Autonomous Cleaning Robot Equipped With A Wet Cleaning Device

Abstract

The autonomous cleaning robot includes a main body including a lower face and a suction opening, opening into the lower face; a wet cleaning device including two mop supports which are each movably mounted in translation relative to the main body in a direction of translation, and two mops mounted respectively on the two mop supports; and two drive wheels configured to roll over the surface to be cleaned and movably mounted in rotation on the main body respectively about two rotation axes which are substantially parallel. The two mop supports are located behind the rotation axes of the drive wheels, and the direction of translation extends substantially parallel to the rotation axes of the two drive wheels.

Claims

1. An autonomous cleaning robot comprising: a main body including a lower face configured to be oriented towards a surface to be cleaned and a suction opening provided in a front part of the main body and opening into the lower face of the main body, a suction unit housed at least partly in the main body, and configured to generate an air flow through the suction opening, a wet cleaning device including first and second mop supports each movably mounted in translation relative to the main body in a direction of translation, and first and second mops removably mounted respectively on the first and second mop supports, the first and second mops configured to be in contact with the surface to be cleaned, and first and second drive wheels configured to roll over the surface to be cleaned and movably mounted in rotation on the main body respectively about first and second rotation axes which are substantially parallel, wherein the first and second mop supports are located behind the first and second rotation axes of the first and second drive wheels, and the direction of translation extends substantially parallel to the first and second rotation axes of the first and second drive wheels.

2. The autonomous cleaning robot according to claim 1, wherein the first and second mop supports are movably mounted relative to each other between a close configuration in which the first and second mop supports are close to each other and a remote configuration in which the first and second mop supports are spaced apart from each other.

3. The autonomous cleaning robot according to claim 1, wherein the first and second mop supports are arranged on either side of a median longitudinal plane of the main body.

4. The autonomous cleaning robot according to claim 1, wherein, when the autonomous cleaning robot rests on a surface to be cleaned, a rear part of the autonomous cleaning robot is configured to rest on said surface to be cleaned directly by the first and second mops.

5. The autonomous cleaning robot according to claim 1, wherein the first and second mop supports are positioned relative to the main body such that the first and second mop supports are not intersected by any vertical plane passing through the first and second rotation axes of the first and second drive wheels, and such that the first and second mop supports are not located at least partly between two vertical planes passing respectively through the first and second rotation axes of the first and second drive wheels.

6. The autonomous cleaning robot according to claim 1, further comprising a power battery configured to electrically power the autonomous cleaning robot, the power battery being located at least partly above one of the first and second mop supports.

7. The autonomous cleaning robot according to claim 1, wherein the suction unit is located at least partly above one of the first and second mop supports.

8. The autonomous cleaning robot according to claim 1, wherein the wet cleaning device is removably mounted relative to the main body.

9. The autonomous cleaning robot according to claim 8, wherein the wet cleaning device is configured to be removed from the main body by a translation movement directed towards the rear of the main body.

10. The autonomous cleaning robot according to claim 9, wherein the wet cleaning device comprises first guide means configured to cooperate with second guide means provided on the main body during a mounting of the wet cleaning device on the main body, so as to guide the wet cleaning device in a guide direction.

11. The autonomous cleaning robot according to claim 8, wherein the wet cleaning device includes comprises a first electrical connector configured to cooperate with a second electrical connector mounted on the main body during a mounting of the wet cleaning device on the main body in a mounting direction which is directed towards the front of the main body.

12. The autonomous cleaning robot according to claim 8, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock the wet cleaning device on the main body.

13. The autonomous cleaning robot according to claim 12, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a locking member which is operable by a user and provided on the main body or the wet cleaning device, the locking member movably mounted between a locking position in which the locking member is configured to cooperate with a locking element provided on the wet cleaning device or the main body so as to lock the wet cleaning device to the main body and a release position in which the locking member is configured to release the locking element so as to authorize a removal of the wet cleaning device from the main body.

14. The autonomous cleaning robot according to claim 13, wherein the locking member is displaceable in translation according to an actuation direction which is substantially vertical when the autonomous cleaning robot rests on a horizontal surface.

15. The autonomous cleaning robot according to claim 1, wherein the autonomous cleaning robot comprises a cleaning liquid reservoir, and the wet cleaning device comprises a plurality of liquid outlet orifices configured to be fluidly connected to the cleaning liquid reservoir and configured to supply cleaning liquid to the first and second mops mounted on the first and second mop supports, the liquid outlet orifices located in front of the first and second mop supports.

