Self-propelled cleaning device

Abstract

To prevent a blade from biting piles of a carpet.SOLUTION: A self-propelled cleaning device (1A) includes a hopper (10), a blade (30), and a slider (20). The blade (30) and the slider (20) include adjustment mechanisms (31, 22) for changing a projection amount of a first end (33) from the slider (20) in accordance with shapes of piles of a carpet of a surface to be cleaned (F).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a self-propelled cleaning device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an electric vacuum cleaner equipped with a pressing means for elastically pressing a suction port body that communicates with the suction side of an electric blower against a surface to be cleaned. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-168986 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Some self-propelled cleaning devices, which move a brush while moving across the surface to be cleaned and sweep up debris from the surface into a hopper, have a blade between the brush and the hopper to send all the debris into the hopper. On surfaces covered with carpet or other rugs, the blade can dig into the pile of the rug, hindering the movement of the self-propelled cleaning device.

[0005] One aspect of the present invention is to prevent the blade from digging into the pile of the rug. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, one embodiment of the present invention provides a self-propelled cleaning device that moves a brush while moving across a surface to be cleaned to clean the surface, and includes: a hopper for storing dirt swept up by the brush; a blade that covers the surface to be cleaned between the brush and the hopper by extending in a first direction that is inclined toward the surface to be cleaned relative to the direction of movement of the self-propelled cleaning device; and a slider that is connected to the hopper and holds the blade with a first end of the blade protruding toward the surface to be cleaned, and the blade and the slider have an adjustment mechanism that changes the amount of protrusion of the first end from the slider depending on the pile shape of a rug on the surface to be cleaned. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the blade from digging into the pile of the rug. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram used to explain a self-propelled cleaning device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a connecting portion of a hopper. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a slider. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a blade. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a view showing a state in which a slider that holds a blade is connected to a hopper. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a self-propelled cleaning device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] [Embodiment 1] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

[0010] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram used to explain a self-propelled cleaning device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The self-propelled cleaning device 1A shown in Fig. 1 moves a brush 50 while moving across a surface F to be cleaned, thereby cleaning the surface F. Some of the components of the self-propelled cleaning device 1A are not shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 1, the self-propelled cleaning device 1A travels in a movement direction R1.

[0011] The surface to be cleaned F includes a floor surface having a covering such as a rug or carpet. A rug has bundles of fibers on its surface, and the pile shapes vary. The pile shape includes the pile length. When the rug is a carpet, the pile shape also includes the shape of the pile attached to the carpet backing (cut pile, loop pile, etc.).

[0012] As shown in Figure 1, the self-propelled cleaning device 1A includes a hopper 10, a slider 20, a blade 30, an elastic member 40, and a brush 50. The brush 50 is, for example, a rotating brush, and sweeps up dirt on the surface F to be cleaned. The hopper 10 stores the dirt swept up by the brush 50. The hopper 10 has a storage section 15 for storing the dirt, and a connecting section 11 protrudes from the bottom surface of the storage section 15 toward the surface F to be cleaned.

[0013] The slider 20 and the blade 30 are disposed between the brush 50 and the hopper 10 and extend in a first direction R2 that is inclined toward the surface to be cleaned F from the movement direction R1 of the self-propelled cleaning device 1A. The angle θ formed between the movement direction R1 and the first direction R2 is an acute angle.

[0014] The slider 20 is connected to the connecting portion 11 of the hopper 10 so as to be slidable in the first direction R2. The slider 20 is biased in the first direction R2 by an elastic member 40. The elastic member 40 is, for example, a compression spring.

[0015] The blade 30 has a first end 33 facing the surface to be cleaned F. The blade 30 has a second end 34 opposite the first end 33. The blade 30 is positioned so that the second end 34 faces the hopper 10. The blade 30 has a first surface 35 extending along a first direction R2 from the second end 34 to the first end 33. The first surface 35 of the blade 30 covers the surface to be cleaned F between the brush 50 and the hopper 10. R3 is the width direction of the first surface 35 and is perpendicular to the first direction R2.

