Vacuum cleaner station

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a cleaner station, and a flow path switching module according to the present disclosure includes a casing, a connection hose having an inlet configured to move along an inner peripheral surface of the casing, the connection hose being coupled selectively to any one of a first cleaner flow path connection portion and a second cleaner flow path connection portion, a switching motor disposed at one side of the casing and configured to generate power, a sensing part coupled to the switching motor and protruding toward one side, a driving cam configured to transmit power to the connection hose, and a position sensor disposed at one side of the sensing part and including a switch configured to be turned on or off by the sensing part, the position sensor being configured to detect a position of the connection hose, such that even though a user does not manually reassemble the connection hose, the first link and the second link moves the connection hose and couples the connection hose to the first cleaner flow path connection portion or the second cleaner flow path connection portion, and whether the connection hose is coupled to the first cleaner connection flow path or the second cleaner connection flow path may be easily determined.

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; and   a flow path switching module configured to connect a dust collecting part, which is disposed in the housing, selectively to the first cleaner flow path or the second cleaner flow path,   wherein the flow path switching module comprises:   a casing 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 having an inlet configured to move along an inner peripheral surface of the casing, the connection hose being selectively coupled to any one of the first cleaner flow path connection portion and the second cleaner flow path connection portion;   a switching motor disposed at one side of the casing and configured to generate power;   a driving cam coupled to the switching motor and comprising a sensing part protruding toward one side, the driving cam being configured to transmit the power to the connection hose; and   a position sensor disposed at one side of the sensing part and comprising a switch configured to be turned on or off by the sensing part, the position sensor being configured to detect a position of the connection hose.   
     
     
         2 . The cleaner station of  claim 1 , wherein the sensing part protrudes outward in a radial direction of a shaft of the switching motor and has an end tightly attached to the switch of the position sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The cleaner station of  claim 1 , wherein the sensing part comprises:
 a first surface protruding radially outward and having an outer end configured to press the switch of the position sensor and turn on the position sensor; and   a second surface disposed at one side of the first surface and less protruding radially outward than the first surface, the second surface being configured to turn off the position sensor.   
     
     
         4 . The cleaner station of  claim 1 , wherein the sensing part comprises:
 a first surface protruding radially outward and extending in a circumferential direction by less than a predetermined length, the first surface being configured to turn on the position sensor; and   a third surface disposed at one side of the first surface and protruding radially outward, the third surface extending in the circumferential direction by more than the predetermined length and configured to turn on the position sensor.   
     
     
         5 . The cleaner station of  claim 4 , wherein the sensing part comprises a second surface disposed between the first surface and the third surface and less protruding radially outward than the first surface, the second surface being configured to turn off the position sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The cleaner station of  claim 5 , wherein the second surface extends in the circumferential direction by more than the predetermined length. 
     
     
         7 . The cleaner station of  claim 1 , wherein the flow path switching module comprises a first link having one side rotatably coupled to the casing, and the other side coupled to the connection hose, and
 wherein the driving cam comprises a gear portion connected to the first link and configured to transmit power to the first link.   
     
     
         8 . The cleaner station of  claim 7 , wherein a connection portion between the first link and the casing is disposed opposite to a connection portion between the first link and the connection hose based on an imaginary line extending in a longitudinal direction of the connection hose. 
     
     
         9 . The cleaner station of  claim 1 , wherein the driving cam comprises a stopper disposed at one side of the sensing part, protruding radially, and configured to prevent the driving cam from rotating at a limited angle or more. 
     
     
         10 . 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 flow path switching module configured to connect a dust collecting part, which is disposed in the housing, selectively to the first cleaner flow path or the second cleaner flow path; and   a control unit configured to control the flow path switching module,   wherein the flow path switching module comprises:   a connection hose selectively connected to any one of the first cleaner flow path and the second cleaner flow path; and   a position sensor comprising a switch configured to be turned on or off, the position sensor being configured to transmit a first signal to the control unit when the switch is turned on, and transmit a second signal to the control unit when the switch is turned off, and   wherein the control unit determines a position of the connection hose on the basis of a length of the signal received from the position sensor.   
     
     
         11 . The cleaner station of  claim 10 , wherein the control unit determines that the connection hose is connected to the first cleaner flow path when the control unit receives the first signal from the position sensor continuously for a predetermined time or more, and
 wherein the control unit determines that the connection hose is connected to the second flow path when the control unit receives the second signal from the position sensor continuously for the predetermined time or more.   
     
     
         12 . The cleaner station of  claim 10 , wherein the control unit determines that the connection hose is connected to any one of the first cleaner flow path and the second cleaner flow path when the control unit receives any one of the first signal and the second signal multiple times. 
     
     
         13 . The cleaner station of  claim 10 , wherein the control unit determines that the connection hose is connected to any one of the first cleaner flow path and the second cleaner flow path when a receiving time of the first signal and a receiving time of the second signal are equal to each other before a final signal is received. 
     
     
         14 . The cleaner station of  claim 10 , wherein the flow path switching module comprises:
 a casing in which the connection hose is disposed;   a first link having one side rotatably coupled to the casing, and the other side coupled to an inlet of the connection hose;   a switching motor disposed at one side of the casing and configured to generate power; and   a driving cam coupled to the switching motor and configured to transmit the power to the first link.   
     
     
         15 . The cleaner station of  claim 14 , wherein the flow path switching module comprises:
 a stopper configured to prevent the driving cam from rotating at a limited angle or more; and   a stop sensor configured to detect a position of the stopper and transmit a signal to the control unit when the position of the stopper is detected, and   wherein the control unit determines that the connection hose is connected to any one of the first cleaner flow path and the second cleaner flow path when the control unit simultaneously receives a signal from the position sensor and receives a signal from the stop sensor.