16. The autonomous cleaning robot according to claim 1, further comprising a lifting ramp extending substantially parallel to the first and second rotation axes of the first and second drive wheels and located at the front of the first and second mop supports, the lifting ramp comprising a lifting surface oriented towards a surface to be cleaned and inclined backwards and downwards, the lifting surface configured to cause a lifting of a rear part of the main body when an obstacle, presenting itself frontally to the autonomous cleaning robot during a forward displacement of the main body, comes into contact with said lifting surface and slides on said lifting surface.

17. The autonomous cleaning robot according to claim 15, further comprising a lifting ramp extending substantially parallel to the first and second rotation axes of the first and second drive wheels and located at the front of the first and second mop supports, the lifting ramp comprising a lifting surface oriented towards a surface to be cleaned and inclined backwards and downwards, the lifting surface configured to cause a lifting of a rear part of the main body when an obstacle, presenting itself frontally to the autonomous cleaning robot during a forward displacement of the main body, comes into contact with said lifting surface and slides on said lifting surface, wherein the liquid outlet orifices are provided on the lifting ramp and are distributed along the lifting ramp.

18. The autonomous cleaning robot according to claim 1, further comprising a rotating cleaning brush movably mounted in rotation in the main body about a brush rotation axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0080] The aims, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the description given below of a particular embodiment of the invention presented by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0081] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an autonomous cleaning robot according to the present invention.

[0082] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the autonomous cleaning robot of FIG. 1.

[0083] FIG. 3 is a partial bottom perspective view of the autonomous cleaning robot of FIG. 1.

[0084] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the autonomous cleaning robot of FIG. 1.

[0085] FIG. 5 is a side view of the autonomous cleaning robot of FIG. 1.

[0086] FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the autonomous cleaning robot of FIG. 1.

[0087] FIG. 7 is an enlarged scale view of a detail of FIG. 6.

[0088] FIG. 8 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the autonomous cleaning robot of FIG. 1 showing a wet cleaning device removed from a main body of the autonomous cleaning robot.

[0089] FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the autonomous cleaning robot of FIG. 1 showing the wet cleaning device removed from the main body.

[0090] FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of the wet cleaning device.

[0091] FIG. 11 is a partial front perspective view of the wet cleaning device.

[0092] FIG. 12 is a partial bottom perspective view of the autonomous cleaning robot of FIG. 1 in which the wet cleaning device has been deposited.

[0093] FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of the autonomous cleaning robot of FIG. 1 showing a replacement module being assembled on the main body.

[0094] FIG. 14 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the autonomous cleaning robot of FIG. 1 showing the replacement module being assembled on the main body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0095] Only the elements necessary for understanding the invention are represented. To make the drawings easier to read, the same elements carry the same references from one figure to another.

[0096] It will be noted that in this document, the terms ?horizontal?, ?vertical?, ?lower?, ?upper?, ?top?, ?below? used to describe the autonomous cleaning robot or the main body refer to the autonomous cleaning robot in use when it rests on its wheels on a floor to be cleaned which is flat and horizontal.

[0097] FIGS. 1 to 14 represent an autonomous cleaning robot 2, and more particularly a robot vacuum cleaner, configured to be displaced in an autonomous manner over a surface to be cleaned.

[0098] The autonomous cleaning robot 2 comprises a main body 3 including a lower face 4 which is configured to be oriented towards the surface to be cleaned, and a suction opening 5 which is provided in a front part 3.1 of the main body 3 and which opens into the lower face 4 of the main body 3. Advantageously, the suction opening 5 is elongated and extends transversely, and more particularly perpendicularly, to a main displacement direction D of the autonomous cleaning robot 2.

[0099] The autonomous cleaning robot 2 further comprises a rotating cleaning brush 6 movably mounted in rotation in the main body 3 about a brush rotation axis which extends transversely, and more particularly perpendicularly, to the main displacement direction D. Advantageously, the brush rotation axis is substantially horizontal when the autonomous cleaning robot 2 rests on a horizontal surface.

[0100] The autonomous cleaning robot 2 also comprises a drive mechanism (not visible in the figures) which is configured to rotatably drive the rotating cleaning brush 6 about the brush rotation axis.

[0101] As shown more particularly in FIGS. 2 to 4, the autonomous cleaning robot 2 comprises two drive wheels 7 which are configured to roll over the surface to be cleaned. The two drive wheels 7 are movably mounted in rotation relative to the main body 3, and have rotation axes which are parallel, and advantageously collinear. Advantageously, the rotation axes of the drive wheels 7 extend perpendicular to the main displacement direction D.

