IP Library Granted Patent US 9,192,272
Granted Patent B2
US 9,192,272 · App. 13/195,090 · Granted Nov 24, 2015

Robot cleaner and dust discharge station

Inventor: Tetsu Ota (Sagamihara, JP)
Assignee: Life Labo Corp.
A47L9/106A47L9/14A47L2201/024
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,192,272
App. No.
13/195,090
Granted
Nov 24, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An objective of the invention is to eliminate the need of a frequent dust waste by the user and to provide efficient device for wasting the dust that has been collected in the robot cleaner. The invention provides a robot cleaner capable of discharging dust out to a dust discharge station, wherein the robot cleaner is capable of moving autonomously to collect dust, the robot cleaner comprising: a dust container for storing dust; a dust inlet for collecting dust into the dust container; and an opening and closing mechanism of the dust container, provided at a bottom surface of the robot cleaner, for discharging dust collected in the dust container.

Claims (27)

1. A robot cleaner capable of discharging dust out to a dust discharge station, wherein the robot cleaner is capable of moving autonomously to collect dust, the robot cleaner comprising:

a dust container for storing dust;

a dust inlet for collecting dust into the dust container; and

an opening and closing mechanism of the dust container, provided at a bottom surface of the robot cleaner, for discharging dust collected in the dust container, wherein

the robot cleaner has a dust discharge enhancing mechanism for enhancing the discharge of dust, and

the dust discharge enhancing mechanism is selected from a group consisted of a blower for blowing dust in the dust container and discharging the blown dust into the robot cleaner station, a shake mechanism for shaking dust in the dust container and discharging the shaken dust into the dust discharge station, and an agitator comprised of a flexible string for removing dust from the dust container of the robot cleaner.

2. The robot cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein the robot cleaner moves to a dust discharge position in the dust discharge station autonomously.

3. The robot cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein the dust discharge enhancing mechanism is a blower for blowing dust in the dust container and discharging the blown dust into the robot cleaner station, and the blower blows air by rotating a fan reversely from a time when the robot cleaner collects dust via the dust inlet.

4. The robot cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein

the opening and closing mechanism includes: a cover plate for covering an opening of the dust container; and a closing bar for pushing the cover plate and closing the cover plate.

5. The robot cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein the opening and closing mechanism includes:

a cover plate for covering an opening of the dust container; and

rail guides that engage with the cover plate for guiding the cover plate upon opening and closing of the cover plate.

6. The robot cleaner according to claim 1 , wherein

the opening and closing mechanism includes a cover plate for covering an opening of the dust container, the cover plate including a pull/push member that is pulled and pushed for opening and closing the cover plate.

7. A robot cleaner capable of discharging dust out to a dust discharge station, wherein the robot cleaner is capable of moving autonomously to collect dust, the robot cleaner comprising:

a dust container for storing dust;

a dust inlet for collecting dust into the dust container; and

an opening and closing mechanism of the dust container, provided at a bottom surface of the robot cleaner, for discharging dust collected in the dust container, wherein

the opening and closing mechanism includes:

a cover plate for covering an opening of the dust container; and

rail guides that engage with the cover plate for guiding the cover plate upon opening and closing the cover plate.

8. The robot cleaner according to claim 7 , wherein

the cover plate includes a pull/push member that is pulled and pushed for a user of the robot cleaner to pull and push the pull/push member manually to open and close the cover plate.

9. The robot cleaner according to claim 7 , wherein

the robot cleaner has a dust discharge enhancing mechanism for enhancing the discharge of dust, wherein

the dust discharge enhancing mechanism is a blower for blowing dust in the dust container and discharging the blown dust into the robot cleaner station, and the blower blows air by rotating a fan reversely from a time when the robot cleaner collects dust via the dust inlet.

Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61367723 · Jul 26, 2010
Related Publication 20130031744A1 · Feb 7, 2013