Cleaning system for self-moving cleaning device and cleaning method thereof

Abstract

The present invention involves a washing device and a cleaning method for cleaning self-moving cleaning devices. The cleaning method includes: moving the self-moving cleaning device towards the washing device, and causing a first side of the self-moving cleaning device to be aligned with the washing device, wherein the self-moving cleaning device includes a mop; and moving a mop to a location over a cleaning unit of the washing device, and cleaning the mop of the cleaning member of the cleaning unit, including, during a first period, causing the cleaning unit in a first direction over the first side; and during a second period, causing the self-moving cleaning device to move in a second direction different from the first direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a washing device, comprising:
 moving a self-moving cleaning device toward the washing device and aligning a first side of the self-moving cleaning device with the washing device, wherein the self-moving cleaning device comprises a first mop; and   moving the first mop of the self-moving cleaning device to be over a cleaning unit of the washing device, and cleaning the first mop using a cleaning member of the cleaning unit, including:
 during a first period, moving the cleaning unit in a first direction to be under the first mop; and 
 during a second period, causing the self-moving cleaning device to move in a second direction different from the first direction. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other; and   the cleaning unit is configured to move in a third direction relative to the self-moving cleaning device, wherein the third direction is consistent with a first edge contour of the first mop.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a cleaning route, relative to the self-moving cleaning device, of the cleaning unit during cleaning is formed of a plurality of connected cleaning segments, and a shape of the cleaning route corresponds to a first edge contour of the first mop. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein control signals associated with a formation of a present one of the plurality of cleaning segments are transmitted to the cleaning unit and the self-moving cleaning device, during a period for proceeding with a previous one of the plurality of cleaning segments before the present one of the plurality of cleaning segments. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the cleaning unit further comprises a water outlet configured to spray cleaning liquid in a direction facing the first mop,   the self-moving cleaning device comprises a first infrared module,   the washing device comprises a second infrared module,   the aligning of the first side of the self-moving cleaning device with the washing device is performed via the first infrared module and the second infrared module, and   the method further comprises using the first infrared module and the second infrared module to transmit the control signals of the cleaning unit and the self-moving cleaning device,   wherein the control signals include information on at least one of a displacement, a moving direction, and a moving speed.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first period does not overlap the second period so that when the cleaning unit is configured to move in the first direction, the self-moving cleaning device is kept still, or when the self-moving cleaning device is configured to move in the second direction, the cleaning unit is kept still. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first period overlaps the second period with at least an overlapping portion of the first period; and   during the overlapping portion of the first period, when the cleaning unit is configured to move in the first direction, the self-moving cleaning device is configured to simultaneously move in the second direction.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 causing the self-moving cleaning device to exit from the washing device;   aligning a second side of the self-moving cleaning device with the washing device, wherein the self-moving cleaning device includes a second mop; and   moving the second mop of the self-moving cleaning device to be above the cleaning unit of the washing device, and cleaning the second mop by the cleaning member of the cleaning unit.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein a length of the cleaning member measured in the second direction is less than a length of the first mop or the second mop measured in the second direction. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the first side of the self-moving cleaning device is a rear side of the self-moving cleaning device and the second side of the self-moving cleaning device is a front side, or   the first side of the self-moving cleaning device is the front side of the self-moving cleaning device and the second side is the rear side of the self-moving cleaning device.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the cleaning unit comprises a roller brush, and the roller brush includes the cleaning member; and   during the cleaning of the first mop with the cleaning member of the roller brush of the cleaning unit, the roller brush contacts the first mop and rotates.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the roller brush further comprises a brush shaft configured to support the cleaning member, and the cleaning member includes scraping strips or bristles extending outward along a surface of the cleaning member. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the cleaning unit comprises a cleaning tank configured to accommodate the roller brush, and the cleaning tank has an opening disposed at a bottom thereof, the opening overlapping the cleaning member. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein a rotational speed of the roller brush and a moving speed of the cleaning unit in the first direction are independent of each other. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the washing device comprises a toothed rack, and the cleaning unit comprises a driving assembly configured to move the cleaning unit along the first direction, wherein the cleaning unit further comprises a sliding block connected to the driving assembly, wherein when the cleaning unit is configured to move along the first direction, the sliding block presses against the toothed rack and slides along the first direction. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the toothed rack comprises a sliding rail, and the sliding block is configured to engage the sliding rail to slide along the first direction. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the toothed rack is connected to one side of the cleaning unit, and the driving assembly is configured to drive the cleaning unit to move on the toothed rack via a single side of the cleaning unit. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the sliding block has a length substantially equal to that of the driving assembly measured in the first direction. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning unit forms an included angle with a bottom of a base of the washing device in the second direction. 
     
     
         20 . A cleaning system, comprising a self-moving cleaning device and a washing device for cleaning the self-moving cleaning device, wherein the self-moving cleaning device includes a mop, and the washing device includes:
 a clean water tank configured to store cleaning liquid;   a base arranged on one side of the clean water tank;   a cleaning unit, including:
 a driving assembly adjacent to the base and configured to move on the base in a first direction; 
 a water outlet configured to spray the cleaning liquid in a direction away from the base; and 
 a cleaning member extending in a second direction and configured to clean the mop of the self-moving cleaning device; and 
   a sewage tank, configured to collect the cleaning liquid sprayed from the water outlet when the cleaning unit is configured to clean the mop,   wherein the washing device and the self-moving cleaning device are configured to communicate with each other and perform the method according to  claim 1 .