CLEANING MACHINE

A cleaning machine for cleaning particles on a plate member includes a first cleaning device, a second cleaning device, a driving module, a spraying module and a control system. The first cleaning device is rotatable on the plate member. The second cleaning device is rotatable on the plate member. The driving module connected to the first cleaning device and the second cleaning device drives the first cleaning device and the second cleaning device to rotate at least one of the first cleaning device and the second cleaning device. The spraying module sprays liquid. The control system coupled to the spraying module and the driving module controls operations of the spraying module and the driving module. The spraying module of the cleaning machine of the invention has a wider spraying range, so that a wetted range on the plate member is wider.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of No. CN201910071831.0 filed in China on 2019 Jan. 25 under 35 USC 119, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a cleaning machine, and more particularly to a cleaning machine adapted for cleaning a surface.

Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, the door and window at home are cleaned by opening the window or removing the window, and the door and window on the building are cleaned by a cleaning company and by installing a suspension frame on the external surface of the building, wherein a motor is utilized to control the suspension frame to move up and down so that the external door and window of the building can be brushed or cleaned by the water jet. However, the suspension frame tends to subject to wind and swing due to the unstable center of gravity. In order to avoid the dangerous accidents (e.g., when the staff slips, or when the cleaning appliance falls down to hurt a person or persons), which are caused by the excessively forced brushing on the door and window, only the slight flushing operations can be performed on the door and window so that the door and window cannot be completely cleaned.

With the rapid advancement of technology and the upgrading of human needs, that the manpower is replaced by the machine has become the trend of the times, and window cleaning robots for cleaning home doors and windows have become available in the modern society. When the window cleaning robot is wiping the glass, because the surface of the glass is usually covered with the deeper contamination, the wetted rag is needed to clean the contamination smoothly.FIG. 1is a schematic view showing a conventional atomization cleaning robot.FIG. 1shows an atomization cleaning robot disclosed in China Patent No. CN203244339U. Referring toFIG. 1, an atomization cleaning robot20for cleaning a surface of an object includes a body10, a walking device12, a cleaning part15and a spraying part16. The body10is provided with an operation surface for wiping the surface of the object. The walking device12is mounted on the body10. The cleaning part15is mounted on the operation surface and includes a rag. The spraying part16includes a liquid storage tank161, an ultrasonic atomizer162and a nozzle163successively communicated together. The nozzle163is also mounted on the operation surface and disposed in front of the cleaning part15. The atomization cleaning robot20adopts the cleaning part15and the spraying part16, wherein the nozzle163of the spraying part16is disposed in front of the cleaning part15, and the ultrasonic atomizer162is controlled by a controller164to perform the high-frequency resonance. The ultrasonic atomizer162atomizes the sprayed liquid to spray the atomized liquid onto the cleaning surface, and the liquid spraying amount is small and the sprayed liquid is very uniform.

However, the window cleaning robot needs to run back and forth multiple times to remove the deeper contamination, has the smaller spraying range, and still has the room for further improvements.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the invention is to provide a cleaning machine having a spraying module capable of spraying liquid onto a surface.

To achieve the above-identified objective, a cleaning machine for cleaning particles on a plate member according to an embodiment is provided. The cleaning machine includes a first cleaning device, a second cleaning device, a driving module, a spraying module and a control system. The first cleaning device is rotatable on the plate member. The second cleaning device is rotatable on the plate member. The driving module is connected to the first cleaning device and the second cleaning device, and drives the first cleaning device and the second cleaning device to rotate at least one of the first cleaning device and the second cleaning device. The spraying module sprays liquid. The control system is coupled to the spraying module and the driving module and controls operations of the spraying module and the driving module.

In one embodiment, the driving module includes a connection device connected between the first cleaning device and the second cleaning device, and the driving module drives the first cleaning device and the second cleaning device in a first period, so that the second cleaning device is rotated in a first rotation direction to generate a first torque, which swings the connection device in a second rotation direction reverse to the first rotation direction.

In one embodiment, the cleaning machine further includes a housing. The housing is used to accommodate the driving module and the control system, the housing is connected to the first cleaning device and the second cleaning device, and the housing is connected to the spraying module.

In one embodiment, the spraying module includes a liquid tank, a liquid drainage port and a liquid pumping unit. The liquid tank is used for storing the liquid, the liquid drainage port is used for spraying the liquid, and the liquid pumping unit is used for generating driving power to discharge the liquid from the liquid drainage port.

In one embodiment, the liquid pumping unit includes an ultrasonic vibrating piece, and the liquid drainage port is disposed on the ultrasonic vibrating piece.

