Cleaning device, cleaning system and control method

Abstract

The invention provides a cleaning device, a cleaning system and a control method. The cleaning device comprises a first component, a sealing piece and a locking piece, and the sealing piece has a first state and a second state; in the first state, the sealing piece at least partially seals the first component; in the second state, the sealing piece enables at least part of the first component to be communicated with the outside of the first component; the locking piece comprises a locking part and a driving part, and in the first state, the locking part locks the sealing piece; and the driving part is configured to be capable of driving the locking part to unlock the sealing element and enable the sealing element to be switched from the first state to the second state. According to the cleaning device provided by the invention, the sealing failure of the sealing element of the cleaning device can be prevented, the reliability of the sealing state is improved, the state switching operation of the sealing element is simplified to a greater extent, and the convenience is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of cleaning devices, and more specifically, relates to a cleaning device and control method. Background Technology

[0002] Cleaning devices often require openable seals on some components to create negative pressure and load contaminants. However, these openable seals are prone to failure. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this application is to provide a cleaning device, cleaning system, and control method to solve the technical problem of failure of openable seals in the prior art.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted in this application is: to provide a cleaning device, the cleaning device comprising:

[0005] First component;

[0006] A seal has a first state and a second state; in the first state, the seal at least partially closes a first member; in the second state, the seal allows the first member to communicate at least partially with the outside of the first member.

[0007] The locking element includes a locking part and a driving part. In a first state, the locking part locks the seal. The driving part is configured to drive the locking part to release the seal and switch the seal from the first state to a second state.

[0008] Optionally, the cleaning device also includes a drive unit for driving the locking part to release the seal from the lock and causing the seal to switch from the first state to the second state.

[0009] Optionally, the cleaning device also includes a reset member connected to a locking member, the reset member being configured to drive the locking part to lock the seal in a first state.

[0010] Optionally, the first component is provided with at least one opening, through which the first component communicates with the outside;

[0011] In the first state, the seal closes at least one opening to at least partially close the first member; in the second state, the seal opens at least one opening to allow the first member to at least partially communicate with the outside of the first member.

[0012] Optionally, the locking member includes a hinge portion that is hinged to the sealing member, and both the locking portion and the driving portion are connected to the hinge portion. The locking portion includes a hook-shaped structure.

[0013] In the first state, the locking part is hooked with the first component to keep the seal in the first state;

[0014] The drive unit is configured to drive the locking member to rotate about the hinge in a first direction so as to disengage the locking member from the first member.

[0015] Optionally, the hook-shaped structure has a contact surface located on the inner side of the hook-shaped structure; in the first state, the contact surface is in contact with and hooked with the first member;

[0016] The contact surface is offset from the inside of the hook-shaped structure at the tangential surface of the contact surface with the rotation axis of the hinge as the center. The inside of the hook-shaped structure is the side of the hook-shaped structure facing the rotation axis. Preferably, the offset angle is greater than 3°.

[0017] Optionally, the cleaning device includes a fixing member, and the sealing member is provided with a first seat and a second seat at the position corresponding to the hinge part. The first seat is provided with a hinge hole and the second seat is provided with a hinge groove.

[0018] One end of the hinge is hinged in the hinge hole and the other end is hinged in the hinge groove. The fastener is detachably connected to the second base and covers at least part of the hinge groove to restrict the end of the hinge within the hinge groove.

[0019] Optionally, the locking member further includes a guide portion connected to the hinge portion, and the guide portion includes an arcuate portion centered on the rotation axis of the hinge portion;

[0020] A limiting groove is provided on the seal at the position corresponding to the arc-shaped part along the rotation direction of the guide part, and the arc-shaped part is set in the limiting groove.

[0021] Optionally, the cleaning device further includes a drive unit located between the drive unit and the seal, the drive unit being configured to push the drive unit to cause the locking member to rotate about the hinge in a first direction, and to push the seal to switch from a first state to a second state via the drive unit.

[0022] Optionally, the driving part is provided with an abutment surface on the side facing the seal, the abutment surface being used to abut against and push the seal;

[0023] And / or, the driving part is provided with an abutment groove on the side facing the driving member, and the driving member is used to abut against the abutment groove to push the driving part.

[0024] Optionally, the sealing structure further includes a reset member, which includes an elastic element connected to the locking member. The elastic element is configured to drive the locking member to rotate about the hinge in the opposite direction of the first direction so that the locking member engages with the first member.

[0025] Optionally, the elastic element includes a torsion spring, and the locking part has a notch on the side facing the first direction. The torsion spring is sleeved on the hinge part, and one end of the torsion spring is disposed in the notch, while the other end abuts against the sealing element, so as to drive the locking element to rotate around the hinge part in the opposite direction of the first direction.

[0026] This application also provides a cleaning system, the cleaning system comprising:

[0027] The aforementioned cleaning device;

[0028] Base station, used to connect to cleaning equipment;

[0029] When the cleaning device is connected to the base station, the driving unit drives the locking unit to release the seal, and the seal switches from the first state to the second state so that the first component can be connected to the base station.

[0030] Optionally, the cleaning device includes a suction device and a dust cup assembly. The suction device is the first component. A separation component is provided inside the dust cup, and the separation component divides the internal space of the dust cup into a first space and a second space. The suction device is provided with a first opening and a second opening. The base station includes a dust collection mechanism. The first opening is used to communicate with the dust collection mechanism, and the second opening is used to communicate with the first space.

[0031] In the first state, the seal closes the first opening and opens the second opening so that the suction device can communicate with the first space, and the separation component separates and stores the dirt into the second space.

