Patent Description:
Currently known cleaning robots may operate using a vacuum device or using the physical properties of a roller brush to sweep up debris and suck it into a dust box. However, when the aforementioned cleaning method encounters elongated debris, e.g., human hair, pet hair, string or the like, such debris may become tightly wrapped around the bristles of the roller brush, thereby causing a blockage of the suction inlet. Therefore, a cleaning ability of the cleaning robot may be weakened, rendering the cleaning robot unable to clean a surface effectively. It is necessary to spend extra effort to remove the hair or string wrapped around the roller brush, and a feasibility of its automatic cleaning may be greatly reduced. As a result, it is necessary to develop a new design for the cleaning robots in order to solve the aforementioned shortcomings.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a self-moving cleaning device, including: a base; a mobile module adjacent to the base and configured to contact a surface when the self-moving cleaning device moves on the surface; a vacuum module arranged over the base; a dust box arranged over the base and connected to the vacuum module, the dust box including a first opening and a second opening; a first suction port arranged on the base and including a first suction inlet connected to the first opening; a second suction port arranged on the base and including a second suction inlet connected to the second opening, the first suction port disposed between a front side of the base and the second suction port; a roller brush device arranged on the base and within the second suction port; and an air duct, wherein the first suction port is connected to the dust box through the air duct to thereby connect the first suction inlet to the first opening.

In some embodiments, the air duct includes a choke valve configured to open or close the air duct to allow or block an entry of an airflow into the first opening.

In some embodiments, an area of the first opening is greater than an area of the second opening.

In some embodiments, the first opening is disposed over the roller brush device and over the second opening. The dust box includes a bottom surface, and the second opening is higher than the bottom surface by a first distance. The second suction port is adjacent to the first suction inlet, wherein a distance between the first suction inlet and the second suction inlet is equal to or less than about <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the self-moving cleaning device further includes a plurality of first blocking sheets disposed between the first suction inlet and the second suction inlet and extending outward from the base to contact the surface when the self-moving cleaning device moves on the surface.

In some embodiments, the plurality of first blocking sheets include a first subset and a second subset, and two adjacent first blocking sheets in the first subset or the second subset are separated by a first spacing.

In some embodiments, the first spacing is less than a spacing between the first subset and the second subset; and the first subset and the second subset together form a row which is parallel to the first suction inlet.

In some embodiments, the self-moving cleaning device further includes a second blocking sheet disposed on a side of the second suction inlet opposite to the first blocking sheets, wherein a length of the second blocking sheet is greater than a length of the first suction inlet.

In some embodiments, the self-moving cleaning device further includes a side brush device disposed on a side of the base, the side brush device including a rotating shaft and at least one bristle attached to the rotating shaft, wherein the self-moving cleaning device further includes a third blocking sheet disposed between the first suction inlet and the front side of the base, wherein the third blocking sheet is disposed within a radius of rotation of the at least one bristle.

In some embodiments, the self-moving cleaning device further includes a spray module disposed on the base and extending outwardly, wherein the second suction port is disposed between the first suction port and the spray module.

In some embodiments, the self-moving cleaning device further includes a mopping module connected to the base and configured to mop the surface when the self-moving cleaning device moves on the surface, wherein the spray module is disposed between the second suction port and the mopping module.

In some embodiments, the self-moving cleaning device further includes a lifting device connected to the base and the mopping module, the lifting device configured to move the mopping module close to or away from the base. The mopping module includes: a cloth seat and a cloth arranged on a bottom surface of the cloth seat. The lifting device includes: a crank, a driving device configured to cause a rotation of the crank, and at least one fixing bar straddling the crank and connected to the cloth seat, and wherein the at least one fixing bar is configured to move the cloth seat close to or away from the base through the rotation of the crank.

In some embodiments, the crank includes: a crankshaft arranged on the base; at least one crank arm connected to the crankshaft; and a gear part arranged on the crankshaft and coupled to the driving device, whereby the driving device causes a rotation of the crankshaft in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction through the gear part, and the driving device moves an end of the at least one crank arm close to or away from the base through the rotation of the crankshaft. The gear part and the at least one crank arm are disposed on two opposite sides of the crankshaft, the at least one crank arm includes an abutment member, and the abutment member extends outward from a side of the at least one crank arm in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the crankshaft. The at least one fixing bar includes: a horizontal portion straddling the abutment member of the at least one crank arm of the crankshaft; and at least one linking member extending from at least an end of the horizontal portion to a lower side of the self-moving cleaning device, wherein the cloth seat is fastened to the at least one linking member.

In some embodiments, the lifting device further includes at least one spring connected to the base and the mopping module, wherein the at least one spring is configured to provide a downward force to the mopping module when the self-moving cleaning device moves on the surface. The at least one spring includes a first spring and a second spring, and the horizontal portion and the abutment part are disposed between the first spring and the second spring from an elevation view.

With the arrangement of the first suction inlet and the second suction inlet of the self-moving cleaning device in accordance with the present invention discussed above, elongated debris, such as hair or string, may be effectively vacuumed through the first suction inlet. Heavier and non-elongated debris may be vacuumed through the second suction inlet, such that the elongated debris will not be wrapped around the roller brush of the second suction inlet, thereby improving the efficiency of the self-moving cleaning device.

The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the provided subject matter. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed between the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact.

Further, spatially relative terms, such as "beneath," "below," "lower," "above," "upper," "over" and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures.

As used herein, the terms such as "first," "second" and "third" describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, but these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another. The terms such as "first," "second" and "third" when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context.

It should be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of terms such as "including," "comprising" or "having" and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. The terms "connected" and "coupled" are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mounting, connecting and coupling.

The present disclosure relates generally to a self-moving cleaning device, which may be used to clean floors or large-area surfaces, such as stages, large-area tabletops or work platforms. The self-moving cleaning device of the present disclosure may have different types, e.g., toys, remote control cars, robots, and/or the like, and may perform cleaning while moving on a contacted surface, and accomplish the purpose of cleaning the surface by moving back and forth on the surface. A surface-cleaning robot will be used as an example for the following description, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

<FIG> and <FIG> show three-dimensional views from different perspectives of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. <FIG> shows a bottom view of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. <FIG> shows an exploded view of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. <FIG> shows a structure diagram of a base in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The work principle of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> in the present disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description when read with the above figures.

Referring to <FIG>, the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> includes a bumper <NUM>, a case <NUM> and an upper cover <NUM>. In some embodiments, the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> further includes an operation panel <NUM> that may provide a user with an option to select an operation mode by touch or pressing, as shown in <FIG>. The self-moving cleaning device <NUM> may travel freely in different directions on a surface to be cleaned. For convenience of description, the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> is described herein as having a forward-moving direction F and a backward-moving direction B. The bumper <NUM> has a flat shape and faces the forward-moving direction F, wherein the bumper <NUM> forms a front side of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM>. The case <NUM> has a curved shape and faces the backward-moving direction B, wherein the case <NUM> forms a back side of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM>. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the shapes of the bumper <NUM> and the case <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a three-dimensional view from another perspective of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, and <FIG> shows a bottom view of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> further includes various components, such as a first suction port <NUM>, a second suction port <NUM>, a mobile module <NUM>, a front wheel <NUM>, a roller brush device <NUM>, a side brush device <NUM>, and a spray module <NUM>. The aforementioned components are attached to a base <NUM> and extend or are exposed from a lower side of the base <NUM>. As described herein, for the convenience of description, the base <NUM> has an upper side and the lower side, and these sides refer to orientations of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> when it is placed on the surface to be cleaned, wherein the upper side refers to a side facing away from the surface to be cleaned, and the lower side refers to a side facing the surface to be cleaned. In one embodiment, the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> further includes a battery module <NUM> attached to the base <NUM>.

