Cleaner station

Abstract

Disclosed is a cleaner station where a cleaner is mounted including a foreign substance treater including a separator that separates foreign substances from air by a centrifugal force, and a housing including a seating portion where a dust bin of the cleaner is seated, an air intake including a supply flow channel where air inside the dust bin of the cleaner flows to the separator, a dust collecting motor that generates a suction force of sucking air inside the dust bin of the cleaner, and an exhaust that discharges air inside the separator to the outside, wherein the separator includes an air flow forming flow channel that is in communication with the supply flow channel and rotates air supplied from the supply flow channel within the separator, wherein the air flow forming flow channel and the supply flow channel are smoothly connected to each other.

Description

CLEANER STATION

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cleaner station and a method for controlling the cleaner station.

[0002] A cleaner is an apparatus that removes dust or contaminants indoors to maintain a clean environment. In general, vacuum cleaners are widely used in homes. The vacuum cleaner performs the function of maintaining the clean indoor environment by sucking air using a suction power of a fan motor and then separating the dust or foreign substances in sucked air via an apparatus such as a filter.

[0003] Such cleaner may be basically categorized into a manual cleaner and an automatic cleaner. In particular, the manual cleaner uses a scheme in which a user moves the cleaner directly to perform cleaning, and is able to be subdivided into a canister-type cleaner, an upright cleaner, a handheld cleaner, a stick-type cleaner, and the like depending on a form thereof.

[0004] In the past, the canister-type cleaner was widely used as the household cleaner, but recently, products such as the handheld cleaner and the stick-type cleaner have become popular. This is a result of improvement in convenience of use caused by integration of a dust bin and a main body. Such products are gaining more attention because of their light weight and ease of movement. In particular, the handheld cleaner and the stick-type cleaner are small in size and easy to use, and thus are able to be conveniently used in a narrow space, a detached house, an apartment, and the like.

[0005] However, the existing handheld cleaner and stick-type cleaner have a small capacity for the dust bin that stores the separated dust, so that there is an inconvenience of requiring a user to periodically empty the dust bin. In addition, when the user empties the dust bin by himself, there is a problem that the dust stored in the dust bin scatters and has a harmful effect on a user's health.

[0006] Therefore, a cleaner station that may handle the dust even when the user does not empty the dust bin by himself has been developed. The cleaner station is an apparatus that, when the cleaner is mounted thereon, sucks, separates, and stores the dust in a station, and reduces the inconvenience of the user having to empty the dust bin of the cleaner by himself.

[0007] However, the existing cleaner stations often have a complexly designed flow channel through which air flows in a process in which air inside the dust bin is guided into the station, foreign substances are removed therefrom, and then air is discharged back to the outside.

[0008] The flow channel with the above structure may cause resistance to the air flow inside the station, which may reduce a suction force. When the suction force of the station is reduced, the foreign substances inside the dust bin of the cleaner are not be effectively sucked, which may cause an inconvenience of requiring the user to perform an additional maintenance work.

[0009] In addition, in a case of a station with insufficient performance in separating the foreign substances such as dust, small particles or fine dust may not be properly treated, which may cause residues to accumulate in a filter or the flow channel inside the station, increasing a maintenance burden.

[0010] In addition, the flow channel with such a complex structure may also result in an increased manufacturing cost and difficulties in the maintenance.

[0011] Therefore, a development of the cleaner station that may secure the suction force inside the station by simplifying the flow channel through which air flows and effectively treat the dust inside the dust bin of the cleaner is required.

[0012] The present disclosure is to provide a cleaner station that improves convenience by eliminating a need for a user to empty a cleaner dust bin by himself.

[0013] The present disclosure is to provide a cleaner station that may maintain a suction force inside the station by simplifying a flow channel through which air flows and effectively treats dust inside a cleaner dust bin.

[0014] The present disclosure is to provide a cleaner station that efficiently separates foreign substances in a cleaner dust bin and minimizes a problem of the foreign substances remaining or accumulating inside the station.

[0015] The present disclosure is to provide a cleaner station that is easy to maintain and manage by simplifying a flow channel through which air flows.

[0016] To solve the above-described problems, the present disclosure provides a cleaner station where a cleaner is mounted including a foreign substance treater including a separator that separates foreign substances from air by a centrifugal force, and a housing including a seating portion where a dust bin of the cleaner is seated, an air intake including a supply flow channel where air inside the dust bin of the cleaner flows to the separator, a dust collecting motor that generates a suction force of sucking air inside the dust bin of the cleaner, and an exhaust that discharges air inside the separator to the outside.