In one embodiment, the spraying module further includes a liquid inlet port and a cover. The liquid inlet port is disposed on the liquid tank, the cover is configured to cover the liquid inlet port, and the cover is formed with a separation part.

In one embodiment, the liquid tank is defined with a storage space and a pressure relief hole, and the liquid inlet port is disposed on the liquid tank. The storage space is used for storing the liquid; the liquid inlet port communicates with the storage space; a protrusion of the cover can be plugged into the liquid inlet port to prevent the liquid from leaking out; and the pressure relief hole communicates with the storage space. In a process when the protrusion of the cover is plugged into the liquid inlet port, the storage space communicates with an external environment through the pressure relief hole. After the cover has been completely installed, the pressure relief hole is covered by the cover to prevent the liquid from leaking out of the pressure relief hole.

In one embodiment, the spraying module includes a column, and the liquid drainage port is disposed on the column and exposed from the housing. The housing is defined by a long-axis direction of the housing and a short-axis direction of the housing perpendicular to the long-axis direction of the housing, and an angle between a long-axis direction of the column of the projecting column and the short-axis direction of the housing ranges from 0 to 90 degrees.

In one embodiment, an angle between a direction of a normal of the liquid drainage port of the spraying module and a direction of a bottom surface parallel to the spraying module ranges from 0 to 90 degrees.

In one embodiment, the cleaning machine further includes a compressor module, wherein the first cleaning device and the plate member define a first space, the second cleaning device and the plate member define a second space, and the compressor module is communicated with the first space and the second space for pumping air from the first space and the second space, so that each of the first space and the second space forms a negative pressure, and the cleaning machine is sucked onto the plate member.

In one embodiment, the connection device is a machine base.

According to an embodiment, the spraying module can spray the liquid onto the surface of the plate member, so that the cleaning machine can wet the surface of the plate member while wiping the plate member, and can wipe the surface thereof to become cleaner. In one embodiment, the spraying module includes the ultrasonic wave vibration device and can spray the atomized cleaning liquid so that the tiny liquid drop can be condensed onto the surface more easily. In one embodiment, the projecting column of the spraying module projects beyond the top housing, and a predetermined distance is thus kept between the projecting column and the plate member. Therefore, compared with the prior art, the spraying module has a wider spraying range, so that a wetted range on the plate member is wider.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In order to provide clearer understanding of the technical solutions, purposes and effects of the present invention, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2is an exploded view showing a cleaning machine according to an embodiment. Referring toFIG. 2, a cleaning machine100for cleaning particles on a plate member in one embodiment includes a first cleaning device110, a second cleaning device120, a driving module400, a spraying module200and a control system500.

The first cleaning device110is rotatable on the plate member, and the second cleaning device120is rotatable on the plate member. The first cleaning device110includes a cleaning ring112, and a cleaning cloth111is disposed or sleeved on a bottom surface of the cleaning ring112. The second cleaning device120includes a cleaning ring122, and a cleaning cloth121is disposed or sleeved on the bottom surface of the cleaning ring122. The driving module400connected to the first cleaning device110and the second cleaning device120drives the first cleaning device110and the second cleaning device120to rotate at least one of the first cleaning device110and the second cleaning device120. More specifically, the driving module400includes a connection device410. The connection device410is connected between the first cleaning device110and the second cleaning device120. The driving module400drives the first cleaning device110and the second cleaning device120, such that the second cleaning device120is rotated in a first rotation direction in a first period to generate a first torque on the connection device410of the driving module400, wherein the first torque swings the connection device410in a second rotation direction reverse to the first rotation direction.

The spraying module200sprays liquid onto the plate member to wet the cleaning cloth111and the cleaning cloth121, so that the contamination on the plate member can be removed more easily. The control system500coupled to the spraying module200and the driving module400controls operations of the spraying module200and the driving module400. The control system500includes a main circuit board510, a sub-circuit board520, a pneumatic circuit board540and a battery530electrically connected together. At least one chip and circuit capable of controlling various operations of the spraying module200and the driving module400are formed on the main circuit board510and the sub-circuit board520, and the battery530is used to provide electric power for performing the operations. The pneumatic circuit board540is used to sense and control negative pressure states of a first space and a second space.

The cleaning machine100further includes a housing300. The housing300is used to accommodate the driving module400and the control system500, the housing300is connected to the first cleaning device110and the second cleaning device120through the connection device410of the driving module400, and the housing300is connected to the spraying module200. The housing300includes a top housing310and an edge trim320. The edge trim320is located between the top housing310and the connection device410, and the top housing310and the connection device410define an accommodating space for accommodating the spraying module200, the driving module400and the control system500.

