CLEANER STATION AND CLEANER STATION DUST COLLECTION METHOD

Abstract

 The present disclosure relates to a cleaner station and a dust collection method of the cleaner station. Disclosed is a cleaner station, including: a housing coupled to a dust bin of a cleaner; a dust collecting motor disposed inside the housing and generating a suction force to suck dust inside the dust bin; a dust collecting part provided with a dust accommodating space to collect dust sucked from an inside of the dust bin by the dust collecting motor; a compressing part rotatably disposed inside the dust collecting part and compressing collected dust; a compressing motor disposed outside the dust collecting part and generating power to rotate the compressing part; a power transmission unit disposed between the compressing part and the compressing motor and comprising a driving gear rotated by power of the compressing motor; and a compression state sensing unit disposed adjacent to the driving gear and sensing a rotational direction of the compressing part and a rotational angle with respect to the rotational direction by using a shape formed in the driving gear.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cleaner station and a dust collection method of the cleaner station. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a cleaner station capable of sensing a rotational angle at which a compressing part rotates with high accuracy to calculate a dust collection amount and displaying a warning notification in a plurality of levels according to the calculated dust collection amount, and a dust collection method using the cleaner station.

[Background Art]

[0002] A stick vacuum cleaner (hereinafter, referred to as 'a cleaner') has a small capacity of a dust bin for storing collected dust, which inconveniences a user because the user needs to empty the dust bin all the time.

[0003] Therefore, a cleaner station configured to collect dust in a dust bin by sucking the dust in with a suction force of a dust collecting motor, such that a user does not manually remove dust in the dust bin, is being widely used.

[0004] The cleaner station includes a housing, a dust collecting motor disposed inside the housing, and a dust bag accommodating collected dust, and is configured to be coupled with a vacuum cleaner or a dust bin of the vacuum cleaner.

[0005] The cleaner station is convenient in that it can automatically empty the dust bin of the vacuum cleaner, and since the dust bag included in the cleaner station has a larger volume than dust bins included in most vacuum cleaners, a dust disposal cycle is longer.

[0006] On the other hand, since the dust bag is a consumable item, it has to be replaced with a new dust bag when it is full of dust. However, there are inconveniences in that a dust bag has to be replaced periodically, dust generated in a process of separation from the cleaner station scatters due to a nature of a material of the dust bag, and a cost burden of purchasing a new dust bag periodically arises.

[0007] In this regard, US Patent No. 10595692 is proposed as a patent document 1 of prior art.

[0008] The patent document 1 of prior art discloses an embodiment of a discharge station, docked with a robot cleaner and includes a canister dust bin in the form of a bin and a separator.

[0009] In an embodiment disclosed in the patent document 1 of prior art, the dust separator is configured in a conical shape to use the principle of centrifugal separation and is included inside the canister.

[0010] In another embodiment disclosed in the above patent document of prior art, the dust separated from the multi-stage separation device disposed above the canister is configured to be collected in the canister.

[0011] However, in the canister dust bin disclosed in the patent document 1, a flow of air is always generated inside the canister due to the multi-stage separation device adopting the centrifugal separation principle. As a result, the volume of the collected dust is large, and dust storage efficiency is reduced, compared to the dust bag.

[0012] Korean Patent No. 0906848 is proposed as a patent document 2 of prior art.

[0013] The patent document 2 of prior art relates to a vacuum cleaner, and the vacuum cleaner disclosed in the patent document 2 includes a dust collecting part in which foreign matters are stored, a pressure plate movably provided in the dust collecting part to compress foreign matters, and a drive motor to move the pressure plate.

[0014] In addition, the dust collecting part further includes a display unit to display an emptying time of the compressed foreign matters when a movement range of the pressure plate is within a certain range.

[0015] According to the patent document 2 of prior art, since the dust stored in the dust collecting part is compressed, there is an advantage of increasing dust storage efficiency, but the emptying time is displayed on the display unit only when the dust is full.

[0016] Even if the emptying time is displayed on the display unit only when the dust is full as in the patent document 2, in the case of a vacuum cleaner, the dust bin of the vacuum cleaner is mostly made of a transparent material so that the user can easily identify an amount of dust stored, so even before the dust fills the dust bin, the user may remove the dust at a desired time.

[0017] On the other hand, in the case of a cleaner station with a dust emptying function, most of the cleaner stations are covered with a transparent cover to prevent a dust collection state of the dust collecting part from being exposed to the outside since the outer appearance thereof is not appealing. Thus, it is inconvenient for a user to take out the dust collecting part and check it with eyes so as to check a degree of dust collection in the dust collecting part.

[0018] In addition, even if the emptying time is displayed on the display unit only when the dust is full as in the patent document 2, in the case of a vacuum cleaner, a user may feel firsthand the degree at which the dust suction force decreases during cleaning as the dust bin is filled with dust. Therefore, even before the dust bin is full, dust may be removed at a time desired by the user.

[0019] On the other hand, in the case of a cleaner station having a dust emptying function, even if the force to suck dust from the dust bin decreases, the user may not feel the decrease firsthand, and thus it is likely that the user may miss a timing to remove dust from the dust collecting part.

[0020] On the other hand, in the patent document 2 of prior art, it is described that the dust emptying time is indicated by measuring a rotation range of the pressure plate, but a specific method for measuring the rotation range of the pressure plate is not presented.

[0021] In addition, the patent document 2 compresses the dust by rotating the pressure plate immediately after collecting the dust, and then, during the time until the dust is collected again, the compressed dust is scattered, causing a problem that a volume of the dust expands again.

[Disclosure]

[Technical Problem]

[0022] The present disclosure aims to provide a cleaner station and a dust collection method with improved storage efficiency of collected dust.

[0023] In addition, the present disclosure aims to provide a cleaner station and a dust collection method, in which a user may easily check a dust collection amount without taking out the dust collecting part and checking the dust collection amount.

[0024] In addition, the present disclosure aims to provide a cleaner station and a dust collection method with improved convenience so that a user can flexibly select an emptying time when emptying dust collected in the dust collecting part.

[0025] In addition, the present disclosure aims to provide a cleaner station and a dust collection method with improved accuracy in calculating a dust collection amount in the dust collecting part.

[Technical Solution]

[0026] One embodiment is a cleaner station, including: a housing coupled to a dust bin of a cleaner; a dust collecting motor disposed inside the housing and generating a suction force to suck dust inside the dust bin; a dust collecting part provided with a dust accommodating space to collect dust sucked from an inside of the dust bin by the dust collecting motor; a compressing part rotatably disposed inside the dust collecting part and compressing collected dust; a compressing motor disposed outside the dust collecting part and generating power to rotate the compressing part; a power transmission unit disposed between the compressing part and the compressing motor and comprising a driving gear rotated by power of the compressing motor; and a compression state sensing unit disposed adjacent to the driving gear and sensing a rotational direction of the compressing part and a rotational angle with respect to the rotational direction by using a shape formed in the driving gear.

[0027] The power transmission unit may further include a transmission gear connected to the compressing part, gear-meshed with the driving gear, and receiving power of the compressing motor from the driving gear and transmitting the power to the compressing part.

[0028] At this time, the transmission gear may be provided as detachable from the housing in a state coupled to the dust collecting part.

[0029] The compression state sensing unit may be configured as a photo interrupter.

[0030] The compressing part may include: a rotary shaft member vertically disposed inside the dust collecting part and rotated by power of the compressing motor; a fixing plate fixed to one side of an inside of the dust collecting part; and a rotating plate connected to an outer circumferential surface of the rotary shaft member and rotating together with the rotary shaft member.

[0031] The driving gear may include: a gear body forming an exterior of the driving gear; and a shaft connecting portion disposed at a center of the gear body and connected to a motor shaft of the compressing motor.

[0032] Here, the shape formed in the driving gear may be a pattern formed in the gear body.

[0033] At this time, the pattern may be formed by protrusions and grooves alternately and continuously disposed on a lower circumference of the gear body.

[0034] In addition, the pattern may be formed such that a width of the protrusion and a width of the groove adjacent to each other are different from each other.

[0035] In addition, the pattern may be formed such that when the protrusion and the groove are defined as phases that are distinguished according to a size of a formed width thereof, arrangement orders of the phases with respect to a first direction about a circumference of the gear body and with respect to a second direction opposite to the first direction are formed to be different from each other.

[0036] The cleaner station according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a control unit calculating a dust amount collected in the dust collecting part.

[0037] Here, when the protrusion and the groove are defined as phases distinguished according to a size of a formed width thereof, the control unit may calculate the rotational angle based on the number of changes of the phases sensed by the compression state sensing unit.

[0038] The dust collecting part may include: a dust accommodating space accommodating and storing sucked dust therein and disposing the compressing part therein; a mesh net disposed on one side of the dust accommodating space; and a plurality of cyclones filtering dust from air flowing through the mesh net from the dust accommodating space.

[0039] Here, the mesh nset may be configured as a part of a wall surface defining the dust accommodating space.

[0040] Another embodiment is a cleaner system, including: a cleaner comprising a dust bin to collect dust; a cleaner station coupled to the cleaner to remove dust inside the dust bin; and a display device to visually display driving information related to an operation of the cleaner or the cleaner station,

[0041] Here, the cleaner station may include: a housing coupled to the dust bin; a dust collecting motor disposed inside the housing and generating a suction force for sucking dust inside the dust bin; a dust collecting part provided with an accommodating space to collect dust sucked from an inside of the dust bin by the dust collecting motor; a compressing part rotatably disposed inside the dust collecting part and compressing collected dust; a compressing motor disposed outside the dust collecting part and generating power to rotate the compressing part; a power transmission unit disposed between the compressing part and the compressing motor and comprising a driving gear rotated by power of the compressing motor; and a compression state sensing unit disposed adjacent to the driving gear and sensing a rotational direction of the compressing part and a rotational angle with respect to the rotational direction.

[0042] In the display device, notifications may be displayed in a plurality of levels predetermined according to a dust collection amount calculated from the rotational angle sensed by the compression state sensing unit.

[0043] In addition, the display device may be a portable terminal.

[0044] The compressing motor may be provided as a motor capable of rotating in both forward and reverse directions.

[0045] At this time, the cleaner station may further include a control unit calculating the dust collection amount.

[0046] By setting a rotation of the compressing motor in a forward direction and a rotation of the compressing motor in a reverse direction as one cycle, the control unit may calculate the dust collection amount by using an average value of a rotational angle at which the control unit rotated in a forward direction and a rotational angle at which the control unit rotated in a reverse direction.

[0047] According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, driving of the dust collecting motor may be prohibited in the cleaner station, when the calculated dust collection amount corresponds to the last level among the plurality of predetermined levels.

[Advantageous Effects]

[0048] According to the present disclosure, since the compressing part compresses dust while moving in an internal space of the dust collecting part, storage efficiency of dust collected in the dust collecting part is improved.

[0049] In addition, according to the present disclosure, since the dust amount collected in the dust collecting part is displayed on the display unit, a user may easily check a dust amount collected in the dust collecting part without having to take out the dust collecting part and check the dust collection amount.

[0050] In addition, according to the present disclosure, the amount of compressed and stored dust inside the dust collecting part is displayed on the display unit as a warning notification through a plurality of levels, so that a user may select an appropriate time to empty the dust as desired before the dust collecting part is filled with dust.

[0051] In addition, according to the present disclosure, the dust collection amount in the dust collecting part is calculated through the rotational angle of the compressing part, and the rotational angle is calculated based on the number of changes of the pattern formed in the driving gear. Therefore, there is an advantage in that the dust amount may be accurately calculated even if there is a change in the rotational speed of the compressing part due to foreign matters being caught, and the like.

[0052] The advantageous effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described effects and other effects which are not described herein may be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description of the claims of the present disclosure.

[Description of Drawings]

[0053] 

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a cleaner in a cleaner system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a view of the cleaner of FIG. 1 viewed from another angle.

FIG. 3 is a view to explain a bottom surface of a dust bin of a cleaner in a cleaner system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a view to explain a cleaner system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a view to explain a coupling part in a cleaner station according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a view to explain a fixing unit in a cleaner station according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a state in which a door closes a dust passage hole.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a state in which a door opens a dust passage hole.

FIG. 9 is a view to explain a relationship between a cleaner and a cover opening unit in a cleaner station according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a view to explain an arrangement between components of a cleaner station according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a dust collecting part in a cleaner station according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a view in which components included in the dust collecting part and components coupled to the dust collecting part are separated.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line X-X' of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a view illustrating a direction in which air is sucked in a state in which the dust collecting part is inserted into the housing.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of a driving gear and a transmission gear.

FIG. 16 is a view to explain a pattern formed in a driving gear.

FIG. 17 is a view illustrating a position relationship between a driving gear and a compression state sensing unit.

FIG. 18 is a view to explain a sensing principle of a compression state sensing unit.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram of a cleaner station according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 20 illustrates an embodiment in which a notification of a dust compression state is presented through a display unit.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a dust collection method of a cleaner station according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 22 is a view illustrating an operation sequence of each motor included in a cleaner station in the embodiment of FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a view to explain an operation of a compressing part performed in a compressing dust of FIG. 21 in more detail.

[Mode for Invention]

[0054] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0055] The present inventive concept may allow various kinds of change or modification and various changes in form, and specific exemplary embodiments will be illustrated in drawings and described in detail in the specification. It should be understood, however, that the description is not intended to limit the present invention to the specific embodiments, but, on the contrary, the present invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives that fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0056] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a cleaner in a cleaner system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 2 is a view of the cleaner of FIG. 1 viewed from another angle, FIG. 3 is a view to explain a bottom surface of a dust bin of a cleaner in a cleaner system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 4 is a view to explain a cleaner system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0057] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a cleaner system 3 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a cleaner 200 and a cleaner station 300.

[0058] The cleaner system 3 may include a cleaner station 300. The cleaner 200 may be coupled to the cleaner station 300. The cleaner 200 may be coupled to a side of the cleaner station 300. The cleaner station 300 may remove dust from a dust bin 220 of the cleaner 200.

[0059] First, a structure of the cleaner 200 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0060] The cleaner 200 may mean a cleaner configured to be manually operated by a user. For example, the cleaner 200 may mean a handy cleaner or a stick cleaner.

[0061] The cleaner 200 may be mounted on the cleaner station 300. The cleaner 200 may be supported by the cleaner station 300. The cleaner 200 may be coupled to the cleaner station 300.

[0062] Meanwhile, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, a direction of the cleaner 200 may be defined on the basis of a state in which the dust bin 220 and a bottom surface (lower surface) of a battery housing 230 are placed on a ground surface.

[0063] In this case, a forward direction may mean a direction in which a suction part 212 is disposed with respect to a suction motor 214, and a rearward direction may mean a direction in which a handle 216 is disposed with respect to the suction motor 214. Further, on the basis of a state in which the suction part 212 is viewed from the suction motor 214, a right direction may refer to a direction in which a component is disposed at the right, and a left direction may refer to a direction in which a component is disposed at the left. In addition, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, upper and lower sides may be defined in a direction perpendicular to the ground surface on the basis of the state in which the bottom surface (lower surface) of the dust bin 220 and the bottom surface (lower surface) of the battery housing 230 are placed on the ground surface.