[0032] In the second state, the second space is connected to the dust collection mechanism, and the seal closes the second opening and opens the first opening so that the dust collection mechanism is connected to the suction device.

[0033] This application also provides a control method applied to a cleaning device, the cleaning device including a first component having a seal, the control method comprising:

[0034] The locking member is driven to release the lock from the seal, so that the seal switches from a first state to a second state, wherein the seal has a first state that at least partially closes the first member, and a second state that allows the first member to at least partially communicate with the outside world, and the locking member is used to lock the seal in the first state.

[0035] The beneficial effects of the cleaning device, cleaning system and control method provided in this application are as follows: Compared with the prior art, the embodiments of this application adopt a seal that can switch between two states and use a locking member to lock the seal, thereby preventing the seal from failing to close and improving the reliability of the closed state. The locking member has a driving part, which can release the lock of the seal and switch the seal 2 between the closed state and the open state by driving the driving part, thereby greatly simplifying the operation of the seal state switching and improving convenience. Attached Figure Description

[0036] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0037] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram showing the seal in its first state and the locking member locking the seal in an embodiment of this application;

[0038] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the seal being in the first state but the locking member releasing the seal in an embodiment of this application;

[0039] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the seal in the second state in an embodiment of this application;

[0040] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the locking element from one perspective in an embodiment of this application;

[0041] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the locking component from another perspective in an embodiment of this application;

[0042] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the offset angle of the contact surface in an embodiment of this application;

[0043] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the engagement of the locking element and the sealing element in an embodiment of this application;

[0044] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the sealing element in an embodiment of this application;

[0045] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram showing the cooperation of the driving component, locking component, and sealing component in the embodiments of this application;

[0046] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram showing the cleaning device in use in an embodiment of this application;

[0047] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the cleaning device discharging waste to the base station in an embodiment of this application;

[0048] In the figure, the reference numerals are as follows: first component 1, sealing component 2, first seat 21, second seat 22, limiting groove 23, locking component 3, locking part 31, hook structure 311, contact surface 3111, cut surface 3112, notch 312, driving part 32, abutting surface 321, abutting groove 322, hinge part 33, guide part 34, arc-shaped part 341, driving component 4, resetting component 5, fixing component 6, cleaning device 100, suction device 10, dust cup assembly 20, separation assembly 201, first space 202, second space 203, base station 200, dust collection mechanism 210, first direction A, offset angle α. Detailed Implementation

[0049] To make the technical problems, technical solutions, and beneficial effects to be solved by this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0050] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another component, it can be directly on or indirectly on that other component. When a component is referred to as being "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to or indirectly connected to that other component.

[0051] It should be understood that the terms "length", "width", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0052] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0053] Please see Figures 1 to 4 The cleaning apparatus 100 provided in the embodiments of this application will now be described. The cleaning apparatus 100 includes:

[0054] First component 1;

[0055] The seal 2 has a first state and a second state; in the first state, the seal 2 at least partially closes the first member 1; in the second state, the seal 2 allows the first member 1 to communicate at least partially with the outside of the first member 1.

[0056] The locking member 3 includes a locking part 31 and a driving part 32. In a first state, the locking part 31 locks the seal 2. The driving part 32 is configured to drive the locking part 31 to release the seal 2 from the first state and switch the seal 2 from the second state.

[0057] The cleaning device 100 can be a vacuum cleaner, a robot vacuum cleaner, a floor scrubber, or other devices. Some components of these devices usually need to be sealed and opened. In this embodiment, the first component 1 can typically be a basic component of the cleaning device 100, which is the object to be sealed. For example, it can be the housing of the cleaning device 100, a waste storage container, or a suction device 10, etc. These basic components can be equipped with openable seals.

[0058] The seal 2 is used to seal the first component 1, and can be a rotary seal structure, a sliding seal structure, a spiral seal structure, etc. Depending on the different operating states of the equipment, the seal 2 can switch between a first state and a second state. The first state is the closed state of the seal 2. Figure 1 and Figure 2 All states of the seal 2 shown are in a closed state. In the closed state, the seal 2 at least partially closes the first component 1, partially sealing the internal space of the first component 1 from the outside. Specifically, the seal 2 may only close a portion of the first component 1; for example, the first component 1 may have multiple openings, and the seal 2 may only close one of them. Of course, the seal 2 may also completely close the first component 1. The second state is the open state of the seal 2 on the first component 1. In the open state, the seal 2 allows the first component 1 to communicate at least partially with the outside of the first component 1. It should be noted that the outside here can refer to the outside of the first component 1, not necessarily the outside of the cleaning device 100. For example, the seal 2 can be used to close and open the communication between the first component 1 and another component in the cleaning device 100, in which case the other component is also the outside of the first component 1. When the seal 2 switches to the second state, it allows the first component 1 to communicate at least partially with the outside, which can be used to facilitate processes such as air duct switching and dirt discharge in the cleaning device 100.

[0059] Since the seal 2 is openable, it is prone to sealing failure. Therefore, the cleaning device 100 of this embodiment also includes a locking member 3. The locking part 31 of the locking member 3 is used to lock the seal 2, ensuring that the seal 2 can maintain a first state, i.e., a closed state, thereby preventing the seal 2 from failing to close and improving the reliability of the closed state. The locking part 31 can be locked in various ways, such as hooking, snapping, or abutting. In addition to the locking part 31, the locking member 3 of this embodiment may also have a driving part 32. The driving part 32 is configured to drive the locking part 31 to release the lock of the seal 2 and switch the seal 2 from the first state to the second state. The driving part 32 has two functions: by driving the driving part 32, the locking of the seal 2 by the locking member 3 can be released, and the closed state and open state of the seal 2 can be switched. Figure 1 As shown, seal 2 is in a closed state, and locking element 3 locks seal 2; Figure 2 As shown, the locking member 3 releases the lock on the seal 2 using the driving unit 32, but at this time, the seal 2 is still in a closed state; as Figure 3 After unlocking, the drive unit 32 further drives the seal 2 to open, that is, the seal 2 changes from a closed state to an open state. In this way, unlocking and opening of the seal 2 can be completed under the drive of the same drive unit 4, thereby greatly simplifying the operation of switching the seal state and improving convenience.

