Self-propelled vacuum cleaner

Abstract

An autonomous vacuum cleaner that can reduce the footprint in a standby state is provided. An autonomous vacuum cleaner ( 1 ) includes a vacuum cleaner body ( 2 ) and a charging station ( 6 ). The charging station ( 6 ) has a hook ( 64 ) that latches a latched member ( 16 ) provided to a rear side of the vacuum cleaner body ( 2 ), and a lift driver ( 61 ) that raises and lowers the hook ( 64 ), and is configured to be capable of storing the vacuum cleaner body ( 2 ) in a standing state where the vacuum cleaner body ( 2 ) is hoisted and the rear side is oriented upward.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An autonomous vacuum cleaner capable of cleaning while travelling along a floor surface, comprising:
 a vacuum cleaner body including a cleaning means configured to suck up dirt and the like on the floor surface; and   a storage device for storing the vacuum cleaner body during non-cleaning time, wherein   the storage device includes:
 a latch configured to latch a part of one end side of the vacuum cleaner body; and 
 a lift means configured to raise and lower the latch, and 
   the autonomous vacuum cleaner is configured to be capable of storing the vacuum cleaner body in a standing state where the vacuum cleaner body is hoisted and the one end side is oriented upward, by causing the lift means to raise the latch latching the part of the vacuum cleaner body.   
     
     
         2 . The autonomous vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the storage device includes a charging means for charging the vacuum cleaner body, and   the latch functions as a feeder terminal to feed power from the charging means to the vacuum cleaner body.   
     
     
         3 . The autonomous vacuum cleaner according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the charging means includes a power feeder capable of feeding power in contact with the latch, and   the power feeder is configured including: a first terminal capable of coming into contact with the latch at a latch position before hoisting the vacuum cleaner body; and a second terminal capable of coming into contact with the latch at a storage position after hoisting the vacuum cleaner body.   
     
     
         4 . The autonomous vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the storage device includes a detection means configured to detect whether or not the vacuum cleaner body is at a predetermined hoistable position, and   on the basis of the detection by the detection means, the lift means keeps the latch down at a retracted position until the vacuum cleaner body comes to the predetermined position, and raises the latch to the latch position upon the vacuum cleaner body coming to the predetermined position.   
     
     
         5 . The autonomous vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein the lift means raises and lowers the latch along a backward and upward inclined direction with respect to the vacuum cleaner body. 
     
     
         6 . The autonomous vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein the storage device includes a slope configured to guide the one end side of the vacuum cleaner body obliquely upward until the vacuum cleaner body comes to the predetermined hoistable position. 
     
     
         7 . The autonomous vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the latch includes an extension piece extending toward the vacuum cleaner body,   a latch recess recessed in an arc shape is formed in a top surface of the extension piece, and   the part of the vacuum cleaner body is provided with a latched member formed into a columnar shape with a smaller diameter than that of the latch recess, the latched member being configured to be latched in the latch recess.   
     
     
         8 . The autonomous vacuum cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the vacuum cleaner body and the storage device is provided with a guide means configured to roll or slide and guide the other end side of the vacuum cleaner body midway through the hoist.