US 12,004,703 B2
Cleaning apparatus having vacuum cleaner and docking station
See Hyun Kim, Suwon-si (KR); In Gyu Choi, Suwon-si (KR); Ki Hwan Kwon, Suwon-si (KR); Shin Kim, Suwon-si (KR); Hyeon Cheol Kim, Suwon-si (KR); Do Kyung Lee, Suwon-si (KR); Hyun Ju Lee, Suwon-si (KR); Yun Soo Jang, Suwon-si (KR); Seung Ryong Cha, Suwon-si (KR); and Jung Gyun Han, Suwon-si (KR)
Assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Suwon-si (KR)
Filed by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Suwon-si (KR)
Filed on May 13, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/319,644.
Application 17/319,644 is a continuation of application No. 17/092,822, filed on Nov. 9, 2020, granted, now 11,337,573.
Application 17/092,822 is a continuation of application No. PCT/KR2019/017587, filed on Dec. 12, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2018-0162375 (KR), filed on Dec. 14, 2018; application No. 10-2019-0074217 (KR), filed on Jun. 21, 2019; application No. 10-2019-0110291 (KR), filed on Sep. 5, 2019; and application No. 10-2019-0158871 (KR), filed on Dec. 3, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0259490 A1, Aug. 26, 2021
Int. Cl. A47L 9/16 (2006.01); A47L 5/18 (2006.01); A47L 9/00 (2006.01); A47L 9/14 (2006.01); A47L 9/28 (2006.01); A47L 9/30 (2006.01)
CPC A47L 9/149 (2013.01) [A47L 5/18 (2013.01); A47L 9/0009 (2013.01); A47L 9/1608 (2013.01); A47L 9/1683 (2013.01); A47L 9/2894 (2013.01); A47L 9/30 (2013.01); A47L 9/2873 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cleaning system comprising:
a vacuum cleaner comprising a dust collecting chamber capable of collecting foreign substances; and
a dust collecting station connectable to the vacuum cleaner and configured to remove the foreign substances collected in the dust collecting chamber,
wherein the dust collecting station comprises:
a seating portion comprising an opening configured to communicate with an inside of the dust collecting chamber, the dust collecting chamber being configured to be seated on the seating portion while the vacuum cleaner and the dust collecting station are connected;
a suction device configured to generate a suction airflow to discharge the foreign substances from the dust collecting chamber through the opening of the seating portion, wherein a flow path is formed between the opening of the seating portion and the suction device while the suction airflow is generated;
a collecting portion arranged between the opening of the seating portion and the suction device, the collecting portion being configured to collect the foreign substances from the dust collecting chamber through the opening of the seating portion; and
a flow path control device arranged adjacent to the opening, the flow path control device comprising a flow path cover positioned in the dust collecting station at a location where the vacuum cleaner connects with the dust collecting station, the flow path cover being configured to block at least a portion of the flow path while the vacuum cleaner and the dust collecting station are connected and while the suction device generates the suction airflow for discharging the foreign substances from the dust collecting chamber of the vacuum cleaner to the collecting portion of the dust collecting station,
wherein the flow path control device includes a cover driver configured to move the flow path cover to block at least the portion of the flow path, and
wherein the cover driver comprises:
a drive motor configured to generate a driving force; and
a cover driving member configured to press a first side portion of the flow path cover by the driving force of the drive motor.