Side brush and cleaning device assembly

Abstract

The side brush assembly comprises a base (1), a side brush body (2) and a drive member (3), the side brush body resting against a side portion of the base, the side brush body being provided with a first guide portion (21), the drive member (3) being provided with a second guide portion (31). The second guide portion and the first guide portion cooperate with each other to drive the side brush body to move up and down and / or oscillate. Figure 3

Description

Title of the invention: Side brush assembly and cleaning apparatus Technical field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of electrical equipment and concerns more particularly a side brush assembly and a cleaning device.

[0002] Basic technology

[0003] Cleaning equipment such as sweeping robots are generally equipped with one or two side brushes arranged at the bottom of the machine body, which rotate while sweeping the surface to be cleaned.

[0004] In the related technology, the usage scenarios of the side brush assembly are quite few. As a result, the side brush assembly cannot adapt to a variety of sweeping conditions, so there is room for improvement.

[0005] Content of the invention

[0006] The present application provides a side brush assembly and cleaning apparatus intended to adapt, at least to some extent, to a wide range of sweeping conditions.

[0007] In a first aspect of the present invention, the invention relates to a side brush assembly which comprises: a base, a side brush body which rests against a side portion of the base, said side brush body being provided with a first guide portion; a drive member, the drive member being provided with a second guide portion, and the second guide portion and the first guide portion cooperating with each other to drive the side brush body to move up and down and / or oscillate.

[0008] The side brush assembly provided in the present application, by the cooperation between the second guide portion and the first guide portion, when the cleaning apparatus crosses an obstacle or crawls on a carpet, can place the side brush body in a lifting position to avoid the obstacle or the carpet, so that the apparatus can work normally and the user experience is improved. When the cleaning apparatus cleans corners and other cleaning conditions, the second guide portion and the first guide portion can cooperate with each other, so that the side brush body can swing to improve the cleaning effect, which is of great practical use.

[0009] In some embodiments, the second guide portion is disposed at the top of the drive member.

[0010] In some embodiments, the drive member is rotatably connected to the side brush body, and the second guide portion may be disposed at the bottom of the first guide portion and the second guide portion and the first guide portion cooperate with each other to drive the lifting of the side brush body.

[0011] In some embodiments, at least a portion of the second guide portion and / or the first guide portion that cooperate with each other is a helical surface.

[0012] In some embodiments, at least a portion of said second guide portion and / or said first guide portion which cooperate with each other is an inclined surface.

[0013] In some embodiments, the second guide portion and the first guide portion both have planar portions for planar contact.

[0014] In some embodiments, said side brush body is provided with a first guide projection at the bottom of said side brush body, said first guide portion being disposed at the bottom of said first guide projection.

[0015] In some embodiments, the side brush body is provided with a guide groove, and the first guide portion is located at the bottom of said guide groove.

[0016] In some embodiments, the drive member is provided with a second guide projection at the top of said drive member, said second guide portion being disposed at the top of said second guide projection.

[0017] In some embodiments, a guide shaft is provided at the bottom of the side brush body and the drive member is rotatably connected to the guide shaft.

[0018] In some embodiments, wherein said side brush body is provided with a first guide projection at the bottom of said side brush body, the projection of said first guide projection on said side brush body is curved, and said guide shaft is provided on the inner side of said first guide projection; the base is provided with a guide socket, the driving member being rotatably fixed to said guide socket, the guide shaft being inserted into said guide socket with the possibility of moving up and down, the first guide projection being rotatable toward an outer peripheral surface of said guide socket.

[0019] In some embodiments, the side brush assembly further comprises: a limiting member, disposed in the rotational path of the drive member, for limiting the rotational angle of the drive member.

[0020] In some embodiments, the drive member is provided with a notch on its circumference and the limiting member is disposed in the notch.

[0021] In some embodiments, the drive element is provided with a stop at the periphery of said drive element, and said limiting element is provided on the rotational path of said stop.

[0022] In some embodiments, at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the drive member is provided with drive teeth, and the side brush assembly further comprises: a power application member, the power application member having a gear provided at its output end, the gear being connected to the drive teeth.

[0023] In some embodiments, a passage hole is formed in the circumferential surface of the base, one end of said side brush body is fixed in the base, the other end of said side brush body passes through the passage hole, and said side brush body can move up and down within the passage hole along the side wall of the passage hole, and / or said side brush body can swing within the passage hole.

[0024] In some embodiments, said passage hole comprises an oscillation hole and a limiting hole which communicate with each other, said limiting hole being provided above said oscillation hole, said side brush body being able to oscillate within said oscillation hole and rotate in said limiting hole.

[0025] In some embodiments, said oscillation port has first and second opposing side walls, said limiting port has third and fourth opposing side walls, said third side wall and said first side wall are located on a same straight line, said fourth side wall is disposed between said first and second side walls, and said side brush body can move up and down along the straight line on which said first side wall and said third side wall are located.

[0026] In some embodiments, said side brush assembly further comprises a reset element, disposed between the top and / or bottom of the side brush body and the base.

[0027] In some embodiments, the reset element is a composite structure composed of a compression spring and a torsion spring.

