Automatic cleaning device

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an automatic cleaning device having a dirt receptacle sensor unit to sense the presence of a dirt receptacle. The dirt receptacle is detachably mounted in an installation chamber defined in a body of the automatic cleaning device.

1 . An automatic cleaning device comprising: 
 a dirt receptacle sensor unit to sense the presence of a dirt receptacle inside an installation chamber defined in a body of the automatic cleaning device.    
   
   
       2 . The device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the dirt receptacle is detachably mounted in the installation chamber to be connected with a fan motor.  
   
   
       3 . The device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the dirt receptacle includes: 
 a through-hole connected with a fan motor; and    an insertion through-hole for the insertion of a dirt suction pipe.    
   
   
       4 . The device as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the dirt receptacle further includes a filter received in the dirt receptacle to be connected with a distal end of the suction pipe.  
   
   
       5 . The device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein, after sensing the absence of the dirt receptacle inside the installation chamber, the dirt receptacle sensor unit inputs the sensed result to a controller, so that the controller stops the operation of the automatic cleaning device.  
   
   
       6 . The device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the dirt receptacle sensor unit includes: 
 a mounting recess defined in an inner lower surface of the installation chamber; and    a micro switch received in the mounting recess to be switched on/off in accordance with the installation/removal of the dirt receptacle.    
   
   
       7 . The device as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the dirt receptacle sensor unit includes: 
 a magnet attached around a circumference of the through-hole; and    a magnetic sensor mounted to a suction side of the fan motor to be magnetically attracted by the magnet, the magnetic sensor sensing the presence of the dirt receptacle based on a magnetic field produced by the magnet.    
   
   
       8 . The device as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the dirt receptacle sensor unit further includes a sealing member made of a synthetic rubber material, and attached to an outer surface of the magnetic sensor that will be attached to the magnet.  
   
   
       9 . The device as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the dirt receptacle sensor unit includes: 
 a magnet attached around a circumference of the insertion through-hole;    an insertion recess formed in an inner lower surface of the installation chamber to receive the magnet; and    a magnetic sensor mounted in the insertion recess around the suction pipe to be magnetically attracted by the magnet, the magnetic sensor sensing the presence of the dirt receptacle based on a magnetic field produced by the magnet.    
   
   
       10 . The device as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the dirt receptacle sensor unit further includes a sealing member made of a synthetic rubber material and attached to an upper surface of the magnetic sensor that will be attached to the magnet.  
   
   
       11 . The device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the dirt receptacle sensor unit includes: 
 a sensor mounting recess formed in an inner lower surface of the installation chamber; and    an optical sensor mounted in the sensor mounting recess to sense the presence of the dirt receptacle by the use of emitted and received light.    
   
   
       12 . The device as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the optical sensor includes: 
 a light emitting element received in an inner lower surface of the sensor mounting recess to emit light to the dirt receptacle; and    a light receiving element located to surround the light emitting element to receive the light if the light, emitted from the light emitting element, is reflected by the bottom of the dirt receptacle to the light receiving element, thereby sensing the presence of the dirt receptacle.    
   
   
       13 . The device as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the optical sensor includes: 
 an insertion protrusion formed at the bottom of the dirt receptacle to be inserted into the sensor mounting recess;    a light emitting element mounted in a lateral location of the sensor mounting recess to correspond to a location on the circumference of the insertion protrusion; and    a light receiving element mounted in another lateral location of the sensor mounting recess opposite to the light emitting element and adapted to sense the presence of the dirt receptacle if light is emitted from the emitting element and is reflected by the insertion protrusion to be introduced into the light receiving element.    
   
   
       14 . The device as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the optical sensor includes: 
 an insertion protrusion formed at the bottom of the dirt receptacle to be inserted into the sensor mounting recess;    a light emitting element mounted in a lateral location of the sensor mounting recess to correspond to a location on the circumference of the insertion protrusion; and    a light receiving element mounted to surround the light emitting element, and adapted to sense the presence of the dirt receptacle if light is emitted from the light emitting element and is reflected by an outer circumference of the insertion protrusion to be introduced into the light receiving element.    
   
   
       15 . The device as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the dirt receptacle sensor unit further includes an absence informer electrically connected to the controller in a signal transmission manner, the informer outputting the absence of the dirt receptacle to the outside if the dirt receptacle is taken out of the installation chamber.  
   
   
       16 . The device as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the absence informer includes a sound generator electrically connected to the controller in a signal transmission manner, to output a sound to indicate the absence of the dirt receptacle based on signals inputted from the controller.  
   
   
       17 . The device as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the absence informer includes an output display electrically connected to the controller in a signal transmission manner, to output an image to indicate the absence of the dirt receptacle based on signals inputted from the controller.