Cleaning robot for different wet surfaces

Abstract

The invention provides a cleaning robot configuration (100) for both wiping and sweeping wet areas with different surface properties, comprising the robot (110) that moves on the floor to sweep, wipe and steam clean the floor with the mop and brush located at the bottom; the manual tool (120) positioned on the robot (110) to brush and clean the sink and similar areas; the charging station (130) that provides the energy needed for the robot (110) and the manual tool (120) to operate and autonomously cleans the cloth and brush from dirt after the cleaning is completed.

Description

[0001] CLEANING ROBOT FOR DIFFERENT WET SURFACES

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The invention relates to a cleaning robot developed for both wiping and sweeping wet areas with different surface properties.

[0004] The invention particularly relates to a cleaning robot that can be used for autonomous floor cleaning as well as cleaning wet areas such as sinks, using vacuum for sweeping the surface, steam for cleaning, and also performing the wiping process by means of the different heads it comprises.

[0005] State of the Art

[0006] Cleaning wet surfaces is important in terms of health, safety, hygiene and aesthetics. Wet surfaces that are not cleaned regularly can lead to problems such as the spread of microorganisms, the risk of falling, failure to meet hygiene standards and poor appearance. Wet areas are basically evaluated as floors and other surfaces. Today, manual or automatic mops are used to clean wet floors. Other wet surfaces such as sinks are cleaned entirely by manpower. In wet surface cleaning, the person uses different chemical solvents and tools (sponge, brush and the like) depending on the nature of the dirt. Cleaning includes scrubbing, wiping and drying processes depending on the density and nature of the dirt. These processes require power and take a certain amount of time.

[0007] With the development of technology, cleaning robots have been designed to make people's lives easier. A cleaning robot is a type of robot produced to automatically clean closed areas. These robots are usually capable of performing cleaning processes such as sweeping, mopping or vacuuming surfaces. Cleaning robots usually scan their surroundings with the help of a series of sensors and cameras and create a map of the area. By means of these mapping systems, robots can detect obstacles and perform cleaning operations without hitting or passing over them. They can also be controlled remotely or via smartphone apps.

[0008] Cleaning robots are designed to replace vacuum cleaners or mops that are frequently used in homes and workplaces. They can be programmed to be automatic and set to clean at a specific time or in a specific area. Some models are equipped with smart technologies and can learn the usage habits of the homeowner and create a cleaning program accordingly. Cleaning robots provide great convenience, especially in saving time and making people do less cleaning work. In addition, they prevent the accumulation of dust and other particles that cause allergies, providing a cleaner and healthier living environment. Robot mops, which are included in the wet and dry robot category, perform the wiping process as well as the sweeping process with the vacuum effect.

[0009] One of the existing robots that can perform the wiping process as well as the sweeping process on surfaces is the invention that is the subject of the utility model application numbered CN21774427411. Said invention relates to cleaning robots, in particular a cleaning robot disinfection module with a self-cleaning function. A cleaning robot disinfection module with a self-cleaning function that can clean the heads emitting positive / negative ions is disclosed. The disinfecting element is, in particular, a plasma generator operating in the cleaning robot. A cleaning robot with a self-cleaning function comprises a disinfection module, a dust collection module, and an air duct element. Its three devices are a motor arranged on the air duct element. It also comprises a pulley, a belt, and a drive wheel, the drive wheel being movably connected to the air duct element. The cleaning element is a cleaning rod or a cleaning brush.

[0010] Another example is the invention that is the subject of the patent application number US11304581 B2. Said invention relates to a surface cleaning apparatus. The surface cleaner is a multi-surface wet vacuum cleaner that can be used to clean hard floor surfaces such as tile and hardwood, and soft floor surfaces such as carpet. The brush roll is a hybrid brush roll that contains multiple agitation materials to optimise cleaning performance on different types of surfaces to be cleaned, including hard and soft surfaces, and for different cleaning modes, including wet and dry vacuum cleaning. The surface cleaner comprises at least one battery, a fluid delivery system, and a recovery system having a recovery path. The recovery tank comprises a removable tank strainer configured to strain large debris and hair from the tank prior to emptying. The cleaner comprises a fluid delivery system to store the cleaning fluid and deliver the cleaning fluid to the surface to be cleaned, and a recovery system to remove used cleaning fluid and debris from the surface to be cleaned and to store used cleaning fluid. The cleaner also comprises an LED matrix display or a touch screen. This screen also has multiple status indicators that can display various detailed device status information, including but not limited to battery status, WiFi connection status, clean water level, dirty water level, filter status, and floor type.

