Patent Publication Number: US-2023157496-A1

Title: Cleaner head and cleaner including the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is a continuation application, under 35 U.S.C. § 111(a), of International Application No. PCT/KR2022/016296, filed on Oct. 24, 2022, which claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0160243, filed on Nov. 19, 2021 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a cleaner head and a cleaner. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A cleaner is a home appliance that sucks in air containing foreign substances such as dust, by using a negative (−) pressure generated by a motor assembly mounted inside a main body of the cleaner, and then filters foreign substances from the inside of the main body. 
     To compensate for the suction power of the cleaner, a brush drum is provided in a cleaner head to repeatedly contact a floor surface. The cleaner head may include a driving assembly having a driving motor for driving the brush drum, in addition to a motor assembly that is a main motor. 
     Due to a volume of the cleaner head, the driving motor for driving the brush drum may be arranged inside the brush drum. To arrange the driving motor inside the brush drum, the driving assembly includes a driving housing for supporting the driving motor, and the driving housing may be supported by one end portion of the cleaner head. 
     However, as the driving housing is supported by the one end portion of the cleaner head, i.e., is supported in a cantilever form, the driving housing may be bent or misaligned due to the weight of the driving motor, etc., causing a rotation axis of the brush drum to be misaligned. When the rotation axis of the brush drum is misaligned, noise may be generated in the cleaner head. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a cleaner head may include a brush drum. 
     The cleaner head may include a driving assembly having a driving motor arranged inside the brush drum and configured to transfer rotation power to the brush drum and a driving housing to support the driving motor. 
     The cleaner head may include brush case having a brush chamber to accommodate the brush drum, the brush case comprising a first support portion and a second support portion to support the brush drum so that the brush drum is rotatable, the first support portion and the second support portion being arranged in a first end portion of the brush drum and a second end portion of the brush drum, respectively, the first end portion and the second end portion being arranged along a rotation axis of the brush drum. 
     The first support portion may include a base portion forming an end portion of the brush case. 
     The first support portion may include a bearing mounting portion formed to protrude toward the brush chamber from the base portion to support a bearing coupleable to the first end portion of the brush drum and provide an insertion space into which an end portion of the driving housing is insertable. 
     The first support portion may include a driving mounting portion arranged to be separated from the bearing mounting portion and support the end portion of the driving housing inserted into the insertion space. 
     According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a cleaner includes a cleaner head. 
     The cleaner head may include a brush drum. 
     The cleaner head may include a driving assembly having a driving motor arranged inside the brush drum and configured to transfer rotation power to the brush drum and a driving house to support the driving motor. 
     The cleaner head may include a brush case having a brush chamber to accommodate the brush drum, the brush case comprising a first support portion and a second support portion to support the brush drum so that the brush drum is rotatable, the first support portion and the second support portion being arranged in a first end portion of the brush drum and a second end portion of the brush drum, respectively, in the first end portion and the second end portion being arranged along a rotation axis of the brush. The first support portion may include a base portion forming one end portion of the brush case. 
     The first support portion may include a bearing mounting portion formed to protrude toward the brush chamber from the base portion to support a bearing coupleable to the first end portion of the brush drum and provide an insertion space into which an end portion of the driving housing is insertable. 
     The first support portion may include a driving mounting portion arranged to be separated from the bearing mounting portion and support the end portion of the driving housing that is inserted into the insertion space. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a diagram showing a cleaner according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is an assembled perspective view of a cleaner head according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  3    is an exploded perspective view of a cleaner head according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional view of the cleaner head of  FIG.  2   . 
         FIG.  5    is a diagram for describing a bearing and a support structure of a driving assembly in a cleaner head, according to a comparative example. 
         FIG.  6    is an exploded perspective view showing components mainly related to a first support portion, separated from a cleaner head, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  7    is a view of the cleaner head in which a part of  FIG.  6    is enlarged. 