The mobile module <NUM> is adjacent to the base <NUM>, disposed on opposite sides of the base <NUM>, exposed through the lower side of the base <NUM>, and disposed in a middle portion of the base <NUM>, allowing the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> to contact the surface to be cleaned while the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> moves on the surface. As shown in <FIG>, the mobile module <NUM> may include a pair of mobile components and a main driving device, wherein the mobile components may be moving parts such as pulleys and rollers, and the main driving device may be a combination of a motor, a gear and other transmission devices. The mobile components are driven by the main driving device to move the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> forward, backward, or turning on the surface to be cleaned. In the present embodiment, each of the mobile components of the mobile module is configured as pulleys, which include caterpillar tracks and two driving wheels for driving the caterpillar tracks.

The front wheel <NUM> is disposed in the front region of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM>, and is closer to the front side of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> than the mobile module <NUM>. In some embodiments, the front wheel <NUM> is used as an auxiliary wheel of the mobile module <NUM>; while the mobile module <NUM> drives the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> to travel, the front wheel <NUM> helps maintain balance, and thus the front wheel <NUM> is not required to drive the self-moving cleaning device <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> further includes a dust box <NUM> and a vacuum module <NUM> disposed within the case <NUM> above the base <NUM>. The vacuum module <NUM> is connected to the first suction port <NUM> and the second suction port <NUM> through the dust box <NUM>. In one embodiment, the vacuum module <NUM> includes a pump. During operation, the air in the first suction port <NUM> and the second suction port <NUM> is sucked away by the vacuum module <NUM>, so that a negative pressure is formed inside the first suction port <NUM> and the second suction port <NUM>, thereby generating a suction force.

In one embodiment, the spray module <NUM> is disposed on the base <NUM>, and may spray water or other cleaning liquid to wet the surface to be cleaned, such that dirt adhered to the surface may be more easily removed, thereby improving a cleaning effect of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM>. In one embodiment, the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> includes a water supply module, which may consist of a water tank, a pump, and a supply pipe, wherein the water tank is filled with water or cleaning liquid that is transported to the spray module <NUM> through the supply pipe, and the pump is used to pressurize the water or cleaning liquid in the supply pipe. In one embodiment, the nozzle of the spray module can extend from the lower side of the base <NUM> to the surface to be cleaned. In one embodiment, the spray module <NUM> includes an outlet, e.g., the nozzle, that may control a direction of the spray module <NUM> by adjusting a direction of the outlet, and that sprays water or cleaning liquid from both sides of the base <NUM> toward the middle portion of the base, so that the water or cleaning liquid may be more effectively used with the cloth.

The base <NUM> is provided with the first suction port <NUM>. In one embodiment, the first suction port <NUM> has a first vacuum channel formed of a frame and a plurality of side walls made from the base <NUM>, and extends from the lower side of the base <NUM> to the upper side of the base <NUM>. The first vacuum channel includes a first suction inlet <NUM> disposed on the lower side of the base <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first suction port <NUM> has a pair of symmetrical wall surfaces 122A, a pair of symmetrical wall surfaces 122B, and a pair of symmetrical wall surfaces 122C on the lower side of the base <NUM>, in which these wall surfaces define the first suction inlet <NUM> along both sides of the first suction port <NUM>. The wall surfaces 122A may have flat surfaces, and the wall surfaces 122B and 122C may have curved surfaces, wherein the curvature of the curved surfaces of the wall surfaces 122C is greater than the curvature of the curved surface of the wall surfaces 122B. This causes the first vacuum channel of the first suction inlet <NUM> to occupy a larger area of the lower side of the base <NUM>, wherein an area of the first vacuum channel is gradually reduced toward the upper side of the base <NUM>, so that a greater amount of dust or debris may be picked up through the lower side of the base <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the first suction port <NUM> draws dust or dirt off the surface to be cleaned, into the first suction inlet <NUM> and into the dust box <NUM> by help of the negative pressure provided by the vacuum module <NUM>. In one embodiment, there are no cleaning elements such as bristles or brush blades provided for the first suction port <NUM> or the first suction inlet <NUM>, and as a result, any debris having an elongated shape, such as string, human hair or pet hair, will not get stuck in the first vacuum channel or the first suction inlet <NUM>. Therefore, there is no need to clean the first suction port <NUM> regularly, which reduces time spent maintaining and operating the self-moving cleaning device <NUM>.

The base <NUM> is further provided with the second suction port <NUM>. In one embodiment, the second suction port <NUM> includes a second vacuum channel formed of a frame and a plurality of side walls formed in the base <NUM>. The second vacuum channel includes a second suction inlet <NUM> disposed on the lower side of the base <NUM> and adjacent to the first suction inlet <NUM>. In one embodiment, a distance between the second suction inlet <NUM> and the first suction inlet <NUM> is equal to or less than about <NUM>, and preferably less than about <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM>. If the distance between the second suction inlet <NUM> and the first suction inlet <NUM> exceeds about <NUM>, the probability of lighter elongated debris entering the second suction port <NUM> and becoming tangled on the roller brush is greatly increased. When the distance is less than about <NUM>, the difficulty of manufacturing the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> greatly increases due to stricter tolerances. In one embodiment, the distance between the second suction inlet <NUM> and the first suction inlet <NUM> is between any two of the aforementioned values, based on a balance between an effectiveness of picking up lighter elongated debris and a convenience of manufacture and assembly; the distance is preferably between <NUM> and <NUM>, and more preferably between <NUM> and <NUM>. In one embodiment, the roller brush device <NUM> is disposed on the base <NUM>, surrounded by the second suction port <NUM> and exposed through the lower side of the base <NUM>. In one embodiment, the second suction port <NUM> includes a roller brush cover <NUM> which is disposed on the lower side of the base <NUM>. The roller brush cover <NUM> may be annular and may allow the second suction inlet <NUM> to be exposed. The roller brush cover <NUM> may be opened and closed, so as to allow the roller brush device <NUM> to be removed from the lower side of the base <NUM> when the roller brush cover <NUM> is opened, and to allow the roller brush device <NUM> to be locked by the roller brush cover <NUM> on the base <NUM> within the second suction inlet <NUM> when the roller brush cover <NUM> is closed. Such configuration allows the roller brush device <NUM> to rotate stably without vibrating during a cleaning operation. In one embodiment, an area of the second suction port <NUM> is greater than an area of the first suction port <NUM>, or a width of the second suction port <NUM> is greater than a width of the first suction port <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the roller brush device <NUM> includes a roller brush shaft <NUM> and a roller brush <NUM> disposed on the roller brush shaft <NUM>. In one embodiment, the roller brush shaft <NUM> is rod-shaped, holding ends are disposed on both sides of the rod, and the roller brush shaft <NUM> is detachably clamped to the base <NUM>. The roller brush shaft <NUM> may be connected to a roller-brush driving device <NUM>, such as a motor, through a holding end, wherein the roller-brush driving device <NUM> provides power to rotate the roller brush shaft <NUM>. In one embodiment, the roller brush <NUM> is made of a flexible material and has a shape of a brush blade or bristles. The roller brush <NUM> is attached to the roller brush shaft <NUM> and extends radially outward with the roller brush shaft <NUM> as the center. In one embodiment, the brush blades of the roller brush <NUM> extend in a curved or a wave shape. When the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> travels, the roller brush <NUM> generates a torque via the rotating of the roller brush shaft <NUM> by the roller-brush driving device <NUM>, which drives the roller brush <NUM> to rotate with the roller brush shaft <NUM> as the axis. Therefore, when the roller brush <NUM> rotates, its outer end, that is, the position close to the surface to be cleaned, has the largest or nearly the largest tangential velocity, which helps the roller brush <NUM> to scrape dust or dirt off the surface with a rotary force.