[0060] Please see Figures 1 to 3 In some embodiments of this application, the cleaning device 100 further includes a drive member 4, which is used to drive the locking part 31 to release the lock of the seal 2 and drive the seal 2 to switch from the first state to the second state.

[0061] The driving component 4 is used to drive the locking component 3 and the sealing component 2. It can be a component of the cleaning device 100 or a component of other supporting equipment. In this embodiment, the driving component 4 is a component of the cleaning device 100. The driving component 4 can adopt various driving methods depending on the form of the locking component 3, such as lifting, pushing, and pulling. The power of the driving component 4 can include mechanical, electrical, or manual power. In addition, the driving component 4 can be directly connected to the locking part 31 of the locking component 3, or it can be separate from the locking part 31 and only act on the locking part 31 of the locking component 3 when it is necessary to open the sealing component 2.

[0062] Please see Figure 7 In some embodiments of this application, the cleaning device 100 further includes a reset member 5, which is connected to the locking member 3. The reset member 5 is configured to drive the locking part 31 to lock the seal 2 in a first state.

[0063] The locking element 3 can lock the sealing element 2. In this embodiment, the reset element 5 can drive the locking part 31 to lock the sealing element 2 in the first state, thereby realizing the self-locking function of the locking element 3. That is, when the sealing element 2 is in a closed state, the locking part 31 of the locking element 3 can automatically lock the sealing element 2 under the reset drive of the reset element 5, preventing seal failure. The reset element 5 can be an elastic element such as a tension spring or torsion spring to achieve reset, or it can be reset by gravity or magnetic force. Figure 7 In the embodiment shown, the reset element 5 is a torsion spring.

[0064] Please see Figure 1 In some embodiments of this application, the first component 1 is provided with at least one opening, and the first component 1 communicates with the outside through the opening; in a first state, the seal 2 closes at least one opening to at least partially close the first component 1; in a second state, the seal 2 opens at least one opening to allow the first component 1 to communicate at least partially with the outside of the first component 1.

[0065] In this embodiment, the first component 1 is provided with at least one opening, through which the first component 1 communicates with the outside. These openings can be airflow channels, dirt channels, etc., for the first component 1. Under different circumstances, the first component 1 may need to close and open these openings. The sealing member 2 is used to close or open these openings, thereby controlling the communication state between the first component 1 and the outside. Specifically, in the first state, i.e., the closed state, the sealing member 2 closes at least one opening, disconnecting the communication between that opening and the outside, thereby at least partially closing the first component 1. In the second state, i.e., the open state, the sealing member 2 opens at least one opening, opening the communication between that opening and the outside, thereby allowing the first component 1 to at least partially communicate with the outside.

[0066] Please see Figure 4 and Figure 7 In some embodiments of this application, the locking member 3 includes a hinge portion 33, which is hinged to the sealing member 2. The locking portion 31 and the driving portion 32 are both connected to the hinge portion 33. The locking portion 31 includes a hook-shaped structure 311. In the first state, the locking portion 31 is hooked to the first member 1 to keep the sealing member 2 in the first state. The driving portion 32 is configured to drive the locking member 3 to rotate about the hinge portion 33 in the first direction A so that the locking portion 31 is disengaged from the first member 1.

[0067] As mentioned earlier, the locking part 31 of the locking member 3 can lock the sealing member 2 in various ways, such as hooking, snapping, or abutting. In this embodiment, the locking member 3 includes a hinge part 33, which is hinged to the sealing member 2, allowing the hinge part 33 to rotate relative to the sealing member 2. Both the locking part 31 and the driving part 32 are connected to the hinge part 33. The locking part 31 can rotate with the hinge part 33, while the driving part 32 can drive the hinge part 33 to rotate, thereby causing the entire locking member 3 to rotate.

[0068] The locking part 31 includes a hook-shaped structure 311, allowing it to hook onto other components. Therefore, in the first state, i.e., the closed state of the seal 2, the locking part 31 hooks onto the first component 1, thus keeping the seal 2 closed. The driving part 32 can drive the locking part 3 to rotate as a whole. When the driving part 32 drives the locking part 3 to rotate around the hinge part 33 along the first direction A, the locking part 31 disengages from the first component 1, thereby releasing the lock on the seal 2. Therefore, the first direction A here refers to the direction in which the rotation of the locking part 3 causes the locking part 31 to disengage from the first component 1. Correspondingly, when the seal 2 changes from the open state to the closed state, the locking part 3 can rotate in the opposite direction of the first direction A, allowing its locking part 31 to hook onto the first component 1 and lock the seal 2. This embodiment utilizes the rotation of the locking member 3 to achieve the hook-like structure 311 of the locking part 31 to hook and unhook with the first component 1. The locking member 3 is hinged to the sealing member 2 by its hinge part 33. Therefore, by driving the driving part 32 of the locking member 3, not only can the hook be unhooked to release the locking of the sealing member 2, but the sealing member 2 can also be driven to open, thereby switching it from a closed state to an open state.

[0069] Please see Figure 5 and Figure 6 In some embodiments of this application, the hook structure 311 has a contact surface 3111 located on the inner side of the hook structure 311; in the first state, the contact surface 3111 is in contact with and hooked to the first member 1; the contact surface 3111 is offset towards the inner side of the hook structure 3111 relative to the rotation axis of the hinge portion 33 at the position of the tangent 3112 of the contact surface 3111, and the inner side of the hook structure 311 is the side of the hook structure 311 facing the rotation axis.

[0070] In this embodiment, the locking member 3 is hooked to the first member 1 by the hook-shaped structure 311, thereby locking the seal 2. However, if the hook-shaped structure 311 and the first member 1 become disengaged due to vibration or other factors, the locking of the seal 2 cannot be maintained. In this embodiment, the hook-shaped structure 311 is hooked to the first member 1 through its inner contact surface 3111; the inner side of the hook-shaped structure 311 refers to the side of the hook-shaped structure 311 facing the rotation axis. Figure 6As shown, the contact surface 3111 is offset inward from the tangent 3112 at the position of the contact surface 3111 with the rotation axis of the hinge portion 33 as the center. When the hook structure 311 is subjected to a force along the first direction A, i.e., the unlocking direction, the offset portion of the contact surface 3111 will prevent the contact surface 3111 from disengaging from the first member 1. This means that the contact surface 3111 has an offset angle α relative to the tangent 3112, which can also be called a self-locking angle. The existence of this offset angle α can effectively prevent the hook structure 311 from disengaging from the first member 1. For example, the offset angle α can be 0.5°, 1°, 1.5°, 2°, or 2.5°, etc. To achieve a better self-locking effect, the offset angle α can be greater than 3°, for example, it can be 3.5°, 5°, 7°, 8.5°, 9°, 10°, 13°, 15°, 20°, 25°, 28°, 30°, 35°, 40°, 45°, etc.

[0071] Please see Figure 7 and Figure 8 In some embodiments of this application, the cleaning device 100 includes a fixing member 6, and a sealing member 2 is provided with a first seat 21 and a second seat 22 at the position corresponding to the hinge portion 33. The first seat 21 is provided with a hinge hole, and the second seat 22 is provided with a hinge groove. One end of the hinge portion 33 is hinged in the hinge hole, and the other end is hinged in the hinge groove. The fixing member 6 is detachably connected to the second seat 22 and covers at least part of the hinge groove to restrict the end of the hinge portion 33 within the hinge groove.

[0072] The locking member 3 is hinged to the sealing member 2 via its hinge portion 33. In this embodiment, the sealing member 2 is provided with a first seat 21 and a second seat 22. These two seats provide a base for the connection of the hinge portion 33. The first seat 21 has a hinge hole, which is where one end of the hinge portion 33 will be inserted and hinged. The second seat 22 has a hinge groove, where the other end of the hinge portion 33 will be inserted and hinged. The design of the hinge portion 33 allows one end to connect to the hinge hole of the first seat 21 and the other end to connect to the hinge groove of the second seat 22, realizing a flexible rotational connection. The fixing member 6 is detachably connected to the second seat 22, which can be easily installed or removed as needed. The fixing member 6 covers at least a portion of the hinge groove, thereby restricting the end of the hinge portion 33 within the hinge groove, thus realizing the hinged installation of the hinge portion 33. The fastener 6 can be connected to the second seat 22 by screws, snap-fit, etc. Screw connections are relatively stable, but care must be taken to ensure that the screw holes are positioned away from the end of the hinge 33. For example, the screws can be placed on either side of the second seat 22. However, in cases where… Figure 7 In the embodiment shown, the fastener 6 can be fixed with only one screw, which is located at the end of the fastener 6 away from the hinge portion 33.

[0073] When installing the locking member 3, one end of the hinge part 33 is usually inserted into the hinge hole of the first base 21, and the other end is placed into the hinge groove of the second base 22. Then, the fixing member 6 is installed on the second base 22 to cover the hinge groove and restrict the end of the hinge part 33 within the hinge groove. In this way, both ends of the hinge part 33 can achieve stable hinge.

[0074] Please see Figure 4 and Figure 7 and Figure 8 In some embodiments of this application, the locking member 3 further includes a guide portion 34, which is connected to the hinge portion 33, and the guide portion 34 includes an arc-shaped portion 341 centered on the rotation axis of the hinge portion 33; a limiting groove 23 is provided on the sealing member 2 at the position corresponding to the arc-shaped portion 341 along the rotation direction of the guide portion 34, and the arc-shaped portion 341 is disposed in the limiting groove 23.

[0075] The locking member 3 rotates relative to the sealing member 2 and engages with the first component 1. To ensure stable engagement and disengagement of the locking member 3 each time, the rotational stability of the locking member 3 needs to be guaranteed to maintain a stable rotational trajectory, thereby ensuring stable engagement and disengagement with the first component 1 each time. In this embodiment, the locking member 3 also includes a guide portion 34, which includes an arc-shaped portion 341 centered on the rotation axis of the hinge portion 33. The arc-shaped portion 341 is disposed within the limiting groove 23, which can limit and guide the arc-shaped portion 341, thereby improving the rotational stability of the locking member 3. At the same time, since the arc-shaped portion 341 is centered on the rotation axis of the hinge portion 33, the distance between the arc-shaped portion 341 and the bottom of the limiting groove 23 will not change when the hinge portion 33 rotates around the rotation axis, thus ensuring that the arc-shaped portion 341 can always be stably restricted by the limiting groove 23 and will not interfere with the bottom of the limiting groove 23. The arc-shaped part 341 can be designed to fit tightly against the bottom of the limiting groove 23, thereby limiting the arc-shaped part 341 in three directions by the bottom and sides of the limiting groove 23, further improving the stability of the limiting guide, and thus improving the stability of the rotation of the locking member 3, so that it can accurately hook and disengage with the first member 1.