         FIG.  8    is a diagram for describing a state in which a driving housing is assembled to a first support portion in a cleaner head, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  9    is a cross-sectional view for describing a state in which a driving housing is assembled to a first support portion in a cleaner head, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  10    is a cross-sectional perspective view showing, from another angle, a state in which a driving housing is assembled to a first support in a cleaner head, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Throughout the disclosure, the expression “at least one of a, b or c” indicates only a, only b, only c, both a and b, both a and c, both b and c, all of a, b, and c, or variations thereof. 
     Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to matters described in the accompanying drawings. The same reference numeral or symbol presented in each drawing represents a part or component that performs substantially the same function. 
     The terms including “first”, “second”, etc., may be used to explain various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. These terms may be used to distinguish one element from another element. For example, a first component may be referred to as a second component without departing from the scope of the disclosure, and similarly, the second component may be referred to as the first component. The term “and/or” may include a combination of a plurality of related items or any one of the plurality of related items. 
     The term used herein is used to describe an embodiment of the disclosure, and is not intended to limit and/or restrict the disclosure. Singular forms include plural forms unless apparently indicated otherwise contextually. Moreover, it should be understood that the term “include”, “have”, or the like used herein is to indicate the presence of features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, parts, or a combination thereof described in the specifications, and does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, parts, or a combination thereof. The same reference numeral presented in each drawing represents a member that substantially performs the same function. 
     Herein, there are provided a cleaner head and a cleaner including the same to prevent the axis of a driving assembly from being misaligned and provide good rotation characteristics of a brush drum. 
       FIG.  1    is a diagram showing a cleaner  1  according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Referring to  FIG.  1   , the cleaner  1  according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a cleaner main body  3  and a cleaner head  10 . The cleaner  1  may include a suction pipe  4  that connects the cleaner main body  3  to the cleaner head  10  and a handle portion  5  connected to the cleaner main body  3 . The cleaner  1  may be a wireless cleaner, but may be a wired cleaner without being limited thereto. 
     The cleaner main body  3  may include a dust bin  31  and a driving unit  32  that are provided therein. The dust bin  31  may store dust or garbage on a cleaning surface sucked from the cleaner head  10 . The dust bin  31  may be connected to be removable from the cleaner main body  3 , and may be separated according to user&#39;s convenience. 
     The driving unit  32  may include a motor assembly (not shown) provided to drive the cleaner  1 . The motor assembly may generate suction power inside the cleaner main body  3 . 
     The cleaner head  10  may be provided to suck in foreign substances such as dust present on the cleaning surface while moving in contact with the cleaning surface. The cleaner head  10  may be connected to an end portion of a side of the suction pipe  4 . 
       FIG.  2    is an assembled perspective view of the cleaner head  10  according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and  FIG.  3    is an exploded perspective view of the cleaner head  10  according to an embodiment of the disclosure.  FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional view of the cleaner head  10  of  FIG.  3   . Referring to  FIGS.  2  to  4   , the cleaner head  10  may include a brush drum  20 , a brush case  30 , and a driving assembly  40 . 
     The brush drum  20  may rotate around a rotation axis RX and have a drum structure. The brush drum  20  may repeatedly contact the cleaning surface while rotating to separate foreign substances from the cleaning surface. 
     The brush case  30  may provide a brush chamber  311  for accommodating the brush drum  20 . The brush case  30  may include a first support portion  100  and a second support portion  32  that are arranged in both end portions in a direction of the rotation axis RX of the brush drum  20 . The first support portion  100  and the second support portion  32  may support the brush drum  20  such that the brush drum  20  rotates. The second support portion  32  may be assembled to be separated from the brush case  30 . A cap cover  33  may be assembled to the second support portion  32 . 
     A driving assembly  40  is intended to transfer rotation power to the brush drum  20 , and may include a driving motor  41  and a driving housing  200 . The drive motor  41  may be arranged inside the brush drum  20  and transfer the rotation power to the brush drum  20 . The driving housing  200  may support the driving motor  41  arranged inside the brush drum  20  and may be supported by the first support portion  100 . The rotation axis of the driving motor  41  and the rotation axis RX of the brush drum  20  may be arranged concentrically. The first support portion  100  may execute a function of supporting the driving assembly  40 , along with a function of supporting one end portion of the brush drum  20 . 
