A dust collecting apparatus includes a dust separation unit to separate dust from suctioned air; a dust storage unit to store the dust separated in the dust separation unit; a pressing member to compress the dust stored in the dust storage unit, and having a pressing plate support part, and a pressing plate supported by the pressing plate support part; a fixing member disposed between an inner circumferential surface of the dust storage unit and the pressing plate support part; and a path formed by a part of the fixing member, located between the pressing plate support part and the inner circumferential surface of the dust storage unit, and through which the air between the pressing plate and the fixing member passes, wherein one or more holes through which the air between the pressing plate and the fixing member passes are formed at the pressing plate.

A system for compacting debris collected within a robotic vacuum debris container to allow more space for incoming debris. The volume of collected debris is reduced by pressure plates pressing the debris against surfaces so that the debris container may hold a greater mass of debris. The system allows robotic vacuums to operate for longer periods of time before requiring maintenance by a user to empty the debris container.

A vacuum cleaner comprising: a housing; a motor fan assembly arranged to generate an air flow; a dirt container in fluid communication with a dirty air inlet and the motor fan assembly; a moveable dirt compactor mounted in the dirt container and moveable between a stowed position and a dirt compacting position wherein the moveable dirt compactor is closer to one end of the dirt container in the dirt compacting position than in the stowed position, wherein the movable dirt compactor is shaped so as to allow dirt within the dirt container located on one side of the dirt compactor to pass to the other side of the dirt compactor; and a detector switch coupled to the moveable dirt compactor, the detector switch configured to open an electrical circuit and interrupt power supplied to the motor fan assembly when the moveable dirt compactor moves towards the dirt compacting position and urges dirt towards the one end of the dirt container.

A vacuum cleaner comprises: a housing and a motor fan assembly mounted in the housing, the motor fan assembly arranged to generate an air flow. A removable dirt container is mountable on the housing and in fluid communication with a dirty air inlet and the motor fan assembly. A moveable dirt compactor is mounted in the dirt container and moveable between a stowed position and a dirt compacting position wherein the moveable dirt compactor is closer to one end of the dirt container in the dirt compacting position than in the stowed position. Wherein the dirt container comprises a primary handle for actuating the moveable dirt compactor with a first hand and a first auxiliary handle for allowing the user to grip with a second hand.

The present invention provides a dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner, comprising: a first cyclone installed in a first case and configured to separate dust from air introduced thereinto together with foreign substances and to discharge the separated dust to a first dust storage unit; a second cyclone mounted above the first cyclone and configured to separate fine dust from the air from which the dust is separated by the first cyclone and to discharge the separated fine dust to a second dust storage unit; a compression device configured such that at least a part thereof performs normal rotation in one direction and reverse rotation in the direction opposite to that of the normal rotation along the outer peripheral surface of a second case having the second dust storage unit therein to compress the dust stored in the first dust storage unit; a screw rotatably installed above the compression device and having a guide vane spirally extending along the outer periphery thereof to guide the collection of dust into the first dust storage unit; a driving unit that transmits a driving force to the compression device to selectively enable the normal rotation and the reverse rotation of the compression device; and a gear unit installed between the compression device and the screw to enable the screw to perform normal rotation while the compression device performs the normal rotation and the reverse rotation.

A cleaning robot system includes a robot and a robot maintenance station. The robot includes a chassis, a drive system configured to maneuver the robot as directed by a controller, and a cleaning assembly including a cleaning assembly housing and a driven cleaning roller. The robot maintenance station includes a station housing and a docking platform configured to support the robot when docked. A mechanical agitator engages the roller of the robot with the robot docked. The agitator includes an agitator comb having multiple teeth configured to remove accumulated debris from the roller as the agitator comb and roller are moved relative to one another. The robot maintenance station includes a collection bin arranged to receive and hold debris removed by the mechanical agitator.

A dust collector for a vacuum cleaner disclosed herein includes a first cyclone that is configured to separate dust from air introduced from a lower portion thereof with containing foreign materials and discharge the separated dust into a first dust storing unit, a second cyclone that is configured to separate fine dust from the air, from which the dust has been separated by the first cyclone, and discharge the separated fine dust into a second dust storing unit defined in a second case, and a lower cover that is coupled to the first case by a hinge so as to define a bottom surface of the first dust storing unit, the second dust storing unit and the first cyclone upon being closed, and discharge therethrough the foreign materials collected in the first dust storing unit, the second dust storing unit and the first cyclone upon being open.

A dust collector includes a first dust storing unit to collect dust firstly-separated from air by a first cyclone, a second dust storing unit to collect fine dust secondly-separated from the air by second cyclones located above the first cyclone, a lower cover part coupled to a first dust container to form a bottom surface of the first dust storing unit and the second dust storing unit, and rotatable about a hinge to simultaneously open the first and second dust storing units, such that the dust and the fine dust are simultaneously discharged, and a compression device rotatably connected to the lower cover part so as to rotate in a reciprocating manner to compress the dust collected in the first dust storing unit.

A vacuum cleaner including: a suctioning unit; a main body including a cyclone part for separating dust from suctioned air and a dust container for storing the separated dust, and a body cover for opening and closing the lower side of the body; a filter unit, disposed in the body, for filtering air separated from the dust; an actuating unit capable of moving in the body between the outside of the filter unit and the inner circumference surface of the body; an operating unit disposed outside the body which operates in order to move the actuating unit; a transmission unit penetrating the body and connecting the actuating unit with the operating unit; and an elastic member disposed outside the body which elastically supports the operating unit.

A robot cleaner includes a body forming an external appearance of the robot cleaner, a body moving part provided to the body to move the body, a body driving unit to drive the body moving part, a dust collector to capture suctioned foreign substances and provided with a first chamber and a second chamber communicating with the first chamber, a suction generation unit to supply suction force to the dust collector, and a guide member to guide the foreign substances captured in the first chamber to the second chamber and to apply pressure to the foreign substances in the second chamber in order to compress the foreign substances.