[0076] Please see Figure 9 In some embodiments of this application, the cleaning device 100 further includes a drive member 4, and a drive part 32 is located between the drive member 4 and the seal 2. The drive member 4 is configured to push the drive part 32 to cause the locking member 3 to rotate about the hinge part 33 in a first direction A, and to push the seal 2 to switch from a first state to a second state through the drive part 32.

[0077] As mentioned earlier, the driving component 4 can be a part included in the cleaning device 100 itself or a component on other equipment. In this embodiment, the driving component 4 is part of the cleaning device 100 itself. When the locking component 3 rotates and hooks onto the first member 1 to lock the seal 2, the driving part 32 is positioned between the driving component 4 and the seal 2. Thus, when the driving component 4 pushes the driving part 32 of the locking component 3, it can further push the seal 2. Therefore, when the driving component 4 pushes the driving part 32 in this embodiment, it first causes the locking component 3 to rotate around the hinge part 33 along the first direction A, thereby disengaging the locking component 3 from the first member 1 and releasing the lock on the seal 2. When the driving component 4 continues to push the driving part 32, the driving part 32 can contact the seal 2, thereby pushing the seal 2 from the first state to the second state, that is, the seal 2 is pushed open, changing from a closed state to an open state. The driving component 4 can be a pneumatic push rod, an electric push rod, or a non-powered push rod, which, together with the weight of the cleaning device 100 itself, pushes the driving unit 32.

[0078] Please see Figure 4 In some embodiments of this application, the driving part 32 has an abutment surface 321 on the side facing the seal 2. The abutment surface 321 is used to abut and push the seal 2. In this embodiment, the main function of the abutment surface 321 is to abut and push the seal 2. Because it is set on the side of the driving part 32 facing the seal 2, when the driving part 4 pushes the driving part 32, the abutment surface 321 of the driving part 32 will contact the seal 2 and apply a pushing force to it, thereby changing the state of the seal 2. The setting of the abutment surface 321 can make the driving part 32 and the seal 2 have a larger contact area 3111, thereby improving the force-bearing performance.

[0079] Please see Figure 4 In some embodiments of this application, the driving part 32 is provided with an abutment groove 322 on the side facing the driving member 4. The driving member 4 abuts against the abutment groove 322 to push the driving part 32. Under the drive of the driving member 4, the driving part 32 rotates around the hinge part 33. Therefore, in order to enable the driving member 4 to stably apply thrust to the driving part 32, an abutment groove 322 is provided on the side of the driving part 32 facing the driving member 4. The driving member 4 can abut against the abutment groove 322, thereby preventing accidental slippage at the contact point between the driving member 4 and the driving part 32, and thus ensuring the stability of the driving member 4 in pushing the driving part 32.

[0080] Please see Figure 7In some embodiments of this application, the sealing structure further includes a reset member 5. The reset member 5 includes an elastic member connected to the locking member 3. The elastic member is configured to drive the locking member 3 to rotate about the hinge portion 33 in the opposite direction of the first direction A, so that the locking portion 31 is hooked with the first member 1. The elastic member refers to a spring, sheet, torsion spring, etc., which is a part that can provide elastic force, and its elastic force can serve as the reset force of the reset member 5. The elastic member is connected to the locking member 3 and can drive the locking member 3 to rotate about the hinge portion 33 in the opposite direction of the first direction A. The first direction A is the unlocking direction of the locking member 3, so the opposite direction of the first direction A is the direction in which the locking member 3 returns to the hooked state. The elastic member can drive the locking member 3 to rotate about the hinge portion 33 in the opposite direction of the first direction A, so that the hook-shaped structure 311 of the locking member 3 can rotate to hook with the first member 1, thereby locking the sealing member 2 with the locking portion 31 to maintain the first state of the sealing member 2, that is, the closed state.

[0081] Please see Figure 7 In some embodiments of this application, the elastic element of the reset member 5 includes a torsion spring. The locking part 31 is provided with a notch 312 on the side facing the first direction A. The torsion spring is sleeved on the hinge part 33, and one end of the torsion spring is disposed in the notch 312, while the other end abuts against the sealing member 2, so as to drive the locking member 3 to rotate around the hinge part 33 in the opposite direction of the first direction A.

[0082] As mentioned earlier, the elastic element can be a spring, a sheet spring, a torsion spring, etc. In this embodiment, a torsion spring is used as the elastic element. The torsion spring can be sleeved on the hinge part 33, which is easy to assemble and occupies little space. The locking part 31 has a notch 312 on the side facing the first direction A, so that one end of the torsion spring can be inserted into the notch 312 and the other end of the torsion spring abuts against the sealing member 2. Therefore, under the action of the elastic force of the torsion spring itself, it can provide a pushing force to the side of the locking part 31 facing the first direction A, that is, the side where the notch 312 is located. This pushing force can push the locking part 31 to move in the opposite direction of the first direction A, thereby driving the locking member 3 to reset, so that its locking part 31 hooks with the first member 1, and the locking part 31 locks the sealing member 2 in a closed state. The existence of the notch 312 provides a stable force point for the contact between the end of the torsion spring and the locking part 31, thereby preventing the end of the torsion spring from slipping. Furthermore, the torsion spring directly contacts the locking part 31 and drives it, which ensures that the spring force acts directly on the locking part 31, which needs to be reset to the lock, as much as possible, thereby ensuring the efficient use of the spring force.

