflow (CF) maximizes the effect of cleaning the inside of the dust bin (220) and removing dust from the surface of the filter unit (FR), collects dust on the rear bottom of the dust bin (220), and removes long contaminants such as hair from the external filter ( Even if it gets caught on the outer peripheral surface of the side of 225), an air current is formed that can remove it.

When the inner rear of the dust bin 220 and the end of the filter inserted inside the dust bin are in close contact with each other, or the end of the filter is exposed to the outside through the inner rear of the dust bin for filter replacement, cyclone airflow When the dust collected in the dust bin 220 moves to the rear, long-length contaminants such as hair among external contaminants are wound around the side surface 225S of the filter unit FR by a cyclonic air current and are attached to the end of the filter. It is easy to get caught and tangled. In this case, even if the dust emptying operation is performed at the docking station that is connected to the dust bin and sucks the collected dust, hair or dust tangled in the hair cannot be easily discharged to the docking station, or there is a problem that reduces the dust suction ability. there is.

In addition, in the conventional dust emptying method in which the rear cap 222 is opened to communicate the inside of the dust bin 220 with the docking station, the airflow for dust emptying is parallel to the extension direction (N) of the filter unit 225. However, it is difficult to induce a long-path cyclonic airflow (CF) as in the present invention into the side cavity (J1) by this dust emptying method. However, according to the present invention, a dust bin gate 221 forming an opening in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction (N) of the filter unit is provided on the side surface of the dust bin 220, thereby allowing a cyclone airflow (CF) having a long length to be generated. This can maximize the effectiveness of cleaning the inside of the dust bin 220 and removing dust from the surfaces of the filter units 224 and 225.

In particular, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4B, in an embodiment in which the external filter 225 and the inside of the dust bin 220 are spaced apart from each other, the rear cavity J2 connected to the side cavity J1 is secured, and the dust bin 220 When the external air sucked in rotates in a cyclonic manner (CF) and moves to the rear of the dust bin 220, contaminants move to the rear cavity (J2) and accumulate, and foreign substances such as hair are accumulated on the side surface of the external filter 225 ( 225S), it moves smoothly toward the rear cavity (J2) without being caught or caught, and when dust is released by the docking station 100, the contaminants easily move toward the gate 121 without being caught.

Therefore, the air and contaminants sucked into the dust bin 220 are cyclone and rotate inside the side cavity (J1) and then move or collect toward the rear cavity (J2), and the contaminants that moved to the rear cavity (J2) are transferred to the filter unit ( 225) Contaminants may aggregate together without being caught on the outside or inside the dust bin 220. Afterwards, the aggregated contaminants are moved toward the docking station 100 by a cyclonic air flow (CF) so that the contaminants can be automatically collected.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the air flow during dust discharge from the docking station 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, when the wireless vacuum cleaner 200 is docked to the docking station 100, the motor M is automatically started to perform pollutant collection, and the user docks as shown in FIG. 1A. It can be manually controlled by manipulating the operation buttons of the operation unit 150 provided on the upper surface of the station 100. When the motor (M) is started, following the direction of the arrow, external air flows in through the suction tool (250) and/or exhaust port (203) of the cordless vacuum cleaner (200) and flows into the docking station (100) through the dust bin (220). ), the dust inside the dust bin 220 is collected into the dust bag assembly 170 while passing through the dust bag assembly 170 through the collection flow path 122, and is collected into the dust bag assembly 170. The filtered air may be discharged through the exhaust unit 180.

Figure 6a is a top view showing the gate portion 121 of the docking station 100 into which the hose member is inserted according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figures 6b and 6c show the use state of the hose member 300. It is a drawing.

Referring to FIG. 6A, the coupling portion 120 of the docking station 100 has a shape that protrudes forward so that the dust bin 220 of the cordless vacuum cleaner 200 is seated on the docking station 100 in the horizontal direction, The gate portion 121 of the docking station 100, which is in communication with the dust container gate 221 of the dust container 220, is exposed vertically upward from the bottom of the coupling portion 120 protruding forward, allowing the user to use the gate portion 121. It can be found easily.

Referring to FIGS. 6B and 6C , the hose member 300 can be inserted into the gate portion 121 of the docking station 100 as indicated by arrow S and used as a vacuum suction pipe when the docking station 100 is started. In another embodiment, the hose member 300 may be connected to a coupling portion (211 in FIG. 3) of a cordless vacuum cleaner and used as a vacuum suction pipe.