[0016] The blade 30 has a lock lever 31. The slider 20 has a plurality of holding portions 22. When the lock lever 31 of the blade 30 is connected to one of the holding portions 22 of the slider 20 in the width direction R3, the blade 30 is held by the slider 20. The slider 20 holds the blade 30 with a first end 33, which is the tip of the blade 30, protruding toward the surface to be cleaned F. The slider 20 and the blade 30 have an adjustment mechanism that changes the amount of protrusion of the first end 33 of the blade 30 from the slider 20 depending on the pile shape of a rug on the surface to be cleaned F. The lock lever 31 and the holding portion 22 are an example of such an adjustment mechanism.

[0017] The blade 30 has rollers 32 on both ends of the first surface 35 in the width direction R3. When the first end 33 of the blade 30 abuts against the surface F to be cleaned, the rollers 32 abut against the surface F to be cleaned. The rollers 32 have rotation axes that extend in the width direction R3, and reduce the frictional force acting on the first end 33 when the blade 30 moves across the surface F to be cleaned in the movement direction R1.

[0018] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the connecting portion 11 of the hopper 10. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the slider 20. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the blade 30. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which the slider 20 holding the blade 30 is connected to the hopper 10.

[0019] Reference numeral 1000A in Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of the connecting portion 11 of the hopper 10. Reference numeral 1000B in Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of the connecting portion 11 of the hopper 10 as viewed from the tip side. Reference numeral 2000A in Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view of the slider 20. Reference numeral 2000B in Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of reference numeral 2000A. Reference numeral 3000A in Fig. 4 is a schematic plan view of the blade 30. Reference numeral 3000B in Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of reference numeral 3000A.

[0020] As indicated by reference numeral 1000A in Fig. 2, the connecting portion 11 of the hopper 10 has a plurality of screw holes 12 and a first boss 13. As indicated by reference numeral 2000A in Fig. 3, the slider 20 has a plurality of through holes 21, a plurality of holding portions 22, a through hole 23, and a second boss 24.

[0021] The plurality of screw holes 12 indicated by reference numeral 1000A in Fig. 2 and the plurality of through holes 21 indicated by reference numeral 2000A in Fig. 3 are aligned in the width direction R3. As shown in Fig. 5, fastening members 14 such as screws or bolts are inserted into the through holes 21 from the surface 25 of the slider 20 having the second boss 24. The fastening members 14 that have passed through the through holes 21 are inserted into the screw holes 12 of the connecting portion 11 of the hopper 10. The screw holes 12 of the connecting portion 11 of the hopper 10 are threaded, for example. The fastening members 14 that have passed through the through holes 21 are threadedly engaged with the female threads of the screw holes 12, thereby connecting the slider 20 to the connecting portion 11 of the hopper 10.

[0022] The through-hole 21 of the slider 20 is an elongated hole whose opening extends in the first direction R2. The slider 20 connected to the connecting portion 11 of the hopper 10 can slide in the first direction R2 along the opening shape of the through-hole 21.

[0023] When the slider 20 is connected to the connecting portion 11 of the hopper 10, the first boss 13 of the connecting portion 11 is inserted into the through-hole 23 of the slider 20. The height of the first boss 13 is greater than the height of the through-hole 23, and the tip of the first boss 13 protrudes from the through-hole 23 to a surface 25.

[0024] 5, the first boss 13 protruding from the through-hole 23 onto the surface 25 faces the second boss 24 of the slider 20. One end of the elastic member 40 is connected to the first boss 13 inserted through the through-hole 23, and the other end is connected to the second boss 24 of the slider 20. This urges the slider 20 in the first direction R2. The blade 30 held by the slider 20 is also urged in the first direction R2 by the elastic member 40. This allows the first end 33 of the blade 30 to approach the surface F to be cleaned, and to scoop up dirt on the surface F onto the first surface 35, even if the surface F to be cleaned is dented by the weight of the self-propelled cleaning device 1A.