[0102] The two drive wheels 7 are configured to project from the lower face 4 of the main body 3, and are arranged on either side of a median longitudinal plane P of the main body 3. Advantageously, the two drive wheels 7 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the median longitudinal plane P of the main body 3, and are lateral wheels of the autonomous cleaning robot 2.

[0103] The two drive wheels 7 are advantageously motorized independently of each other. Thus, the autonomous cleaning robot 2 comprises two rotational drive mechanisms 8 housed in the main body 3 and each configured to rotatably drive a respective drive wheel 7 among the two drive wheels 7. Each rotatably drive mechanism 8 includes a drive motor rotatably coupled to the respective drive wheel 7 and arranged for example in a respective lateral part of the main body 3. Depending on the control of the two aforementioned drive motors, the main body 3 can pivot to the left, to the right or on itself, move forward or even backward.

[0104] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the autonomous cleaning robot 2 includes additional wheels 9 freely mounted in rotation relative to the main body 3, and for example two additional wheels 9 arranged on the front part 3.1 of the main body 3. Advantageously, all the additional wheels 9 are located in front of the rotation axes of the two drive wheels 7, so that the autonomous cleaning robot 2 does not have an additional wheel located behind the rotation axes of the two drive wheels 7.

[0105] The autonomous cleaning robot 2 further comprises a suction unit 11 which is housed in the main body 3. The suction unit 11 comprises a suction motor and a fan which is coupled to the suction motor and which is configured to generate a flow of air through the suction opening 5.

[0106] The autonomous cleaning robot 2 also comprises a waste collection device 12 (see FIG. 6) which is arranged upstream of the suction unit 11 and which is crossed by the air flow generated by the fan when the autonomous cleaning robot 2 is in operation.

[0107] The autonomous cleaning robot 2 also includes a power battery 13 configured to electrically power the autonomous cleaning robot 2. Advantageously, the power battery 13 is rechargeable and is housed in the main body 3.

[0108] As shown in particular in FIG. 2, the autonomous cleaning robot 2 further comprises a wet cleaning device 14 which is arranged in a rear part 3.2 of the main body 3. Advantageously, the wet cleaning device 14 is arranged opposite the rotating cleaning brush 6 relative to the rotation axes of the drive wheels 7.

[0109] The wet cleaning device 14 includes two mop supports 15 which are arranged side by side and which are located behind the rotation axes of the drive wheels 7. Advantageously, the two mop supports 15 are arranged on either side of the median longitudinal plane P of the main body 3, and are configured to extend substantially horizontally when the main body 3 rests on a horizontal surface.

[0110] As shown more particularly in FIG. 3, the two mop supports 15 are positioned relative to the main body 3 such that the two mop supports 15 are not intersected by any vertical plane passing through rotation axes of wheels equipping the autonomous cleaning robot 2, and such that the two mop supports 15 are not located at least partly between two vertical planes passing respectively through two rotation axes of wheels equipping the autonomous cleaning robot 2.

[0111] Advantageously, the power battery 13 is located at least partly, and for example entirely, above one of the mop supports 15, and the suction unit 11 is located at least partly, and for example entirely, above the other of the mop supports 15. Thus, the suction unit 11 and the power battery 13 are arranged on either side of the median longitudinal plane P of the main body 3.

[0112] The two mop supports 15 are each movably mounted in translation relative to the main body 3 in a direction of translation T which extends transversely, and advantageously perpendicularly, to the main displacement direction D of the autonomous cleaning robot 2.

[0113] Advantageously, the mop supports 15 are movably mounted relative to each other between a close configuration in which the two mop supports 15 are brought closer to each other, and a remote configuration in which the two mop supports 15 are distant from each other.

[0114] The wet cleaning device 14 also includes a translation drive mechanism 16 configured to displace the mop supports 15 in translation in the direction of translation T and alternately between the close configuration and the remote configuration. Thus, the translation drive mechanism 16 is configured to displace the two mop supports 15 in translation in phase opposition. Advantageously, the translation drive mechanism 16 is located at least partly above the mop supports 15.

[0115] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the translation drive mechanism 16 includes a drive motor 16.1, a crankshaft 16.2 coupled in rotation to the drive motor 16.1 and configured to be driven in rotation by the drive motor 16.1, and two connecting rods 16.3 each comprising a first end portion hingedly mounted on the crankshaft 16.2 and a second end portion hingedly articulated on a respective mop support 15.

[0116] The wet cleaning device 14 further includes two mops 17 removably mounted respectively on the two mop supports 15. The mops 17 are configured to be in contact with the surface to be cleaned, and more particularly to exert a support force on the surface to be cleaned, when the autonomous cleaning robot 2 rests on the surface to be cleaned. The support force can for example be greater than or equal to 9 N.