[0083] Please see Figure 11 Based on the aforementioned cleaning device 100, this application also discloses a cleaning system, the cleaning system comprising:

[0084] The aforementioned cleaning device 100;

[0085] Base station 200 is used to dock with cleaning device 100;

[0086] When the cleaning device 100 is connected to the base station 200, the driving unit 32 drives the locking unit 31 to release the lock of the seal 2, and the seal 2 switches from the first state to the second state so that the first component 1 is connected to the base station 200.

[0087] In the cleaning system, the cleaning device 100 is mainly used for cleaning and collecting dirt. For example, the cleaning device 100 can be a robotic vacuum cleaner, a handheld vacuum cleaner, etc. These cleaning devices 100 usually require maintenance by the base station 200. The base station 200 can perform multiple functions for the cleaning device 100, such as dirt cleaning, mopping and wiping, and charging. In performing these functions, it is often necessary to connect some components of the cleaning device 100, namely the first component 1 in this case, to the base station 200. For example, when cleaning the dirt collected in the cleaning device 100, it is necessary to connect the dirt storage container of the cleaning device 100 to the base station 200, so as to transfer the dirt from the dirt storage container of the cleaning device 100 to the base station 200. In addition to the transfer of dirt, the first component 1 of the cleaning device 100 can also be connected to the base station 200 to enable the flow of air and water, so as to realize functions such as suction and rinsing of the first component 1 or other components of the cleaning device 100.

[0088] To ensure that the first component 1 of the cleaning device 100 maintains a good seal when it is not connected to the base station 200, such as in use or other non-idle states, and to prevent problems such as dirt leakage or reduced negative pressure, the locking member 3 locks the sealing member 2 to maintain a good closed state. When the cleaning device 100 is connected to the base station 200, it is necessary to connect the first component 1 to the base station 200. Therefore, the driving unit 32 can drive the locking unit 31 to release the lock of the sealing member 2, and the sealing member 2 switches from the first state to the second state, that is, from the closed state to the open state. In this way, the first component 1 and the base station 200 can be connected, so that the base station 200 can maintain the cleaning device 100.

[0089] Please see Figure 10 and 11 In some embodiments of this application, the cleaning device 100 includes a suction device 10 and a dust cup assembly 20. The suction device 10 is a first component 1. A separation component 201 is provided inside the dust cup, and the separation component 201 divides the internal space of the dust cup into a first space 202 and a second space 203. The suction device 10 is provided with a first opening and a second opening. The base station 200 includes a dust collection mechanism 210. The first opening is used to communicate with the dust collection mechanism 210, and the second opening is used to communicate with the first space 202.

[0090] In the first state, the seal 2 closes the first opening and opens the second opening so that the suction device 10 is connected to the first space 202, and the separation component 201 separates and stores the dirt into the second space 203. It can be understood that in the first state, the cleaning device 100 can perform surface cleaning functions, such as vacuuming, floor washing and other cleaning functions.

[0091] In the second state, the second space 203 is connected to the dust collection mechanism 210, and the seal 2 closes the second opening and opens the first opening, so that the dust collection mechanism 210 is connected to the suction device 10. It can be understood that in the second state, the cleaning device 100 can perform self-empty cleaning, so that the dust in the dust cup assembly 20 is discharged to the dust collection mechanism 210 of the base station 200.

[0092] The cleaning device 100 includes a suction device 10, which primarily generates suction to remove dirt. This suction device can be a cyclone separator, vacuum pump, or similar component. The dust cup assembly 20, in conjunction with its internal separation component 201, separates and collects the suctioned dirt. The separation component 201 divides the internal space of the dust cup into a first space 202 and a second space 203. The first space 202 communicates with the suction device 10, creating negative pressure in the dust cup assembly 20. The second space 203 of the dust cup assembly 20 typically also connects to a vacuum head, mop, or other structures to draw dirt from the outside. Once dirt is drawn into the dust cup assembly 20, it is collected in the second space 203 due to the presence of the separation component 201. The separation component 201 can be a filter screen, filter paper, HEPA filter, sponge, etc., and the specific choice depends on the cleaning object and the type of dirt. The dust collection mechanism 210 collects dirt transferred from the cleaning device to the base station and is typically equipped with a dust bag or other container for collecting dirt. When it is necessary to clean the dirt in the second space 203, the cleaning device 100 and the base station 200 can be connected to make the second space 203 connected to the dust collection mechanism 210 of the base station 200, so that the dirt can be transferred from the second space 203 of the dust cup to the dust collection mechanism 210.

[0093] It should be noted that the dust cup assembly 20 used to store waste in this embodiment is not the first component 1 referred to in this embodiment. The first component 1 is the suction device 10, the sealing object corresponding to the sealing member 2 is the first opening, and the locking member 3 is also used to lock the sealing member 2 to the first opening. Figure 10 As shown, when the cleaning device 100 is in use, the seal 2 is in the first state, closing the first opening and opening the second opening, so that the suction device 10 is connected to the first space 202. The suction device 10 draws air from the dust cup assembly 20, creating negative pressure. The airflow flows in the direction shown by the arrow, sucking external dirt into the dust cup assembly 20. The separation component 201 separates and stores the dirt into the second space 203. Figure 11As shown, when the device is being maintained, it is connected to the base station 200, and the second space 203 is connected to the dust collection mechanism 210, allowing dirt to enter the dust collection mechanism 210. The seal 2 changes from the first state to the second state, opening the first opening to connect the dust collection mechanism 210 to the suction device 10, while simultaneously closing the second opening. When the suction device 10 draws air, a negative pressure is generated in the dust collection mechanism 210 through the first opening, while the second opening is closed, preventing negative pressure from being generated in the dust cup assembly 20. The airflow flows in the direction indicated by the arrow, thus discharging the dirt in the second space 203 of the dust cup assembly 20 to the dust collection mechanism 210, achieving efficient and rapid cleaning of dirt. However, since the first opening is open and the second opening is closed when the cleaning device 100 is connected to the base station 200, the force exerted by the seal 2 to close the first opening cannot be too great; otherwise, the seal 2 will have difficulty opening the first opening when the cleaning device 100 is connected to the base station 200. When using the cleaning device 100, if the negative pressure generated by the suction device 10 in the dust cup assembly 20 is large, the pressure generated on the seal 2 may overcome the sealing force of the seal 2 on the first opening, causing the seal 2 to open and the seal to fail. This phenomenon is more likely to occur when the cleaning device 100 is blocked.