[0025] As shown by reference numeral 3000B in Fig. 4, flanges 36 extend from both side ends of the first surface 35 of the blade 30. A roller 32 is provided at a position near the first end 33 of the flanges 36. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 5, a slider 20 is disposed between the flanges 36 provided at both side ends of the first surface 35.

[0026] 4 are provided slidably in the width direction R3 of the first surface 35. The lock lever 31 has, for example, a U-shape, with a first lever 31A abutting against the first surface 35 and a second lever 31B passing through a through-hole 37 provided in the flange 36 of the blade 30.

[0027] As indicated by reference numeral 2000B in FIG. 3, the multiple holding portions 22 are provided on both side surfaces of the slider 20 and are aligned along the first direction R2. The multiple holding portions 22 and the lock lever 31 form an adjustment mechanism that changes the amount of protrusion L (FIG. 5) of the first end 33 from the slider 20 depending on the pile shape of the rug on the surface to be cleaned F. The number of holding portions 22 provided on both side surfaces of the slider 20 is not limited to three. The distance from the end 26 of the slider 20 on the first direction R2 side to each of the multiple holding portions 22 is equal to or less than the distance from the lock lever 31 to the first end 33 of the blade 30.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 5 , when the slider 20 is positioned between the flanges 36 of the blade 30, inserting the second lever 31B of the lock lever 31 into one of the multiple holding portions 22 connects the lock lever 31 to that holding portion 22, determining the amount of protrusion L of the first end 33 from the slider 20. The longer the pile of the rug on the surface to be cleaned F, the more the lock lever 31 is connected to a holding portion 22 positioned farther from the end 26 of the slider 20 and the shorter the amount of protrusion L of the first end 33 from the slider 20, thereby making it less likely that the blade 30 will dig into the rug and hinder the movement of the self-propelled cleaning device 1A. Of the multiple holding portions 22, the holding portion 22 closest to the end 26 of the slider 20 is used when the surface to be cleaned F is a hard floor or a rug without pile attached to the base fabric.

[0029] [Embodiment 2] A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. For ease of explanation, the same reference numerals will be used to designate components having the same functions as those described in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0030] Fig. 6 is a block diagram of a self-propelled cleaning device according to embodiment 2 of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 6, the self-propelled cleaning device 1B according to embodiment 2 of the present invention includes a control unit 100, a detection unit 200, a traveling unit 300, a brush driving unit 400, an adjustment mechanism 500, and a storage unit 600 in addition to the configuration of the self-propelled cleaning device 1A according to embodiment 1.

[0031] The control unit 100 controls all the functions of the self-propelled cleaning device 1B. The control unit 100 is, for example, a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The storage unit 600 records information and is configured with a storage device such as a hard disk or flash memory. The control unit 100 can, for example, read software that executes each function from the storage unit 600, load it into RAM (Random Access Memory), and execute it.

[0032] The detection unit 200 detects the force applied to the first end 33 of the blade 30 from the surface to be cleaned F. The detection unit 200 is, for example, a force sensor.

[0033] The traveling unit 300 includes various mechanisms for traveling the self-propelled cleaning device 1B, such as wheels, a drive motor for driving the wheels, a steering mechanism for switching the traveling direction R1, etc. The brush driving unit 400 rotates the brush 50 shown in FIG. 1 in the direction R4.

[0034] The adjustment mechanism 500 changes the amount of protrusion L (FIG. 5) of the first end 33 from the slider 20 depending on the pile shape of the rug on the surface to be cleaned F. The adjustment mechanism 500 of the self-propelled cleaning device 1B has, for example, a first adjustment unit that switches the blade 30 between a state in which it is connected to the slider 20 and a state in which it is not connected to the slider 20 by moving the lock lever 31 in the width direction R3, and a second adjustment unit that moves the blade 30 in a direction parallel to the first direction R2.