[0017] The separator includes an air flow forming flow channel that is in communication with the supply flow channel and rotates air supplied from the supply flow channel within the separator. In this regard, the air flow forming flow channel and the supply flow channel are smoothly connected to each other.

[0018] The air flow forming flow channel may include at least two air flow forming flow channels.

[0019] The exhaust may include an exhaust flow channel that discharges air inside the separator to the outside, and the separator may further include an exhaust port allowing the air flow forming flow channel to be in communication with the exhaust flow channel.

[0020] The exhaust may further include a filter that filters the foreign substances in air.

[0021] The cleaner station of the present disclosure may further include an opening / closing member that is disposed in the housing and opens and closes the dust bin of the cleaner, and the opening / closing member may include a door pivotably disposed in the seating portion and coupled to the dust bin of the cleaner, and a first driver that pivots the door.

[0022] The foreign substance treater may further include a storage where the foreign substances separated in the separator are stored. In this regard, the storage may include a storage body disposed under the separator and constructed to provide a space for storing the foreign substances, and a compressor rotatably disposed inside the storage body.

[0023] The housing may further include a second driver that rotates the compressor.

[0024] The foreign substance treater may be constructed to be detachable from the housing. The separator may be constructed to be detachable from the storage.

[0025] The present disclosure provides the cleaner station that improves the convenience by eliminating the need for the user to empty the cleaner dust bin by himself.

[0026] The present disclosure provides the cleaner station that may maintain the suction force inside the station by simplifying the flow channel through which air flows and effectively treats the dust inside the cleaner dust bin.

[0027] The present disclosure provides the cleaner station that efficiently separates the foreign substances in the cleaner dust bin and minimizes the problem of the foreign substances remaining or accumulating inside the station.

[0028] The present disclosure provides the cleaner station that is easy to maintain and manage by simplifying the flow channel through which air flows.

[0029] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an example of a cleaner station of the present disclosure.

[0030] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate an example of a separator.

[0031] FIG. 5 illustrates an operation process of a cleaner station of the present disclosure.

[0032] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a storage.

[0033] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a foreign substance treater.

[0034] Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed herein will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. In the present document, even in different embodiments, the same or similar reference numerals are assigned to the same or similar components, and a description thereof is replaced with initial description.

[0035] A singular expression used herein includes a plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In addition, in describing the embodiment disclosed herein, when it is determined that a specific description of a related known technology may obscure the gist of the embodiment disclosed herein, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0036] In addition, it should be noted that the attached drawings are only intended to facilitate easy understanding of the embodiment disclosed herein, and the technical ideas disclosed herein should not be construed as being limited by the attached drawings.

[0037] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an example of a cleaner station of the present disclosure.

[0038] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a cleaner station 100 of the present disclosure is constructed such that a cleaner C may be mounted thereon. Specifically, the cleaner station 100 of the present disclosure may include a foreign substance treater 1 including a separator 11 that separates foreign substances from air by a centrifugal force, and a housing 2 including a seating portion 21 on which a dust bin D of the cleaner is seated, an air intake 22 including a supply flow channel 221 through which air inside the dust bin D of the cleaner flows to the separator 11, a dust collecting motor 24 that generates a suction force of sucking air inside the dust bin D of the cleaner, and an exhaust 23 that discharges air inside the separator 11 to the outside.

[0039] The foreign substance treater 1 may perform a function of separating the foreign substances such as the dust using the centrifugal force from air supplied from the dust bin D of the cleaner. To this end, the foreign substance treater 1 may include an air flow forming flow channel 111 that forms an air flow (a cyclonic flow) inside to rotate air. Using such air flow, relatively heavy foreign substances will move to a wall surface of the separator 11 by the centrifugal force and then fall down by gravity.

[0040] In this regard, it is preferable that at least two air flow forming flow channels 111 are disposed. In this case, air rotates more effectively inside the separator 11, so that the foreign substances such as the dust included in air may be evenly separated. This may improve speed and efficiency of the foreign substances such as the dust of moving to the wall surface by the centrifugal force, and ultimately improve overall foreign substance separation performance of the separator 11. In addition, as the air flow is dispersed, a pressure and a flow of air may be maintained at a constant level, thereby preventing imbalance in the air flow and achieving stable separation of the foreign substances.

