Vacuum cleaner station, vacuum cleaner system, and method for controlling vacuum cleaner station

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a cleaner system including: a cleaner; a cleaner station; and an imaginary plane including an imaginary suction flow path through line penetrating a suction flow path in a longitudinal direction and an imaginary suction motor axis defined by extending a rotation axis of a suction motor, in which when the cleaner is coupled to the cleaner station, the plane penetrates at least a part of the cleaner station, such that a center of gravity of the cleaner is disposed to pass through a space for maintaining balance of the station, and as a result, it is possible to stably support the cleaner and the station while preventing the cleaner and the station from falling down.

1 . A cleaner system comprising:
 a cleaner comprising:
 a suction part having a suction flow path through which air flows; 
 a suction motor configured to generate a suction force for sucking the air along the suction part; 
 a dust separating part having a cyclone part configured to separate dust from the air introduced through the suction part; 
 a dust bin configured to store the dust separated by the dust separating part; and 
 a handle having a grip portion; 
   a cleaner station comprising:
 a coupling part to which the dust bin is coupled; 
 a dust collecting part into which the dust in the dust bin is collected; and 
 a dust suction module having a dust collecting motor configured to generate a suction force for sucking the dust in the dust bin into the dust collecting part; and 
   an imaginary plane comprising:
 an imaginary suction flow path through line penetrating the suction flow path in a longitudinal direction; and 
 an imaginary suction motor axis defined by extending a rotation axis of the suction motor, 
   wherein when the cleaner is coupled to the cleaner station, the plane penetrates at least a part of the cleaner station, and the suction flow path through line intersects the suction motor axis.   
     
     
         2 . The cleaner system of  claim 1 , wherein the plane comprises an imaginary dust collecting motor axis defined by extending a rotation axis of the dust collecting motor. 
     
     
         3 . The cleaner system of  claim 1 , wherein when the cleaner is coupled to the cleaner station, the suction motor axis intersects an imaginary dust collecting motor axis defined by extending an axis of the dust collecting motor, and
 wherein a height from a ground surface to an intersection point between the suction motor axis and the dust collecting motor axis is equal to or less than a maximum height of the cleaner station.   
     
     
         4 . A cleaner system comprising:
 a cleaner comprising:
 a suction part having a suction flow path through which air flows; 
 a suction motor configured to generate a suction force for sucking the air along the suction part; 
 a dust separating part configured to separate dust from the air introduced through the suction part; 
 a dust bin configured to store the dust separated by the dust separating part; and 
 a handle having a grip portion; and 
   a cleaner station comprising:
 a coupling part to which the dust bin is coupled; 
 a dust collecting part into which the dust in the dust bin is collected; 
 a dust suction module having a dust collecting motor configured to generate a suction force for sucking the dust in the dust bin into the dust collecting part; and 
 a housing configured to accommodate the dust collecting part and the dust suction module, 
   wherein when the cleaner is coupled to the cleaner station, an imaginary grip portion through line penetrating an inside of the grip portion and extending in a longitudinal direction of the grip portion formed in a column shape intersects an imaginary dust collecting motor axis defined by extending an axis of the dust collecting motor, and an intersection point between the grip portion through line and the dust collecting motor axis is positioned in the housing.   
     
     
         5 . The cleaner system of  claim 4 , wherein when the cleaner is coupled to the cleaner station, the grip portion through line intersects an imaginary suction flow path through line penetrating the suction flow path in the longitudinal direction, and a height from a ground surface to an intersection point between the grip portion through line and the suction flow path through line is equal to or less than a maximum height of the housing. 
     
     
         6 . A cleaner system comprising:
 a cleaner comprising:
 a suction part having a suction flow path through which air flow; 
 a suction motor configured to generate a suction force for sucking the air along the suction part; 
 at least a dust separating part configured to separate dust from the air introduced through the suction part; 
 a dust bin configured to store the dust separated by the dust separating part; and 
 a handle having a grip portion; 
   a cleaner station comprising:
 a coupling part to which the dust bin is coupled; 
 a dust collecting part into which the dust in the dust bin is collected; and 
 a dust suction module having a dust collecting motor configured to generate a suction force for sucking the dust in the dust bin into the dust collecting part; and 
   an imaginary plane comprising:
 an imaginary suction flow path through line penetrating the suction flow path in a longitudinal direction; and 
 an imaginary grip portion through line penetrating an inside of the grip portion and extending in an axial direction of the grip portion formed in a column shape, 
   wherein when the cleaner is coupled to the cleaner station, the plane penetrates at least a part of the dust collecting motor, and an orthogonal projection of an imaginary suction motor axis defined by extending an axis of the suction motor to the plane intersects the suction flow path through line.   
     