[0064] The cleaner 200 may include a main body 210. The main body 210 may include a main body housing 211, the suction part 212, a dust separating part 213, the suction motor 214, an air discharge cover 215, the handle 216, and an operating part 218.

[0065] The main body housing 211 may define an external appearance of the cleaner 200. The main body housing 211 may provide a space that may accommodate therein the suction motor 214 and a filter (not illustrated). The main body housing 211 may be formed in a shape similar to a cylindrical shape.

[0066] The suction part 212 may protrude outward from the main body housing 211. For example, the suction part 212 may be formed in a cylindrical shape with an opened inside. The suction part 212 may be coupled to an extension tube 250. The suction part 212 may be referred to as a flow path (hereinafter, referred to as a 'suction flow path') through which air containing dust may flow.

[0067] The dust separating part 213 may communicate with the suction part 212. The dust separating part 213 may separate dust introduced into the dust separating part 213 through the suction part 212. A space in the dust separating part 213 may communicate with a space in the dust bin 220.

[0068] For example, the dust separating part 213 may have at least one or more cyclone parts capable of separating dust using a cyclone flow. Further, the space in the dust separating part 213 may communicate with the suction flow path. Therefore, the air and the dust, which are introduced through the suction part 212, spirally flow along an inner circumferential surface of the dust separating part 213. Therefore, the cyclone flow may be generated in the internal space of the dust separating part 213.

[0069] The dust separating part 213 may communicate with the suction part 212, and a principle of a dust collector using a centrifugal force is applied in order to separate dust sucked into the main body 210.

[0070] The dust separating part 213 may further include a secondary cyclone that separates dust from the air discharged from the cyclone for the second time. At this time, the secondary cyclone may be located inside the cyclone so that a size of the separating part 213 can be minimized. The secondary cyclone may include a plurality of cyclone bodies arranged in parallel. The air discharged from the cyclone may pass through the plurality of cyclone bodies in a split manner.

[0071] At this time, an axis of the cyclone flow of the secondary cyclone may also extend in a vertical direction, an axis of the cyclone flow of the cyclone and the axis of the cyclone flow of the secondary cyclone may form a coaxial axis in the vertical direction, and this may be collectively referred to as axes of the cyclone flow of the dust separating part 213.

[0072] The suction motor 214 may generate a suction force for sucking air. The suction motor 214 may be accommodated in the main body housing 211. The suction motor 214 may generate the suction force by means of a rotation. For example, the suction motor 214 may be formed in a shape similar to a cylindrical shape.

[0073] The air discharge cover 215 may be disposed at one side in an axial direction of the main body housing 211. A filter for filtering air may be accommodated in the air discharge cover 215. For example, an HEPA filter may be accommodated in the air discharge cover 215.

[0074] The air discharge cover 215 may have an air discharge port for discharging the air introduced by the suction force of the suction motor 214.

[0075] A flow guide may be disposed on the air discharge cover 215. The flow guide may guide a flow of the air to be discharged through the air discharge port.

[0076] The handle 216 may be grasped by the user. The handle 216 may be disposed at a rear side of the suction motor 214. For example, the handle 216 may be formed in a shape similar to a cylindrical shape. Alternatively, the handle 216 may be formed in a curved cylindrical shape. The handle 216 may be disposed at a certain angle with respect to the main body housing 211, the suction motor 214, or the dust separating part 213.

[0077] The handle 216 may include a grip portion 216a formed in a column shape so that the user may grasp the grip portion 216a, a first extension portion 216b connected to one end in the longitudinal direction (axial direction) of the grip portion 216a and extending toward the suction motor 214, and a second extension portion 216c connected to the other end in the longitudinal direction (axial direction) of the grip portion 216a and extending toward the dust bin 220.

[0078] An upper surface of the handle 216 may define an external appearance of a part of an upper surface of the cleaner 200. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a component of the cleaner 200 from coming into contact with the user's arm when the user grasps the handle 216.

[0079] The first extension portion 216b may extend from the grip portion 216a toward the main body housing 211 or the suction motor 214. At least a part of the first extension portion 216b may extend in a horizontal direction.

[0080] The second extension portion 216c may extend from the grip portion 216a toward the dust bin 220. At least a part of the second extension portion 216c may extend in the horizontal direction.

[0081] The operating part 218 may be disposed on the handle 216. The operating part 218 may be disposed on an inclined surface formed in an upper region of the handle 216. The user may input an instruction to operate or stop the cleaner 200 through the operating part 218.

[0082] Information related to the operation of the cleaner 200 (e.g., suction strength, remaining charge level of the battery, etc.) may be visually displayed on the operating part 218. That is, the operating part 218 may function as a display device.

[0083] The cleaner 200 may include the dust bin 220. The dust bin 220 may communicate with the dust separating part 213. The dust bin 220 may store the dust separated by the dust separating part 213.

[0084] The dust bin 220 may include a dust bin main body 221, a discharge cover 222, a dust bin compression lever 223, and a compression member (not illustrated).

[0085] The dust bin main body 221 may provide a space capable of storing the dust separated from the dust separating part 213. For example, the dust bin main body 221 may be formed in a shape similar to a cylindrical shape.

[0086] A part of a lower side (bottom side) of the dust bin main body 221 may be opened. In addition, a lower extension portion 221a may be formed at the lower side (bottom side) of the dust bin main body 221. The lower extension portion 221a may be formed to block a part of the lower side of the dust bin main body 221.

[0087] The dust bin 220 may include a discharge cover 222. The discharge cover 222 may be disposed at a lower side of the dust bin 220.

[0088] The discharge cover 222 may be provided to open and close one end of the dust bin main body 221 in a longitudinal direction. Specifically, the discharge cover 222 may selectively open or close the lower side of the dust bin 220 which is opened downward.

[0089] The discharge cover 222 may include a cover main body 222a and a hinge part 222b. The cover main body 222a may be formed to block a part of the lower side of the dust bin main body 221. The cover main body 222a may be rotated downward about the hinge part 222b. The hinge part 222b may be disposed adjacent to the battery housing 230. A torsion spring 222d may be provided at the hinge portion 222b. Therefore, when the discharge cover 222 is separated from the dust bin main body 221, the cover main body 222a may be supported from the dust bin main body 221, in a state of being rotated at more than a certain angle about the hinge part 222b, by the elastic force of the torsion spring 222d.

[0090] The discharge cover 222 may be coupled to the dust bin 220 by a hook engagement. Meanwhile, the discharge cover 222 may be separated from the dust bin 220 by means of a coupling lever 222c. The coupling lever 222c may be disposed at a front side of the dust bin. Specifically, the coupling lever 222c may be disposed on an outer surface at the front side of the dust bin 220. When an external force is applied to the coupling lever 222c, the coupling lever 222c may elastically deform a hook extending from the cover main body 222a in order to release the hook engagement between the cover main body 222a and the dust bin main body 221.

[0091] When the discharge cover 222 is closed, the lower side of the dust bin 220 may be blocked (sealed) by the discharge cover 222 and the lower extension portion 221a.

[0092] The dust bin 220 may further include the dust bin compression lever 223. (Refer to FIG. 2) The dust bin compression lever 223 may be disposed outside the dust bin 220 or the dust separating part 213. The dust bin compression lever 223 may be disposed outside the dust bin 220 or the dust separating part 213 so as to be movable upward and downward. The dust bin compression lever 223 may be connected to the compression member (not illustrated). When the dust bin compression lever 223 is moved downward by an external force, the compression member 224 may also be moved downward. Therefore, it is possible to provide convenience for the user. The compression member (not illustrated) and the dust bin compression lever 223 may return back to original positions by an elastic member (not illustrated). Specifically, when the external force applied to the dust bin compression lever 223 is eliminated, the elastic member may move the dust bin compression lever 223 and the compression member (not illustrated) upward.

[0093] The compression member (not illustrated) may be disposed in the dust bin main body 221. The compression member may move in the internal space of the dust bin main body 221. Specifically, the compression member may move upward and downward in the dust bin main body 221.

[0094] Therefore, the compression member may compress the dust in the dust bin main body 221 downward. In addition, when the discharge cover 222 is separated from the dust bin main body 221 and thus the lower side of the dust bin 220 is opened, the compression member may move from an upper side of the dust bin 220 to the lower side of the of the dust bin 220, thereby removing foreign substances such as residual dust in the dust bin 220. Therefore, it is possible to improve the suction force of the cleaner by preventing the residual dust from remaining in the dust bin 220. Further, it is possible to remove an offensive odor caused by the residual dust by preventing the residual dust from remaining in the dust bin 220.

[0095] The cleaner 200 may include the battery housing 230. A battery 240 may be accommodated in the battery housing 230. The battery housing 230 may be disposed at a lower side of the handle 216. For example, the battery housing 230 may have a hexahedral shape opened at a lower side thereof. A rear surface of the battery housing 230 may be connected to the handle 216.

[0096] The battery housing 230 may include an accommodation portion opened at a lower side thereof. The battery 240 may be attached or detached through the accommodation portion of the battery housing 230.

[0097] The cleaner 200 may include the battery 240.

[0098] For example, the battery 240 may be separably coupled to the cleaner 200. The battery 240 may be separably coupled to the battery housing 230. For example, the battery 240 may be inserted into the battery housing 230 from the lower side of the battery housing 230. The above-mentioned configuration may improve portability of the first cleaner 200.

[0099] Otherwise, the battery 240 may be integrally provided in the battery housing 230. In this case, a lower surface of the battery 240 is not exposed to the outside.

[0100] The battery 240 may supply power to the suction motor 214 of the cleaner 200. The battery 240 may be disposed on a lower portion of the handle 216. The battery 240 may be disposed at a rear side of the dust bin 220.

[0101] In a case in which the battery 240 is coupled to the battery housing 230 in accordance with the embodiment, the lower surface of the battery 240 may be exposed to the outside. Because the battery 240 may be placed on the floor when the cleaner 200 is placed on the floor, the battery 240 may be immediately separated from the battery housing 230. In addition, because the lower surface of the battery 240 is exposed to the outside and thus in direct contact with air outside the battery 240, performance of cooling the battery 240 may be improved.

[0102] Meanwhile, in a case in which the battery 240 is fixed integrally to the battery housing 230, the number of structures for attaching or detaching the battery 240 and the battery housing 230 may be reduced, and as a result, it is possible to reduce an overall size of the cleaner 200 and a weight of the cleaner 200.

[0103] The cleaner 200 may include the extension tube 250. The extension tube 250 may communicate with a cleaning module 260. The extension tube 250 may communicate with the main body 210. The extension tube 250 may communicate with the suction part 214 of the main body 210. The extension tube 250 may be formed in a long cylindrical shape.

[0104] The main body 210 may be connected to the extension tube 250. The main body 210 may be connected to the cleaning module 260 through the extension tube 250. The main body 210 may generate the suction force by means of the suction motor 214 and provide the suction force to the cleaning module 260 through the extension tube 250. The outside dust may be introduced into the main body 210 through the cleaning module 260 and the extension tube 250.

[0105] The cleaner 200 may include the cleaning module 260. The cleaning module 260 may communicate with the extension tube 250. Therefore, the outside air may be introduced into the main body 210 of the cleaner 200 via the cleaning module 260 and the extension tube 250 by the suction force in the main body 210 of the cleaner 200.

[0106] The dust in the dust bin 220 of the cleaner 200 may be captured by a dust collecting part 370 of the cleaner station 100 by gravity. At the same time, the dust in the dust bin 220 may be collected by the dust collecting part 370 of the cleaner station 300 by the suction force of the dust collecting motor 391 disposed inside the cleaner station 300. Therefore, it is possible to remove the dust in the dust bin without the user's separate manipulation, thereby providing convenience for the user. In addition, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience caused because the user needs to empty the dust bin all the time. In addition, it is possible to prevent the dust from scattering when emptying the dust bin.

[0107] The cleaner 200 may be coupled to a lateral surface of a housing 310. Specifically, the main body 210 of the cleaner 200 may be mounted on a coupling part 320. More specifically, the dust bin 220 and the battery housing 230 of the cleaner 200 may be coupled to a coupling surface 321 of the coupling part 320. An outer circumferential surface of the dust bin main body 221 may be coupled to a dust bin guide surface 322. The suction part 212 may be coupled to a suction part guide surface 326 of the coupling part 120. In this case, a central axis of the dust bin 220 may be disposed in a direction parallel to the ground surface, and the extension tube 250 may be disposed in a direction perpendicular to the ground surface.

[0108] The cleaner station 300 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below.

[0109] With reference to FIG. 4, the cleaner 200 may be coupled to the lateral surface of the cleaner station 300. Specifically, the main body of the cleaner 200 may be coupled to the lateral surface of the cleaner station 300. More specifically, the dust bin 220 of the cleaner 200 may be coupled to the lateral surface of the cleaner station 300, that is, the dust bin 220 of the cleaner 200 may be coupled to one side where the discharge cover 222 is disposed. Accordingly, when the discharge cover 222 is opened, dust in the dust bin 220 may be collected and removed into the cleaner station 300.

[0110] The cleaner station 300 may include the housing 310. The housing 310 may define an external appearance of the cleaner station 300. Specifically, the housing 310 may be formed in the form of a column including one or more outer wall surfaces. For example, the housing 310 may be formed in a shape similar to a quadrangular column.

[0111] The housing 310 may have a space capable of accommodating the dust collecting part 370 and a dust suction module 390.

[0112] The housing 310 may include a bottom surface 311, an outer wall surface 312 and an upper surface 313.

[0113] The bottom surface 311 may support a lower side in a gravitational direction of the dust suction module 390. That is, the bottom surface 311 may support a lower side of the dust collecting motor 391 of the dust suction module 390.

[0114] In this case, the bottom surface 311 may be disposed toward the ground surface. The bottom surface 311 may also be disposed in parallel with the ground surface or disposed to be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the ground surface. The above-mentioned configuration may be advantageous in stably supporting the dust collecting motor 391 and maintaining the balance of an overall weight even in a case in which the cleaner 200 is coupled.

[0115] Meanwhile, according to the embodiment, the bottom surface 311 may further include a ground surface support portion 311a in order to prevent the cleaner station 300 from falling down and increase an area being in contact with the ground surface to maintain the balance. For example, the ground surface support portion 311a may have a plate shape extending from the bottom surface 311, and one or more frames may protrude and extend from the bottom surface 311 in a direction of the ground surface.

[0116] The outer wall surface 312 may mean a surface formed in the gravitational direction or a surface connected to the bottom surface 311. For example, the outer wall surface 312 may mean a surface connected to the bottom surface 311 so as to be perpendicular to the bottom surface 311. As another embodiment, the outer wall surface 312 may be disposed to be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the bottom surface 311.

[0117] The outer wall surface 312 may include at least one surface. For example, the outer wall surface 312 may include a first outer wall surface 312a, a second outer wall surface 312b, a third outer wall surface 312c, and a fourth outer wall surface 312d.

[0118] In this case, in the present embodiment, the first outer wall surface 312a may be disposed on the front surface of the cleaner station 300. In this case, the front surface may mean a surface on which the cleaner 200 is coupled. Therefore, the first outer wall surface 312a may define an external appearance of the front surface of the cleaner station 300.

[0119] Meanwhile, the directions are defined as follows to understand the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the directions may be defined in the state in which the cleaner 200 is mounted on the cleaner station 300.

[0120] In the state in which the cleaner 200 is mounted on the cleaner station 300, a direction in which the cleaner 200 is exposed to the outside of the cleaner station 300 may be referred to as a forward direction.

[0121] In addition, in another point of view, in the state in which the cleaner 200 is mounted on the cleaner station 300, a direction in which the suction motor 214 of the cleaner 200 is disposed may be referred to as the forward direction. Further, a direction opposite to the direction in which the suction motor 214 is disposed on the cleaner station 300 may be referred to as a rearward direction.

[0122] Further, on the basis of the internal space of the housing 310, a surface facing the front surface may be referred to as a rear surface of the cleaner station 300. Therefore, the rear surface may mean a direction in which the second outer wall surface 312b is formed.

[0123] Further, on the basis of the internal space of the housing 310, a left surface when viewing the front surface may be referred to as a left surface, and a right surface when viewing the front surface may be referred to as a right surface. Therefore, the left surface may mean a direction in which the third outer wall surface 312c is formed, and the right surface may mean a direction in which the fourth outer wall surface 312d is formed.

[0124] The first outer wall surface 312a may be formed in the form of a flat surface, or the first outer wall surface 312a may be formed in the form of a curved surface as a whole or formed to partially include a curved surface.

[0125] The coupling part 320 may be disposed in the first outer wall surface 312a. With this configuration, the cleaner 200 may be coupled to the cleaner station 300 and supported by the cleaner station 300. The specific configuration of the coupling part 320 will be described below.

[0126] Meanwhile, the structure for mounting various types of cleaning modules 260 used for the cleaner 200 may be additionally provided on the first outer wall surface 312a.

[0127] In the present embodiment, the second outer wall surface 312b may be a surface facing the first outer wall surface 312a. That is, the second outer wall surface 312b may be disposed on the rear surface of the cleaner station 300. The second outer wall surface 312b may define an external appearance of the rear surface of the cleaner station 300.

[0128] In the present embodiment, the third outer wall surface 312c and the fourth outer wall surface 312d may mean surfaces that connect the first outer wall surface 312a and the second outer wall surface 312b. In this case, the third outer wall surface 312c may be disposed on the left surface of the station 300, and the fourth outer wall surface 312d may be disposed on the right surface of the cleaner station 300. Otherwise, the third outer wall surface 312c may be disposed on the right surface of the cleaner station 300, and the fourth outer wall surface 312d may be disposed on the left surface of the cleaner station 300.

[0129] The third outer wall surface 112c or the fourth outer wall surface 112d may be formed in the form of a flat surface, or the third outer wall surface 112c or the fourth outer wall surface 112d may be formed in the form of a curved surface as a whole or formed to partially include a curved surface.

[0130] Meanwhile, the structure for mounting various types of cleaning modules 290 used for the cleaner 200 may be additionally provided on the third outer wall surface 312c or the fourth outer wall surface 312d.

[0131] The upper surface 313 may form the top appearance of the cleaner station. That is, the upper surface 313 may refer to a surface that is disposed on the uppermost side in the direction of gravity in the cleaner station and exposed to the outside.

[0132] For reference, in this embodiment, the upper and lower sides may respectively mean upper and lower sides along a direction of gravity (a direction perpendicular to the ground) in a state where the cleaner station 300 is installed on the ground.

[0133] At this time, the upper surface 313 may be disposed parallel to the ground or inclined at a predetermined angle with the ground.

[0134] A display unit 530 may be disposed on the upper surface 313. For example, the display unit 530 may display the state of the cleaner station 300 and the state of the cleaner 200, and may also display information such as a cleaning progress status and a map of a cleaning area.

[0135] Meanwhile, according to the embodiment, the upper surface 313 may be provided detachable from the outer wall surface 312. At this time, when the upper surface 313 is separated, the battery separated from the cleaner 200 may be accommodated in the inner space surrounded by the outer wall surface 312, and a terminal (not illustrated) capable of charging the separated battery may be provided.

[0136] FIG. 5 is a view to explain the coupling part in the cleaner station according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0137] Referring to FIG. 5, the cleaner station 300 may include the coupling part 320 to which the cleaner 200 is coupled. Specifically, the coupling part 320 may be disposed in the first outer wall surface 312a, and the main body 210, the dust bin 220, and the battery housing 230 of the cleaner 200 may be coupled to the coupling part 320.

[0138] The coupling part 320 may include the coupling surface 321. The coupling surface 321 may be disposed on the lateral surface of the housing 310. For example, the coupling surface 321 may mean a surface formed in the form of a groove which is concave toward the inside of the cleaner station 300 from the first outer wall surface 312a. That is, the coupling surface 321 may mean a surface formed to have a stepped portion with respect to the first outer wall surface 312a.

[0139] The cleaner 200 maybe coupled to the coupling surface 321. For example, the coupling surface 321 may be in contact with the lower surface of the dust bin 220 and the lower surface of the battery housing 230 of the cleaner 200. In this case, the lower surface may mean a surface directed toward the ground surface when the user uses the cleaner 200 or places the cleaner 200 on the ground surface.

[0140] For example, an angle of the coupling surface 321 with respect to the ground surface may be a right angle. Therefore, it is possible to minimize a space of the cleaner station 100 when the cleaner 200 is coupled to the coupling surface 321.

[0141] As another example, the coupling surface 321 may be disposed to be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the ground surface. Therefore, the cleaner station 300 may be stably supported when the cleaner 200 is coupled to the coupling surface 321.

[0142] The coupling surface 321 may have a dust passage hole 321a through which air outside the housing 310 may be introduced into the housing 310. The dust passage hole 321a may be formed in the form of a hole corresponding to the shape of the dust bin 220 so that the dust in the dust bin 220 may be introduced into the dust collecting part 370.

[0143] The dust passage hole 321a may be formed to correspond to the shape of the discharge cover 222 of the dust bin 220. The dust passage hole 321a may be formed to communicate with a flow path part 380 to be described below. (Refer to FIG. 8)

[0144] The coupling part 320 may include the dust bin guide surface 122. The dust bin guide surface 322 may be disposed on the first outer wall surface 312a. The dust bin guide surface 322 may be connected to the first outer wall surface 312a. In addition, the dust bin guide surface 322 may be connected to the coupling surface 321.

[0145] The dust bin guide surface 322 may be formed in a shape corresponding to the outer surface of the dust bin 220. A front outer surface of the dust bin 220 may be coupled to the dust bin guide surface 322. Therefore, it is possible to provide convenience when coupling the cleaner 200 to the coupling surface 321.

[0146] Meanwhile, a protrusion moving hole 322a may be formed in the dust bin guide surface 122, and a push protrusion 351 to be described below may be rectilinearly moved along the protrusion moving hole 322a. (Refer to FIG. 11) In addition, a gear box 355 in which gears and the like of a cover opening unit to be described below, are accommodated may be provided on the lower side of the dust bin guide surface 322 in the direction of gravity.

[0147] At this time, a guide space 322b in which the push protrusion 351 may move may be formed between the lower surface of the dust bin guide surface 322 and the upper surface of the gear box 355. In addition, the guide space 322b may communicate with a first flow path 381 via a bypass hole 322c. That is, the protrusion moving hole 322a, guide space 322b and the bypass hole 322c may form one flow path. With such configuration, it is advantageous that when the dust collecting motor 391 is operated in a state in which the dust bin 220 is coupled to the coupling part 320, the residual dust and the like remaining in the dust bin 220 and the dust bin guide surface 322 may be sucked through the flow path.

[0148] The coupling part 320 may include guide protrusions 323. The guide protrusions 323 may be disposed on the coupling surface 321. The guide protrusions 323 may protrude upward from the coupling surface 321. Two guide protrusions 323 may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other. A distance between the two guide protrusions 323, which are spaced apart from each other, may correspond to a width of the battery housing 230 of the cleaner 200. Therefore, it is possible to provide convenience when coupling the cleaner 200 to the coupling surface 321.

[0149] The coupling part 320 may include coupling part sidewalls 324. The coupling part sidewalls 324 may mean wall surfaces disposed on two lateral surfaces of the coupling surface 321 and may be perpendicularly connected to the coupling surface 321. The coupling part sidewalls 324 may be connected to the first outer wall surface 312a. In addition, the coupling part sidewalls 324 may define surfaces connected to the dust bin guide surface 322. Therefore, the cleaner 200 may be stably accommodated.

[0150] The coupling part 320 may include a coupling sensor. The coupling sensor may detect whether the cleaner 200 is physically coupled to the coupling part 320.

[0151] The coupling sensor 125 may include a contact sensor. For example, the coupling sensor may include a micro-switch. In this case, the coupling sensor may be disposed on the guide protrusion 323. Therefore, when the battery housing 230 or the battery 240 of the cleaner 200 is coupled between the pair of guide protrusions 323, the battery housing 230 or the battery 240 comes into contact with the coupling sensor, such that the coupling sensor may detect that the cleaner 200 is physically coupled to the cleaner station 300.

[0152] Meanwhile, the coupling sensor 325 may include a non-contact sensor. For example, the coupling sensor may include an infrared (IR) sensor. In this case, the coupling sensor may be disposed on the coupling part sidewall 124. Therefore, when the dust bin 220 or the main body 210 of the cleaner 200 passes the coupling part sidewall 124 and then reaches the coupling surface 321, the coupling sensor may detect the presence of the dust bin 220 or the main body 210.

[0153] In a state in which the cleaner 200 is coupled to the cleaner station 300, the coupling sensor may face the dust bin 220 or the battery housing 230 of the cleaner 200.

[0154] The coupling sensor may be a means for determining whether the cleaner 200 is coupled and power is applied to the battery 240 of the cleaner 200.

[0155] The coupling part 320 may include the suction part guide surface 326. The suction part guide surface 326 may be disposed on the first outer wall surface 312a. The suction part guide surface 326 may be connected to the dust bin guide surface 322. The suction part 212 may be coupled to the suction part guide surface 326. A shape of the suction part guide surface 326 may correspond to the shape of the suction part 212.

[0156] The coupling part 320 may further include fixing member entrance holes 327. The fixing member entrance hole 327 may be formed in the form of a long hole along the coupling part sidewall 324 so that a fixing member 331 may enter and exit the fixing member entrance hole 327.

[0157] With this configuration, when the user couples the cleaner 200 to the coupling part 320 of the cleaner station 300, the main body 210 of the cleaner 200 may be stably disposed on the coupling part 320 by the dust bin guide surface 322, the guide protrusions 323, and the suction part guide surface 326. Therefore, it is possible to provide convenience when coupling the dust bin 220 and the battery housing 230 of the cleaner 200 to the coupling surface 321.

[0158] Meanwhile, the cleaner station 300 may further include a charging terminal 328. The charging terminal 328 may be disposed in the coupling part 320. The charging terminal 328 may be electrically connected to the cleaner 200 that is coupled to the coupling part 320. The charging terminal may supply power to the battery of the cleaner 200 that is coupled to the coupling part 320.

[0159] In addition, the cleaner station 300 may further include a side door. The side door may be disposed in the housing 310. The side door may selectively expose the dust collecting unit 370 to the outside. Therefore, such configuration allows the user to easily take the dust collecting unit 370 out from the cleaner station 300.

[0160] FIG. 6 is a view to explain the fixing unit in the cleaner station according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0161] With reference to FIG. 6, the cleaner station 300 according to the present disclosure may include the fixing unit 330. The fixing unit 330 may be disposed on the coupling part sidewall 324. In addition, the fixing unit 330 may be disposed on a back surface of the coupling surface 321. The fixing unit 330 may fix the cleaner 200 coupled to the coupling surface 321. Specifically, the fixing unit 330 may fix the dust bin 220 and the battery housing 230 of the cleaner 200 coupled to the coupling surface 321.

[0162] The fixing unit 330 may include the fixing members 331 configured to fix the dust bin 220 and the battery housing 230 of the cleaner 200, and a fixing part motor 580 configured to drive the fixing members 331. In addition, the fixing unit 330 may further include a fixing part link 335 configured to transmit power from the fixing part motor 580 to the fixing members 331.

[0163] The fixing members 331 may be disposed on the fixing part sidewall 324 and provided on the fixing part sidewall 324 so as to reciprocate in order to fix the dust bin 220. Specifically, the fixing members 331 may be accommodated in the fixing member entrance holes 327.

[0164] The fixing members 331 may be disposed at both sides of the coupling part 320, respectively. For example, a pair of two fixing members 331 may be symmetrically disposed with respect to the coupling surface 321.

[0165] The fixing part motor 580 may provide power to move the fixing members 331.

[0166] The fixing part link 335 may convert a rotational force of the fixing part motor 334 into reciprocating movement of the fixing members 331.

[0167] A stationary sealer 336 may be disposed on the dust bin guide surface 322 so as to seal the dust bin 220 when the cleaner 200 is coupled. With this configuration, when the dust bin 220 of the cleaner 200 is coupled, the cleaner 200 may press the stationary sealer 136 by its own weight, such that the dust bin 220 and the dust bin guide surface 322 may be sealed.

[0168] The stationary sealer 336 may be disposed in an imaginary extension line of the fixing members 331. With this configuration, when the fixing motor 580 operates and the fixing members 331 press the dust bin 220, a circumference of the dust bin 220 at the same height may be sealed.

[0169] According to the embodiment, the stationary sealer 336 may be disposed on the dust bin guide surface 322 and formed in the form of a bent line corresponding to an arrangement of the cover opening unit 350 to be described below.

[0170] Therefore, when the main body 210 of the cleaner 200 is disposed on the coupling part 320, the fixing unit 330 may fix the main body 210 of the cleaner 200. Specifically, when the coupling sensor 325 detects that the main body 210 of the cleaner 200 is coupled to the coupling part 320 of the cleaner station 300, the fixing part motor 580 may move the fixing members 331 to fix the main body 210 of the cleaner 200.

[0171] Therefore, it is possible to improve the suction force of the cleaner by preventing the residual dust from remaining in the dust bin 220. Further, it is possible to remove an offensive odor caused by the residual dust by preventing the residual dust from remaining in the dust bin.

[0172] FIGS. 7 and 8 are views for explaining a relationship between the cleaner and a door unit in the cleaner station according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 7 is a view showing a state in which a door closes the dust passage hole and FIG. 8 a view showing a state in which the door opens the dust passage hole.

[0173] With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the cleaner station 300 according to the present disclosure may include the door unit 340. The door unit 340 may be configured to open or close the dust passage hole 321a.

[0174] The door unit 340 may include a door 341, a door motor 342, and a door arm 343.

[0175] The door 341 may be hingedly coupled to the coupling surface 321 and may open or close the dust passage hole 321a. The door 341 may include a door main body 341a.

[0176] The door main body 341a may be formed in a shape capable of blocking the dust passage hole 321a. For example, the door main body 341a may be formed in a shape similar to a circular plate shape.

[0177] On the basis of a state in which the door main body 341a blocks the dust passage hole 321a, a hinge part may be disposed at an upper side of the door main body 341a, and an arm coupling part 341b may be disposed at a lower side of the door main body 341a.