[0041] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate an example of the separator 11, and more specifically, illustrate the separator 11 equipped with the two air flow forming flow channels 111.

[0042] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, air flowing from the dust bin D of the cleaner to the air intake 22 by the suction force generated by the dust collecting motor 24 is introduced into the supply flow channel 221, and the supply flow channel 221 is in communication with the air flow forming flow channel 111, so that air sucked from the dust bin D of the cleaner (air including the foreign substances such as the dust) may be introduced into the air flow forming flow channel 111.

[0043] In this regard, as described above, at least two air flow forming flow channels 111 may be included, so that air introduced from the dust bin D of the cleaner may split and enter the air flow forming flow channels 111.

[0044] In this regard, the at least two air flow forming flow channels 111 may include not only a case in which the at least two flow channels are formed in separate pipe shapes, but also a structure in which a partition wall dividing the flow channels is disposed within a single pipe shape to eventually form the at least two flow channels.

[0045] When air inside the dust bin D of the cleaner is introduced into the supply flow channel 221 by the dust collecting motor 24, it may be evenly distributed and introduced into the at least two air flow forming flow channels 111 in communication with the supply flow channel 221. Air distributed and introduced into each air flow forming flow channel 111 performs rotation (the cyclonic flow) by the centrifugal force inside each flow channel, and in this process, the foreign substances such as the dust having a relatively great weight are pushed and moved toward a wall surface of the flow channel. The foreign substances such as the dust moved toward the wall surface as such may fall down by gravity and may be collected in a lower area of the separator 11.

[0046] As such, the separator 11 equipped with the at least two air flow forming flow channels 111 may split the flow of introduced air to separate the foreign substances such as the dust independently in each flow channel. In addition, because the pressure and the flow of air may be maintained at the constant level by evenly distributing the air flow, a decrease in treatment efficiency resulted from the imbalance in the air flow may also be prevented.

[0047] In one example, the exhaust 23 may include an exhaust flow channel 231 that discharges air inside the separator 11 to the outside, and the separator 11 may further include an exhaust port 112 that allows the air flow forming flow channel 111 to be in communication with the exhaust flow channel 231.

[0048] The exhaust port 112 may be disposed at a location to be in contact with both of the at least two air flow forming flow channels 111 such that air from which the foreign substances such as the dust have been removed may be discharged from the inside of the air flow forming flow channels 111.

[0049] In this regard, the exhaust port 112 is preferably located at a center of the separator 11. The foreign substances such as the dust in air move to the wall surface of the air flow forming flow channel 111 by the centrifugal force because of the rotation of air generated inside the air flow forming flow channel 111. As the exhaust port 112 is located at the center of the separator 11, a possibility of the foreign substances such as the dust being introduced into the exhaust port 112 may be minimized, while air inside each of the air flow forming flow channels 111 may quickly flow to the exhaust flow channel 231 via the exhaust port 112.

[0050] Accordingly, the exhaust port 112 may be disposed at the location where it may come into contact with both of the air flow forming flow channels 111, but may be disposed at the center of the separator 11, so that the air flow inside the separator 11 may be naturally concentrated toward the center, and thus, the air flow rotating in each of the air flow forming flow channels 111 may be balanced and may be effectively discharged via the exhaust port 112.

[0051] As described above, air from which the dust has been removed while rotating in the air flow forming flow channel 111 flows to the exhaust flow channel 231 via the exhaust port 112. In this process, air from which the foreign substances such as the dust have been removed in the air flow forming flow channel 111 may undergo an additional filtering process before being discharged to the outside. That is, a filter 112a may be further disposed on a path of the exhaust flow channel 231 to further filter other foreign substances such as the dust inside air discharged from the air flow forming flow channel 111.

[0052] The filter 112a may filter out fine dust or foreign substances that may remain in air that has passed through the air flow forming flow channel 111, thereby improving cleanliness of air discharged to the outside of the cleaner station 100 of the present disclosure.

[0053] In addition, the filter 112a may be formed in a shape that does not obstruct the air flow, thereby effectively removing the foreign substances in air while maintaining a smooth air flow. For example, the filter 112a may be made of a porous material, so that air may flow freely via the fine holes, but the foreign substances in air may be filtered.

[0054] In one example, the foreign substance treater 1 may be in communication with a storage 12 to be described below to store the separated foreign substance.

