Autonomous traveling-type outdoor cleaning robot having improved suction port structure

Abstract

An outdoor cleaning robot capable of autonomous traveling, according to the present invention, comprises: a long bristle brush, which minimizes the flow of air at the front side of a suction part so as to reduce air pressure; and a short bristle brush, which is positioned at the rear of the inside of a suction port and rotates in the reverse direction, and thus even small-volume dust is prevented from being discharged to the rear of the suction port, thereby increasing a cleaning effect.

Description

Autonomous outdoor cleaning robot with an improved suction port structure

[0001] The present invention relates to technology for an outdoor cleaning robot capable of autonomous driving.

[0002] Conventional outdoor cleaning robots have a limitation in that the retractable wind deflector plate applied to the front of the suction port opens when collecting large debris, reducing the air pressure inside the suction port; consequently, small dust particles are unable to be sucked into the port and escape through the gap behind it.

[0003] The objective of the present invention is to solve the problem of small dust particles escaping through gaps, which is a problem of the prior art.

[0004] An autonomous outdoor cleaning robot having an improved suction structure to solve the problems of the conventional technology described above is characterized by including a long-bristle roller brush at the front of the suction port and a rotating short-bristle brush at the rear inside the suction port.

[0005] According to the present invention, the long-bristle brush serves to reduce the wind pressure through which foreign substances pass, and the short-bristle brush has the effect of guiding residual dust to the suction port.

[0006] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an outdoor cleaning robot with an improved suction port structure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0007] Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a suction port of a cleaning robot according to the prior art.

[0008] The above-mentioned objectives, means, and resulting effects of the present invention will become clearer through the following detailed description in conjunction with the attached drawings, and accordingly, a person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will be able to easily implement the technical concept of the present invention. Furthermore, in describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of known technology related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the essence of the present invention, such detailed description will be omitted.

[0009] The terms used herein are for describing the embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. In this specification, the singular form includes the plural form as appropriate unless specifically stated otherwise in the text. In this specification, terms such as “comprising,” “providing,” “arranging,” or “having” do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other components in addition to the components mentioned.

[0010] In this specification, terms such as “or,” “at least one,” etc., may represent one of the words listed together or a combination of two or more. For example, “or B” and “at least one of B” may include only one of A or B, or may include both A and B.

[0011] In this specification, descriptions following “e.g.” should not limit the embodiments of the invention according to various embodiments of the invention, such as variations including tolerances, measurement errors, limits of measurement accuracy, and other commonly known factors, as the information presented, such as cited characteristics, variables, or values, may not exactly match.

[0012] In this specification, where it is stated that a component is 'connected' or 'connected' to another component, it should be understood that it may be directly connected or connected to the other component, or that there may be other components in between. On the other hand, when it is mentioned that a component is 'directly connected' or 'directly connected' to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components in between.

[0013] In this specification, where a component is described as being 'on' or 'in contact' with another component, it should be understood that it may be in direct contact with or connected to the other component, but that another component may exist in between. On the other hand, where a component is described as being 'immediately above' or 'in direct contact' with another component, it should be understood that no other component exists in between. Other expressions describing the relationship between components, such as 'between' and 'directly between', may be interpreted in the same way.

[0014] In this specification, terms such as 'first,' 'second,' etc., may be used to describe various components, but such components should not be limited by these terms. Furthermore, these terms should not be interpreted as limiting the order of each component, but may be used for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, 'first component' may be named 'second component,' and similarly, 'second component' may be named 'first component.'

[0015] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used in this specification may be used in a meaning commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Additionally, terms defined in commonly used dictionaries are not to be interpreted ideally or excessively unless explicitly and specifically defined otherwise.

[0016]

[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an outdoor driving cleaning robot according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] According to a report released by global market research firm Precedence Research, the global autonomous e-mobility market is growing at an average annual rate of 21.8% from $2.76 billion in 2022.

[0019] With the market projected to reach $19.78 billion by 2032, entering the global market and securing supply chains is essential.

[0020] The Korea Robot Industry Association is promoting the transition of "autonomous road cleaning robots" into "autonomous E-mobility" as future vehicles, based on the classification of "professional cleaning robots" that takes into account the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), the classification of cleaning (outsourcing) businesses stipulated in domestic laws, and recent development and commercialization trends of related products.

[0021] Accordingly, we are pursuing the improvement of marketability and technological advancement by supporting the premiumization of developed products. This aims to enhance suction power retention performance through the refinement and application of the suction unit design, as well as to enable customized work support for cleaning environments through the development of a roller-type brush.

[0022] The present invention relates to an autonomous outdoor cleaning robot and provides an outdoor cleaning robot capable of autonomous driving within a learning path. It features the ability to collect re-suspended dust using a cyclone filter system and clean up everything from cigarette butts to fallen leaves, soil, and household waste using a blower-type suction function. Additionally, it is capable of detecting collection capacity and notifying the time for bag replacement, and allows for remote monitoring and control via a robot control system.

[0023] The cyclone filter system is effective in reducing fine dust through the separate collection of re-suspended dust using a cyclone unit, and enables the maximization of dust treatment efficiency and filter lifespan through its cyclone-filter structure.

[0024] With a cleaning robot design optimized for urban infrastructure, it can clean narrow and long sections such as sidewalks, bicycle paths, and park trails using a replaceable 100L large-capacity bag loading method and can also pass between bollards used to prevent vehicle entry.

[0025] These cleaning robots have the advantage of enabling frequent cleaning of everything from fallen leaves to dust, thereby significantly reducing maintenance costs and providing a pleasant and clean environment.

[0026] According to Fig. 1, the suction unit structure design was modified to minimize changes in suction power according to the size and amount of foreign matter sucked in during cleaning, and cleaning efficiency was improved by maintaining stable suction power through the application of the improved suction unit.

[0027] The brush module design has been improved to account for the possibility of deformation of the mechanical part due to various external forces, making it possible to prepare for forces generated between the terrain and the brush during cleaning operations, the weight and driving load between the front part of the brush module equipped with a motor and bearing and the hinge connection part, and collisions of the brush module that may occur due to unexpected situations.

[0028] Cleaning efficiency is improved through the development of a roller brush module. A dry-type replaceable roller brush module device is developed to facilitate the cleaning and suction of fine road dust, and tests are conducted on suction power and dust removal capabilities based on roller shape, size, and brush pattern.

[0029] By designing a roller brush module optimized for the developed product, a spiral guide is attached to the surface of the roller brush so that fallen leaves, household waste, and road dust are collected in the suction port without scattering.

[0030] According to the present invention, by improving the suction system (suction unit and brush module), stable suction power can be maintained even with changes in the size and suction volume of foreign substances through improved suction system efficiency, deformation caused by external forces and collisions can be minimized through improved rigidity and durability of the brush module, and the efficiency of simultaneous removal of fine dust and large foreign substances by the roller brush is improved.

[0031] Although specific embodiments have been described in the detailed description of the present invention, it is understood that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments but should be defined by the claims set forth below and equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. Regarding autonomous outdoor cleaning robots: A long-bristle brush that reduces wind pressure by minimizing airflow at the front of the intake; and A short-bristle brush located at the rear inside the suction port and rotating in the reverse direction; An autonomous outdoor cleaning robot having an improved suction port structure characterized by including

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