[0178] The door main body 341a may be formed in a shape capable of sealing the dust passage hole 321a. For example, an outer surface of the door main body 341a, which is exposed to the outside of the cleaner station 300, is formed to have a diameter corresponding to a diameter of the dust passage hole 321a, and an inner surface of the door main body 341a, which is disposed in the cleaner station 300, is formed to have a diameter greater than the diameter of the dust passage hole 321a. In addition, a level difference may be defined between the outer surface and the inner surface. Meanwhile, one or more reinforcing ribs may protrude from the inner surface in order to connect the hinge part and the arm coupling part 341b and reinforce a supporting force of the door main body 341a.

[0179] The hinge part may be a means by which the door 341 is hingedly coupled to the coupling surface 321. The hinge part may be disposed at an upper end of the door main body 341a and coupled to the coupling surface 321.

[0180] The arm coupling part 341b may be a means to which the door arm 343 is rotatably coupled. The arm coupling part 341b may be disposed at a lower side of the inner surface, may be rotatably coupled to the door main body 341a, and the door arm 343 may be rotatably coupled to the arm coupling part 341b.

[0181] With this configuration, when the door arm 343 pulls the door main body 341a in the state in which the door 341 closes the dust passage hole 321a, the door main body 341a is rotated about the hinge part toward the inside of the cleaner station 300, such that the dust passage hole 321a may be opened. Meanwhile, when the door arm 343 pushes the door main body 341a in the state in which the dust passage hole 321a is opened, the door main body 341a is rotated about the hinge part toward the outside of the cleaner station 300, such that the dust passage hole 321a may be closed.

[0182] Meanwhile, the door 341 may come in contact with the discharge cover 222 in the state in which the cleaner 200 is coupled to the cleaner station 300 and the discharge cover 222 is separated from the dust bin main body 221. Further, as the door 341 rotates, the discharge cover 222 may rotate in conjunction with the door 341.

[0183] The door motor 342 may provide power for rotating the door 341. Specifically, the door motor 342 may rotate the door arm 343 in a forward direction or a reverse direction. In this case, the forward direction may mean a direction in which the door arm 343 pulls the door 341. Therefore, when the door arm 343 is rotated in the forward direction, the dust passage hole 321a may be opened. In addition, the reverse direction may mean a direction in which the door arm 343 pushes the door 341. Therefore, when the door arm 343 is rotated in the reverse direction, at least a part of the dust passage hole 321a may be closed. The forward direction may be opposite to the reverse direction.

[0184] The door arm 343 may connect the door 341 and the door motor 342 and open or close the door 341 using the power generated from the door motor 342.

[0185] For example, the door arm 343 may include a first door arm 343a and a second door arm 343b. One end of the first door arm 343a may be coupled to the door motor 342. The first door arm 343a may be rotated by the power of the door motor 342. The other end of the first door arm 343a may be rotatably coupled to the second door arm 343b. The first door arm 343a may transmit a force transmitted from the door motor 342 to the second door arm 343b. One end of the second door arm 343b may be coupled to the first door arm 343a. The other end of the second door arm 343b may be coupled to the door 341. The second door arm 343b may open or close the dust passage hole 321a by pushing or pulling the door 341.

[0186] The door unit 340 may be opened together when the discharge cover 222 of the cleaner 200 is opened. In addition, when the door unit 340 is closed, the discharge cover 222 of the cleaner 200 may be closed together in conjunction therewith.

[0187] When the dust in the dust bin 220 of the cleaner 200 is removed, the door motor 342 may rotate the door 341, thereby coupling the discharge cover 222 to the dust bin main body 221. Specifically, the door motor 342 may rotate the door 341 to rotate the door 341 about the hinge part, and the door 341 rotated about the hinge part may push the discharge cover 222 toward the dust bin main body 221.

[0188] FIG. 9 is a view to explain a relationship between the cleaner and the cover opening unit in the cleaner station according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0189] With reference to FIG. 9, the cleaner station 300 according to the present disclosure may include the cover opening unit 350. The cover opening unit 350 may be disposed on the coupling part 320 and may open the discharge cover 222 of the cleaner 200.

[0190] The cover opening unit 350 may include a push protrusion 351, a cover opening motor 352, cover opening gears 353, and a gear box 355.

[0191] The push protrusion 351 may move to press the coupling lever 222c when the cleaner 200 is coupled.

[0192] The push protrusion 351 may be disposed on the dust bin guide surface 322. Specifically, a protrusion moving hole may be formed in the dust bin guide surface 322, and the push protrusion 351 may be exposed to the outside by passing through the protrusion moving hole.

[0193] When the cleaner 100 is coupled, the push protrusion 351 may be disposed at a position at which the push protrusion 351 may push the coupling lever 222c. That is, the coupling lever 222c may be disposed on the protrusion moving hole. In addition, the coupling lever 222c may be disposed in a movement region of the push protrusion 351.

[0194] The push protrusion 151 may rectilinearly reciprocate to press the coupling lever 222c. Specifically, the push protrusion 351 may be coupled to the gear box 355, such that the rectilinear movement of the push protrusion 351 may be guided. The push protrusion 351 may be coupled to the cover opening gears 353 and moved together with the cover opening gears 353 by the movements of the cover opening gears 353.

[0195] The door opening motor 352 may provide power for moving the push protrusion 351. Specifically, the door opening motor 352 may rotate a motor shaft in a forward direction or a reverse direction. In this case, the forward direction may mean a direction in which the push protrusion 351 presses the coupling lever 222c. Further, the reverse direction may mean a direction in which the push protrusion 351, which pressed the coupling lever 222c, returns back to the original position. The forward direction may be opposite to the reverse direction.

[0196] The cover opening gears 353 may be coupled to the cover opening motor 352 and may move the push protrusion 351 using the power from the cover opening motor 352. Specifically, the cover opening gears 353 may be accommodated in the gear box 155. A driving gear 353a may be coupled to the motor shaft of the cover opening motor 352 and supplied with the power. A driven gear 353b of the cover opening gears 353 may be coupled to the push protrusion 351 to move the push protrusion 351. For example, the driven gear 353b may be provided in the form of a rack gear, may engage with the driving gear 353a and may be supplied with the power by the driving gear 353a.

[0197] At this time, a torsion spring 222d may be provided in the discharge cover 222. The discharge cover 222 may be rotated above a certain angle by the elastic force of the torsion spring 22d, and supported at the rotated position. Therefore, the discharge cover 222 may be opened, thereby communicating the dust passage hole 321a with an inside of the dust bin 220.

[0198] The gear box 355 may be coupled to the inner surface of the housing 310 and disposed at the lower side of the coupling part 320 in the gravitational direction, and the cover opening gears 353 may be accommodated in the gear box 355.

[0199] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to improve convenience since the dust bin 220 may be opened by the cover opening unit 350 without necessitating the user to open the discharge cover 222 of the cleaner.

[0200] In addition, it is possible to prevent the dust from scattering since the discharge cover 222 is opened in a state in which the cleaner 200 is coupled to the cleaner station 300.

[0201] FIG. 10 is a view to explain an arrangement between components of the cleaner station according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0202] With reference to FIG. 10, the above-described cover opening unit 350 may be disposed below the coupling part 320, and the flow path part 380 may be disposed at a rear side of the coupling part 320 and the cover opening unit 350.

[0203] Hereinafter, a flow path extending from the coupling part 320 to the dust collecting part 370 is referred to as the first flow path 381. The dust collecting part 370 in which the dust is collected is connected to and disposed on a lower portion of the first flow path 381.

[0204] The cleaner station may further include a chamber 360 having a space accommodating the dust collecting part 370. In this case, the dust collecting part 370 may be detachably provided in the chamber 360. The chamber 360 may be detachably provided in the housing 310 or may mean an accommodation space of the dust collecting part 370 integrally formed with the housing 310.

[0205] A sterilization unit 450 may be disposed on the chamber 360.

[0206] The sterilization unit 450 is a component provided to sterilize the dust collected in the dust collecting part 370. The sterilization unit 450 may include a light source for emitting sterilization light and a protective panel disposed under the light source to protect the light source.

[0207] In a possible embodiment, the light source and the protective panel may be coupled to the chamber 360 in a form accommodated in a separate housing of the sterilization unit. Alternatively, in a possible embodiment, the light source and the protective panel may be coupled to the chamber 360 in a form accommodated in a space formed by bending some region of the upper surface of the chamber 360.

[0208] The coupling form of the sterilization unit 450 and the chamber 360 is not limited to any one embodiment as long as the light source of the sterilization unit 450 is arranged to emit sterilization light toward the dust collecting part 370.

[0209] Here, the light source may include at least one or more light emitting diode (LED) capable of emitting sterilizing light having sterilizing power capable of removing germs. The sterilization light emitted by the light source may have a wavelength that varies depending on the type of the light emitting diode.

[0210] For example, the light source may be a light emitting diode that emits ultraviolet light having a UV-C wavelength range. Ultraviolet rays are divided into UV-A (315nm~400nm), UV-B (280nm~315nm), and UV-C (200nm~280nm) according to the wavelength, and among them, ultraviolet-C light in the UV-C range may damage the DNA double helix of microorganisms and inhibit the proliferation of microorganisms.

[0211] Alternatively, as another example, the light source may be a light emitting diode emitting visible light having a wavelength of 405nm. Blue light having a wavelength of 405nm has a wavelength in the boundary region of visible light and ultraviolet light, and sterilizing power of the visible light having a wavelength of 405nm has been proven.

[0212] The protective panel may be spaced apart from the light source by a certain distance to prevent damage to the light source. At this time, the protective panel may be formed of a material that maximizes the transmittance of the light source. For example, the protective panel may be made of quartz. It is known that quartz does not interfere with the transmission of ultraviolet-C light.

[0213] It is advantageous that the cleaner station 300 according to the present disclosure includes the sterilization unit 450, so that even when dust sucked from the dust bin 220 of the cleaner 200 is stored in the dust collecting part 370 for a long time, the cleaner station 300 may be managed hygienically.

[0214] Meanwhile, though not illustrated in FIG. 10, the fixing unit 330 and the door unit 340 are disposed adjacent to the coupling part 320, and this has been described above with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8.

[0215] The cleaner station 300 further includes the dust collecting part 370.

[0216] The dust collecting part 370 may be detachably coupled to the chamber 360. An accommodating space is provided in the dust collecting part 370 to collect dust sucked from the inside of the dust bin 220 by the dust collecting motor 391.

[0217] FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the dust collecting part 370 in the cleaner station 300 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 12 is a view in which components included in the dust collecting part 370 and components coupled to the dust collecting part 370 are separated, and FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line X-X' of FIG. 11.

[0218] Referring to FIGS. 11 to 13, the dust collecting part 370 may include the dust collecting part body 371, an inner wall 372 of the dust collecting part 370, and the cyclone 373.

[0219] The dust collecting part body 371 forms the appearance of a space accommodating the dust. In a possible embodiment, the dust collecting part body 371 may be in the form of a hexahedron in general. In another possible embodiment, the dust collecting part body 371 may have a cylindrical shape in general.

[0220] A transmission panel 3714 may be disposed on the upper surface 3711 of the dust collecting part body 371.

[0221] When the dust collecting part 370 is coupled to the inside of the chamber 360, the transmission panel 3714 is disposed at a position corresponding to a position at which the sterilization unit 450 is disposed. That is, when the dust collecting part 370 is inserted into the chamber 360, the sterilization unit 450 and the transmission panel 3714 are disposed to face each other.

[0222] In addition, the transmission panel 3714 is made of a material through which sterilization light emitted from the sterilization unit 450 may be transmitted toward the inside of the dust collecting part body 371. For example, the transmission panel 3714 may be made of a poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) material.

[0223] A dust collecting part hinge 3715 may be disposed at one side of an edge of a lower surface 3712 of the dust collecting part body 371. When the lower surface 3712 of the dust collecting part body 371 rotates about the dust collecting part hinge 3715, the inside of the dust collecting part body 371 may be opened. Accordingly, the user may remove the dust collected in the dust collecting part body 371 by discharging the dust to the outside.

[0224] An inlet 3711a may be formed on the upper surface 3711 of the dust collecting part body 371 to allow air to flow in from the flow path. For example, the inlet 3711a may have a circular shape. The first flow path 381 is connected to the upper side of the inlet 3711a. As a result, air sucked by the suction force of the dust collecting motor 391 may flow into the dust collecting part body 371. The inlet 3711a may be disposed at an upper side of the first accommodating space S1 to be described later.

[0225] An inlet cover 3716 may be coupled to the inlet 3711a. The inlet cover 3716 may be opened by the suction force of the dust collecting motor 391. That is, the inlet cover 3716 may be opened toward the inner space (specifically, the first accommodating space S1) of the dust collecting part body 371. The inlet cover 3716 may keep the inlet 3711a closed when the dust collecting motor 391 is not driven, and open the inlet 3711a when the dust collecting motor 391 starts to operate.

[0226] To this end, the inlet cover 3716 may be provided with a means for applying a restoring force in the direction of closing the inlet 3711a. The means to apply a restoring force may be, for example, an elastic member or a torsion spring. Through this configuration, in a state in which the suction force is not applied, the inlet cover 3716 always closes the inlet 3711a, and odor, contamination, bacteria, and the like that may occur inside the dust collecting part 370 are prevented from spreading to the first flow path 381.

[0227] A handle 3718 may be disposed on the front surface (or front side) of the dust collecting part body 371. The handle 3718 is configured to be gripped by a user so that the dust collecting part 370 may be easily taken out of the chamber 360. The user may easily take out the dust collecting part 370 from the chamber 360 by holding the handle 3718 and pulling the dust collecting part 370 forward.

[0228] A finger groove 3717 may be provided in the dust collecting part body 371 such that a user can easily grip the handle 3718. The finger groove 3717 is formed to an extent where a user's finger can be inserted. The finger groove 3717 is formed in a shape where the dust collecting part body 371 is recessed toward the inner space of the dust collecting part 370. Through this configuration, the handle 3718 may be prevented from excessively protruding outward from the dust collecting part body 371, thereby contributing to miniaturization of the cleaner station 300.

[0229] The inner wall 372 of the dust collecting part 370 may be disposed inside the accommodating space of the dust collecting part body 371. The inner wall 372 of the dust collecting part 370 may divide the accommodating space of the dust collecting part body 371 into two separate spaces. The inner wall 372 of the dust collecting part 370 may be disposed in a direction perpendicular to the ground.

[0230] A mesh net 3721 may be provided on the inner wall 372 of the dust collecting part 370. For example, the mesh net 3721 may form a part of the inner wall 372 of the dust collecting part 370. That is, when air flows from one side of the divided accommodating space to the other side, the air may pass through the mesh net 3721.

[0231] Meanwhile, the accommodating space inside the dust collecting part 370 is divided into a first accommodating space S1 and a second accommodating space S2 by the inner wall 372 of the dust collecting part.

[0232] A compressing part 410 to be described below may be disposed in the first accommodating space S1. The cyclone 373 may be disposed in the second accommodating space S2. Air sucked in from the outside through the first flow path 381 first flows into the first accommodating space S1 and passes through the mesh net 3721 to flow into the second accommodating space S2.

[0233] By doing so, relatively large dust may be filtered through the mesh net 3721. The filtered large dust is collected and stored on the lower side of the first accommodating space S1.