     One end portion  201  of the brush drum  20  may be supported rotatably by a bearing  131  supported by the first support portion  100 , and the other end portion  202  thereof may be supported rotatably by a bearing  321  arranged in the second support portion  32 . The brush drum  20  may receive driving power of the driving motor  41  arranged therein through a driving input unit  21 , and rotate. However, in a structure where the driving motor  41  is arranged inside the brush drum  20 , the driving housing  200  supporting the driving motor  41  may be weak to distortion due to the weight of the driving motor  41 , etc. 
       FIG.  5    is a diagram for describing the bearing  131  and a support structure of the driving assembly  40  in a cleaner head  10 ′, according to a comparative example. Referring to  FIG.  5   , in the cleaner head  10 ′ according to the comparative example, a structure may be considered where a support shaft  1000  supporting a driving housing  200 ′ is formed long to be close to the driving motor  41  and the support shaft  1000  is inserted and fitted to the driving housing  200 ′. The bearing  131  supporting an end portion of the brush drum  20  may be arranged on an outer circumferential surface of the support shaft  1000 . 
     However, in a structure where the support shaft  1000  is inserted into the driving housing  200 ′, a space for accommodating the support shaft  1000  is required in the driving housing  200 ′, increasing the size of the driving assembly  40 . When the support shaft  1000  is displaced from the original position due to the weight of the driving motor  41  or an external force, the position of the bearing  131  mounted on the support shaft  1000  may be changed, such that the rotation axis RX of the brush drum  20  is misaligned. In case of rotation when the rotation axis RX of the brush drum  20  is misaligned, noise of the cleaner head  10 ′ may be caused. 
     In the cleaner head  10  according to an embodiment of the disclosure, to prevent the axes of the driving assembly  40  and the brush drum  20  from being misaligned, an improved structure of the first support portion  100  supporting the driving assembly  40  and the end portion of the brush drum  20  will be provided. 
       FIG.  6    is an exploded perspective view showing components mainly related to the first support portion  100 , separated from the cleaner head  10 , according to an embodiment of the disclosure.  FIG.  7    is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG.  6   .  FIG.  8    is a diagram for describing a state where the driving housing  200  is assembled to the first support portion  100  in the cleaner head  10 , according to an embodiment of the disclosure.  FIG.  9    is a diagram for describing a state where the driving housing  200  is assembled to the first support portion  100  in the cleaner head  10 , according to an embodiment of the disclosure.  FIG.  10    is a cross-sectional perspective view showing, from another angle, a state where the driving housing  200  is assembled to the first support portion  100  in the cleaner head  10 , according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  6  and  7   , in the cleaner head  10  according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the first support portion  100  may include a base portion  110 , a bearing mounting portion  120 , and a driving mounting portion  140 . 
     The base portion  110  may form an end portion of the brush case  30 . The base portion  110  may be a circular plate, and may be formed integrally with a housing portion  31  that defines a brush chamber  311 . 
     The bearing mounting portion  120  may protrude toward the brush chamber  311  from the base portion  110  to support the bearing  131  coupled to one end portion of the brush drum  30 . The bearing mounting portion  120  may provide an insertion space  1200  into which an end portion of the driving housing  200  is insertable. 
     A protruding height H1 of the bearing mounting portion  120  may be enough to support the bearing  131 . The protruding height H1 of the bearing mounting portion  120  may be less than or equal to about 10 mm. The protruding height H1 of the bearing mounting portion  120  may be less than or equal to five times a width W1 of the bearing  131  in a direction of the rotation axis RX. The protruding height H1 of the bearing mounting portion  120  may be less than or equal to three times the width W1 of the bearing  131  in the direction of the rotation axis RX. The protruding height H1 of the bearing mounting portion  120  may be less than or equal to twice the width W1 of the bearing  131  in the direction of the rotation axis RX. The protruding height H1 of the bearing mounting portion  120  may be equal to or greater than the width W1 of the bearing  131  in the direction of the rotation axis RX to support the bearing  131 . 