[0055] The seating portion 21 may be constructed such that the dust bin D of the cleaner may be stably fixed and air (air including the foreign substances such as the dust) inside the dust bin D of the cleaner may smoothly flow to the air intake 22.

[0056] In one example, the cleaner station 100 of the present disclosure may further include an opening / closing member 25 that is disposed in the housing 2 and opens / closes the dust bin D of the cleaner. In this regard, the opening / closing member 25 may include a door 251 that is pivotably disposed in the seating portion 21 and is coupled to the dust bin D of the cleaner, and a first driver 252 that pivots the door 251.

[0057] The air intake 22 may include the supply flow channel 221 that transfers air inside the dust bin D of the cleaner to the separator 11. In other words, the air intake 22 may include the supply flow channel 221 that provides a flow channel through which air inside the dust bin D of the cleaner flows to the separator 11.

[0058] The supply flow channel 221 allows the seating portion 21 and the separator 11 to be in communication with each other. As will be described later, it is preferable that the supply flow channel 221 is constructed to maintain a smooth connection between the dust bin D of the cleaner and the separator 11 such that the flow of air is not obstructed.

[0059] The dust collecting motor 24 may generate the suction force necessary to suck air inside the dust bin D of the cleaner, and the dust collecting motor 24 may include the fan, so that the air flow may be smoothly formed from the dust bin D of the cleaner to the exhaust 23.

[0060] The exhaust 23 may discharge air treated in the separator 11 (air from which the foreign substances such as the dust are separated) to the outside. Although not shown in the drawing, the exhaust 23 may further include a filter to filter out the fine foreign substances that may remain in air.

[0061] In this regard, to maintain the smooth air flow without the foreign substances such as the dust scattering upward and to reduce the noise, it is preferable that the exhaust 23 is disposed at a lower portion of the cleaner station 100 of the present disclosure.

[0062] Hereinafter, based on the structure of the cleaner station 100 of the present disclosure described above, an operation process when the cleaner C is mounted on the cleaner station 100 will be described in detail.

[0063] FIG. 5 illustrates an operation process of a cleaner station of the present disclosure from a perspective of air flow.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 5, when the cleaner C is accurately mounted on the seating portion 21 of the cleaner station 100 of the present disclosure, a process for removing the foreign substances such as the dust accumulated in the dust bin D of the cleaner may automatically start as follows. This process may proceed without the user having to separately manipulate the cleaner C.

[0065] Although not shown in the drawing, when the cleaner C is mounted on the seating portion 21, the cleaner C may be recognized by a sensor equipped on the seating portion 21, and the first driver 252 of the opening / closing member 25 may operate to pivot the door 251. The door 251 is connectable to the dust bin D of the cleaner so as to open the dust bin D of the cleaner. When the door 251 is connected to the dust bin D of the cleaner, the door 251 may pivot by the first driver 252 to open the dust bin D of the cleaner, and air stored inside the dust bin D of the cleaner (air including the foreign substances such as the dust) may be prepared to flow to the air intake 22.

[0066] The opening of the dust bin D of the cleaner may be accomplished by a method in which the door 251 is coupled to the dust bin D of the cleaner and then the motor included in the first driver 252 directly pivots the door 251, or by a method in which a link (not shown) is further included in the first driver 252 to connect the motor with the door 251 such that the door 251 pivots by the link when the motor operates.

[0067] As shown in (a) in FIG. 5, the dust collecting motor 24 may be constructed to operate when the door 251 is completely opened, and the dust collecting motor 24 may generate the suction force for sucking air inside the dust bin D of the cleaner. The suction force generated from the dust collecting motor 24 causes air inside the dust bin D of the cleaner to pass through the supply flow channel 221, and in this process, it is preferable that the supply flow channel 221 is formed in a flat shape such that the flow of air is not obstructed.

[0068] As illustrated in (b) in FIG. 5, when air reaches the foreign substance treater 1 via the supply flow channel 221, a strong rotating air flow (a cyclonic flow) may be formed in the air flow forming flow channel 111 disposed in the foreign substance treater 1. The rotating air flow may perform the function of separating the foreign substances such as the dust from air by utilizing a principle of a cyclone. In this regard, relatively heavy dust and foreign substances included in air may be pushed toward the wall surface of the separator 11 by the influence of the centrifugal force, and the foreign substances such as the dust pushed toward the wall surface of the separator 11 may naturally fall downward by the gravity and may be ultimately accumulated in the storage 12 disposed at a lower portion of the foreign substance treater 1.