In one embodiment, the cleaning machine100also includes a compressor module600. The first cleaning device110and the plate member can define a first space, and the second cleaning device120and the plate member can define a second space. The compressor module600is located in a pump accommodating space431defined by the connection device410, and the compressor module600is communicated with the first space and the second space, and pumps air from the first space and the second space, so that each of the first space and the second space forms a negative pressure, and the cleaning machine100is sucked onto the plate member. In one embodiment, the cleaning machine100also includes a silencer cover601and a handle set602. Both the silencer cover601and the handle set602are located within the accommodating space defined between the top housing310and the connection device410. The silencer cover601for reducing the noise generated by the compressor module600covers the compressor module600, and the handle set602is located between the silencer cover601and the top housing310.

FIG. 3Ais a top view showing a cleaning machine according to an embodiment. As shown inFIG. 3A, two ends of the top housing310of the housing300are formed with a first curve311and a second curve312, and the middle portion of the housing300is formed with a first connection cable313and a second connection cable314opposite to each other. Preferably, the first curve311and the second curve312are respectively semicircles with openings opposite to each other, and are connected to the first connection cable313and the second connection cable314, so that the housing300forms an approximately elliptical shape. In one embodiment, the spraying module200is disposed on one end of the two ends of the housing300. In this embodiment, the spraying module200is disposed on the first curve311of the housing300.

In one embodiment, the spraying module200includes a column, and a liquid drainage port250is disposed on the column and is exposed to outside from the housing300. In this embodiment, the column is a projecting column214. Specifically, the spraying module200includes the projecting column214, the projecting column214protrudes from an outer surface of the housing300, and the liquid drainage port250is disposed on the projecting column214and is exposed to outside from the housing300. The housing300is defined by a long axis direction L1and a short axis direction S1perpendicular to the long axis direction L1. In one embodiment, an angle between a long axis direction L2of the projecting column214and the short axis direction S1of the housing300may range from 0 to 90 degrees, preferably from 20 to 70 degrees, and more preferably from 30 to 50 degrees. In this embodiment, the angle between the long axis direction L2of the projecting column214and the short axis direction S1of the housing300is equal to 40 degrees.

In one embodiment, as shown inFIG. 3A, after the spraying module200has sprayed, the first cleaning device110does not rotate or slightly rotates, and the second cleaning device120rotates in a clockwise direction to generate the first torque on the connection device410of the driving module400, and the first torque swings the connection device410in a counterclockwise direction by taking the first cleaning device110as a swing fulcrum. The spraying direction of the spraying module200is substantially directed to the lower right direction and contains a rightward vector (i.e., it contains a vector of the swing path of the second cleaning device120). So, in the process when the connection device410swings in the counterclockwise direction, a larger amount of liquid mist can fall on the swing path of the second cleaning device120. In one embodiment, at least one portion of the spraying period of the spraying module200overlaps with the swing period of the second cleaning device120. In one embodiment, the second cleaning device120starts to swing only after the spraying period of the spraying module200.

FIG. 3Bis a side view showing a cleaning machine according to an embodiment. As shown in one embodiment ofFIG. 3B, an angle between a direction of normal N of the liquid drainage port250(as shown in the followingFIG. 6) of the spraying module200and a direction B parallel to a bottom surface (or a surface of the plate member) of the spraying module200may range from 0 to 90 degrees and preferably from 20 to 50 degrees. More preferably, in this embodiment, the angle between the direction of the normal N of the liquid drainage port250and the direction B parallel to the bottom surface (or the surface of the plate member) of the spraying module200is equal to 30 degrees.

The spraying module200may spray the liquid onto the surface of the plate member, so that the cleaning machine100can wet the surface of the plate member while wiping the plate member and can wipe the surface of the plate member to become cleaner. In one embodiment, the spraying module200includes an ultrasonic wave vibration device which can spray the atomized cleaning liquid, so that the tiny liquid drop can be condensed onto the surface more easily. According to an embodiment, the cleaning machine100can spray the atomized liquid onto the plate member while wiping the plate member, so that the plate member can be infiltrated, thereby wiping the plate member to become cleaner. In this embodiment, the projecting column214of the spraying module200protrudes from the top housing310, and a predetermined distance is thus kept between the projecting column214and the plate member. Therefore, compared with the prior art, the spraying module200has a wider spraying range, so that a wetted range on the plate member is wider.

