# US 2025/0151963 A1 · Cleaner station and cleaning device with sterilizing module

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- Number: US 2025/0151963 A1
- Document ID: US20250151963A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 19/022,024
- Filed: 2025-01-15
- Published: 2025-05-15
- Earliest claimed: 2022-10-11
- Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Donghyun LEE
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250151963A1

## CPC

- A47L 7/0061: {adapted for disinfecting or sterilising}
- A47L 7/00: Suction cleaners adapted for additional purposes (suction devices for removing ash F23J1/02); Tables with suction openings for cleaning purposes; Containers for cleaning articles by suction; Suction cleaners adapted to cleaning of brushes; Suction cleaners adapted to taking-up liquids
- A47L 9/0063: {External storing devices; Stands, casings or the like for the storage of suction cleaners}
- A47L 9/106: {Dust removal}
- A47L 9/14: Bags or the like; {Rigid filtering receptacles;} Attachment of, or closures for, bags {or receptacles}
- A47L 9/1427: {Means for mounting or attaching bags or filtering receptacles in suction cleaners; Adapters}
- A47L 9/149: {Emptying means; Reusable bags}
- A47L 9/1683: {Dust collecting chambers; Dust collecting receptacles}
- A47L 9/20: Means for cleaning filters
- A47L 9/28: Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
- A47L 9/2805: {Parameters or conditions being sensed}
- A47L 9/2836: {characterised by the parts which are controlled}
- A47L 9/2873: {Docking units or charging stations (for autonomous or robotic vacuum cleaners A47L2201/02)}
- A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation
- A61L 2/24: Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
- A61L 2/26: Accessories
- A61L 2103/23: {Containers other than laboratory or medical, e.g. bottles or mail}
- A61L 2202/11: Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps
- A61L 2202/121: Sealings, e.g. doors, covers, valves, sluices
- A61L 2202/14: Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs
- A61L 2202/16: Mobile applications, e.g. portable devices, trailers, devices mounted on vehicles
- A61L 2202/17: Combination with washing or cleaning means
- A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08)
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)

## Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a cleaner station includes a sterilization module arranged inside a main body and configured to emit ultraviolet rays into a dust bag, wherein the sterilization module includes an ultraviolet unit configured to emit ultraviolet rays into the main body, and a blocking member to selectively block the ultraviolet rays emitted by the ultraviolet unit, wherein the blocking member moves to a blocking position to block the ultraviolet rays emitted by the ultraviolet unit from entering the main body, in conjunction with a positional movement of the dust bag, when the dust bag is detached from the main body, and moves to an open position to allow the ultraviolet rays emitted by the ultraviolet unit to enter the main body, in conjunction with a positional movement of the dust bag, when the dust bag is mounted on the main body.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A cleaner station comprising:
a main body on which a dust bag is detachably mountable to collect foreign substances in the dust bag; and
a sterilization module including:
an ultraviolet unit configured to emit ultraviolet rays into the main body, and
a blocking member configured to move to
a blocking position to block the ultraviolet rays emitted by the ultraviolet unit from entering the main body, in conjunction with a positional movement of the dust bag, when the dust bag is detached from the main body, and
an open position so that the ultraviolet rays emitted by the ultraviolet unit enter the main body and the dust bag, in conjunction with a positional movement of the dust bag, when the dust bag is mounted on the main body.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The cleaner station of claim 1, wherein the sterilization module further includes:
a movement guide to guide the blocking member to be slidable, and
an elastic member to provide an elastic force to cause the blocking member to slide from the open position to the blocking position when the dust bag is detached from the main body.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The cleaner station of claim 2, wherein the sterilization module is configured so that,
when the dust bag is detached from the main body, the blocking member is released from pressure caused by the dust bag, and moves from the open position to the blocking position due to the elastic force of the elastic member, and
when the dust bag is mounted on the main body, the blocking member is pressed by the dust bag so that the blocking member moves from the blocking position to the open position.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The cleaner station of claim 3, wherein the sterilization module further includes a stopper to limit a positional movement of the blocking member.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The cleaner station of claim 1, further comprising:
the dust bag,
wherein
the dust bag includes a mounting portion configured to be mounted on the main body, and a bag portion that is supported by the mounting portion and configured to store foreign substances therein, and
the mounting portion includes a foreign substance introduction port through which foreign substances are introduced into the bag portion, and an ultraviolet window to allow the ultraviolet rays to pass therethrough into the bag portion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The cleaner station of claim 5, wherein
the ultraviolet unit includes an ultraviolet light source to generate ultraviolet rays, and a light source support unit to support the ultraviolet light source to face an interior of the main body, and
the sterilization module and the dust bag are configured so that,
when the dust bag is mounted on the main body, the blocking member is positioned at the open position, and the ultraviolet window overlaps the ultraviolet unit, and
when the dust bag is detached from the main body, the blocking member is positioned at the blocking position, and the ultraviolet window does not overlap the ultraviolet unit.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The cleaner station of claim 1, wherein the blocking member is configured to move in directions that are identical to a mounting direction and a detachment direction of the dust bag.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The cleaner station of claim 1, wherein the main body includes a mounting frame configured to provide a collection space in which the dust bag is arrangeable, and to which the dust bag is mountable, and a frame cover installed in the mounting frame to open and close the collection space.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The cleaner station of claim 8, wherein
the ultraviolet unit is configured to emit ultraviolet rays toward the collection space, and,
when the dust bag is detached from the mounting frame, the blocking member is configured to move to the blocking position to block the ultraviolet rays from entering the collection space, in conjunction with a positional movement of the dust bag.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The cleaner station of claim 8, further comprising:
a sensor member configured to detect whether the frame cover is opened or closed, and
a control unit configured to selectively stop an operation of the ultraviolet unit based on a detection result of the sensor member.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The cleaner station of claim 1, further comprising:
a control unit configured to control an operation of the ultraviolet unit so that the ultraviolet unit operates periodically.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The cleaner station of claim 1, wherein a capacity of the dust bag is 0.3 liters to 1.0 liters.

### Claim 13

A cleaning device comprising:
a vacuum cleaner including a dust collection container in which foreign substances are collectable; and
a cleaner station including:
a docking unit to which the dust collection container is dockable,
a main body to which a dust bag is detachably mountable,
a suction unit configured to provide a suction force to, with the dust collection container docked to the docking unit and the dust bag mounted to the main body, cause foreign substances collected in the dust collection container to move to the dust bag, and
a sterilization module including:
an ultraviolet unit configured to emit ultraviolet rays into the main body, and
a blocking member configured to move to
a blocking position to block the ultraviolet rays emitted by the ultraviolet unit from entering the main body, in conjunction with a positional movement of the dust bag, when the dust bag is detached from the main body, and
an open position so that the ultraviolet rays emitted by the ultraviolet unit enter the main body and the dust bag, in conjunction with a positional movement of the dust bag, when the dust bag is mounted on the main body.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The cleaning device of claim 13, wherein the sterilization module further includes a movement guide to guide the blocking member to be slidable, and an elastic member to provide an elastic force to cause the blocking member to slide from the open position to the blocking position when the dust bag is detached from the main body.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The cleaning device of claim 13, wherein a capacity of the dust bag is greater than a capacity of the dust collection container.