[0011] Different tools are needed for surfaces with two different qualities for cleaning applications on wet surfaces, and the person performs scrubbing, wiping, and drying operations with existing robot mops for floor cleaning and manual brushes for sink cleaning. Robot mops work by spraying water instead of steam with chemical materials, which causes the floors to not be fully cleaned. In addition, brushes are inadequate in terms of applying the chemical material to the surface, requiring an electrical source, and being compact. As a result, the need for a cleaning robot that eliminates the disadvantages of the state of the art and the inadequacy of the current solutions have made it necessary to make a development in the relevant technical field.

[0012] Brief Description of The Invention

[0013] The present invention relates to a cleaning robot developed for both wiping and sweeping wet areas with different surface properties, which meets the above- mentioned requirements, eliminates all disadvantages and brings some additional advantages.

[0014] Based on the state of the art, the aim of the invention is to ensure that all surfaces of the floor, sink and fixture in the wet area are cleaned with a single device powered by a single electrical energy source by means of the developed cleaning robot. The aim of the invention is to ensure that all surfaces are cleaned without the user having to spend much muscle power, by means of the fact that the cleaning robot can be used in different areas such as sinks.

[0015] Another aim of the invention is to ensure that sinks are also cleaned with the same device while the floor is being wiped and swept by the autonomous robot by means of the manual tool on the robot.

[0016] Another aim of the invention is to ensure that different surfaces can be switched between by means of the two different heads included in the manual tool.

[0017] Another aim of the invention is to ensure that the quality of floor cleaning is increased by facilitating the separation of dirt from the floor by means of the ability of the cleaning robot to give steam.

[0018] The structural and characteristic features and all the advantages of the invention will be understood more clearly by means of the figures given below and the detailed description written with references to these figures, and therefore the evaluation should be made by taking these figures and the detailed explanation into consideration.

[0019] Brief Description of Drawings

[0020] In order to for the embodiment of the present invention and its advantages with additional elements to be understood in the best way, it should be evaluated together with the figures described below.

[0021] Figure-1 is a side schematic general view of the robot and charging station, Figure-2 is a top schematic general view of the robot,

[0022] Figure-3 is a schematic general view of the robot disassembled,

[0023] Figure-4 is a schematic general view of the manual tool,

[0024] Figure-5 is a schematic general view of the manual tool disassembled,

[0025] Figure-6 is a top schematic general view of the charging station,

[0026] Figure-7 is a schematic general view of the charging station disassembled. Reference Numbers