[0028] In some embodiments, two connection ends of the reset member are connected to the base and the side brush body, respectively.

[0029] In some embodiments, the base is provided with a first limiting groove on its circumferential surface, said first limiting groove being connected to the passage hole, and one connecting end of said reset member being disposed in said first limiting groove; the side brush body is provided with a connecting block, a second limiting groove being formed between the connecting block and the side brush body, and the other connecting end of this reset member is disposed in this second limiting groove.

[0030] In some embodiments, the base is further provided with a position sensor for determining the location of the side brush body.

[0031] In some embodiments, the present invention also provides a cleaning apparatus that comprises a main body and a side brush assembly according to the invention, said side brush assembly being assembled to said main body.

[0032] Before the cleaning apparatus having the side brush assembly according to the invention mounts on an obstacle or a carpet, the second guide portion and the first guide portion can cooperate with each other, so that the side brush body can be in a lifting position to avoid the obstacle or the carpet, so that the equipment can be used normally, and the user experience can be improved. When the cleaning apparatus cleans the corners and under the other cleaning conditions, the second guide portion and the first guide portion can cooperate with each other, so that the side brush body can swing to improve the cleaning effect, which is of great practical use.

[0033] Description of the attached figures

[0034] In order to illustrate more clearly the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the description refers to the appended figures which are briefly presented below, as non-limiting examples of embodiments of the present invention.

[0035] [Fig.l] shows a structural diagram of the side brush assembly in a first sweeping position in one or more embodiments of the present application;

[0036] [Fig.2] shows the structural diagram of [Fig.l], according to another view;

[0037] [Fig.3] shows a structural diagram of the side brush assembly of [Fig.l] in an obstacle avoidance position;

[0038] [Fig.4] shows a structural diagram of [Fig.3] in another view;

[0039] [Fig.5] shows a structural diagram of a side brush body;

[0040] [Fig.6] shows an internal structural diagram of the side brush body;

[0041] [Fig.7] shows the structural diagram of [Fig.5] in another view;

[0042] [Fig.8] shows a structural diagram of the drive element;

[0043] [Fig.9] shows a diagram of the condition of the side brush body and the element driving in the situation in which the side brush assembly is in an obstacle avoidance position;

[0044] [Fig. 10] shows a structural diagram of the base;

[0045] [Fig.l 1] shows an assembly diagram of the drive element and the power application element;

[0046] [Fig. 12] shows a structural diagram of the side brush assembly in the second sweeping position.

[0047] [Fig. 13] shows a structural diagram of the reset element;

[0048] [Fig. 14] shows a diagram of the condition of the side brush body and the element drive when the side brush assembly is in the first sweeping position and the second sweeping position.

[0049] Figure legends:

[0050] Base-1, Passage hole-11, Swing hole-111, Limiting hole-112, Housing cavity-12, First limiting groove-13;

[0051] Side brush body-2, First guide part-21, Guide shaft-22; Drive gear-23, First guide projection-24, Connection block-25, Side brush-26, Second limiting groove-27;

[0052] Drive element-3, Second guide part-31, Second guide projection-32, Notch-33, Drive teeth-34;

[0053] First engine-4;

[0054] Guide sleeve - 5;

[0055] Limiting element-6;

[0056] Position sensor-7;

[0057] Power application element-8, gear-81;

[0058] Reset element -9;

[0059] Helical surface - al, flat part - a2;

[0060] First side wall-bl, Second side wall-b2, Third side wall-b3, Fourth side wall-b4.

[0061] Specific embodiment

[0062] In order to enable persons skilled in the field to which the present application belongs to better understand it, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described clearly and completely in the following, in connection with the appended figures of embodiments of the present invention.

[0063] In the prior art, the side brush of a cleaning apparatus such as a sweeping robot is always rotating when it is operating, and when the apparatus When cleaning over an obstacle or crawls on a carpet, this side brush prevents the machine from climbing or tends to cause the carpet to curl, which leads to abnormal operation of the device and affects the user experience. In addition, when the sweeping robot and other cleaning devices are in a cleaning situation in which they sweep a corner, the angle of the side brush assembly relative to the main body cannot be adjusted, which makes the cleaning effect limited. Therefore, there is room for improvement.

[0064] Based on the above-mentioned technical problems, the present application provides a side brush assembly applicable to a variety of cleaning conditions.

[0065] The side brush assembly provided in the present application comprises a base, a side brush body and a driving member, the side brush body resting against the side portion of the base, the side brush body being provided with a first guide portion, the driving member being provided with a second guide portion, and the second guide portion and the first guide portion cooperating with each other to drive the side brush body to raise or lower or / and oscillate.

[0066] More specifically, when the cleaning apparatus crosses an obstacle or a carpet, the second guide portion and the first guide portion can cooperate with each other to make the side brush body in a lifting position to avoid the obstacle or the carpet, so that the apparatus can work normally and the user experience is improved. When the cleaning apparatus is in another cleaning situation such as cleaning a corner, the second guide portion and the first guide portion can cooperate with each other, so that the side brush body can swing to improve the cleaning effect, which is of great practical use.