[0094] In this embodiment, when the sealing member 2 is in the state of closing the first opening (i.e., the first state), the locking part 31 of the locking member 3 can lock the sealing member 2, thereby effectively preventing the sealing member 2 from failing to seal the first opening. When the cleaning device 100 docks with the base station 200, the locking part 31 can be driven by the driving part 32 to release the lock of the sealing member 2, and the sealing member 2 switches from the first state to the second state, thereby closing the second opening and opening the first opening, facilitating the aforementioned dirt cleaning process. The driving part 32 can be driven by the driving member 4 of the cleaning device 100 itself, or by the driving member 4 of the base station 200. For example, the push rod of the cleaning device 100 can be used. When the cleaning device 100 is placed on the base station 200, the push rod automatically rises under the pressure of the cleaning device 100 and the base station 200, applying force to the driving part 32 of the locking member 3, releasing the lock of the sealing member 2, and switching the sealing member 2 from the first state to the second state. As for the specific configuration of the locking member 3 and the driving member 4 in the cleaning device 100, please refer to the content of the various embodiments of the cleaning device 100 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0095] Based on the above-described cleaning device 100, this application also provides a control method applied to the cleaning device 100, the cleaning device 100 including a first component 1 having a seal 2, the control method including:

[0096] The locking member 3 is released from the lock of the seal 2 so that the seal 2 switches from a first state to a second state. The seal 2 has a first state that at least partially closes the first member 1 and a second state that allows the first member 1 to at least partially communicate with the outside world. The locking member 3 is used to lock the seal 2 in the first state.

[0097] The cleaning device 100 can be a vacuum cleaner, a robot vacuum cleaner, a floor scrubber, or other devices. Some components of these devices usually need to be sealed and opened. In this embodiment, the first component 1 can typically be a basic component of the cleaning device 100, which is the object to be sealed. For example, it can be the housing of the cleaning device 100, a waste storage container, or a suction device 10, etc. These basic components can be equipped with openable seals.

[0098] The seal 2 is used to close or open the first component 1, and it can switch between two states depending on the different operating states of the equipment. The first state is the closed state of the seal 2. In this closed state, the seal 2 at least partially closes the first component 1, partially sealing the internal space of the first component 1 from the outside. Specifically, the seal 2 can close only a portion of the first component 1; for example, the first component 1 may have multiple openings, and the seal 2 can close only one opening. Of course, the seal 2 can also completely close the first component 1. The second state is the open state of the seal 2, where the seal 2 allows at least partial communication between the first component 1 and the outside. It should be noted that "outside" here refers to the outside of the first component 1, not necessarily the outside of the cleaning device 100. For example, the seal 2 can be used to close and open the communication between the first component 1 and another component in the cleaning device 100, in which case the other component is also considered the outside of the first component 1. When the seal 2 switches to the second state, it allows at least partial communication between the first component 1 and the outside, which can be used to facilitate processes such as duct switching and waste discharge within the cleaning device 100.

[0099] Since the seal 2 is openable, it is prone to seal failure. Therefore, the cleaning device 100 of this embodiment also includes a locking member 3, wherein the locking part 31 of the locking member 3 is used to lock the seal 2, ensuring that the seal 2 can maintain a first state, i.e., a closed state. The locking part 31 can lock the seal 2 in various ways, such as hooking, snapping, or abutting. In addition to the locking part 31, the locking member 3 of this embodiment also has a driving part 32. The driving part 32 is configured to drive the locking part 31 to release the seal 2 from the first state and switch the seal 2 from the second state. The driving part 32 has two functions: it can unlock the seal 2 and switch the seal 2 between the closed and open states. In this way, unlocking and opening the seal 2 can be completed under the drive of the same driving member 4, which can greatly simplify the operation and improve convenience.

[0100] The cleaning device 100 includes a drive member 4. The process of driving the locking member 3 to release the lock from the seal 2 may include: driving the drive member 4 to drive the locking member 3 to release the seal 2. The drive member 4 is used to drive the locking member 3 and the seal 2. It can be a component of the cleaning device 100 or a component of other supporting equipment. In this embodiment, the drive member 4 is a component of the cleaning device 100. The drive member 4 can adopt various driving methods depending on the form of the locking member 3, such as lifting, pushing, and pulling. The drive member 4 can be powered by machinery or manually. In addition, the drive member 4 can be directly connected to the locking part 31 of the locking member 3, or it can be separate from the locking part 31 and only act on the locking part 31 of the locking member 3 when it is necessary to open the seal 2.

[0101] In some embodiments of this application, the cleaning device 100 includes a cleaning host and a dust collection mechanism 210. The cleaning host is provided with a first opening. The cleaning host is a first component 1. The drive locking member 3 to release the lock from the seal member 2 includes: connecting the cleaning host and the dust collection mechanism 210 so that the drive member 4 abuts against the locking member 3 to drive the locking member 3 to release the lock from the seal member 2, thereby causing the seal member 2 to open the first opening and connect the cleaning host and the dust collection mechanism 210.