[0234] A plurality of cyclones 373 may be provided. For example, at least two or more cyclone bodies having a conical or cylindrical shape may be provided.

[0235] Each cyclone body includes an inlet body 3731 disposed to allow air passing through the mesh net 3721 to be introduced. Each cyclone body further includes an outlet body 3732 connected to a discharge flow path 374. The discharge flow path 374 is a path connected to the dust collecting motor 391 and is a path forming a part of a second flow path 382 to be described below.

[0236] Air is sucked in from the outlet body 3732 by the suction force applied to the outlet flow path 374 and a cyclone flow is generated in the inlet body 3731. Due to the cyclone flow, fine-sized dust may be filtered from the air passing through the mesh net 3721.

[0237] From another point of view, the first accommodating space S1 is a space in which sucked dust is primarily accommodated and stored, and may be defined as a dust accommodating space S1.

[0238] The mesh net 3721 may be disposed on one side of the dust accommodating space S1. The mesh net 3721 may be configured as a part of a wall surface defining the dust accommodating space. That is, the mesh net 3721 may form a part of an outer wall surrounding the dust accommodating space S1.

[0239] The air flowing through the mesh net 3721 from the dust accommodating space S1 is filtered by the cyclone 373.

[0240] The cleaner station 300 may include the flow path part 380.

[0241] Referring to FIG. 10, the flow path part 380 is defined as a path through which the air and foreign matters exiting the dust bin 220 of the cleaner 200 flow. The flow path part 380 may include the first flow path 381 connecting the dust bin 220 and the dust collecting part 370 and the second flow path 382 connecting the dust collecting part 370 and the dust collecting motor 391.

[0242] The first flow path 381 may be disposed at the rear side of the coupling surface 321. The first flow path 381 may refer to a space formed between the dust bin 220 of the cleaner 200 and the dust collecting part body 371 so that air flows therein. For example, the first flow path 381 may be a space surrounded by structures. For example, the first flow path 381 may be an inner space of a hollow tube.

[0243] When the dust passage hole 321a is opened when the cleaner 200 is coupled to the cleaner station 300, the first flow path 381 may include a first area 381a communicating with the inner space of the dust bin 220 and the first flow path 381a and a second area 381b communicating the first area 381a with the dust collecting part body 371 (refer to FIG. 8).

[0244] Accordingly, when the dust collecting motor 391 is operated, dust in the dust bin 220 of the cleaner 200 may flow to the dust collecting part body 371 through the first flow path 381.

[0245] The second flow path 382 may connect the dust collecting part 370 and the dust suction module 390. That is, air from which dust is separated while passing through the dust collecting part 370 may be guided to the dust collecting motor 391 through the second flow path 382.

[0246] The second flow path 382 may refer to a space formed to allow air to flow between the dust collecting part body 371 and the dust suction module 390. The second flow path 382 may be formed surrounded by structures. A partial area of the second flow path 382 may be formed inside the dust collecting part body 371. The partial area has the same configuration as that previously referred to as the discharge flow path 374. The discharge flow path 374 may be disposed at the front side of the dust collecting part body 371 (refer to FIG. 13).

[0247] The cleaner station 300 may include the dust suction module 390.

[0248] Referring to FIG. 10 again, the dust suction module 390 may include the dust collecting motor 391. The dust collecting motor 391 may be disposed below the dust collecting part 370. The dust collecting motor 391 may generate the suction force in the flow path part 380. Therefore, the dust collecting motor 391 may provide the suction force capable of sucking the dust in the dust bin 220 of the cleaner 200.

[0249] The dust suction module 390 may further include a HEPA filter (not illustrated). The HEPA filter may be disposed at the rear end (with respect to the air flow path) of the dust suction motor 391. Therefore, clean air is blown out of the housing 310.

[0250] The cleaner station 300 may further include the compressing part 410. The compressing part 410 is configured to compress dust collected in the dust collecting part 370.

[0251] Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, the compressing part 410 may be disposed inside the accommodating space of the dust collecting part body 371. Specifically, the compressing part 410 may be disposed inside the first accommodating space S1 of the dust collecting part body 371.

[0252] The compressing part 410 is disposed to be movable inside the dust collecting part body 371. The compressing part 410 may move in a direction of compressing dust collected in the first accommodating space S1. In a possible embodiment, the compressing part 410 may be rotatably disposed in the first accommodating space S1. In another possible embodiment, the compressing part 410 may be disposed to be rectilinearly movable in the first accommodating space S1.

[0253] Hereinafter, as a representative embodiment (refer to FIGS. 12 and 13), an embodiment in which the compressing part 410 rotates and moves to compress dust will be described.

[0254] The compressing part 410 may rotate about one axis disposed in the longitudinal direction in the inside (first accommodating space S1) of the dust collecting part body 371. More specifically, the compressing part 410 may include a rotary shaft member 411, a fixing plate 412 and a rotating plate 413.

[0255] The rotary shaft member 411 may be vertically disposed inside the dust collecting part body 371, that is, in the first accommodating space S1. The rotary shaft member 411 may be rotated by receiving power from a compressing motor 420 to be described later. A central axis of the rotary shaft member 411 may be coaxial with a central axis of the first accommodating space S1.

[0256] A lower end of the rotary shaft member 411 may be connected to and supported by the bottom surface of the first accommodating space S1. An upper end of the rotary shaft member 411 may be spaced apart from the inlet 3711a by a certain distance so as not to interfere with the opening of the inlet cover 3716 (refer to FIG. 14).

[0257] The fixing plate 412 may be fixedly arranged at one side on the inside of the dust collecting part 370. More specifically, the fixing plate 412 may be disposed vertically in the first accommodating space S1 and fixedly coupled to one side of the inner circumferential surface of the dust collecting part body 371 forming the first accommodating space S1. The fixing plate 412 may have a square flat plate shape. The fixing plate 412 may be disposed on the opposite side of the mesh net 3721.

[0258] The fixing plate 412 completely or partially shields the first accommodating space S1, so that the fixing plate 412 together with the rotating plate 413 can compress dust moved by the rotation of the rotating plate 413.

[0259] The rotating plate 413 is connected to the outer circumferential surface of the rotary shaft member 411 and may rotate together with the rotary shaft member 411. More specifically, the rotating plate 413 may be disposed between the inner circumferential surface of the dust collecting part body 371 forming the first accommodating space S1 and the outer circumferential surface of the rotary shaft member 411 and may rotate.

[0260] A shape of the rotating plate 413 is basically a square flat plate shape, but may be modified to avoid interference with other components disposed in the first accommodating space S1. For example, when the inlet cover 3716 opens the inlet 3711a, a cutout may be formed at an upper end of the rotating plate 413 so as not to interfere with the rotation radius of the inlet cover 3716 (refer to FIG. 14).

[0261] The rotating plate 413 may rotate in both forward and reverse directions. Based on a state in which the first accommodating space S1 is viewed from above (i.e., a state in which the dust collecting part 370 is viewed from above), a clockwise rotation may be defined as a forward rotation, and a counterclockwise rotation may be defined as a reverse rotation.

[0262] When the rotating plate 413 rotates in the forward direction, one surface of the rotating plate 413 and one surface of the fixing plate 412 meet to compress dust. Likewise, when the rotating plate 413 rotates in the reverse direction, the other surface of the rotating plate 413 and the other surface of the fixing plate 412 meet to compress dust. That is, some of the compressed dust exists near one surface of the fixing plate 412 and the rest exists near the other surface of the fixing plate 412.

[0263] The compressing part 410 may further include a cleaning member 414.

[0264] Referring to FIG. 13, the cleaning member 414 is coupled to an end of the rotating plate 413 at the opposite side where the rotary shaft member 411 is disposed. That is, one end of the rotating plate 413 is coupled to the rotary shaft member 411 and the other end is coupled to the cleaning member 414.

[0265] The cleaning member 414 may be provided to rotate together with the rotating plate 413 while coming into contact with the mesh net 3721. More specifically, one side edge of the cleaning member 414 may be arranged to contact one surface of the mesh net 3721 (refer to FIG. 14).

[0266] By doing so, when the cleaning member 414 rotates together with the rotating plate 413, the cleaning member 414 may rotate while scraping the mesh net 3721, and foreign matters adhering to the mesh net 3721 may be removed. The cleaning member 414 may be, for example, a rubber scrubber.

[0267] FIG. 14 is a view illustrating a direction in which air is sucked in a state in which the dust collecting part 370 is inserted into the housing 310.

[0268] The air introduced into the first accommodating space S1 of the dust collecting part body 371 through the first flow path 381 is separated from large dust while passing through the mesh net 3721, and the air from which the large dust is separated is introduced into the second accommodating space S2.

[0269] Thereafter, the air introduced into the second accommodating space S2 is separated from fine dust while passing through the cyclone 373 and, and the air separated from the fine dust is introduced into the discharge flow path 374 provided in the dust collecting part body 371.

[0270] The air exiting the discharge flow path 374 passes through a pre-filter 470 and flows to the dust collecting motor 391.

[0271] Here, the pre-filter 470 is a component disposed between the dust collecting motor 391 and the dust collecting part 370, and serves to protect the dust collecting motor 391 by filtering dust from the air flowing to the dust collecting motor 391 once more. The pre-filter 470 is disposed in the second flow path 382, and more specifically, disposed outside the discharge flow path 374 provided in the dust collecting part body 371, so as to filter the air exiting the dust collecting part body 371.

[0272] The cleaner station 300 may include the compressing motor 420 and a power transmission unit 430. The compressing motor 420 and the power transmission unit 430 are components for generating power to move the compressing part 410 and transmit the power to the compressing part 410.

[0273] The compressing motor 420 and the power transmission unit 430 are disposed outside the accommodating space of the dust collecting part body 371.

[0274] The compressing motor 420 generates power for rotating the compressing part 410. The compressing motor 420 is provided as a motor capable of a forward rotation and a reverse rotation. In other words, a motor capable of rotating in both directions is used as the compressing motor 420.

[0275] Accordingly, the rotating plate 413 may forwardly and backwardly rotate, and as the rotating plate 413 rotates in the forward and reverse directions, compressed foreign matters are accumulated on both sides of the fixing plate 412.

[0276] For the forward and reverse rotations of the compressing motor 420, a synchronous motor may be used as the compressing motor 420. Such a synchronous motor is configured to allow forward and reverse rotations by the motor itself, and when the force applied to the compressing motor 420 is greater than a preset value during a rotation of the compressing motor 420 in one direction, the rotational direction of the compressing motor 420 is changed to the other direction.

[0277] Here, the force applied to the motor represents a resistance (i.e., torque) generated when the rotating plate 413 compresses the dust. The compressing motor 420 is configured to change its rotational direction, when the resistance reaches the preset value.

[0278] Since the synchronous motor has been generally well known in a motor technology field, its detailed description will be omitted.

[0279] The power transmission unit 430 is disposed between the compressing part 410 and the compressing motor 420 to transmit power generated by a rotation of the compressing motor 420 to the compressing part 410.

[0280] More specifically, the power transmission unit 430 includes a driving gear 431 rotated by the power of the compressing motor 420. The driving gear 431 may be connected to a motor shaft of the compressing motor 420.

[0281] The power transmission unit 430 is gear-meshed with the driving gear 431 and further includes a transmission gear 432 receiving power of the compressing motor 420 from the driving gear 431 and transmitting the power to the compressing part 410.

[0282] The driving gear 431 will be described later with reference to FIG. 16 and first, the transmission gear 432 will be described as follows.

[0283] FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of the driving gear 431 and the transmission gear 432.

[0284] Referring further to FIG. 12 together with FIG. 12, the transmission gear 432 may be connected to the rotary shaft member 411 of the compressing part 410. Gear tooth 4322 gear-meshed with the driving gear 431 are disposed on the outer circumference of the lower portion of the transmission gear 432. A transmission gear shaft 4321 connected coaxially with the rotary shaft member 411 is disposed at the upper center of the transmission gear 432.

[0285] The transmission gear shaft 4321 may be inserted into the accommodating space of the dust collecting part body 371 through a hole formed on the lower surface of the dust collecting part body 371. The transmission gear shaft 4321 may be configured to be inserted into a hollow formed in the rotary shaft member 411. That is, a size of the outer circumferential diameter of the transmission gear shaft 4321 may be smaller than a size of the outer circumferential diameter of the rotary shaft member 411.

[0286] A mechanical structure may be formed on the transmission gear shaft 4321 and the rotary shaft member 411 to engage each other so as to rotate at the same angular velocity. For example, the mechanical structure may be a protrusion and groove structure.

[0287] Meanwhile, the driving gear 431 may be coupled to the housing 310 and the transmission gear 432 may be coupled to the dust collecting part 370. The driving gear 431 and the transmission gear 432 have a structure in which gears are gear-meshed with each other, and only the transmission gear 432 coupled to the dust collecting part 370 may be detachable from the housing 310.

[0288] That is, the compressing motor 420 and the driving gear 431 are rotatably coupled to the chamber 360 but may not be separated from the chamber 360 (housing 410). On the other hand, the transmission gear 432 may be rotatably coupled to the dust collecting part 370 and may be detachable from the chamber 360 (housing 310).

[0289] Through this configuration, the user may naturally gear-mesh the transmission gear 432 and the driving gear 431 with each other simply by pushing the dust collecting part 370 into the chamber 360 without any other action.

[0290] When the dust collecting part 370 is inserted into the chamber 360, the power of the compressing motor 420 may be transmitted to the compressing part 410 via the driving gear 431 and the transmission gear 432.

[0291] When the dust collecting part 370 is taken out from the chamber 360, the gear-mesh between the transmission gear 431 and the driving gear 432 may be released. Furthermore, when the transmission gear 432 is separated from the rotary shaft member 411 and the lower surface of the dust collecting part body 371 is opened, the dust collected in the accommodating space of the dust collecting part body 371 may be easily removed by the user.

[0292] FIG. 16 is a view to explain the pattern 4314 formed in the driving gear 431.

[0293] Referring to FIG. 15, the driving gear 431 may include a gear body 4311, a shaft connecting portion 4312 and gear tooth 4313.

[0294] The gear body 4311 forms the exterior of the driving gear 431. Gear tooth 4313 gear-meshed with the gear tooth 4322 of the transmission gear 432 are formed and disposed on the gear body 4311. The pattern 4314 in which protrusions and grooves alternately and continuously are formed is formed on the lower circumference of the gear body 4311.

[0295] An upper diameter of the gear body 4311 where the gear tooth 4313 are disposed and a lower diameter of the gear body 4311 in which the pattern 4314 is formed may have different sizes.

[0296] The shaft connecting portion 4312 connected to the motor shaft of the compressing motor 420 is formed at the center of the gear body 4311. The shaft connecting portion 4312 may be formed and disposed in a cylindrical shape inside the gear body 4311. The shaft connecting portion 4312 may have a hole formed corresponding to the motor shaft such that the motor shaft is inserted into the hole. Thus, when the compressing motor 420 rotates, the driving gear 431 rotates together. A plurality of ribs 4315 may be radially disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the shaft connecting portion 4312 to support a shape of the shaft connecting portion 4312.

[0297] The pattern 4314 formed in the driving gear 431 may be formed such that widths of protrusions and grooves adjacent to each other are different from each other.