     
         7 . A cleaner system comprising:
 a cleaner comprising:
 a suction part having a suction flow path through which air flows; 
 a suction motor configured to generate a suction force for sucking the air along the suction part; 
 a dust bin configured to store dust separated from the air introduced through the suction part; and 
 a handle; and 
   a cleaner station comprising:
 a coupling part to which the dust bin is coupled; 
 a dust collecting part which is disposed to be closer to a ground surface than is the coupling part; and 
 a dust suction module having a dust collecting motor which is disposed to be closer to the ground surface than is the dust collecting part and configured to generate a suction force for sucking the dust in the dust bin into the dust collecting part, 
   wherein the coupling part is disposed vertically above the dust collecting motor, the suction motor is disposed at a predetermined distance from the coupling part in a horizontal direction, the dust collecting motor is heavier than the suction motor, and a distance from the dust collecting motor to the coupling part is longer than a distance from the suction motor to the coupling part.   
     
     
         8 . A cleaner system comprising:
 a cleaner comprising:
 a suction part having a suction flow path through which air flows; a suction motor configured to generate a suction force for sucking the air along the suction part; 
 a dust bin configured to store dust separated from the air introduced through the suction part; and 
 a handle; and 
   a cleaner station comprising:
 a coupling part to which the dust bin is coupled; 
 a dust collecting part which is disposed to be closer to a ground surface than is the coupling part; and 
 a dust suction module having a dust collecting motor which is disposed to be closer to the ground surface than is the dust collecting part and configured to generate a suction force for sucking the dust in the dust bin into the dust collecting part, 
   wherein when the cleaner is coupled to the cleaner station, the coupling part is disposed between an imaginary suction flow path through line penetrating the suction flow path in a longitudinal direction and an imaginary dust collecting motor axis defined by extending a rotation axis of the dust collecting motor.   
     
     
         9 . A cleaner system comprising:
 a cleaner comprising:
 a suction part having a suction flow path through which air flows; 
 a suction motor configured to generate a suction force for sucking the air along the suction part; 
 a dust bin configured to store dust separated from the air introduced through the suction part; and 
 a handle; and 
   a cleaner station comprising:
 a coupling part to which the dust bin is coupled; 
 a dust collecting part which is disposed to be closer to a ground surface than is the coupling part; and 
 a dust suction module having a dust collecting motor which is disposed to be closer to the ground surface than is the dust collecting part and configured to generate a suction force for sucking the dust in the dust bin into the dust collecting part, 
   wherein when the cleaner is coupled to the cleaner station, the handle is positioned to be farther from the ground surface than is an imaginary suction motor axis defined by extending an axis of the suction motor.   
     
     
         10 . The cleaner system of  claim 9 , wherein the cleaner further comprises a battery configured to supply power to the suction motor, and
 wherein when the cleaner is coupled to the cleaner station, the battery is positioned to be farther from the ground surface than is the imaginary suction motor axis defined by extending the axis of the suction motor.   
     
     
         11 . A cleaner system comprising:
 a cleaner comprising:
 a suction part having a suction flow path through which air flows; 
 a suction motor configured to generate a suction force for sucking the air along the suction part; 
 a dust bin configured to store dust separated from the air introduced through the suction part; and 
 a handle; and 
   a cleaner station comprising:
 a housing configured to define an external appearance; 
 a coupling part to which the dust bin is coupled; 
 a dust collecting part which is disposed to be closer to a ground surface than is the coupling part; and 
 a dust suction module having a dust collecting motor which is disposed to be closer to the ground surface than is the dust collecting part and configured to generate a suction force for sucking the dust in the dust bin into the dust collecting part, 
   wherein when the cleaner is coupled to the cleaner station, an included angle between an imaginary suction motor axis defined by extending an axis of the suction motor and an imaginary dust collecting motor axis defined by extending an axis of the dust collecting motor is 40 degrees or more and 95 degrees or less.   
     