FIG. 4is an exploded view showing a driving module according to an embodiment. As shown inFIG. 4, the driving module400includes a connection device410, two transmission devices420, two motors440, two cleaning wheels411and an air guide cover430. In this embodiment, the connection device410may be a machine base413. In other embodiments, the connection device410may also be a connection rod. In this embodiment, because the machine base413is directly taken as the connection device410, the provision of the connection rod can be omitted. An exhaust space is defined between the machine base413and the air guide cover430, and the two transmission devices420and the two motors440are disposed between the machine base413and the air guide cover430. The motors440are respectively connected to the cleaning wheels411through the transmission devices420, thereby driving the cleaning wheels411to rotate. In one embodiment, each of the transmission devices420includes a gear fixing wheel421, a spindle422, multiple gears423, a worm wheel424and a worm425; the motor440is connected to the worm425and drives the worm425to rotate, the long axis direction of the worm425is parallel to the direction of the bottom surface of the cleaning machine100, the worm425drives the worm wheel424to rotate and change the rotation direction, and the rotating axis of the worm wheel424is perpendicular to the bottom surface of the cleaning machine100. The gears423are connected to the worm wheels424and disposed inside the gear fixing wheels421, the gears423are fit with or sleeved at multiple support shafts projecting from the top side of the spindle422, and the cleaning wheels411are fit with or sleeved at rotation shafts429projecting from the bottom side of the spindle422.

FIG. 5is an exploded view showing a compressor module according to an embodiment. As shown inFIG. 5, the compressor module600includes a compressor motor610, a compressor seat620and an impeller630. The compressor motor610and the impeller630are respectively mounted on the compressor seat620, and the compressor motor610drives the impeller630to rotate and pump the air from the first space and the second space.

FIG. 6is an exploded view showing a spraying module according to an embodiment. The spraying module200includes a liquid tank210, a cover220, a liquid pumping unit230and a sealing rubber ring240. The liquid tank210is used for storing the liquid. In one embodiment, the liquid tank210includes a liquid tank case211, a leak-proof rubber strip212and a liquid tank lower cover213. The leak-proof rubber strip212is interposed between the liquid tank case211and the liquid tank lower cover213, and a space for storing the liquid is defined by the liquid tank case211and the liquid tank lower cover213to keep water tightness between the liquid tank case211and the liquid tank lower cover213. In one embodiment, the liquid tank case211and the liquid tank lower cover213are constituted by a hard plastic material, and the leak-proof rubber strip212is constituted by a resilient material. In one embodiment, the leak-proof rubber strip212is constituted by a silica gel. In one embodiment, the liquid tank case211of the liquid tank210defines a liquid inlet port291, a storage space293and a pressure relief hole292. The liquid inlet port291is formed on a top of the liquid tank210and is used for injecting of the cleaning liquid into the liquid tank210. The cover220is disposed in the liquid inlet port291. The storage space293is used to store the liquid, and the liquid inlet port291communicates with the storage space293. The cover220is disposed on the upper surface of the outside of the liquid tank. A protrusion221of the cover220is plugged into the liquid inlet port291to prevent the liquid from leaking out. The pressure relief hole292communicates with the storage space293. In a process when the protrusion221of the cover220is plugged into the liquid inlet port291, the storage space293communicates with an external environment through the pressure relief hole292. After the cover220has been completely installed, the pressure relief hole292is covered by the cover220to prevent the liquid from leaking out of the pressure relief hole292. In one embodiment, the cover220further includes a fixing column222, and the liquid tank case211of the liquid tank210is further defined with a fixing hole294. When the cover220is installed, the fixing column222can be firstly plugged into the fixing hole294.

The spraying module200further includes the liquid drainage port250for spraying liquid. The cover220is defined with a depression224, and a separation part223is formed on the depression224. The separation part223passes through the thickness of the cover220. In a closed state, the separation part223has a degree of closure to prevent leakage of the cleaning fluid, and thus the cleaning liquid cannot leak from the separation part223. When the pressure of the storage space293is too high, the gas can be discharged from the separation part223, thereby preventing the liquid from leaking from the liquid drainage port250during the non-spraying operation. In one embodiment, the cover220is made of a resilient material (such as a silica gel), so that the liquid tank210may have better sealing property, and may be opened by bending the cover220. Therefore, when the cover220is not opened, the cleaning liquid will not leak from the liquid inlet port291. The separation part223is formed with a split hole or crack, which may be disposed in a central area of the depression224. In one embodiment, the split hole or crack may have a slit shape, a cruciform shape or other shapes. The split hole or crack passes through the cover220, and its gap is very small, so the cleaning liquid can not pass therethrough, and thus the cleaning liquid cannot leak from the separation part223. The liquid tank case211balances the internal pressure of the liquid tank210through the split hole or crack.