     The bearing mounting portion  120  may extend in a circumferential direction. The bearing mounting portion  120  may include, on an outer circumferential surface thereof, a bearing seating groove  121  in which the bearing  131  is seated. The bearing mounting portion  120  may include a cut portion  122  and have an open-loop structure. 
     The bearing  131  may be assembled and fixed in the bearing seating groove  121 . The bearing  131  may be coupled to one end portion of the brush drum  20  such that the brush drum  20  rotates with respect to the bearing mounting portion  120 . 
     The bearing  131  may include an inner ring  1311  fixed to the bearing mounting portion  120  and an outer ring  1312  rotatable with respect to the inner ring  1311 . A brush support portion  132  may be assembled to an outer circumferential surface of the bearing  131 . 
     The brush support portion  132  may be assembled to the outer ring  1312  of the bearing  131  and may be coupled to the end portion  201  of the brush drum  20 . The brush support portion  132  may be fitted to the end portion  201  of the brush drum  20 . For example, the brush support portion  132  may be fitted to the end portion  201  of the brush drum  20  through a mount  2011  assembled to the end portion  201  of the brush drum  20 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  6  to  8   , the driving mounting portion  140  may be arranged to be separated from the bearing mounting portion  120  and to support one end portion of the driving housing  200  inserted into the insertion space  1200 . For example, the driving mounting portion  140  may include a mounting slit  141  passing through the base portion  110 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  8  and  9   , the mounting slit  141  may be separated from the bearing mounting portion  120 . For example, the mounting slit  141  may be separated from the bearing mounting portion  120  in the direction of the rotation axis RX and a direction Z perpendicular to the direction of the rotation axis RX. 
     The driving housing  200  may include a mounting protrusion  201  that protrudes in the direction of the rotation axis RX so as to be inserted into the mounting slit  141 . The mounting protrusion  201  may contact the inner circumferential surface of the mounting slit  141 . The mounting protrusion  201  may be fitted to the mounting slit  141 . The end portion of the driving housing  200  inserted into the insertion space  1200  contacts the mounting slit  141  of the driving mounting portion  140 , but does not contact the bearing mounting portion  120 . Thus, even the external force applied to the driving housing  200  is exerted to the mounting slit  141 , it is possible to minimize direct transmission to the bearing mounting portion  120 . 
     The driving housing  200  may further include a bearing contact portion  202  that contacts and is supported by a portion of the bearing  131 . The bearing contact portion  202  may protrude in a radial direction, e.g., the direction Z, beyond the bearing mounting portion  120 . For example, the bearing contact portion  202  may include a plurality of ribs  2021  arranged on the outer circumferential surface of the driving housing  200 . In a process where the driving housing  200  is assembled to the driving mounting portion  140 , the bearing contact portion  202  may contact to be supported by a portion of the bearing  131 . For example, the bearing contact portion  202  may contact to be supported by a side surface of the inner ring  1311  of the bearing  131 . 
     When the bearing contact portion  202  contacts the bearing  131 , the bearing contact portion  202  may be adapted not to contact the outer ring  1312  of the bearing  131  to avoid rotation of the bearing  131 . For example, an outer diameter D1 of the bearing contact portion  202  may be less than an outer diameter D2 of the bearing  131 . For example, the outer diameter D1 of the bearing contact portion  202  may be less than an inner diameter D21 of the outer ring  1312  of the bearing  131 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  6 ,  8 , and  10   , the driving mounting portion  140  and the driving housing  200  may be screw-coupled to each other. The driving mounting portion  140  may further include at least one first coupling hole  1421 , and the driving housing  200  may further include a second coupling hole  203  corresponding to the first coupling hole  1421 . The first coupling hole  1421  may be formed in a mounting bridge  142  arranged between the plurality of mounting slits  141 . The cleaner head  10  may further include a screw member  50  coupled to the second coupling hole  203  through the first coupling hole  1421 . 