[0035] By executing the software, the control unit 100 functions as at least a travel control unit 101 and a determination unit 102. The travel control unit 101 controls the travel unit 300 to move the self-propelled cleaning device 1B. The determination unit 102 determines the amount of protrusion L of the first end 33 from the slider 20 based on the detection result of the detection unit 200. The control unit 100 controls the adjustment mechanism 500 to drive the blade 30 so that the amount of protrusion L of the first end 33 from the slider 20 becomes the value determined by the determination unit 102, thereby adjusting the amount of protrusion L of the first end 33 from the slider 20.

[0036] The control unit 100 may store the protrusion amount L of the first end 33 from the slider 20 determined by the determination unit 102 in the memory unit 600. When a user cleans the same surface F to be cleaned, the control unit 100 may read the protrusion amount L from the memory unit 600 and automatically adjust the protrusion amount L using the adjustment mechanism 500.

[0037] [Modification] In the above embodiment, the lock lever 31 is provided on the blade 30, and the plurality of holding portions 22 are provided on the slider 20. However, the adjustment mechanism is not limited to the above mechanism, as long as the plurality of holding portions 22 are provided on one of the blade 30 and the slider 20, and the other of the blade 30 and the slider 20 is connected to one of the plurality of holding portions 22. For example, the lock lever 31 may be provided on the slider 20, and the plurality of holding portions 22 may be provided on the blade 30. Furthermore, when the slider 20 is provided with the plurality of holding portions 22, the positions at which the plurality of holding portions 22 are provided are not limited to the side surfaces of the slider 20. For example, the holding portions 22 may be provided so as to protrude from the surface 25.

[0038] In the above embodiment, the brush 50 is a rotating brush that rotates in the direction R4, but any brush may be used as long as it is capable of sweeping up debris from the surface to be cleaned F into the hopper 10. The brush 50 may be, for example, a disc brush, a roll brush, or a brush that moves back and forth.

[0039] 〔summary〕 The self-propelled cleaning device of aspect 1 of the present invention is a self-propelled cleaning device that moves a brush while moving across a surface to clean the surface, and comprises: a hopper for storing dirt swept up by the brush; a blade that covers the surface to be cleaned between the brush and the hopper by extending in a first direction that is inclined toward the surface to be cleaned from the direction of movement of the self-propelled cleaning device; and a slider that is connected to the hopper and holds the blade with a first end of the blade protruding toward the surface to be cleaned, and the blade and the slider have an adjustment mechanism that changes the amount of protrusion of the first end from the slider depending on the pile shape of a rug on the surface to be cleaned.

[0040] According to the above configuration, the blade and slider have an adjustment mechanism that changes the amount of protrusion of the first end from the slider depending on the shape of the pile of the rug on the surface to be cleaned. Therefore, in the self-propelled cleaning device, it is possible to prevent the blade from digging into the pile of the rug.

[0041] In the self-propelled cleaning device of aspect 2 of the present invention, in the above-mentioned aspect 1, it is preferable that the adjustment mechanism has a plurality of holding portions provided on one of the blade and the slider and aligned in the first direction, and the other of the blade and the slider is connected to one of the plurality of holding portions, thereby changing the amount of protrusion.

[0042] According to the above configuration, the adjustment mechanism includes a plurality of holding parts arranged in the first direction on one of the blade and the slider, and the other of the blade and the slider is connected to one of the holding parts. Therefore, the adjustment mechanism of the self-propelled cleaning device can be realized by a mechanical configuration.

[0043] A self-propelled cleaning device according to aspect 3 of the present invention is preferably such that, in aspect 1 or 2 above, the slider is connected to the hopper so as to be slidable in the first direction and is biased in the first direction by an elastic member.

[0044] According to the above configuration, the slider is biased in a first direction by the elastic member. By biasing the slider in the first direction, the blade held by the slider is also biased in the first direction, allowing the blade to approach the surface to be cleaned even if the surface to be cleaned is concave. This allows the blade to scoop up dirt from the surface to be cleaned.