In one embodiment, the second suction port <NUM> draws dust or dirt off the surface to be cleaned and into the second suction inlet <NUM> through the negative pressure provided by the vacuum module <NUM>. In one embodiment, since the second suction port <NUM> includes the roller brush device <NUM> in the second suction inlet <NUM>, when the surface to be cleaned has sticky dust or heavier debris thereon, the vacuum suction force of the vacuum module <NUM> and the rotation torque of the roller brush device <NUM> may be applied at the same time to remove the sticky dust or heavier debris, and any debris that is not completely removed by the first suction port <NUM> may be drawn by the second suction port <NUM>, thus improving the cleaning effect of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the side brush device <NUM> is disposed on the lower side of the base <NUM>. In one embodiment, the side brush device <NUM> is arranged on the lower side of the base <NUM> in an asymmetrical manner or a unilateral arrangement. The side brush device <NUM> may be arranged near any corner close to the front side of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM>, for example, the side brush device <NUM> may be arranged between the front side of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> and the first suction port <NUM>, close to the front side of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> or close to the side of the base <NUM>. In one embodiment, the side brush device <NUM> includes a rotating shaft <NUM> and bristles <NUM> disposed on the rotating shaft <NUM>. In one embodiment, the rotating shaft <NUM> has a disc shape, and a holding end is disposed on a side of the rotating shaft <NUM> facing the base <NUM>, wherein the holding end is connected to the base <NUM>. The rotating shaft <NUM> may be connected to a side-brush driving device, e.g., a motor (not shown) through the holding end, and thus is driven to rotate by the side-brush driving device. In one embodiment, the bristles <NUM> are made of a flexible material and have a long strip shape. A number of bristles <NUM> may be one or more, e.g., <NUM>, and the present disclosure does not limit the number of bristles <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the bristles <NUM> are attached to the rotating shaft <NUM> and extend radially outward from the rotating shaft <NUM>. A region defined by a circle C1 with the rotating shaft <NUM> as a center and a length of the bristles <NUM> as a radius R1 is substantially parallel to the surface to be cleaned. When the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> travels, the rotating shaft <NUM> generates a rotational torque that drives the bristles <NUM> to rotate in a direction parallel to the surface to be cleaned, so that the bristles <NUM> may contact a maximum area of the surface, thereby improving the cleaning effect of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM>. By the movement of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> combined with the sweeping action of the side brush device <NUM>, the dust or dirt on the surface may be swept by the side brush device <NUM> to be closer to the first suction inlet <NUM> or the second suction inlet <NUM>, and may be more easily sucked into the first suction inlet <NUM> or the second suction inlet <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, in one embodiment, the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> includes a battery module <NUM>, and the base <NUM> further includes a battery cover <NUM> disposed on the lower side of the base <NUM>. The battery module <NUM> is installed in the base <NUM>, and the battery cover <NUM> is used to lock the battery module <NUM> in the base, and the battery cover <NUM> can be opened for replacement of the battery module <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the side wall of the first suction port <NUM> extends from the first suction inlet <NUM> to the upper side of the base <NUM>, and an opening <NUM> is formed adjacent to the second suction port <NUM> (see <FIG>). The opening <NUM> and the first suction inlet <NUM> are disposed on the upper side and the lower side of the base <NUM>, respectively, and serve as two openings of the first suction port <NUM>. In one embodiment, the side wall of the second suction port <NUM> forms a roller-brush accommodating space on the upper side of the base <NUM> to accommodate the roller brush device <NUM>. In one embodiment, the roller-brush accommodating space has a cylindrical shape, but the present disclosure does not limit the shape of the roller-brush accommodating space of the second suction port <NUM>, and other shapes may also be within the contemplated scope of the present disclosure. The side wall of the second suction port <NUM> forms an opening <NUM> on the upper side of the roller-brush accommodating space. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the opening <NUM> and the second suction inlet <NUM> are disposed on the upper and lower sides of the base <NUM>, respectively, and serve as two openings of the second suction port <NUM>, wherein the roller brush device <NUM> is disposed between the second suction inlet <NUM> and the opening <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the dust box <NUM> is disposed in a dust-box accommodating space formed within the case <NUM>. The self-moving cleaning device <NUM> further includes an air duct <NUM> disposed between the case <NUM> and the base <NUM>. Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the dust box <NUM>, the air duct <NUM>, and the base <NUM> are connected in sequence after assembly. The air duct <NUM> has side walls to form an upper opening <NUM> and a lower opening <NUM>, wherein the lower opening <NUM> is connected to the opening <NUM> of the first suction port <NUM>, and the upper opening <NUM> is connected to the dust box <NUM>. In one embodiment, the wall surface 122C is disposed on the air duct <NUM> and defines the lower opening <NUM>, and the wall surfaces 122A and 122B are disposed on the base <NUM>, thereby allowing the wall surface 122C to have a larger curvature. In one embodiment, the second suction port <NUM> has a cylindrical shape, and the air duct <NUM> includes a curved duct wall, which extends along the side wall (for example, a curved surface) of the second suction port <NUM>, so that the utilization of an internal space of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> may be maximized, the volume of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> may be reduced, and the length of the first vacuum channel may be reduced, thereby reducing power consumption of the vacuum module <NUM> and noise of the vacuum module <NUM>. In one embodiment, the duct wall of the air duct <NUM> and the wall of the second suction port <NUM> adjacent to the air duct <NUM> have the same curvature. As mentioned above, due to the curved design of the wall surfaces 122B and 122C, the area of the first suction inlet <NUM> is greater than the area of the opening <NUM>. In one embodiment, the area of the air duct <NUM> gradually decreases from the lower opening <NUM> to the upper opening <NUM> so that the aperture of the first vacuum channel gradually increases in size from a first opening <NUM> of the dust box <NUM> to the first suction inlet <NUM>. In this case, the area of the first suction inlet <NUM> is greater than the area of the opening <NUM> and the area of the lower opening <NUM>, and the area of the lower opening <NUM> is greater than the area of the upper opening <NUM>, so that the first vacuum channel has a gradually decreasing area.