[0067] Based on the above design ideas, the side brush assembly is described in more detail in the present application.

[0068] [Fig.l] shows a structural diagram of the side brush assembly in one or more embodiments of the present application in a first sweeping position, [Fig.2] shows the structural diagram of [Fig.l] in another view, [Fig.3] shows a structural diagram of the side brush assembly of [Fig.l] in an obstacle avoidance position, and [Fig.4] shows the structural diagram of [Fig.3] in another view.

[0069] Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the present invention provides a side brush assembly comprising a base 1, a side brush body 2 and a drive member 3, wherein the side brush body 2 rests against a side portion of the base 1, the side brush body 2 is provided with a first guide portion 21 at a lower portion of the side brush body 2, the element drive member 3 is rotatably connected to the side brush body 2, and the upper part of the drive member 3 is provided with a second guide part. The second guide part 31 may be arranged at the lower part of the first guide part 21 to cooperate therewith. At least a part of the second guide part 31 or / and the first guide part 21 being a helical surface al.

[0070] In the side brush assembly provided in the present invention, since the driving member 3 is rotatably connected to the guide shaft 22, the driving member 3 is rotatable relative to the side brush body 2. Since at least a portion of the second guide portion 31 and / or the first guide portion 21 is a helical surface a1, the second guide portion 31 of the driving member 3 rotates against a surface cooperating with the first guide portion 21 by controlling the rotation of the driving member 3, so that the side brush body 2 is lifted along the side portion of the base, thereby enabling the side brush body 2 to be in the lifting position (shown in [Fig. 3] as well as in [Fig. 4]). In this way, the side brush body 2 can avoid obstacles or carpets, allowing the device to work properly.

[0071] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, when the side brush body 2 rests against the base 1, the side brush body 2 is in a normal sweeping mode, and the position in which the side brush body 2 is located can be defined as a first sweeping position. Referring to Figures 3 and 4, when the side brush body 2 is lifted along the side portion of the base 1 and is in the lifting position, the position in which the side brush body 2 is located can be defined as an obstacle avoidance position. By controlling the side brush body 2 to move from the first sweeping position to the obstacle avoidance position, it can be adapted to different working conditions and has good practicality.

[0072] Referring to Figures 1-4, in some embodiments, the side brush assembly may also include a first motor 4, the first motor 4 being used to drive rotation of the side brush 26 on the side brush body 2.

[0073] [Fig. 5] shows a structural diagram of the side brush body, and [Fig. 6] shows an internal structural diagram of the side brush body. In some embodiments, at least two drive gears 23 are provided in the side brush body 2, one of the drive gears 23 being mounted on the output end of the first motor 4, and the other drive gear 23 being mounted on the side brush rotation shaft 26, and the respective drive gears 23 being sequentially driven by the first motor 4 to drive the rotation of the side brush 26 to perform the sweeping work. The manner in which the side brushes 26 are driven by at least two drive gears 23 allows space to be provided for the arrangement of the other elements, provided that the dimensional requirements of the side brushes 26 are met. In other embodiments, the first motor 4 may also be directly connected to the rotation shaft of the side brushes 26, without limitation here.

[0074] Referring to Figures 1 to 4, in some embodiments, the first motor 4 is disposed at the top of the side brush body 2, which reduces the overall height of the side brush body 2 in order to better perform the sweeping work.

[0075] [Fig.7] shows a structural diagram of [Fig.5] in another view. With reference in [Fig. 7], in some embodiments, the bottom of the side brush body 2 may be provided with a cylindrical body which may be formed integrally with the housing of the side brush body 2 to serve as a guide shaft 22 of the drive body. The guide shaft 22 may or may not be coaxial with the output end of the first motor 4; the invention imposes no limitation for this.

[0076] Referring to [Fig.7], in some embodiments, a first guide projection 24 may be provided at the bottom of the side brush body 2. The first guide projection may be formed integrally with the housing of the side brush body 2. The first guide portion 21 is provided on a side of the first guide projection 24 that is opposite to the side brush body 2, i.e., the first guide projection 24 is provided at the bottom of the side brush body 2.

[0077] In some cases, the drive element 3 is rotatably sleeved on the guide shaft 22, and the drive element 3 can be controlled to rotate about the guide shaft 22.

[0078] [Fig.8] shows a structural diagram of the drive element. In some embodiments, a second guide projection 32 may be provided at the top of the drive member 3, and the second guide projection 32 may be formed integrally with the drive member 3. The second guide portion 31 is provided on a side of the second guide projection 32 opposite the drive member 3, i.e., the second guide portion 31 is provided at the top of the second guide projection 32.

[0079] Since at least a portion of the second guide portion 31 and / or the first guide portion 21 is a helical surface a1, controlling the rotation of the drive member 3 about the guide shaft 22 causes the second guide portion 31 of the drive member 3 to rotate relative to the first guide portion 21. When the side brush body 2 is in the first sweeping position, during rotation of the drive member 3 about the guide shaft 22, since the side brush body 2 rests against the base 1, the brush body side brush body 2 cannot rotate with the drive member 3, so the second guide portion 31 of the drive member 3 is rotated along the contact surface with the first guide portion 21 to drive the first guide portion 21 to lift, and then lift the side brush body 2 to a set height, so that the side brush body 2 moves from the first sweeping position to the obstacle avoidance position to avoid an obstacle or a carpet, so that the device can operate normally and improve the user experience.