[0045] In addition, in a self-propelled cleaning device, the blade that comes into contact with the surface to be cleaned is subject to greater wear than the slider or hopper. By using an elastic member to bias the slider, rather than directly biasing the blade, there is no need to replace the elastic member when replacing the blade.

[0046] A self-propelled cleaning device according to aspect 4 of the present invention is preferably such that, in aspect 2 above, the blade has a second end opposite the first end facing the hopper, a first surface extending in the first direction from the second end to the first end, the slider has a plurality of holding portions arranged in the first direction, the blade is slidable in the width direction of the first surface, and has a lock lever connected to the holding portion from the width direction.

[0047] According to the above configuration, the lock lever is connected to the holding part in the width direction, so the connection between the slider and the blade is not released by the force applied to the first end of the blade from the surface to be cleaned.

[0048] A self-propelled cleaning device according to aspect 5 of the present invention is preferably such that, in any of aspects 1 to 4 above, the blade has a second end opposite the first end facing the hopper, a first surface extending in the first direction from the second end to the first end, and rollers are provided at both widthwise ends of the first surface that contact the surface to be cleaned when the first end of the blade contacts the surface to be cleaned.

[0049] According to the above configuration, rollers are provided on both sides of the first surface of the blade in the width direction, thereby reducing friction on the first end of the blade and preventing damage to the blade.

[0050] A self-propelled cleaning device according to aspect 6 of the present invention is any one of aspects 1 to 5 above, further comprising a detection unit that detects the force applied to the first end from the surface to be cleaned, and a control unit that determines the amount of protrusion based on the detection result of the detection unit.

[0051] According to the above configuration, the force applied to the first end from the surface to be cleaned is detected, and the protrusion amount is determined based on the detection result of the detection unit. This makes it possible to notify the user of the protrusion amount suitable for the surface to be cleaned, or to automatically adjust the protrusion amount.

[0052] [Additional notes] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1A, 1B Self-propelled cleaning device 10 Hopper 11 Connecting part 13 First Boss 20 Slider 22 Holding part 24 Second Boss 30 blades 31 Lock lever 32 Laura 40 Elastic member 50 brushes 100 control section 102 Decision Section 200 Detector 500 adjustment mechanism L protrusion amount R1 movement direction R2 1st direction R3 width direction

Claims

1. A self-propelled cleaning device that moves a brush while moving over a surface to be cleaned to clean the surface, a hopper for storing the garbage swept up by the brush; a blade extending in a first direction inclined toward the surface to be cleaned from a direction of movement of the self-propelled cleaning device, thereby covering the surface to be cleaned between the brush and the hopper; a slider connected to the hopper and configured to hold the blade with a first end of the blade protruding toward the surface to be cleaned; The self-propelled cleaning device, wherein the blade and the slider have an adjustment mechanism that changes the amount of protrusion of the first end from the slider depending on the shape of the pile of a rug on the surface to be cleaned.

2. 2. The self-propelled cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism has a plurality of holding portions provided on one of the blade and the slider and aligned in the first direction, and the protrusion amount is changed by connecting the other of the blade and the slider to one of the plurality of holding portions.

3. The self-propelled cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein the slider is connected to the hopper so as to be slidable in the first direction, and is biased in the first direction by an elastic member.

4. the blade has a second end opposite the first end and facing the hopper, and a first surface extending in the first direction from the second end to the first end; The slider has a plurality of the holding portions arranged in the first direction, The self-propelled cleaning device according to claim 2 , wherein the blade is slidable in a width direction of the first surface and has a lock lever connected to the holding portion from the width direction.

5. The blade is a second end opposite the first end and facing the hopper, and a first surface extending in the first direction from the second end to the first end; The self-propelled cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein rollers are provided at both widthwise ends of the first surface, and come into contact with the surface to be cleaned when the first end of the blade comes into contact with the surface to be cleaned.

6. a detection unit that detects a force applied to the first end from the surface to be cleaned; The self-propelled cleaning device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a control unit that determines the amount of protrusion based on a detection result of the detection unit.

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