Referring to <FIG>, in one embodiment, the air duct <NUM> includes a choke valve <NUM>, which may be controlled by a choke-valve driving device, such as a motor <NUM>, to open or close. The choke valve <NUM> may be rotated by the choke-valve driving device (such as the motor <NUM>), wherein the choke valve <NUM> is pivoted around the pivot <NUM>, and when the choke valve <NUM> is opened, the air duct <NUM> may keep unobstructed so that airflow enters the dust box <NUM> through the air duct <NUM>. When the choke valve <NUM> is closed and abuts against a lower pipe wall of the air duct <NUM>, the air duct <NUM> is closed to close the first vacuum channel, thereby blocking the airflow from entering the dust box <NUM> through the air duct <NUM>. In a normal mode, the choke valve <NUM> is opened to keep the first vacuum channel clear. In another embodiment, when a user decides to use a power-saving mode or a silent mode of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM>, the first vacuum channel may be closed. Most or all of the suction force generated by the vacuum module <NUM> is concentrated in the second vacuum channel, so the power consumption and noise of the vacuum module <NUM> may be reduced, so as to achieve the purpose of a power-saving and quiet operation. In one embodiment, when the user determines that there is no elongated debris on the surface to be cleaned, the user may choose to close the first vacuum channel in order to increase the suction force of the second vacuum channel, thereby speeding up the cleaning process.

<FIG> shows a three-dimensional exploded view of a dust box in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Referring to <FIG>, the dust box <NUM> includes a body <NUM>, an upper cover <NUM>, a handle <NUM>, a filtering section <NUM>, and a filter <NUM>. In one embodiment, the upper cover <NUM> is designed to be opened and closed, and the body <NUM> includes a pivot on an upper edge of one side, so that the upper cover <NUM> is pivotally connected to the body <NUM> through the pivot. The upper cover <NUM> may be tightly attached to the body <NUM> when the upper cover <NUM> is closed to prevent collected dust and debris from falling out of the dust box <NUM>. The dust and debris collected by the dust box <NUM> may be poured out when the upper cover <NUM> is open. The handle <NUM> on the upper cover <NUM> allows the user to remove the dust box <NUM> from the case <NUM> in order to pour out the dust and debris from the dust box <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the body <NUM> of the dust box <NUM> has a quadrangular shape, which corresponds to the shape of the upper cover <NUM>. However, in other embodiments, the body <NUM> of the dust box <NUM> may have other shapes. In the embodiment where the body <NUM> is quadrilateral, the body <NUM> has at least four sides, such as a front side, which has a front side wall 210F (for example, on the front side of the body <NUM> facing the air duct <NUM>), a rear side, to which the filtering section <NUM> is attached, and a left side and a right side, which have a left side wall and a right side wall, respectively, for connecting the front side wall 210F and the filtering section <NUM>. The body <NUM> further includes a fifth side wall <NUM> between the front side wall 210F and a bottom surface 210B, which has an inclined surface, wherein an area of the front side wall 210F is less than an area of the rear side. In one embodiment, due to the inclined surface of the fifth side wall <NUM>, each of the left side wall and the right side wall has a narrow front, a wide rear, a narrow bottom and wide top.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the body <NUM> includes a first opening <NUM> and a second opening <NUM>, wherein the first opening <NUM> is disposed on the front side wall 210F, and the second opening <NUM> is disposed on the fifth side wall <NUM>, so that the first opening <NUM> is disposed above the second opening <NUM>. A distance between the front side wall 210F or the first opening <NUM> and the bottom surface 210B is approximately equal to a distance D1, and a distance between the second opening <NUM> and the bottom surface 210B is equal to a distance D2. Referring to <FIG>, the body <NUM> includes an opening cover <NUM> at the first opening <NUM>, which is closed when there is no air flow through the first opening <NUM>, so as to ensure that the dust and debris in the dust box <NUM> do not fall out. Similarly, the body <NUM> includes a side wall <NUM> near the second opening <NUM> as a barrier wall to surround the second opening <NUM> from the inside, and the second opening <NUM> is higher than the bottom surface 210B by the distance D2, so that the side wall <NUM> and the bottom surface 210B form a debris-accommodating space, which increases the volume of the dust box <NUM> for accommodating debris.

As mentioned above, the surface to be cleaned in an ordinary home or office often has, in addition to dust and dirt, elongated debris, such as string, human hair or pet hair, scattered thereon. Such elongated debris tends to be lightweight and is usually not sticky, but is also not easy to clean because it can easily become entangled in the brush blades or bristles of a conventional vacuum cleaning device. However, the brush blades and bristles also have advantages for cleaning. As mentioned above, although the dust and dirt stuck on the surface to be cleaned may be effectively removed by the rotation of the brush blades or the bristles, such dust and dirt may not be so easily cleared if it is cleaned only by vacuum, and effective cleaning may require additional vacuum force, wherein the excess power consumed would reduce efficiency of the cleaning device. In addition, such a vacuum module may also generate greater noise when generating greater vacuum force, which would greatly reduce the user convenience of the cleaning device.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> of the present disclosure includes double vacuum channels formed by the first vacuum channel and the second vacuum channel. Initially, the opening <NUM> through the first suction port <NUM> connects to the lower opening <NUM> of the air duct <NUM>, and then the first opening <NUM> of the dust box <NUM> connects to the upper opening <NUM> of the air duct <NUM>, to constitute the first vacuum channel, which allows the sucked dust and elongated, lightweight debris to enter the dust box <NUM> through the first suction inlet <NUM> by help of the suction force generated by the vacuum module <NUM>. In one embodiment, the air duct <NUM> is free of any roller device, brush device or other similar elements, so elongated debris, such as human hair, string or pet hair, will not get stuck in the air duct <NUM>. Therefore, there is no need to clean the first suction port <NUM> or the air duct <NUM> regularly, thereby reducing time spent maintaining and operating the self-moving cleaning device <NUM>.

Also, the opening <NUM> through the second suction port <NUM> connects to the second opening <NUM> of the dust box <NUM>, to constitute the second vacuum channel, which allows the sucked dust and heavier debris to enter the dust box <NUM> through the second suction inlet <NUM> by help of the suction force generated by the vacuum module <NUM>. In one embodiment, the roller brush device <NUM> is arranged in the second vacuum channel, and may be used to scrape, sweep up and push dust that is stuck to the surface, or dust that is heavier and more difficult to remove. In addition, since the first vacuum channel has already cleaned the elongated debris, the probability of the elongated debris being sucked into the second suction port <NUM> through the second vacuum channel is greatly reduced, thus greatly reducing the possibility of the elongated debris becoming tangled in the roller brush device <NUM>. The need for the user to clean the hair or string from the roller brush device <NUM> is also greatly reduced, thus improving the convenience and cleaning efficiency of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM>, and reducing maintenance costs.

In one embodiment, the dust box <NUM> includes a first opening <NUM> and a second opening <NUM> to connect to the first vacuum channel and the second vacuum channel aforementioned, respectively. In other words, the first vacuum channel and the second vacuum channel share the dust box <NUM>, which further reduces the volume of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM>. As mentioned above, the first vacuum channel and the second vacuum channel target different types of dust and debris, so the suction force distributed to the first vacuum channel and the second vacuum channel can be different, thereby helping to achieve the dual goal of power savings and effective cleaning at the same time. In one embodiment, the first opening <NUM> and the second opening <NUM> of the dust box <NUM> have different areas, so that the corresponding negative pressures of the first vacuum channel and the second vacuum channel are different. For example, the negative pressure required by the first vacuum channel is relatively small, since the negative pressure of the first vacuum channel needs only to be enough to suck up light and elongated debris, such as hair, while the negative pressure required by the second vacuum channel is relatively large because it needs to suck up heavier debris. Therefore, the same negative pressure generated by the vacuum module <NUM> is distributed between the first opening <NUM>, which has a greater area, and the second opening <NUM>, which has a smaller area. In one embodiment, the first opening <NUM> is disposed above the second opening <NUM>, the first opening <NUM> is connected to the first suction port <NUM>, and the second opening <NUM> is connected to the second suction port <NUM>; such configuration allows the first vacuum channel to have a longer air duct length than the second vacuum channel. Since the debris collected by the first vacuum channel is lighter, the cleaning efficiency of the first vacuum channel and the second vacuum channel may be balanced by the difference in air duct length described above. There is no partition wall in the dust box <NUM> to separate the first opening <NUM> from the second opening <NUM>, so that lighter debris and heavier debris are collected in the same space defined by the dust box <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> show a front view and a side view, respectively, of the dust box <NUM> in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Referring to <FIG>, in one embodiment, the first opening <NUM> has a rectangular shape, however, the first opening <NUM> may have other shapes. In one embodiment, the second opening <NUM> has a trapezoidal shape, however, the second opening <NUM> may have other shapes. Referring to <FIG>, viewed from the side of the dust box <NUM>, since each of the left side wall and the right side wall of the body <NUM> has a wide top and a narrow bottom, the first opening <NUM> protrudes a greater distance forward as compared to the second opening <NUM>. In one embodiment, when viewed from the front, the first opening <NUM> and the second opening <NUM> overlap in a vertical direction, whereas when viewed from the side, the first opening <NUM> and the second opening <NUM> do not overlap in the vertical direction. In one embodiment, an included angle formed by the first opening <NUM> and the bottom surface 210B of the dust box <NUM> is a first acute angle, and an included angle formed by the second opening <NUM> and the bottom surface 210B of the dust box <NUM> is a second acute angle, wherein the first acute angle is greater than the second acute angle. In one embodiment, the first opening <NUM> and the second opening <NUM> are disposed on a side opposite to the filtering section <NUM>, the first opening <NUM> protrudes farther forward than the second opening <NUM>, the first opening <NUM> is closer to the upper side compared to the second opening <NUM>, the second opening <NUM> is disposed on the fifth side wall <NUM> of the inclined surface, and the shape of the fifth side wall <NUM> corresponds to the wall of the air duct <NUM> and conforms to the shape of the side wall of the second suction port <NUM>. Thus, the aforementioned elements of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> are configured in a relatively compact arrangement.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, in one embodiment, the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> includes one or more first blocking sheets <NUM>, disposed on the lower side of the base <NUM>, wherein the first blocking sheets <NUM> are disposed between the first suction port <NUM> and the second suction port <NUM>. In one embodiment, the first blocking sheets <NUM> are disposed on the roller brush cover <NUM>. The first blocking sheets <NUM> may be made of a flexible material, such as resin, plastic, etc. Referring to <FIG>, the first blocking sheets <NUM> are erected from the base <NUM> and extends toward the surface to be cleaned. The first blocking sheets <NUM> have a height H1 that is equal to or greater than the vertical distance between the second suction port <NUM> and the surface to be cleaned, so that when the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> travels on the surface to be cleaned, the first blocking sheets <NUM> may contact the surface. In one embodiment, the first blocking sheets <NUM> are slightly flexed when they contact the surface to be cleaned, so as to ensure that the first blocking sheets <NUM> actually contact the surface without hindering movement of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, a plurality of first blocking sheets <NUM> are arranged in a row in a space between the first suction port <NUM> and the second suction port <NUM>, leaving a distance between each other. In one embodiment, the first blocking sheets <NUM> are oriented parallel to a long side of the first suction port <NUM> or a long side of the second suction port <NUM>, and the plurality of first blocking sheets <NUM> are arranged in a row along a direction parallel to the long side of the first suction port <NUM> or the long side of the second suction port <NUM>. A number of the first blocking sheets <NUM> may be one or more, and the present disclosure does not limit the number of the first blocking sheets <NUM>.

The first blocking sheets <NUM> may be used to block a piece of elongated debris that passes near the first suction port <NUM> without being completely sucked into the first suction inlet <NUM>, causing the other end of the piece of elongated debris (for example, the other end of a strand of hair) to be sucked into the second suction inlet <NUM>. Since the negative pressure of the second vacuum channel is greater than the negative pressure of the first vacuum channel, when the elongated debris is sucked into both the first suction inlet <NUM> and the second suction inlet <NUM> at the same time, it may be possible that the elongated debris eventually gets stuck between the first suction port <NUM> and the second suction port <NUM>, or may be sucked by the second suction port <NUM>. In order to prevent the elongated debris from being sucked into the first suction inlet <NUM> and the second suction inlet <NUM> at the same time, the first blocking sheets <NUM> may effectively prevent the elongated debris from entering the second suction port <NUM>. Meanwhile, because of the distance between adjacent pairs of the first blocking sheets <NUM>, if smaller particles of dust or granular debris is not picked up by the first suction port <NUM>, the smaller particles may still reach the second suction port <NUM> through a gap between the first blocking sheets <NUM> and be sucked into the second suction port <NUM>.

In one embodiment, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in order to allow the non-elongated debris to reach the second suction port <NUM> faster through the first blocking sheets <NUM>, the plurality of first blocking sheets <NUM> are arranged at unequal intervals. In one embodiment, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first blocking sheet <NUM> faces the wall surface 122A, 122B or 122C of the first suction port <NUM> only. In one embodiment, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first blocking sheet <NUM> and the first suction inlet <NUM> do not overlap at all, so that no obstructions are disposed on the front of the first suction inlet <NUM> and the second suction inlet <NUM> in a direction parallel to the traveling direction F, so as to improve the cleaning efficiency of the second suction port <NUM>. In such case, since the suction force of the first suction port <NUM> gradually weakens from a central position to positions beyond the two sides of the long side, the elongated debris near the wall surface 122A of the first suction port <NUM> is likely to be pulled by the suction forces of the first suction port <NUM> and the second suction port <NUM> at the same time, which results in half of the elongated debris being sucked in by the first suction port <NUM> and another half of the elongated debris being sucked in by the second suction port <NUM>, causing the elongated debris to get stuck on the base <NUM>, or causing the entire elongated debris to be sucked in by the second suction port <NUM>, where it may become entangled on the roller brush device <NUM>. To prevent such problem, the first blocking sheets <NUM> are arranged near the wall surface 122A, 122B or 122C but not near the first suction inlet <NUM>, and the first blocking sheets <NUM> may contact the surface to be cleaned, in order to ensure that the elongated debris is blocked by one or more first blocking sheets <NUM>, while still allowing the granular debris to be sucked into the second suction inlet <NUM> through the gap of the first blocking sheets <NUM> or from an area near the first suction port <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, in one embodiment, the first blocking sheets <NUM> are divided into two sets, wherein a first set (for example, including two blocking sheets <NUM>) is disposed on a side close to the side brush device <NUM>, and a second set (for example, including two blocking sheets <NUM>) is disposed on a side away from the side brush device <NUM>. The blocking sheets <NUM> in the first set have a first spacing S1 between them, and the blocking sheets <NUM> in the second set have a second spacing S2 between them, wherein the first spacing S1 and the second spacing S2 may be equal or unequal. In one embodiment, the first set and the second set have a third spacing S3, wherein the third spacing S3 is greater than the first spacing S1 and greater than the second spacing S2. Still referring to <FIG>, the two wall surfaces 122C are both positioned within an area corresponding to the third spacing S3, and at least part of the blocking sheets <NUM> on the inner sides of the first set and the second set face toward the wall surface 122B, so that both the lower opening <NUM> and the upper opening <NUM> of the air duct <NUM> are positioned within an area corresponding to the third spacing S3.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, in one embodiment, the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> includes a second blocking sheet <NUM> disposed on the lower side of the base <NUM> and on a side of the second suction port <NUM> close to the spray module <NUM>. In one embodiment, the second blocking sheet <NUM> is disposed on a side of the roller brush cover <NUM> opposite to the first blocking sheets <NUM>. The second blocking sheet <NUM> may be made of a flexible material, such as resin, plastic, etc. Referring to <FIG>, the second blocking sheet <NUM> is erected from the base <NUM> and extends toward the surface to be cleaned. The second blocking sheet <NUM> has a height H2 that is equal to or greater than a vertical distance between the second suction port <NUM> and the surface to be cleaned, so that the second blocking sheet <NUM> may contact the surface when the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> travels on the surface to be cleaned. In one embodiment, the second blocking sheet <NUM> is slightly flexed when it contacts the surface to be cleaned, so as to ensure that the second blocking sheet <NUM> actually abuts the surface without hindering the movement of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the second blocking sheet <NUM> extends along a direction parallel to a long side of the first suction port <NUM> or a long side of the second suction port <NUM>. In one embodiment, the second blocking sheet <NUM> extends from one end of a long side of the second suction inlet <NUM> to another end of the long side of the second suction inlet <NUM>. The second blocking sheet <NUM> may be used to block dust or debris that is not initially sucked into the first suction inlet <NUM> or the second suction inlet <NUM>. Through an indiscriminative blocking design of the second blocking sheet <NUM>, more dust and debris may be sucked into the second suction port <NUM>, and the cleaning effect of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> may be improved. In addition, since the second blocking sheet <NUM> contacts the surface to be cleaned, air will not flow through the second blocking sheet <NUM> or leak from below the second blocking sheet <NUM>, which may increase the suction force of the second suction port <NUM> on dust and debris, so as to improve the efficiency of removing the dust and debris.

A length of the second blocking sheet <NUM> may be equal to or greater than a length of the second suction inlet <NUM>. In one embodiment, the first blocking sheet <NUM> and the second blocking sheet <NUM> overlap in the traveling direction F of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM>. In other words, one of the plurality of first blocking sheets <NUM> closest to the two sides of the second suction port <NUM> does not extend beyond the two ends of the second blocking sheet <NUM> when viewed in a direction parallel to the traveling direction F.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, in one embodiment, the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> includes a third blocking sheet <NUM> disposed on the lower side of the base <NUM> and adjacent to the side brush device <NUM>. In one embodiment, the third blocking sheet <NUM> is disposed at a position adjacent to the side brush device <NUM> between the front side of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> and the first suction port <NUM>. The third blocking sheet <NUM> may be disposed on or near the battery cover <NUM>. The third blocking sheet <NUM> may be made of a flexible material, such as resin, plastic, etc. Referring to <FIG>, the third blocking sheet <NUM> is erected from the base <NUM> and extends toward the surface to be cleaned. The third blocking sheet <NUM> has a height H3 that is less than, equal to or greater than a vertical distance between the second suction port <NUM> and the surface to be cleaned, so that when the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> travels on the surface to be cleaned, the third blocking sheet <NUM> may or may not contact the surface. Referring to <FIG>, in one embodiment, at least one part of the third blocking sheet <NUM> is disposed within a radius of rotation R1 of the bristles <NUM>, so as to ensure that the bristles <NUM> hit the third blocking sheet <NUM> when rotating without hindering rotation of the bristles <NUM>. In one embodiment, the third blocking sheet <NUM> is disposed completely within the radius of rotation R1 of the bristles <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the third blocking sheet <NUM> extends along a direction parallel to the long side of the first suction port <NUM> or the long side of the second suction port <NUM>. In one embodiment, a length of the third blocking sheet <NUM> is about <NUM> to about <NUM> times a length of any one of the first blocking sheets <NUM>. In one embodiment, the length of the third blocking sheet <NUM> does not exceed a bristle length of the bristles <NUM>. In one embodiment, dust is easily attached to the bristles <NUM> and accumulates on the bristles <NUM> due to an electrostatic effect when the side brush device <NUM> rotates to clean the surface, and thus the cleaning effect of the bristles <NUM> may be reduced. By arranging the third blocking sheet <NUM> within the radius of rotation R1 of the bristles <NUM>, after the dust is swept by the bristles <NUM> along the surface to be cleaned, the dust will be shaken off the bristles <NUM> as the bristles <NUM> hit the third blocking sheet <NUM>. Due to such process, and in conjunction with the design of the first suction port <NUM> adjacent to the side brush device <NUM>, the dust shaken off the bristles <NUM> may be sucked into the first suction inlet <NUM>, thereby improving the cleaning effect of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> and reducing maintenance cost of the side brush device <NUM>.

The bristles <NUM> rotate to remove dust when the side brush device <NUM> is in operation. The bristles <NUM> are bent by striking the third blocking sheet <NUM>, and then the bristles <NUM> leave the third blocking sheet <NUM> to be quickly restored to their original straight condition through the elasticity of the bristles <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, in one embodiment, the relative positions of the bristles <NUM> and the third blocking sheet <NUM> are configured so that, when the bristles <NUM> rotate and contact the third blocking sheet <NUM>, an extension line T1 of the bristles <NUM> in a tangential direction of the circle C1 will pass through the first suction port <NUM>, preferably between the two wall surfaces 122B, and more preferably between the two wall surfaces 122C. According to the aforementioned design, when the debris on the bristles <NUM> falls off, such debris is likely to enter the first suction port <NUM>. In one embodiment, the relative positions of the bristles <NUM> and the third blocking sheet <NUM> are configured so that, during the moment or process of the bristles <NUM> striking the third blocking sheet <NUM> and then returning from bent to straight, a long axis of the bristles <NUM> pointing toward the first suction port <NUM> may overlap the first suction inlet <NUM>, so that the first suction inlet <NUM> may provide the best vacuum effect on the debris that has been knocked off the bristles <NUM> by the third blocking sheet <NUM>.

In one embodiment, referring to <FIG>, the battery module <NUM>, the first suction port <NUM>, the second suction port <NUM>, the spray module <NUM>, and the mopping module <NUM> are sequentially configured from the front side of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> to the back side of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM>, wherein the first suction port <NUM> and the second suction port <NUM> are disposed in a front half of the base <NUM>, and the spray module <NUM> and the mopping module <NUM> are disposed in a back half of the base <NUM>. The front half of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> performs a dry cleaning mode, in which the first suction port <NUM> is used to clean part of the dust, along with lighter and elongated debris, and the second suction port <NUM> is used to clean remaining dust, along with non-elongated and heavier debris. As a result, any remaining debris or dirt that has not been cleaned may not be able to be ideally removed by the dry cleaning mode or by the negative pressure generated by the vacuum module <NUM>. Therefore, the back half of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> may perform a wet cleaning function depending upon requirements. Compared to the dry cleaning mode, the wet cleaning mode is beneficial for cleaning dust and dirt that are likely to adhere to the surface to be cleaned, or dust and debris left by the first suction port <NUM> and the second suction port <NUM>. In one embodiment, the dry cleaning mode and the wet cleaning mode may be performed independently or in combination.

In one embodiment, the mopping module <NUM> is disposed on the back half of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM>, for example, on the back side of the spray module <NUM>, so that the spray module <NUM> may spray the surface to be cleaned, and a last cleaning process is performed by a cloth <NUM> of the mopping module <NUM>, so that the cleaning effect of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> may be optimized. In one embodiment, the mopping module <NUM> includes a cloth seat <NUM>, which is disposed on the lower side of the base <NUM> and has a flat surface parallel to the surface to be cleaned. In one embodiment, a side of the cloth seat <NUM> facing the surface to be cleaned is used to stick or attach the cloth <NUM> as the cloth <NUM> cleans the surface while moving along the traveling direction F of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM>. The cloth seat <NUM> may include a hook and loop attachment, such as Velcro, to attach the cloth <NUM> to the cloth seat <NUM> in a detachable manner.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, in one embodiment, the mopping module <NUM> is connected to the base <NUM> through other elements of the lifting device <NUM>. The cloth seat <NUM> has a flat surface to be easily stuck or attached to the cloth <NUM> while cleaning.

In one embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> includes a lifting device <NUM>, which is disposed on the base <NUM>. The lifting device <NUM> is connected to the base <NUM> and the mopping module <NUM>, and may move the mopping module <NUM> up and down relative to the base <NUM>, so that the cloth <NUM> is close to or away from the surface to be cleaned. In one embodiment, the cloth seat <NUM> approaches the surface to be cleaned in a direction perpendicular to the surface to be cleaned, so that the cloth <NUM> may completely contact to the surface to be cleaned. In one embodiment, the cloth seat <NUM> is raised from the surface to be cleaned in a direction perpendicular to the surface to be cleaned and is at a distance from the surface to be cleaned, so that the cloth <NUM> may be completely separated from the surface to be cleaned.

There are many advantages provided by the design of the mopping module <NUM> and the cloth seat <NUM> that may move up and down as described above. When the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> needs to pass over an obstacle (such as a door sill), the mopping module <NUM> may be raised to increase the space below the base <NUM>, so that the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> may pass over the obstacle easily. In one embodiment, when the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> finishes cleaning, the cloth <NUM> may be soiled. Therefore, raising the mopping module <NUM> may avoid secondary pollution when the mobile cleaning device <NUM> passes through a cleaned area. In another embodiment, the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> may travel on surfaces included of different materials, wherein some of the surfaces may not be suitable for cleaning in a wet mode, such as carpets. In such embodiment, the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> includes a surface detector (not shown) to detect the material of the surface. When the surface detector determines that the material of the surface is not suitable for cleaning in the wet mode, the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> may raise the mopping module <NUM> to prevent the surface from being wetted. In one embodiment, the current or the load torque of the roller brush may be used to determine whether to lift the mopping module <NUM>. In one embodiment, the surface detector may be a surface material sensor, which may be a sound wave sensor, a light sensor or a polarized light sensor, and may use a signal of sound, light or polarized light to determine the surface material. In one embodiment, when the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> senses a signal indicating low battery power, the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> may confirm that it has returned to the charging stand via confirmation of the charging signal, and may lift the mopping module <NUM> to avoid wetting the surface.

In one embodiment, the mopping module <NUM> includes the cloth seat <NUM> and the cloth <NUM>, wherein the cloth <NUM> is disposed on a bottom surface of the cloth seat <NUM>. The cloth seat <NUM> includes a guide column <NUM>, which passes through a guide hole <NUM> of the base <NUM>, so that the cloth seat <NUM> moves along a long axis of the guide column <NUM>. In one embodiment, a spring <NUM> is disposed on the guide column <NUM>, wherein two ends of the spring <NUM> press against the base <NUM> and the cloth seat <NUM>, respectively. In one embodiment, the guide column <NUM> is formed as a hollow polygonal column or a hollow semicircular column, and the spring <NUM> is disposed in the guide column <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, in one embodiment, the cloth seat <NUM> includes a positioning seat <NUM>, wherein the positioning seat <NUM> defines a positioning space <NUM> for receiving a linking member <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a three-dimensional exploded view of the lifting device <NUM> in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. <FIG> shows a schematic diagram of raising the lifting device in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, and <FIG> shows a schematic diagram of lowering the lifting device in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the lifting device <NUM> includes a crank <NUM>, a fixing bar <NUM>, an upper cover <NUM>, a driving device <NUM>, and the spring <NUM>. The driving device <NUM> is used to drive the crank <NUM> to rotate and includes a gear wheel <NUM> and a motor <NUM>. The crank <NUM> includes a crankshaft <NUM>, a crank arm <NUM>, and a gear part <NUM>, the base <NUM> includes a side wall to form a crankshaft seat <NUM>, and the crankshaft seat <NUM> includes an opening <NUM> for allowing the crank <NUM> and the fixing bar <NUM> to pass through and move up and down with respect to the base <NUM>. The crankshaft <NUM> is disposed between the crankshaft seat <NUM> and the upper cover <NUM>, and the crank <NUM> presses against a protrusion <NUM> on the crankshaft seat <NUM> to rotate, whereby an end of the crank arm <NUM> is raised or lowered relative to the crankshaft seat <NUM> through the opening <NUM> of the crankshaft seat <NUM>. In one embodiment, the protrusion <NUM> forms a crankshaft accommodating space for accommodating the crankshaft <NUM>. In one embodiment, the lifting device <NUM> includes a pair of the fixing bars <NUM>, respectively corresponding to two of the crank arms <NUM> of the crank <NUM>, wherein each of the fixing bars <NUM> has a horizontal portion <NUM> and two linking members <NUM> extending downward from both sides of the horizontal portion <NUM>. The fixing bars <NUM> pass through the opening <NUM> of the crankshaft seat <NUM> of the base <NUM>. The horizontal portion <NUM> of the fixing bar <NUM> straddles the crank arm <NUM> of the crank <NUM>, and the linking member <NUM> extends downward along the crank <NUM> and is connected to the mopping module <NUM> through the opening <NUM> of the crankshaft seat <NUM>. In one embodiment, the crank arm <NUM> is formed with an abutment member <NUM>, wherein the abutment member <NUM> extends from a side of the crank arm <NUM>, preferably in a direction of the long axis of the crankshaft <NUM>, and the horizontal portion <NUM> straddles the abutment member <NUM>. In one embodiment, the lifting device <NUM> includes a fastening member <NUM> (such as a screw, a rivet, etc.) for fastening the cloth seat <NUM> of the mopping module <NUM> to the fixing bar <NUM>. Preferably, the lifting device <NUM> may fasten the mopping module <NUM> to the linking member <NUM> of the fixing bar <NUM>.