     A deco cap  150  may be arranged on an outer side of the first support portion  100 . The deco cap  150  may be assembled to the first support portion  100  and form a side appearance of the cleaner head  10 . The deco cap  150  may include a third coupling hole  1501  corresponding to the first coupling hole  1421  of the first support portion  100 . The screw member  50  may be coupled to the second coupling hole  203  of the driving housing  200  through the third coupling hole  1501  and the first coupling hole  1421 . A cap cover  151  may be assembled to the deco cap  150 . The cap cover  151  may prevent exposure of the screw member  50 . 
     By inserting and tightening the screw member  50  into the first coupling hole  1421 , the second coupling hole  203 , and the third coupling hole  1501 , the bearing contact portion  202  may contact a side surface of the bearing  131  and press the side surface of the bearing  131 . The screw member  50  may be provided in plural, but may also be single without being limited thereto. 
     The driving housing  200  may be fitted to the mounting slit  141  arranged separated from the bearing mounting portion  120 , and may be pressed in a direction toward the driving mounting portion  140  by the screw member  50 , such that an end portion of the driving housing  200  is fixed to the first support portion  100 . In a process where the end portion of the driving housing  200  is fixed, the bearing contact portion  202  of the driving housing  200  may contact to be supported by the side surface of the bearing  131 . As the driving housing  200  contacts and is supported by the driving mounting portion  140  and the bearing  131  in a plurality of points, it is possible to prevent the driving motor  41  from being misaligned by the weight thereof or an external force. 
     As such, in the cleaner head  10  according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the bearing mounting portion  120  may be provided separated from the driving mounting portion  140  for supporting the driving assembly  40 , thereby minimizing the misalignment of the driving mounting portion  140  leading to the misalignment of the bearing mounting portion  120 . Moreover, the driving housing  200  of the driving assembly  40  may perform additional support through the bearing contact portion  202  together with fixing and support by the driving mounting portion  140 , thereby preventing misalignment of the driving housing  200 . Therefore, in the cleaner head  10  according to an embodiment of the disclosure, it is possible to reduce the misalignment of the driving assembly  40  and the bearing  131  and to implement the driving assembly  40  that is compact. 
     The cleaner head and the cleaner according to embodiments of the disclosure described above may prevent the axis of the driving assembly from being misaligned and provide good rotation characteristics of the brush drum. 
     According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a cleaner head includes a brush drum configured to rotate, a brush case providing a brush chamber that accommodates the brush drum and including a first support portion and a second support portion that are arranged in both end portions of the brush drum in a direction of a rotation axis and rotatably support the brush drum, and a driving assembly configured to transfer rotation power to the brush drum and including a driving motor arranged inside the brush drum and a driving housing supporting the driving motor, in which the first support portion includes a base portion forming one end portion of the brush case, a bearing mounting portion protruding toward the brush chamber from the base portion to support a bearing coupled to one end portion of the brush drum and providing an insertion space into which an end portion of the driving housing is insertable, and a driving mounting portion arranged to be separated from the bearing mounting portion and supporting an end portion of the driving housing inserted into the insertion space. 
     A protruding height of the bearing mounting portion may be less than or equal to five times a width of the bearing in the direction of the rotation axis. 
     The bearing mounting portion may extend in a circumferential direction and include a bearing seating groove having the bearing seated on an outer circumferential surface thereof. 
     The driving mounting portion may include a mounting slit passing through the base portion, and the driving housing may include a mounting protrusion that protrudes in the direction of the rotation axis to be inserted into the mounting slit and contacts an inner circumferential surface of the mounting slit. 
     The driving housing may further include a bearing contact portion protruding in a radial direction beyond the bearing mounting portion and contacting to be supported by a portion of the bearing. 
     The bearing may include an inner ring fixed in the mounting portion and an outer ring rotatable with respect to the inner ring, and the bearing contact portion may contact to be supported by a side surface of the inner ring. 