[0298] The protrusions and grooves formed in the pattern 4314 may be defined as phases distinct according to sizes of the formed widths. At this time, the orders in which the phases of the pattern 4314 are arranged may be different from each other in a first direction with respect to the circumference of the gear body 4311 and in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

[0299] A more specific example is as follows.

[0300] As in the embodiment shown in FIG. 16, the pattern 4314 may consist of four phases in one set. Here, the first phase and the third phase may be formed in the form of protrusions, and the second phase and the fourth phase may be formed in the form of grooves. That is, protrusions and grooves may be alternately formed.

[0301] Here, the widths of the first to fourth phases may all be formed to be different, and each phase may be distinguished through the size of the width. Taking the embodiment shown in FIG. 16 as an example, protrusions with a width of dt_d1 (mm) may be defined as the first phase, grooves with a width of dt_d2 (mm) may be defined as the second phase, protrusions with a width of dt_d3 (mm) may be defined as the third phase, and grooves with a width of dt_d4 (mm) may be defined as the fourth phase.

[0302] The order of arrangement of each phase may be repeated in the order of the first, the second, the third and the fourth phase when the gear body 4311 of the driving gear 431 is viewed while moving in the first direction d1. Therefore, when the gear body 4311 of the driving gear 431 is viewed while moving in the second direction d2 opposite to the first direction d1, each phase is repeated in the order of the fourth, the third, the second and the first phase.

[0303] In this way, through the arrangement of the directional pattern 4314 formed in the driving gear 431, a compression state sensing unit 440 to be described later may sense whether the driving gear 431 is currently rotating in the first direction d1, or in the second direction d2. Since a rotation of the driving gear 431 leads to a rotation of the compressing part 410, a rotational direction of the compressing part 410 is also determined by a rotational direction of the driving gear 431.

[0304] In addition, the rotational angle of the driving gear 431 may be calculated based on the number of patterns 4314 sensed during the rotation of the driving gear 431. As will be described later, the rotational angle calculated in the embodiment of the present disclosure is calculated based on the number of patterns 4314 sensed by the compression state sensing unit 440, and is irrelevant to a rotational speed of the driving gear 431 or the compressing part 410.

[0305] That is, in the calculation of the rotational angle, the rotational angle is directly calculated by sensing the physically rotated state of the mechanical structure of the driving gear 431, rather than an indirect calculation based on the rotational speed, therefore the rotational angle may be calculated more precisely.

[0306] On the other hand, in a representative embodiment of the present disclosure, it has been described that the shape pattern for sensing the rotational direction and angle of the compressing part 410 is formed in the driving gear 431, but in another possible embodiment, the pattern may be formed in the transmission gear 432.

[0307] When the pattern is formed in the transmission gear 432, the transmission gear 432 together with the dust collecting part 370 may become detachable from the housing 310. This is advantageous in terms of maintenance when an error occurs in the sensing of the pattern.

[0308] FIG. 17 is a view illustrating a position relationship between the driving gear 431 and the compression state sensing unit 440, and FIG. 18 is a view to explain a sensing principle of the compression state sensing unit 440.

[0309] The cleaner station 300 may include the compression state sensing unit 440.

[0310] The compression state sensing unit 440 is disposed adjacent to the driving gear 431. The compression state sensing unit 440 may sense a rotational direction of the compressing part 410 and a rotation angle at which the compressing part 410 rotated in the rotational direction by using the pattern 4314 formed in the driving gear 431.

[0311] For example, the compression state sensing unit 440 may be formed of a photo interrupter. At this time, in the compression state sensing unit 440, a light receiving unit and a light emitting unit are disposed so as to sandwich the pattern 4314 of the driving gear 431 therebetween. As is well known, the photo interrupter is a sensor in which a photodiode and a phototransistor are integrated, and the light receiving unit of the photo interrupter is formed of a phototransistor and the light emitting unit of the photo interrupter is formed of a photodiode.

[0312] Referring to FIG. 18 together with FIG. 17, it is seen that transmission of infrared light is blocked when the protrusion pattern (first phase or third phase) is disposed between the light receiving unit and the light emitting unit. When the groove pattern (second phase or fourth phase) is disposed between the light receiving unit and the light emitting unit, infrared light is transmitted through a base of the phototransistor.

[0313] When the infrared light is transmitted, a high signal (or on signal) is transmitted to the control unit 510 to be described later. When the infrared light is blocked, a low signal (or off signal) is transmitted to the control unit 510. The control unit 510 may determine a phase of the pattern 4314 currently being sensed based on the counting number of signals received.

[0314] FIG. 19 is a block diagram of the cleaner station 300 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0315] Referring to FIG. 19, the cleaner station 300 may further include the control unit 510 that controls each component of the cleaner station 300. The control unit 510 may be mounted on a printed circuit board. The control unit 510 may include all types of devices capable of processing data, such as a processor. Here, a 'processor' may refer to a data processing device embedded in hardware having a physically structured circuit to perform functions expressed by codes or instructions included in a program, for example. Examples of such a data processing device built into hardware are a microprocessor, a central processing unit (CPU), a processor core, a multiprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field programmable gate array (FPGA), and the like, but the scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0316] When the coupling sensor 325 detects coupling of the cleaner 200, the coupling sensor 325 may transmit a signal indicating that the cleaner 200 is coupled to the coupling part 320 to the control unit 510. At this time, the control unit 510 may receive a signal from the coupling sensor 325 and determine that the cleaner 200 is coupled to the coupling part 320.

[0317] Also, when power is supplied to the battery 240 of the cleaner 200 from the charging terminal 328, the control unit 510 may determine that the cleaner 200 is coupled to the coupling part 320.

[0318] When the control unit 510 determines that the cleaner 200 is coupled to the coupling part 320, the control unit 510 controls the fixing part motor 580 to rotate in the forward direction, thereby fixing the cleaner 200 to the coupling part 320.

[0319] The cleaner station 300 may further include a fixing detecting part 570 for transmitting a signal indicating that the cleaner 200 is fixed to the coupling part 320 to the control unit 510 when the fixing member 331 or the fixing part link 335 moves to a certain fixing position FP1.

[0320] The control unit 510 may receive a signal indicating that the cleaner 200 is fixed from the fixing detecting part 570 and determine that the cleaner 200 is fixed to the coupling part 320. When the control unit 510 determines that the cleaner 200 is fixed, the control unit 510 may stop the operation of the fixing part motor 580.

[0321] Meanwhile, when the operation of emptying the dust bin 200 is ended, the control unit 400 may rotate the fixing part motor 133 in the reverse direction to release the fixation between the cleaner 200 and the coupling part 320.

[0322] The control unit 400 may control the door motor 341 of the cleaner station 300 to rotate in the forward direction so as to open the door 341 of the cleaner station 300.

[0323] The cleaner station 340 may further include a door opening/closing detecting part 560 capable of transmitting a signal that the door 341 is opened to the control unit 510, when the door 341 or the door arm 343 is moved to a certain opening position DP1.

[0324] The control unit 510 may receive a signal from the door opening/closing detecting part 560 to determine that the door 341 is opened. When determining that the door 341 is opened, the control unit 510 may control the door motor 342 to stop driving.

[0325] Meanwhile, when the emptying of the dust bin 220 is finished, the control unit 510 may control the door motor 342 to rotate in the reverse direction so as to close the door 341.

[0326] The control unit 510 may control the operation of the cover opening motor 352 to open the discharge cover 222 of the cleaner 220.

[0327] The cleaner station 300 may further include a cover opening detecting part 520 that transmits a signal indicating that the discharge cover 222 is opened to the control unit 510, when the push protrusion 351 reaches a certain opening position CP1.

[0328] The control unit 510 may receive a signal from the cover opening detecting part 520 to determine that the cover 222 is opened. When determining that the cover 222 is opened, the control unit 510 may control the cover opening motor 352 to stop driving.

[0329] The control unit 510 may control the sterilization unit 450. For example, the control unit 510 may turn on the light source of the sterilization unit 450 after dust is collected in the dust collecting part 370, or at certain time intervals to sterilize viruses or microorganisms present in the dust collecting part 370.

[0330] The control unit 510 may operate the dust collecting motor 391. The control unit 510 may control the dust collecting motor 391 to operate for a certain time period such that the dust inside the dust bin 220 is sucked into the dust collecting part 370.

[0331] The control unit 510 may operate the compressing motor 420. The control unit 510 may control the compressing motor 420 to operate a certain number of times or more and/or for a certain time period or more such that dust collected in the dust collecting part 370 is compressed.

[0332] The control unit 510 may control the compressing motor 420 to be driven when the control unit 510 determines that the cleaner 200 is coupled to the coupling part 320. The control unit 510 may control the compressing motor 420 to be driven after dust collection is finished and the driving of the dust collecting motor 391 is stopped.

[0333] The control unit 510 may calculate the collected amount of dust stored in the dust collecting part 370. In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the collected amount of the dust may be calculated from the rotational angle of the driving gear 431 or the rotational angle of the compressing part 410 sensed by the compression state sensing unit 440.

[0334] As described above, the compression state sensing unit 440 may detect a change in the pattern 4314 of the driving gear 431 to generate an on/off signal. An on signal corresponds to a high signal, and an off signal corresponds to a low signal, respectively.

[0335] The control unit 510 may receive a signal transmitted from the compression state sensing unit 440 to determine a phase of the current pattern 4314 of the driving gear 431.

[0336] The phase may be determined through the number of signals counted according to the sensed signal and sensing resolution of the compression state sensing unit 440. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 16, the counted number of the high signal of the fourth phase is greater than the counted number of the high signal of the second phase. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 16, the counted number of the low signal of the third phase is greater than the counted number of the low signal of the first phase.

[0337] Accordingly, the control unit 510 may determine the number of times of phase changes sensed by the compression state sensing unit 440 and may calculate the rotational angle of the driving gear 431 based on the number of times of phase changes.

[0338] For a more detailed description, assume that N different phases constitute one set, and M sets are formed in the driving gear 431.

[0339] When the driving gear 431 rotates and passes one set, the rotational angle is obtained as 360/M (°). By dividing this by N, the approximate rotational angle corresponding to one phase may be obtained. Looking at the case of N=4 (Phase) and M=30 (Set) as in the embodiment of FIG. 16, the rotational angle for one set of phases is 12 °, and the rotational angle of one phase is calculated to be about 3 °. In this case, since the error caused by the different widths of each phase is not large, the same rotational angle may be uniformly applied to the rotational angle of one phase.

[0340] The control unit 510 may set the forward rotation and reverse rotation of the compressing motor 420 as one cycle, and calculate the dust collection amount by using the average value of the rotational angle at which the compressing part 410 rotates in the forward direction and the rotational angle at which the compressing part 410 rotates in the reverse direction.

[0341] When the compressing motor 420 rotates in the forward direction (clockwise direction), the driving gear 431 rotates in the first direction d1 (clockwise direction). When the compressing motor 420 rotates in the reverse direction (counterclockwise direction), the driving gear 431 rotates in the second direction d2 (counterclockwise direction).

[0342] When the driving gear 431 rotates in the first direction d1, the driving gear 431 and the transmission gear 432 gear-meshed with the driving gear rotate in the second direction d2, and the rotating plate 413 of the compressing part 410 coaxially connected to the transmission gear 432 rotates in the second direction d2. Since the transmission gear 432 and the rotary shaft member 411 of the compressing part 410 are coaxially connected, when the compressing motor 420 rotates clockwise, which is the forward direction, the rotating plate 413 rotates counterclockwise.

[0343] In the same principle, when the driving gear 431 rotates in the second direction d2, the transmission gear 432 rotates in the first direction d1 and the rotating plate 413 of the compressing part 410 also rotates in the first direction d1. That is, when the compressing motor 420 rotates counterclockwise, which is the reverse direction, the rotating plate 413 rotates clockwise.

[0344] Meanwhile, the clockwise direction (cw) and the counterclockwise direction (ccw) described in the specification of the present disclosure are based on a state in which the cleaner station 300 is viewed from above.

[0345] As described above, the rotational angle of the compressing part 410 is calculated through the number of times of phase changes of the pattern 4314 formed in the driving gear 431. When the rotational angle of the compressing part 410 in the forward direction calculated by the control unit 510 is 80° and the rotational angle thereof in the reverse direction calculated by the control unit 510 is 70°, the control unit 510 may determine the rotational angle of the compressing part 410 as 75°which is the average value.

[0346] As such, when the average value of the rotational angles in the forward and reverse directions is determined as the rotational angle of the compressing part 410, reliability of calculating the rotational angle may be further increased.

[0347] The control unit 510 may calculate the dust collection amount in percent through the rotational angle of the compressing part 410. For example, if the rotational angle of the compressing part 410 is 180°, the dust collection amount is calculated to be 50%.

[0348] The control unit 510 may classify the dust collection amount by matching it to predetermined levels.

[0349] For example, when the rotational angle of the compressing part 410 is 234° or more, it may be classified into the first level of the dust collection amount, which corresponds to a "no collected dust level".

[0350] For example, when the rotational angle of the compressing part 410 is greater than 180° and less than 234°, it may be classified into the second level of the dust collection amount.

[0351] For example, when the rotational angle of the compressing part 410 is greater than 126° and less than 180°, it may be classified into the third level of the dust collection amount.

[0352] For example, when the rotational angle of the compressing part 410 is greater than 72° and less than 126°, it may be classified into the fourth level of the dust collection amount.

[0353] For example, when the rotational angle of the compressing part 410 is 72° or less, the dust collection amount may be classified into the fifth level, which corresponds to a "full of dust level".

[0354] The above-described standard for classifying the dust collection amount into levels and the number of classified levels are only examples, and may be appropriately changed depending on designs.

[0355] The control unit 510 may control the dust collecting motor 391 not to operate when the calculated dust collection amount corresponds to the last level among a plurality of predetermined levels. The last level corresponds to, for example, the fifth level of the dust collection amount described above. At this time, the control unit 510 cannot help but driving the dust collecting motor 391 even when the cleaner 200 is coupled to the coupling part 320.

[0356] The control unit 400 may operate the display unit 530. The control unit 400 may operate the display unit 530 to display various information related to the driving of the cleaner station 300.

[0357] For example, the information may include an emptying progress of the dust bin 220 of the cleaner 200, a charging level of the cleaner 200, guidance on a configuration currently being driven, a degree of dust compression and the like.

[0358] The control unit 510 may display notifications on the display unit 530 in a plurality of predetermined levels according to the amount of dust collected by the collecting unit 370. For example, the control unit 510 may classify notifications on the dust compression state into a plurality of levels according to the dust collection amount and display the notifications on the display unit 530.

[0359] In addition, the control unit 510 may display on the display unit 530 that the driving of the dust collecting motor 391 is impossible so as to call attention to the user such that dust collected in the dust collecting part 370 may be removed at an appropriate time.

[0360] Again, referring to FIG. 19, the cleaner station 300 may further include a memory 540. Application programs for driving the cleaner station 300 and various related data may be stored in the memory 540.

[0361] Predetermined values related to driving of the cleaner station 300 described herein may be stored in the memory 540.