[0069] In this regard, the storage 12 may be formed in a shape detachable from the housing 2 such that the user may easily remove the accumulated foreign substances such as the dust.

[0070] As illustrated in (c) in FIG. 5, the exhaust 23 may include the exhaust flow channel 231 that discharges air inside the separator 11 to the outside, and the separator 11 may further include the exhaust port 112 that allows the air flow forming flow channel 111 to be in communication with the exhaust flow channel 231. Accordingly, air from which the foreign substances such as the dust inside are separated while rotating by the air flow forming flow channel 111 in the foreign substance treater 1 may be introduced into the exhaust port 112 and enter the exhaust flow channel 231.

[0071] (c) in FIG. 5 illustrates an example in which the exhaust port 112 is disposed at the center of the air flow forming flow channel 111. In the air flow forming flow channel 111, in the air flow formed by the centrifugal force, the relatively heavy foreign substances such as the dust are pushed outward of a rotation center in the air flow forming flow channel 111, and relatively light air is concentrated at the center. As the exhaust port 112 is disposed at the center of the air flow forming flow channel 111, air from which the foreign substances such as the dust are removed may be efficiently discharged. In addition, when the exhaust port 112 is disposed at the center of the air flow forming flow channel 111, straightness of the air flow may be maintained, thereby improving a discharge speed and facilitating simplification of the internal structure.

[0072] As a result, the exhaust port 112 may be located at the center of the air flow forming flow channel 111 to induce the concentration of the air flow, and as a result, the air flow may move more smoothly and quickly to the exhaust flow channel 231. The filter 112a may be disposed in the path of the exhaust flow channel 231 to additionally remove the fine dust or the foreign substances remaining in air in this process.

[0073] The filter 112a may further improve the cleanliness of air discharged to the outside of the cleaner station 100 of the present disclosure by filtering the fine dust or other foreign substances that may remain in air discharged after passing through the air flow forming flow channel 111.

[0074] The filter 112a may be made of a material that may effectively remove various types of dust, fine dust, or allergens. For example, a high efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA filter), an activated carbon filter, or the like may be used to additionally filter harmful substances in air. As a result, air discharged after the cleaner station 100 of the present disclosure operates may be maintained in a cleaner and healthier state, and it may also contribute to improving air quality.

[0075] In addition, because the filter 112a may deteriorate in performance over time because of adsorption of the dust or the foreign substances, the filter 112a may have an easily replaceable structure to be replaced by the user when necessary such that efficiency and an air cleaning function of the cleaner station 100 of the present disclosure may be continuously maintained.

[0076] As illustrated in (d) in FIG. 5, air from which the dust is separated by the centrifugal force in the foreign substance treater 1 may be introduced into the exhaust flow channel 231 via the exhaust port 112 located at the center of the air flow forming flow channel 111, and air introduced into the exhaust flow channel 231 may flow along the exhaust flow channel 231 and be discharged to the outside of the housing 2 via the exhaust 23.

[0077] FIG. 6 illustrates a storage of a cleaner station of the present disclosure in more detail.

[0078] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the foreign substance treater 1 of the cleaner station 100 of the present disclosure may further include the storage 12 in which the foreign substances separated in the separator 11 are stored.

[0079] Specifically, the storage 12 may include a storage body 121 disposed under the separator to provide a space in which the foreign substances such as the dust separated by the centrifugal force in the separator 11 are stored (accumulated), and a compressor 122 rotatably disposed inside the storage body 121.

[0080] The storage body 121 may be located under the separator 11 and provide the space for storing the foreign substances such as the dust separated by the centrifugal force. The storage body 121 may be formed in a hollow cylindrical shape to provide the space in which the foreign substances such as the dust falling from the separator 11 may be accumulated and stored, but may not be necessarily limited thereto, and may be formed in a different shape as long as it is able to provide the space in which the foreign substances such as the dust separated in the separator 11 may be accumulated and stored.

[0081] The compressor 122 may be rotatably disposed inside the storage body 121 to compress the foreign substances accumulated inside the storage body 121. The compressor 122 may be formed in a circular or gear-shaped rotational structure, and the housing 2 may be equipped with a second driver 26 that rotates the compressor 122, so as to apply a compressive force while the foreign substances such as the dust are accumulated inside the storage body 121, thereby reducing a volume of the foreign substances such as the dust. This may allow a storage space (the space inside the storage body) to be used more efficiently, and may prevent the foreign substances such as the dust from accumulating beyond a certain level.

