Vacuum cleaner station

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a cleaner station including a flow path switching module configured to selectively connect a dust collecting part to a first cleaner flow path or a second cleaner flow path, and a control unit disposed in a housing and configured to control at least any one of a dust collecting motor and the flow path switching module, in which before the dust collecting motor operates, the control unit operates the flow path switching module at least one or more times and couples a connection hose to a cleaner flow path connection portion to which the corresponding cleaner is coupled between first and second cleaner flow path connection portions, such that a user does not need to manually switch the cleaner flow path, the flow path may be automatically switched, and dust does not scatter during a process of switching the flow path.

1 . A cleaner station comprising:
 a housing configured to define an external shape and having a space therein, at least any one of a first cleaner and a second cleaner being coupled to the housing;   a first cleaner flow path disposed in the housing and connected to a dust bin of the first cleaner;   a second cleaner flow path disposed in the housing and connected to a dust bin of the second cleaner;   a dust collecting part disposed in the housing and configured to capture dust in the dust bin of the first cleaner or the second cleaner;   a dust collecting motor disposed in the housing and configured to generate a suction force for sucking dust in the dust bin;   a flow path switching module configured to selectively connect the dust collecting part to the first cleaner flow path or the second cleaner flow path; and   a control unit disposed in the housing and configured to control at least any one of the dust collecting motor and the flow path switching module,   wherein the control unit operates the flow path switching module at least one or more times before the dust collecting motor operates.   
     
     
         2 . The cleaner station of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a charging part electrically connected to at least any one of the first cleaner and the second cleaner,   wherein the control unit operates the flow path switching module when an electric current flows to the charging part.   
     
     
         3 . The cleaner station of  claim 2 , wherein the flow path switching module comprises:
 a casing disposed in the housing and having a first cleaner flow path connection portion connected to the first cleaner flow path, and a second cleaner flow path connection portion connected to the second cleaner flow path;   a connection hose disposed in the casing and having an inlet selectively coupled to any one of the first cleaner flow path connection portion and the second cleaner flow path connection portion; and   a position sensor disposed in the casing and configured to detect a position of the connection hose and transmit a signal to the control unit, and   wherein the control unit stops an operation of the flow path switching module when the control unit receives the signal from the position sensor.   
     
     
         4 . The cleaner station of  claim 3 , wherein the position sensor comprises:
 a first position sensor disposed at one side of the first cleaner flow path connection portion and configured to transmit a signal to the control unit when the inlet of the connection hose is coupled to the first cleaner flow path connection portion; and   a second position sensor disposed at one side of the second cleaner flow path connection portion and configured to transmit a signal to the control unit when the inlet of the connection hose is coupled to the second cleaner flow path connection portion.   
     
     
         5 . The cleaner station of  claim 1 , wherein the flow path switching module comprises:
 a casing disposed in the housing and having a first cleaner flow path connection portion connected to the first cleaner flow path, and a second cleaner flow path connection portion connected to the second cleaner flow path; and   a connection hose disposed in the casing and having an inlet selectively coupled to any one of the first cleaner flow path connection portion and the second cleaner flow path connection portion, and   wherein the control unit couples the connection hose to a cleaner flow path connection portion to which the corresponding cleaner is coupled between the first and second cleaner flow path connection portions.   
     
     
         6 . The cleaner station of  claim 5 , wherein the control unit couples the connection hose to the first cleaner flow path connection portion when the first cleaner and the second cleaner are coupled to the housing before the dust collecting motor operates. 
     
     
         7 . The cleaner station of  claim 5 , wherein the control unit couples the connection hose to the second cleaner flow path connection portion when the second cleaner is coupled to the housing before the dust collecting motor operates and when the first cleaner is coupled to the housing after the dust collecting motor operates. 
     
     
         8 . The cleaner station of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a coupling part disposed in the housing so that the first cleaner is coupled to the coupling part; and   a coupling sensor disposed in the coupling part and configured to transmit a signal to the control unit when the first cleaner approaches the coupling sensor,   wherein the control unit operates the flow path switching module when the control unit receives the signal from the coupling sensor.   
     
     
         9 . The cleaner station of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fixing unit disposed in the housing and configured to fix the first cleaner to the housing when the first cleaner is coupled to the housing,   wherein the control unit operates the flow path switching module before the fixing unit operates.   
     
     
         10 . The cleaner station of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cover opening unit disposed in the housing and configured to open a discharge cover of the dust bin of the first cleaner,   wherein the control unit operates the flow path switching module before the cover opening unit operates.   
     
     
         11 . The cleaner station of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a door unit disposed in the housing and configured to open or close the first cleaner flow path,   wherein the control unit operates the flow path switching module before the door unit operates.   
     
     
         12 . A method of controlling a cleaner station, the method comprising:
 a coupling checking step of checking whether at least any one of a first cleaner and a second cleaner is coupled to a housing;   a flow path connecting step of selectively connecting a dust collecting part to a first cleaner flow path or a second cleaner flow path by operating a flow path switching module disposed between the dust collecting part configured to capture dust, the first cleaner flow path connected to a dust bin of the first cleaner, and the second cleaner flow path connected to a dust bin of the second cleaner; and   a dust collecting step of collecting dust in the dust bin into the dust collecting part by operating a dust collecting motor disposed in the housing.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the coupling checking step comprises determining that at least any one of the first cleaner and the second cleaner is coupled to the housing when an electric current flows to at least any one of the first cleaner and the second cleaner in the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the flow path connecting step comprises connecting the dust collecting part to the cleaner flow path to which the corresponding cleaner is coupled between the first and second cleaner flow paths. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the flow path connecting step comprises connecting the dust collecting part to the first cleaner flow path when the first cleaner and the second cleaner are coupled to the housing in the coupling checking step. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the dust collecting part is connected to the second cleaner flow path when the second cleaner is coupled to the housing in the coupling checking step and the first cleaner is coupled to the housing after the dust collecting step is initiated.