[0080] With reference to Figures 7 and 8, in some embodiments, at least a portion of the second guide portion 31 and the first guide portion 21 are helical surfaces al. In other embodiments, it is also possible to configure the second guide portion 31 as a helical surface al and the first guide portion 21 as a planar surface or, alternatively, to configure the second guide portion 31 as a helical surface al and the first guide portion 21 as a planar surface, which is not limited by the present document.

[0081] Referring to Figures 7 and 8, in some embodiments, the second guide portion 31 and the first guide portion 21 also have planar portions a2 that can be in planar contact. After the second guide portion 31 drives the first guide portion 21 to lift to a set height, the second guide portion 31 continues to rotate so that the planar portion a2 on the first guide portion 21 bears against the planar portion a2 of the second guide portion 31 as shown in [Fig. 9], thereby stably supporting the side brush body 2 so that the side brush body 2 is stably in a lifting position to be held in the obstacle avoidance position.Furthermore, if the power application member 8 that rotates the drive member 3 stops working, it is also possible to keep the side brush body 2 in a stable lifting attitude to keep it in the obstacle avoidance position.

[0082] Referring to Figures 7 and 8, in some embodiments, the projection of the first guide protrusion 24 on the side brush body 2 as well as the projection of the second guide protrusion 32 on the drive member 3 may be curved into arcs, i.e., the first guide protrusion 24 and the second guide protrusion 32 are both non-closed structures. When the drive member 3 rotates around the guide shaft 22 and the second guide protrusion 32 of the drive member 3 rotates under the first guide protrusion 24, the second guide portion 31 and the first guide portion 21 cooperate with each other to drive the first guide portion 21 to lift and then lift the body side brush 2 at a certain height, so that the side brush body 2 avoids an obstacle or a carpet, in order to allow the equipment to operate normally and improve the user experience.

[0083] Referring to [Fig.7], in some embodiments, the first guide projection 24 may be spaced from the guide shaft 22 such that a guide gap is provided between the first guide projection 24 and the guide shaft 22.

[0084] [Fig. 10] shows a structural diagram of the base. With reference to Figures 1 to 4 and 10, the base 1 may be equipped with a guide sleeve 5, the drive member 3 being rotatably disposed on the guide sleeve 5. The guide shaft 22 may be inserted inside the guide sleeve 5 so as to enable it to move up and down. The first guide projection 24 may rotate on the peripheral outer surface of said guide sleeve 5.Specifically, when the side brush body 2 is in the first sweeping position, the guide bushing 5 is located inside the first guide projection 24 (i.e., inside the guide space) to fill said guide space, so as not only to stably support the side brush body 2 and prevent it from vibrating or shaking, but also to prevent impurities, especially lint on the surface to be cleaned, from entering the guide space and affecting the operation of the equipment.In addition, during the transition of the side brush body 2 from the first sweeping position to the obstacle avoidance position, the first guide portion 21 rotates relative to this guide sleeve 5, and the guide shaft 22 also lifts relatively inside the guide sleeve 5, so that the guide sleeve 5 is rotated out of the inside of the first guide projection 24 (i.e., the guide space).

[0085] In some embodiments, the guide sleeve 5 may be formed integrally with the base 1. The guide shaft 22 may be disposed in the guide sleeve 5 to accommodate clearance, and the drive member 3 may be assembled to the guide sleeve 5 with functional clearance, so that the guide shaft 22 and the drive member 3 may rotate relative to the guide sleeve 5, which will not be described herein.

[0086] It should be noted that the bottom of the side brush body 2 may also be provided with a guide groove, and the first guide portion 21 described above may be disposed at the bottom of this guide groove; this specific embodiment is similar to that described above, and will not be repeated here.

[0087] Referring to Figures 1 and 10, in some embodiments, the side brush assembly may also include a limiting member 6, which is disposed on the rotation path of the drive member 3 to limit the rotation angle of the drive member 3. In a specific embodiment, when the driving member 3 rotates and the plane portion a2 of the first guide portion 21 of the side brush body 2 is supported by the plane portion a2 of the second guide portion 31, the driving member 3 is blocked by the limiting member 6, and the driving member 3 stops rotating so that the side brush body 2 is in the obstacle avoidance position and maintains the lifting position, so that the side brush body 2 is able to avoid an obstacle or a carpet.

[0088] Referring to Figures 1, 4 and 8, in some embodiments, the drive member 3 may be provided with a notch 33 on the circumferential surface of the drive member 3, and the restriction member 6 is disposed in the notch 33. There is a distance between the restriction member 6 and each of the two sides of the notch 33 to allow the drive member 3 to rotate at a set angle to drive the side brush body 2 to be lifted, and when the side brush body 2 is lifted into place, the drive member 3 is blocked by the restriction member 6, the drive member 3 stops rotating, so that the side brush body 2 remains in the lifting position.

[0089] In other embodiments, the peripheral surface of the driving element 3 may not be provided with a notch 33. For example, the driving element 3 may be shaped like a ring, the limiting member 6 is provided on the outer side of the circumferential surface of the driving element 3, and a stopper is provided on the circumferential surface of the driving element 3. The stopper may be blocked by the limiting member to block rotation of the driving element 3. This approach is very cumbersome.

[0090] Referring to Figures 1-4, in some embodiments, the side brush assembly may also include a position sensor 7, the position sensor 7 detecting the height position of the side brush body. In the embodiment, when the side brush body 2 rises to the obstacle avoidance position, the position sensor 7 confirms that the side brush body 2 has risen to the position and sends a side brush body 2 positioning signal to the controller. In response to the side brush body 2 positioning signal, the controller issues an instruction for the drive member 3 to stop rotating, to control the drive member 3 to stop rotating and maintain the side brush body 2 in the lifting position.

[0091] In some embodiments, the rotation of the drive member 3 may be controlled either by adjusting the limiting member 6 or by the position sensor 7. In some embodiments, it is possible to include both the limiting member 6 described above and the position sensor 7 in order to realize the simultaneous control mode by hardware and software, or it is possible to include only one of the methods of realization described above, which is not limited by this document.

[0092] [Fig. 11] shows an assembly diagram of the drive member and the power application member, with reference to Figures 1 to 4, 8 and 11. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the drive member 3 may be provided with drive teeth 34. The side brush assembly may also include the power application member 8, and a gear 81 may be provided at the output end of the power application member 8. The gear 81 is drivably connected to the meshing teeth on the drive member 3.In a specific implementation, when the power application member (motor) 8 is activated, the gear 81 on the motor member 8 drives the motor member 3 to rotate around the guide shaft 22, so that the second guide portion 31 of the driving member 3 rotates along the contact surface with the first guide portion 21, so as to drive the first guide portion 21 to lift, and then lift the side brush body 2. When the driving member 3 is blocked by the limiting member 6, the motor member 8 stops working, and the driving member 3 stops rotating, so that the side brush body 2 remains in the lifting position.

[0093] Referring to Figures 1 to 4, in some embodiments, the motor element 8 may be a second motor, which may be arranged next to the first motor 4, and the second motor may be arranged above the drive element 3, which may reduce the space occupied by the motor.

[0094] In other embodiments, the output end of the power element 8 may also be directly coaxially connected to the drive element 3. For example, the power element 8 is arranged below the drive element 3.

[0095] Referring to [Fig. 10], in some embodiments, a passage hole 11 may be provided on a circumferential surface of the base 1. One end of the side brush body 2 is connected to the base 1, and the other end of the side brush body 2 passes through the passage hole 11, and the side brush body 2 can move up and down inside the passage hole 11 and along the side wall of the passage hole 11. The base 1 is provided with an accommodating cavity 12, and the drive member 3, the power member 8, the limiting member 6, and the first motor 4 described above may be disposed in the base 1. The guide sleeve 5 may be disposed at the bottom of the base 1 in one piece. The guide shaft 22 is inserted into the guide sleeve 5 with a working clearance. The bottom of the drive element 3 can be adjusted against the bottom of the base 1 and fitted with play onto the guide sleeve 5.Limiting element 6 may also be . fixed to the bottom of the base 1 in one piece. The position sensor 7 can be arranged inside or outside the base 1, without any limitation.

[0096] Referring to Figures 1 to 4, 10 and 14, in some embodiments, the above passage hole 11 may comprise an oscillation hole 111 and a limiting hole 112 communicating with each other. The limiting hole 112 is provided above the oscillation hole 111, and the side brush body 2 can swing in the oscillation hole 111 and rotate in the limiting hole 112.When the side brush body 2 rests against the side of the swing hole 111, the side brush body 2 is in a first sweeping position, and the side brush body 2 is in a normal sweeping mode, and if an obstacle or a carpet is encountered, the side brush body 2 can be lifted along the side of the swing hole 111 by controlling the rotation of the drive member 3 to keep the side brush body 2 in the lifting position, and the side brush body 2 is put into an obstacle avoidance position to enable the side brush body 2 to avoid the obstacle or carpet.The side brush body 2 can also be controlled to swing from one side of the swing opening 111 to the other side of the swing opening 111 to adjust the angle of the side brush body 2 on the base 1 so that the side brush body 2 can clean the corners of the walls under other special working conditions (as shown in [Fig. 12]). During the swinging of the side brush body 2 to the other side of the swing opening 111, the guide shaft 22 of the side brush body 2 rotates inside the guide sleeve 5, and the position in which the side brush body 2 is located, when the side brush body 2 is swinging to the other side of the swing opening 111, can be set as the second cleaning position.