[0117] Advantageously, the autonomous cleaning robot 2 is configured such that, when the autonomous cleaning robot 2 rests on a surface to be cleaned, a rear part of the autonomous cleaning robot 2 rests on said surface to be directly cleaned by the two mops 17.

[0118] As shown more particularly in FIGS. 8 to 12, the wet cleaning device 14 is removably mounted relative to the main body 3, and the main body 3 includes a receiving housing 18 in which is received at least in part the wet cleaning device 14. The wet cleaning device 14 is advantageously configured to be removed from the main body 3 by a translation movement directed towards the rear of the main body 3.

[0119] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the wet cleaning device 14 includes a support body 19 including more particularly a support plate 19.1 which comprises a lower surface on which the mop supports 15 are movably mounted, and a protective cowl 19.2 which is fixed on an upper surface of the support plate 19.1. The support plate 19.1 and the protective cowl 19.2 define an inner housing 19.3 in which the translation drive mechanism 16 is arranged. The support body 19 further includes a lateral wall 19.4 which extends upwards from the support plate 19.1 and which is configured to cover at least partly the receiving housing 18.

[0120] As shown in FIGS. 9 to 13, the wet cleaning device 14 includes first guide means configured to cooperate with second guide means provided on the main body 3 during a mounting of the wet cleaning device 14 on the main body 3 and when removing the wet cleaning device 14 from the main body 3, so as to guide the wet cleaning device 14 in a guide direction which is substantially perpendicular to the main displacement direction D. The first guide means may for example include two guide ribs 21, such as T-shaped guide ribs, provided on the upper surface of the support plate 19.1, and the second guide means may for example include two guide grooves 22, such as T-shaped guide grooves, provided on the lower face 4 of the main body 3.

[0121] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the wet cleaning device 14 further includes a first electrical connector 23, such as a male or female connector, configured to cooperate with a second electrical connector 24, such as a female or male connector, mounted on the main body 3 during a mounting of the wet cleaning device 14 on the main body 3 in a mounting direction which is directed towards the front of the main body 3.

[0122] The autonomous cleaning robot 2 also includes a locking mechanism configured to lock the wet cleaning device 14 on the main body 3. The locking mechanism includes a locking member 25 which is operable by a user and which is provided on a rear part of the main body 3, and for example on a rear face of the main body 3.

[0123] The locking member 25 is movably mounted between a locking position in which the locking member 25 is configured to cooperate with a locking element 26 provided on the wet cleaning device 14 so as to lock the wet cleaning device 14 on the main body 3, and a release position in which the locking member 25 is configured to release the locking element 26 so as to allow a removal of the wet cleaning device 14 from the main body 3. The locking member 25 may for example include a locking finger, and the locking element 26 may for example include a locking housing configured to receive the locking finger.

[0124] Advantageously, the locking member 25 is movably mounted in translation relative to the main body 3 in an actuation direction which is substantially vertical when the autonomous cleaning robot 2 rests on a horizontal surface.

[0125] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the locking mechanism includes a biasing member 27, such as a compression spring, configured to bias the locking member 25 towards the locking position.

[0126] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the autonomous cleaning robot 2 also includes an ejection member 28 configured to eject the wet cleaning device 14 away from the main body 3 and towards the rear of the main body 3 when the locking member 25 is displaced to the release position. Advantageously, the ejection member 28 is housed partly in a receiving cavity 29 provided on the main body 3 and has an ejection face 28.1 configured to bear against the wet cleaning device 14.

[0127] The ejection member 28 is slidably mounted relative to the main body 3 in a sliding direction, which is parallel to the main displacement direction D of the autonomous cleaning robot 2, and between a retracted position (see the FIG. 7) in which the ejection face 28.1 of the ejection member 28 is located recessed or close to an insertion opening of the receiving cavity 29, and a deployed position (see FIG. 12) in which the ejection face 28.1 of the ejection member 28 projects from the receiving cavity 29 and is located at a distance from the insertion opening of the receiving cavity 29. Advantageously, the wet device cleaning device 14 is configured to displace the ejection member 28 into the retracted position when the wet cleaning device 14 is mounted on the main body 3.

[0128] As shown more particularly in FIG. 7, the autonomous cleaning robot 2 includes a biasing element 31, such as a compression spring, configured to bias the ejection member 28 towards the deployed position.

