US5720077A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Running robot carrying out prescribed work using working member and method of working using the same
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1995-05-26
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Granted: 1998-02-24
•
Expires: 2015-05-26
Abstract
Abstract A running member is attached rotatably to a body member, and a working member is attached movably to the body member. Therefore, in a large area, a work can be carried out efficiently even in a corner portion, and a desired work can be implemented even in a narrowed portion by shifting the working member to a working area and directly operating the working member in the narrowed portion.
Inventors
- 👤 Kyoko Nakamura
- 👤 Hideaki Nakanishi
- 👤 Yuichi Kawakami
- 👤 Nobukazu Kawagoe
- 👤 Shigeru Oyokota
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:07
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47L; A47L11/00; A47L11/40; A47L11/4061; B; B25; B25J; B25J9/00; B25J9/0003; A47L2201/00; A47L2201/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A running robot, comprising: a running member having a driving mechanism and a wheel; a body member being rotatably coupled with said running member; and a working member projecting from said body member along a projected direction, said working member being shiftable with respect to said body member in a shifting direction that is perpendicular to the projected direction and is parallel to a floor on which the running robot is used.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
72 words
A running robot, comprising: a running member having a driving mechanism and a wheel; a body member being rotatably coupled with said running member; and a working member projecting from said body member along a projected direction, said working member being shiftable with respect to said body member in a shifting direction that is perpendicular to the projected direction and is parallel to a floor on which the running robot is used.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The running robot as claimed in claim 1, wherein said working member is elongate in a direction perpendicular to the shifting direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The running robot as claimed in claim 1, wherein said working member is elongate in a direction parallel to the shifting direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The running robot as claimed in claim 1, wherein said running member is equipped with a pair of drive wheels which are arranged on a first line and which are rotated independently on a central axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The running robot as claimed in claim 4, wherein said running member is further equipped with a steering wheel for changing a moving direction of said running robot.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The running robot as claimed in claim 4, wherein said running member is further equipped with a pair of steering wheels which are arranged on a second line perpendicular to the first line, and are turned oppositely each other in a plane parallel to a floor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The running robot as claimed in claim 6, further comprising means for holding the pair of steering wheels in a direction orthogonal to the second line and for rotating the pair of drive wheels in an opposite direction for turning the running robot around its central axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The running robot as claimed in claim 6, further comprising means for holding the pair of steering wheels in a direction parallel to the second line and for rotating the pair of drive wheels in a same direction when the running member advances the running robot straight.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The running robot as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a suspension mechanism which supports at least one drive wheel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The running robot as claimed in claim 1, wherein said working member cleans a floor on which said running robot stands.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The running robot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body member is rotated with respect to the running member by means of a bearing mechanism and a motor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The running robot as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a potentiometer which detects a rotation angle of the body member with respect to the running member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The running robot as claimed in claim 11, wherein the motor is a stepping motor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The running robot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the working member has at least one contact sensor on its outer surface, said contact sensor sensing contact of the working member with an obstacle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The running robot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the working member has at least one distance sensor on its outer surface, said distance sensor measuring a distance to an obstacle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The running robot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the working member is a cleaner.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The running robot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body member has almost the same size in length and width as the running member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The running robot as claimed in claim 17, wherein the working member is a cleaner.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
72 words
A running robot, comprising: a running member having a driving mechanism and means for moving the running member along a floor; a body member being rotatably coupled with said running member; and a working member projecting from said body member along a projected direction, said working member being shiftable with respect to the body member in a shifting direction that is perpendicular to the projected direction and is parallel to the floor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
72 words
A running robot, comprising: a running member having a driving mechanism and means for moving the running member along a floor; a body member being rotatably coupled with said running member; and a working member projecting from said body member along a projected direction, said working member being shiftable with respect to the body member in a shifting direction that is perpendicular to the projected direction and is parallel to the floor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-02-23 | 2001-08-25 | 2002-02-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-02-23 | 2005-08-25 | 2006-02-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-02-23 | 2009-08-25 | 2010-02-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |