Patent Description:
In general, a cleaner is a home appliance that sucks air containing foreign substances such as dust by using a suction force generated by a motor installed in a main body, separates the foreign substances contained in the air by a dust separator, and then discharges the air from which the foreign substances have been removed to the outside.

In recent years, a robot cleaner that cleans a cleaning space by sucking foreign substances such as dust on a floor while automatically traveling the cleaning space without a user's control is a consumer's preferred trend.

A cleaner such as a robot cleaner includes a main body in which a motor is installed, and a dust container detachably coupled to the main body.

The dust container includes an inlet through which air and dust enter, a grille portion including a plurality of holes to filter out at least a part of the dust contained in the air introduced through the inlet, and an outlet through which air passed through the grille portion is discharged to the outside of the dust container.

Foreign substances such as dust may be accumulated in the grille portion due to the suction force of the motor. When the plurality of holes of the grille portion is clogged by foreign substances such as dust, the suction force of the cleaner may be significantly lowered.

<CIT> discloses a vacuum cleaner unit to separate and collect dust from an airstream.

It is an aspect of the invention to provide a dust container capable of preventing a suction force from being lowered and a cleaner including the same.

It is another aspect of the invention to provide a dust container capable of improving dust separation efficiency and a cleaner including the same.

According to the invention, there is provided a cleaner according to claim <NUM>. Preferred features are set out in the dependent claims.

According to an aspect of the invention there may be provided a dust container capable of preventing a suction force from being lowered and a cleaner including the same.

According to another idea of the invention there may be provided a dust container capable of improving dust separation efficiency and a cleaner including the same.

<FIG>, discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present invention in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present invention may be implemented in any suitably arranged system or device.

Configurations illustrated in the embodiments and the drawings described in the present specification are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention and thus it is to be understood that various modified examples, which may replace the embodiments and the drawings described in the present specification, are possible when filing the present application.

The terms used in the present specification are used to describe the embodiments of the present invention Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention is provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting or/or restricting the invention. It will be understood that when the terms "includes," "comprises," "including," and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, figures, steps, components, or combination thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, figures, steps, components, members, or combinations thereof.

It will be understood that although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various components, these components should not be limited by these terms, and the terms are only used to distinguish one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, the second component may also be referred to as a first component.

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter, a robot cleaner will be described in detail as an example of a cleaner. A dust container of the invention may be applied to various types of cleaners as well as a robot cleaner.

<FIG> illustrates a perspective view of a cleaner according to an embodiment of the invention and <FIG> illustrates a main body and a dust container separated from the main body, in the cleaner according to an embodiment of the invention.

Referring to <FIG>, the cleaner may include a main body <NUM>, and a dust container <NUM> coupled to the main body <NUM>. The dust container <NUM> may be separated from the main body <NUM>.

The cleaner may suck dust on a floor together with air while moving along the floor. Then, the cleaner may separate and store the dust contained in the sucked air, and discharge the air from which the dust is removed.

Referring to <FIG>, the dust container <NUM> may separate and store dust. The dust container <NUM> may be detachably coupled to the main body <NUM> so that a user may remove dust inside the dust container <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an exploded perspective view of the dust container <NUM> in the cleaner according to an embodiment of the invention.

Referring to <FIG>, in the cleaner according to an embodiment of the invention the dust container <NUM> may include a housing <NUM> for separating and storing dust, an upper cover <NUM> for covering an open, upper side of the housing <NUM>, and a lower cover <NUM> for covering an opening formed in a bottom of the housing <NUM>.

The upper cover <NUM> may be detachably coupled to the housing <NUM>. The user may separate the upper cover <NUM> from the housing <NUM> to discharge dust inside the housing <NUM> to an outside of the housing <NUM>.

The lower cover <NUM> may be rotatably coupled to the housing <NUM>. The lower cover <NUM> may include a shaft portion <NUM>. The shaft portion <NUM> may be coupled to a shaft coupling portion <NUM> (see <FIG>) positioned on the bottom of the housing <NUM>. Instead, the lower cover <NUM> may be detachably coupled to the housing <NUM>, like the upper cover <NUM>.

The user may open the lower cover <NUM> to discharge dust stored in a first chamber <NUM> and a second chamber <NUM> to the outside of the housing <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> may include an inlet <NUM> through which air is introduced into the housing <NUM>, and an outlet <NUM> (see <FIG>) through which air inside the housing <NUM> is discharged to the outside of the housing <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> may include a collision wall <NUM> facing the inlet <NUM>, a plurality of first dust collecting walls 112a and 112b intersecting the collision wall <NUM>, and a second dust collecting wall <NUM> intersecting the collision wall <NUM> and the first dust collecting walls 112a and 112b. The first dust collecting walls 112a and 112b may include the 1a-th collecting wall 112a and the 1b-th collecting wall 112b.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the 1b-th collecting wall 112b and the second dust collecting wall <NUM> may be detachably coupled to the housing <NUM>. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the 1b-th dust collecting wall 112b and the second dust collecting wall <NUM> may be integrated into the housing <NUM>.

Each of the first dust collecting walls 112a and 112b may include a plurality of first holes 114a and 114b. The second dust collecting wall <NUM> may include a plurality of second holes 115a and 115b and a blocking portion <NUM>, which will be described in detail later.

The dust container <NUM> may include a cyclone unit <NUM> positioned in one side of the housing <NUM> to separate dust. In <FIG>, a single cyclone unit is shown, however, the cyclone unit <NUM> is not limited to this. That is, the dust container <NUM> may contain a multi cyclone unit.

<FIG> illustrates a cross-sectional perspective view of the dust container <NUM> in the cleaner according to an embodiment of the invention.

Referring to <FIG>, the housing <NUM> may include the collision wall <NUM> facing the inlet <NUM>, wherein dust introduced through the inlet <NUM> collides with the collision wall <NUM>.

The collision wall <NUM> may be positioned relatively close to the inlet <NUM>. Specifically, a distance between the collision wall <NUM> and the inlet <NUM> may be shorter than a distance between opposite outer walls <NUM> and <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. Through the arrangement, foreign substances introduced into the inlet <NUM> may collide with the collision wall <NUM> by a suction force and inertia to lose kinetic energy and fall by gravity. The foreign substances that have lost the kinetic energy due to the collision with the collision wall <NUM> may be stored in the first chamber <NUM> without moving to the first dust collecting walls 112a and 112b or the second dust collecting wall <NUM> which will be described later. The collision wall <NUM> may reduce kinetic energy of foreign substances having a relatively large volume and mass to store the foreign substances in the first chamber <NUM>. Thereby, the dust separation efficiency of the dust container <NUM> may be improved. More specifically, the collision wall <NUM> may primarily separate foreign substances having a large volume or mass. The foreign substances collided with the collision wall <NUM> may be stored in the first chamber <NUM>.

The dust container <NUM> may include the first dust collecting walls 112a and 112b and the second dust collecting wall <NUM>. The 1a-th dust collecting wall 112a may be connected to one side edge of the collision wall <NUM>. The 1a-th dust collecting wall 112a may be connected to one side edge of the collision wall <NUM> and intersect the collision wall <NUM>. The 1a-th dust collecting wall 112a may include the plurality of 1a-th holes 114a. The plurality of 1a-th holes 114a may penetrate the 1a-th dust collecting wall 112a.

The second dust collecting wall <NUM> may be connected to a top of the collision wall <NUM>. The second dust collecting wall <NUM> may intersect the collision wall <NUM>. More specifically, the second dust collecting wall <NUM> may intersect the 1a-th dust collecting wall 112a and the collision wall <NUM>. One side edge of the second dust collecting wall <NUM> may be connected to the 1b-th dust collecting wall 112b.

The 1b-th dust collecting wall 112b may be integrated into the second dust collecting wall <NUM> or connected to one edge of the second dust collecting wall <NUM>. Also, the 1b-th dust collecting wall 112b may be connected to the 1a-th dust collecting wall 112a.

The second dust collecting wall <NUM> may include the plurality of second holes 115a and 115b. The plurality of second holes (also referred to as 2b-th holes) 115b being adjacent to the collision wall <NUM> may be smaller than the plurality of second holes (also referred to as 2a-th holes) 115a being adjacent to the inlet <NUM>. The second dust collecting wall <NUM> may also include the blocking portion <NUM> positioned in a predetermined region being adjacent to the collision wall <NUM>. The blocking portion <NUM> may include no hole.

The housing <NUM> may include the outer walls <NUM> and <NUM>. The outer walls <NUM> and <NUM> may form an outer appearance and an inner space of the housing <NUM>.

The cyclone unit <NUM> may include a cyclone inlet <NUM> (refer to <FIG>) through which air is introduced into the cyclone unit <NUM>, and a cyclone outlet <NUM> for guiding dust separated from the air introduced into the cyclone unit <NUM> to the second chamber <NUM>. Air introduced into the cyclone unit <NUM> may be discharged to an outside of the cyclone unit <NUM> and the housing <NUM> through a discharge portion positioned at a center of the cyclone unit <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the dust container <NUM> in the cleaner according to an embodiment of the invention <FIG> illustrates a top view of the dust container <NUM> in the cleaner according to an embodiment of the invention and <FIG> illustrates a perspective view of the dust container <NUM> in the cleaner according to an embodiment of the invention.

Hereinafter, flows of air and dust inside the dust container <NUM> according to an embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, air and foreign substances introduced into the inlet <NUM> may first collide with the collision wall <NUM>. As described above, foreign substances moving toward the collision wall <NUM> by inertia and a suction force may collide with the collision wall <NUM> to lose kinetic energy, and be stored in the first chamber <NUM>.

Through the process, foreign substances having a relatively large volume or a relatively large mass may be first stored in the first chamber <NUM>.

After colliding with the collision wall <NUM>, the air and foreign substances may pass through the first dust collecting walls 112a and 112b or the second dust collecting wall <NUM>, and then be introduced into the cyclone unit <NUM>. Specifically, the air and foreign substances may pass through the plurality of first holes 114a and 114b of the first dust collecting walls 112a and 112b or the plurality of second holes 115a and 115b of the second dust collecting wall <NUM>, and then be introduced into the cyclone unit <NUM>.

When the foreign substances pass through the plurality of first holes 114a and 114b and the plurality of second holes 115a and 115b, a part of the foreign substances may fail to pass through the plurality of first holes 114a and 114b and the plurality of second holes 115a and 115b, and may clog the first and second holes 114a, 114b, 115a, and 115b. When a plurality of holes for filtering out foreign substances are clogged by foreign substances, a suction force of a cleaner is rapidly lowered.

According to an idea of the invention the dust container <NUM> may prevent a suction force from being lowered, through a predetermined gap formed between the first dust collecting walls 112a and 112b and a structure being adjacent to the first dust collecting walls 112a and 112b or between the second dust collecting wall <NUM>, and a structure being adjacent to the second dust collecting wall <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the invention the dust container <NUM> may include a bypass passage <NUM> formed between the second dust collecting wall <NUM> and the outer wall <NUM>. The bypass passage <NUM> may be a predetermined gap formed between an end portion of the second dust collecting wall <NUM> and the outer wall <NUM>.

As air and foreign substances are introduced into and discharged from the dust container <NUM>, the plurality of holes 114a, 114b, 115a, and 115b of the first dust collecting walls 112a and 112b and the second dust collecting wall <NUM> may be clogged by the foreign substances. When clogging occurs, air does not move smoothly inside a dust container, resulting in a significant reduction of a suction force. According to an idea of the invention the dust container <NUM> may include the bypass passage <NUM>. When the plurality of first holes 114a and 114b of the first dust collecting walls 112a and 112b and the plurality of second holes 115a and 115b of the second dust collecting wall <NUM> are clogged, the bypass passage <NUM> may provide a flow passage through which air may move. The bypass passage <NUM> may prevent a significant reduction in suction force of the cleaner by allowing air to move even when the plurality of holes of the dust collecting walls are clogged.

Referring to <FIG>, the dust container <NUM> according to an embodiment of the invention may include the blocking portion <NUM> and the plurality of 2b-th holes 115b having a relatively small size.

The blocking portion <NUM> may be the predetermined region of the second dust collecting wall <NUM>. The blocking portion <NUM> may be a region of the second dust collecting wall <NUM> being adjacent to the top of the collision wall <NUM>. The blocking portion <NUM> may include none of the plurality of second holes 115a and 115b to prevent air and dust from passing therethrough.

According to an embodiment of the invention the plurality of second holes 115a and 115b may include the 2a-th holes 115a and the 2b-th holes 115b having different sizes. A diameter of the 2b-th holes 115b may be smaller than that of the 2a-th holes 115a.

Because the diameter of the 2b-th holes 115b is smaller than that of the 2a-th holes 115a, foreign substances such as dust may have greater difficulties in passing through the 2b-th holes 115b than the 2a-th holes 115a.

According to an embodiment of the invention because the second dust collecting wall <NUM> includes the blocking portion <NUM> and the plurality of 2b-th holes 115b, air and foreign substances may be prevented from entering the cyclone unit <NUM> by moving upward immediately after colliding with the collision wall <NUM>. Although a part of the foreign substances enters the cyclone unit <NUM> by passing through the 2b-th holes 115b after colliding with the collision wall <NUM>, an amount of foreign substances immediately entering the cyclone unit <NUM> may be reduced because the blocking portion <NUM> and the 2b-th holes 115b having a relatively small diameter are provided. Thereby, foreign substances having a large size may be prevented from flowing into the cyclone unit <NUM>, and the dust separation efficiency of the dust container <NUM> may be improved.

Referring to <FIG>, air introduced into the inlet <NUM> of the dust container <NUM> may collide with the collision wall <NUM> and then circle inside the first chamber <NUM>. As described above, at this time, a part of the foreign substances may be separated and stored in the first chamber <NUM>.

Air and the remaining foreign substances may enter the cyclone unit <NUM> through the first dust collecting walls 112a and 112b, the second dust collecting wall <NUM>, or the bypass passage <NUM>. Air and foreign substances passed through the 1a-th dust collecting wall 112a may enter the cyclone inlet <NUM> of the cyclone unit <NUM> along a guide passage <NUM>.

The air and foreign substances introduced into the cyclone inlet <NUM> may form a turning airflow along the cyclone unit <NUM>. Due to the turning airflow, foreign substances in the air may be introduced into the second chamber <NUM> through the cyclone outlet <NUM> provided at an upper side of the cyclone unit <NUM>. Fine dust having a relatively small size and mass may be separated and stored in the second chamber <NUM> by the turning airflow. The air from which the fine dust has been removed may be introduced into a third chamber <NUM> through a center hole of the cyclone unit <NUM>. The air introduced into the third chamber <NUM> may be discharged to the outside of the dust container <NUM> through the outlet <NUM>.

The guide passage <NUM> may be formed by a predetermined wall inside the housing <NUM>, the collision wall <NUM>, and the upper cover <NUM>. The guide passage <NUM> may guide air inside the dust container <NUM> to the cyclone unit <NUM>. The collision wall <NUM> may form one surface of the guide passage <NUM>. Specifically, the collision wall <NUM> may form a sidewall of the guide passage <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, according to an embodiment of the invention a distance d1 between the inlet <NUM> and the collision wall <NUM> may be shorter than a distance d2 between the first outer wall <NUM> and the second outer wall <NUM> that are opposite to each other. Specifically, the distance d1 between the collision wall <NUM> and the first outer wall <NUM> in which the inlet <NUM> is positioned may be shorter than <NUM> times the distance d2 between the first outer wall <NUM> and the second outer wall <NUM>. Through the structure, according to an idea of the disclosure, foreign substances introduced into the inlet <NUM> may collide with the collision wall <NUM>, and the foreign substances collided with the collision wall <NUM> may lose kinetic energy to be separated and stored in the first chamber <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a bottom view of the dust container <NUM> in the cleaner according to an embodiment of the invention.

Hereinafter, the first chamber <NUM>, the second chamber <NUM>, and the third chamber <NUM> of the disclosure will be described with reference to <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the housing <NUM> according to an embodiment of the invention may include the first chamber <NUM>, the second chamber <NUM>, and the third chamber <NUM>.

Dust introduced into the inlet <NUM> may be primarily separated and stored in the first chamber <NUM>. The first chamber <NUM> and the second chamber <NUM> may be separated by a partition wall <NUM>. The partition wall <NUM> may be connected to one edge of the collision wall <NUM>, and may intersect the collision wall <NUM>.

Foreign substances introduced into the cyclone outlet <NUM> by a turning airflow of the cyclone unit <NUM> may be separated and stored in the second chamber <NUM>. In the second chamber <NUM>, fine dust may be stored.

The turning airflow of the cyclone unit <NUM> may descend and flow into the third chamber <NUM> through the center hole of the cyclone unit <NUM>. Air having relatively few foreign substances may be introduced into the third chamber <NUM>, and may be discharged to the outside of the dust container <NUM> through the outlet <NUM> connected to the third chamber <NUM>.

A predetermined filter may be provided in the inside of the cleaner or at the outlet of the cleaner. Ultrafine dust or the like, which is not filtered through the above-described process, may be filtered by the predetermined filter. Air passed through the predetermined filter may be discharged to the outside of the cleaner.

According to an embodiment of the invention the outlet <NUM> may be provided in one side of the housing <NUM>. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the outlet <NUM> may be provided in the bottom of the housing <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A cleaner comprising:
a main body (<NUM>) including a suction portion, the suction portion configured to suck air and dust; and
a dust container (<NUM>) detachably installed in the main body (<NUM>), the dust container configured to separate and store dust from air sucked through the suction portion,
wherein the dust container comprises:
an inlet (<NUM>) through which the air and dust sucked through the suction portion is introduced to the dust container (<NUM>);
a collision wall (<NUM>) facing the inlet (<NUM>), wherein the dust introduced through the inlet collides with the collision wall;
a first dust collecting wall (112a, 112b) configured to collect dust introduced through the inlet, the first dust collecting wall intersecting the collision wall (<NUM>); and
a second dust collecting wall (<NUM>) configured to collect dust introduced through the inlet, the second dust collecting wall intersecting the collision wall (<NUM>) and the first dust collecting wall (112a, 112b), wherein:
the first dust collecting wall comprises a plurality of first holes (114a, 114b), the plurality of first holes penetrating the first dust collecting wall (112a, 112b); and
the second dust collecting wall comprises a plurality of second holes (115a, 115b), the plurality of second holes penetrating the second dust collecting wall (<NUM>).