[0027] 100. Cleaning robot configuration

[0028] 110. Robot

[0029] 111. Lidar sensor

[0030] 112. Sensor panel

[0031] 113. Manual tool charging contact point

[0032] 114. IR sensor

[0033] 115. Battery pack

[0034] 116. Steam mechanism

[0035] 117. Steam holes

[0036] 118. Water chamber

[0037] 119. Dust chamber

[0038] 120. Manual tool

[0039] 121. Cleaning chemical chamber

[0040] 122. Motor

[0041] 123. Charging contact point

[0042] 124. Battery

[0043] 125. Brush head

[0044] 130. Charging station

[0045] 131 . Cover

[0046] 132. Upper chamber

[0047] 133. Contactor

[0048] 134. Lower chamber

[0049] 135. Charging contact point

[0050] 136. Power input

[0051] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0052] In this detailed description, the cleaning robot structure (100) developed for both wiping and sweeping wet areas with different surface features, which is the subject of the invention, is explained only as an example for a better understanding of the subject and in a way that does not create any limiting effect. The cleaning robot structure (100) shown in Figure-1 comprises two separate bodies as the robot (110) that moves on the ground for sweeping, wiping and steam cleaning the floor by means of the mop and brush located at the bottom, and the manual tool (120), and a single charging station (130). The robot (110) shown in Figure-2 comprises a body made of plastic-based material and this body comprises the motherboard, motors (motion and vacuum), steam cleaning system, sensors and battery pack (115). In addition to these, it also comprises the dust chamber (119) and the water chamber (118). The parts forming the body are manufactured by plastic injection. On the upper part of the robot (110) shown in Figure-2, there is a lidar sensor (111 ) that detects the objects and their distances in the vicinity in order to determine the route of the robot (110) without hitting the objects in the surrounding area while it is moving, and a manual tool charging contact point (113) where the manual tool (120) is placed to charge its battery (124) via the charging station (130). The sensor panel (112) is positioned on the side of the robot (110). There is an IR sensor (114) inside the robot (110) shown in Figure-3 to prevent it from hitting the objects in the surrounding area while it is moving during cleaning. There is a battery pack (115) inside the robot (110) to store the energy it needs during the wiping, sweeping and steaming processes via the charging station (130). Said robot (110) comprises a steam mechanism (116) to soften the dirt on the ground and make it easier to remove. Said steam mechanism (116) is connected to a water chamber

[0053] (118) where the water needed to create steam is stored. There is a dust chamber

[0054] (119) inside the body to store dust, dirt and similar particles collected from the ground during the sweeping process. There are steam holes (117) at the bottom of said robot (110) to deliver the steam produced by the steam mechanism (116) to the ground.

[0055] The manual tool (120) shown in Figure-4, which is connected to the robot (110), is used to brush and clean sinks and similar areas. The manual tool (120) shown in Figure-5 stores power by connecting to the manual tool charging contact point (113) on the robot (110) via the charging contact point (123). Inside the manual tool (120) there is a battery (124) where the energy received from the charging station (130) is stored, a motor (122) that provides the drive needed for the brushing process, a chemical substance chamber (121 ) where the cleaning liquid used to clean the circuit and surface from dirt is placed. At the end of the manual tool (120) there is a brush head (125) that performs the scrubbing movement with the drive it receives from the motor (122) in order to remove dirt from the surface. The body part is produced by plastic injection. The single brush head (125) of the manually operated manual tool (120) provides cleaning of the sink and fixture. The brush head (125) consisting of three brushes works together with the robot (110) and performs detailed cleaning on the floor.

[0056] The charging station (130) shown in Figure-6 provides the energy needed for the robot (110) and the manual hand tool (120) to operate. On the upper part of the charging station (130) shown in Figure-7, there is a cover (131 ) where the changing brush heads (125) of the manually operated manual hand tool (120) are placed. On the lower part of said charging station (130), there is an upper chamber (132) with rough surfaces that cleans the brushes and cloths in the robot (110), helps the robot (110) to clean itself, and cleans the brush head (125) and the mop cloth with the rotation of the movement motors. The contactor (133) is positioned under the hole designed for the flow of dirty water in the upper chamber (132) located under the charging station (130) and providing cleaning of brushes and cloths. The contactor (133) is connected to the circuit element. After the cleaning process is completed, the contactor (133) is opened and the water flows to the lower chamber (134) positioned under water. By means of the upper chamber (132) and lower chamber (134) located in the charging station (130), the processes of cleaning the cloth and brush from dirt after the cleaning is completed have also been made autonomous. At the bottom of said charging station (130), there are charging contact points (135) to which the energy received from the power input (136) is transferred for charging the robot (110) and the manual hand tool (120) located on the robot (110).

Claims

CLAIMS1. Cleaning robot configuration (100) for both wiping and sweeping of wet areas with different surface properties (100), comprising- robot (110) that moves on the floor to sweep, wipe and steam clean the floor with the mop and brush located at the bottom;- manual tool (120) positioned on the robot (110) to brush and clean the sink and similar areas; and- charging station (130) that provides the energy needed for the robot (110) and the manual tool (120) to work and autonomously cleans the cloth and brush from dirt after the cleaning is completed.

