3967results about "Electric equipment installation" patented technology

An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a transport drive and control system arranged for autonomous movement of the robot over a floor for performing cleaning operations. The robot chassis carries a first cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arranged to suction loose particulates up from the cleaning surface and a second cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arraigned to apply a cleaning fluid onto the surface and to thereafter collect the cleaning fluid up from the surface after it has been used to clean the surface. The robot chassis carries a supply of cleaning fluid and a waste container for storing waste materials collected up from the cleaning surface.

A robot cleaner, a system thereof, and a method for controlling the same. The robot cleaner system includes a robot cleaner that performs a cleaning operation while communicating wirelessly with an external device. The robot cleaner has a plurality of proximity switches arranged in a row on a lower portion of the cleaner body. A guiding plate is disposed in the floor of the work area, the guiding plate having metal lines formed in a predetermined pattern, the metal lines being detectible by the proximity switches. Since the recognition of the location and the determination of traveling trajectory of the cleaner within a work area becomes easier, performance of the robot cleaner is enhanced, while a burden of having to process algorithms is lessened.

A robot cleaner system having an improved docking structure to allow a dust discharge port of a robot cleaner to come into close contact with a dust suction port of a docking station without an additional drive device. The robot cleaner system includes a robot cleaner having a dust discharge port, a docking station having a dust suction port to suction dust collected in the robot cleaner, and a docking device to perform a seesaw movement as it comes into contact with the robot cleaner when the robot cleaner docks with the docking station, so as to allow the dust suction port to come into close contact with the dust discharge port. The docking device further includes a link member installed in the docking station in a pivotally rotatable manner. The link member has one end provided with a contact portion to come into contact with the robot cleaner, and the other end provided with a docking portion defining the dust suction port therein.

A robot cleaner capable of returning to an external recharging device. The robot cleaner includes a driving portion for driving a plurality of wheels, at least one camera installed on a body of the robot cleaner, the camera for photographing external surroundings, and a controller for photographing an image through a camera for recognition of a connection position where the external recharging device is connected with the robot cleaner and stores the photographed image, and controls the driving portion so that the robot cleaner can move from the external recharging device to a destination when an operation start signal is received in the robot cleaner connected to the external recharging device, and for tracing a path to the connection position of the external recharging device and the robot cleaner during a robot cleaner's return to the external recharging device while comparing a current image currently taken by the camera with a stored image of the connection position of the robot cleaner and the external recharging device. Returning of the robot cleaner is carried out when the robot cleaner, separated from the external recharging device, completes its job or needs a recharging, by using the previously stored image and an image currently taken by the camera. Accordingly, an error in the location process, mainly caused due to external interference signals, is decreased, and errors in tracing a path and connecting to the external recharging device can also be decreased.

An autonomous mobile robot cleaner that can thoroughly clean an area of high dust concentration. The robot cleaner includes a dust sensor to detect collected dust and a dust concentration decision means to decide degree of dust concentration in the area in which the main body of the robot cleaner moves based on an output of the dust sensor. The robot cleaner performs a basic cleaning operation while moving according to a predetermined movement procedure. When it finds an area in which the degree of dust concentration is above a given value using the dust concentration decision means during the basic cleaning operation, it additionally performs a local cleaning operation to move locally in such area after its movement in accordance with the basic cleaning operation.

A search system for a tool. A border cable separates inner and outer areas. A generator feeds the border cable with current, whose magnetic field affects a sensing unit on the tool, and the sensing unit emits signals to a control unit that directs the tool's motion. The current contains at least two components of different frequency. A search cable is placed within the inner area so that it separates a search area, and is fed by a signal generator with an adapted current (e.g., the current direction alternates to be either in phase or out of phase in relation to the current direction in the border cable) so that the magnetic fields in the different areas provide at least three patterns. Accordingly, the control unit can separate the inner, outer, and search areas.

The invention relates to a method for operating a floor cleaning system having a central suction station with which there is associated a self-propelled and self-steering suction appliance, dirt being picked up from a floor surface that is to be cleaned by means of the suction appliance and being transferred into a dirt collection vessel of the suction appliance, and the suction station having a suction unit, and the dirt collection vessel being sucked out by means of the suction unit. To refine the method in such a manner that the levels of noise produced by the floor cleaning system can be reduced, it is proposed, according to the invention, that the suction unit is optionally operated with a maximum suction power or a reduced suction power. The invention also proposes a floor cleaning system for carrying out the method.

A robot cleaner system for detecting an external recharging apparatus which is positioned in a non-detectable area by an upper camera thereof, and a docking method for docking the robot cleaner system with the external recharging apparatus. The robot cleaner system includes an external recharging apparatus with a power terminal connected to a utility power supply, a recharging apparatus recognition mark formed on the external recharging apparatus, and a robot cleaner, having a recognition mark sensor that detects the recharging apparatus recognition mark, and a rechargeable battery. The robot cleaner automatically docks to the power terminal to recharge the rechargeable battery. The recharging apparatus recognition mark is made of retroreflective material or a metal tape, and the recognition mark sensor may be a photosensor or a proximity sensor.

A robot cleaner. The robot cleaner comprises a bumper for buffering a shock caused by a sudden collision with an unexpected obstacle, and an unexpected obstacle detecting means and a controller to change a running direction in the collision with the obstacle to avoid the obstacle. Accordingly, when an unexpected obstacle appears in front of the cleaner and the cleaner collides with the obstacle, the bumper buffers and absorbs the shock, thereby preventing damages to a cleaner body and inner parts. Also, the robot cleaner can avoid the obstacle, and thus complete a cleaning operation without stopping the cleaning operation.

A self-propelled cleaning device having a cylindrical side cover has a suction body capable of moving transversely to the forward direction. The side cover is held by a base via a suspension. When cleaning corners of a room, the suction body moves by a wall and as the suction body moves to a corner, the movement amount of the suction body is changed. When an obstacle touches the cleaning device, the side cover moves, and the article touches a side cover switch, and the direction of the article is detected.

An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a transport drive and control system arranged for autonomous movement of the robot over a floor for performing cleaning operations. The robot chassis carries a first cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arranged to suction loose particulates up from the cleaning surface and a second cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arraigned to apply a cleaning fluid onto the surface and to thereafter collect the cleaning fluid up from the surface after it has been used to clean the surface. The robot chassis carries a supply of cleaning fluid and a waste container for storing waste materials collected up from the cleaning surface.

In cleaning using a self-propelled cleaning device, firstly the cleaning device moves alongside a wall surface and then a reference direction is set. Next, the cleaning device advances alongside the wall surface at a prescribed distance, makes a right-angle turn, and travels in the reference direction. When the cleaning device reaches the surface of an opposing wall, it moves in a spiraling manner. At that time, the orientation angle of the cleaning device, which is estimated using a gyro sensor, is checked and corrected. If an obstacle is encountered while traveling, the cleaning device travels on a path that avoids the obstacle or travels in a spiral manner in a region in front of the obstacle.

A robot cleaner system and a method for the robot cleaner to return to an external recharging apparatus. The robot cleaner system has an external recharging apparatus including a charging stand having a charging terminal, and a plurality of transmission parts for sending signals having different codes and strengths; a robot cleaner including a rechargeable battery, a connection terminal for connection with the charging terminal to supply power to the rechargeable battery, a receiving part for receiving signals from the plurality of transmission parts, and a control part for controlling a movement of the robot cleaner using the signals received by the receiving part, so that the connection terminal is connected to the charging terminal.

A vacuum cleaner comprises adjacent housings, which contain the filtration and suction fan motor assembly of the vacuum cleaner.

The present invention discloses a system for automatically exchanging cleaning tools of a robot cleaner and a method therefor. The system for automatically exchanging the cleaning tools of the robot cleaner includes the robot cleaner for deciding whether a currently-mounted first cleaning tool is suitable for a bottom state of a cleaning area, and returning to and being docked on an exchange unit when the first cleaning tool is not suitable for the bottom state, and the exchange unit for exchanging the first cleaning tool currently mounted on the robot cleaner with a second cleaning tool suitable for the bottom state when the robot cleaner is docked.