[0362] The memory 540 may include magnetic storage media or flash storage media, but the scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The memory 540 may include a built-in memory and/or external memory, and may include volatile memories such as DRAM, SRAM, or SDRAM, one-time programmable ROM (OTPROM), PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, mask ROM, flash ROM, a non-volatile memory such as a NAND flash memory, or NOR flash memory, an SSD, a compact flash (CF) card, a flash drive such as an SD card, a Micro-SD card, a Mini-SD card, an Xd card, or a memory stick, or a storage device such as an HDD.

[0363] The memory 540 may be included in the control unit 510 or may be provided as a separate component.

[0364] The cleaner station 300 may further include a user input unit 550. The user input unit 550 may generate key input data based on user input for controlling the operation of the cleaner station 300. To this end, the user input unit 550 may be implemented as a keypad, a dome switch, a touch pad (static pressure/static voltage), and the like. In particular, if the user input unit 550 is implemented as a touch pad and forms a mutual layer structure together with the display unit 530, it may be called as a touch screen.

[0365] The user input unit 550 and/or the display unit 530 may be disposed on the upper surface 313 of the housing 310.

[0366] FIG. 20 illustrates an embodiment in which a notification of the dust compression state is presented through the display unit 530.

[0367] As in the embodiment of FIG. 20, the control unit 510 may display a notification of the dust compression state on the display unit 530 in three levels. The dust collection amount corresponding to each notification level illustrated in FIG. 20 is an example and may be appropriately modified. Also, a component referred to as a 'dust bin' in FIG. 20 corresponds to the dust collecting part 370 described in the present disclosure.

[0368] In this way, when a notification about the dust compression state is displayed in a plurality of levels, it is advantageous that the user may be informed of how much dust is collected in the dust collecting part 370 at that time. In addition, it is advantageous that the user becomes able to remove dust at an appropriate time according to his/her preference even before the dust collecting part 370 is full. For example, when the first notification (60% filling notification in the example of FIG. 20) is displayed before the dust collecting motor 391 becomes unable to be driven because the dust collecting part 370 is filled with dust, the user may remove the dust of the dust collecting part 370.

[0369] Hereinafter, as an embodiment of the present disclosure, a dust collection method performed by the cleaner station 300 will be described.

[0370] FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a dust collection method of the cleaner station 300 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 22 is a view illustrating an operation sequence of each motor included in the cleaner station 300 in the embodiment of FIG. 21, and FIG. 23 is a view to explain an operation of the compressing part 410 performed in the compressing dust S600 of FIG. 21 in more detail.

[0371] Referring to FIG. 21, the dust collection method of the cleaner station 300 includes coupling the dust bin S100.

[0372] This step S100 is a step in which the dust bin 220 of the cleaner 200 is coupled to the housing 310 (specifically, the coupling part 320) of the cleaner station 300 by the user.

[0373] In a possible embodiment, the dust bin 220 may be coupled to the coupling part 320 in a state in which the dust bin 220 is coupled to the cleaner 200. In another possible embodiment, the dust bin 220 may be coupled to the coupling part 320 in a state in which the dust bin 220 is separated from the cleaner 200.

[0374] In this step S100, the coupling sensor 325 may sense the coupling of the cleaner 200. The coupling sensor 325 may transmit a signal indicating that the cleaner 200 is coupled to the coupling part 320 to the control unit 510. At this time, the control unit 510 may receive the signal from the coupling sensor 325 and determine that the cleaner 200 is coupled to the coupling part 320.

[0375] In addition, when power is supplied from the charging terminal 328 to the battery 240 of the cleaner 200, the control unit 510 may determine that the dust bin 220 of the cleaner 200 is coupled to the coupling part 320.

[0376] In a possible embodiment, whether or not the dust bin 220 is coupled may be determined by using the coupling sensor 325 and the charging terminal 328 simultaneously or using either the coupling sensor 325 or the charging terminal 328.

[0377] The dust collection method of the cleaner station 300 may further include fixing the dust bin S200.

[0378] This step S200 is performed after the dust bin 220 of the cleaner 200 is coupled to the coupling part 320, and when the dust bin 220 is fixed to the coupling part 320, shaking of the dust bin 220 is prevented during the dust collection process which is performed thereafter.

[0379] In this step S200, when it is determined that the dust bin 220 is coupled to the coupling part 320, the control unit 510 controls a fixing part motor 580 to be rotatably driven in the forward direction such that the dust bin 220 of the cleaner 200 is fixed to the coupling part 320.

[0380] The control unit 510 may receive a signal indicating that the dust bin 220 is fixed to the coupling part 320 from the fixing detecting part 570 and determine that the cleaner 200 is fixed to the coupling part 320. When it is determined that the cleaner 200 is fixed, the control unit 510 may control the fixing part motor 580 to be stopped.

[0381] More specifically, the control unit 510 may control the fixing part motor 580 to be driven in the forward direction such that the fixing member 331 fixes the dust bin 220 to the coupling part 320.

[0382] At this time, when the fixing member 331 or the fixing part link 335 moves to the dust bin fixing position FP1, the fixing detecting part 570 may transmit a signal that the dust bin 220 is fixed to the coupling part 320 to the control unit 510. Therefore, upon receiving the signal from the fixing detecting part 570, the control unit 510 may determine that the cleaner 200 is fixed to the coupling part 320 and control the driving of the fixing part motor 580 to be stopped.

[0383] In another possible embodiment, the control unit 510 may stop the driving of the fixing part motor 580 after controlling the fixing part motor 580 to be driven in the forward direction for a predetermined time of fixation tf which is 4 seconds or more and 5 seconds or less (refer to FIG. 22). For example, the control unit 510 may stop the driving of the fixing part motor 580 after driving the fixing part motor 580 in the forward direction for the time of fixation tf which is 4 seconds or more and 5 seconds or less. (refer to FIG. 22)

[0384] The dust collection method of the cleaner station 300 may further include opening the cover S300.

[0385] This step S300 is performed after the dust bin 220 is coupled to the coupling part 320 of the housing 310, and the dust bin main body 221 is opened by a rotation of the discharge cover 222, thereby an inside of the housing 310 and an inside of the dust bin 220 are communicated with each other.

[0386] In a possible embodiment, the opening of the cover S300 may be performed after the fixing the dust bin S200 described above.

[0387] In this step S300, the control unit 510 may open the discharge cover 222 of the cleaner 200 by controlling rotational driving of the cover opening motor 352 in the forward direction.

[0388] The control unit 510 may receive a signal of discharge cover opening from the cover opening detecting part 520 to determine that the discharge cover 222 is opened. When it is determined that the discharge cover 222 is opened, the control unit 510 may control driving of the cover opening motor 352 to be stopped.

[0389] More specifically, when the control unit 510 drives the cover opening motor 352 in the forward direction, the push protrusion 351 may be moved from its initial position to a position to press the coupling lever 222c.

[0390] Accordingly, the hook engagement between the discharge cover 222 and the dust bin main body 221 may be released by the movement of the coupling lever 222c, and the discharge cover 222 may rotate to open one surface of the dust bin main body 221.

[0391] Meanwhile, before the push protrusion 351 presses the coupling lever 222c, the cover opening detecting part 520 may transmit a signal that the push protrusion 351 is at the initial position to the control unit 510.

[0392] When the cover opening motor 352 is driven and the push protrusion 351 starts moving to press the coupling lever 222c, the cover opening detecting part 520 may transmit a signal indicating that the push protrusion 351 is out of its initial position to the control unit 510. The control unit 510 may receive the signal and determine that the cover opening unit 350 is normally operated.

[0393] The control unit 510 may separate the discharge cover 222 from the dust bin main body 221 by driving the cover opening motor 352 in the forward direction for a time of opening the cover tc1 which is longer than the time required until the coupling lever 222c is pressed.

[0394] Thereafter, the control unit 510 may change the rotational direction of the cover opening motor 352 to the reverse direction for a predetermined time of changing the rotational direction tc2, and then drive the cover opening motor 352 in the reverse direction for a predetermined time of returning the projection tc3. As a result, the push protrusion 351 may return to its initial position (refer to FIG. 22).

[0395] For example, the time of opening the cover tc1 and the time of returning the projection tc3 may be set to 4 seconds or more and 5 seconds or less. The above-mentioned time may be set based on the moving distance and speed of the push protrusion 351. For example, the time of changing the rotational direction tc2 may be set to 2 seconds or more and 3 seconds or less.

[0396] Meanwhile, the control unit 510 may receive a signal indicating that the push protrusion 351 has returned to the initial position from the cover opening detecting part 520, and in this case, the control unit 510 may stop driving of the cover opening motor 352.

[0397] The dust collection method of the cleaner station 300 may further include opening the door S400.

[0398] This step S400 is performed after the dust bin 220 is coupled to the coupling part 320 of the housing 310, and is a step in which the door 341 disposed at the coupling part 320 is opened. In a possible embodiment, the opening the door S400 may be performed after the fixing the dust bin S200 described above.

[0399] In a possible embodiment, the opening the door S400 may be performed simultaneously with the opening the cover S300 described above (refer to FIG. 22).

[0400] In this step S400, the control unit 510 may control the door motor 342 to be rotatably driven in the forward direction, thereby opening the door 341 of the cleaner station 300.

[0401] More specifically, when the control unit 510 controls the door motor 342 to rotate in the forward direction, the dust passage hole 321a may be opened while the door 341 is rotated. That is, in this step, the control unit 510 may rotate the door 341, thereby opening the dust passage hole 321a.

[0402] Meanwhile, in a possible embodiment, the control unit 510 may control the door motor 342 to be driven in the forward direction after receiving a signal that the dust bin 220 is fixed from the fixing detecting part 570 and a predetermined time passed. For example, the control unit 510 may drive the door motor 342 after a time of 0.5 seconds or more and 1.5 seconds or less has passed since the dust bin 220 is fixed.

[0403] With this configuration, the door 341 may be opened after waiting for a time required for the push protrusion 351 to start pressing the coupling lever 222c in the opening the cover S300. Also, the discharge cover 222 and the door 341 may be opened at similar times. If the discharge cover 222 is opened after the door 341 is opened at the maximum angle, the discharge cover 222 may impact the door 341 and damage of the structure may occur. Conversely, if the door 341 is not opened even when the push protrusion 351 is pressing the coupling lever 222c, the dust bin main body 221 may not be opened. The configuration as described above may prevent occurrence of such a problem.

[0404] Meanwhile, the control unit 510 may open the dust passage hole 321a by rotating the door 341 in stages. More specifically, the control unit 510 may rotate the door 341 at a predetermined first opening angle θ1, stop the rotation of the door 341 for a predetermined time period, and then further rotate the door 341 at a predetermined second opening angle θ2 (refer to FIG. 22).

[0405] The sum of the first opening angle θ1 and the second opening angle θ2 becomes the maximum rotation angle of the door 341. The second opening angle θ2 may be greater than the first opening angle θ1. For example, the first opening angle θ1 may be greater than or equal to 25 degrees and less than or equal to 35 degrees. For example, the second opening angle θ2 may be greater than or equal to 45 degrees and less than or equal to 55 degrees.

[0406] As a result, when the opening the cover S300 and the opening the door S400 proceed, the discharge cover 222 of the dust bin 220 is rotated, thereby one surface of the dust bin main body 221 is opened, and as the door 341 is rotated, the dust passage hole 321a is also opened, such that the inner space of the dust bin 220 and the inner space of the housing 310 (specifically, the first flow path 381) communicate with each other.

[0407] In addition, when the door arm 343 moves to the predetermined door opening position DP1, the door opening/closing detecting part 560 may detect this and transmit a corresponding signal to the control unit 510. Accordingly, the control unit 510 may determine that the door 341 is opened and control the driving of the door motor 342 to be stopped.

[0408] The dust collection method of the cleaner station 300 may further include collecting dust S500.

[0409] This step S500 is performed after the inside of the housing 310 and the inside of the dust bin main body 221 are communicated with each other, and is a step where dust is collected into the dust collecting part 370 by driving the dust collecting motor 391.

[0410] In this step S500, the control unit 510 may operate the dust collecting motor 391 when the predetermined time of waiting for dust collection tw elapses. Here, both the opening of the discharge cover and the opening of the door 341 must be completed during the time of waiting for dust collection tw. For example, the control unit 510 may control the dust collecting motor 391 to be driven when a time of 6 seconds or more and 7 seconds or less elapses after the dust bin 220 is fixed. For example, the control unit 510 may control the dust collecting motor 391 to be driven when a time of 10 seconds or more and 11 seconds or less elapses since the dust bin 220 is coupled to the coupling part 320.

[0411] The control unit 510 may gradually increase the rotational speed of the dust collecting motor 391 up to a predetermined speed of dust collection Ws for a predetermined time of suction increase tsi. For example, the control unit 510 may gradually increase the rotational speed of the dust collecting motor 391 up to the speed of dust collection Ws for a time period of 3 seconds or more and 5 seconds or less. This has the advantage of increasing the lifetime of the dust collecting motor 391 by protecting the dust collecting motor 391.

[0412] In this step, the control unit 510 may operate the dust collecting motor 391 to rotate at the speed of dust collection Ws for a predetermined time of dust collection ts2. For example, in the collecting the dust, the control unit 510 may operate the dust collecting motor 391 to rotate at the speed of dust collection Ws for a period of 14 seconds or more and 16 seconds or less, but is not limited thereto, and the time of dust collection ts1 may be changed and set depending on an output of the dust collecting motor 391 and an amount of dust stored in the dust bin 220.

[0413] In this step, the dust inside the dust bin 220 may pass through the dust passage hole 321a and the flow path part 380 and be collected in the dust collecting part 370. Accordingly, since the user may remove dust inside the dust bin 220 without a separate manipulation, user's convenience is improved.

[0414] On the other hand, after the collecting dust S500, dust and hair remaining in the coupling part 320 may be additionally collected. The additional dust collection may be performed by the control unit 510 by closing the door 341 and rotating the dust collecting motor 391 at a speed lower than the speed of dust collection Ws for a predetermined additional time of dust collection ts2. This has an effect of removing residual dust that could not be removed in the collecting dust S500 by concentrating a negative pressure on the bypass hole 322c.

[0415] After the collecting dust S500 is completed or after the additional dust collection is completed, the control unit 510 may control the dust collecting motor 391 to be stopped.

[0416] At this time, the control unit 510 may gradually decrease the rotational speed of the dust collecting motor 391 for a predetermined time of suction reduction tsd. This has the advantage of increasing the lifetime of the dust collecting motor 391 by protecting the dust collecting motor 391.

[0417] The dust collection method of the cleaner station 300 may further include compressing dust S600.

[0418] In this step S600, the collected dust is compressed by the rotational operation of the compressing part 410 disposed inside the dust collecting part 370.

[0419] In this step S600, the control unit 510 may drive and control the compressing motor 420 to rotate in a forward or reverse direction, and accordingly, the compressing part 410 may rotate in a forward or reverse direction to compress dust.

[0420] Here, with respect to a state in which the cleaner station 300 is viewed from above, a forward direction of the compressing motor 420 and the compressing part 410 is defined as a clockwise direction CW, and a reverse direction thereof is defined as a counterclockwise direction CCW.

[0421] In the embodiment described above with reference to FIG. 12, when the compressing motor 420 rotates in the forward direction, the compressing part 410 is rotated in the reverse direction, and when the compressing motor 420 rotates in the reverse direction, the compressing part 410 is rotated in the forward direction.