[0082] The foreign substances such as the dust compressed by the compressor 122 may be fixed to a lower end of the storage body 121 to secure a space in which new foreign substances may be continuously stored, which may improve convenience of maintenance of the cleaner and minimize the volume of the foreign substances to be treated.

[0083] Specifically, the compressor 122 may perform a reciprocating motion within a predetermined angle. In other words, the compressor 122 may perform the reciprocating motion at the predetermined angle along a linear or arc-shaped movement path, and may repeatedly push and compress the foreign substances such as the dust inside the storage body 121 during this process.

[0084] The compressor 122 constructed to perform the reciprocating motion may minimize unnecessary rotational force or friction that may occur when compressing the foreign substances such as the dust accumulated (stored) inside the storage body 121, while evenly distributing the compressive force to efficiently compress the foreign substances such as the dust.

[0085] Accordingly, the compressor 122 may repeatedly push out and compress the foreign substances such as the dust in the internal space of the storage body 121 to induce the foreign substances such as the dust to be evenly distributed, which may minimize the volume of the compressed foreign substances and secure the storage space (the space inside the storage body).

[0086] In addition, the reciprocating motion performed within the predetermined angle may increase durability of the compressor 122 and reduce mechanical fatigue, so that stable operation may be ensured, and ultimately, the cleaner station 100 of the present disclosure may be efficiently operated and convenience of maintenance thereof may be improved.

[0087] In addition, the compressor 122 may be formed in a shape corresponding to the space inside the storage body 121, and thus, may evenly compress the foreign substances such as the dust accumulated in all areas inside the storage body 121.

[0088] In other words, the compressor 122 may be manufactured based on a shape of the interior of the storage body 121, so that the compression may be thoroughly performed in all areas where the foreign substances such as the dust may accumulate. Accordingly, the compressor 122 may be equipped to compress the foreign substances such as the dust present inside the storage body 121 all at once, and may minimize the volume of the foreign substances such as the dust while optimizing the storage space (the space inside the storage body).

[0089] In one example, the compressor 122 may operate at least one stage among before or after the cleaner station 100 of the present disclosure sucks the dust stored in the cleaner dust bin D.

[0090] When the compressor 122 operates before the cleaner station 100 of the present disclosure sucks the dust stored in the cleaner dust bin D, the space inside the storage body 121 may be secured in advance, so that a free space may be defined to suck the dust from the cleaner dust bin D. This allows the sucking process to proceed smoothly even when a large amount of foreign substances have accumulated in the cleaner dust bin D.

[0091] Alternatively, when the compressor 122 operates after the cleaner station 100 of the present disclosure sucks the dust stored in the cleaner dust bin D, the dust already sucked into the storage body 121 from the cleaner dust bin D may be efficiently compressed by the compressor 122, so that the storage space (the space inside the storage body) may be utilized to a maximum extent. This ensures sufficient space for next dust suction, ensuring efficient operation of the cleaner station 100 of the present disclosure.

[0092] As a result, when the compressor 122 is equipped to operate both before and after the cleaner station 100 of the present disclosure sucks the dust stored in the cleaner dust bin D, not only the space inside the storage body 121 may be secured in advance to provide the free space during the suction process, but also the sucked foreign substances such as the dust may be efficiently compressed after the suction process to utilize the storage space to the maximum extent possible. Accordingly, the cleaner station 100 of the present disclosure may maintain a state of readiness for the efficient operation at any time, and the smooth movement and storage of the foreign substances such as the dust between the cleaner dust bin D and the storage body 121 may be achieved, greatly improving user convenience and efficiency of maintenance of the cleaner station 100 of the present disclosure.

[0093] FIG. 7 illustrates a foreign substance treater in more detail.

[0094] As illustrated in FIG. 7, the foreign substance treater 1 may be detachable from the housing 2. Furthermore, the separator 11 may be detachable from the storage 12. In other words, the foreign substance treater 1 may be constructed to be divided into the separator 11 and the storage 12.

[0095] Specifically, the storage 12 may further include a handle 123 that allows the user to easily detach the foreign substance treater 1 from the housing 2, together with the storage body 121 and the compressor 122. The handle 123 is constructed to facilitate movement and detachment of the storage 12, so that the user may easily perform detachment and coupling processes of the foreign substance treater 1.

