Cleaner station

Abstract

Disclosed is a cleaner station including a first station with which a hand vacuum cleaner can be combined and a second station with which a robotic vacuum cleaner can be combined. The first station may include a first suction portion which sucks dust from a dust bin of the hand vacuum cleaner. The second station may include a second suction portion which sucks dust from a dust bin of the robotic vacuum cleaner. The cleaner station may include a dust inlet where the dust sucked by the first suction portion and the second suction portion is discharged. The cleaner station may include a dust storage box which communicates with the dust inlet and receives the dust sucked by the first suction portion and the second suction portion.

1 . A cleaner station to receive a at least one of a first vacuum cleaner or a second vacuum cleaner, the cleaner station comprising:
 a first station which receives the vacuum cleaner;   a second station which receives the second vacuum cleaner;   a first suction port which is provided in the first station and communicates with a dust bin of the first vacuum cleaner based on the first vacuum cleaner being received in the first station;   a second suction port which is provided in the second station and communicates with a dust bin of the second vacuum cleaner based on second vacuum cleaner being received in the second station;   a dust storage box including a dust inlet that receives dust from at least one of the first suction port or the second suction port; and   a suction motor that generates an air flow to suction dust through the at least one of the first suction port or the second suction port.   
     
     
         2 . The cleaner station of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a first flow path which communicates with the first suction port;   a second flow path which communicates with the second suction port;   a third flow path that communicates with the first flow path and the second flow path and with the dust inlet.   
     
     
         3 . The cleaner station of  claim 2 , comprising a flow path switch which selectively opens and closes the first flow path and the second flow path based on whether the first vacuum cleaner is received in the first station and the second vacuum cleaner is received in the second station. 
     
     
         4 . The cleaner station of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the first station includes a separated space that receives a suction tube of the first vacuum cleaner, and   wherein the first vacuum cleaner includes a first dust bin and a second dust bin which are provided on respective sides of the suction tube of the first vacuum cleaner, and the first station includes a first holder and a second holder positioned at corresponding sides of the separated space to receive, respectively, the first dust bin and the second dust bin.   
     
     
         5 . The cleaner station of  claim 4 ,
 wherein the first station includes a plurality of the first suction ports that are provided at the first holder and the second holder, and   wherein the first flow path includes a Y-shaped flow path having ends that are respectively connected to the first suction ports that are provided at the holder and the second holder of the first station.   
     
     
         6 . The cleaner station of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the dust storage box includes a dust bag that is detachably coupled to the dust inlet, and   wherein the dust bag comprises a filter that filters dust from air introduced into the dust inlet.   
     
     
         7 . The cleaner station of  claim 1 , further comprising an exhaust port which exhausts dust-filtered air. 
     
     
         8 . The cleaner station of  claim 1 , comprising a space to receive the dust storage box, the space being opened and closed at one side thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The cleaner station of  claim 1 , further comprising a seal provided at at least one of the dust inlet, the first suction port, or the second suction port. 
     
     
         10 . The cleaner station of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first station provides power to the first vacuum cleaner when received in the first station, and   wherein the second station provides power to the second vacuum cleaner when received in the second station.   
     
     
         11 . The cleaner station of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the flow path switch includes an opening closing plate which includes a communication hole and is movable slidingly, and   wherein, when the first flow path is opened, the opening closing plate is disposed such that the communication hole is located between the first flow path and the third flow path.   
     
     
         12 . The cleaner station of  claim 11 , wherein a shape of the communication hole corresponds to a shape of an end of the first flow path. 
     
     
         13 . The cleaner station of  claim 11 , wherein, when the second flow path is opened, the opening closing plate is disposed such that the communication hole is positioned away from the first flow path and the third flow path. 
     
     
         14 . The cleaner station of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the flow path switch includes:
 a seal which is selectively coupled to the first flow path or the second flow path and closes the first flow path or the second flow path; and 
 a link which is connected to the seal and rotates the seal, and 
   wherein the seal has a cross-section area larger than those of ends of the first flow path and the second flow path.   
     
     
         15 . The cleaner station of  claim 14 , wherein the seal remains coupled to one of the first flow path or the second flow path during operation of the suction motor. 
     
     
         16 . The cleaner station of  claim 14 ,
 wherein the flow path switch further includes:
 a link housing to which the link fixedly coupled; and 
 a switching motor which provides power for rotating the seal, and 
   wherein the seal includes at least one partition which sets a rotatable region of the link.   
     
     
         17 . The cleaner station of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a saw or a blade which cuts foreign substances sucked through the first suction port or the second suction port. 
     
     
         18 . The cleaner station of  claim 1 , wherein the first vacuum cleaner is a manual vacuum cleaner and the second vacuum cleaner is a robotic vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
         19 . The cleaner station of  claim 1 , wherein the first station is provided on an upper portion of the cleaner station, and the second station is provided on a lower portion of the cleaner station. 
     
     
         20 . A cleaner station to receive a first vacuum cleaner and a second vacuum cleaner, the cleaner station comprising:
 a first station which receives the first vacuum cleaner;   a second station which receives the second vacuum cleaner;   a first suction port which is provided in the first station and communicates with a dust bin of the first vacuum cleaner;   a dust storage box that communicates with the first suction port; and   a suction motor that generates an air flow to suction dust from the first suction port and to the dust storage box,   wherein the first station provides power to the first vacuum cleaner when received in the first station, and the second station provides power to the second vacuum cleaner when received in the second station.