     
         12 . A cleaner system comprising:
 a cleaner comprising:
 a suction part having a suction flow path through which air flows; 
 a main body having a dust separating part having at least one cyclone part; and 
 a dust bin configured to store dust separated by the dust separating part; and 
   a cleaner station comprising:
 a dust collecting part into which the dust in the dust bin is collected; 
 a dust collecting motor configured to generate a suction force for sucking the dust in the dust bin into the dust collecting part; and 
 a housing configured to accommodate therein the dust collecting part and the dust collecting motor in a longitudinal direction, 
   wherein when the main body of the cleaner is coupled to the cleaner station, a longitudinal axis of the dust bin and a longitudinal axis of the cleaner station intersect each other.   
     
     
         13 . A cleaner system comprising:
 a main body of a cleaner comprising:
 a suction part having a suction flow path through which air flows; 
 a dust separating part having at least one cyclone part; 
 a suction motor configured to generate a suction force for sucking the air along the suction part; and 
 a dust bin configured to store dust separated by the dust separating part; and 
   a cleaner station comprising:
 a coupling part to which the dust bin is coupled; 
 a dust collecting part into which the dust in the dust bin is collected; 
 a dust collecting motor configured to generate a suction force for sucking the dust in the dust bin into the dust collecting part; and 
 a housing configured to accommodate therein the dust collecting part and the dust collecting motor in a longitudinal direction, 
   wherein the main body of the cleaner is moved in a direction intersecting a longitudinal direction of the suction part and coupled to the coupling part.   
     
     
         14 . A cleaner system comprising:
 a cleaner comprising:
 a suction part; 
 a suction motor configured to generate a suction force for sucking air along the suction part; 
 a dust separating part configured to separate dust from the air introduced through the suction part; 
 a dust bin configured to store the dust separated by the dust separating part; and 
 a discharge cover configured to selectively open or close a lower side of the dust bin; and 
   a cleaner station comprising:
 a coupling part to which the dust bin is coupled; 
 a cover opening unit configured to separate the discharge cover from the dust bin; and 
 a dust collecting part disposed below the coupling part, 
   wherein when the discharge cover is separated from the dust bin, the dust in the dust bin is captured into the dust collecting part by gravity.   
     
     
         15 . The cleaner system of  claim 14 , wherein the cleaner comprises a hinge part configured to rotate the discharge cover with respect to the dust bin, and a coupling lever configured to couple the discharge cover to the dust bin, the cover opening unit selectively opens or closes the lower side of the dust bin by separating the coupling lever from the dust bin, and the dust in the dust bin is captured into the dust collecting part by impact that occurs when the discharge cover is separated from the dust bin. 
     
     
         16 . The cleaner system of  claim 14 , wherein the cleaner station comprises:
 a door configured to couple the discharge cover, separated from the dust bin, to the dust bin; and   a door motor configured to rotate the door to one side.   
     
     
         17 . A cleaner system comprising:
 a first cleaner comprising:
 a suction part; 
 a suction motor configured to generate a suction force for sucking air along the suction part; 
 a dust separating part configured to separate dust from the air introduced through the suction part; 
 a dust bin configured to store the dust separated by the dust separating part; and 
 a discharge cover configured to selectively open or close a lower side of the dust bin; 
   a second cleaner configured to travel in a movement space; and   a cleaner station comprising:
 a coupling part to which the dust bin of the first cleaner is coupled; 
 a cover opening unit configured to separate the discharge cover of the first cleaner from the dust bin; 
 a dust collecting part disposed below the coupling part; 
 a dust suction module connected to the dust collecting part; 
 a first cleaner flow path part configured to connect the dust bin of the first cleaner to the dust collecting part; 
 a second cleaner flow path part configured to connect the second cleaner to the dust collecting part; and 
 a flow path switching valve configured to selectively open or close the first cleaner flow path part and the second cleaner flow path part. 
   
     
     
         18 . A method of controlling a cleaner station, the method comprising:
 a dust bin fixing step of fixing a dust bin of a cleaner to the cleaner station when the cleaner is coupled to the cleaner station;   a cover opening step of opening a discharge cover configured to open or close the dust bin when the dust bin is fixed; and   a dust collecting step of collecting a dust in the dust bin by operating a dust collecting motor of the cleaner station when the discharge cover is opened.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a door opening step of opening a door of the cleaner station when the dust bin is fixed.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a coupling checking step of checking whether the first cleaner is coupled to a coupling part of the cleaner station.