[0096] The separator 11 may be coupled to the storage 12, so that when the user pulls the handle 123, the storage 12 and the separator 11 are simultaneously detached, so that the foreign substance treater 1 may be detached at once.

[0097] In particular, it is preferable that the handle 123 is disposed on a side surface of the storage 12, so that the user may detach the foreign substance treater 1 in a direction horizontal to the ground.

[0098] In other words, it is preferable that the handle 123 is disposed on the side surface of the storage 12 such that the foreign substances such as the dust stored inside the storage 12 may not be scattered during the detachment process of the foreign substance treater 1 and the user may detach the foreign substance treater 1 in the direction horizontal to the ground.

[0099] That is, because the detachment of the foreign substance treater 1 is performed in the direction horizontal to the ground, the foreign substances such as the dust may be prevented from leaking or scattering to the outside, and inconvenience that may occur when the user detaches the foreign substance treater 1 may be minimized.

[0100] In addition, as described above, the separator 11 may be constructed to be detachable from the storage 12, and the separator 11 may include the air flow forming flow channel 111 and a cover 113 that is disposed between the air flow forming flow channel 111 and the supply flow channel 221.

[0101] The cover 113 may allow the supply flow channel 221 and the air flow forming flow channel 111 to be fixed and to be in communication with each other. To prevent air from leaking between the supply flow channel 221 and the air flow forming flow channel 111, the cover 113 may further include a sealing member (not shown). The sealing member may maintain an accurate air flow between the two flow channels 221 and 111 and prevent air leakage, thereby ensuring efficient operation of the system. Alternatively, the cover 113 itself may be made of a material for sealing so as to prevent the air leakage while fixing the two flow channels 221 and 111 and maintaining the air flow accurately.

[0102] In addition, the cover 113 may further include a filter (not shown) so as to block the foreign substances such as impurities or the dust from the air flow between the supply flow channel 221 and the air flow forming flow channel 111.

[0103] In this regard, the separator 11 may be constructed such that the cover 113 and the air flow forming flow channel 111 are detachable from each other, so that the user may detach the cover 113 and access the filter when replacing or cleaning the filter. That is, the user may check a condition of the filter and replace or clean the same as necessary, thereby extending a life of the filter and maintaining smooth air flow.

[0104] The present disclosure may be implemented in various modified forms, so that the scope of the rights thereof is not limited to the above-described embodiment. Accordingly, when the modified embodiment includes elements of the claims of the present disclosure, it should be considered to fall within the scope of the rights of the present disclosure.

Claims

1.A cleaner station where a cleaner is mounted, the cleaner station comprising:a foreign substance treater including a separator configured to separate foreign substances from air by a centrifugal force; anda housing including a seating portion where a dust bin of the cleaner is seated, an air intake including a supply flow channel where air inside the dust bin of the cleaner flows to the separator, a dust collecting motor configured to generate a suction force of sucking air inside the dust bin of the cleaner, and an exhaust configured to discharge air inside the separator to the outside,wherein the separator includes an air flow forming flow channel in communication with the supply flow channel and configured to rotate air supplied from the supply flow channel within the separator,wherein the air flow forming flow channel and the supply flow channel are smoothly connected to each other.2.The cleaner station of claim 1, wherein the air flow forming flow channel includes at least two air flow forming flow channels.3.The cleaner station of claim 2, wherein the exhaust includes an exhaust flow channel configured to discharge air inside the separator to the outside,wherein the separator further includes an exhaust port allowing the air flow forming flow channel to be in communication with the exhaust flow channel.4.The cleaner station of claim 3, wherein the exhaust further includes a filter configured to filter the foreign substances in air.5.The cleaner station of claim 4, further comprising an opening / closing member disposed in the housing and configured to open and close the dust bin of the cleaner,wherein the opening / closing member includes:a door pivotably disposed in the seating portion and coupled to the dust bin of the cleaner; anda first driver configured to pivot the door.6.The cleaner station of claim 5, wherein the foreign substance treater further includes a storage where the foreign substances separated in the separator are stored.7.The cleaner station of claim 6, wherein the storage includes:a storage body disposed under the separator and constructed to provide a space for storing the foreign substances; anda compressor rotatably disposed inside the storage body.8.The cleaner station of claim 7, wherein the housing further includes a second driver configured to rotate the compressor.9.The cleaner station of claim 8, wherein the foreign substance treater is constructed to be detachable from the housing.10.The cleaner station of claim 9, wherein the separator is constructed to be detachable from the storage.

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