[0097] Referring to Figures 1-4, 10, 12, and 14, in some embodiments, the swing port 111a has opposing first side walls b1 and second side walls b2, and the limiting port 112 has opposing third side walls b3 and fourth side walls b4, with the third side walls b3 and the first side walls b1 arranged along a same straight line, and the side brush body 2 can move up and down along the straight line on which the first side walls b1 and the third side walls b3. The fourth side wall b4 is arranged between the first side wall b1 and the second side wall b2, i.e., a top view projection of the fourth side wall b4 is inside the swing port 111.In a particular implementation, the oscillation orifice 111 extends over a larger angular sector than the limiting orifice 112, these angular sectors being measured from the guide shaft 22t, the size of the oscillation orifice 111 is larger than the size of the side brush body housing 2, and the size of the orifice . 112 is approximately the same as the size of the side brush body 2 housing. When the side brush body 2 is in a first sweeping position, the driving member 8 is not activated, the first motor 4 drives the side brush on the side brush body 2 to rotate, the second guide portion 31 on the driving member 3 and the first guide portion 21 on the side brush body 2 are in a mutual affinity position, the side brush body 2 is pressed against the first side wall of the swing hole 111, and the driving member 3 and the limiting portion 6 are separated from each other. When encountering an obstacle or passing over a carpet, the driving member 8 is activated to rotate.When the driving member 8 is activated to rotate, the side brush body 2 cannot rotate because it rests against the first side wall of the swing hole 111, and the second guide portion 31 of the driving member 3 drives the first guide portion 21 upward, so that the side brush body 2 lifts along the straight line between the first and third side walls and rises to the restriction hole 112, so that the side brush body 2 remains in the lifting position, in order to avoid an obstacle or pass over a carpet to enable the appliance to operate properly and improve the user experience.After the apparatus has avoided the obstacle or crossed the carpet, the drive element 8 can be controlled to rotate in the opposite direction, so that the second guide portion 31 of the drive element 3 rotates in a direction opposite to the first guide portion 21 on the side brush body 2, so that the side brush body 2 descends from the limiting hole 112 into the swing hole 111 and rests against the first side wall of the swing hole 111 to continue to remain in the first sweeping position.

[0098] Referring to Figures 1 to 4, in some embodiments, the side brush assembly may also include a reset member 9, which is provided between the side brush body 2 and the base 1. When the side brush body 2 is in the first sweeping position, the reset member 9 is deformed and the side brush body 2 is lifted to press the reset member 9 to continue deforming to move the side brush body 2 from the first sweeping position to the obstacle avoidance position.When the side brush body 2 moves from the obstacle avoidance position to the first sweeping position, the reset member 9 returns to its initial shape and exerts force on the side brush body 2 to make the first guide portion 21 of the side brush body 2 and the second guide portion 31 of the drive member 3 remain fixed, so that the side brush body 2 can return to the first sweeping position.

[0099] If the reset member 9 is provided, when the apparatus avoids an obstacle or traverses a carpet, it is possible to reverse the rotation of the driving member 8 without controlling the driving member 8, and relying only on the reset member 9 to restore the deformation to apply force to the side brush body 2, which can drive the side brush body 2 downward, causing the driving member 3 to reverse rotation until the side brush body 2 descends from the limit hole 112 into the passage hole 11 and presses against the first side wall of the swing hole 111 while remaining in the first sweeping position.

[0100] Referring to Figures 1-4, in some embodiments, the reset member 9 may be provided between the top of the side brush body 2 and the base 1 and be in a compressed state when the side brush assembly is in a sweeping position or in a lifting position.

[0101] [Fig. 13] shows a structural diagram of the reset member. Referring to Figures 1 to 4 and 13, in some embodiments, the reset member 9 may be sleeved onto the first motor 4. The reset member 9 has two connection ends, a first connection end 91 and a second connection end 91, the first connection end 91 and the second connection end 91 being connected to the base 1 and the side brush body 2, respectively.

[0102] Referring to Figures 1 to 4 and 13, in a specific implementation, a first limiting groove 13 may be provided on the circumferential surface of the base 1. The first limiting groove 13 communicates with the through-hole, i.e., the opening of the first limiting groove 13 faces downward, and a first connecting end 91 of the reset member 9 is disposed in the first limiting groove 13. The side brush body 2 is provided with a connecting block 25. A second limiting groove 27 with a circumferentially oriented opening is formed between the connecting block 25 and the side brush body 2, and the other connecting end of the reset member 9 is disposed in the second limiting groove 27 to enable assembly of the reset member 9 on the side brush assembly.In other embodiments, the two connection ends of the reset member 9 may be welded respectively to the side wall of the base 1 and to the top of the side brush body 2, without limitation in the present document.

[0103] The reset member 9 is a composite structure composed of a compression spring and a torsion spring, which can provide both axial thrust force and circumferential tension, so that the side brush body 2 is subjected to both axial thrust and axial tension, so that the first part guide part 21 of the side brush body 2 and the second guide part 31 of the drive element 3 are always in the adjusted state without the action of the power element 8 (shown in [Fig. 14]).

[0104] It should be noted that the reset member 9 may also be disposed between the bottom of the side brush body 2 and the base 1, the reset member 9 being in a deformed state when the side brush assembly is in the first sweeping position or passed into the obstacle avoidance position.