The gear part <NUM> and the crank arm <NUM> are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the crankshaft <NUM>. The gear part <NUM> is disposed on the crankshaft <NUM> and is coupled to the driving device <NUM>, whereby the driving device <NUM> drives the gear part <NUM> to rotate in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. In one embodiment, the motor <NUM> is controlled based on a control current to output a rotational torque to drive the gear wheel <NUM>, and the gear part <NUM> of the crank <NUM> meshes with the gear wheel <NUM> to rotate. The motor <NUM> may output clockwise or counterclockwise torque based on different directions of the control current, so that the motor <NUM> drives the gear wheel <NUM> and the gear part <NUM> to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise, thereby raising or lowering the crank arm <NUM> of the crank <NUM>. When the abutment member <NUM> of the crank arm <NUM> is raised, the fixing bar <NUM> is also raised, so that the cloth seat <NUM> may also be raised accordingly, thereby raising the cloth <NUM> from the surface to be cleaned. Conversely, when the abutment member <NUM> of the crank arm <NUM> is lowered, the fixing bar <NUM> is also lowered, thereby lowering the cloth seat <NUM>, so that the cloth <NUM> contacts the surface to be cleaned. Preferably, in addition to moving up and down, the crank arm <NUM> also moves back and forth in the direction in which the horizontal portion <NUM> extends (the horizontal direction in <FIG>).

In one embodiment, the gear part <NUM> of the crankshaft <NUM> includes an upper starting point and a lower starting point, so as to determine a lifting range of the mopping module <NUM>. Preferably, the gear part <NUM> is formed with a plurality of continuous gear teeth, wherein two ends of the continuous gear teeth form an upper starting point and a lower starting point, respectively. In one embodiment, by setting a number of the gear teeth of the gear part <NUM>, the two ends of the continuous gear teeth are set to correspond to the upper starting point and the lower starting point, and when the rotation of the gear part <NUM> reaches either of the two ends, the gear part <NUM> can no longer move forward or backward, so that the rotation of the crankshaft <NUM> is stopped. In one embodiment, the lifting device <NUM> detects that an output current of the motor <NUM> has increased, which indicates that the gear part <NUM> of the crankshaft <NUM> has reached the upper or lower starting point, thereby stopping or reducing the supply current, which may keep the lifting device <NUM> to function in a normal condition.

Referring to <FIG>, in one embodiment, the crankshaft seat <NUM> is connected to the cloth seat <NUM> via the spring <NUM>. When the motor <NUM> does not output a driving torque, the spring <NUM> applies a force to the cloth seat <NUM> so that the cloth seat <NUM> moves toward the surface to be cleaned. At such time, the mopping module <NUM> can be said to be extended or laid down. When the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> is placed on the surface to be cleaned, the weight of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM> compresses the spring <NUM>, thereby pressing the cloth <NUM> more firmly to the surface to be cleaned. At such time, the mopping module <NUM> can be said to be laid flatly or retracted. In addition, the downward force generated by the compression of the spring <NUM> is applied to the cloth <NUM> through the cloth seat <NUM>, so that the cloth <NUM> is assisted with a wiping force provided by the downward force in mopping the surface, thereby improving the effect of cleaning.

In one embodiment, the fixing bars <NUM> are disposed at two opposite ends of the gear part <NUM>, the crank arms <NUM> are disposed at two opposite ends of the gear part <NUM>, the gear part <NUM> and the crank arms <NUM> are disposed at two opposite sides of the crankshaft <NUM>, and the gear part <NUM> protrudes in a first direction and the crank arm <NUM> protrudes in a second direction different from or opposite to the first direction. Preferably, at least one fixing bar <NUM> passes through the opening <NUM> of the base <NUM>, and the crankshaft <NUM> rotates against the protrusion <NUM> on the crankshaft seat <NUM>; the fixing bar <NUM> passes through the opening <NUM> of the crankshaft seat <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the cloth seat <NUM> includes the guide column <NUM>, wherein the guide column <NUM> passes through the guide hole <NUM> of the base <NUM>, so that the cloth seat <NUM> moves along the long axis of the guide column <NUM>. Preferably, in one embodiment, the spring <NUM> is sleeved on the guide column <NUM>, and the two ends of the spring <NUM> press against the base <NUM> and the cloth seat <NUM>, respectively. The crank arm <NUM> includes the abutment member <NUM>, wherein the abutment member <NUM> extends from the side of the crank arm <NUM> in the long axis direction of the crankshaft <NUM>, and the horizontal portion <NUM> straddles the abutment member <NUM>. According to this feature, the two springs <NUM> can be evenly compressed when the cloth seat <NUM> is raised, and the cloth seat <NUM> may be kept level without tilting while being raised. Preferably, referring to <FIG>, when viewed from a side of the self-moving cleaning device <NUM>, the horizontal portion <NUM> and the abutment member <NUM> are disposed between the two springs <NUM>. In one embodiment, by the rotation of the crank <NUM>, the abutment member <NUM> is pressed against the horizontal portion <NUM>, and drives the cloth seat <NUM> close to the base <NUM>, retracting the cloth seat <NUM>. At such time, the abutment member <NUM> is between the two springs <NUM>, which helps maintain the cloth seat <NUM> at a level orientation while being raised or lowered. In another embodiment, when the abutment member <NUM> is lowered to the lowest level, the cloth seat <NUM> may be said to be in a lowered state, and the abutment member <NUM> is between the two springs <NUM>, which further helps maintain the cloth seat <NUM> at a level orientation while being raised or lowered. In another embodiment, when the cloth seat <NUM> is between the retracted state and the lowered state, the abutment member <NUM> is between the two springs <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A self-moving cleaning device (<NUM>), comprising:
a base (<NUM>);
a mobile module (<NUM>) adjacent to the base (<NUM>) and configured to contact a surface when the self-moving cleaning device (<NUM>) moves on the surface;
a vacuum module (<NUM>) arranged over the base (<NUM>);
a dust box (<NUM>) arranged over the base (<NUM>) and connected to the vacuum module (<NUM>), the dust box (<NUM>) comprising a first opening (<NUM>) and a second opening (<NUM>);
a roller brush device (<NUM>) arranged on the base (<NUM>)
characterized in that
a first suction port (<NUM>) arranged on the base (<NUM>) and comprising a first suction inlet (<NUM>) connected to the first opening (<NUM>);
a second suction port (<NUM>) arranged on the base (<NUM>) and comprising a second suction inlet (<NUM>) connected to the second opening (<NUM>), the first suction port (<NUM>) disposed between a front side (F) of the base (<NUM>) and the second suction port (<NUM>);
the roller brush device (<NUM>) arranged within the second suction port (<NUM>); and
an air duct (<NUM>), wherein the first suction port (<NUM>) is connected to the dust box (<NUM>) through the air duct (<NUM>) to thereby connect the first suction inlet (<NUM>) to the first opening (<NUM>).