More specifically, because the inner space of the liquid tank210is almost full of the cleaning liquid, the liquid drainage port250outputs the water via the liquid pumping unit230. Because the internal and external pressures of the liquid tank210are balanced, the split hole or crack is in a closed state. When the cleaning machine100continues to operate and spray the cleaning liquid, a water level of the liquid tank210continuously decreases. However, because the cover220seals the liquid inlet port291, the excess container space in the liquid tank210approaches a vacuum state and a negative pressure is thus generated. If the negative pressure cannot be released, then the liquid pumping unit230cannot smoothly push the remaining cleaning liquid out of the liquid drainage port250. According to the configurations that the depression224is thinner than the portions at other positions of the cover220and that the split hole or crack is located at the thinnest position of the depression224, when the liquid tank210generates the negative pressure, the atmosphere pressure naturally pushes the depression224down to the liquid tank210, and the aperture or interspace at the position of the split hole or crack will become larger. At this time, the air is naturally introduced into the liquid tank210until the internal and external pressures of the liquid tank210are almost balanced. The resilience of the depression224itself pulls it back, and the interspace of the split hole or crack is reduced and returned to the original closed state. With this design, the liquid pumping unit230needs not to operate at the high power, and can still maintain the drainage process smoothly with the desired output efficiency.

The sealing rubber ring240is used to fill the interspace between the liquid pumping unit230and the liquid tank case211. In one embodiment, the sealing rubber ring240surrounds the liquid pumping unit230. In one embodiment, the sealing rubber ring240is constituted by the silica gel. In one embodiment, the liquid drainage port250is disposed on the liquid pumping unit230. The liquid pumping unit230is used to push the cleaning liquid out of the liquid tank210via the liquid drainage port250to perform the spraying operation. The liquid pumping unit230includes an ultrasonic vibrating piece231. The sealing rubber ring240is located at an opening defined by the projecting column214, and surrounds the ultrasonic vibrating piece231, thereby fixing the ultrasonic vibrating piece231onto the projecting column214. In one embodiment, the liquid drainage port250is disposed on the ultrasonic vibrating piece231. When the liquid tank210is filled with the cleaning liquid, no leakage occurs even if the liquid drainage port250is not plugged with another cover because the aperture of the liquid drainage part is very small. The vibration source generated by the vibration sheet of the ultrasonic vibrating piece231pushes the cleaning liquid in a the direction toward the liquid tank210, so that the cleaning liquid is pushed out of the liquid drainage port250and is sprayed outward. In one embodiment, the ultrasonic vibrating piece231may output a single frequency vibration wave through the vibration sheet, wherein the frequency exceeds at least 5K Hertz. In one embodiment, the ultrasound waves outputted from the ultrasonic vibrating piece231can cover multiple frequencies, and are constituted by multiple single frequency ultrasound waves. Through the liquid pushing operation performed by the very thin ultrasonic vibrating piece231, the ultrasonic vibrating piece231having a relatively small volume can produce the required spraying distance (e.g., at least 3 cm), and is thus very suitable for the spraying module of a cleaning robot.

In one embodiment, the spraying module200also includes a liquid tank protection cover290. The liquid tank protection cover290is disposed below the projecting column214, and is fixed onto the top housing310of the cleaning machine100to protect the spraying module200. In one embodiment, the liquid tank protection cover290is used to tightly fasten the liquid pumping unit230to the side surface of the liquid tank case211along with the sealing rubber ring240, so as to enhance the water tightness of the liquid tank210around the liquid tank protection cover290.

According to an embodiment, the spraying module200can spray the liquid onto the surface of the plate member, so that the cleaning machine100can wet the surface of the plate member while wiping the plate member, and can wipe the surface thereof to become cleaner. This wet mode can clean an oil stain or a sticking stain more effectively, and can provide the better cleaning effect than that of the dry mode. In the wet mode, most areas of the cleaning cloth111and the cleaning cloth121are inevitably wetted by the cleaning liquid on the plate member in the wipe process. In one embodiment, the spraying module200includes the ultrasonic wave vibration device and can spray the atomized cleaning liquid so that the tiny liquid drop can be condensed onto the surface more easily. In one embodiment, the projecting column214of the spraying module200projects beyond the top housing310, and a predetermined distance is thus kept between the projecting column214and the plate member. Therefore, compared with the prior art, the spraying module200has a wider spraying range, so that a wetted range on the plate member is wider.