[0105] Since the size of the limiting hole 112 is smaller than that of the swing hole 111, the side brush body 2 can swing inside the swing hole 111 to enable adjustment of the angle of the side brush body 2 on the apparatus. In a specific implementation, the driving member 8 can be controlled to rotate in the reverse direction, and since the reset member 9 applies force to the side brush body 2, the first guide portion 21 of the side brush body 2 and the second guide portion 31 of the driving member 3 are always in an adjusted state. Thus, the side brush body 2 and the driving member 3 rotate in synchronization until the side brush body 2 rests against the second side wall of the swing hole 111.At this time, the side brush body 2 is in the second sweeping position, and the side brush body 2 is in the second sweeping position. The angle of the side brush body 2 on the device can be adjusted to clean in particular working conditions, for example in corners.After cleaning under special working conditions such as corners, the driving member 8 can be controlled to rotate in the positive direction, and because the reset member 9 applies force to the side brush body 2, the first guide portion 21 of the side brush body 2 and the second guide portion of the side brush body 2 are always in an adjusted state, so that the side brush body 2 and the driving member 3 rotate synchronously under the drive of the driving member 8, until the side brush body 2 resists against the first side wall of the pivot mouth 111, so that the side brush body 2 is in the first sweeping position, to continue the normal sweeping mode.

[0106] It should be noted that when the first guide portion 21 of the side brush body 2 and the second guide portion 31 of the drive member 3 are adjusted, if the side brush 26 encounters an obstacle or if the force applied to the side brush 26 by the user is greater than the force of the reset member 9, the first guide portion 21 of the side brush body 2 may be separated from the second guide portion 31 of the drive member 3. In this case the drive member 3 is not rotated by the guide portion, and the power element 8 and the transmission between the power element 8 and the drive element 3 can be protected from damage.

[0107] Further, in some embodiments, at least a portion of the first guide portion 21 of the side brush body 2 and the second guide portion 31 of the drive member 3 are inclined surfaces, and the drive member 3 moves back and forth along a straight line.When the side brush body 2 is in a first sweeping position, the driving member 3 moves toward the direction of the side brush body 2, as the side brush body 2 rests against the base 1, the side brush body 2 cannot be pushed by the driving member 3, so that the second guide portion 31 of the driving member 3 moves along the contact surface with the first guide portion 21 to drive the first guide portion 21 to lift, and then lift the side brush body 2 to a determined height, so that the side brush body 2 moves from the first sweeping position to the obstacle avoidance position to avoid an obstacle or a carpet, thereby enabling the appliance to operate normally, which improves the user experience.

[0108] In summary, the side brush assembly provided in the present application can be switched between a first sweeping position, a second sweeping position and an obstacle avoidance position to adapt to different sweeping working conditions, which is of great practical utility.

[0109] Based on the aforementioned side brush assembly, the present application also provides a cleaning apparatus, the cleaning apparatus comprising a main body and the aforementioned side brush assembly, the aforementioned side brush assembly being assembled to the main body.

[0110] The cleaning apparatus provided with the side brush assembly described above has a side brush body 2 which can be switched between a first sweeping position, a second sweeping position and an obstacle avoidance position to adapt to different sweeping conditions, which is very convenient.

[0111] In some embodiments, a control unit and various types of sensors may be installed on the main body, and the sensors may monitor the surrounding environment and transmit the corresponding monitoring parameters to the controller, which controls the corresponding action of the side brush assembly according to the monitoring parameters. The sensors may include a visual sensor and a floor sensor, and by means of the monitoring data of the floor sensor and the visual sensor, the controller may determine whether there is an obstacle such as a carpet in the moving direction of the cleaning apparatus. The sensor used is not limited to the aforementioned visual sensor and the floor material sensor, but may also be selected as an infrared sensor or the like, and is not limited herein.

[0112] In some embodiments, the cleaning apparatus may be a sweeping robot and, of course, other cleaning devices equipped with a side brush, without this being limiting.

[0113] In the present application, unless expressly indicated and limited otherwise, the fact that a first element is "above" or "below" a second element may include direct contact between the first and second elements, or may include cooperation between the first and second elements not directly, but through another element between them. Furthermore, the fact that the first element is "above" the second feature means that the first element is directly above the second element, or simply indicates that the first element is horizontally higher than the second element. The fact that the first element is "below", "under" and "lower than" the second element includes the fact that the first element is directly below or simply that the height (horizontal level) of the first element is lower than that of the second element.

[0114] In the description of the present application, it is to be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "top", "bottom", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "lower", "upper", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise" indicate orientations or positional relationships based on those shown in the accompanying figures, solely for the purpose of facilitating and simplifying the description of the present application, and are not limiting.

[0115] In the present application, unless expressly indicated and limited otherwise, the terms "connection", "fixing" etc. are to be understood in a broad sense; for example, "fixing" may be a fixed connection, a removable connection or a one-piece connection; it may be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it may be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate support; it may be a connection within two elements or an interaction between two elements. For example, the term "fixed" may refer to a fixed connection, a removable connection or a one-piece connection; it may be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it may be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate support; it may be a connection within two elements or an interactive relationship between two elements.For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application may be understood on a case-by-case basis.

[0116] Furthermore, descriptions such as "first" and "second" in this application are used solely for descriptive purposes and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Accordingly, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may include one or more features, either explicitly or implicitly. In the description of this application, "more than one" means two or more, unless expressly and specifically limited.