[0102] In some embodiments of this application, the cleaning host includes a suction device 10 and a dust cup assembly 20. A separation component 201 is disposed within the dust cup, and the separation component 201 divides the internal space of the dust cup into a first space 202 and a second space 203. The suction device 10 is provided with a second opening that can communicate with the first space 202. The control method includes:

[0103] Connect the cleaning unit to the dust collection mechanism 210 so that the second space 203 is connected to the dust collection mechanism 210;

[0104] The driving locking component 3 drives the sealing component 2 to close the second opening and open the first opening, so that the dust collection mechanism 210 is connected to the suction device 10;

[0105] The suction device 10 is activated to draw air from the dust collection mechanism 210 through the first opening, so that the dirt in the second space 203 is drawn into the dust collection mechanism 210.

[0106] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A cleaning device, characterized in that, The cleaning device includes: First component; A seal has a first state and a second state; in the first state, the seal at least partially closes the first member; in the second state, the seal allows the first member to communicate at least partially with the outside of the first member. A locking element includes a locking part and a driving part. In a first state, the locking part locks the seal. The driving part is configured to drive the locking part to release the seal and switch the seal from the first state to the second state.

2. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The cleaning device further includes a driving component, which drives the locking part to release the seal and causes the seal to switch from the first state to the second state.

3. The cleaning device as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The cleaning device further includes a reset member connected to the locking member, the reset member being configured to drive the locking part to lock the seal in the first state.

4. The cleaning device as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first component is provided with at least one opening, through which the first component communicates with the outside; In the first state, the seal closes at least one of the openings to at least partially close the first component; In the second state, the seal opens at least one of the openings to allow the first member to communicate at least partially with the outside of the first member.

5. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The locking member includes a hinge portion, which is hinged to the sealing member. Both the locking portion and the driving portion are connected to the hinge portion. The locking portion includes a hook-shaped structure. In the first state, the locking part is hooked to the first component to keep the seal in the first state; The drive unit is configured to drive the locking member to rotate about the hinge in a first direction, so as to disengage the locking unit from the first member.

6. The cleaning device as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The hook-shaped structure has a contact surface located on the inner side of the hook-shaped structure; in the first state, the contact surface is in contact with and hooked to the first component; The contact surface is offset from the inside of the hook-shaped structure at the tangential surface of the contact surface position with the rotation axis of the hinge as the center. The inside of the hook-shaped structure is the side of the hook-shaped structure facing the rotation axis. Preferably, the offset angle is greater than 3°.

7. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that, The cleaning device includes a fixing member, and the sealing member is provided with a first seat and a second seat corresponding to the position of the hinge part. The first seat is provided with a hinge hole, and the second seat is provided with a hinge groove. One end of the hinge is hinged to the hinge hole, and the other end is hinged to the hinge groove. The fixing member is detachably connected to the second base and covers at least part of the hinge groove to restrict the end of the hinge portion within the hinge groove.

8. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that, The locking member further includes a guide portion connected to the hinge portion, and the guide portion includes an arc-shaped portion centered on the rotation axis of the hinge portion; A limiting groove is provided on the seal corresponding to the position of the arc-shaped part along the rotation direction of the guide part, and the arc-shaped part is disposed in the limiting groove.

9. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that, The cleaning device further includes a drive member, the drive unit being located between the drive member and the seal, the drive member being configured to push the drive unit to cause the locking member to rotate about the hinge in a first direction, and to push the seal to switch from the first state to the second state via the drive unit.

10. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that, The driving part has an abutment surface on the side facing the seal, and the abutment surface is used to abut against and push the seal. And / or, the driving part is provided with an abutment groove on the side facing the driving member, and the driving member is used to abut against the abutment groove to push the driving part.

11. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that, The cleaning device further includes a reset member, which includes an elastic element connected to the locking member. The elastic element is configured to drive the locking member to rotate about the hinge in the opposite direction of the first direction, so that the locking member engages with the first member.

12. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that, The elastic element includes a torsion spring. The locking part has a notch on the side facing the first direction. The torsion spring is sleeved on the hinge part, with one end of the torsion spring disposed in the notch and the other end abutting against the sealing element, so as to drive the locking element to rotate around the hinge part in the opposite direction of the first direction.

13. A cleaning system, characterized in that, The cleaning system includes: The cleaning apparatus as described in any one of claims 1-12; Base station, used to connect to the cleaning device; When the cleaning device is connected to the base station, the driving unit drives the locking unit to release the lock of the seal, and the seal switches from the first state to the second state so that the first component is connected to the base station.

14. The cleaning system as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that, The cleaning device includes a suction device and a dust cup assembly. The suction device is the first component. The dust cup is provided with a separation component, and the separation component divides the internal space of the dust cup into a first space and a second space. The suction device is provided with a first opening and a second opening. The base station includes a dust collection mechanism. The first opening is used to communicate with the dust collection mechanism, and the second opening is used to communicate with the first space. In the first state, the sealing member closes the first opening and opens the second opening, so that the suction device communicates with the first space, and the separation component separates and stores the dirt into the second space; In the second state, the second space is connected to the dust collection mechanism, and the sealing element closes the second opening and opens the first opening, so that the dust collection mechanism is connected to the suction device.

15. A control method applied to a cleaning device, the cleaning device comprising a first component having a seal, characterized in that, The control method includes: The locking member is driven to release the lock from the seal, thereby switching the seal from a first state to a second state, wherein the seal has a first state in which the first member is at least partially closed, and a second state in which the first member is at least partially connected to the outside world, and the locking member is used to lock the seal in the first state.

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