[0422] The compressing dust S600 may include compressing dust at an initial stage S610 in which the rotational operation of the compressing part 410 is performed before the collecting dust S500.

[0423] More specifically, in the compressing dust at an initial stage S610, the rotating plate 413 included in the compressing part 410 rotates once in the forward or reverse direction to compress the collected dust. In the compressing dust at an initial stage S610, the control unit 510 may stop the compressing motor 420 after driving the compressing motor 420 to rotate only once in the forward or reverse direction. That is, the compressing motor 420 rotates for a time of compressing dust at an initial stage tp1, but the time of compressing dust at an initial stage tp1 is not a predetermined time and varies depending on an amount of dust stored in the dust collecting part 370.

[0424] For example, when a small amount of dust is stored in the dust collecting part 370, the time of compressing dust at an initial stage tp1 becomes longer, and when a large amount of dust is stored, the time of compressing dust at an initial stage tp1 becomes shorter.

[0425] Meanwhile, the compressing dust at an initial stage S610 may be performed upon detection by the control unit 510 that the dust bin 220 of the cleaner 200 is coupled to the coupling part 320. That is, the compressing dust at an initial stage S610 may be performed while at least one among the fixing the dust bin S200, the opening the cover S300, and the opening the door S400 is being performed. The compressing dust at an initial stage S610 may end before the start time of the collecting dust S500.

[0426] If the volume of compressed dust expands again for some reason (for example, when vibration is applied to the cleaner station and the compressed dust is scattered inside the dust collecting part), there is a problem that a space to accommodate the dust at the next collecting dust step is narrowed. However, if the compressing dust at an initial stage S610 is performed, even in the above case, there is an advantage in that the space to accommodate the dust collected in the collecting dust S500 may be widely secured.

[0427] On the other hand, the compressing dust at an initial stage S610 is not performed prior to other steps (S200, S300, and S400) that are performed before the collecting dust S500, but is performed simultaneously with any one or more of the other steps, such that an excessive increase in administration time of the entire dust emptying process may be prevented.

[0428] The compressing dust S600 may include a compressing dust at a main stage S620 in which the rotational operation of the compressing part 410 is performed after the collecting dust S500.

[0429] More specifically, in the compressing dust at a main stage S620, the rotating plate 413 included in the compressing part 410 repeats one rotation cycle including a forward rotation and a reverse rotation for a plurality of times, such that the collected dust is compressed. In the compressing dust at a main stage S620, the compressing motor 420 rotates in any one direction, and when the force applied to the compressing motor 420 exceeds a predetermined value while the dust is compressed, the rotational direction thereof is changed to the other direction. That is, in the compressing dust at a main stage S620, a rotation of the compressing part 410 (specifically, the rotating plate 413 of the compressing part 410) is repeatedly performed by rotating in the forward direction and the reverse direction alternately.

[0430] In a possible embodiment, the compressing dust at a main stage S620 may be performed simultaneously with the above-described additional dust collection. Performing the additional dust collection and the compressing dust at a main stage S620 simultaneously is possible because the amount of dust collected in the additional dust collection is very small, and in this case, it is advantageous that an excessive increase in the total administration time may be prevented.

[0431] A rotation of the compressing part 410 in the compressing dust at a main stage S620 may be performed for a predetermined time of compression tp2. Here, the time of compression tp2 may be set such that the rotating plate 413 rotates the predetermined minimum number of times of compression or more regardless of the dust collection amount.

[0432] For example, the minimum number of times of compressions may be 5 times or more, and the time of compression tp2 may be 40 seconds or more. The minimum number of times of compression and time of compression may be appropriately changed in designs.

[0433] As such, dust inside the dust collecting part 370 may be effectively compressed by setting minimum standards for the time of compression and the number of times of compression in advance. In addition, while the time of compression is fixed, the amount of dust to be stored gradually increases. Therefore, as the amount of collected dust increases, the number of rotation cycles of the compressing part 410 also increases. That is, since the collected dust is compressed multiple times as the amount of collected dust increases, dust inside the dust collecting part 370 is compressed more effectively.

[0434] Meanwhile, when the time of compression elapses, the control unit 510 may stop the compressing motor 420 to be no longer driven.

[0435] The compressing part 410 is stopped after repeating the rotation cycle including the forward rotation and reverse rotation a plurality of times. As such, when the compressing part 410 rotates in cycle units, after the compression step is finished, the rotating plate 413 is disposed at a second position, opposite to the first position, at which the rotation started in the compressing dust at an initial stage S610.

[0436] More specifically, referring to the embodiment shown in FIG. 23, the rotating plate 413 that starts rotating at the first position (left side) in the compressing dust at an initial stage S610 is disposed at the second position (right side) after the plurality of rotation cycles are over in the compressing dust at a main stage S620.

[0437] In the case of an individual rotation rather than a cycle-based rotation, a problem may occur in which the dust is biasedly accumulated on the left or right side of the fixing plate 412 and the flow path may be blocked by the compressed dust. However, as described above, since the dust is evenly accumulated on both left and right sides of the fixing plate 412 in the embodiment of the present disclosure, there is an advantage in preventing such a problem.

[0438] The dust collection method of the cleaner station 300 may further include closing the door and the cover S700.

[0439] This step S700 is performed after the dust collection process is finished, and is a step in which the door 341 closes the dust passage hole 321a by driving of the door motor 342.

[0440] In this step, the control unit 510 may control the rotational driving of the door motor 342 in the reverse direction such that the door 341 closes the dust passage hole 321a. More specifically, the control unit 510 controls the rotation of the door motor 342 in the reverse direction when a predetermined time of suction end tse elapses after the driving of the dust collecting motor 391 ends, such that the dust passage hole 321a is closed by the door 341.

[0441] In an embodiment in which the additional dust collection is performed, since the door 341 has already closed the dust passage hole 321a, the control unit 510 may rotate the door 341 in the forward direction and then in the reverse direction again. That is, the control unit 510 may control the door 341 to open and then close the dust passage hole 321a again.

[0442] Opening and closing the previously closed dust passage hole 321a again in this way is to reliably close the dust passage hole 321a since the dust passage hole 321a might happen to be finely opened due to negative pressure being applied to the door 341 when the additional dust collection is performed. Thus, opening and closing the dust passage hole 321a again aims to securely close the dust passage hole 321a.

[0443] Meanwhile, when the control unit 510 controls the rotational driving of the door motor 342 in the reverse direction, the door 341 pushes the discharge cover 222 out of the housing 310, and at the time of closing of the dust passage hole 321a by the door 341, the discharge cover 222 may be coupled to the dust bin main body 221 again.

[0444] The dust collection method of the cleaner station 300 may further include releasing fixation S800.

[0445] This step S800 is performed after the door 341 closes the dust passage hole 321a, and is a step of releasing the fixation of the dust bin 220 fixed to the coupling part 320 by driving the fixing part motor 580.

[0446] More specifically, in this step, when the control unit 510 receives a signal from the door opening/closing detecting part 560 that the door 341 has closed the dust passage hole 321a, the control unit 510 controls rotational driving of the fixing part motor 580 in the reverse direction, thereby releasing the dust bin 220.

[0447] In a possible embodiment, the control unit 510 may control drive of the fixing part motor 580 for a predetermined time of release tf. For example, the control unit 510 may control drive of the motor 580 in the reverse direction for a time period of 4 seconds or more and 5 seconds or less.

[0448] When the releasing fixation S800 is performed, the user may separate the cleaner 200 from the housing 310 or the dust bin 220 from the housing 310. The user may perform cleaning using the cleaner 200 from which the dust in the dust bin 220 is removed.

[0449] Meanwhile, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the cleaner system 3 may further include a display device together with the cleaner 200 and the cleaner station 300.

[0450] The display device may display notifications in a plurality of predetermined levels according to the amount of collected dust calculated from the rotational angle sensed by the compression state sensing unit 440.

[0451] In a possible embodiment, the display device may be a device that visually displays driving information related to the operation of the cleaner station 300. For example, the display device may be the display unit 530 of the cleaner station 300 described above.

[0452] In addition, driving information related to the operation of the cleaner station 300 may further include information on an operation currently being performed (dust collecting, charging, compressing, etc.) in addition to the notification according to the amount of collected dust.

[0453] Alternatively, in a possible embodiment, the display device may be a device that visually displays driving information related to the operation of the cleaner 200. For example, the display device may be the operating part 218 of the cleaner 200 described above. In this embodiment, information on the amount of collected dust may be transmitted from the cleaner station 300 to the cleaner 200 through wired or wireless communication.

[0454] In addition, driving information related to the operation of the cleaner 200 may further include information related to the suction power of the cleaner, information related to the remaining battery level of the cleaner, and the like, in addition to notifications based on the amount of collected dust.

[0455] Alternatively, in a possible embodiment, the display device may be a portable terminal 600. At this time, the display device may be a portable electronic wireless communication device, and may be, for example, an external mobile phone, PDA, laptop, digital camera, game machine, electronic book, or the like. In this embodiment, information on the amount of collected dust may be transmitted from the cleaner station 300 to the terminal 600 through wireless communication.

[0456] Meanwhile, the display device is not limited to any one of the above-described embodiments and may be included in two or more configurations. That is, the dust collection amount may be selectively displayed on any one among the cleaner 200, the cleaner station 300, and the terminal 600, but may also be displayed on at least two or more components or all components.

[0457] As described above, according to the present disclosure, since the compressing part compresses dust while moving in the internal space of the dust collecting part, storage efficiency of dust collected in the dust collecting part is improved.

[0458] In addition, according to the present disclosure, since the amount of dust collected in the dust collecting part is displayed on the display unit, the user may easily check the amount of dust collected in the dust collecting part without having to take out and check the dust collecting part.

[0459] In addition, according to the present disclosure, the amount of collected dust compressed and stored inside the dust collecting part is displayed on the display unit as a warning notification through a plurality of levels, such that the user may select an appropriate time to remove the dust before the dust collecting part is filled with the dust.

[0460] In addition, according to the present disclosure, the amount of dust collected in the dust collecting part is calculated through the rotational angle of the compressing part, and the rotational angle is calculated based on the number of times of changes in the pattern formed in the driving gear, such that the amount of dust may be accurately calculated even if there is a change in the rotational speed of the compression part due to foreign matter being caught, and the like.

[0461] The advantageous effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims.

Claims

1. A cleaner station, comprising:

a housing coupled to a dust bin of a cleaner;

a dust collecting motor disposed inside the housing and generating a suction force to suck dust inside the dust bin;

a dust collecting part provided with a dust accommodating space to collect dust sucked from an inside of the dust bin by the dust collecting motor;

a compressing part rotatably disposed inside the dust collecting part and compressing collected dust;

a compressing motor disposed outside the dust collecting part and generating power to rotate the compressing part;

a power transmission unit disposed between the compressing part and the compressing motor and comprising a driving gear rotated by power of the compressing motor; and

a compression state sensing unit disposed adjacent to the driving gear and sensing a rotational direction of the compressing part and a rotational angle with respect to the rotational direction by using a shape formed in the driving gear.

2. The cleaner station of claim 1,

wherein the power transmission unit further comprises a transmission gear connected to the compressing part, gear-meshed with the driving gear, and receiving power of the compressing motor from the driving gear and transmitting the power to the compressing part, and

wherein the transmission gear is provided as detachable from the housing in a state coupled to the dust collecting part.

3. The cleaner station of claim 1,
wherein the compression state sensing unit is configured as a photo interrupter.

4. The cleaner station of claim 1,
wherein the compressing part comprises:

a rotary shaft member vertically disposed inside the dust collecting part and rotated by power of the compressing motor;

a fixing plate fixed to one side of an inside of the dust collecting part; and

a rotating plate connected to an outer circumferential surface of the rotary shaft member and rotating together with the rotary shaft member.

5. The cleaner station of claim 1,
wherein the driving gear comprises:

a gear body forming an exterior of the driving gear; and

a shaft connecting portion disposed at a center of the gear body and connected to a motor shaft of the compressing motor, and

wherein the shape formed in the driving gear is a pattern formed in the gear body.

6. The cleaner station of claim 5,
wherein the pattern is formed by protrusions and grooves alternately and continuously disposed on a lower circumference of the gear body.

7. The cleaner station of claim 6,
wherein the pattern is formed such that a width of the protrusion and a width of the groove adjacent to each other are different from each other.

8. The cleaner station of claim 6,
wherein the pattern is formed such that when the protrusion and the groove are defined as phases that are distinguished according to a size of a formed width thereof, arrangement orders of the phases with respect to a first direction about a circumference of the gear body and with respect to a second direction opposite to the first direction are formed to be different from each other.

9. The cleaner station of claim 6, further comprising:

a control unit calculating a dust amount collected in the dust collecting part,

wherein when the protrusion and the groove are defined as phases distinguished according to a size of a formed width thereof, the control unit calculates the rotational angle based on the number of times of changes of the phases sensed by the compression state sensing unit.

10. The cleaner station of claim 1,
wherein the dust collecting part comprises:

a dust accommodating space accommodating and storing sucked dust therein and disposing the compressing part therein;

a mesh net disposed on one side of the dust accommodating space; and

a plurality of cyclones filtering dust from air flowing through the mesh net from the dust accommodating space.

11. The cleaner station of claim 10,
wherein the mesh net is configured as a part of a wall surface defining the dust accommodating space.

12. A cleaner system, comprising:

a cleaner comprising a dust bin to collect dust;

a cleaner station coupled to the cleaner to remove dust inside the dust bin; and

a display device to visually display driving information related to an operation of the cleaner or the cleaner station,

wherein the cleaner station comprises:

a housing coupled to the dust bin;

a dust collecting motor disposed inside the housing and generating a suction force for sucking dust inside the dust bin;

a dust collecting part provided with an accommodating space to collect dust sucked from an inside of the dust bin by the dust collecting motor;

a compressing part rotatably disposed inside the dust collecting part and compressing collected dust;

a compressing motor disposed outside the dust collecting part and generating power to rotate the compressing part;

a power transmission unit disposed between the compressing part and the compressing motor and comprising a driving gear rotated by power of the compressing motor; and

a compression state sensing unit disposed adjacent to the driving gear and sensing a rotational direction of the compressing part and a rotational angle with respect to the rotational direction, and

wherein in the display device,

notifications are displayed in a plurality of levels predetermined according to a dust collection amount calculated from the rotational angle sensed by the compression state sensing unit.

13. The cleaner system of claim 12,
wherein the display device is a portable terminal.

14. The cleaner system of claim 12,

wherein the cleaner station further comprises a control unit calculating the dust collection amount,

the compressing motor is provided as a motor capable of rotating in both forward and reverse directions, and

wherein, by setting a rotation of the compressing motor in a forward direction and a rotation of the compressing motor in a reverse direction as one cycle, the control unit calculates the dust collection amount by using an average value of a rotational angle at which the control unit rotated in a forward direction and a rotational angle at which the control unit rotated in a reverse direction.

15. The cleaner system of claim 12,
wherein in the cleaner station, driving of the dust collecting motor is prohibited, when the calculated dust collection amount corresponds to the last level among the plurality of predetermined levels.

Drawing