Claims

Claims

1. A side brush assembly characterized by comprising: a base (1), a side brush body (2), the side brush body (2) resting against a side portion of the base, the side brush body being provided with a first guide portion (21), a drive member (3), the drive member being provided with a second guide portion (31), and the second guide portion and the first guide portion cooperating with each other to drive the side brush body to move up and down and / or oscillate.

2. Side brush assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the second guide part (31) is arranged at the top of the drive element (3).

3. A side brush assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the drive element (3) is rotatably connected to the side brush body (2), the second guide portion is arranged at the bottom of the first guide portion, and the second guide portion and the first guide portion cooperate with each other to drive the side brush body to lift.

4. Side brush assembly according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that at least a part of the second guide part (31) and / or the first guide part (21) which cooperate with each other is a helical surface.

5. Side brush assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that at least a part of said second guide part (31) and / or said first guide part (21) which cooperate with each other is an inclined surface.

6. A side brush assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the second guide portion (31) and the first guide portion (21) both have planar portions for planar contact.

7. A side brush assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said side brush body (2) is provided with a first guide projection (24) at the bottom of said side brush body, said first guide portion being disposed at the bottom of said first guide projection.

8. A side brush assembly according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the side brush body (2) is provided with a guide groove, and the first guide portion (21) is located at the bottom of said guide groove.

9. A side brush assembly according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the drive member (3) is provided with a second guide projection (32) at the top of said drive member, said second guide portion being arranged at the top of said second guide projection.

10. A side brush assembly according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that a guide shaft (22) is provided at the bottom of the side brush body and the drive member is rotatably connected to the guide shaft.

11. A side brush assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that, said side brush body (2) is provided with a first guide projection (24) at the bottom of said side brush body, the projection of said first guide projection on said side brush body is curved, and said guide shaft (22) is provided on the inner side of said first guide projection; the base is provided with a guide sleeve, the driving member being rotatably fixed to said guide sleeve (5), the guide shaft (22) being inserted into said guide sleeve with the possibility of moving up and down, the first guide projection being able to be rotated toward an outer peripheral surface of said guide sleeve.

12. A side brush assembly according to one of claims 1 to 4, 7 and 9 to 11, characterized in that the side brush assembly further comprises: a limiting member (6), arranged on the rotation path of the drive member, for limiting the rotation angle of the drive member.

13. Side brush assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that the drive element (3) is provided with a notch (33) on its circumference and the limiting element is arranged in the notch.

14. A side brush assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that the drive member (3) is provided with a stop at the periphery of said drive member, and in that said limiting member is provided on the rotation path of said stop.

15. A side brush assembly according to any one of claims 4, 7, 9 to 11 and 13 to 14, characterized in that at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the drive member (3) is provided with drive teeth (34), and the side brush assembly further comprises a power application member, the power application member (8) having a gear (81) provided at its output end, the gear being connected to the drive teeth.

16. A side brush assembly according to one of claims 1 to 5, 7, 9 to 11 and 13 to 14, characterized in that a passage hole is formed in the circumferential surface of the base, one end of said side brush body is fixed in the base, the other end of said side brush body passes through said passage hole, and said side brush body can move up and down inside the passage hole along the side wall of the passage hole, or / and, said side brush body can swing inside said passage hole, and / or said side brush body can swing inside the passage hole.

17. A side brush assembly according to claim 16, characterized in that said passage hole (11) comprises an oscillation hole (111) and a limiting hole (112) which communicate with each other, said limiting hole being provided above said oscillation hole, said side brush body being able to oscillate inside said oscillation hole and rotate in said limiting hole.

18. A side brush assembly according to claim 17, characterized in that said swing port (111) has first and second opposite side walls (bl, b2), said limiting port has third and fourth opposite side walls (b3, b4), said third side wall and said first side wall are located on a same straight line, said fourth side wall is disposed between said first and second side walls, and said side brush body can move up and down along the straight line on which said first side wall and said third side wall are located.

19. A side brush assembly according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that said side brush assembly further comprises: a reset member (9), disposed between the top and / or bottom of the side brush body and the base.

20. A side brush assembly according to claim 19, characterized in that the reset element (9) is a composite structure composed of a compression spring and a torsion spring.

21. 1 Side brush assembly according to claim 20, characterized in that two connection ends of the reset element (9) are connected to the base and the side brush body respectively.

22. A side brush assembly according to claim 21, characterized in that the base is provided with a first limiting groove (13) on its circumferential surface, said first limiting groove being connected to the passage hole, and one connecting end of said reset member being disposed in said first limiting groove; the side brush body is provided with a connecting block (25), a second limiting groove (27) being formed between the connecting block and the side brush body, and the other connecting end of this reset member being disposed in this second limiting groove.

23. Side brush assembly according to one of claims 1 to 5, 7, 9 to 22, characterized in that the base (1) is further provided with a position sensor (7) for determining the location of the side brush body.

24. 4 Cleaning apparatus characterized in that it comprises a main body and a side brush assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 23, said side brush assembly being assembled to said main body.

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