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Automatic cleaning apparatusRelated Patent Categories: Cleaning And Liquid Contact With Solids, Liquid Treating Forms And Mandrels, Including Use Of Vacuum, Suction, Or Inert AtmosphereAutomatic cleaning apparatus description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060185690, Automatic cleaning apparatus. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2005-15491, filed Feb. 24, 2005, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates generally to the field of automatic cleaning devices. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Generally, a robot cleaner automatically runs around, without requiring significant input from a user, and cleans the floor by drawing in foreign substances such as dust. [0006] The robot cleaner confirms presence and absence of obstacles or distance to the objects in a given area such as furniture, office equipment or wall, to be able to clean without undesirable collisions. [0007] An exemplary robot cleaner may include a left driving wheel, a right driving wheel, and a driven wheel, all at the lower part of a cleaner body. Each of the driving wheels are driven in association with a driving motor. The driving motor is controlled by a controller and therefore, the cleaner body can shift directions. [0008] The cleaner body may have a suction port at a lower part, to draw in foreign substances such as dust from a surface being cleaned. The suction port is subject to a suction force which is generated from a suction motor additionally provided to the cleaner body. The suction port is fluidly connected with a dust chamber which is provided inside the cleaner body. The drawn foreign substances are collected and stored in the dust chamber. [0009] A robot cleaner may additionally include a floor-cloth to wipe out contaminants off from the surface being cleaned. The floor-cloth is generally provided on the lower part of the robot cleaner and rotates during operation. The robot cleaner runs along the floor, and removes foreign substances by drawing in air, or wiping the floor. [0010] Because a dry floor-cloth is usually employed in such a robot cleaner, the robot cleaner may not effectively wipe out stubborn dirt which is stuck and/or dried on to the floor. Accordingly, the user is required to use a wet floor-cloth, which is inconvenient. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] It is to be understood that both the following summary and the detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. Neither the summary nor the description that follows is intended to define or limit the scope of the invention to the particular features mentioned in the summary or in the description [0012] In certain embodiments, the disclosed embodiments may solve one or more of the above problems and/or disadvantages and may provide one or more of the advantages described herein. [0013] In some embodiments, an automatic cleaning apparatus such as a robot cleaner has an improved structure, which is capable of effectively removing contaminants off from a surface being cleaned. [0014] In some exemplary embodiments, an automatic cleaning apparatus, includes a cleaner body having a driving wheel; and a vapor spray means installed in the cleaner body, for generating a water vapor during operation, and spraying the generated water vapor toward a lower part of the cleaner body. [0015] The vapor spray means may include a water tank detachably mounted to the cleaner body; and a vapor generating module installed in the cleaner body in fluid connection with the water tank, for converting a water from the water tank into a vapor and spraying the converted vapor toward a lower part of the cleaner body. [0016] The cleaner body may include a first mount part to detachably mount the vapor generating module, and a second mount part to mount the water tank, with the first and the second mount parts being connected with each other. [0017] The cleaner body may include a door provided to an upper part of the cleaner body to open and close the second mount part. [0018] The vapor generating module may include a housing in fluid connection with the water tank, and storing a supplied water therein; a vapor generating element provided inside the housing, for generating a vapor while in operation; and a vapor spray part in fluid connection with the housing, for spraying the vapor generated from the housing toward a lower part of the cleaner body. [0019] The vapor spray part may include a vapor conveyance path in fluid connection with the housing, and one or more vapor spray nozzles in fluid connection with the vapor conveyance path, which are exposed toward a lower part of the cleaner body. [0020] A fan may be installed on the vapor conveyance path to forcibly cause the vapor to spray. [0021] The vapor generating element may include a carbon rod which is positioned under the water of the housing, and generates a vapor in accordance with the supply of an electric signal. Continue reading about Automatic cleaning apparatus... Full patent description for Automatic cleaning apparatus Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Automatic cleaning apparatus patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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