     The driving mounting portion may further include a first coupling hole, the driving housing may further include a second coupling hole corresponding to the first coupling hole, and the cleaner head may further include a screw member passing through the first coupling hole and coupled to the second coupling hole. 
     According to the screw member being coupled to the second coupling hole, the bearing contact portion may contact to be supported by a side surface of the bearing. 
     The cleaner head may further include a brush support portion assembled to the outer ring such that the bearing is coupled to one end portion of the brush drum, in which the one end portion of the brush drum is fitted to the brush support portion. 
     According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a cleaner includes a cleaner head, in which the cleaner head includes a brush drum configured to rotate, a brush case providing a brush chamber that accommodates the brush drum and provided with a first support portion and a second support portion that are arranged in both end portions of the brush drum in a direction of a rotation axis and rotatably support the brush drum, and a driving assembly configured to transfer rotation power to the brush drum and including a driving motor arranged inside the brush drum and a driving housing supporting the driving motor, and in which the first support portion includes a base portion forming an end of the brush case, a bearing mounting portion protruding toward the brush chamber from the base portion to support a bearing coupled to one end portion of the brush drum and providing an insertion space into which an end portion of the driving housing is insertable, and a driving mounting portion arranged to be separated from the bearing mounting portion and supporting an end portion of the driving housing inserted into the insertion space. 
     A protruding height of the bearing mounting portion may be less than or equal to five times a width of the bearing in the direction of the rotation axis. 
     The driving mounting portion may include a mounting slit passing through the base portion, and the driving housing may include a mounting protrusion that protrudes in the direction of the rotation axis to be inserted into the mounting slit and contacts an inner circumferential surface of the mounting slit. 
     The bearing may include an inner ring fixed in the mounting portion and an outer ring rotatable with respect to the inner ring, and the bearing contact portion may contact to be supported by a side surface of the inner ring. 
     The bearing may include an inner ring fixed in the mounting portion and an outer ring rotatable with respect to the inner ring, and the bearing contact portion may contact to be supported by a side surface of the inner ring. 
     The driving mounting portion may further include a first coupling hole, the driving housing may further include a second coupling hole corresponding to the first coupling hole, and the cleaner head may further include a screw member passing through the first coupling hole and coupled to the second coupling hole. 
     To understand the disclosure, reference numerals have been given in preferred embodiments of the disclosure shown in the drawings, and specific terms are used to describe the embodiments of the disclosure, but the disclosure is not limited by the specific terms, and the disclosure may include all the components that are normally thought by those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     Certain executions described here are embodiments of the disclosure, not limiting the scope of the disclosure in any way. For the brevity of the specification, the description of conventional electronic configurations, control systems, software, and other functional aspects of the systems may be omitted. Connections of lines or connection members between components shown in the drawings are illustrative of functional connections and/or physical or circuit connections, and in practice, may be represented as alternative or additional various functional connections, physical connections, or circuit connections. In addition, when there is no specific mentioning, such as “essential” or “important”, it may not be a necessary component for the application of the disclosure. An expression such as “comprising”, “including”, etc., used herein has been used to be understood as terms of an open end of the description. 
     In the specification (especially, claims) of the disclosure, the use of the term “the” and similar indicators thereof may correspond to both the singular and the plural. In addition, when the range is described in the disclosure, the range includes the disclosure to which an individual value falling within the range is applied (unless stated otherwise), and is the same as the description of an individual value constituting the range in the detailed description of the disclosure. Finally, when there is no apparent description of the order of operations constituting the method according to the disclosure or a contrary description thereof, the operations may be performed in an appropriate order. However, the disclosure is not necessarily limited according to the describing order of the operations. The use of all examples or exemplary terms (for example, etc.) in the disclosure are to simply describe the disclosure in detail, and unless the range of the disclosure is not limited by the examples or the exemplary terms unless limited by the claims. In addition, it would be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and changes may be easily made without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure.