Abstract:
Used in a mobile robotic vacuum cleaner, a detachable roller brush device is disclosed to include a mounting device, and a roller brush having one end thereof detachably connectable to the driving shaft of the driving device and an opposite end thereof rotatably and detachably connectable to the mounting device. Thus, when released the connection between the roller brush and the mounting device, the roller brush can easily be removed from the mobile robotic vacuum cleaner for repair or replacement

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to mobile robotic vacuum cleaner technology and more specifically, to a detachable roller brush device for mobile robotic vacuum cleaner. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    A mobile robotic vacuum cleaner is an automatic vacuum cleaner able to navigate a living space safely around unforeseen obstacles while cleaning the floor subject to rotation of roller brushes and operation of an electrical fan. For the advantage of automatic vacuuming without assistant of any person around, mobile robotic vacuum cleaner is highly invited by people to substitute for conventional labor-operated vacuum cleaners or other cleaning tools. 
         [0005]    Although a mobile robotic vacuum cleaner brings convenience to home life, the roller brushes of a mobile robotic vacuum cleaner may wear after a long use. Because the roller brushes of conventional mobile robotic vacuum cleaners are not detachable, only a well-trained maintenance person can detach the failed mobile robotic vacuum cleaner to repair or replace the damaged roller brush or brushes. The repair procedure is complicated and expensive. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a detachable roller brush device for mobile robotic vacuum cleaner, which is easily detachable from the mobile robotic vacuum cleaner for repair. 
         [0007]    To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a detachable roller brush device is used in a mobile robotic vacuum cleaner having a driving device with a driving shaft, comprising a mounting device and a roller brush. The roller brush has one end thereof detachably connectable to the driving shaft of the driving device and an opposite end thereof rotatably and detachably connectable to the mounting device. Thus, when released the connection between the roller brush and the mounting device, the roller brush can easily be removed from the mobile robotic vacuum cleaner for repair or replacement. 
         [0008]    Preferably, the mounting device comprises a casing, a movable block movably mounted inside the casing and stopped against one end of the roller brush, a spring member having two distal ends respectively stopped against the casing and the movable block and a stop block mounted inside the casing and movable between a stop position. The stop block has a stop portion. The top portion stops the movable block in position when the stop block is in the stop position. The stop portion is released from the movable block for allowing movement of the movable block relative to the casing when the stop block is in the released position. 
         [0009]    Preferably, the mounting device further comprises a barrel mounted inside the casing and adapted for accommodating the movable block. The barrel comprises a through hole for the passing of the stop portion of the stop block to stop the movable block in position when the stop block is in the stop position. The stop portion of the stop block is disengaged from the through hole when the stop block is in the released position. 
         [0010]    Preferably, the barrel comprises a sliding slot located on the peripheral wall thereof and extending along the axis thereof. The movable block is accommodated in the barrel, comprising a sliding rib inserted into the sliding slot to guide sliding movement of the movable block relative to the barrel. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the detachable roller brush device further comprises a second spring member having two distal ends thereof respectively stopped against the stop block and the casing to impart a spring force to the stop block and to hold the stop block in the stop position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is an elevational view of mobile robotic vacuum cleaner equipped with a detachable roller brush device in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the mobile robotic vacuum cleaner shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is an elevational view illustrating two roller brush devices coupled to a driving device according to the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the assembly shown in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a schematic sectional view of the present invention illustrating the coupling arrangement between the roller brush device and the respective driving shaft of the driving device. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a schematic sectional view of the present invention illustrating the stop block in the stop position. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is similar to  FIG. 5  but illustrating the roller brush device disengaged from the respective driving shaft of the driving device. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is similar to  FIG. 6  but illustrating the stop block in the released position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a detachable roller brush device  20  in accordance with the present invention is to be used in a mobile robotic vacuum cleaner  10  has a driving device  12  mounted therein. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the driving device  12  comprises two driving shafts  14  that have a rectangular cross section. Two detachable roller brush devices  20  are respectively and detachably coupled to the two driving shafts  14  of the driving device  12  mobile robotic vacuum cleaner  10  are shown installed in a mobile robotic vacuum cleaner  10  is shown comprising a driving device  12  in accordance with the present invention is shown used in  30  and a chips collection box  40 . Because the two detachable roller brush devices  20  are arranged in a mirror image manner, only the structure of one detachable roller brush device  20  is explained below. Any person skilled in the art will fully understand the structure, operation and characteristics of the detachable roller brush devices  20  subject to the following explanation. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , each detachable roller brush device  20  comprises a mounting device  30  and a roller brush  40 . 
         [0022]    The mounting device  30  is installed in the bottom side of the mobile robotic vacuum cleaner  10 , comprising a casing  31 , a barrel  32 , a movable block  33 , a first spring member  34 , a stop block  35  and a second spring member  36 . 
         [0023]    The casing  31  consists of a top cover shell  312  and a bottom cover shell  314 . The bottom cover shell  314  has an opening  316 . 
         [0024]    The barrel  32  is mounted inside the casing  31 , comprising two longitudinal sliding slots  322  cut through the peripheral wall thereof at two opposite sides and extending in the axial direction and a rectangular through hole  324  cut through the peripheral wall. 
         [0025]    The movable block  33  is accommodated in the barrel  32 , comprising two sliding ribs  332  respectively slidably inserted into the longitudinal sliding slots  322  of the barrel  32  to guide sliding movement of the movable block  33  relative to the barrel  32 . 
         [0026]    The first spring member  34  has its two opposite ends respectively stopped against one long side of the bottom cover shell  314  and one end wall of the movable block  33 . 
         [0027]    The stop block  35  is mounted in the casing  31  and movable between a stop position P 1  and a released position P 2 , comprising a stop portion  352  having a rectangular cross section. When the stop block  35  is in the stop position P 1  shown in  FIG. 6 , the stop portion  352  of the stop block  35  is inserted through the rectangular through hole  324  of the barrel  32  to stop the movable block  33  in position, as shown in  FIG. 5 . When the stop block  35  is in the released position P 2  shown in  FIG. 8 , the stop portion  352  of the stop block  35  is disengaged from the rectangular through hole  324  of the barrel  32 , allowing movement of the movable block  33  by an external force, as shown in  FIG. 7 . Further, the stop block  35  comprises a protruding portion  354  protruded from the bottom wall thereof. The protruding portion  354  extends out of the casing  31  through the opening  316  for receiving an external force to move the stop block  35  from the stop position P 1  to the released position P 2 . 
         [0028]    The second spring member  36  has its two opposite ends respectively stopped against one short side of the bottom cover shell  314  and the stop block  35  to impart a spring force to the stop block  35 , holding the stop block  35  in the stop position P 1 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the roller brush  40  is rotatably mounted in a bottom groove  16  of the mobile robotic vacuum cleaner  10 , having a rectangular plughole  42  located on its one end and fastened to one driving shaft  14  of the driving device  12  so that the roller brush  40  is rotatable by the driving device  12 . The other end of the roller brush  40  is stopped at one end of the movable block  33  against the spring force of the first spring member  34 . 
         [0030]    After description of the structural details of the detachable roller brush device  20 , the dismounting operation of the detachable roller brush device  20  is explained hereinafter. 
         [0031]    When detaching the detachable roller brush device  20  from the mobile robotic vacuum cleaner  10 , operate the protruding portion  354  of the stop block  35  to move the stop block  35  from the stop position P 1  shown in  FIG. 6  to the released position P 2  shown in  FIG. 8 , and then apply a pressure to the roller brush  40  to move the roller brush  40  toward the movable block  33  and to simultaneously compress the first spring member  34 , as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , until that the rectangular plughole  42  of the roller brush  40  is disengaged from the associating driving shaft  14  of the driving device  12 . At this time, the user can remove the roller brush  40  from the bottom groove  16  of the mobile robotic vacuum cleaner  10  for a repair work. 
         [0032]    After the repair work is done, the roller brush  40  can be installed in the mobile robotic vacuum cleaner  10  again. When re-installing the roller brush  40 , operate the protruding portion  354  of the stop block  35  to move the stop block  35  from the stop position P 1  shown in  FIG. 6  to the released position P 2  shown in  FIG. 8 , and then insert one end of the roller brush  40  into the bottom groove  16  of the mobile robotic vacuum cleaner  10 , and then push the movable block  33  toward the inside for enabling the whole roller brush  40  to be received in the bottom groove  16  and the rectangular plughole  42  of the roller brush  40  to be forced into engagement with the associating driving shaft  14  of the driving device  12 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . Thereafter, release the pressure from the movable block  33  to let the movable block  33  be forced by the first spring member  34  against the roller brush  40 , keeping the rectangular plughole  42  of the roller brush  40  in positive engagement with the associating driving shaft  14  of the driving device  12 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . At final, release the pressure from the stop block  35 , enabling the stop block  35  to be returned by the spring force of the second spring member  36  from the released position P 2  shown in  FIG. 8  to the stop position P 1  shown in  FIG. 6 , finishing the re-installation of the roller brush  40 . 
         [0033]    In conclusion, the detachable roller brush device comprises a mounting device and a roller brush. When the roller brush wears after a long use, the user can detach the roller brush for repair or replacement conveniently. Therefore, the invention facilitates maintenance and provides excellent cleaning effect. 
         [0034]    Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.