Cleaning robot and cleaning device comprising same

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a robot cleaner. According to an example, the robot cleaner may include a robot cleaner body, a pad support module detachably connected to a lower surface of the robot cleaner body and having a bottom to which a pad is attachable, and a driving motor accommodated in the robot cleaner body. The robot cleaner body may further include a first drive shaft disposed on the lower surface of the robot cleaner body and configured to rotate about a first direction by receiving power from the driving motor, and a first power transmission unit extending along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and arranged to be fixed to one end of the first drive shaft.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A robot cleaner comprising:
 a robot cleaner body;   a pad support module detachably connected to a lower surface of the robot cleaner body and having a bottom to which a pad is attachable;   a driving motor accommodated in the robot cleaner body;   a first drive shaft disposed on the lower surface of the robot cleaner body and configured to rotate about a first direction by receiving power from the driving motor;   a first power transmission unit extending along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and arranged to be fixed to one end of the first drive shaft;   a second drive shaft arranged to be fixed to an upper portion of the pad support module and configure to rotate about the first direction together with the pad support module by receiving power from the first power transmission unit;   an accommodating groove disposed in an upper portion of the second drive shaft and into which the first drive shaft and the first power transmission unit are inserted;   a guide portion disposed below the accommodating groove and configured to guide a rotation path so that the first power transmission unit rotates at a predetermined angle about the first drive shaft; and   a second power transmission unit disposed on one end of the guide portion and configured to receive power from the first power transmission unit by contacting the first power transmission unit, and rotates the second drive shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The robot cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the first drive shaft includes a cylindrical rod extending along the first direction, and
 the first power transmission unit includes a locking bar extending along the second direction.   
     
     
         3 . The robot cleaner of  claim 2 , wherein the locking bar is provided in plurality, and includes a first locking bar and a second locking bar, and
 the first locking bar and the second locking bar are arranged to face each other with the first drive shaft therebetween.   
     
     
         4 . The robot cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the second drive shaft includes a cylindrical member extending along the first direction, and
 the second power transmission unit includes a barrier wall extending along the first direction.   
     
     
         5 . The robot cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the guide portion includes an inclined portion whose height changes according to a rotation path of the first power transmission unit. 
     
     
         6 . The robot cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising an inclined groove disposed between an upper surface of the second drive shaft and the accommodating groove. 
     
     
         7 . The robot cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein the pad support module is provided in plurality, and includes a first pad support module and a second pad support module, and
 the first pad support module and the second pad support module are arranged to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance on a lower surface of the robot cleaner body.   
     
     
         8 . The robot cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to control the driving motor to operate,
 wherein the controller controls the driving motor so that the first drive shaft rotates clockwise or counterclockwise about the first direction.   
     
     
         9 . The robot cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein the controller controls the driving motor so that the first drive shaft rotates in one of a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction about the first direction, in a cleaning mode. 
     
     
         10 . The robot cleaner of  claim 9 , wherein the controller controls the driving motor so that the first drive shaft rotates in a remaining one of the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction about the first direction, in a pad replacement mode. 
     
     
         11 . A cleaning device comprising:
 a robot cleaner; and   a docking station to which the robot cleaner is connected, wherein the robot cleaner comprises:
 a robot cleaner body; 
 a pad support module detachably connected to a lower surface of the robot cleaner body and having a bottom to which a pad is attachable; 
 a driving motor accommodated in the robot cleaner body; 
 a first drive shaft disposed on the lower surface of the robot cleaner body and configured to rotate about a first direction by receiving power from the driving motor; 
 a first power transmission unit extending along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and arranged to be fixed to one end of the first drive shaft; 
 a second drive shaft arranged to be fixed to an upper portion of the pad support module and configured to rotate about the first direction together with the pad support module by receiving power from the first power transmission unit; 
 an accommodating groove disposed in an upper portion of the second drive shaft and into which the first drive shaft and the first power transmission unit are inserted; 
 a guide portion disposed below the accommodating groove and configured to guide a rotation path so that the first power transmission unit rotates at a predetermined angle about the first drive shaft; and 
 a second power transmission unit disposed on one end of the guide portion and configured to receive power from the first power transmission unit by contacting the first power transmission unit, and rotates the second drive shaft. 
   
     
     
         12 . The cleaning device of  claim 11 , further comprising a controller configured to control the driving motor to operate,
 wherein the controller controls the driving motor so that the first drive shaft rotates clockwise or counterclockwise about the first direction.   
     
     
         13 . The cleaning device of  claim 12 , wherein, as the robot cleaner is separated from the docking station, the controller controls the driving motor so that the first drive shaft rotates in one of a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction about the first direction. 
     
     
         14 . The cleaning device of  claim 13 , wherein, as the robot cleaner is coupled to the docking station, the controller controls the driving motor so that the first drive shaft rotates in a remaining one of the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction about the first direction. 
     
     
         15 . The cleaning device of  claim 11 , wherein the first drive shaft includes a cylindrical rod extending along the first direction, and
 the first power transmission unit includes a locking bar extending along the second direction.   
     
     
         16 . The cleaning device of  claim 15 , wherein the locking bar is provided in plurality, and includes a first locking bar and a second locking bar, and
 the first locking bar and the second locking bar are arranged to face each other with the first drive shaft therebetween.   
     
     
         17 . The cleaning device of  claim 11 , wherein the guide portion includes an inclined portion whose height decreases according to a rotation path of the first power transmission unit. 
     
     
         18 . The cleaning device of  claim 11 , wherein the second drive shaft includes a cylindrical member extending along the first direction, and
 the second power transmission unit includes a barrier wall extending along the first direction.   
     
     
         19 . The cleaning device of  claim 11 , wherein the robot cleaner further comprises an inclined groove disposed between an upper surface of the second drive shaft and the accommodating groove. 
     
     
         20 . The cleaning device of  claim 11 , wherein the pad support module is provided in plurality, and includes a first pad support module and a second pad support module, and
 the first pad support module and the second pad support module are arranged to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance on a lower surface of the robot cleaner body.