2. Cleaning robot configuration (100) according to Claim 1 , comprising the lidar sensor (111 ) positioned on the upper part of the robot (110), which detects the objects and their distances in the surrounding area in order to determine the route of the robot (110) without hitting the objects around it while it is moving.

3. Cleaning robot configuration (100) according to Claim 1 , comprising the manual tool charging contact point (113) positioned on the upper part of the robot (110), into which the manual tool (120) is placed to charge its battery (124) via the charging station (130).

4. Cleaning robot configuration (100) according to Claim 1 , comprising the sensor panel (112) positioned on the side of the robot (110).

5. Cleaning robot configuration (100) according to Claim 1 , comprising IR sensor (114) positioned inside the body of the robot (110) to prevent it from hitting objects in the surrounding area while moving during cleaning.

6. Cleaning robot configuration (100) according to Claim 1 , comprising the battery pack (115) positioned inside the robot (110) to store the energy it needs during the wiping, sweeping and steaming processes via the charging station (130).

7. Cleaning robot configuration (100) according to Claim 1 , comprising the steam mechanism (116) positioned inside the robot (110) to soften the dirt on the ground and remove it more easily.

8. Cleaning robot configuration (100) according to Claim 1 , comprising the water chamber (118) connected to the steam mechanism (116) where the water needed to create steam is stored.

9. Cleaning robot configuration (100) according to Claim 1 , comprising the dust chamber (119) positioned inside the body to store dust, dirt and similar particles collected from the ground during the sweeping process. .CIeaning robot configuration (100) according to Claim 1 , comprising the steam holes (117) positioned at the bottom of the robot (110) to deliver the steam produced by the steam mechanism (116) to the ground.

11. Cleaning robot configuration (100) according to Claim 1 , comprising the charging contact point (123) connected to the manual tool charging contact point (113) on the robot (110) for power storage of the manual tool (120).12.Cleaning robot configuration (100) according to Claim 1 , comprising the battery (124) positioned inside the manual tool (120) for storing energy received from the charging station (130).13.Cleaning robot configuration (100) according to Claim 1 , comprising the motor (122) positioned inside the manual tool (120) that provides the drive needed for the brushing process.14.Cleaning robot configuration (100) according to Claim 1 , comprising the chemical substance chamber (121 ) positioned inside the manual tool (120) in which the cleaning liquid used to clean the surface from dirt is placed.15.Cleaning robot configuration (100) according to Claim 1 , comprising the brush head (125) that is positioned at the end of the manual tool (120) and performs the scrubbing movement with the drive it receives from the motor (122) to remove dirt from the surface.16.Cleaning robot configuration (100) according to Claim 15, comprising single brush head for cleaning sinks and fittings via manual tool (120), triple brush head (125) for detailed cleaning of floor surfaces working together with robot (110).17.Cleaning robot configuration (100) according to Claim 1 , comprising the cover (131 ) positioned on the upper part of the charging station (130) for placing the manually operated hand tool (120) into the changing brush heads (125).18.Cleaning robot configuration (100) according to Claim 1 , comprising the upper chamber (132) that is positioned at the bottom of the charging station (130), and has rough surfaces that clean the brush head (125) and the mop cloth with the rotation of the drive motors to clean the brushes and cloths in the robot (110) and to help the robot (110) clean itself.19.Cleaning robot configuration (100) according to Claim 1 , comprising the contactor (133) that is positioned under the upper chamber (132) and connected to the circuit element so that the dirty water in the upper chamber (132) flows to the lower chamber (134) after the cleaning process is completed.20.CIeaning robot configuration (100) according to Claim 1 , comprising the charging contact points (135) to which the energy received from the power input (136) is transferred for charging the robot (110) and the manual hand tool (120) located on the robot (110).

21. Cleaning robot configuration (100) according to Claim 1 , comprising the contactor (133) which is opened and the water in the upper chamber (132) is transferred to the lower chamber (134) after the cleaning process is completed.

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