[0129] The autonomous cleaning robot 2 also includes a cleaning liquid reservoir 32 which is mounted, for example in a removable manner, on the main body 3. Advantageously, the cleaning liquid reservoir 32 and the waste collection device 12 are superimposed, and are secured to each other. Thus, the autonomous cleaning robot 2 can for example include a removable reservoir including a first compartment forming the cleaning liquid reservoir 32 and a second compartment forming the waste collection device 12. Nonetheless, according to an embodiment of the invention, the cleaning liquid reservoir 32 could be provided directly on the wet cleaning device 14, and therefore be separate from the waste collection device 12.

[0130] The wet cleaning device 14 further includes a plurality of liquid outlet orifices 33 which are configured to be fluidly connected to the cleaning liquid reservoir 32 and which are configured to supply cleaning liquid to the mounted mops 17 on the mop supports 15.

[0131] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the liquid outlet orifices 33 are aligned in an alignment direction which extends perpendicular to the main displacement direction D of the autonomous cleaning robot 2, and are regularly spaced from each other. Advantageously, the liquid outlet orifices 33 are located at the front of the mop supports 15, and for example at the front of the mops 17, and are configured to face the surface to be cleaned.

[0132] The autonomous cleaning robot 2 also includes a cleaning liquid supply circuit provided on the main body 3 and configured to fluidly connect the liquid outlet orifices 33 to the cleaning liquid reservoir 32.

[0133] Advantageously, the cleaning liquid supply circuit includes a distributor 35 (see FIG. 7) housed in the main body 3. The distributor 35 comprises a collection chamber which extends transversely to the main displacement direction of the autonomous cleaning robot 2 and which is fluidly connected to the cleaning liquid reservoir 32, and a plurality of evacuation orifices (not visible in the figures) which are provided on a lower face of the distributor, which open into the collection chamber and which are distributed along the collection chamber. Advantageously, each evacuation orifice is located opposite a respective passage orifice 37 (see FIG. 12) which is provided on the main body 3 and which opens into the lower face 4 of the main body 3, and each passage orifice 37 is located opposite a respective liquid outlet orifice 33.

[0134] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the autonomous cleaning robot 2 includes a lifting ramp 38 which extends transversely to the main displacement direction D of the autonomous cleaning robot 2 and which is located at the front of the mop supports 15. The lifting ramp 38 can for example have a length corresponding substantially to the distance between the two drive wheels 7. Advantageously, the lifting ramp 38 is provided on the wet cleaning device 14, and is for example fixed to the body of the support 19.

[0135] The lifting ramp 38 includes a lifting surface 38.1 which is oriented towards a surface to be cleaned and which is inclined backwards and downwards. Advantageously, the lifting surface 38.1 is substantially flat. The lifting surface 38.1 is more particularly configured to cause a lifting of the rear part 3.2 of the main body 3 when an obstacle, presenting itself frontally to the autonomous cleaning robot 2 during a forward displacement of the main body 3, comes into contact with said lifting surface 38.1 and slides on said lifting surface 38.1.

[0136] Advantageously, the lifting surface 38.1 is configured to be inclined relative to the horizontal by an angle of inclination comprised between 1? and 40?, and for example approximately 25?, when the autonomous cleaning robot rests on a horizontal surface.

[0137] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the liquid outlet orifices 33 are provided on the lifting ramp 38 and are distributed along the lifting ramp 38. Advantageously, the liquid outlet orifices 33 open into the lifting surface 38.1.

[0138] As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the autonomous cleaning robot also includes a replacement module 41 which is configured to be mounted on the main body 3 in place of the wet cleaning device 14 in particular when a wet cleaning of a surface to be cleaned is not desired. The replacement module 41 does not have a mop and can for example be installed on the main body in place of the wet cleaning device 14 when the suction of a soft floor, such as a carpet, is desired or when a wet cleaning of a hard ground is not desired.

[0139] Advantageously, the replacement module 41 includes guide means 41.1 identical to the guide ribs 21 provided on the wet cleaning device 14, and also a bottom wall 41.2 and a rear wall 41.3 respectively similar to the plate support 19.1 and to the lateral wall 19.4 of the support body 19.

[0140] According to an embodiment of the invention, the replacement module 41 could be provided with a module support configured to be mounted on the main body 3 in place of the wet cleaning device 14, and at least a passive mop, that is to say which is immovably mounted in relation to the module support. Such a replacement module 41 allows a user to wipe the floor to be cleaned, which can be wet or dry depending on the user needs.

[0141] According to another embodiment of the invention, the replacement module 41 could be provided with a floor treatment element, other than a mop, configured to carry out a mechanical, chemical, thermal or radiant treatment of the ground.

[0142] Of course, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and illustrated which has only been given by way of example. Modifications remain possible, particularly from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.