7A and 7B show hose members 300a and 300b according to various embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the hose members 300a and 300b may have an adapter portion 310, an extension pipe portion 320, and tip portions 330a and 330b for insertion into the gate portion 121 of the docking station. there is. The tip portion 330a in FIG. 17A illustrates a tube that is long and thin and has a narrow opening, and the tip portion 330b in FIG. 17B illustrates a tip with a brush. The shapes of these tip portions 300a and 300b are exemplary, and various known cleaning tip portions may be used. Additionally, the extension pipe portion 320 may be flexible, have any wrinkle pattern, or be formed of a soft synthetic resin material, as a non-limiting example. The adapter unit 310 may be detachably assembled separately from the extension pipe unit 320 or may be integrated with each other, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show an example of using the docking station 100 as a separate vacuum cleaner or auxiliary cleaning means using a hose member according to various embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8A, the dust bin 220 of the cordless vacuum cleaner is automatically emptied by placing the cordless vacuum cleaner on the docking station 100, but there are cases where the dust inside the dust bin 220 is not completely removed due to accumulated use. there is. In this case, dust removal from the separated dust bin 220 or filters can be performed by coupling the hose member 300 to the docking station 100 and operating the motor using the stronger pumping pressure of the docking station 100. there is.

Referring to FIG. 8B, the hose member 300 may be used to clean another object, such as the dust bin 400 of a robot cleaner.

According to embodiments of the present invention, by connecting the hose member 300 to the gate portion 121 of the docking station 100, the range of use of the docking station 100, which takes up space, is further expanded, further increasing the advantage of space utilization. There are increasing benefits.

The present invention described above is not limited to the above-described embodiments and the accompanying drawings, and various substitutions, modifications and changes are possible without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention, which is known in the technical field to which the present invention belongs. It will be clear to those who have knowledge.

100: docking station
200: Cordless vacuum cleaner
1000: cleaning device

Claims (10)

A docking station that automatically charges the battery of the cordless vacuum cleaner when the cordless vacuum cleaner is mounted, removes contaminants collected in the dust bin of the cordless vacuum cleaner, and removes the contaminants,
A coupling portion on which at least a portion of the dust bin of the cordless vacuum cleaner can be seated;
a gate portion provided at the bottom of the coupling portion and capable of communicating with the dust bin;
a bag receiving portion in which the dust bag assembly is accommodated;
a collection passage connected from the gate portion to the bag receiving portion; and
A docking station including a motor for generating negative pressure in the collection passage and the bag receiving portion, According to claim 1,
A docking station wherein a connector portion is provided at an end of the collection passage, and an end of the connector portion passes through an inlet of the dust bag assembly and is drawn into the inside of the dust bag assembly. The method of claim 1 or 2,
The dust bag assembly,
a dust bag main body having an opening at the top;
It is coupled to the upper part of the dust bag main body, is configured to be detachable from the bag fastening part of the docking station, and includes an inlet limiter defining an inlet, wherein the inlet limiter is positioned in a direction in which dust is sucked during the dust emptying operation. a fastening frame member having an inner surface portion defining an internal space extending a predetermined length in a direction parallel to the;
a dust bag gate coupled to a lower portion of the fastening frame member and operating to open and close the inlet from inside the dust bag main body; and
A sealing member installed on the inner surface of the inlet limiting portion and having a structure extending from the inner surface toward the inner space,
In a state where the end of the collection passage or the end of the connection pipe part is introduced into the internal space and the sealing member seals the outer peripheral surface of the connection pipe part, the dust bag gate is opened by the dust emptying operation, and the dust bag gate is opened, and the dust bag gate is opened by the dust emptying operation. A docking station configured to close the dust bag gate upon completion of an emptying operation. According to claim 1,
The dust bin of the cordless vacuum cleaner includes a dust bin gate on a lower side,
The dust bin is supported on the coupling portion with the dust bin gate disposed in a horizontal direction, and during an automatic dust emptying operation of the docking station, dust is generated in the vertical direction through the gate portion of the docking station aligned with the dust bin gate. A docking station in which the dust bin gate is opened by negative pressure. According to claim 4,
A docking station in which the negative pressure is applied uniformly over the entire area except for the hinge of the dust bin gate. According to claim 4,
A docking station wherein the dust bin of the wireless vacuum cleaner includes a rear cap that opens the inside of the dust bin to clean the built-in filter unit. According to claim 4,
The dust bin of the cordless vacuum cleaner includes a filter unit inside,
The filter unit extends in the horizontal direction, and the dust bin gate exposes the filter unit in the vertical direction, forming suction pressure in a downward direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the filter unit during the dust emptying operation of the docking station. According to claim 1,
The coupling portion has a shape that protrudes forward so that the dust bin of the cordless vacuum cleaner is seated on the docking station in a horizontal direction,
The dust bin has a dust bin gate disposed on a side in the horizontal direction, and the gate portion communicating with the dust bin gate is exposed vertically upward from the bottom of the protruding coupling part. According to claim 8,
The docking station further includes a hose member inserted into the gate portion and used as a vacuum suction pipe when the docking station is started. According to clause 9,
The hose member further includes an adapter part inserted into the gate part, a tip part, and an extension pipe part between the adapter part and the tip part.

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